Mysterious mirror hanging high

Below the main seat stood more than ten foundation-building cultivators with different levels of cultivation. They were all the chief officers in charge of various aspects of the Xiaoyao League. Among them were Yuwen Xiaojin's three sons, some of whom had reached the perfect stage of foundation-building. However, facing Zhao Yuanxi, a cultivator in the middle stage of foundation-building, they were all silent and shrank like quails, fearing that Zhao Yuanxi would call them out.

Yuwen Yundan, who was called, had a bitter look on his face. He slowly stepped forward and bowed, saying:

"Reporting to the Deputy Alliance Leader, Yunchuan's pill production has slightly decreased this year, with the total amount down 3.2% compared to last year. Among them, the production of Qi-training pills has increased slightly, by 2.3%, while the production of foundation-building pills has decreased by 5.4%. The production of Golden Core-level pills has decreased the most, by a full 37.6%... Here is a list of the various types of pills, please review it."

Zhao Yuanxi took the list expressionlessly, nodded, and said nothing. He turned around and called out another person's name:

"Yuwen Yunqi, what is Yunchuan's refining output this year?"

Yuwen Yunqi said hesitantly, "The output of refining tools has also dropped a lot. The total amount has dropped by 5.3%. Among them, the low-grade magic tools..."

After spending quite a while to report the numbers, he glanced at Zhao Yuanxi nervously and waited quietly for comments.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuanxi clicked on Yuwen Yunfu again: "Yuwen Yunfu, what is the output of talismans?"

Yuwen Yunfu looked panicked. "Deputy Alliance Leader, Yunchuan's talisman production has also decreased, but the exact amount is still unclear. The deacon from the Spiritual Talisman Department hasn't handed over the specific list yet..."

Zhao Yuanxi frowned: "How can you do things? Don't you know how to push things forward?"

"I, I..." Yuwen Yunfu was speechless for a moment.

"Ahem, Deputy Alliance Leader, my younger sister has recently crossed a major hurdle in the art of talismans, and her level has greatly improved. As a result, a lot of her daily affairs have been delayed. There really are reasons for this..." Yuwen Yundan coughed lightly and stepped forward to make a few excuses for Yuwen Yunfu.

Zhao Yuanxi's face turned cold. "I asked her to be the head of the [Spiritual Talisman Department] so that she could coordinate the overall situation of Xiaoyao League and even the entire Yunchuan talisman-making industry, not to be a talisman master! If she is not competent, she should resign as soon as possible. How many young talents in the league are eyeing this position?"

"The Immortal Alliance is much bigger now, no longer the small workshop it once was. Whether you're an ordinary deacon or a leader who coordinates the overall situation, the tasks you have to handle have more than doubled. If you feel that the burden of chores is too heavy and is delaying your cultivation, feel free to speak up. There are officers who don't mind delaying their cultivation and will take over for you! Don't mislead the students here!"

Yuwen Yunfuxi's mouth pursed and she almost cried, but she was in public after all, so she forced herself to hold back her tears.

Zhao Yuanxi held the list in his hand and studied it for a moment, his brows furrowed slightly. "Production has been declining for several years now...hasn't the number of skilled cultivators in the alliance been increasing year by year?"

Yuwen Yundan whispered, "Deputy Alliance Leader, it's mainly because the trade route between Zhongzhou Territory and Yunchuan Territory has been opened, and a large amount of finished elixirs, magical instruments, talismans, and other spiritual resources have been transported in..."

"The spiritual resources in Zhongzhou are of such high quality and only slightly more expensive. The cultivators in Yunchuan prefer to buy those produced in Zhongzhou. The products of our Yunchuan cultivators cannot be sold and are left in a backlog, so naturally the production volume has decreased."

"Exactly!"

Yuwen Yunqi also complained at this time: "Deputy Alliance, the average price of a mid-grade [Golden Sun Sword] is about forty spirit stones, but the [Golden Sun Sword] in Zhongzhou can be sold for fifty spirit stones. It seems a lot more expensive, but the quality of the spirit swords in Zhongzhou can reach the top level of mid-grade!"

"Often, when the Golden Sun Swords of the two regions clash, after just a few rounds, Zhongzhou's Golden Sun Sword remains unscathed, while Yunchuan's already has several gaping wounds... After all, they are magical instruments for self-defense and spiritual protection, so naturally, cultivators won't be stingy with these ten spirit stones!"

"It's not just the four major categories of elixirs, weapons, talismans, and formations. Even puppets, poisonous insects, spiritual food, and so on are all vying for Zhongzhou's products. Yunchuan's products are almost no longer in demand..."

"Unless the import tariffs are raised..." Yuwen Yunqi suggested.

"That's absolutely impossible."

Zhao Yuanxi said flatly, "The import and export tariffs between the two regions were set by the Lords. If you want to change them, you need to report this request to Zhongzhou Region... Do you think the True Lords of Zhongzhou Region will agree? Zhongzhou Region supports Yunchuan. It's impossible for Yunchuan to just take benefits without giving anything in return. There's no need to mention this matter anymore."

Yuwen Yunqi sighed and said no more.

Zhao Yuanxi lowered his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly said:

"The reason cultivators don't want to buy elixirs and magical instruments made in Yunchuan is simply because they think the quality of Yunchuan's products is lower... But reaching the highest level of cultivation in a domain realm can't be achieved overnight. If you don't give it time to develop, it will only lead to a vicious cycle."

"That's it!"

"Immediately implement the policy of 'Body and Land Are One'. Cultivators born in the Yunchuan region should support their hometown's industries. We must instill in them the awareness of purchasing Yunchuan's local products!"

Yuwen Yundan stammered, "But cultivators aren't fools... Why would they abandon the higher-quality spiritual resources from Zhongzhou?"

"Let all the storytellers in the major restaurants take action!"

Zhao Yuanxi looked dissatisfied. "Write more stories about the rise of Yunchuan's local industries. Something like [A Jindan Zhenren was poisoned, the Zhongzhou doctors were helpless, and a Yunchuan cultivator saved him with a single elixir]... Are these stories that hard to write? Don't think they're stupid. There are many stupid people in this world, and they have plenty of spirit stones."

"Add some substandard goods to the goods sent to Yunchuan from Zhongzhou. For example, put two inferior pills in a bottle of genuine medicine, or mix a few inferior materials into a batch of magical instruments... Don't mix it directly on the shelves controlled by the branches of the major sects, so as not to give rise to gossip. Instead, mix it in the black market or other second-hand markets."

Zhao Yuanxi's expression was calm. "When something goes wrong with these goods, have the secret agents in the major immortal cities spread the news, implying that Zhongzhou Trading Company is selling inferior goods as good ones. Don't say it openly, just throw some dirty water on it secretly."

"Select a batch of relatively high-quality Yunchuan goods, pick a few generals from the short ones, and use them as examples to promote them and win back customers."

"The monks in Yunchuan didn't believe it at first, but as time went on, it would become a habit, and they would gradually turn to purchasing Yunchuan's own spiritual resources."

Yuwen Yundan was stunned: "Isn't this a bit shameful..."

Zhao Yuanxi flicked his sleeves and snorted coldly, "This is dishonorable, that's disgraceful. Think of a way to be honorable! Would you like Master Xuanjing to practice every day and refine excellent low-level elixirs for you from the Spiritual Pill Department?"

Yuwen Yundan's forehead was covered with sweat and he stopped talking.

"Oh, and we need to take care of the newly naturalized spiritual roots too. Let them learn the geography and history of the entire Yunchuan region before they become naturalized! We need them to be proud of being Yunchuan people from the moment they draw Qi into their bodies!"