The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 799 - 442_2
On the afternoon of the second day after Elder He won the position of Sect Leader, she finally emerged from the God Demon Prison. In the mirror, her own reflection carried a hint of spring in the brows and eyes, her face flushed. She had no choice but to fetch a basin of cool spring water to reduce the feverish redness, only then did she dare to face others.
Elder He looked at her with a smile in his eyes, but her face remained burning, always feeling as if there was some hidden teasing in his gaze. The old demon, having honed his skills over years, had sharper ears than anyone and a mind far more astute than ordinary people. By saying nothing at all, she felt unable to defend herself!
At this moment, the old man with white hair and a youthful face seemed not at all approachable.
He wielded great power, issuing new decrees one by one. Holding back for so many years, Elder He had already simulated many new regulations countless times in his mind, now enforcing them calmly and methodically. Originally, the power between the two Sect Leaders was divided into leadership authority and internal affairs equally, mutually restraining each other. However, Elder He, to gain support from Langya, had promised to surrender leadership authority once successful, thus he focused solely on internal affairs and indeed this was his forte.
Hidden Stream had always been closed off, most people were clueless about trade matters, originally managed entirely by Jiu Mo, who casually assigned Qingluan to handle them. Now, with He Sect Leader at the helm, it was different. Among the twenty-plus new regulations issued, about a dozen pertained to trade matters, effectively overturned the previous isolation policies, vigorously promoting external trade exchange.
Since the Spiritual Medicine resources in the Ba Snake Mountain Range were extremely coveted, from then on Hidden Stream would no longer solely interact with a few Immortal Sects in the Northwest. For this purpose, He Sect Leader specially established the Foreign Affairs Department, dedicated to external trade connections, and opened an Immortal market near the outskirts of the Ba Snake Forest close to the Red Cloud Plateau for cultivators to trade. These new regulations dealt a heavy blow to the Northwest Alliance firsthand, as Hidden Stream’s Spiritual Medicine would no longer flow to the outside world solely through them. Although they still held the purchase priority, if Hidden Stream wanted to sidestep agreements and manipulate things, there was ample space to do so. Through this method, Elder He also delivered a blunt blow to the Northwest Alliance, stirring the collective sentiments within Hidden Stream.
Hidden Stream quietly switched Sect Leaders and intended to stretch its hands wide to conduct trade with the entire continent! This news spread across the Southern Continent within half a year, turning the Red Cloud Plateau, originally sparsely populated east of Ba Snake Forest, into a bustling commercial path, with rainbows streaking across and intersecting frequently. The Red Cloud Plateau still refused mortals, yet could not deter the cultivators eager for spirit grass and elixirs.
After the new decree was implemented, the first outsider to set foot on the Ba Snake Mountain Range was a steward from Heavenly Residence dispatched to Chiming City. Being closest to Ba Snake Forest, his keen commercial instincts allowed him to seize business opportunities promptly. He signed a highly profitable major agreement with Hidden Stream. The largest scale auction of Heavenly Residence was about to take place, with countless Spiritual Medicines from Hidden Stream paving his path to promotion.
His success attracted other Immortal Sects and Demon Sects like moths to flame.
The perennial closure and now openness of Hidden Stream both stemmed from Changtian’s decision. Elder He’s decrees were all based on his wishes. With the True Form of Ba Snake about to emerge, Hidden Stream no longer needs to adhere to the closed viral fighting operational manner, instead opting for accumulating strength and hoarding resources. To Changtian, he needed Hidden Stream to be stronger, wealthier, and more intimidating. While shutting off and sealing the sect would indeed appear mysterious to outsiders, it’s not as intimidating as showcasing overwhelming might and visible military prowess.
Moreover, although Hidden Stream enjoys the benefits of the Ba Snake Mountain Range, its weaknesses and strengths are equally apparent—the lack of quality minerals. Hidden Stream remained closed for years, and Ba Snake Mountain Range didn’t produce ores, hence the Magic Artifacts owned by the Demon crowd within the sects were mostly of poor quality. This drawback was vividly demonstrated in disputes with the Northwest Alliance. For an army to unleash its full combat power, besides morale and command, the most fundamental factor is equipped weapons.
The demon soldiers of Hidden Stream are soon to step onto the continental stage for battle. Changtian will hardly allow his subordinates to fight enemies bearing scrap metal! Thus the external exchange of Ba Snake Mountain Range chiefly aims to procure better Magic Artifacts, better Demon Armor, better Divine Weapons, and all other materials supporting warfare.
The largest benefactor besides Hidden Stream would be Miluo. Don’t forget under his rule, Chiming City is the westernmost human city on this continent and the nearest city to Ba Snake Mountain Range. The sudden busyness of this trade route yielded unimaginable benefits to Chiming City. Cultivators are not without desires; the basics of living, traveling, and entertainment still need consideration, even demons attach importance to appetites and sensual pleasures.
Strong consumer demand is an effective lever to drive the economy. With the opening of the trade route, restaurants flourished across the city, suddenly increasing by hundreds, and the business of brothels, banks, and gambling houses improved significantly, with upscale taverns bustling more than ever, and established guilds like Shuize Garden, opened several new branches.
After all, where immortals like to settle, mortals are sure to follow suit. Chiming City instantly entered a phase of rapid and bustling prosperity, a year later the secret account book brought by the City Lord’s steward recorded that the city’s fiscal revenue rose by seventy percent compared to the previous year!
Gratitude: October 18 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
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