Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1388 - 883: The Deal with Cangyu Mountain (Part 2)

While facing opponents of the same cultivation rank, they might be at a disadvantage. However, if you cannot eliminate them swiftly, you'll find yourself restless, as they hold the potential to reappear and strike unexpectedly at any moment.

The small lark tilted its head, its gaze appraising Yun Xiao and Yang Zhenshan, presenting quite an adorable sight.

"Granny instructed me to have you wait in the main hall!"

"Thank you!" Yun Xiao replied with a smile, cupping his hands.

Yang Zhenshan mirrored the gesture, offering his thanks.

Prior to their arrival, Yun Xiao had informed him that demon beasts tend to disregard etiquette. Unlike human cultivators who value politeness, they often lack formal protocols and rituals.

Indeed, this little lark appeared as innocent as a child.

Upon entering the main hall, there wasn't even a cup of tea offered.

After approximately fifteen minutes of waiting, Que Lingfei materialized silently before the pair.

Yang Zhenshan narrowed his eyes slightly, internally astonished by Que Lingfei's swiftness.

Moments earlier, he had only perceived a blur, and before he could fully react, Que Lingfei was already within a yard of him.

If he were to engage this entity in combat, even with instantaneous movement, Yang Zhenshan could not afford to be careless; otherwise, evading her attacks might prove impossible.

"Fairy Lingfei!" Yun Xiao offered a slight bow.

"Hmm, is there something you require of me?" Que Lingfei inquired directly, her eyes curiously assessing Yang Zhenshan as if questioning his identity.

Yun Xiao stated, "This is Master Yang from the esteemed Yang family. Master Yang wishes to conduct some trade with your esteemed lineage!"

He wasted no time, plainly articulating their objective for the visit.

He understood the straightforward nature of the Yun Que Clan; negotiations with them needed to be direct and unambiguous, as they interpreted words literally.

This did not imply a lack of intelligence, but rather an absence of intuition for deciphering implicit meanings.

Indirect communication might be missed, leading to potential misunderstandings, thus necessitating directness in all interactions.

"What kind of trade do you wish to establish with us?" Que Lingfei asked.

"I desire to exchange certain demon cores with your noble race, and naturally, other commodities such as medicinal herbs, spirit fruits, and materials from demon beasts. Whatever resources your noble race is willing to offer in trade, we are open to negotiation!"

"Indeed, I aim to forge a long-term commercial relationship with your noble race!"

Yang Zhenshan got straight to the point, detailing his intentions.

"Long-term trade, what do you propose to offer?" Que Lingfei's forehead feather twitched slightly as she inquired.

Yang Zhenshan produced a prepared list of goods and presented it to Que Lingfei.

Que Lingfei reviewed the list and, after a pause, remarked, "We have need of some items here, though the quantities will not be substantial."

"Do you possess Demon Essence Pills?"

"Demon Essence Pills!" Yang Zhenshan directed his gaze towards Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao chuckled and explained, "Master Yang is a Pill Master; his objective in acquiring demon cores is to master the art of refining Demon Essence Pills! Currently, Master Yang possesses some proficiency in this refinement, and it is likely he will soon be capable of producing them."

After clarifying to Que Lingfei, he also informed Yang Zhenshan, "Demon Essence Pills hold significant value for the Demon Clan, perhaps even more so than for Immortal Cultivators."

Yang Zhenshan gave a slight nod.

Que Lingfei continued, "In that case, I can personally authorize the sale of some demon cores to you! You may exchange these resources for them!"

She retrieved a Jade Scroll and inscribed some details upon it.

Upon reviewing the items Que Lingfei had listed for exchange on the Jade Scroll, Yang Zhenshan smiled and inquired, "Agreed. Now, may I ask where we should conduct future transactions?"

The items Que Lingfei selected were moderate in number, aligning with Yun Xiao's prior observation that the Yun Que Clan favored aquatic delicacies, choosing an abundance of various treasure fish.

Additionally, their selection included several spirit fruits, spirit rice, medicinal herbs, along with Beast Blood Pills and Mixed Grain Pills.

A rough estimation placed the value of these goods at approximately ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

Notably, the most plentiful item was not the treasure fish or spirit fruits, but the spirit rice, suggesting that larks also have a fondness for it.

"We can conduct trades right here! You are welcome to approach me for transactions at any time!" Que Lingfei stated.

With the arrangements for the transaction concluded, Yun Xiao expressed their intent to depart, and the two left Que Lingfei's cave dwelling."The Yun Que Clan operates on a straightforward principle; you need not stand on ceremony with them. Speak your mind openly. While they might be cautious of human cultivators, they will gladly forge friendships if your intentions for trade are genuine, without creating undue complications!" Once they emerged from the cave dwelling, Yun Xiao conveyed this advice in a low voice. Que Lingfei truly was efficient; a few words exchanged, and the deal was concluded, happening much faster than Yang Zhenshan had initially expected. Nevertheless, Yang Zhenshan refrained from bringing up cultivation techniques for demonic cultivators this time around. His plan was to broach that subject once a stronger rapport had been established between their parties. Upon re-entering his own cave dwelling, Yang Zhenshan promptly arranged for the items Que Lingfei required to be prepared. He then undertook another journey to Que Lingfei’s cave dwelling to finalize the transaction. Que Lingfei, with directness, presented him with five Second-Order low-grade demon cores and also set the schedule for their subsequent trading session. As per Que Lingfei's statement, she needed to make a return trip to Cangyu Mountain. Following that, she would conduct an assessment of any further needs within her clan, and if any arose, she would engage in another trade with Yang Zhenshan. As it happened, Cangyu Mountain currently had a pressing need for trading partners. This was due to the Qingli Six Families losing their grip on Lotus Heart Valley. Previously, the Qingli Six Families had been the primary trading entities with Cangyu Mountain, frequently conducting business within Lotus Heart Valley. However, they had not only lost control of Lotus Heart Valley but also sustained considerable losses, leading to widespread shortages in their resources. The Lin family bore the brunt of this misfortune. Their clan's spirit veins became contaminated with Blood Evil Qi, resulting in various spirit plants and spiritual objects being seized by the Yin Ghost Department or outright destroyed. Furthermore, the calamitous fall of Lotus Heart Valley caused the Qingli Dynasty to forfeit numerous cultivation resources. This, in turn, severely hampered the Qingli Six Families' capacity to supply resources to Cangyu Mountain. In truth, Que Lingfei's primary objective for visiting Lotus Heart Valley was to explore a partnership with White Cloud Commerce. Her hope was that they could step in to replace the Qingli Six Families as the primary resource providers for Cangyu Mountain. However, White Cloud Commerce was not the Qingli Six Families. Collaborating with the Qingli Six Families allowed Cangyu Mountain to dictate terms, but partnering with White Cloud Commerce would necessitate yielding leadership. Cangyu Mountain harbored a degree of apprehension towards White Cloud Immortal City, yet was compelled to forge an alliance with White Cloud Commerce. While Yang Zhenshan’s appearance could not directly substitute for White Cloud Commerce, it presented Cangyu Mountain with an additional viable option. Regardless of the quantity of resources Yang Zhenshan could furnish, Cangyu Mountain was amenable to his cooperation. And it wasn't solely Yang Zhenshan; the Three Sects of Lingxiu and the Nether Prison Sect had also engaged in some level of trade with Cangyu Mountain. ... Lotus Heart Valley underwent a formal renaming, becoming Qingli Immortal City. As various factions began acquiring cave dwellings and commercial properties within its bounds, Qingli Immortal City's renown escalated rapidly. Upon hearing the news, numerous minor immortal cultivator families and independent cultivators relocated to the city, bringing their households and establishing themselves in Qingli Immortal City, thereby contributing both labor and a burgeoning marketplace. Where there are people, a market arises. Where there is a market, there is purchasing power. And where there is purchasing power, profit can be generated. As the population of lower-tier independent cultivators within Qingli Immortal City swelled, so too did its revenue streams. Beyond the independent cultivators, various influential forces began to recognize Qingli Immortal City as the paramount trading nexus within a five-thousand-mile radius. This concentration drew a significant influx of both resources and individuals. In a span of mere months, Qingli Immortal City had recaptured the vibrant prosperity it had once known as Lotus Heart Valley. During this transformative period, the Yang family's establishments – a pill shop and a talisman shop – quietly commenced operations. Their pill shop primarily showcased First-order Pills, encompassing varieties such as Jade Marrow Pills, Fasting Pills, and Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills, alongside more than twenty other medicinal types. This selection was augmented by Second-order Pills, including Illusion God Pills, Gathering Spirit Pills, Youthful Pills, and Wind Dew Elixirs. Regarding the Second-order Pills, with the exception of Gathering Spirit Pills and Youthful Pills, the other formulations were available only in limited quantities. Furthermore, the Yang family's pill shop opened its doors to commissioned alchemy services. As for the talisman shop, it presented a far more extensive inventory, with a primary focus on First-order Talismans, boasting an impressive collection of over a hundred distinct varieties. The creation of talismans is a considerably more straightforward process than the refinement of pills. Moreover, advancements in talisman crafting within the Spirit Source Land had progressed at a much swifter pace compared to alchemy. In addition to Yang Zhenshan and Cui Yang, several other immortal cultivators in the Spirit Source Land possessed the capability to craft rudimentary talismans. Over the years, the Spirit Source Land had accumulated a substantial reserve of talismans. These, now being offered to the public for the first time, significantly outnumbered the available quantity of pills.Although Yang Zhenshan possessed the skill to inscribe merely four varieties of Second-order Talismans, each of these four held immense practical value.