I have an endless army of warriors, rampaging across the heavens.

Chapter 164 That's it? That's it? That's it?!

very good!

Zuo Jing was very pleased with Gongye Yunshan's attitude.

Since both sons were willing to be handed over, the other terms were naturally easier to accept.

Zuo Jing said, "Gongye Trading Company's poor management has produced two scoundrels, causing the deaths of hundreds of righteous men in my Iron Blood Mercenary Group recently. Considering your good attitude in admitting your mistakes, you can be spared the death penalty, but you will not escape punishment."

Gongye Yunshan listened quietly, expressionless.

Stand at attention when you are beaten.

Unable to devise a way to counter the Ironblood Mercenary Group's relentless retaliation, he had no choice but to decisively back down and minimize the damage as much as possible.

at the same time.

Through this negotiation, and through the settlement terms offered by this person, we can see what the Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group truly means to the Gongye Trading Company.

Are you trying to condemn it outright?

Or should we use a gentler approach to cut the flesh?
Is it that we have no past grudges or recent animosity?
Or was it a long-planned scheme to confiscate their property and exterminate their entire clan?
These and other examples can be seen from this negotiation alone.

Therefore.

Gongye Yunshan remained calm and observed the situation.

Zuo Jing knew Gongye Yunshan's thoughts, but his own thoughts were actually quite simple—

If Gongye Trading Company insists on resisting, then kill them!
However, if they are truly willing to admit their mistakes and reform themselves, and if they are genuinely sincere, then it is not unreasonable to show leniency.

Therefore, Zuo Jing did not make things difficult for him.

He looked at Gongye Yunshan—

"If the Gongye Trading Company can produce a Gongye Yangqiu and a Gongye Peisheng, then there must be other scoundrels. Since you, Gongye Yunshan, can't manage them, then let my Iron Blood Mercenary Group supervise them. If any more scoundrels like Gongye Yangqiu and Gongye Peisheng appear in the future, we will report them as soon as we find them. The Gongye Trading Company must punish them immediately, and those with serious offenses will be sentenced to death."

"Do you agree?"

This is not only a warning to Gongye Trading Company, but also a warning to other families, trading companies, and playboys in Wuyun City. The main purpose is to purify the environment of Wuyun City so that it can better attract investment, develop Wuyun City, and attract more mercenaries, adventurers, free agents, and talents.

Zuo Jing is reluctant to move once he has settled in a place. If he could build Wuyun City into his base on the Spellcraft Continent, that would be ideal, saving him the trouble of going to other cities or places to start over and familiarize himself with the place again.

Yes!
He has many loyal followers, and his reach can be extremely wide.

However, Zuo Jing's own energy was really limited. He also had a huge mess to deal with on the Great Yan side, so he could only take care of so few things on the Cursed Continent.

The area covered by assassins is very wide.

Zuo Jing should focus his efforts on cultivating his territory in Wuyun City; this would be the best course of action.

Since we have decided to settle in Wuyun City for a long time and make it our base, the security of Wuyun City must be top-notch. This requires restraining the powerful and wealthy in Wuyun City, especially the family businesses led by the thirteen elders.

only.

Would Gongye Yunshan agree?
"I agree!"

Gongye Yunshan didn't care; that's a story for later.

If the Ironblood Mercenary Group acts recklessly and kills indiscriminately, the Gongye Trading Company will have its own ways to retaliate. If everything is within reasonable limits, then it is not unacceptable for dozens or hundreds of reckless clansmen to die every year. Perhaps it is even a good thing for detoxification and beauty.

"it is good!"

Zuo Jing clapped his hands in appreciation and continued, "Since you are so straightforward, I will do you a favor. The various supplies that have been moved from your Gongye Trading Company's shops and warehouses these past few days are worth about 300,000 to 400,000 gold coins. We don't want 400,000, 300,000, or even 200,000. Just take out 100,000 gold coins, plus ten 'cultivation manuals,' and you can redeem those supplies."

One hundred thousand gold coins, not much!
Ten secret manuals, that's quite a lot!
However, this was far below Gongye Yunshan's expectations. He had originally planned to spend 100,000 or even 200,000 gold coins to avoid disaster, and that was without any intention of getting the stolen goods back!
But now?

The supplies will be returned in full.

With just 100,000 gold coins and ten secret manuals, the total value is only a little over 200,000, which is less than half the value of those magical artifacts, pills, scrolls, and materials.

This, this, this!
"What? Too many?" Zuo Jing looked at Gongye Yunshan.

"No, no! That's too little!" Gongye Yunshan looked at Zuo Jing with a complicated expression and asked, "Any other requirements?"

Zuo Jing waved his hand: "That's all, that's all."

Gone?

Is it really gone?
How could it be gone!

Gongye Yunshan couldn't believe it. Just a second ago, the Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group's elite soldiers had launched a desperate attack on Gongye Trading Company, showing no signs of backing down.

As a result, this is it?
Gongye Yunshan was unwilling to believe it. He looked at Zuo Jing, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Commander Xiao, could you please give me some pointers? Where did my Gongye Trading Company clash with the Iron Blood Mercenary Group and the Soul Hall?"

It can't really be because of his two spendthrift sons, can it?

"Nothing else."

"It really is your two spendthrift sons who are such a spendthrifts."

Zuo Jing smiled and gestured to Gongye Yunshan not to overthink it: "Back when we stormed Dayouqi Trading Company, I already told Duan Pingqiu, the fourth-level sorcerer of your Gongye Trading Company, that Gongye Yangqiu had first harmed the brothers of my Iron Blood Mercenary Group, and Gongye Peisheng had broken his promise afterward. I told Duan Pingqiu to tell you that blowing up the gates of Gongye Mansion was just the first lesson, and storming Dayouqi Trading Company was just the second lesson. I told Gongye Trading Company to quickly wash their necks clean and accept their deaths, otherwise, my Iron Blood Mercenary Group will definitely turn the entire Gongye Trading Company upside down and make sure there is no peace for a single day!"

Zuo Jing shrugged: "It's a pity you don't take it seriously. You won't die even if you don't wash your neck, so there's nothing I can do but hit you."

"!!!"

Gongye Yunshan frowned deeply.

How can it be!

Is it really because of this?

He had of course received Duan Pingqiu's retelling, but he didn't really take it seriously at the time. After all, who would have thought that just because of the two stupid things his two good-for-nothing sons did, the Iron Blood Mercenary Group would launch a fierce attack on a behemoth like Gongye Trading Company, one of the thirteen elders of Wuyun City!

This, this, this!
That's unexpected!

Even now that the mystery has been solved, Gongye Yunshan still finds it hard to believe and thinks it was all a smokescreen.

But what is the other party's real purpose?

One hundred thousand gold coins?

Ten secret manuals?

Shit!

What are those!
But how do you explain that they only asked for these things and then stopped?
Gongye Yunshan!

He is confused!

……

The annual Izumo Auction is a grand event with a wide variety of items up for auction.

In addition to the main auction items, there are various exhibitions showcasing and auctioning a variety of exquisite small items.

Public auction.

Exhibition and auction.

These two formats are sufficient to cover the needs of people in high, medium, and low income groups.

Three years without business, then three years of feasting. The highlight of this auction—

First, there is a level six elixir.

Second, there are elven female slaves.

Thirdly, there are the 'Contract Scroll' and the 'Level 6 Pet Egg'.

This triggered a massive looting frenzy.

Even the starting bids for these three items are no longer ordinary gold coins, but rather the more precious 'mithril', 'serpentine', and 'inkstone'.

Copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins.

This is the common currency of the Spellcasting Continent, and it is also the currency commonly used by low-level spellcasters. It is sufficient for their needs.

However, as a sorcerer's level increases, no amount of gold coins becomes more than just numbers. The treasures they often need, such as level 5 or 6 pills, magical artifacts, spell scrolls, or other treasures of equal value and rarity, are all priceless to a certain extent and cannot be bought with any amount of gold coins.

then.

In addition to copper, silver, and gold coins, three other equivalent exchange items emerged based on market demand—

Mithril!

Sergin!

And inkstone.

among them.

Mithril is extremely precious because of its excellent compatibility and malleability, which allows it to combine different materials well. It is an excellent material for forging, alchemy, and even writing spell scrolls. Its value is extremely high and the demand is huge. Therefore, it has become the general equivalent in transactions among high-level sorcerers. A mere 1 gram can be worth 100 gold coins.

Sergon is equally precious, its value lying in its indestructibility. It can only be melted by soaking it in a special potion for an extended period, followed by rhythmic and prolonged firing with a strange fire. Therefore, when this metal is incorporated into weapons, armor, or other magical artifacts, it often possesses the attribute of being "indestructible," increasing the artifact's durability and reducing the chance of damage. It is often an indispensable material for high-level magical artifacts, and its value and rarity surpass even mithril; '1 gram of Sergon' equals '20 grams of mithril,' a difference of twenty times.

but.

Neither 'Mithril' nor 'Thorkin' can compare to 'Inkstone' in terms of value.

This is an energy stone. Level 6 sorcerers can 'draw qi into their bodies'. They can often extract the immense energy from the 'inkstone'. Whether for daily cultivation, breaking through barriers, or restoring sorcery power, or for refining pills, forging sorcery artifacts, or drawing sorcery scrolls, it can be used for all these purposes. It has a wide range of uses and is extremely valuable. An inkstone is about one centimeter in diameter, an octagonal crystal. It is as black as ink, hence the name inkstone. Such an inkstone is worth 1000 grams of serpentine, or 20,000 grams of mithril, or 2 million gold coins.

However, while a single inkstone can often be easily exchanged for 200 million gold coins, it is extremely difficult to buy an inkstone with 200 million gold coins.

"A level six sorcerer can use inkstone."

"In reality, even level six sorcerers rarely have the luxury of using 'inkstones' for daily cultivation. Generally speaking, level six sorcerers save inkstones they obtain for future use in overcoming various challenges, treasuring them greatly!"

Even the thirteen elders of Wuyun City, such as the Gongye Trading Company and the Xia Family Trading Company, might not be able to accumulate more than a few pieces of inkstone over generations.

This shows how precious it is.

They may not have it.

Zuo Jing didn't have any.

No inkstones appeared at this auction. However, the three final items required bids to be made in 'mithril' or 'serpentine', and ordinary gold coins were not even eligible for bidding.

However, neither female slaves nor pet beasts were of any use to Zuo Jing.

"The Gates of Hell can only transfer inanimate objects. Even if we take pictures of the elven slave girl, we won't be able to use her. We can't possess a dead body and have a romantic relationship with the slave girl, can we?"

“'Contract Scroll' and 'Pet Egg' are a perfect match. After using Contract Scroll to contract a pet egg and hatching the pet, you can establish an equal contract. With careful nurturing, once the pet is fully grown, you can have a level 6 pet, which is equivalent to having a level 6 sorcerer in charge.”

"As long as it doesn't die prematurely, and as long as it can successfully overcome the last growth threshold, it will definitely be a level six combat power, enough to suppress destiny."

But Sakyo still couldn't use it.

Leaving aside the fact that not every level 6 pet can fully mature, and that it is not guaranteed to become a level 6 pet, just consider its growth rate—

At least ten years.

It can take anywhere from several decades.

“The daylilies are cold.”

Zuo Jing shook his head: "I have an unlimited number of loyal soldiers, and I can sweep across the heavens with my army. There is no need to waste time and emotion on raising any pet beasts."

If you want to cultivate level six combat power, why go through all this trouble?

"With so many level four and five sorcerers in Dark Cloud City, wouldn't it be better for me to pick and choose and train them?"

With the bonds of family and clan, and the deterrent power of countless assassins, Zuo Jing could definitely be perfectly controlled if he was willing to train him.

Isn't training humans more practical than training animals?
Therefore.

Sakyo doesn't want the elven female slave.

Zuo Jing didn't want the contract scroll or the pet egg either.

But that level six pill—

"That's a pseudo-realm pill, priceless."

Gongye Yunshan came here for the sake of a level six elixir.

The term "pseudo-realm pill" is not a specific type of pill, but rather a general term. Any pill that can temporarily allow a person to transcend a certain realm can be called a pseudo-realm pill.

The three level-six pills that Izumo Auction House offered this time were all 'pseudo-realm pills', but they had different names—

"Firstly, the 'Yuanli Pill' allows the user to possess spell power comparable to a level six spellcaster in a short period of time, both in quantity and quality. This allows the user to not only cast multiple level five spells, but also potentially forcefully cast level six spells."

"Secondly, the 'Breakthrough Pill' can temporarily break through the barrier between heaven and man, allowing a level 5 sorcerer to temporarily possess the ability to 'draw qi into the body,' thereby borrowing the power of heaven and earth to comprehensively enhance all sorcery."

"Thirdly, the 'Body Fusion Pill' is a pill that allows magical power to fuse with the physical body. It can temporarily realize the energy transformation of the physical body, thereby enabling the casting of many magical spells that were previously difficult to cast or bear. Furthermore, under the fusion and nourishment of energy, the injuries that one has suffered in the past can be quickly restored."

All three types of pills can temporarily grant a level 5 sorcerer some of the abilities of a level 6 sorcerer.

Or perhaps it's the power of a spell.

Or perhaps it's a state of being.

Or privilege.

This allows for a significant boost in strength, enabling one to unleash their full potential and save their life in critical moments.

This is one aspect.

However, the greater appeal and value of these elixirs to level-five sorcerers lies in—

"Having some of the characteristics of a level 6 sorcerer in advance is extremely beneficial to a level 5 sorcerer in their attempt to become a level 6 sorcerer."

"Any one of these three Breakthrough Pills can increase the chance of breaking through by at least half a percent. Among them, the 'Breakthrough Pill' is undoubtedly the most effective for breaking through to level six, which can increase the chance by almost a full ten percent."

"Its value is also the highest."

Gongye Yunshan stared at the Breakthrough Pill, his face expressionless, but his heart burned with desire.

Oh?
Zuo Jing also became interested.

……

(End of this chapter)