A War Without Smoke

Inside the cold, desolate immortal cave. Luo Chen held his breath and focused his mind, seated upright upon an ice chair. There was good reason for him to be on his best behavior. Sitting directly across from him was a grand cultivator of the late Foundation Establishment stage. *I never expected this person would come to negotiate business with me in person!* Emotions surged within Luo Chen, carrying a trace of apprehension, yet also a hint of anticipation. And why? Because the person seated across from him was none other than Tantai Jin! A Foundation Establishment true disciple of Ice Fort, and also the commander of the Tianlan Immortal City Enforcement Team. Her formidable late Foundation Establishment cultivation radiated outward without the slightest concealment, exuding an immense, oppressive pressure. Suddenly. The aura receded. The handsome female cultivator, whose sharp features resembled those of a man, fixed her icy gaze on Luo Chen. "You refined this Jade Dew Pill?" Luo Chen let out a breath and nodded gently. "Indeed, it was I." Tantai Jin turned the jade bottle in her hands. "Selling Jade Dew Pills isn't your only aim, is it?" Luo Chen's heart gave a jolt, though his expression remained unchanged. "What does Fellow Daoist mean by that?" Tantai Jin stared at him, her expression like solid ice, without the slightest shift in emotion. "If all you wanted was to sell Jade Dew Pills, as vast as Tianlan is, the market could still swallow your stock, even if demand is niche." "You sought out Ice Fort presumably because you only just reached Foundation Establishment and haven't mastered refining the pill yet, meaning your output is low." "Rather than selling them off for spirit stones to recoup costs, it would be far better to maximize their value." "Borrowing Ice Fort's name to do business is your true objective." "Am I right, Danchenzi?" Luo Chen raised a brow. He had not expected her to read his thoughts so accurately. Calling him by his Daoist title, "Danchenzi," at the end showed that she had investigated him deliberately. It seemed she had indeed put some thought into this over the past three months! In that case, there was no need to hide it. "Just as Fellow Daoist Tantai says, that is indeed my intention." Tantai Jin had not anticipated he would be so candid after having his thoughts laid bare. Still, now that the cards were on the table, there was no need to beat around the bush. "Borrowing Ice Fort's name is no simple matter." Luo Chen smiled faintly. "I naturally understand. Thus, I come with genuine sincerity." "Let us hear your sincerity, then." "For the next ten years, the Jade Dew Pills will be exclusively supplied to Ice Fort, with priority given to Fellow Daoist Tantai." "After ten years and within a century, the pills may be sold externally, but Ice Fort will retain priority rights for bulk purchases." "As for the price, I promise it will never increase: low-grade Jade Dew Pills will be sold for only five hundred spirit stones per bottle!" At present, second-rank cultivation pills on the market easily went for over five hundred, or even six hundred spirit stones. Moreover, the upward trend was glaringly obvious. More importantly, unlike common cultivation pills, Jade Dew Pills were worth even more than ordinary second-rank pills to the female cultivators of Ice Fort, who mostly practiced water- and ice-attribute arts. Under such conditions, if there were a steady bulk supply of Jade Dew Pills, Ice Fort would be willing to pay a hefty price. Six hundred? No! They would gladly pay seven hundred or even eight hundred! Now, Luo Chen promised five hundred spirit stones per bottle, with an ironclad guarantee of no price hikes. His sincerity was plain for all to see. What was more, taking a page from how Taibai Market supplied spirit wine exclusively to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, he had arranged an exclusive supply of Jade Dew Pills for Ice Fort. This made the offer immensely appealing. After all, Ice Fort was not the only sect dominated by female cultivators in the Jade Cauldron Domain. The Hundred Blossoms Palace also claimed to house three thousand female cultivators! With this level of sincerity, she ought to be satisfied, right? Yet to his surprise: "Not enough." "Hmm?" Luo Chen frowned slightly. "Ten years will not do," Tantai Jin said impassively. "A century! For the next hundred years, the Jade Dew Pills may only be supplied exclusively to Ice Fort. If I discover any leaking out..." "A century it is!" Before she could finish, Luo Chen agreed without hesitation. Tantai Jin took a long, hard look at Luo Chen, then nodded faintly. "Senior Sister, see our guest out." Shi Boying, who had remained silent the entire time, stood up. Luo Chen cupped his hands to Tantai Jin, then followed the old woman outside. Only after leaving the immortal cave's perimeter did the bone-chilling cold gradually recede. "Fellow Daoist Shi, I have truly troubled you this time." As he spoke, Luo Chen offered a jade bottle. Shi Boying started, taking it almost instinctively. She thought about refusing, but seeing that it was a Jade Dew Pill, she quietly tucked it away. A thin smile tugged at the old woman's wrinkled face. "It was no trouble. It benefits the sect, and I was merely performing my duty." "Take this." A snowflake-shaped magical artifact landed in Luo Chen's hand. He looked at it closely. Its rank was not high, but it held a unique, bone-deep chill that formed frost upon contact. "This is the signature emblem of Ice Fort. You may imprint it on the shopfronts under your name to signify your status as an affiliate of our Ice Fort." "I cannot speak for the far future, but so long as Ice Fort is on rotation in Tianlan Immortal City, no one will dare cross you." "Even when other sects rotate in later, they will surely give you some face." Uncharacteristically, Shi Boying spoke a great deal in one breath. Hearing this, the heavy stone weighing on Luo Chen's chest finally lifted. With this, the Luotian Association had truly planted roots in Tianlan Immortal City. They had their own livelihood. They possessed the combat power of two or three Foundation Establishment cultivators. And they now had a backer. Not a single piece could be missing! Next, they could boldly expand their business, earn spirit stones, and focus on cultivation. Luo Chen expressed his gratitude. He then discussed the details with her—the annual quota of Jade Dew Pills, when payment would be settled, and other minor arrangements. With that, the matter was settled. "Then I shall take my leave." "Take care, Fellow Daoist. This old woman will not see you further." "Understood. Farewell!" Watching Luo Chen glide away atop a cloud, Shi Boying tightened her grip on the jade bottle, feeling a bit uneasy. She had lived in Ice Fort for a long time. This time, because of her advanced age and the sect's shortage of personnel during its rotation in Tianlan City, she had ventured out to handle routine affairs for the sect. Throughout her life, she had never encountered such... "bribery." To be honest, the sensation was rather novel. Tucking the jade bottle securely away, she composed herself and returned to the cave. "Did you finish discussing?" A cold voice rang out. Shi Boying felt a chill in her heart and respectfully replied, "It is settled. Luo Chen is indeed not yet adept at refining Jade Dew Pills. Thus, over the next few years, the supply may be unstable—no more than five bottles a year at most." Had an outsider heard this, they would likely have laughed out loud. A transaction involving a mere five bottles of pills was worth such solemnity from both sides? Yet only the two parties involved knew what this truly signified. Unpracticed, he could provide five bottles a year. What about once he became proficient? Ten bottles? A hundred? Or even more! That was precisely why Tantai Jin had stretched the exclusive supply period to a century. Such a long time was more than enough for him to hone his craft, and she would reap immense benefits along the way. Shi Boying had only realized this just now while outside. Though older in years, she truly had not looked as far ahead as Tantai Jin. "Five bottles? That is not far off from my estimation." Tantai Jin glanced at Shi Boying. "Do not report this to the sect. The quantity is too small to claim merit, and it would only stir up trouble." Shi Boying was surprised. Then understanding dawned. She wanted to keep this batch of pills for her own cultivation! Even a low-grade Jade Dew Pill had effects that far surpassed the mid-grade Harmonizing Qi Pills supplied by the Medicine King Sect for female cultivators. With these pills assisting her, Tantai Jin would likely break through to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment in no time! Having agreed, Shi Boying curiously asked about something else. "Why not recruit him into our Ice Fort?" Ice Fort was a Golden Core sect dominated by female cultivators. That did not mean there were no male cultivators within the sect. Some male cultivators suited to practicing Ice Fort techniques were admitted as well. However, in most cases, once their cultivation showed modest success, they were assigned outside the sect to manage various industries. Moreover, powerful female cultivators within the sect also formed Dao companions who resided long-term within Ice Fort. Luo Chen could refine Jade Dew Pills, a miraculous medicine that aided Ice Fort's female cultivators. By all logic, they should recruit him... Meeting Tantai Jin's cold gaze, Shi Boying suddenly realized. If they recruited him now, wouldn't that mean sharing the resource that was Luo Chen with others in the sect? As if sensing her doubts, Tantai Jin said coldly, "Times have changed. In the current situation, our sect will not casually recruit outside rogue cultivators." "Especially someone like Luo Chen, who hails from Dahe Market and has ambiguous ties with the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect." Shi Boying nodded. Suddenly, she caught a piece of information from those words. "The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect?" "Could it be... our Ice Fort has allied with the Falling Cloud Sect?" "Watch your tongue!" Tantai Jin snapped lightly, before adding impassively, "Senior Sister, some things need only be understood in your heart; there is no need to speak them aloud." Shi Boying took a deep breath and nodded heavily. Indeed, such things could not be broadcast carelessly. At present, the situation in the Jade Cauldron Domain was the Falling Cloud Sect allying with Mount Ailao and Azure Pill Valley to confront the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and the Flame Alliance. The former commanded great momentum, while the latter held deep foundations. If Ice Fort hastily declared its allegiance to the world, it could easily invite immense trouble. Keeping it quiet for now was by far the wiser path. Still, knowing that with Ice Fort's entry, the Falling Cloud Sect had united the strength of three sects, their chances of victory were substantial. *If the Falling Cloud Sect succeeds, will our Ice Fort finally be able to break free from that bitter, frigid land?* ... Luo Chen had no idea why Ice Fort, whom the Sword Sect had striven so hard to win over, had quietly leaned toward the Falling Cloud Sect. All he knew was that the uneasy anxiety hanging over his heart ever since arriving in Tianlan Immortal City had finally vanished with the Ice Fort emblem in hand. "Heh!" "Now we've got backing, too." Without hesitation, Luo Chen left the city immediately and headed straight for the Luotian Association. As soon as he arrived, a meeting was convened. "We can begin selling Jade Marrow Pills on a large scale!" A simple sentence, yet it stirred everyone's emotions. Sima Huiniang asked curiously, "President, could it be you have already resolved the pressure from above?" A snowflake magical artifact appeared in the center of the hall. Luo Chen infused spiritual energy into it, and the snowflake began to spin slowly. "Ice Fort!" "Ice Fort!" Exclamations broke out from several cultivators in the hall. With a wave of Luo Chen's hand, the artifact fell into Sima Huiniang's grasp. "Emblazon this emblem on our Luotian Association's banners. From now on, our business won't run into trouble." Everyone looked at one another in shock. No one expected that in such a short time, Luo Chen had genuinely resolved their biggest predicament. An Ice Fort emblem! Did this not mean the Luotian Association had hitched itself to Ice Fort and become an affiliate? Perhaps not in an official, sworn sense, but it would at least spare the Luotian Association countless obstructions and harassments in their upcoming business ventures. Sima Huiniang took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I will see to it immediately." It was not just her who would become busy. The cultivators of the Luotian Association's Battle Hall and Gold Hall would also swing into action. If the Pill Hall and Medicine Hall were the busiest during pill refining, then when it came time to sell pills, it was time for the Gold Hall and Battle Hall to flex their muscles. Now, only one question remained to be settled. "President, how should we price the Jade Marrow Pills?" Gu Caiyi asked. Luo Chen did not hesitate. "Mid-grade Jade Marrow Pills will sell for forty spirit stones a bottle. High-grade Jade Marrow Pills will be priced at eighty-five a bottle." Hearing this price, Gu Caiyi blurted out, "So low?" Not only her, but the rest of the hall wore looks of disbelief. One had to realize that under normal circumstances, Jade Marrow Pills were priced at fifty for mid-grade and ninety for high-grade. With the war dragging on, raw material costs were climbing. Instead of raising prices along with the market, they were slashing them! This... Facing everyone's bewilderment, Luo Chen said calmly, "We need low prices to break into the market and squeeze the low-rank cultivation pill market outside of Qi-Nourishing Pills and Yellow Dragon Pills." "Only after we force our way in and seize market share can we gradually raise prices." "This is a war. Only those who survive get to earn spirit stones." "Do you understand?" A price war! It was a simple business concept. Yet for cultivators who valued profit above all else, parting with profits felt worse than being killed. Even if many understood the reasoning, they would refuse to cut prices. Luo Chen naturally did not like giving up profits either. However, he knew that only by seizing sufficient market share could the profits be truly massive. Besides, at forty and eighty-five spirit stones, would the Luotian Association really fail to make a profit? Hardly! With his pill success rate, his cost control vastly exceeded that of alchemists of the same rank. Thus, a price war was the last thing he feared. "The Luotian Association needs this war!" "Only by seizing the low-rank pill market from those small clans and minor factions can we speak of a future." "This war is by no means lesser than the Battle of Mount Xiaohuan back then." "Everyone, pull yourselves together!" "Only by winning this war will all of you secure your future cultivation resources!" Each word fell upon their ears like a captivating spell, stirring ambition in their blood. Perhaps they had harbored doubts at first. Yet every step of the way, Luo Chen had demonstrated far-sighted vision; every decision he made had proven to be the right one. They already trusted him implicitly. Following his explanation, everyone was filled with drive. "We aren't just selling pills; we are fighting a war without smoke." "Only victory will bring a future and an abundance of cultivation resources!"