Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 514 Starting moves

Note: a minor edit to the last paragraph of the previous chapter, Cao Xiang and Cao Mei are with them, apologies for the inconvenience

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Wu Long's group arrived a day later with no difficulty, capable of traveling even faster if there was a need.

Lian Zhiqiu immediately went to a remote peak, since when they were leaving the Sect last time a new construction began inside it, much like the one in the mansion.

Meanwhile Sui Luxiao, Cao Xiang and Cao Mei went straight to their respective subordinates to figure out the situation and give necessary commands.

The latter two's Liugwei Escort Agency was already operational, securing the Soaring Feather Trading Company's trading routes, and with techniques and skills they got from Wu Long along with cultivation resources provided by Sui Luxiao their prowess rose fast.

Old Yen worked in the shadows with the Thousand Eyes Information Bureau's people, feeding dummy shipments to the enemy with rapid frequency and creating a smokescreen for the real operations of the merchants, Madam Liang's personal disciples who could use Illusion Arts playing a pivotal role in this diversion.

The dutiful man just a few days prior reported a spike in the number of attempts to intercept shipments in the last two weeks, but it was not unexpected, rather, it was anticipated.

Wu Long knew exactly what caused it.

Around this time, several new Cultivation and Medicinal Pills started circulating on the market, appearing simultaneously all around the continent, their sole distributor being the Soaring Feather Trading Company.

The Alchemy Tower's response was fast as they tried to ban the pills in the Azure Eagle Empire by exerting their influence, but with the Throne recently starting to raise it's head to them and the Crown Prince actively lobbying the pills were allowed to continue being traded.

This made them harder to ban in the Six Kingdoms which closely followed the trends of the Empire despite the growing dissatisfaction with their politics in the recent decades.

Though, Gutian Kingdom in the West, as well as Liugwei and Jurong Kingdoms in the South finally did prevent, or massively limit in the case of the last one, the pills from distribution after a week of struggle, with the Soaring Feather Trading Company completely withdrawing from the southernmost coastal kingdom.

Slight signs of civil and political unrest appeared in all three countries, the timing coinciding with the decisions.

Tingren Kingdom's Royal Family tried to ban the pills as well, but was faced with a fierce opposition from Princess Cai Yin who was now officially on equal grounds with them.

The latter was also actively lobbying to renegotiate the trade with the Gutian Kingdom, but was unsuccessful on this end.

The same happened in the Fantian Kingdom as the Feng House was locked in a political dispute with the Royal House that was backing the Nin House of merchants against this 'hostile takeover of the market'.

The warrior family was of course aided by the Luo Family's younger generation in handling the specifics.

And while a negative propaganda campaign against the pills followed right after those efforts on all of the Azure Eagle Continent, it was mitigated by the silent work of the Thousand Eyes Information Bureau from the shadows, which, while went into hiding as an organization, did not lose their more subtle, covert but nevertheless influential presence, capable of manipulating rumors, narratives, and news.

The sudden change of mind from the Tuamei Kingdom regarding working with the Soaring Feather Trading Company was also related to these events, as Sui Luxiao offered them massive discounts on bulk purchases of the new pills which were rapidly gaining popularity because of how effective they were despite the relatively cheaper costs.

That deal, of course, was only offered in exchange for accepting the trade agreement she was negotiating.

"Hmm, we have officially started to move big... now... let's see the response..."

Wu Long lightly smiled as he stood on one of the peaks of the Yin Yang Unity Palace.

He was looking toward the North, a direction slightly to the East from the capital of the Azure Eagle Empire where the Alchemy Tower's main headquarters stood as a giant independent city-fortress, and to top it off not unlike a Great Sect located in one of the largest Spiritual Lands of the continent.

And though he could only see the horizon, he vaguely knew that by around this time, on the other side...

In a tall pagoda tower at the very summit of the city, a man looking to be in his late twenties stood facing the direction of the Yin Yang Unity Palace, clad in pure white luxurious robes.

He was smiling while looking into the distance through an open window, seemingly in thought. as the beautiful scenery of the city, the great walls surrounding it and the stretching far away hill valley were reflecting his eyes.

"Well played, haha, well played. I did not expect you to somehow have those recipes... but it is no fun if you don't struggle at least a little"

He chuckled, clearly amused as a Go board stood to the side with a game in progress.

"We ought to strike them down, Lord Gu!"

There were three people behind him, one of which was the man in gray robes with a large saber behind his back who stared down Wu Long during the last time the two sides met almost in full attendance, accurately guessed by Wu Long to be the man leading the Golden Ox Mercenary Corps.

"You musclehead, didn't Lord Gu already warn us about not moving directly against that man?

Though, the fact they are trying to take away one of our most lucrative grain and cattle trade deals is a bit irritating...

It would cause not only some financial losses, but also a decline in our relationship with the Piercing Cloud Continent's kingdoms... hehe"

A more thrifty-looking man with a mustache and a thin and long goatee stood next to him, his thin and tall, slightly disproportionate-looking figure clad in the same gray robes as the man with the saber.

However, there were added luxurious details in the fabric, and expensive-looking jewelry on his hands which he rubbed against one another, palm to palm, with a pleasing smile on his face, his intonation of someone trying to appease and at the same time seeking a handout or leniency.

"Truth be said, I must agree with Chief Ma, and to an extent support Company Head Dong, these pills have hit even us quite hard, Tower Master.

I tried to mitigate the damage, but if we don't offer a competing product soon..."

The third onewas wearing clothes that Do Bishui also wore at all times, signifying him as a highest echelon member of the Alchemy Tower. He spoke of the two with a respectful tone but it was apparent that he held a clear superiority against the two in the eyes he looked at them with. However, that did not prevent him from looking a bit troubled as were the previous speakers.

"Ma Hui"

Gu Zhen first called out without turning, but the tone in his voice cause the first one who spoke up to straighten up with a bead of sweat going down the side of his face.

"Yes, Lord Gu"

"What is it that you mean by 'striking them down'?"

Gu Zhen's question caused the man to slightly widen his eyes while the tall and thin one smirked.