novelhk Page 537
Page 537
As for who the cultivator was, Zhang Xiaoshan didn't ask.
The Zhang family has no shortage of experts who have advanced to the Grandmaster level by cultivating the Wedding Dress Divine Skill.
Even a Grandmaster would only be a minor nuisance to Zhang Xiaoshan (Li De).
The emergence of a Grandmaster in the Luo Wang would help restore order to its original course, and Zhang Xiaoshan certainly didn't want the Dragon Emperor to live to be a hundred years old.
If the Dragon Emperor lives for another ten years, he can stabilize the Nine Provinces.
But if they live to be a hundred years old, they will be a threat to the Zhang family!
If Zhang Xiaoshan really wanted to find an opponent, the Dragon Emperor would be the only one at the moment.
Watching Zhang Xiaoshan's departing figure, Zhao Gao's narrow, gloomy eyes were filled with extreme apprehension.
At least until he had a firm grasp on me, he absolutely did not want to face this mysterious, unpredictable, and cunning young master Zhang.
Moreover, although Zhang Xiaoshan appears to be detached from worldly affairs, he actually harbors countless hidden forces.
The intelligence capabilities of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) are by no means unfounded.
The Zhang family is behind many powerful forces, but they are so well hidden that no evidence can be found.
But just seeing the shadow of the Zhang family is enough.
Even an empire would have to pay a huge price to deal with the Zhang family. Afterwards, the Zhang family fled to the East China Sea, and even a million-strong army sent to the East China Sea was useless.
Not to mention the Grandmasters who possess unparalleled domineering power, the Zhang family in the East Sea is an imperial-like existence.
To destroy the Zhang family would likely result in both the empire and the Zhang family suffering heavy losses.
And this is even considering the Luo Wang network as being within the empire.
Chapter 623 Annexing the Ba Family? The Bazhong Witch Clan
"Young master, Madam Baqing wishes to see you!"
Above the nine stories of the Empire State Building is a flower garden with a glazed tile roof.
Not to mention the exotic flowers and plants in the flower garden, which are spring all year round, there is a simple, quiet, and otherworldly ancient-style pavilion in the center. The classic three-story pavilion is full of ancient style and conveys the ethereal and distant feeling of a fairyland.
This is the secluded courtyard of a refined young lady, furnished with jade screens, red silk tassels, and dressing tables designed like those for a boudoir...
Moreover, the mahogany tables and chairs, the rosewood shelves, the intricately crafted canopy bed made of golden nanmu wood... each item is an extremely luxurious decoration.
Su Chan's two maids were members of the Twelve Music Ensemble, which Zhang Xiaoshan had deliberately arranged.
The Twelve Girls Band is not just any ordinary Twelve Girls Band.
Instead, the Zhang family selected women qualified to practice martial arts from among those women in the brothels last time and trained them.
Two top-tier experts—Qingyuan and Hongyu—have cultivated the Nine Yin Internal Force and the Nine Yin Divine Claw.
The four top masters—the four maids Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju—cultivate the Nine Yin Internal Force and the Wudang Two Elements Sword Technique. The four maids can form the Two Elements Four Symbols Sword Formation.
"Widow Qing?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoshan nodded.
Gazing at Su Chan's graceful and alluring figure, Zhang Xiaoshan couldn't help but wonder about the purpose of this Lady Ba Qing.
Just a visit?
Although Zhang Xiaoshan made no attempt to conceal his arrival, no one would easily come knocking on his door.
After all, Zhang Xiaoshan wasn't in charge of the Zhang family's business, and most people needed to avoid discussing Zhang Xiaoshan's purpose in appearing in Xianyang City, especially his initial visit to the Dragon Emperor.
"Ba Qing greets Young Master Zhang!"
Led by Su Chan, Zhang Xiaoshan watched as the woman, though over sixty, still retained her charm as she gracefully approached.
However, despite her advanced age, Madam Baqing's dignified and noble air at this time surpassed even her charming beauty.
Even the beautiful and radiant Su Chan, under the powerful aura of Madam Ba Qing, seemed like a pretty maid.
This left Zhang Xiaoshan utterly amazed!
Indeed, a widow who could lead her family to become the number one merchant in Sichuan and Chongqing was no ordinary woman.
Even though he doesn't know martial arts, his aura is in no way inferior to that of a peerless grandmaster.
"It should be the junior greeting the madam!"
Zhang Xiaoshan cupped his hands in greeting, and only then did Ba Qing take a good look at the young man before him.
For twenty years, Zhang Xiaoshan has maintained his current appearance, seemingly ageless. However, Madam Baqing knows that this is the result of Zhang Xiaoshan's mastery of martial arts.
On Mount Qingcheng, she met many Taoist masters who were much older than her, yet they all looked to be around forty years old.
Taoist health preservation, and the internal cultivation of Xuanmen (Taoist school) is even more gradual.
Therefore, people like Zhang Xiaoshan, who established their Dao foundation on the very first day of cultivation, were considered miracles by the senior Daoist practitioners on Mount Qingcheng.
As for authenticity?
Zhang Sanfeng's reputation is well-deserved.
Moreover, Zhang Xiaoshan's subsequent meteoric rise to fame proved his exceptional talent, making him arguably the most gifted person in history.
For someone like that, nothing is surprising.
"I've heard that the Empire invited you here, young master. May I ask what brings you to Xianyang?"
"It's nothing major or secret, but Madam, once you've heard it today, please don't spread it to anyone else!"
"Don't worry, young master, Ba Qing knows what's important."
Upon hearing that Zhang Xiaoshan was willing to speak openly, Ba Qing quickly assured him that she would not tell anyone.
After all, once this matter gets out, it won't be a big deal for Zhang Xiaoshan, so it won't have any impact. But for her Ba family, it could be a devastating disaster.
"Didn't Zhang cure His Majesty's physical depletion before? He used a miraculous medicine that lasts for ten years to prolong his youth."
Now that the ten-year period has passed, His Majesty has long reached the age of knowing one's destiny, and thus his temples are slightly gray. He wishes to continue to maintain his physical peak condition through internal energy cultivation.
How to transform an ordinary person into a martial arts master involves a unique skill found throughout the martial arts world—
"Wedding Dress Divine Skill!"
"The Wedding Dress Divine Skill? I've heard of this martial art before. Could it be that Your Majesty..."
Madam Ba Qing looked at Zhang Xiaoshan and nodded, and couldn't help but gasp.
However, considering the status of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, this seems to be a perfectly normal thing.
Moreover, the Dragon Emperor, having become a master of the martial arts world, doesn't need to take action himself; he only needs to extend his lifespan with his true qi, which would be a tremendous change for the empire.
"Thank you for your information, young master. Ba Qing will absolutely not pass this on to a fourth person present today!"
"It's nothing serious, as long as we don't spread it around."
Ba Qing shook his head. Zhang Xiaoshan didn't care, because even the Empire needed their help.
But for the Ba family, this matter concerns the Dragon Emperor; if it gets out, it will definitely bring about the annihilation of the Ba family.
"May I ask what brings you here, Madam?"
"Actually, Ba Qing came here this time hoping that the Ba family could seek refuge with the Zhang family."
"I currently hold some sway over His Majesty, but I am ultimately just an ordinary person. In a hundred years, the Ba family will fall into the same predicament as the Zhang family, but without the Zhang family's strength."
Even Su Chan was horrified by Madam Ba Qing's purpose.
Unexpectedly, Ba Qing had such courage, directly abandoning the Ba family's decades of accumulation and merging into the Zhang family.
Zhang Xiaoshan also looked at Madam Baqing, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
She truly lives up to her reputation as an iron lady who has dominated the business world for decades.
"Madam Baqing truly lives up to her reputation as an Iron Lady!"
However, the Zhang family does not need the Ba family's surrender. It's not that the Zhang family looks down on the Ba family, but rather that the Zhang family has already become too prominent and attracted unwanted attention.
Everyone knows the Zhang family is terrifying, but no one knows just how terrifying they are. Those who have their eyes on the Ba family will also target the Zhang family.
"What does the young master mean?"
Hiss...
Are a pack of jackals really not afraid of death? Do even jackals dare to target a poisonous dragon?
Having traversed the land for decades, Ba Qing knew that Zhang Xiaoshan's words were not unfounded. In the face of enormous profits, where was reason?
"Under these circumstances, it would be a bad thing for the Ba family to join the Zhang family, and they might even quickly become a target for those forces to test the Zhang family."
"Is Heaven forsaking our Ba family?"
Ba Qing was also greatly shocked at this moment. He did not expect that joining the Zhang family might lead to the Ba family's demise even faster.
"Actually, the Ba family is not without options, but it depends on which option they choose."
Zhang Xiaoshan looked at Madam Ba Qing and slowly said:
"If this were Sichuan now, the Ba family would be a local power, and even the most powerful families in Guanzhong would find it difficult to take a bite out of them!"
"What you say is true, young master, but how could His Majesty allow the Ba family to return?"
Apart from the Zhang family, almost all powerful families that posed a threat to the empire were imprisoned in the imperial capital.
Therefore, Ba Qing died of illness in Xianyang City and could not possibly return.
"Under normal circumstances, it's impossible to go back, but what if I'm ordered to go back!"
"Ordered to return?"
For a moment, Ba Qing looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in shock. Did Zhang Xiaoshan have a solution?
After all, Zhang Xiaoshan would never have uttered such bold words if he had no other choice.
"The Ba family's main business is cinnabar and mercury, which is also what His Majesty relies on."
"If the Ba family's cinnabar and mercury business in Sichuan runs into trouble, do you think His Majesty would allow the Ba family to return?"
what?
Madam Ba Qing looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in shock; this was simply outrageous.
In reality, it wasn't that they hadn't considered this issue, but rather that the Luo Net was all-pervasive, and if the Ba family dared to do such a thing, they might all lose their heads the next day.
"If Madam Baqing agrees, I, Zhang, am willing to play the villain."
However, in return, the Ba family must gather information for the Zhang family in Sichuan and Chongqing; in other words, if the Zhang family wants to find something in Sichuan and Chongqing, the Ba family needs to help them find clues.
"what news?"
The Ba family could not escape the infiltration of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven), and were no match for it.
But the Zhang family is different, so Ba Qing's eyes gleamed. If possible, this might be a good deal.
"The Bashu Witch Clan!"
"The Bashu Witch Clan?"
Ba Qing's expression changed in surprise; he hadn't expected Zhang Xiaoshan to mention the incredibly mysterious legends of Sichuan and Chongqing.
"Young master, the Bashu witch tribe is a legendary tribe."
Even though the Ba family had been rooted in Sichuan for over a century, they had never heard of any trace of the Wu tribe. Even the empire had searched for them for some time, but ultimately failed.
"I know, but most people naturally don't know about the existence of the Bashu witch clan."
However, since Zhang asked the Ba family to find the Ba-Shu witch clan, it must not be without reason. At that time, the Zhang family will guide the Ba family in the right direction.
If there truly are no leads, Zhang will not blame the Ba family!
Hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's firm tone, Ba Qing nodded.
Now, this is the best way for the Ba family to escape the vortex of the capital.
If the Ba family's business in Sichuan runs into trouble, especially with mercury and cinnabar, even the Dragon Emperor would have no choice but to let the Ba family go back and suppress their business in Sichuan.
As for the investigation by the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven)?
For the Zhang family, it was an easy task.
After all, the Empire is not the only power that needs cinnabar and mercury; and the Ba family is not the only one that produces cinnabar and mercury.