#81 · 81 of 760
Chapter 81 Shen Fang came here to seek help
It was just as Su Bai had guessed.
A month after Lü Hong left her, Shen Fang arrived.
In just a few months, Shen Fang's white hair had increased significantly.
However, her expression was good.
When she saw Su Bai, although there was an unshakeable weariness in the corners of her eyes, the joy on her face was impossible to hide.
"Su Meimei, has Island Master Xu told you about that matter?"
As soon as she arrived, Shen Fang took Su Bai's hand and began to inquire.
Su Bai tilted her head, a little curious: "What matter? Recently, I've been busy Cultivating and haven't left Haijiao Cliff, so I don't know much about outside affairs."
"You don't know? Then I must tell you all about it."
The matter Shen Fang spoke of was about Xingluo Market.
Xu Changge did not appear in person.
However, the Song Family, Ding Family, and Wang Family had already put pressure on the Cultivator Families occupying the High Grade Spiritual Veins along the coast.
Either move out, or be exterminated.
Their attitude was extremely firm.
Shen Fang had already negotiated with the Yang Family.
They would help each other and buy a plot of land when the Market was built in the future, to operate as a Family business.
And the Yang Family's assistance to the Lü Family was limited, just as Su Bai had expected.
After all, the Yang Family and the Lü Family were no different.
Yang the Old Daoist had only managed to secure a second-tier Spiritual Vein for his own Family.
The only thing better about the Yang Family than the Lü Family was their flourishing population.
But the large population of the Yang Family also presented problems.
They had too little time to develop, and the resources they could provide to the Cultivators in their Family were scarce.
The main Family's Cultivators were already stingy with their own Cultivation, so there was no need to mention the branch Families.
How much help could the Lü Family, as outsiders, receive?
Shen Fang came to Su Bai.
She knew that Su Bai could definitely help her more than the Yang Family.
Although Su Bai was only one person, she knew so much.
Her Family's farmland and Spirit Medicine fields were right there.
She was also an Alchemist herself.
No matter what, she wouldn't be too poor.
After talking about the Market, Shen Fang also asked to borrow some Spirit Stones from Su Bai.
Su Bai sat leisurely in her chair. "So, Sister Shen, how much do you want to borrow?"
"How much…"
Shen Fang hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth.
She held up three fingers.
"Three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"
"…"
This number made Su Bai pause; it was no small sum.
Although Su Bai could produce these Spirit Stones, she would not agree to Shen Fang's request.
"Sister Shen, you must be joking. I can still come up with three hundred Spirit Stones, but three thousand Spirit Stones…"
"Even if you sold me, I wouldn't have them."
Su Bai indicated that she was short on funds.
"I am just a Loose Cultivator, and I don't have much savings to begin with."
"Over so many years, it has already been difficult to maintain my own Cultivation."
Su Bai shook her head somewhat sheepishly.
It was as if she couldn't even pull out half a Spirit Stone from her person.
Shen Fang opened her mouth and glanced outside.
The Spirit Rice in the Spirit field was almost ripe, each grain full and plump.
The Spirit Medicine in the Medicine field was fragrant, clearly Spirit Medicine at least fifty years old.
This Family fortune was enough to rival a typical Qi Refining Family.
And this was only what was on the surface; who knew if Su Bai's Storage Pouch contained even better things?
But Shen Fang couldn't say anything.
After all, without any proof, it was indeed not good to ask for so many Spirit Stones right away.
Shen Fang thought for a moment.
"My second daughter, Lü Hong, will take over my silkworm raising work from now on. How about I let her be your maidservant? Two-tenths of the Lü Family's silkworm silk and silkworm sand profits will be yours."
"The Spirit Stones borrowed will definitely be repaid later."
Shen Fang used one of her Family's industries as collateral.
Her daughter was also used as collateral.
This made Su Bai realize that they were now betting everything they had on Xingluo Market.
Facing Shen Fang's conditions, Su Bai merely shook her head.
This action made Shen Fang's heart sink.
If Su Bai's side didn't work out, then she could only borrow from the Xu Family, or even the Song Family and Ding Family.
The Xu Family was easier to talk to, as she was acquainted with Xu Changge.
There should be room for negotiation.
However, Xu Changge's layout of Xingluo Market meant that she herself would certainly invest in the Market.
It was hard to say whether she could help the Lü Family.
If the Xu Family also couldn't help, going to the Song Family or Ding Family would likely mean being fleeced.
It was unclear whether entering Xingluo Market would be profitable or a loss.
"Sister Shen, you've misunderstood. I'm not saying I won't lend to you; it's just that you don't need to pay such a high price."
"Our two Families have known each other for almost fifty years. This is the first time you've asked for my help, and I'm naturally willing to assist."
"It's just that my abilities are truly limited, younger sister."
After Su Bai's explanation, Shen Fang's complexion improved somewhat.
The woman thought about it and realized it was true.
Su Bai's current Family fortune was all earned by her as an Alchemist.
It was only in previous years, when she went to Tianyun City with Xu Changge, that she earned some hard-earned money with her skills.
She hadn't gone to any Secret Realm or similar places to seek treasures.
Her Family fortune was probably limited.
"Alas! A once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity."
Shen Fang sighed, feeling that perhaps the Lü Family was truly fated not to have it.
Perhaps upon obtaining a second-tier Spiritual Vein, the Lü Family had already exhausted its good fortune.
Even without the Market, they could still survive in the future.
But everyone knew how immense the profits in the Market were.
If the Lü Family did not participate, then the other surrounding Families would obtain a large amount of resources, and their strength would inevitably develop rapidly.
The Lü Family would slowly struggle on their own and would eventually be left behind.
The Cultivation World was cruel.
If the Lü Family lacked strength, it was uncertain whether they could even keep their own second-tier Spiritual Vein.
Xingluo Market was an opportunity, but also a calamity.
"I was too impatient."
Shen Fang looked at the sky outside, knowing that in the current situation, probably no one could give her much help.
The strongest Families in the Xingluo Archipelago were the four Families with Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors.
Adding the Six Major Sects that would come to settle there later, they would first divide this delicious fruit of the Market.
The Lü Family and the Yang Family were also allies of the Xu Family because they were on Wumu Island.
They were also considered affiliated Families of the Xu Family.
Therefore, they learned about the Market in advance.
Other small Families didn't even have the right to know.
It was estimated that only after Xingluo Market was fully operational would those small Families around the Xingluo Archipelago realize what the few Foundation Establishment Families had done together.
By then, they wouldn't even have a chance to enter and get a share.
To enter the Market, their entire Family's foundation would have to be put in, and only then would they likely be qualified to enter the Market.
Looking at Shen Fang, Su Bai suddenly felt that her own luck seemed quite good.
At the very least, Xu Changge had given her a promise.
After the Market opened, she would give her a shop.
After Shen Fang realized she couldn't get help from Su Bai, she chatted casually for a couple of sentences and then planned to leave.
She still had to go to the Xu Family to try her luck.
To see if Xu Changge could help the Lü Family with this favor.
At worst, they would just acknowledge the Xu Family as their main Family from now on.
Anyway, Wumu Island also belonged to the Xu Family.
Just as Shen Fang was about to leave, Su Bai called out to her.
"Sister Shen, don't leave yet. Although I don't have many Spirit Stones on me, I can still help you with something."
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