Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 560 - 566: Dilemma

Li Zhirui smiled upon hearing this and asked, ”The Profound Ice Sect desires the Five Elements Jade Peach, presumably for a Nascent Soul True Lord to break through to the Divine Transformation. I wonder, why does your esteemed commerce association purchase them at such a high price, and for what purpose will you use them?”

”Since the senior has asked, I will not conceal the truth.”

The Store Manager said frankly, ”Currently, our association is contending with Xuanfa Pavilion for the management rights of a certain state in the Southern Domain. There is a Nascent Soul True Lord in that state who is especially fond of tasting various spirit peaches. The association wishes to acquire the Jade Peaches from the senior, to secure the exclusive management rights to that place.”

”Is that so?” Li Zhirui responded noncommittally.

He knew that Xuanfa Pavilion had later invaded the Southern Domain and that both entities were contending for market dominance in various locales. But a Jade Peach of considerable value, just to ingratiate themselves to a Nascent Soul—wasnʼt this move perhaps a bit too astonishing?

”The commerce association is willing to offer two types of fourth-grade Spirit Seeds, as well as the corresponding Pill Recipes. If the senior has other preferences, you may also voice them, to exchange for the Five Elements Jade Peach.”

Seeing that Li Zhirui remained silent for a long time, the Store Manager took the initiative to ask, ”May I know what the seniorʼs wishes are?”

After hearing the terms offered by the Southern Edge Commerce Association, even someone with Li Zhiruiʼs temperament felt a surge of impulse to nod and agree.

Two types of brand-new fourth-grade Precious Pills!

If he selected Precious Pills similar to the Azure Sky, Crimson Sun, and Cloud Mist pills, without distinct attribute separation, then from henceforth, the cultivators of the Li family would not have to worry about drug resistance at the Nascent Soul Realm. This would suffice to support the cultivation of Nascent Soul cultivators until the realm of perfection.

”Thank you for the generous offer from the commerce association,” but in the end, Li Zhirui forcefully declined.

Something strange was afoot when things were too good to be true! The conditions offered by the Southern Edge Commerce Association were just too favorable!

”Since the senior is not willing to part with them, our commerce association naturally will not insist.”

The Store Managerʼs expression remained unchanged, as he continued humbly, ”Then may I inquire if the senior is willing to sell five Jade Peaches of different attributes to our commerce association? The price will be ten percent higher than the market rate.”

”Then wait a moment, I will go to the storeroom to get five Jade Peaches.”

The Jade Peaches were actually all in Li Zhiruiʼs possession; this excuse was just for convenience so he could employ the Fusion Spirit Skill without letting the peach seeds reveal anything.

Moments later, Li Zhirui returned with a Jade Box in his hand.

”Senior, here are the Spirit Stones,” said the Store Manager after inspecting and sealing the box with Talismans, then respectfully handed over a storage bag filled with Spirit Stones.

One fourth-grade Jade Peach was worth four hundred thousand Spirit Stones, so five Jade Peaches amounted to two million Spirit Stones.

It seemed like a vast fortune, but after advancing in realm, Spirit Stones were no longer so precious.

Because among high-level cultivators, most transactions were done via bartering, except for high-quality Spirit Stones rich in Spiritual Energy or superior-grade Spirit Stones. Few high-level cultivators were willing to trade with Spirit Stones.

The storage bag handed over by the Store Manager contained some high-quality Spirit Stones, but the rest were of medium quality.

After the transaction was completed, the Store Manager took the initiative to leave.

”The reason provided by the Southern Edge Commerce Association…” Li Zhiruiʼs brow furrowed slightly; he felt that something was not quite right.

It was unfortunate that the Southern Domain was too far away for him to send someone to investigate the matter.

——

After leaving Wanxian Island, the Store Manager did not head south back to Green Mountain State; instead, he suddenly veered off course and headed north to an inconspicuous small island.

”How did it go? Was the Li family willing to trade with you?” Han Chan asked impatiently upon seeing the visitor.

After respectfully bowing, the Store Manager replied, ”The individual refused.”

”The Li family seems to have no intention of selling that jade peach!” Han Chanʼs face immediately turned very unpleasant.

The Profound Ice Sect currently desperately needs various spiritual objects that are conducive to the Divine Transformation breakthrough, but where can such objects be easily found?

After much difficulty, they found Li Zhirui, who was willing to sell, only for him to regret it the next instant, and now he even refused the Southern Edge Commerce Association.

What Li Zhirui didnʼt know was that Han Chan possessed a peculiar Heavenly Gifted Divine Power, Heart Listening Voice, which allowed her to hear the thoughts of others!

Of course, the higher the cultivation of the person being eavesdropped on, the less accurate the words heard would be.

Initially, Han Chan only heard a few fragmented words from Li Zhiruiʼs mind, among which was the word ʼregretʼ. After some discussion, the Profound Ice Sect decided to stage a play with the help of the Southern Edge Commerce Association, aiming to get the jade peach through them.

Moreover, the Spirit Seed and Pill Recipe given to the Li family were all provided by the Profound Ice Sect, with the Southern Edge Commerce Association only needing to send a person to help stage the play. Regardless of success, they would gain access to the market governed by the Profound Ice Sect.

Of course, in order not to be discovered by the Li family, the Southern Edge Commerce Association had already prepared a front.

”Senior, if there are no other matters, I shall take my leave now.”

Seeing there was no progress in the situation, Han Chan, feeling extremely frustrated, impatiently waved her hand to dismiss the others.

”I should go back and consult with my fellow disciples to see if they have any ideas.” Han Chan, unable to come up with a good solution herself, could only return to seek help.

After returning to the Profound Ice Sect, she immediately sought several fellow disciples to discuss how to complete the trade with the Li family.

But faced with the highly vigilant and suspicious Li Zhirui, they really couldnʼt think of any good methods.

The terms offered by the Profound Ice Sect far exceeded the value of the Five Elements Jade Peach, and even with the Southern Edge Commerce Association, who was on good terms with the Li family, intervening, they still couldnʼt get Li Zhirui to agree. What more could they do?

The higher the terms they offered, the more wary Li Zhirui became, and the less willing he was!

”Why not take action against the Li family by force? Not only could we get the Five Elements Jade Peach, but we could also directly seize the Spirit Plant!” suggested a Nascent Soul True Lord suddenly.

The Profound Ice Sect had five Nascent Soul True Lords on the surface, plus three in seclusion, totaling eight in all. Coupled with Golden Core and Foundation Establishment disciples, their strength was more than several times that of the Li family!

Even if the Li family had a fourth-tier Island Defense Array, they would probably still face inevitable defeat in the end.

However, the problem was, if too many cultivators were mobilized, then the Devil Races of the Great Snow Mountain in the west and Taixu in the south would definitely not miss such an opportunity!

But if they left enough cultivators to fend off the two great Devil Races, they wouldnʼt be able to defeat the Li family on their home field of Wanxian Island and seize the Five Elements Jade Peach.

For a moment, the group found themselves in a dilemma.

——

Meanwhile.

In the West Mountain Marketplace, a grand auction was held!

The organizers were naturally the Li family, but the cultivators attending the auction were not only their vassal forces; nearby cultivation powers like Water Spirit Sect and Wuya Sect had also sent people to participate.

These great powers joined the auction not only because the Li family had released many desirable items, but also to take the opportunity to forge a good relationship with Li Zhirui, the Alchemy Master. In doing so, they could buy Precious Pills directly from the Li family in the future, without going through commerce associations to purchase the overpriced Precious Pills.

Li Zhirui also wanted to use the auction to make more Nascent Soul cultivator friends.

If he had a wide network of friends and was on good terms with enough Nascent Soul cultivators, then any power that thought of moving against the Li family in the future would have more reservations.