Chapter 786
Another Big Win! Miss Bai, Here I Come!
In the next three lessons, Zhang Lingshan talked about the entrance, the entrance, and the entrance of the ice-making formation.
It turns out there was more than one entrance.
The ice crystals formed from different entrances may be the same, but the efficiency will differ for an individual.
This is because some people are suited to the flow of water-based spiritual energy at one entrance, while others are suited to the flow at another entrance.
Previously, everyone could only flood the ocean to cover all the array patterns in order to condense ice crystals, which wasted a lot of water-based spiritual energy.
But now, they have four entry options.
Simply find the entry point that best suits you, the one that is most efficient, and then keep practicing along that path. In time, your efficiency will surely improve significantly.
"Li Xuanbing, are you hiding your true abilities?"
Zhao Xingqiu asked with some dissatisfaction.
Zhang Lingshan said, "What do you think I should say? No matter how powerful I am, I can't create abilities that don't exist out of thin air. Finding four entrances is already quite remarkable. Just tell me if everyone's efficiency has improved and if it will continue to improve in the future."
"Humph."
Zhao Xingqiu snorted: "The higher-ups are very unhappy right now. They think you're just going through the motions. Unless you add another lesson and promise not to talk about the entrance again, you can forget about ice-type magic treasures. Don't even think about getting three, not even one!"
"My abilities are limited, how can you say I'm just doing a perfunctory job? Besides, I have to leave some trump cards for my four subordinates, otherwise how can they respect me if I teach them everything?"
Zhang Lingshan said with a hint of helplessness.
Zhao Xingqiu said, "Then you can talk about that method in your next class. As for the four people under you, you can tell them another way to get in."
"That's really asking the impossible."
Zhang Lingshan sighed and said, "Then let's add another lesson, and I promise we won't talk about the entrance."
"Alright, let's start the lecture tomorrow and not waste any time. I'll report to my superiors right away."
Zhao Xingqiu left happily.
The next day.
Zhang Lingshan obediently refrained from discussing the entrance, instead focusing on the three key nodes within the formation.
These key points can all affect the final freezing effect.
Zhao Xingqiu listened with great interest, knowing that Zhang Lingshan had definitely been hiding his true abilities again.
Zhang Lingshan has mentioned four entry points and three nodes, so he must have control over even more entry points and nodes himself.
However, it's understandable that he didn't reveal everything at once.
After all, the pay was too low.
It's already quite remarkable that he's revealed so much; we'd have to break off all pretense of civility, lock him up, and force him to reveal even more.
However, that would be short-sighted and not in line with the style of their ice shop.
When Lady Bingxian does something, she makes sure the other party is willing to make the sacrifice.
What you force out of sincerity isn't genuine. If the other party is determined to kill you and tries something drastic, you'll end up losing more than you gain.
Not only did they fail to get what they wanted, but they also drove a useful person to their death. Wasn't that a huge loss?
and so.
That's enough.
When Li Xuanbing returns from his business trip and continues ice making, we can discuss with him about releasing more of his technology; there's no need to rush.
"Li Xuanbing".
After Zhang Lingshan finished his lecture, Zhao Xingqiu turned around and pulled him aside, taking out three treasures from his storage ring. He said, "Here are three ice-type treasures as promised. One for defense, one for escape, and one for attack. Using all three together will surely allow you to escape safely."
Thank you.
Zhang Lingshan took them and saw that they were a small shield, a flying sword, and a long spear, all made of ice, about the size of a palm, and containing terrifying cold air.
Even with Zhang Lingshan's not particularly outstanding skill in weapon crafting, it was clear that these three treasures were extraordinary and, once activated, would unleash boundless power.
It is at least comparable to the power of a strike from a Golden Immortal.
"Was this made by the Ice Immortal?" Zhang Lingshan asked in surprise. "I never expected the Ice Immortal to be such a master craftsman."
Zhao Xingqiu looked on with admiration and cupped his hands in greeting to the sky, saying, "Lord Ice Immortal, you are knowledgeable, have extraordinary skills, and are omnipotent!"
"Then please thank Lady Ice Fairy for me."
Zhang Lingshan said, then added, "Oh, right, there's something else I need to ask you. Tomorrow, please help me tally everyone's ice-making efficiency and select four people. I'll give them a special lesson as a parting gift, so they can make ice well and earn me merit points."
"Alright, it's nothing. I certainly won't go back on my word to the steward I promised you. Look what this is, a new identity token. Here you go."
Zhao Xingqiu reached into his pocket and handed the new identity token to Zhang Lingshan.
The material is a step above the previous one; it even has a slightly cool feel when held in the hand, which is refreshing.
"Good stuff, thank you. I'll go back and make ice now. Come find me tomorrow when the four of you are in trouble."
Zhang Lingshan said something and immediately returned to his ice-making room.
Before leaving, I'll earn as many merit points as possible and exchange them for more spirit stones to store in my storage ring for any eventuality.
As for exchanging it for Ice Jade Pills at Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, that's completely unnecessary.
The purpose of exchanging the Ice Jade Pill is to absorb ice-type spiritual energy in the ice chamber.
Once you're outside, there's no ice-type spiritual energy to absorb, so what's the point of exchanging for that thing? It's completely meaningless.
It's better to keep the spirit stone itself, as it can be used to absorb the immortal energy within.
Besides, spirit stones can also be used to buy things.
If you come across a wind-elemental treasure and buy it, it will help you comprehend the Heavenly Wind Divine Mantra, won't it?
The next day arrived.
Zhao Xingqiu brought four people over; they were all long-time employees of the ice cream parlor, not only because they had been there for a long time, but also because they looked old.
But when they saw Zhang Lingshan, they all treated him with utmost respect.
Zhang Lingshan didn't stand on ceremony and immediately borrowed two thousand spirit stones from each of them, which was considered as collecting the merit points he received from their commission in advance.
"Because each of you only lent me two thousand, I will only talk to you about two key points next."
Zhang Lingshan said calmly.
The four of them suddenly panicked. The amount of money they borrowed was related to the quality of their lectures, so they definitely had to borrow more. The more they borrowed, the more they would learn, and the more they would earn in the future. It was a sure-fire way to make money.
then.
Zhang Lingshan then received two thousand spirit stones from each of the four people.
It's not that they didn't want to borrow more, it's just that they didn't have much spare money. The fact that they were able to squeeze out so much is because they are quite capable. Even if ordinary people saved without spending any money, they might not be able to save this much.
“Alright, then I’ll tell you about the four nodes.”
Zhang Lingshan said with a smile, then looked at Zhao Xingqiu and said, "Manager Qiu, you don't need to leave. These four nodes are also included as a bonus for you."
"Should I lend you spirit stones too?" Zhao Xingqiu asked with a smile. "Of course. The more the merrier."
Zhang Lingshan responded with a smile.
Zhao Xingqiu said, "I'll transfer the merit points directly to you. Go and redeem them yourself."
That's all.
She touched her identity card to Zhang Lingshan's identity card, and Zhang Lingshan saw that two million merit points had been added to it.
One hundred merit points equal one spirit stone.
Two million is equivalent to twenty thousand spirit stones.
As expected of the head steward, he's really rich. He lent out 20,000 spirit stones without batting an eye.
Zhao Xingqiu didn't take out spirit stones directly, probably because she was afraid that others would feel resentful if they knew she was rich.
Moreover, it is common sense to keep one's wealth hidden.
"Thank you, Steward Qiu. Now I will begin my presentation."
……
The Bai family's residence, Bai Wanxi's villa.
The fact that she has a detached villa shows that Bai Changdu, the head of the Bai family and Bai Wanxi's father, truly dotes on her.
However, the atmosphere in the villa was somewhat oppressive at this moment.
Bai Wanxi looked at the misshapen children standing in the courtyard with a sorrowful expression, her heart filled with unbearable grief.
It seems that my father is not going to help me, or perhaps the family is putting pressure on him so that he can't help even if he wanted to.
Even if Bai Wanxi spent all her savings, she wouldn't be able to recruit any experts on her own. At most, she would only have a few mediocre people who were unwanted by others and came to her to make a living.
This is because the Bai family has rules: if someone doesn't engage in business for a long time, they will be expelled and disqualified, or sold directly to other forces. Otherwise, these scoundrels might not even come to Bai Wanxi.
After all, as everyone knows, Bai Wanxi is a sunken ship, and getting married is inevitable.
Moreover, given Tao Mingguan's temperament, she would have no power whatsoever after marriage, and would even be stripped of her right to speak, leaving her only to stay at home and bear children for Tao Mingguan.
Therefore, anyone who follows her has no future.
Not only is there no future, but it may also anger the second young master Bai Lingfeng, and even Tao Mingguan.
Isn't that just asking for death?
Therefore, what lay before Bai Wanxi was a dead end.
Even though many people in Anyuan City were begging to be taken in by caravans, and even though Bai Wanxi offered a high price, they were still unwilling to join.
Because no one wants to offend Tao Mingguan.
Unless Bai Wanxi can recruit people from outside the city, like Ding Dasheng who died before, she won't care about Tao Mingguan.
Unfortunately, it wasn't easy to recruit people from outside the city.
Besides, they come here with a mission, and they'll leave once they've completed it. They might even be in a hurry, so who would be interested in trading with you?
Not only will you not make much money, but there are also risks involved. Even if you hit the jackpot and find a treasure, it's uncertain whether you can bring it back safely.
Therefore, someone like Bai Wanxi, who has little experience in trading, is not a famous caravan captain, and whose family does not help her, is all alone, and whose cultivation level is only at the late stage of Xuanxian, not even at the peak of Xuanxian.
She wants to build a caravan all by herself, but that's difficult!
With Bai Lingfeng and Tao Mingguan targeting them, it became even more difficult, an impossible task.
Otherwise, this is why Zhao Xingqiu, as a good friend, didn't think about helping Bai Wanxi set up a caravan, but instead strongly advised her to find a decent young man to marry.
Because this road is a dead end; it's completely impassable.
Instead of wasting energy and going through all that trouble here, it's better to find another way out.
Although Li Xuanbing said he wanted to join, Zhao Xingqiu still felt it was a dead end.
That's why she specifically asked the Ice Fairy for three treasures, not only because she promised to give them to Zhang Lingshan, but also so that Zhang Lingshan could use them to protect Bai Wanxi and prevent her from dying on the way.
Zhao Xingqiu's plan for this trade trip was to make Bai Wanxi give up on him.
Once Bai Wanxi understands the hardships and dangers of being a merchant, and personally experiences the lack of family support, she will realize that her constant advice was not meant to harm her, but to help her.
"Miss, with only twenty of us, I'm afraid we won't be able to move."
In the courtyard, a somewhat shifty-looking fellow sat on a stone bench and said dejectedly.
Bai Wanxi glanced at him and said, "So what do you want?"
The shifty-eyed man said, "What I mean is, if Miss takes us out for a stroll and helps us complete our trade quota, we will all be extremely grateful to Miss."
“Yes, Miss, with just the number of us, we can’t go very far. It’s better not to bother. Just go out for a stroll. We’ve completed our three-year trade mission, and you’ve proven yourself. It’s good for everyone.”
"Everyone knows that Miss is a good person and won't take us out to our deaths, so let's just wander around."
“Miss, we don’t need any fees for your trade trip. We’re here to help you voluntarily.”
Everyone's words made Bai Wanxi laugh.
She has rarely smiled lately due to the pressure, but today she simply couldn't help it.
"Okay, that's great. Everyone knows I'm a good person, so I'll just take you out for a stroll and do my duty as a good person, right?"
Bai Wanxi's face suddenly darkened.
The crowd hurriedly said, "Miss, you misunderstand. That's not what we meant. We just don't have enough manpower. Even if we wanted to leave, we couldn't. Besides, with only a Xuanxian (a high-ranking immortal) here, it's not appropriate for someone of your noble birth to personally handle any trouble. If we want to go on trade, we need to hire another Xuanxian expert."
"That's right, we need to hire another Xuanxian expert, even if it's only at the mid-stage of Xuanxian. The early stage won't do; their strength is too weak to handle anything."
"Even a mid-stage Xuanxian is not good enough, not as good as Miss. I suggest starting with at least a late-stage Xuanxian. If we can recruit a peak Xuanxian, that would be much more reassuring."
The group continued to chatter amongst themselves.
In short, they were just trying to pressure Bai Wanxi into not being able to recruit even a single Xuanxian expert, because they refused to engage in commerce.
Just as Bai Wanxi's face darkened, a maidservant strode in and whispered a few words in her ear.
Bai Wanxi's eyes lit up instantly, and she said, "No need to whisper, just say it out loud so everyone can hear."
"Yes."
The maid immediately called out loudly, "There's a powerful cultivator at the late-stage Xuanxian realm at the door requesting to join our caravan. Miss, would you like to let him in?"
"Come in."
Bai Wanxi also spoke loudly.
Everyone was stunned.
Isn't this a sunken ship? How come there are Xuanxian experts who want to join in? Where did this lunatic come from?
Moreover, they came to us of their own accord.
Bai Wanxi has this ability?
As everyone was wondering, Zhang Lingshan strode in, cupped his hands, and said, "Miss Bai, it's been a long time. I heard you were going on a trading trip, so I dropped everything and came right away." (End of Chapter)