Chapter 120 - 114: Business, Cooperation

Ordinary, superior, high-grade. This was strikingly similar to a certain coffee’s medium, large, and extra-large cups from his past life. Ordinary was the lowest quality among the elixirs. Superior was just of acceptable quality. The three also differed slightly in price: ordinary Blood Purifying Pills cost one hundred silver taels, superior ones one hundred and twenty, and high-grade required one hundred and fifty. Thus, simply buying one hundred superior Elixirs would cost 12,000 silver taels. After a 10% discount and converted to Xia Country currency, it still amounted to 2.7 million. And these were just the most basic Blood Purifying Pills and Blood Strengthening Pills. The prices for Leopard Strength Tiger Bone Pills and Minor Recovery Elixirs were even steeper! Practicing martial arts certainly involves money at every turn! After having the Maid explain in detail the instructions for these Elixirs, Jiang Shu proceeded to the weaponry section. Elixirs were definitely a necessary purchase, but not now. Firstly, he couldn’t produce such a large sum in silver notes on hand. Secondly, even if he could, he preferred to establish a long-term partnership with the Danxia chamber of commerce to maximize profits by reselling goods from Xuanxing. 「Weaponry Section」 Various weapons were neatly arrayed. Jiang Shu paused before each type, noting the simple introduction beneath it, detailing its advantages and disadvantages. Martial Artists of the commandery city were far superior to those from the county seat. For Martial Artists in the county seat, mastering basic combat skills was already commendable. But in the commandery city, every Martial Artist wielded weapons! If I lack sufficient knowledge about weapons, hastily entering a battle will surely cost me, he thought. After committing the descriptions of these weapons to memory, Jiang Shu finally inspected the battle sabers. He lifted each battle saber, feeling its make. Every saber displayed on this third floor was, without exception, a fine piece. Each was sharper than the leopard ring-handled sabers wielded by the Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists of the Yao Family back in the county seat. But compared to my own alloy battle saber, they’re still a notch inferior, Jiang Shu mused. No wonder that Gold Medal Retainer from the Yao Family was so delighted at the sight of my saber. "Brother Shang, did you see anything you liked?" Zhang Ruo asked, noticing Jiang Shu had moved to the Martial Arts section without purchasing anything. "I don’t have many expenses in the Zhang Family, so if you’re short on silver, I can lend you some. I can still manage a few thousand taels." She knew Jiang Shu had just arrived from the county seat, and his financial resources couldn’t compare to those of the Martial Artists in the commandery city, hence her offer. "No need." Debts of gratitude are always the hardest to repay, Jiang Shu thought. Besides, I’m not short a few thousand silver taels right now. He firmly refused and turned his attention to the various Martial Arts manuals. The Graded Martial Arts, long coveted by the Martial Artists of Pingling County, were clearly priced here. Only a few thousand silver taels were needed for a viewing. The bigger the place, the more opportunities, he reflected. In the commandery city, Low-grade Martial Arts were commonplace. Whereas in the state capital, Middle Grade Martial Arts, treasured as gems by the great clans of the commandery city, might be easily accessible to Martial Artists. This is precisely why, even if they are of the same Realm, the combat power of Martial Artists from different backgrounds can vary so vastly. I could kill Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists from the county seat with just a few strikes. But in the commandery city, the Gold Medal Retainers of the great clans could exchange several moves with me. If it’s the geniuses of the great clans, possessing Middle Grade Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts, their combat power might even surpass mine! The commandery city is already like this, let alone the state capital! Only those who can make it onto a list like the Little Dragon Tiger List are the true geniuses of this vast state. Thinking this, Jiang Shu parted ways with Zhang Ruo. 「A few days later.」 After purchasing enough Moissanite diamonds and perfumes on Xuanxing, Jiang Shu stepped into the Danxia Chamber of Commerce again and stated directly, "I’m looking to speak with the person in charge here about a business deal." 「...」 「Inside the treasure appraisal room.」 The negotiations with the Danxia Chamber of Commerce were quite amicable. Moissanite diamonds sold for one hundred silver taels each; a single small stone could match the value of an elixir! The price of perfume wasn’t cheap either, generally fifty to sixty silver taels per small bottle. Compared to Moissanite diamonds, perfume was naturally less expensive. But perfume had one advantage: it was a consumable product. With the Danxia Chamber of Commerce spread throughout most of Yunzhou, once it became a bestseller, the steady income would be a terrifyingly large figure. As for Moissanite diamonds, they could only be considered luxury goods; selling them in large quantities would only lead to depreciation. Of course, with my current strength, I naturally won’t sell too many Moissanite diamonds and perfumes, Jiang Shu considered. Money should be used to acquire martial arts resources at this stage. In the Bone Forging Realm, within this commandery city, I’m still too weak. Especially when facing a behemoth like the Danxia Chamber of Commerce. Without a sufficient Realm, all schemes, all methods, are in vain! 「In the following period.」 Jiang Shu dedicated himself mostly to martial arts training. With an ample supply of Leopard Strength Tiger Bone Pills, his Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength successfully reached Perfection! All 206 bones in his body resonated simultaneously, buzzing. Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound! The Leopard Strength Tiger Bone Pill... it no longer has any effect on me, Jiang Shu realized after swallowing one. The elixir’s medicinal power was quickly digested, merely adding a slight increase in his strength. It no longer had the powerful effect of his first dose. He couldn’t help but shake his head. In terms of Realm, he had reached the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm. His three-stroke saber technique had also reached Perfection in the past few days, now possessing the might of a genuine Middle Grade saber technique. In the commandery city, among Martial Artists of the same Realm, there should be few opponents who could withstand three of my saber strikes, Jiang Shu mused, his eyes narrowing. A carrier pigeon landed neatly on his windowsill. He took the small paper note from its leg and read: "Yao Family’s Gold Medal Retainer, Qu Zhanyun, has left the city. Thirty minutes later, Gold Medal Retainer Fu Yuankui also headed in the same direction." The Retainers of the great clans weren’t there just to idle and live off the clan. Cultivation Techniques, weapons, elixirs—none of these could be obtained without Contribution Value. To gain Contribution Value, one had to undertake various tasks for the clan: leave the city to hunt Mutant Beasts, or leave the city to escort precious goods! If you want resources, you exchange your freedom for them! This was precisely why Jiang Shu had never considered becoming a Retainer for a great clan. He carefully folded the paper note, reattached it to the pigeon, and watched it fly back towards the Danxia Chamber of Commerce. During his business negotiations with the head of the Danxia Chamber of Commerce, he had added a requirement. He needed to know the strength and daily activities of every great clan’s Gold Medal Retainer. For such minor information in exchange for a large business deal, the head of the chamber was naturally very willing. During this period, Qu Zhanyun has left the city three times, quite frequently. And each time, Fu Yuankui has followed him. I’ve been baiting the hook for so long; I wonder if he’s getting anxious yet, Jiang Shu thought, information about the two men flashing through his mind. Qu Zhanyun was distinguished for his saber technique and had recently learned a Low-grade saber technique from the Yao Family, significantly enhancing his strength. Fu Yuankui, on the other hand, had made his name much earlier. He was skilled with a sledgehammer, following a path of overwhelming power and brute force. His movement technique was lacking, but his strength among Martial Artists of the same Realm was almost unmatched. Two Peak Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists... No matter. It’s a perfect opportunity to test my saber. Jiang Shu pushed open the door and left, saber on his back.