blogombal Page 287
Page 287
Looking at the young man in front of her, Shan Meixian thought he looked about the same age as her daughter.
But she knew that Zhang Xiaoshan was nearly thirty years old, at least ten years older than her daughter.
Having the secret to maintaining a youthful appearance is something all women envy.
Even though she cultivated the Heavenly Demon Art, her appearance remained between twenty-four and twenty-five years old.
But Zhang Xiaoshan is truly 'young'; at least, from a woman's perspective on 'youth,' she couldn't find the slightest flaw in him.
Time will always leave its mark on a person.
Apart from his naturally deep, starry eyes, Zhang Xiaoshan seemed to have left no other traces.
This kind of youthful appearance is true ageless beauty.
"Yes, it's been a long time since I've seen Madam."
The two looked at each other in silence, and an ambiguous atmosphere slowly spread.
Then, Lady Dongming slowly raised her delicate hand, offering a toast as a sign of respect, and at the same time stated the purpose of her visit:
"I've heard that the Buddha has very close ties with the Gates of Hell?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoshan glanced at Madam Dongming in surprise.
In a flash, he understood Lady Dongming's concerns.
In the eyes of truly powerful forces, the top three are the Zhang family, the Golden-Faced Buddha, and the Dongming Sect.
Among them, the Dongming Sect is undoubtedly the weakest.
The Zhang family has the Heavenly Mystery Tower as its stronghold, making it the core of Ghost Street; the Golden-Faced Buddha has the Longevity Venerable, the two great protectors of Ghost Street, and the Heavenly Official of Tomb Raiders as his lineage, making them evenly matched with the Zhang family.
The Dongming faction became the weakest among them, and the one that the other two could easily crush.
As a result, Lady Dongming worried that the Gates of Hell would oust the Dongming faction.
In comparison, Hellgate is more suitable to become the new top three.
"Is Madam worried that Hell Gate will become one of the top three families? Madam, you can rest assured about that."
Besides strength, the selection process for Ghost Street is even more driven by profit; Hell's Gate simply can't resist the lure of profit!
Zhang Xiaoshan's words made Madam Dongming breathe a sigh of relief.
What are benefits?
There are many kinds, the most direct being gold. The weapons of the Dongming Sect can bring a huge number of customers to Ghost Street.
The alliance of powerful forces creates a formidable synergy. Given the current situation at Hell's Gate, anyone who gets involved will almost certainly suffer a crushing defeat and become a target of the righteous sects of the martial world…
Unless the Zhang family and the Golden-Faced Buddha reach a consensus, Hell's Gate could never become one of the three families on Ghost Street.
"Thank you for your advice, sir!"
"However, Madam is worrying too much. If she calms down, she will surely discover the complex web of interests involved."
Moreover, many people believe that the Dongming Sect is actually the Wu Tang Demonic Sect.
The Demonic Sect is not an unacceptable force for Ghost Street, and the Eastern Sea Sect can completely hand over Ghost Street's interests in the interior to the Demonic Sect.
"What do you mean, Master?"
It is impossible to merge the Dongming Sect into the Demonic Sect.
But as Zhang Xiaoshan said, in many people's eyes, the Dongming Sect is actually the Demonic Sect.
"The Dongming Sect mainly deals in weapons and sea salt, and they don't need to take action themselves."
Given the immense benefits to the three families, the lady could easily recruit the experts of the Demonic Sect for her own use, or hire them to protect Ghost Street and act as the Dongming Sect's representatives in Ghost Street.
In this way, the Dongming Sect can be conveniently hidden behind the scenes.
While the Demonic Sect operates in Ghost Street, they do so under the guise of the Eastern Sea Sect, thus solidifying the Eastern Sea Sect's position within Ghost Street.
"This... Meixian, go back and think about it!"
Lady Dongming was somewhat tempted. In this way, their Dongming Sect could find a powerful representative even without joining the Demonic Sect.
The Demonic Sect made money, but they probably don't care about anything else.
After all, the Demonic Sect doesn't get along here.
As for the relationship between the two families, would those demonic sect masters dare to dig up her roots?
Even if she were to be unable to move, her relationship with Zhu Yuyan should be taken into consideration.
"Madam, there is no need to worry about the Gates of Hell."
Buddha only values Hellgate's strength. Next, Hellgate may have a big business delivered to Ghost Street.
However, it's impossible for Hell's Gate to join Ghost Street. Hell's Gate is currently at odds with the entire martial arts world, and Ghost Street cannot get involved.
This is not a timely act of kindness.
Once you accept the Gates of Hell into Ghost Street, you're essentially sending yourself to your death!
Even if Ghost Street's strength is not afraid of the Righteous Alliance?
But they're here to make money, not to help you conquer the world, so Ghost Street's power could crumble instantly.
"Thank you so much, young master, for your advice. I'll drink this first as a sign of my respect!"
A bright, clear pool in autumn is full of the promise of spring.
Not only did Zhang Xiaoshan dispel her concerns this time, but his few words of guidance also helped her solve the problem of insufficient manpower in the Dongming Sect.
Even if others knew that she had hired experts from the Demonic Sect, they would only assume it was a factional dispute within the Demonic Sect.
She has been branded with Zhu Yuyan's mark, therefore she represents more than just the Dongming Sect.
The feast lasted until midnight.
Zhang Xiaoshan did not return to the new mansion but went directly to the Hong mansion.
(Good morning) Reeking of alcohol, yet unable to conceal her feminine fragrance, Manager Feng lay in Zhang Xiaoshan's arms, quietly savoring the warmth that belonged only to her at this moment.
However, at this moment, Zhang Xiaoshan was considering Lady Dongming's 'concerns'—
Should we add Hellgate to Ghost Street?
However, this is not the time, as the firepower drawn to Hellgate is currently too concentrated.
Moreover, besides Hellgate, there are more than one other quietly rising power.
Therefore, turning the Dongming faction from the open to the covert might not be a bad thing.
The strength of the Dongming Sect is somewhat insufficient!
Although they lost a lot of benefits, the Dongming faction's interests were not much in Ghost Street.
Even the profit sharing is only average. The Dongming Sect only receives 10% of the profits from the top three sects, and the profit sharing from the middle three sects is about the same.
The involvement of powerful forces brings numerous benefits to Ghost Street.
However, he did not explicitly tell Madam Dongming this; he planned to discuss it at a more opportune time.
Chapter 348 The Tremor Caused by Moving Ancestral Graves
Valley of Heartbreak!
A ghostly figure landed here.
That figure was none other than Zhang Xiaoshan!
The Zhang family is about to welcome a son, and Zhang Xiaoshan is very concerned about this child.
Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan originally intended to use the Dragon-Subduing Divine Wood, which he had reserved as a 'divine artifact reserve,' to suppress the feng shui.
After all, the concept of feng shui is not entirely unfounded in this world.
"Qiu Qianchi greets you, young master!"
The Valley of Heartbreak is now the Zhang family's flower-growing base, and the annual harvest from the Zhang family is now no less than 30,000 gold coins.
Moreover, the Valley of Heartbreak is self-sufficient and has no need to spend money at all. On the contrary, it has accumulated a huge sum of money of no less than 100,000 gold coins, which even Qiu Qianren, who comes here every time, is envious of.
It's important to understand that while the Iron Palm Clan earns a lot, it also has to support its men, its soldiers, and its ships...
After adding the resources needed for the disciples' cultivation, there's hardly anything left each year.
But the Valley of Heartbreak is different; in his view, it's a completely risk-free business.
After all, in the past, these flower fields in the Valley of Heartbreak were at most for ornamental purposes, but now they have turned into real gold.
Moreover, when brewed into so-called essential oils, they are worth ten times the value of gold.
Therefore, Qiu Qianchi also held a friendly and cooperative attitude towards the Zhang family, as they were definitely a major client.
In addition, the Zhang family's strength absolutely intimidated the Valley of Heartbreak.
Leaving aside the previous Invitation Moon and Golden-Faced Buddha, Qiu Qianchi learned that the Zhang family was full of experts, and there were no fewer than two dozen top-level experts.
Even the various resources she exchanged from the Zhang family reached the level of a top expert last year.
It can be said that Qiu Qianchi held the Zhang family in extremely high esteem.
"Excuse me, Valley Master."
"Zhang has come this time to retrieve a treasure that the Buddha discovered at the bottom of the Valley of Heartbreak!"
"A treasure discovered at the bottom of the Valley of Heartbreak?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qianchi immediately thought of the days when the Golden-Faced Buddha disappeared at the bottom of the Valley of Heartbreak. However, they searched the bottom of the Valley of Heartbreak more than 133 times but did not find any Golden-Faced Buddha.
Even after that, Qiu Qianchi went down there a few more times, but she didn't find anything unusual.
Unexpectedly, it was the Zhang family who came to retrieve the treasure.
"I wonder if there is anything that the Valley of Heartbreak can help you with, young master?"
"No need, I just don't want the people of Heartbreak Valley to know that the Zhang family obtained the treasure from the bottom of the valley."
Therefore, the Valley Master has made arrangements: after one hour, no one should leave their resting place, or don't blame Zhang for being ruthless.
"Don't worry, young master!"
Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's arrangement, Qiu Qianchi nodded.
He instructed the man with the long beard to inform the people in the valley, and then followed Zhang Xiaoshan to the edge of the cliff.
To Qiu Qianchi's astonishment, Zhang Xiaoshan returned less than a quarter of an hour after going down the mountain, only to be met by a colossal figure over ten feet tall carrying an ancient log.
That's right, they walked up, not climbed up.
Each step was a direct descent into the rock, leaving behind footprints and caves, much like rock climbing.
Moreover, the little giant wasn't holding onto anything for leverage, as if he were walking down a 45-degree steep slope.
This terrifying and horrifying 'skill' immediately startled Qiu Qianchi, who realized that this was the legendary Zhang Xiaoshan's personal bodyguard—the bronze-armored warrior!
In an instant, Qiu Qianchi was glad that she had no ulterior motives.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaoshan was always protected by bronze-armored warriors. These were four grandmaster-level experts, not to mention that Zhang Xiaoshan himself was an invincible force.
"It's best if the Valley Master didn't witness anything today!"
"Qianchi will definitely not tell a third person."
Although she didn't know what mysteries this ancient tree held, Qiu Qianchi knew the importance of such a matter, given how seriously the Zhang family took it.
It was fortunate that Zhang Xiaoshan didn't intend to kill her.
If word gets out, I'm afraid that his brother and no one in the Valley of Heartbreak will be able to escape being silenced by the Zhang family.
Within two quarters of an hour, Zhang Xiaoshan had vanished without a trace, leaving everyone in the Valley of Heartbreak bewildered as to what had happened.
But everything was as usual, and they didn't ask any questions.
After leaving the Valley of Heartbreak, Zhang Xiaoshan went directly to the Kunlun Mountains.
If we're talking about where the most dragon veins are, then Kunlun Mountain is undoubtedly the place.
Not only Zhang Xiaoshan, but Zhang Yuan had also set off from Lin'an Prefecture long ago. The dragon-elephant steed carried his body, which weighed at least 350 jin, and he left Bianjing City with two great masters, Juexin and Juezhi, by his side.
This action almost made everyone think that the Zhang family had fled.