Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 144 The Value of Intelligence

Fengyao Valley is the largest gathering place for independent cultivators in Bianxi City. There is a trading market on the east side of the valley, and cultivators setting up stalls and selling goods can be seen everywhere on both sides of the road.

On the west side of the valley is the intelligence trading site, with several simple temple buildings.

Song Xian came into one of the halls wearing a straw hat that covered his face. He looked around and saw several desks placed in the empty hall. The people sitting behind the desks all showed their true faces.

These were the middlemen who were in charge of intelligence liaison for the exchange. He walked straight towards a man who was about forty years old, with a fair complexion and a cultivation level of the seventh level of Qi Refining.

This person was none other than the intelligence middleman he had inquired about two years ago, named Wang Fan.

"How can I be of any service to you, my friend?" The man said with a smile, using the same opening remarks as two years ago.

Song Xian turned his head and looked around. Although the hall was spacious and each desk was some distance apart, not to mention the scattered people, the monks had sharp ears and eyes, so it was inevitable that their words would be overheard.

"I want to get some information. Can I have a moment to talk? It seems a bit inconvenient here."

"Of course, fellow Daoist, please follow me." The man immediately stood up and led him to the back of the temple, turned into a corridor, and entered a slightly dim stone chamber.

The stone chamber is not big, with only a small low table and a few stools inside, which is very simple.

The man sat down across from the low table, smiling, "This must be your first time here, fellow Daoist! The main hall in front is just a place to entertain and attract customers. The real intelligence transactions take place in this secret room."

"I've been here before, but this is my first time getting information here."

"What kind of information do you want to know, fellow Daoist?"

"There's a Qingyuan Sect in Bianxia Town. Last month, when they attacked Lingyun Mountain, the headquarters of the Yunfeng Trading Company, they employed a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I'd like to know the identity and origins of this Foundation Establishment cultivator, his relationship with the Qingyuan Sect, and his current whereabouts."

The reason why Song Xian came all the way to Bianxi City was for this matter, which was related to the sect's future development strategy.

Now there are two paths before us. One is to continue to follow Qingyuan Sect, and the other is to maintain a close but distant relationship with Qingyuan Sect and survive in the gap between the two forces.

Both options have their pros and cons, and the future is unclear, so he must have sufficient understanding before making a decision.

Although the Qingyuan Sect is powerful, the independent cultivator forces in Bianxia Town are not easy to deal with. Even if the four migrating sects form an alliance, the strength of both sides is only comparable.

The only one who can tip the scales here is the foundation-building monk from Casar.

If he has a close relationship with Qingyuan Sect and can always stand on the side of Qingyuan Sect to deal with the independent cultivator forces in Bianxia Town, the balance will tilt towards Qingyuan Sect, and he will have no choice but to continue fighting with Qingyuan Sect.

If his relationship with Qingyuan Sect was just a fleeting romance and they parted ways and had no further connection, then he would have room to please both sides.

He did not have his own intelligence network, and the Qingyuan Sect kept all information about Casar secret. If he wanted to know the answer, he could only come to this intelligence trading site to inquire.

Hearing this request, the man's smile became more friendly, and his eyes seemed to flash with a strange light. When he opened his mouth, the white teeth exposed looked like man-eating fangs.

"The situation in Bianxia Town is currently tense. The Qingyuan Sect attacked and destroyed the Yunfeng Trading Company, causing the independent cultivators in Bianxia Town to feel insecure and form alliances. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that a war between the new sects and the old forces in Bianxia Town is imminent. Therefore, intelligence related to Bianxia Town has been very popular recently, and the price is quite high."

"Just tell me! How many spirit stones do you need?"

"Senior Kasar's presence is crucial to the situation in Bianxia Town. The three questions you raised are crucial. Based on my experience, I estimate their value to be approximately this amount." The man held out his hand: "Five hundred spirit stones."

"Five hundred spirit stones? That's too expensive." Song Xian frowned. He didn't expect the price to be so expensive. He immediately felt like he was being taken advantage of. The total profit of Hunyuan Sect last year was only a few thousand spirit stones. Five hundred spirit stones were required for just three questions. This was simply robbery.

The man smiled and said, "Whether it's expensive or not depends on the person. Some information may be insignificant to others, but to the person involved, it may be a matter of life and death."

"Take the example of Senior Kasar, whom you mentioned. If Yunfeng Trading Company had received advance information and known that Senior Kasar had arrived in Bianxia Town at the invitation of the Qingyuan Sect, they would have taken precautions and would not have suffered such a tragic end."

"How much is this information worth to Yunfeng Trading Company? Similarly, the question raised by Daoyou may be worthless to others, but to some forces in Bianxia Town, it is priceless!"

"Five hundred spirit stones for the movement of a foundation-building cultivator who has a significant impact on the situation in Bianxia Town. Is that expensive?"

Song Xian was speechless. After all, this concerned the sect's future development strategy. Even if he was reluctant, he could only grit his teeth and accept it.

"Alright! Let's do as you say. How should the deal be? Do you want to tell me now, or do you want to ask others?" "I know who has the information. I can get it in three days at most, but you must pay a deposit of 150 spirit stones first."

Since the decision had been made, Song Xian did not hesitate any longer and directly took out 150 spirit stones from the storage bag and handed them to him.

The man held the spirit stone in his hand, his smile growing wider. "How would you like to trade this information, fellow Daoist? If it's inconvenient, you can leave an address, or you can come pick it up yourself. I wait for guests here on the even days of each month, and practice at home on the odd days. My residence is next to the row of sycamore trees northwest of Fengyao Valley. There's a word 'Wang' written on it."

"I will come to find you. How will I prove my identity then?"

The man pulled out a plate with intricate patterns from under the table, then pulled out a seal from his sleeve, stamped it on the plate, and handed it to him, saying, "This is the token of trust."

Song Xian took the number plate, turned around and walked out without saying anything more.

.........

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun is like fire, illuminating the entire sky with a fiery red.

At the Luoyun Sect's mountain gate, in a spacious and bright hall, Song Xian sat upright. Not long after, he saw Xiao Ling walking towards him with a smile on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, I'm sorry for disturbing you." Song Xian quickly stood up and bowed.

Xiao Ling looked him over and said, "Master Song, you're welcome. Please take a seat! It's true that a man is remarkably different after three days of absence. It's been less than a year since we last met, and I never imagined Master Song's cultivation would improve so dramatically."

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, you are too kind. I just happened to get a bottle of intermediate-level soul-replenishing elixir by chance."

Song Xian didn't hide it; it wasn't a big secret. He reached into his storage bag and pulled out two exquisite paper boxes. "This is the spirit wine I bought at the market. It's not a gift, it's just a humble token of my gratitude. I hope you won't despise it."

"Didn't I tell you last time? Master Song, there's no need to bother bringing these things." Xiao Ling took the things in his hand with a smile. This was also the reason why she admired Song Xian and had a good impression of him.

No matter what time, no matter what the reason, Song Xian would always bring a gift when he visited. Although it was not expensive, it was a thoughtful gesture.

"It's not something valuable, just a token of my appreciation. Even ordinary friends would give gifts when they visit us. Moreover, Fellow Daoist Xiao has helped our sect many times. This kindness is deeply engraved in my heart, as are our sect's."

"Please take a seat! What brings you here, Master Song?"

"It's nothing, actually. I'm in Bianxi City to handle sect affairs, so I stopped by to visit."

Song Xian's words were not a polite remark. He really didn't have anything specific to say. Since he had come to Bianxi City, he might as well come and visit and keep in touch with her, so as to avoid any trouble in the future. He would not come to her for help at the last minute because he didn't usually come to her for help.

"I heard that Bianxia Town has been a bit uneasy lately. I hope it won't affect the sales of Yuxiang Pills!"

Xiao Ling didn't believe that Song Xian had no business visiting him, because the previous times he came to the mountain gate were all about the matters of Yuxiang Dan. Seeing that he didn't say anything, he thought that he was not in a position to speak up, so he took the initiative to bring it up.

"I also have this concern, but the situation is fine now."

Xiao Ling looked at him and said, "Your sect's Yuxiangdan has been stationed in Qingfeng Valley for two years now, and you're only managing a small shop. Aren't you planning to expand?"

Last year alone, Hunyuan Pavilion paid her 10,000 spirit stones. For a large sect like Luoyun Sect, the income of 10,000 spirit stones is nothing, but this money did not go through the sect's account and went directly into her personal pocket, which is a considerable profit.

Therefore, she really hoped that Hunyuan Sect could expand the Yuxiangdan industry as soon as possible. After all, she would not need to work hard, she could just sit back and collect money, and there was no risk at all. Who wouldn't like that!
"I was just about to discuss this with you. Our sect has already built an alchemy hall this year, and it's expected to be completed by the end of the year. It will be next year at the earliest, and the year after next at the latest. We plan to expand production and open shops in other markets. I hope your sect can support us when that happens."

"This is a good thing. If you need any help, just tell me as long as I can do it."

"There's nothing else to worry about. My sect can handle it on its own, so I don't want to trouble you. However, the situation in Bianxia Town is unstable, and I'm afraid it will affect the Yuxiang Pill industry. To be honest, someone has already threatened my sect. If I don't obey them, they will cut off my Yuxiang Pill business."

The purpose of Song Xian's visit was to give a preventive measure. If the independent cultivators in Bianxia Town targeted him in the future and wanted to take action against the Yuxiang Pill, he would have to ask Wen Yiren to step in.

Xiao Ling nodded calmly: "Who are they? Why are they doing this?"

"Who else could it be? The loose cultivator alliance from Bianxia Town. They're threatening our sect. They're forcing a falling out between our sect and the Qingyuan Sect. Otherwise, they'll attack us. They know the Jade Fragrance Pill is our most important asset, so they've spread this rumor."

(End of this chapter)