Chapter 117 - 111: Did You Eat the Heart of a Bear and the Gall of a Leopard?_2

"This time around, I’ve realized just how different a County Town is from a Province City. For instance, Big Brother Shang, your County Town has a black market too, right? Martial Artists often exchange various items among themselves. In a Province City, a black market is actually just an ordinary trading ground." "The really good stuff only appears at auctions!" "Just a few years ago, at one auction, they even sold Middle Grade Martial Arts! Of course, this is just what I’ve heard. The most common items at an auction are still resources used for martial practices." "For example, various Elixirs we’ve never even heard of back in the County Town, some specially crafted weapons, and all sorts of rare items." "The County Town is closed off. Even those County Towns close to a Province City are just frequented by more Martial Artists, that’s all. There wouldn’t be any Elixirs, let alone Middle Grade Martial Arts!" "But in a Province City, Martial Artists all have the chance to encounter these things!" Zhang Ruo mentioned Elixirs three times, each time with a look of clear envy. Clearly, even for the Zhang Family, Elixirs were still a luxury. Only true geniuses got to enjoy such treatment provided by their families. "Which family holds the auction, or do they take turns?" Jiang Shu suddenly interjected. He had no expectations for an auction of Middle Grade Martial Arts. Even if he came across one, the major families would snatch it up first, leaving him no chance. But if the auction house was impartial, objective, and ensured customer confidentiality, he might as well try trading between the Two Realms. It was definitely more reliable than setting up a stall in the black market. The money earned could be used to directly buy Leopard Strength Tiger Bone Pills from the Chamber of Commerce to rapidly enhance his Bone Forging speed! "Neither. To speak of the true powers in Yongning Province City, one must mention the ’One Official, One Merchant, Ten Great Families.’" "You already know about the ’One Official’ and the ’Ten Great Families,’ Big Brother Shang. As for the ’One Merchant,’ that refers to the Danxia Chamber of Commerce. The Danxia Chamber of Commerce spans many Province Cities, and its headquarters is in the State City. Their influence is tremendous. However, they never get involved in the affairs of Province Cities; their sole focus is on making money." "To enter an auction, you first have to buy or sell enough rare items at their branch to gain a certain level of credibility. Only then will the Chamber’s steward invite you." "Of course, if you are a genius from a major family, it naturally won’t be so troublesome," Zhang Ruo elaborated thoroughly. When it came to understanding Martial Arts, she fell far short of Jiang Shu. But when it came to knowledge of the Province City, even if Jiang Shu were to inquire among ten people, the information he’d collect wouldn’t compare to her few words. After all, she was a true member of a great family. In the first three days after returning to her main family, she hadn’t been idle, constantly learning about the Province City’s affairs. One reason was to satisfy her curiosity. The second was to learn more so that she wouldn’t embarrass herself in conversations with others. Unexpectedly, today, this information proved to be greatly useful. She could clearly feel that Jiang Shu listened and pondered as she shared this information, which was evidently a great help to him. The greater the help, the more he would remember her favor. Her future invitations would become all the more effortless. Thinking to herself, Zhang Ruo didn’t stop speaking, "The Danxia Chamber of Commerce is in our East City. If you’re interested, Big Brother Shang, we might as well go have a look after the meal. Little Sister has only heard of it but never actually seen what it’s like inside." I also wonder how much the Elixirs our Zhang Family geniuses take each month cost? If they aren’t too expensive, I’d really like to buy one to taste... what it’s like... "Hmm, alright," Jiang Shu nodded in agreement. Danxia Chamber of Commerce. Its influence covers half the large state. He had not expected that such a colossal entity existed within Yongning Province City. Moreover, its philosophy of not entangling with other powers and solely focusing on making money is excellent. This indicates that if he could bring enough profit to the Chamber of Commerce, he might also be able to obtain everything he desires from it. The Exotic Species Beast List and the Little Dragon Tiger List. Such non-exclusive lists must be available for purchase at the Chamber of Commerce, which would certainly broaden his outlook. And as for Middle Grade Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts, as long as his own rank within it rose quickly and highly enough, he might have a chance to obtain them! Of course, at the moment, he still needed to be cautious. One must always be on guard against others. It would be better to engage in such transactions only after he had entered the Refining Internal Realm. Jiang Shu pondered quietly. At this moment, he had lost all interest in eating. Zhang Ruo had also perceived this. She put down her chopsticks and brushed the hair by her ear, preparing to get up. Just then, a commotion arose from the floor below. Familiar voices reached their ears. "Brother Qu, I told you, this time it would definitely go smoothly! See, you’ve become a Gold Medallion Retainer for the Yao Family in an instant! Didn’t that steward say? As long as you, Brother Qu, stay with the Yao Family for three years, marry a lady of the Yao Family, and have children, you can directly learn a Middle Grade Cultivation Technique!" "Perhaps in five years, Brother Qu, you’d be a true master in the Refining Internal Realm. A Refining Internal Realm powerhouse! In a small County Town like this, even the County Lord would have to call you brother." "By then, don’t pretend you don’t recognize us brothers, the Silver Medallion Retainers." "You blind fool! Bring the wine, the best wine!" The five men they had encountered in the cave coincidentally appeared again in the tavern. The tavern’s attendant was being berated by the dark-faced man. "Yes, yes, honored guests, upstairs, please, upstairs," the attendant said, bowing and scraping as he invited the five men upstairs, his back hunched. "That would still be three to five years away," the man in the lead replied with a seemingly modest smile, but his words brimmed with immense confidence, as if he was certain to become a Refining Internal Realm powerhouse in three to five years. "However, the Yao Family is indeed very generous. You don’t have to be in a hurry. Once I reach the Refining Internal Realm, I’ll become a Jade Medallion Retainer of the Yao Family. I can bring you along on more missions, and with just a word from me, you should be able to become Gold Medallion Retainers too." "With the backing of the Yao Family, there are enough resources for martial practice. Even if you can’t reach the Refining Internal Realm in the future, you can still temper all your bones and truly step into the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm." As the five men ascended the stairs, Yuan Yong, walking at the forefront, spotted Zhang Ruo on the second floor the moment they arrived. They hadn’t seen each other for some time. Unlike their casual appearance during their journey, Zhang Ruo, who had dressed up carefully for the occasion, looked exceptionally charming. The sunlight slanted down, startling Yuan Yong so much that he stopped dead in his tracks. "Little wench, what a coincidence! Do you think this is fate? We met in the mountains, and now we meet again in this tavern. It wasn’t convenient to ask back then, but now it should be fine to tell us which family you’re from, right?" "Look behind me. My big brother is a Gold Medallion Retainer of the Yao Family. Do you know what being a Gold Medallion Retainer means? It means he can directly become a Refining Internal Realm powerhouse!" "Of course, I’m not lacking either. In the future, I, too, will be a Gold Medallion Retainer!" Yuan Yong paused for a moment, then took two steps forward, his words dripping with smugness. Clearly, after joining the Yao Family, his confidence had swelled once again. He knew full well that Jiang Shu, standing to the side, was no less strong than his big brother, yet he still spoke arrogantly. Now, he was aware that, despite the Province City being so large, the truly powerful were actually just a small fraction. At present, the only young people of influence they couldn’t afford to provoke were the true direct descendants of the Ten Great Families, or some favored illegitimate children. As for the rest... His big brother had been in the Yao Family for the past two days, and his status was made very clear. Even the less favored illegitimate children greeted his big brother respectfully when they saw him! Could this little wench possibly have a very high status? If she had status, she wouldn’t have run so far. If she had status, she wouldn’t be traveling without an entourage! Unable to restrain himself, he stretched out his hand and continued, "We gentlemen are also having a drink. Why don’t you come over and join us, little wench?" "How dare you! I am from the Zhang Family..." Zhang Ruo frowned. As she stepped back, the words had barely left her mouth when she suddenly heard a WHOOSHING sound beside her ear. The sound was incredibly fast. In her peripheral vision, Jiang Shu made his move. He swiftly drew the alloy saber he had been carrying on his back. The blade flashed. He aimed straight for Yuan Yong’s hand! "You brat, you dare!" Everyone was stunned by Jiang Shu’s swift saber strike. This strike. It was too fast. Too vicious! Only Qu Zhanyun among the five, who had been keenly observing the situation, reacted. He suddenly lunged forward. Unable to pull Yuan Yong back in time, he drew his own saber from his waist and attacked Jiang Shu ferociously! The move changed! White Tiger Carrying a Corpse! CLANG! As the two blades clashed, Jiang Shu stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Zhang Ruo. His gaze was cold as he looked straight at Qu Zhanyun, whom he had just forced back with his strike, and said, "Behind me is the young lady of the Zhang Family from the Province City." "What gave you Yao Family retainers the audacity to harass her?"