...
The Tianrui Saint Dynastyâs territory is extremely vast.
Besides some surrounding Immortal Dynasties that are either semi-dependent or directly dependent, the Saint Dynasty itself has seven "roads," forty-nine states, three to four hundred counties, over two thousand towns, and more than ten thousand Guard Cities. As for villages and towns, they are scattered like stars and countless.
Among them, the Jiangnan roadâs geographic position is favorable, with most places abundant in water and soil, climate pleasant, Spirit Veins intertwining. The land area only occupies one and a half of the entire Tianrui Saint Dynasty, yet its Spirit Rice production comprises three and a half of the total output of the Saint Dynasty, known as the "Grain Depot of Tianrui."
Jiangnan road [Dao Mansion].
As the capital of Jiangnan road, it is the most bustling place in the entire Jiangnan road, and in past years, it was always crowded and thriving, but this year it appears a bit bleak.
Especially [Dao Mansion East Rice Market].
This rice market is famous for trading in large quantities of Spirit Rice and Spiritual Medicine, and the merchants big and small rooted here are as numerous as fish crossing the river, all living off purchasing and wholesaling Spirit Rice and Spiritual Medicine.
Yet this year, itâs as if all the Dynastyâs purchasers vanished collectively; the once bustling Dao Mansion East Rice Marketâs numerous shops have become desolate and empty.
[Fuyun business firm] is a typical rice and medicine firm, in Dao Mansion East Rice Market it may not be the largest, yet itâs one of the "giants" that counts.
The reason is simple: Fuyun business firm is jointly operated by five or six Void Realm families with in-law relations from Jiangnan road, with considerable overall strength.
In the entire Jiangnan road, there is only one Immortal Clan, plus one hereditary Jiangnan Immortal King Mansion. Therefore, multiple First Grade or Super First Rank Void Realm families uniting is considered a substantial force.
Jiangnan Zhou Family is a Super First Rank Prominent Family, also the largest shareholder of Fuyun business firm.
At this moment.
Within Fuyun business firm, the Family Heads of six Void Realm families have gathered for an internal shareholders meeting.
But at this moment, the expression on each of them is serious, some with a hint of dissatisfaction between their brows, clearly in a bad mood.
Zhou Wenqiu, the Family Head of Jiangnan Zhou Family, is also the convener and host of this shareholders meeting.
Seeing the stiff atmosphere in the meeting, he scanned the other five Family Heads with a solemn expression: "Everyone, arguing back and forth like this wonât solve anything. This matter cannot be delayed any longer, we must come up with a plan."
"Master Wenqiu." The Family Head of Jiangnan Li family, Li Binghua, had an unpleasant look, "Now the price of Spirit Rice has been halved and then halved again. Selling at this time would be a substantial loss. Moreover, youâre well aware of the current situation; even if we wish to reduce inventory, someone must be willing to take over."
"Master Binghua." Zhou Wenqiu said seriously, "Over the years, due to the constant escalation of friction between the two Saint Dynasties, grain prices have soared rapidly, each familyâs Spirit Fields have tilted excessively towards planting Spirit Rice, resulting in a significant increase in Spirit Rice production and inventory. As the major grain merchants compete for Spirit Rice, its price has been rising for a decade. How much of the âhighest price of Spirit Riceâ was inflated, donât you know?"
"Even if itâs inflated, selling at the current market price would be a ludicrous loss." Li Binghua said unwillingly, "Why donât we wait and see if prices can rebound? Rumor has it the price drop is because two Immortals are fighting... once they settle, prices are bound to return to high levels!"
"Do you think I donât understand?" Zhou Wenqiu said angrily, "But since itâs Immortals fighting, they are all big shots with substantial capital, how could they settle quickly? Waiting might take ten, twenty, or even a hundred years... Fuyun business firm has stockpiled so much grain over the years, with substantial funds tied up, how long until itâs untangled?"
"Moreover, each family typically stockpiles grain against famine, grain production has increased continuously over the last twenty years, everyoneâs granaries had filled long ago, with many expanding additional warehouses, all filled, yearly storage costs are no small figure."
The warehouse for storing Spirit Rice isnât just a simple storage room; large amounts of cold crystal iron ingots are needed, with a suitable formation system to maintain the freshness of Spirit Rice, otherwise, over long-term storage, not only will the Spiritual Energy and nutrients within dissipate and lose, but the taste will worsen significantly.
Itâs known that Spirit Riceâs importance lies in its Spiritual Energy and nutrients, without these, Spirit Rice is no different from ordinary rice.
Everyone understood Zhou Wenqiuâs reasoning, but cutting their losses so deeply made them reluctant.
"Thereâs another crucial reason why I intend to clear out and cut our losses." Seeing the crowdâs attitude starting to loosen, Zhou Wenqiu sighed, pulled out a letter, "Our familyâs [Old Ancestor Chengping] sent word; he intends to soon start seclusion to attempt the True Immortal Realm breakthrough within two hundred years and requires family resources for support."
"Old Ancestor Chengping is going to attempt True Immortal? So soon..."
"Splendid, if Old Ancestor Chengping achieves True Immortal Realm, our In-laws Alliance will have backing."
"Old Ancestor Chengping is only two thousand six hundred years old. If successful, upon achieving True Immortal he can at least protect our family alliances for six to seven thousand years."
Upon hearing this, the Family Heads present all turned from worry to joy, unable to resist discussing excitedly.