75: Chapter 75 Initial Understanding of the Situation, Visiting the Chamber of Commerce

Within the study, the candlelight was bright.

Gu Yan's fingers tapped lightly upon the intelligence report on the desk, which bore the four characters "Tianyi Chamber of Commerce."

The enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend.

But, they can absolutely become... a temporary ally.

Especially when this "ally" has the most direct conflict of interest with your enemy.

The Chen Family dominates Baifeng City with their Medicinal Pill business.

As for the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce, it is the only commercial giant in Baifeng City capable of standing toe-to-toe with the three great families. Their business spans various Domains, including Magical Artifacts, Talismans, and Materials, but...

In the Medicinal Pill market, they are firmly suppressed by the Chen Family, only able to scrape by on some leftovers.

Gu Yan believed that the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce would absolutely not be resigned to this.

What they lacked was not channels or financial resources.

It was a turning point sufficient to break the Chen Family's "technological monopoly"!

And the "Superior Qi Gathering Powder," whose quality far exceeded the current era in his hands, was that... best turning point!

He knew what he had to do.

The next day, at noon.

Gu Yan changed into a moon-white robe sewn from high-quality heavenly silk, with a valuable warm jade found in the Zhao Family treasury hanging from his waist, making him appear dashing and extraordinary in demeanor.

He did not bring any guards, only Steward Gu Zhong, and under the name of the "New Owner of Gu Garden," he submitted a calling card and headed straight for the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce headquarters located in the city center.

The Tianyi Chamber of Commerce headquarters was a magnificent nine-story pagoda built entirely of white marble and glazed tiles.

Above the top of the pagoda, clouds swirled and cranes circled; even in the center of Baifeng City, where luxurious buildings stood in great numbers, it still stood out from the crowd with extraordinary grandeur.

"A distinguished guest has arrived, please forgive us for not welcoming you sooner."

As soon as Gu Yan stepped into the magnificent chamber of commerce hall, which was large enough to hold a thousand people, a young woman dressed in luxurious palace attire, with a graceful figure and beautiful appearance, moved with light steps, surrounded by a group of managers, and came to greet him.

On the woman's face hung a professional and perfectly measured smile, and her pair of phoenix eyes, bright and full of spirit, swept over him, sizing him up without leaving a trace.

Gu Yan's heart stirred slightly.

He could see that although the woman before him appeared to be only in her early twenties, her bearing, as well as the shrewdness and scrutiny that flashed deep in her eyes, were definitely not something an ordinary manager or maid could possess.

"You must be Patriarch Gu, who spent ten thousand gold yesterday to purchase Gu Garden, right?" The woman parted her red lips slightly, her voice crisp and pleasant, "I am Jin Feiyan, a manager of the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce, and my father is the president of this Chamber of Commerce. I wonder, what brings Patriarch Gu to visit us today?"

Jin Feiyan!

The only daughter of the Chamber of Commerce president!

She was also rumored to be the future... successor of the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce!

A look of realization appeared in Gu Yan's eyes.

It seemed that his act of "spending ten thousand gold" had successfully caught the attention of the true power holders in this city.

"So it is Miss Jin, my apologies." Gu Yan smiled calmly and cupped his hands neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I am new here, and I have heard that the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce is the most reputable and powerful chamber of commerce in Baifeng City. I have come to visit today because I wish to discuss a... major business deal with your Chamber of Commerce."

"Oh? A major business deal?"

A brilliant light shone in Jin Feiyan's beautiful eyes. She led Gu Yan to a VIP room nearby to take a seat and personally served him a cup of fragrant Spirit Tea.

"Patriarch Gu is so young, yet possesses such courage and financial resources; your background must be extraordinary, right?" She chatted seemingly casually, but in reality, every question was full of probing.

"Just a nobody from a fallen Family, not worth mentioning." Gu Yan deflected the question flawlessly.

"Patriarch Gu is too modest. Someone who can take out fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones in one breath to buy a residence is a rare find in all of Baifeng City." Jin Feiyan's gaze was bright and piercing as she stared closely at him, "Patriarch Gu's visit to our Baifeng City shouldn't just be for... purchasing a residence to spend your later years in, right?"

"Miss Jin is straightforward, so I will not beat around the bush either."

Gu Yan knew that when dealing with a woman who was shrewd to the extreme, any concealment or probing was superfluous.

He put down his teacup and leaned forward slightly.

He looked into Jin Feiyan's scrutinizing eyes and spoke slowly, enunciating every word, as he dropped the... bombshell of his trip!

"I hope to conduct a... deep cooperation with the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce."

"A cooperation that is sufficient to..."

"Change the Medicinal Pill landscape of the entire Baifeng City!"

Change... the landscape?!

These four words were like a thunderclap, exploding fiercely in Jin Feiyan's ears!

On her pretty face, which had always worn a professional smile, all smiles vanished in this instant!

In their place was an unprecedented... gravity!

She stared fixedly at the man before her, trying to see even the slightest trace of bragging or lying on his face.

However, all she saw was... bottomless confidence! And composure!

The Medicinal Pill market!

This was the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce's only, and greatest... pain in Baifeng City!

It was the... barrier they had fought the Chen Family over for a hundred years, yet were never able to shake!

And now, this mysterious outsider who didn't know where he came from, actually... had the audacity to say he wanted to... change the landscape?!

What gave him the right?!

"Patriarch Gu..." Jin Feiyan's voice became somewhat dry, "Do you know what you are saying?"

"Of course I know." The corners of Gu Yan's lips slowly curled into a mysterious arc, "And I also know that you, Miss Jin, and the Tianyi Chamber of Commerce behind you, will definitely... be very interested."

Jin Feiyan fell silent.

Her merchant heart began to beat violently because of Gu Yan's seductive words!

Intuition told her that the man before her, perhaps... really, was not talking big!

He must be hiding some kind of... trump card on him that was sufficient to overturn everything!

"Empty words are no proof."

After a long time, she slowly spat out four words.

In her eyes, the shrewdness and sharpness of a merchant reignited.

"Since Patriarch Gu wants to discuss cooperation, then please..."

"Show me your... sincerity."