Beast Taming Immortal Clan

Chapter 407 Black Water Xuan Turtle Shield [Please Subscribe]

The Zhu family of Yanzhou is a renowned Golden Core clan in the Yanyang Sect region. This clan is a loyal follower of the Yanyang Sect, and its founding ancestor was a disciple of the Yanyang Sect.

By the time of Zhu Wuyai's generation, the Zhu family had produced its own Golden Core cultivator, thus solidifying its reputation as a Golden Core family.

Zhu Wuyai single-handedly brought the Zhu family into the ranks of Golden Core families. Not only was his cultivation high, but his vision was also excellent.

After hearing about the achievements of the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company, he only needed to do a little investigation to find that this business was definitely profitable.

Moreover, becoming a leader in this industry greatly benefits both the family's reputation and the expansion of other family businesses.

The Zhu family passed down their craft of weapon crafting, and Zhu Wuyai was a master weapon crafter who could craft high-grade third-tier magical artifacts.

If the Zhu family could become a partner of the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company in the Yan Yang Sect region, just like the Su family of Jiangzhou, they could use the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company's couriers who reach all parts of Jing Kingdom to help promote the Zhu family's magical artifacts. This would definitely boost the sales of the Zhu family's magical artifacts business.

Therefore, after learning that the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company did not yet exist in the Yan Yang Sect region, and that some local powerful cultivation clans were in contact with the Zhou family, Zhu Wuyai immediately decided to personally go to the Zhou family to discuss the matter and make the Zhu family a partner of the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company in the Yan Yang Sect region.

Upon hearing Zhu Wuyai explain his purpose, Zhou Chun immediately replied, "Senior Zhu's personal visit to discuss this matter has deeply moved both me and the Zhou family. Moreover, the strength and resources of the Zhu family truly meet our Zhou family's requirements for a partner."

"However, it might be quite difficult for the 'Zhou Tong Tian Xia' trading company to establish a presence in the Yan Yang Sect's territory right now!"

Upon hearing this answer, Zhu Wuyai's expression remained unchanged. He simply looked calmly at Zhou Chun and asked, "Oh, may I ask what kind of difficulty you are referring to, young friend Zhou?"

"The problem is a shortage of transport spirit beasts. Our Zhou family has already reached the maximum number of transport spirit beasts that can be deployed to the 'Zhou Tong Tian Xia' trading company, and there's no way to add more for delivery in the short term!"

Zhou Chun, looking troubled, explained the difficulties involved.

In fact, over the years, the Zhou family has accumulated quite a few spirit beasts for transportation.

Including the spirit beasts that were contracted by the Zhou family cultivators, the total number of various spirit beasts used for transportation in the Zhou family has exceeded three hundred.

However, the territory of Jingguo is also very vast. Some large prefectures, such as Yunzhou and Jiangzhou, need to arrange nearly twenty spirit beasts for transportation.

In addition, the Zhou family also needs to leave some spirit beasts for the family cultivators to use in order to expand their population.

We simply don't have the resources to continue taking over the express delivery industry in the Yanyang Sect region.

"This is indeed a rather serious problem!"

Zhu Wuyai frowned slightly, also feeling that the situation was tricky.

Having learned about the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company, he naturally understood the importance of spirit beasts for transportation in this industry.

It can be said that the reason he sought cooperation with the Zhou family was not only because the Zhou family had already made a name for themselves with the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company and occupied most of the market in Jingguo, but also because only the Zhou family could provide so many spirit beasts for transportation.

Zhou Chun, observing his expression and seeing that he didn't seem to have any intention of giving up, spoke again: "Actually, if Senior Zhu is really in a hurry, there is a temporary solution!"

"Oh, young friend Zhou, could you elaborate?"

Zhu Wuyai's eyes lit up, and he looked at Zhou Chun with anticipation.

"That's simple. We'll pay a high rent to rent spirit beasts from other families to use as transportation for a few years. After a few years, when our Zhou family's new demon beast cubs grow up and are ready to be used, we can gradually replace those rented spirit beasts."

"I've calculated it. Given the size of the Flame Sun Sect's territory, we'll only need about seventy spirit beasts for transportation. In fact, if we reduce the delivery efficiency a bit, fifty spirit beasts would be barely enough!"

"In this way, even if each spirit beast is rented for 100 spirit coins per year, the annual rent will only be a few thousand spirit coins."

"Based on the profits of my Zhou family's 'Zhou Tong Tian Xia' trading company over the past two years, including the salaries of relevant personnel, we only needed to subsidize about three to four thousand spirit coins annually in the first few years, and we can completely earn it back later!"

Zhou Chun spoke eloquently, explaining his alternative method.

Upon hearing his answer, Zhu Wuyai was initially delighted, but then frowned and said, "This method isn't impossible, but would other families be willing to lend us their spirit beasts for transportation?"

"Families in the Yan Yang Sect region might not be so willing, but families in the Qing Lian Temple and Yue Lun Sect regions can no longer shake the position of 'Zhou Tong Tian Xia' trading company in this industry. If we pay a high rent while also promising to waive some of their respective family's communication fees during the lease term, I think they are quite likely to agree!"

Zhou Chun smiled slightly and shared her opinion.

Nobody turns down money.

Renting out a spirit beast for transportation can generate a stable income of hundreds of spirit coins per year, and also provide benefits in terms of communication. At least many cultivation families that only have Foundation Establishment stage cultivators for protection would be willing to do it.

After all, before this, the purchase price of an adult Tier 1 Inkscale Steed would not exceed one thousand spirit coins.

However, a Blackscale Steed can live for sixty or seventy years.

It would be unrealistic to buy such spirit beasts for transportation on a large scale, since no one could provide that many in stock. In addition, the Zhou family would only need a few years to recover, so Zhou Chun was prepared to simply spend 100,000 to buy hundreds of such spirit beasts for transportation.

Zhu Wuyai, being a Golden Core cultivator, quickly understood Zhou Chun's meaning and immediately nodded, saying, "Alright, if that's the case, then there's no problem. We'll leave the matter of renting the spirit beasts to the Zhou family. My Zhu family is willing to pay the corresponding rent according to our share!"

"With Senior Zhu's words, I can rest assured."

Zhou Chun smiled and immediately struck while the iron was hot to discuss the profit-sharing arrangements with Zhu Wuyai.

After some bargaining, the two families decided to proceed with the cooperation model of the Zhou and Su families, with the Zhou family taking 60% and the Zhu family taking 40%.

However, since the Zhu family took the initiative to seek cooperation, they naturally made greater concessions than the Su family in some aspects. For example, they had to pay the majority of the rental fee for the spirit beasts used for transportation in the early stages, and they also had to bear more of the corresponding staff salaries in the early stages.

After the major plans were settled, Zhu Wuyai couldn't help but look at Zhou Chun and sincerely exclaimed, "I never expected that young friend Zhou would not only have outstanding talent in cultivation, but also such amazing ability to manage a household. It's truly enviable that the Zhou family has a patriarch like you!"

"Senior Zhu, you flatter me. It is my good fortune to be born into the Zhou family."

Zhou Chun replied modestly, his words were extremely eloquent.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Wuyai could only shake his head repeatedly, lamenting in his heart why his family did not have such an outstanding descendant.

After a moment's thought, he spoke again, "Besides my cultivation level, I have no other skills, except for a little knowledge of weapon crafting. If you, young friend Zhou, ever need any weapon crafting skills in the future, feel free to come to the Zhu family and find me. I can help you once for free as a reward for your agreement to cooperate with my Zhu family!"

He meant to leave a good impression with these words, but Zhou Chun's expression changed upon hearing them. He immediately patted his storage bag at his waist and took out a black tortoise shell.

"Senior, what do you think of this material? Can it be refined into a high-grade third-tier magic weapon?"

Seeing this, Zhu Wuyai was slightly taken aback, and then reached out to take the tortoise shell and examine it.

After a short while, Zhu Wuyai looked at Zhou Chun with a face full of surprise and said, "Young friend Zhou, you are truly skilled! If I am not mistaken, this should be the shell of a third-tier high-grade demonic beast, the Xuan Turtle. Judging from the natural scales on it, this demonic beast may also possess the bloodline of a dragon. Even a Golden Core cultivator would find it difficult to remove the shell of such a powerful demonic beast so completely, let alone in such perfect condition!"

Zhou Chun did not respond to his words, nor did he seem to want to explain the origin of the item. He simply smiled and said, "Since Senior Zhu speaks so highly of this item, it seems there shouldn't be any problem."

"It's not just no problem. Given its quality, and with my personal involvement, it's definitely a top-grade third-tier magic weapon. If some magic treasure materials could be incorporated during the forging process, it's even more likely that this treasure would gain the power to withstand attacks from magic treasures!"

Zhu Wuyai shook his head slightly, a hint of regret in his voice, and continued, "It's a pity this isn't a spiritual material from a fourth-tier demonic beast; otherwise, I might have been able to try refining it into a magic weapon!"

For him, who was already a master weapon refiner, breaking through to the Grandmaster level of weapon refinement was more important than his own cultivation breakthrough.

After all, given his current age and cultivation level, there is absolutely no possibility of him reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

However, if one can be promoted to a master craftsman, their status will immediately surpass that of most Golden Core cultivators.

Unexpectedly, after hearing his words, Zhou Chun suddenly said, "I happen to have a piece of 'Black Abyss Sinking Iron' on hand. Senior Zhu, do you think this item is compatible with this tortoise shell?"

"What? You still have a piece of 'Black Abyss Iron'!"

Zhu Wuyai looked at Zhou Chun in surprise, never expecting that his casual remark would actually become a reality.

He looked at Zhou Chun with a strange expression for a few moments before nodding and saying, "Of course. 'Black Abyss Iron' is renowned for its hardness and possesses excellent resistance to magic. If some 'Black Abyss Iron' could be added to this magic weapon, both its hardness and defensive capabilities would be greatly enhanced!"

"Then, senior, you can decide for yourself how much you need!"

As Zhou Chun spoke, he took out the millstone-sized "Black Abyss Iron" from his storage bag.

Such a huge piece of "Black Abyss Sinking Iron"!

Zhu Wuyai was stunned again when he saw the black ore that Zhou Chun took out.

Then, his eyes flickered, and he looked at Zhou Chun with burning eyes, saying, "To refine the magic weapon needed by young friend Zhou, only about one-third of this 'Black Abyss Iron' will be enough. Young friend Zhou, would you be willing to sell the rest to me? I am willing to buy it at a high price!"

For a master craftsman like him, there's never too much magic weapon material.

If we can successfully refine a magic weapon, it will be worth it no matter how much magic weapon materials we consume!

Since Zhou Chun had brought out the "Black Abyss Sinking Iron," he was prepared for this. He quickly did a favor by saying, "This junior and the Zhou family have no use for this item right now. Since Senior Zhu wants it, this junior has no objection."

"Good, young friend Zhou, you're very straightforward!"

Zhu Wuyai was overjoyed and immediately made an appointment with Zhou Chun for the time to retrieve the magic weapon. Then he took the two treasures back to the Zhu family.

Even for a master craftsman like him, forging a top-quality third-grade magic weapon is not something that can be done in a few days; he must carefully plan it out.

Therefore, he told Zhou Chun to wait for news first, and to notify Zhou Chun to come and pick it up after the magic weapon was made.

Zhou Chun was naturally not afraid that this dignified Golden Core cultivator would renege on his debt in this regard.

Next, Zhou Chun personally took care of finding other families to rent spirit beasts.

Actually, this is not a difficult thing for the Zhou family to do.

Over the years, many families have purchased the Eight-Cornered Water-Splitting Deer and other mythical beasts for transportation from the Zhou family.

Now that the Zhou family wants to rent their family's mount, and the price they're offering is quite good, they won't completely refuse, even if it's just so they can buy more high-quality mounts from the Zhou family in the future.

In less than six months, Zhou Chun had rented eighty spirit beasts for transportation.

As soon as he rented the spirit beast for transportation, the Zhu family immediately arranged for the recruited couriers to open branches of the "Zhou Tong Tian Xia" trading company in the Yan Yang Sect region.

That day, Zhou Chun received a message from Zhu Wuyai, asking him to go to the Zhu family to retrieve the treasure.

Upon receiving the message, Zhou Chun immediately rushed to the Zhu Family Mountain Gate in Yanzhou.

Inside a cave dwelling somewhere in the Zhu Family Mountain Gate, Zhou Chun met Zhu Wuyai, who had already finished refining the weapon.

Upon seeing his arrival, the other party didn't waste any words and directly took out a magical artifact from the storage bag at his waist.

The artifact looked almost identical to the original tortoise shell, except that it had an additional layer of dragon-scale-shaped iron plates on its surface. These iron plates were completely embedded in the shell, becoming one with it, as if they had originally grown inside the shell.

At the same time, profound and complex spiritual patterns and refining runes were imprinted on the surface of the dragon scales, and the inside of the tortoise shell was no exception.

Seeing that Zhou Chun's gaze was drawn to this magical artifact, Zhu Wuyai immediately channeled a burst of magical power into it, activating the artifact's power.

Driven by the magic power of a Golden Core cultivator, the tortoise shell magic artifact, originally about ten feet long, instantly transformed into a giant three feet long, and then quickly shrank back to a mere three feet in size.

Then Zhu Wuyai activated his magic power again, and a black spiritual light rose from the tortoise shell artifact, quickly condensing into a black light screen that protected him.

Only then did he speak to Zhou Chun, explaining, "Young friend Zhou, please look, this is the third-tier high-grade magic weapon, the [Black Water Xuan Turtle Shield], which I spent half a year designing and crafting!"

"This item is crafted from the shell of a third-tier superior-grade turtle demon and 'Black Abyss Iron.' It can change size at will, and its solidity is such that it cannot be damaged by any non-magical treasure!"

"Furthermore, this item possesses two major defensive capabilities. First, its inherent 'Black Water Mystic Light' can form a defensive light barrier even stronger than a high-grade third-tier defensive spell. Second, the 'Shadow of the Mystic Tortoise' can summon the image of a mystic to protect it, capable of withstanding an attack from an ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivator wielding a magical artifact!"

"However, young friend Zhou, you should be careful. The 'Shadow of the Mystic Tortoise' puts a great strain on this magical artifact. Using it repeatedly in a short period of time may damage it. It's best not to use it unless absolutely necessary!"

(End of this chapter)