Chapter 279 - 262: Transaction and the Terrifying Utility

Chapter 279: Chapter 262: Transaction and the Terrifying Utility

Based on his understanding of Great Chu’s sheer vastness, the distance from here to the Northwest Territory was likely hundreds of thousands of miles.

Such a distance was far more than just a long and arduous journey.

’Crossing such a vast distance just to risk their lives for the Righteous Alliance?’

’That had to be the most absurd thing he’d ever heard.’

"Haha, Fellow Daoist, you probably find this hard to believe."

Zhu Zhang explained, "I found it hard to believe at first, too, but then I asked around."

"I heard that over in the Wuyue Kingdom, there’s been constant war for the past few thousand years. They’re either caught up in internal strife or fighting wars against other kingdoms."

"Apparently, even in the past, many Cultivators from that region would come to settle in Great Chu. And now that the war has started here, even more of them have arrived."

"After all, if you’re going to risk your life, you might as well do it for someone who pays well. And over here, both the Longevity Sect and the Righteous Alliance are very generous."

"What’s more, the Righteous Alliance recently issued a Decree allowing people to redeem their contributions for a Spirit Vein as a reward."

"For a hundred thousand contribution points, you can redeem a Spirit Vein. With a Spirit Vein as your foundation, you can establish a legacy..."

"Many of my fellow Loose Cultivators are burning with envy!"

When the topic of Spirit Veins came up, Zhu Zhang couldn’t hide his own eagerness; it was clear he had some ideas of his own.

Chu Mu’s gaze shifted slightly. It seemed he had underestimated the appeal of a Spirit Vein.

’A Spirit Vein, no matter how remote, was something that could endlessly generate Spiritual Qi.’

’And Spiritual Qi was something all Cultivators needed.’

’With a Spirit Vein, one could found a Clan, establish a Marketplace... It would be a legacy to pass down, a Treasure Basin that never stopped producing wealth.’

’This move by the Righteous Alliance was equivalent to granting land and titles to its most accomplished vassals!’

’To be granted land and a title, to build a foundation that would last for generations...’

Judging by what Zhu Zhang said, this move had clearly attracted a considerable number of Loose Cultivators to risk their lives for the Righteous Alliance.

Chu Mu asked, "Does the Longevity Sect offer such a reward?"

"The Longevity Sect?"

Zhu Zhang scoffed. "The Longevity Sect? Their whole goal is to dismantle the clan system. That’s what this entire war is about. Why would they ever offer Spirit Veins as a reward?"

Chu Mu grew thoughtful. ’One side is an alliance, uniting all the Cultivators it can, while the other is a single, centralized sect system.’

’The two of them...’

"Oh, by the way, Fellow Daoist, I came across a piece of Centennial Cold Iron by a stroke of luck some time ago. If I may ask, what kind of Spiritual Artifact could you refine it into?"

Before Chu Mu could dwell on it, Zhu Zhang took out a palm-sized stone that emanated a gloomy, bone-chilling cold and asked expectantly.

"Centennial Cold Iron..."

Chu Mu paused for a moment, then spoke slowly, "Well, that depends on your needs, Fellow Daoist."

"The nature of Cold Iron is its rigidity, but what is too rigid is easily broken. It needs to be blended with corresponding Spiritual Materials to neutralize this property."

Zhu Zhang asked expectantly, "Could you refine this Cold Iron into a Shield?"

"You can. But if the Cold Iron is the primary material, the resulting artifact’s Grade won’t be higher than a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact."

"However, Fellow Daoist, if you can find other Spiritual Materials with properties that complement the Cold Iron and enhance its cold nature, you won’t need to neutralize it. In that case, creating an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact shouldn’t be difficult."

"Alright, I’ll contact you, Fellow Daoist, once I have everything ready."

Zhu Zhang nodded in satisfaction and fell silent, seemingly pondering what Chu Mu had just told him.

The exchange meeting lasted a little over an hour. Once everyone had finished trading, the old man transitioned the gathering into an exchange of cultivation experiences among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

The old man was thoroughly prepared. The moment the trading concluded, dozens of stunningly beautiful Maids with graceful figures entered the hall. They carried trays of Spirit Tea, Spirit Wine, and various Spiritual Foods, and began to serve the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in attendance.

The woman who approached Chu Mu wore a light-blue dress, her attire completely different from that of the other Maids. Moreover, her Cultivation had reached the stage of Qi Cultivation Perfection.

"Elder, this way, please."

With a respectful attitude, the woman gestured toward a side hall off the main hall.

Chu Mu glanced over at the old man, who had already entered the side hall. He nodded and followed the woman’s lead.

"You may all be dismissed."

As soon as Chu Mu took his seat, the old man gestured for the attending Maids to withdraw. Only the woman in the blue dress who had led Chu Mu in remained, standing poised and at ease by the old man’s side.

"These tea leaves come from a Tier Two Upper Grade Moonlight Tea Tree and have a spirit-calming effect. Fellow Daoist, you must be sure to savor it."

The old man picked up the teapot, poured a cup, and handed it to him.

The tea was a rich red, and its pure fragrance filled the air. Just the scent alone was enough to impart an indescribable sense of tranquility.

"Good tea."

He downed it in a single gulp. Without even savoring the taste, he swallowed it all. He couldn’t say what it tasted like, but the spirit-calming effect was truly comfortable.

It was as if his Divine Soul had been cleansed, leaving him feeling utterly refreshed.

"Oh, right, I’ve forgotten to make the proper introductions, Fellow Daoist."

Refilling the cup, the old man seemed to remember himself. He gestured to the woman in the blue dress beside him. "This is my beloved concubine. She is the youngest daughter of the Xie Family’s... of the Righteous Alliance’s Water Heaven Guardian Envoy."

"As for myself, I am Ji Ming, a First-Class Honored Guest Elder in the Righteous Alliance."

"And who might you be, Fellow Daoist?"

"Chu Mu. A Loose Cultivator."

Chu Mu set down his teacup, his reply curt.

The old man nodded without any unusual reaction. His concubine, however, had clearly thought of something, and a strange look flickered in her eyes.

Ji Ming looked surprised, his expression darkening slightly. "What is it? Do you know Fellow Daoist Chu?"

"You jest, my lord," the woman said, her expression changing. "I have lived a sheltered life within my clan since I was a child. How could I possibly know an outsider?"

The woman’s face changed slightly as she quickly explained, "It is only that I have heard the name ’Elder Chu’ before."

"I heard that several years ago in Jade Emperor Valley, a Cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm, who shared the same name as Elder Chu, killed several disciples of the Longevity Sect. Among them, one was even the only son of the Hall Master of the Jade Emperor Valley’s Law Enforcement Hall..."