Chapter 43: The Battle of the Factions
Time flew by once again, in the blink of an eye, Lin Jiang was already one hundred and forty years old. This year, Lin Jiang finally reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.
On this day of breakthrough, Lin Jiang alone drank a jar of spirit wine to celebrate. He didn't use his spiritual power to dispel the alcohol, allowing himself to get drunk.
"Third Sister, Lin Ying, when can we go visit our mother?"
The drunken Lin Jiang kept muttering, but unfortunately, there was no one to listen. Only two Shadiao were left stealing the leftovers and spirit wine that Lin Jiang had.
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"Friend Wu, it seems that Brother Liu and his family haven't come for a few days."
On that day, Lin Jiang went to the big market and saw that the stalls beside him were empty. He couldn't help but ask the vendor on the other side.
"Don't you know, Friend Lin? The Trident Fish Gang and the Giant Wave Fish Gang have been at war these past few days. Liu Hui and his family are key members of the Trident Fish Gang, how can they be absent?"
"Gang war?"
"Yes, if Taoist Friend Lin usually buys groceries and cooks, you should know that prices in the city have been skyrocketing these days. Not only the price of monster fish has soared, but also other things. They keep fighting and have caused damage to many passing ships. Those who run restaurants are complaining too."
The vendor explained that the Fish Gang not only monopolized the fishing in the Yuntuo River, but also controlled the river. The two Fish Gangs fighting each other has also affected some shipping, causing a disruption in the supply of goods to Yunzhong City and directly leading to a sharp rise in prices.
"What about Zhonghang Sect and Cloud Sword Sect?"
Lin Jiang was somewhat surprised. The fighting between the two gangs had affected the stability of Yunzhong City, but shouldn't it be the Thunder Sects that intervened?
"Taoist Friend Lin, are you really foolish or pretending to be foolish? Without the agreement of those two sects, would the two gangs dare to fight?"
"That's true. I didn't think it through. I don't know the current situation and which gang has a higher chance of winning."
"I don't know either, but I've heard that both gangs are recruiting people to help in the battle. If Taoist Friend Lin is interested, he can make some money."
"I'll pass. I don't like fighting. It's better to live a peaceful and honest life."
Lin Jiang shook his head. The leader of the fish gang outside the city all have advanced cultivation, and there are also many senior members with strong skills. He didn't want to get involved in this because it's not easy money.
Afterwards, Lin Jiang also investigated the reasons for the war between the two families. It is said that the cause was trespassing while fishing. The members of the Giant Wave Fish Gang were driving fishing boats and chasing a group of monsters. They ended up intruding into the territory of the Trident Fish Gang. The Trident Fish Gang sank their fishing boats, and that's when the war started between them.
But the real reasons should be very complex. It involves a power struggle between two major sects, conflicts of interest between each other, as well as unresolved grievances.
Under the stimulation of numerous contradictions, both families are willing to do whatever it takes to annihilate each other. They have been fighting for five or six days now, with dozens of casualties on both sides every day. It's very intense and it seems like they won't stop until one family is wiped out.
This whole thing was originally far away from Lin Jiang and had nothing to do with him. However, when Lin Jiang arrived at the marketplace the next day, Liu Yuan was already waiting for him. As soon as Lin Jiang saw her, he realized something and ran away.
"Taoist Friend Jiang"
Liu Yuan is also at the ninth level of Qi Refining cultivation. Although her aptitude is not very good, she is indeed a cultivation maniac. Apart from the necessary time, she spends all of her time practicing.
"Miss Liu, why are you stopping me?"
"Then why are you running?"
"We are still cooking at home, don't let it burn."
"I didn't invite you to join our Trident Fish Gang."
Liu Yuan said that during the fight between the two gangs, they quickly recruited members, often by hiring poor independent cultivators as cannon fodder. Many of those who died in Yunzhong City these days were this kind of cannon fodder. Liu Yuan knew Lin Jiang's personality, so she wouldn't say something like that.
"Then why did you come looking for me?"
"To do business, buy spiritual talismans."
"That doesn't make sense. If you want to buy spiritual talismans, shouldn't you go to a big trading company like Duobao Pavilion or Star Gathering Tower? They have at least a hundred Talisman Makers. At the very least, you could go to a medium-sized trading company like Four Seas Trading Company, where they have about thirty to fifty Talisman Makers."
Lin Jiang explained that these trading companies have their own Pill, Talisman, Item, and Formation masters, but not many. However, they also have a large number of cooperative Talisman Makers.
Although the prices the Talisman Makers offer them are slightly lower, they are preferred because of their stability and convenience. As long as they can draw spiritual talismans, the Talisman Makers will purchase them. That's why it's considered quite desirable to work with them.
Many trading companies have approached Lin Jiang, but he turned them down because his life was too monotonous. Setting up a stall was more of a way to spice up his life.
"Taoist friend Jiang, you don't know, the conflicts between the Fish Gang have always had rules. Small-scale conflicts are ignored, but once the two gangs officially go to war, Yunzhong City's businesses will take a neutral stance, refusing to sell spiritual talismans to either side. This applies not just to businesses in Yunzhong City, but also to the influences within a three-thousand-mile radius outside of Yunzhong City."
"Because of the two sects?"
"Yes, everyone knows. Behind the Fish Gang are two major sects. They don't personally get involved because they don't want to divide themselves. As small soldiers, we can only fight with determination. If we survive, we enjoy fame, wealth, and honor. If we lose, we die."
"Strange and weird."
Lin Jiang shook his head, finding these rules quite strange. But he could understand. This is a war fought by proxies of the two sects. The sects themselves won't personally engage, unless one of them weakens.
"Taoist friend Jiang, please help. The consumption of spiritual talismans is very high now."
"I want to take a neutral stance."
"I'm willing to pay more money."
"I don't want to meddle in your affairs. I just want to live a peaceful life."
"Taoist Friend Jiang is very famous in East City Market. If we don't ask for your help, the Giant Wave Fish Gang will. Taoist Friend Jiang can choose to remain neutral, but please don't help them."
"I won't help, I won't help. But if I set up a stall and someone wants to buy something, I won't refuse."
"Of course, I'm here to buy charms from Taoist Friend Jiang, and I will be staying in East City Market for the next few days."
Liu Yuan said that independent cultivators are usually not controlled by the major factions, so the rules of gang wars don't apply to independent cultivators. Both factions have sent people to the market where independent cultivators gather to gather all the available resources.
Lin Jiang sighed. Liu Yuan's mind works quickly, it seems inevitable unless he doesn't set up a stall.
Indeed, it didn't take long before a young man, ignoring Liu Yuan's presence, personally approached Lin Jiang and proposed a partnership.
If both sides cooperate, the Giant Wave Fish Gang will provide the materials for drawing symbols, and Lin Jiang only needs to focus on drawing symbols. For every symbol he sells to them, the price can be negotiated and even include a slight increase from the market price. If a certain quantity is reached, they can even be rewarded with some spirit stones.
"Taoist Friend Jiang, the conditions he proposed, our Trident Fish Gang can also provide. The price can be negotiated."
Liu Yuan couldn't afford to be angry and couldn't make a move here, so they began to compete for combat supplies. Whoever manages to gather more supplies will have a better chance of winning.
"Children make choices, adults have to take everything. Anyway, I now have eight talismans every day, the price is unchanged, and the time for setting up a stall every day is also unchanged. Whoever wants to buy, can buy."
Lin Jiang said directly, both of these families have gone crazy, but he didn't want to get involved. He had only one attitude, "I am a talisman seller, whoever wants to buy, can buy."
After Lin Jiang advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refining, his strength reached a higher level. His spiritual power was extremely abundant, plus he had been practicing the Soul Refining Technique for decades and took Soul Nourishing Pills. This made his spiritual awareness very strong. He could draw around eight first grade premium spiritual talismans every day, which was twice as efficient as other Talisman Makers.
Moreover, Lin Jiang now had a hundred percent success rate with over seventy types of first grade premium spiritual talismans. He wouldn't waste a single talisman because he had been drawing first level premium spiritual talismans for decades. His consistent effort over the years made his talisman drawing technique one of the best among his peers.
This is also the reason why both families approached Lin Jiang first. He truly has a reputation in the East City Market, and he has a number of regular customers.
When the two people heard Lin Jiang say this, they didn't say anything more, nor did they threaten. They were afraid of pushing Lin Jiang to the other side. A talented Talisman Maker may not have a significant impact on the battle, but if there were a hundred or more, it would be completely possible. And a hundred or more Talisman Makers were made up of individual Talisman Makers.
The two immediately divided the spiritual talismans brought by Lin Jiang. Lin Jiang went straight home after finishing work. He even felt the need to avoid it. He always kept away from such troublesome matters.
