Xiuxian: I use magnetic fields to prove my truth

Chapter 192 Conspiracy
Elder Mao Liang's room.

Besides Chen Qingxuan, the three elders of the Transmission Hall, along with Lü Qingzhu, were all here.

The manager of Sanwan City, Hu Guan of Nanwanbao City, Liao Qifeng of Wanbao City, and Xuan Zhen of Wanxiang City are all here.

All four family heads are here as well.

These three managers rushed back immediately after receiving the decree from Xu Jingfeng, the head of the Chuan Gong Hall.

Upon returning, they did not see Xu Jingfeng, but were instead taken directly to Mao Liang's room.

The three managers were not surprised. Golden Core cultivators in the sect never directly participated in various miscellaneous matters, but rather demonstrated their will through their subordinates.

Elder Mao Liang and the others were clearly acting on the orders of Old Ancestor Xu to negotiate with them.

Hu Guan smiled and said, "Old Ancestor Xu summoned us back, is there any instruction he has for us?"

Mao Liang said, "Fatty Hu, with your excellent information network, don't you know our intentions?"

Hu Guan smiled but didn't say anything.

Xuanzhen spoke up, "I've heard that things aren't going well for you lately."

Lü Qingzhu sneered, "Don't make it sound so easy. If we're in trouble, you'll all be doomed too."

Xuanzhen said, "That's not necessarily true. Whether it's you or Mu Zhuosha, whoever gains power will need experienced managers to guard the business."

Lü Qingzhu said, "Would Mu Zhuosha trust you? She has her own people."

Xuanzhen said, "You're overestimating her by relying on those ungrateful people under her."

Lü Qingzhu said, "Situations can be honed, and besides, they have Zhou Qing."

Xuanzhen fell silent.

Elder Mao Liang said, "You two, stop arguing. We are on the same side now. If we start a fight, won't we just make ourselves a laughing stock?"

Hu Guan laughed and said, "Elder Mao Liang, it would be best if Elder Xu explained what he meant."

Mao Liang said, "Old Ancestor Xu means that he hopes the three of you can stand firm. Zhou Qing is in charge of the Array Court and will immediately increase the amount to be paid. I'm sure you're all feeling bad. Now we have a way to make up for your losses."

The three shopkeepers hurriedly asked, "What's the solution?"

Mao Liang said, "The Anti-Qing and Restoration of Ming formation will no longer require you to pay any quotas to the sect, and the monthly shipments to everyone will be doubled."

The three shopkeepers were both surprised and delighted, and said, "Has Elder Xu negotiated with the Sect Leader?"

Mao Liang laughed and said, "Otherwise, how would we dare to do it?"

“Zhou Qing went too far this time. Although there is nothing wrong with it in terms of the rules, he took over the entire Array Academy in one move, and his methods were so unconventional and subtle that the Sect Master was bound to be wary. So now even the Sect Master will not favor him.”

The three shopkeepers smiled and said, "With the profits from the anti-Qing and restoration of Ming formations, the other losses aren't so bad."

"But Zhou Qing also has this formation. He also inscribed it with the same value to compete with us. What should we do?"

Mu Yunhe said, "We'll wage a price war against him."

Seeing that the three shopkeepers' gazes were all focused on him, Mu Yunhe continued, "Zhou Qing can't beat us in this aspect."

“If he also sells anti-Qing and restoration of Ming battle formations, he will have to hand over four-tenths of his profits to the sect, while we will not. At that time, as long as we lower the price, no one will buy from his shop anymore.”

"We've essentially cut off his business."

The three shopkeepers smiled and said, "We are relieved by what Patriarch Mu said."

Mao Liang laughed and said, "The Mu, Xu, Lü and Fang families suffered a lot this time. In order to speed up the engraving of the array plates, they spent a lot of money to buy soft black jade and recruit array masters. So we will change the rules in the future."

"When you shopkeepers receive your array tokens, please pay for the goods first." The three shopkeepers muttered to themselves for a moment, then quickly agreed to the request.

They were all frontline operators, so they were naturally very clear about the sales of the anti-Qing and restoration of Ming campaign.

When the goods arrived in their hands, they only regretted that there weren't enough, but weren't worried about not being able to sell them.

All three families paid the four heads of the household for their goods, received their respective array tokens, and then left happily.

The four heads of the family were also pleased.

The four families have been spending large sums of money lately: one for holding a formation conference, another for purchasing soft black jade, and yet another for recruiting formation masters.

Now that we've received some payment, we've finally recovered some of our losses.

However, this amount of money for the goods in the 30,000 cities is ultimately only a small portion.

Mu Yunhe said, "Once these three shopkeepers agree, it will be much easier to deal with the other shops of the next level."

Everyone smiled and nodded.

……

The three shopkeepers left Mao Liang's courtyard and headed out of the Chuan Gong Hall, intending to use their swords to leave from the welcoming platform outside Zi Chen Palace.

Just as they reached the entrance of the Chuan Gong Hall, they suddenly saw a familiar figure walking towards the entrance from another direction.

The three shopkeepers stopped simultaneously, knowing the same thing, and waited for the person to approach.

"Dean Zhou, congratulations."

The three shopkeepers laughed.

Zhou Qing smiled and said, "So it's the three managers. It's been a long time."

Hu Guan sighed, "When I met Dean Zhou two years ago, I knew that Dean Zhou was no ordinary person. I never expected that in just two years, he would soar to great heights and become someone that we ordinary people can no longer compare to."

Zhou Qing said, "Manager Hu, you flatter me. Do the three of you have business to attend to upon returning to the sect?"

Hu Guandao said, "I just came back to take a look."

Zhou Qing naturally didn't believe it. How could it be such a coincidence that the three managers returned at the same time? Looking at the direction they came from, Zhou Qing immediately understood the purpose of their return.

Zhou Qing didn't have a good impression of these three.

These three were all too slick. When they asked him to hand over the anti-Qing and restoration of Ming formation diagram, they promised to set up the Zhou Qing Fund with spirit stones every month and double the monthly spirit stone allowance for registered disciples.

As a result, the Zhou Qing Fund only lasted for a month. After that, the three of them found various excuses to deduct the spirit stones from the Zhou Qing Fund.

It wasn't until later, when Zhou Qing established his own workshop and his profits increased, that he used his own spirit stones to make up for this shortfall, ensuring that the Zhou Qing Foundation did not become a mere shell of its former self.

Therefore, upon seeing these three, Zhou Qing couldn't help but feel a mischievous urge and said, "What you three said about me soaring to the heavens is all an overstatement. You three are the true gods of wealth for the sect, and I still need to rely on you to make a fortune."

The three shopkeepers' eyes lit up.

Hu Guan laughed and said, "Dean Zhou, you're too kind. If you just let a little something slip through your fingers, we'll be set for life."

"The two talismans invented by Dean Zhou, the Thorn Wrap and the Fire Gold Needle, are renowned throughout the entire Western Continent and can be said to bring in a fortune every day. We have long wanted to ask the Dean to share some of these two talismans with our small shop, but we have never been able to find an opportunity to meet the Dean."

"It is a fortunate coincidence that we have met here. Please grant our request, Dean."

Zhou Qing laughed and said, "What's so difficult about that?"

(End of this chapter)