Chapter 18: Monopolies Everywhere, No One Has a Choice

“The two of you, I’ve said all there is to say. Will you join or…” Xu Liang’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them.

Jiang Chen was quite interested in this. “I’ll join.”

Xu Liang’s smile immediately brightened. “Welcome, Fellow Daoist Jiang. What about Fellow Daoist Liu?”

Instantly, both his and Jiang Chen’s gazes fell upon the third person.

Wu Meng furrowed her willow-leaf brows, thought it over carefully, and said, “I’ll need to consider it further.”

“Of course, no problem. Even if we don’t cooperate this time, it’s fine,” Xu Liang nodded.

The [Harvest Alliance] controlled the vast majority of the [Spirit Rice] and spirit plant market. Even if a small amount flowed into the market, it wouldn’t have any impact on the overall situation.

But precisely because of Wu Meng’s refusal, for the rest of the journey, Xu Liang basically only communicated with Jiang Chen.

And through this conversation, Jiang Chen learned quite a bit of information.

For example, the five major forces represented by the five spiritual roots:

The Wood Spiritual Root was led by the [Harvest Alliance] (monopolizing the spirit plant market).

The Water Spiritual Root was led by the [Talisman Guild] (monopolizing the talisman market).

The Fire Spiritual Root was led by the [Pill Alliance] (monopolizing the pill market).

The Metal Spiritual Root was led by the [Artifact Hall] (monopolizing the artifact market).

The Earth Spiritual Root was led by the [Array Guild] (monopolizing the array market).

One could tell just from their names what they did.

Only the [Array Guild] was somewhat special. Because not all Earth Spiritual Root disciples could become array masters. This profession required extremely high comprehension just to get started. And one had to admit that most people’s comprehension was rather average. Precisely because they were scarce, they couldn’t be replaced, hence their prices were exorbitant. Yet, everyone needed the help of arrays; the higher one’s cultivation realm, the greater the demand.

Of course, this isn’t to say there were no pure independents. Either they were newcomers who weren’t qualified to be recruited, or they were powerful enough to look down on any particular faction.

Jiang Chen asked curiously, “Fellow Daoist Jiang, doesn’t that mean most of the spirit farmers in our [Spirit Farm], especially those [Senior Brothers] who have reached [Foundation Establishment], are mostly in the [Harvest Alliance]?”

“I remember a [Foundation Establishment Senior Brother] named [Wang Ze]. Is he in it?” Jiang Chen asked further.

“Senior Brother [Wang Ze] is not,” however, Xu Liang shook his head.

Xu Liang explained, “Senior Brother [Wang Ze] has some connections with people from the [Pill Alliance] over there, so his [Spirit Farm] cultivates medicinal herbs.”

Jiang Chen understood. That explained why he didn’t grow [Spirit Rice].

“We’ve arrived at [Red Leaf Valley].” At this moment, Wu Meng, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up to remind them.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen looked ahead. He was immediately stunned by the scenery.

As far as the eye could see, everything was red maple leaves. Gathered together like a crimson ocean. And in the deepest part stood an incredibly massive ancient red maple tree. Lush with branches and leaves, towering into the clouds. Its leaves resembled the pink palms of a human infant’s hands. When the wind blew, they immediately made a pa pa pa sound, as if clapping in welcome.

Soon, under Xu Liang’s control, the [Paper Crane] slowly descended, and the three of them landed on the ground together.

Wu Meng didn’t say much more and walked straight ahead.

Jiang Chen followed beside Xu Liang to go to the [Harvest Alliance] trading point first.

Soon, an antique-style wooden building came into view. It had three floors in total. He didn’t know about the upper two floors, but the first floor had the largest flow of people. Almost everyone was queuing in line.

Above the trading window was prominently displayed today’s transaction price.

Under deliberate speculation by Xu Liang and others like him, the price of [Spirit Rice] had soared.

[Spirit Rice] produced from **[Tier-2 Spirit Farm]**s varied in quality and thus price somewhat differently, but not outrageously so.

Originally, 2 jin of [Tier-2] high-quality [Spirit Rice] exchanged for one [Low-grade Spirit Stone]. Under the alliance’s manipulation, the new rate was 1.5 jin for one [Low-grade Spirit Stone].

Even [Tier-1] high-quality [Spirit Rice] went from its original ten-to-one ratio to seven-to-one now.

As for [Top-quality Spirit Rice]? That was being snatched up like crazy.

There was no other way; many people wanted to make a name for themselves at the Formal Disciple Competition. With good luck, one might catch a “Celestial Elder’s” eye and become a core disciple.

“Hiss.” Seeing this with his own eyes, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath.

Xu Liang said rather smugly, “Fellow Daoist Jiang, now you know how wise your choice was.”

“So how do I trade?” Jiang Chen quickly calmed down.

Xu Liang smiled, “You haven’t completed three years yet, so you can’t fully join the [Harvest Alliance]. But with my recommendation, it’s 1.8 jin of [Tier-2] high-quality [Spirit Rice] for one [Low-grade Spirit Stone].”

This was higher than the current market rate. Clearly, he would be at a disadvantage compared to full members.

“To be honest with you,” Xu Liang said, now that things had come to this point and he no longer needed to pretend, his eyes turning fierce. “That [Fellow Daoist Wu Meng] earlier will be deliberately targeted by our people because she refused to join. Later, when she comes back, the rate will be 1.9:1 for her; even higher than yours.”

After so many years down this path, the market had long been monopolized by the [Harvest Alliance]. Even if there were some who slipped through their net, they couldn’t make any waves either way.

“Alright.” Jiang Chen couldn’t find any reason to refuse.

Even if he tried selling outside himself, he would still be targeted, and he didn’t even know how long it would take him just to sell anything off successfully. Plus, the ratio would definitely be even worse than what he had now anyway!

So why not cooperate with them? It seemed like losing out on paper but actually wasn’t really so bad after all, because essentially, the market price itself was being manipulated by them anyway!

In fact, if there weren’t any such thing as the [Harvest Alliance], then two whole jin of [Tier-2] high-quality [Spirit Rice] would only fetch him one single [Low-grade Spirit Stone]. Therefore, even though selling at 1.8:1 meant less profit per unit sold compared against current manipulated rates elsewhere, it was still profitable nonetheless!

If wanting to escape from such a predicament entirely, the only option left would involve switching over entirely toward cultivating different types altogether—ones whose inherent value already commanded premium pricing naturally due to their rarity/quality, like how [Senior Brother Wang Ze] grew various expensive medicinal herbs instead.

Xu Liang said seriously, “Fellow Daoist Jiang, you will never regret today’s decision.”

Jiang Chen directly took out three hundred jin of [Top-quality Spirit Rice] produced from his [Tier-2 Spirit Farm]. He considered this an initial test.

“It’s [Top-quality Spirit Rice]!” Xu Liang couldn’t help but look at this fellow disciple before him with newfound respect.

He had originally thought reaching the high-quality standard was already good enough. Now, seeing [Top-quality Spirit Rice]? Naturally, the exchange ratio was different altogether.

Xu Liang immediately gave him one hundred eighty-seven [Low-grade Spirit Stones] swiftly and without fuss.

Now, deducting the ten jin he lent Zhao Ziyao earlier, plus the three hundred jin he sold off, Jiang Chen still had seven hundred ninety jin of [Top-quality Spirit Rice] left on him.

“This is my communication talisman; you can contact me anytime.” Xu Liang took out one spiritual talisman.

“Good.” Jiang Chen threw everything into his small storage pouch then left the trading point.

Coming outside, he soon saw Wu Meng at one corner. That wood spiritual root female disciple who arrived together earlier at the [Red Leaf Valley] marketplace.

She had indeed chosen to sell her own [Tier-2] high-quality [Spirit Rice] herself.

And right then, suddenly another wood spiritual root disciple popped up nearby. He also started setting up a stall, with a ratio even higher than Wu Meng’s.

No matter how much Wu Meng raised hers, he always went higher still, even once returning back towards the two-to-one ratio. Meaning two jin of [Tier-2 Spirit Rice] equals one [Low-grade Spirit Stone].

Wu Meng lost all customers, even getting called ‘profiteer’ by some people.

Jiang Chen silently observed, noticing that no matter where she moved her location, as soon as she set up her stall again, immediately someone else popped up again too!

Finally, having no other choice left, she could only walk toward the [Harvest Alliance] trading point obediently.

“This [Fellow Daoist Wu Meng] seemed not to trust the [Harvest Alliance]?” Jiang Chen pondered thoughtfully.

Because having previous life experience, he agreed to Xu Liang’s offer earlier. Otherwise, he would have offended not just him personally but the entire organization behind him! What could a mere small-time spirit farmer possibly do against such a market-monopolizing behemoth anyway?

But currently speaking, the [Harvest Alliance] seemed to lean towards protecting the interests of the Spirit Farmers themselves, since as long as the price didn’t revert back toward the original two-to-one ratio, then they definitely wouldn’t lose money overall!

It was just a matter of earning more or earning less!