CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44 THE PLIGHT OF HAVING NO RICE_1

Jia Ren hadn’t expected to overhear such secret information and felt a chill run through his body. The Cultivation World was fraught with danger, a fact he deeply understood.He hadn’t realized how narrowly he’d skirted peril time and again. The security of the aged stone house operation couldn’t be guaranteed; to avoid trouble, Jia Ren had made a timely escape. If not, he would have been the one slaughtered like a fattened sheep!

Jia Ren gazed intently at the two men, as if to etch their images deeply into his memory. Fang Wu and Qi Yulong were now on his blacklist; they were to be avoided at all costs.

Jia Ren didn’t leave but sat in place, tirelessly practicing the Turtle Breath Technique to improve his proficiency. Past experiences had taught him that effort and sweat must not be taken for granted.With the Proficiency Panel, every effort yielded its due reward—something extremely valuable.His Turtle Breath Technique was not far from breaking through to the Grandmaster Level; it would just take a bit more time.

Time flowed steadily, and soon the underground trade meeting was about to recommence.

The underground trade meeting was brightly lit, with more and more Loose Cultivators arriving. The recent invasion of Thousand Beasts Mountain and the burning of the Great Wilderness Mountain Spirit Fields were significant incidents that had increased the risks. Yet, they couldn’t extinguish the enthusiasm of Loose Cultivators flocking to the underground trade meeting. The most important matter at hand was... buying Spirit Rice.

As the largest source of Spirit Rice, the loss from the thousands of acres of burnt Spirit Fields in the Great Wilderness Mountain was terrifying. The Five Elements Sect had other sources of Spirit Rice, but with the reduced supply, priority would undoubtedly be given to Five Elements Sect Cultivators. The low-level Loose Cultivators were all facing the plight of having no rice to eat.

Desperation was evident on the faces of the Loose Cultivators. Their singular focus was to buy Spirit Rice—the more, the better.

The number of Loose Cultivators had increased considerably since the last meeting. This was likely due to newcomers who, within the past seven days, had gotten involved with the ’aged stone houses’ and joined the ranks. Compared to the previous trade meeting, the attendee number had reached one hundred fifty, making it a truly bustling and lively affair.

Fang Wu’s gaze swept over the Loose Cultivators, counting them. There were one hundred forty-nine people, three fewer than before. Jia Ren’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Before Fang Wu could declare the trade meeting open, impatient Loose Cultivators started to shout.

"Buying Spirit Rice, six Fragmented Spirit Stones for a catty!"

Hunger-stricken Loose Cultivators offered high prices to buy Spirit Rice, but no one responded. At the last trade meeting, Loose Cultivators still had some grain stored away and could hold on for a while. Seven days had passed, and those with little stored food began to go hungry, forcing them to offer high prices for Spirit Rice.

"Seeking to buy Green Bud Rice and common rice, name your price!"

A languid voice rang out as the price rose from six to seven Fragmented Spirit Stones per catty, yet no one sold. Common rice was also priced in Fragmented Spirit Stones, but similarly yielded nothing.

"A Low-Quality Magical Artifact for fifteen catties of Spirit Rice!"

"Quality Spirit Bud Elixir for seven catties of Spirit Rice!"

Unlike the previous two trade meetings, the variety of goods for trade was much broader. With the critical need for food due to widespread hunger, Spirit Rice became the undisputed key currency.

Jia Ren spotted Elder Wu among the crowd; he was no longer calm and collected but looked rather anxious.

"Massive sale on Demon-Spotting Talismans! Five Demon-Spotting Talismans for... just six catties of Spirit Rice!"

"Don’t keep hoarding your Spirit Rice!"

"Anyone with spare Spirit Rice, sell me a few catties! We can negotiate a good price."

All items for sale were to be transacted in Spirit Rice. The sole focus of buyers was also Spirit Rice, resulting in... not a single item being sold. By now, their own supply of Spirit Rice was insufficient. It seemed unlikely anyone would be willing to sell.

"Shen Daoyou, didn’t you want to buy Spirit Bud Elixir? The elixirs from Pill Cauldron Pavilion are of high quality. I wouldn’t exchange them for Spirit Rice if I weren’t desperate. Please, do me a favor and swap with me for a few catties."

"If you can spare more Spirit Rice, I can offer a better price."

Shen Xing Sanxiu had a close relationship with Fang Wu, which certainly meant access to special channels for buying Spirit Rice. Compared to the other Loose Cultivators, whose figures and faces showed visible emaciation, Shen Xing Sanxiu had maintained his original build. His ruddy complexion was the best proof that he was not lacking food.

"Fellow Daoist, you jest. I also have no grain in hand." Shen Xing Sanxiu was no fool; how could he not understand the other party’s sinister motives? Clutching a large sum of Spirit Stones earned from his ’aged stone house’ activities, he felt uneasy. Another portion of Spirit Rice? Are they wishing for his quick demise! Facing the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, Shen Xing Sanxiu was nervous and on edge.

"The trading session begins. Everyone may proceed with their exchanges," Fang Wu announced. He seemed to notice Shen Xing Sanxiu’s predicament and helped ease the situation.

A new round of trading commenced, with the only desired item being Spirit Rice. As one would expect, the exchanges all failed. Not a single person produced even a grain of rice.

The Loose Cultivators’ complexions turned unsightly as they realized something: Spirit Rice was becoming increasingly difficult to acquire.

"Daoist Fang, seven days ago you mentioned that you would sell Spirit Rice. May I inquire whether the Spirit Rice has been delivered?"

The Loose Cultivators had ventured here, risking danger, all for the Spirit Rice delivery Fang Wu had promised. This was also their only possible channel to obtain Spirit Rice.

Fang Wu heard this and said with a bitter expression, "I’m afraid I have to disappoint you, my Daoist friends.

"Today, we were supposed to receive several thousand catties of Spirit Rice, but unexpectedly, a major incident occurred—the Spirit Fields were burned. The Spirit Rice has also been confiscated.

"Cultivators from the Five Elements Sect are working to resolve the issue. There should be an answer in a few days."

Upon hearing this, the Loose Cultivators’ hearts sank. Before they could grow angry, Fang Wu added, "However, so that you are not disheartened, I am willing to take out all my stored grain and sell it to you.

"I have a total of five hundred catties of Spirit Rice. I hope it can help those Daoist friends with little grain hold on for a few more days."

"How noble of you, Daoist Fang!"

"Daoist Fang is ever so kindhearted!"

They had thought they wouldn’t be able to buy any Spirit Rice, but unexpectedly, there was a turn of fortune.

More people watched coldly from the sidelines, silently observing Fang Wu’s performance. Sell his own stock of grain? How much Spirit Rice could that possibly be? It was likely a ploy to withhold supply, drive up prices, and sell the least amount of rice for the highest return.

"To whom should the Spirit Rice be sold?"

Five hundred catties of Spirit Rice was a considerable amount for a single Loose Cultivator. If distributed to every Loose Cultivator present, each person would only get about two catties. At most, it could prevent starvation for seven days. Who would get to buy the five hundred catties of Spirit Rice was the biggest issue. Everyone wanted the five hundred catties of Spirit Rice for themselves.

"To prevent one person from monopolizing it and leaving other Daoist friends without grain, we will auction the Spirit Rice in increments of one catty each to ensure fairness," Fang Wu declared.

Shrewd merchant!

One had to admit Fang Wu was a competent businessman. Selling outright to one person would not fetch a good price and might incite collective anger. Auctioning the Spirit Rice in portions of one catty would maximize profits, fetching a higher price per catty. It also ensured that the underground trade meeting could continue, as cultivators wouldn’t be entirely unable to purchase Spirit Rice. If Spirit Rice couldn’t be purchased at the trade meeting, the Loose Cultivators’ trust would collapse, and the meeting itself would likely disband. Killing several birds with one stone.

The Loose Cultivators understood Fang Wu’s intentions but were powerless to do otherwise. Who among them didn’t rely on Fang Wu to obtain Spirit Rice?

"The first portion of Spirit Rice, the starting bid is one Fragmented Spirit Stone," Fang Wu announced.

A catty for one Fragmented Spirit Stone—the price seemed fair, but it gave people the illusion that anyone could get a bargain. The problem was, this price was bound to be impossible to secure any Spirit Rice with. As more people participated in the bidding, the price would only go higher. With the Loose Cultivators out of grain, many already starving, they were willing to pay any price to secure more Spirit Rice.

"Seven Fragmented Spirit Stones!"