298: Zhang family purpose, trading meeting

Within Qingyun Market, a blue Spirit Light shield suddenly rose, covering the entire market.

Countless Cultivators and Loose Cultivators couldn't help but look up, and when they saw that it was Lin Shiming confronting them, everyone was somewhat astonished.

In Yunzhou, Lin Shiming's reputation was already incredibly loud. After all, a Sword Cultivator and Wood Cultivator combined, with vine techniques plus Sword Cultivator, how could these Cultivators not be wary!

It was just that after the Mysterious Grade Secret Realm, Lin Shiming entered a death seclusion, and with Lin Xianzhi's demise, the Lin Family's presence in Yunzhou had weakened considerably.

However, confronting Zhang Haogang now was clearly irrational.

Especially seeing that Lin Shiming had not yet broken through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, they felt it shouldn't be happening.

But the result was beyond everyone's expectations.

With just one sword strike, the yellow bell vibrated wildly, emitting a deafening hum, almost shattering.

And this was Zhang Haogang's full effort, having also used two Magical Artifacts.

This scene truly astonished the Cultivators. Although Sword Cultivators were powerful, a Body Cultivator who struck first was equally terrifying.

And Lin Shiming drew his sword again. This sword strike was just like the previous one, a Sword Grass formed by Sword Qi, enveloped the Zilai Sword, and a terrifying sense of oppression descended.

Zhang Haogang immediately felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy, activating his Body Refining technique. A brilliant Spirit Light covered his body, while his figure rushed forward at high speed.

As a Body Cultivator, his strength lay in speed, and he believed Lin Shiming would certainly not detect him through the brilliant Spirit Light.

However, it should be known that Lin Shiming not only possessed vast and refined True Essence, but his Divine Sense also existed at the Peak Foundation Establishment.

Zhang Haogang's methods were simply too ordinary.

And his Heavenly Severing Sword Art was not something that could be avoided with ordinary speed.

With another terrifying sword strike, the yellow bell immediately developed a web-like crack, and then large sections of Spirit Light shattered, revealing the yellow spirit bell's true form, its Spiritual Qi greatly diminished, and Zhang Haogang also violently spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

The spirit bell was so close, and under its violent tremor, coupled with Lin Shiming's pervasive Sword Intent, he sustained minor injuries.

This scene, not to mention Zhang Haogang's disbelief, even the many Cultivators below were somewhat dumbfounded.

A Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Sword Cultivator and a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator, yet the outcome was decided in two moves.

Outside Lin Shiming, Sword Intent still surged. One man, one sword, stood in the Void Realm, like a Heavenly God.

And this also made the Ze Generation's blood boil.

This was the strength of their Lin Family's Genius Seventh Uncle!

Even Lin Shiyi couldn't help but shake his head. This seventh brother was now much harder to catch up to than his elder brother.

However, there were no other thoughts in his eyes. The stronger Lin Shiming became, the harder he would have to work to help Lin Shiming.

It should be known that his Foundation Establishment, and even his survival, were all due to the Dragon Beast meat Lin Shiming gave him.

A hint of gloom flashed in the exasperated Zhang Haogang's eyes. He still wanted to rush forward, but he saw another white-clothed Middle-aged cultivator walk out from within the market.

"Haogang, don't be rude. This is a Disciple of Qingxuan Sect's Zi Xuan Sanren!" This person walked out with a light and casual demeanor.

He ascended into the sky unhurriedly, but outside, it was not so. A terrifying Peak Foundation Establishment spiritual might spread out.

This was clearly to pressure everyone.

Countless Loose Cultivators and Disciples of small families secretly seethed with resentment but were utterly helpless. Who would have thought that strolling through the market could lead to being pressured by a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

Yet, at this moment, with the Zhang Family and Lin Family in a standoff, they couldn't say anything.

Nor did they dare to say anything.

Of course, the Lin Family showed no intimidation.

Lin Shiming's heart also tightened. This Zhang Haoling truly lived up to his reputation as the Zhang Family's Patriarch.

He was clearly much more difficult to deal with than Zhang Haogang. With a single mention of "Qingxuan Sect Disciple," the Zhang Family's embarrassing situation of losing Face disappeared, and by using his spiritual might and the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators above, he pressured the entire Qingyun Market.

Without Qingxuan Sect Cultivators, who in Yunzhou would dare to contend with the Zhang Family?

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, are you also sending Lin to meet Free Spirit Yunling? However, Lin wants to see whether Yunzhou is governed by Qingxuan Sect's old rules or by the Zhang Family?"

Lin Shiming's fingers were clasped together, retracting the Zilai Sword, and his streaked hair also returned to calm.

If Zhang Haogang didn't get angry, there would certainly be no more gains today.

However, for him, being able to regain the Lin Family's importance and maintain their original share was enough.

The most important thing was for the Lin Family to secretly use its unique Spirit Cuisine, spirit wine, and the Glinting Metal Stone Vein to silently harvest Spirit Stones from Loose Cultivators.

And with this display, the considerable prestige that the Lin Family had lost due to five years of forbearance would certainly be recovered.

"Of course not. This matter is also my fault, Zhang. I hope Fellow Daoist Lin will come down for a long talk over tea. I, Zhang, will certainly apologize, and the Qingxuan Sect's Chief Qian will naturally come along!"

"At that time, there will also be a trade fair!" Zhang Haoling continued.

His tone had become polite.

Lin Shiming naturally wouldn't refuse Zhang Haoling's goodwill. It should be known that his arrival was also a gesture of submission. Before the Lin Family had Purple Mansion Cultivators, he would not move against the Zhang Family.

After all, there was a huge difference between having Purple Mansion Cultivators and not having them, and the Zhang Family was an established Purple Mansion Family.

But once he and Lin Xianzhi both reached the Purple Mansion Realm, he would not hesitate to act against the Zhang Family.

The group descended into Qingyun Market, harmonious and laughing.

They perfectly displayed the worldly wisdom and adaptability of Cultivators!

The rest of the Lin Family naturally returned to their shops, while Lin Shiming, taking Lin Shiyi with him, followed Zhang Haoling and Zhang Haogang to the Qingyun Auction House in Qingyun Market.

This auction house was previously controlled by the Li Family and hadn't been opened for nearly twenty years. After all, the Li Family had an incident, and both the Lin Family and the Qian Family, in their plans for the Secret Realm, were extremely low-key and had been preparing all along.

Now, it seemed the Zhang Family was reorganizing it.

The second floor of the auction house was a private hall, also the place where Yunzhou organized small gatherings for Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

What Lin Shiming didn't expect was that it was already more than half full, with as many as thirty or forty people.

Most of Yunzhou's Foundation Establishment Cultivators had definitely arrived. Besides Foundation Establishment Cultivators, there were also many Peak Qi Refinement Cultivators, but these people sat on the periphery, trembling with fear.

Clearly, this market's redistribution conference had already begun.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, allow me to introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Qian from Qingxuan Sect's Shenji Peak!"

"He is also the Chief here in Yunzhou!"

"Greetings, Chief Qian!" Lin Shiming was somewhat surprised to hear the surname Qian. The previous Chief was from Tianjian Peak, but now it seemed that with the Qian Family's incident, Qingxuan Sect had transferred the Chief of Tianjian Peak back.

However, even if there were ripples in his heart, his expression remained unchanged.

Daoist also needed to strive for Spirit Stones. Why did Xie An mention two opportunities to act? It was because he also wanted to continue cooperating with the Lin Family.

The Lin Family's monkey wine and market shop income could also help him, and perhaps in the future, he would even take a few Named Disciples within the Lin Family.

It was just that the news of Xie An's Breakthrough to Purple Mansion had not yet emerged, so he couldn't visit.

This Chief Qian nodded, saying nothing.

The Qingxuan Sect's interests had always been the most important layer of shops in the market, which they wanted to control, and they would also collect some market tribute. For them, they didn't care whose hands the other shops were in.

At the other party's signal, Zhang Haoling slowly began to speak:

"Fellow Daoists of Yunzhou, I believe everyone already understands the reason why I, Zhang, convened this meeting."

"Here, I, Zhang, will say it again, and you are all welcome to offer your guidance!"

Zhang Haoling first looked around and, seeing no objections, then spoke.

"As everyone knows, the Li Family's betrayal and the Qian Family's incident caused many shops in the entire Qingyun Market to close down, leading to a trend of Loose Cultivators leaving. Therefore, the shops must be re-divided and reshuffled, leaving them to families with strength!"

"This is one thing!"

Zhang Haoling stopped there, and everyone was momentarily stunned, even Lin Shiming was surprised.

Listening to Zhang Haoling, the Zhang Family had other intentions.

"Secondly, more than a decade ago, a beast tide attacked. Although it was repelled by the various Immortal Masters of the Azure Sword Sect, many areas were occupied by Yao Beasts that had not retreated from the Qingyun Mountain Range. These Yao Beasts included Third-Order, and even Fourth-Order Purple Mansion Great Demons, which greatly hindered Loose Cultivators from entering the Qingyun Mountain Range to hunt Yao Beasts, and also limited the development of Qingyun Market."

"And the Zhang Family, where I, Zhang, belong, is willing to take the lead and guide everyone to do this deed that benefits the present generation and will be remembered for thousands of years!"

After Zhang Haoling finished speaking, everyone's expressions instantly changed.

They naturally understood the Zhang Family's meaning.

But in their eyes, it was nothing more than the Zhang Family discovering some good Spiritual Vein or insight, using a pretense to make them cannon fodder.

Even Lin Shiming began to frown.

He hadn't expected the Zhang Family's objective to be the Qingyun Mountain Range. Gathering so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators was also for this reason.

Perhaps, this time's objective also involved a Fourth-Order Purple Mansion Great Demon.

Lin Shiming frowned slightly, and the other Cultivators naturally also had some reservations.

They did not agree with the idea of 'benefiting the present generation and being remembered for thousands of years'.

The Qingyun Mountain Range was already a ticking time bomb. If one agitated Third-Order Yao Beasts, the Yao Kings and Purple Mansion Great Demons within wouldn't say anything; after all, Yao Beasts eat people, and people kill Yao Beasts, they were much more cold-blooded and didn't care.

But once it involved Purple Mansion Great Demons, those were the core Yao Race of the Qingyun Mountain Range.

If a Bloodline descendant was killed, as happened last time, it was highly possible that a group of Yao Kings would emerge to kill.

"Don't worry, our Zhang Family's Third Uncle, Free Spirit Yunling, will also take action!" Zhang Haoling continued.

But at this moment, how could others be reassured?

It was already difficult to survive the war between righteous and demonic Cultivators. If this beast tide caused the death of a Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator, then the Foundation Establishment Legacy might even be severed.

Among the thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators here, there were only five or six Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators, only one Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, and the rest were all Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivators who had achieved Foundation Establishment in recent years, relying on the large number of Foundation Establishment Pills released after the war between righteous and demonic Cultivators.

And if the beast tide was gone, the Zhang Family would not release Foundation Establishment Pills to help them. Even if the Zhang Family had Foundation Establishment Pills, or could even refine them, they would not be able to, nor would they, take them out.

"Don't worry, I, Zhang, also know what everyone is concerned about. But the market's income will increase, and furthermore, the objective this time is Red Lion Ridge, not far from the Qingyun Mountain Range, where a Purple Mansion Great Demon has just broken through, along with a Fourth-Order Spirit Vein and many Materials. Are you all willing to give up on this?"

"And my uncle is a Mid Purple Mansion Realm great Cultivator. As Cultivators of our generation, are we unwilling to take this small risk?"

"Then there's no need to participate in the market's grand competition. With such narrow-minded thinking, how can a Family develop and grow?"

Zhang Haoling's tone suddenly turned cold, which made the Cultivators' hearts clench.

Lin Shiming wasn't afraid, but he wanted to know, what was the Zhang Family's purpose?

Was it simply for the Fourth-Order Spirit Vein, or to increase market revenue?

He couldn't quite figure it out, but at present, he couldn't help but admire the Zhang Family's shrewdness.

To gain market benefits, one had to participate, and if one didn't, and other families did, the difference between having a market and not having one was too great.

"My Lin Family is willing to participate!" Lin Shiming was the first to speak.

This surprised Zhang Haoling somewhat. It should be known that Lin Shiming had just arrived and was also giving the Zhang Family a show of strength.

"Fellow Daoist Lin's righteousness, I, Zhang, admire!" Zhang Haoling cupped his hands.

And the Chen Family's Grand Elder, a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, also nodded in agreement.

Most of the shops in the market originally belonged to the Lin Family and the Chen Family. Having tasted the benefits of the market, how could they withdraw?

Their Chen Family also believed they had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

With the Lin Family and Chen Family confirming, Cultivators from several Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator families also nodded in succession.

And the remaining Cultivators also had no choice but to agree.

Although there was an option to volunteer, if they rejected Zhang Haoling's Face, and they didn't even have Cultivators with Foundation Establishment Middle Stage strength, the Zhang Family could easily send out a Cultivator, find some excuse, and trip them up, which they couldn't bear.

As for the Qi Refinement Family Cultivators, they almost just went through the motions and all agreed.

"Since everyone agrees, I also hope that in this grand endeavor of Qingyun, all of you will be remembered for generations!"

Zhang Haoling spoke with soaring ambition, and the others nodded repeatedly, full of praise. As for what they truly felt in their hearts, Lin Shiming was unsure.

In his heart, he was quite interested in what the Zhang Family's true objective was.

"Alright, everyone, since matters are settled, the grand competition will be held seven days from now. And today, since you all are fated to be here, and it's extremely rare to gather, why not hold a small Foundation Establishment gathering for a bartering session!" Lin Haoling said.

And this made the Cultivators nod.

The Cultivators of Yunzhou were close to the Qingyun Mountain Range, so they had many Materials in their hands.

Moreover, the Zhang Family was an Artifact Refining Family, and Free Spirit Yunling among them was even renowned for his Artifact Refining memory throughout the entire Zhao Country.

As expected, Zhang Haoling then took out a series of Magical Artifacts.

Three items in a row, all three Magical Artifacts were extremely outstanding.

"Everyone, I, Zhang, will first offer a humble opinion. This time, two High Grade Magical Artifacts and one Top Grade Magical Artifact!"

"The Top Grade Magical Artifact is the Mountain River Seal. When maximized, it is comparable to a mountain, capable of suppressing all Yao Beasts, and it doesn't require much True Essence. It is only exchanged for precious Spirit Medicine or rare Materials and treasures of equivalent value, over a thousand years old!"

"The other two Magical Artifacts are the Heavenly Fire Pliers and the Profound Gold Spear! They are also for exchanging Spirit Medicine and precious treasures!"

As these words came out, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present also became eager.

For most Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivators, High Grade Magical Artifacts were the limit; Top Grade Magical Artifacts were more strenuous to wield.

But for everyone, if they could obtain them, the higher the grade, the better.

Lin Shiming, however, was extremely indifferent. He possessed numerous Top Grade Magical Artifacts, and his High Grade Magical Artifacts had already been phased out and given to other Cultivators in the Family, let alone these High Grade Magical Artifacts.

Perhaps only a Top Grade defensive Magical Artifact could make him take a second look.

However, at this moment, his System notification appeared once again!