Chapter 466: Chapter 468: Targeted
"Right, right, right."
Lu Yin quickly echoed in agreement.
"The Underworld Market is notorious for being filled with cunning merchants; how could you possibly buy a Heavenly Stone for a mere hundred thousand taels? After all, Heavenly Stones have always been hotly contested by major nations, not to mention the contestants of the upcoming Competition Among Ten Countries who all wish to obtain a weapon made from a Heavenly Stone."
"Even if you managed to get a Heavenly Stone, you’d still need to figure out a method to refine it."
Both Lu Yin and Dugu Wu had run gambling houses and knew that when it came to gambling, the odds are you’d lose nine out of ten times. To put it bluntly, the stone gambling at the Underworld Market was just a way to snare fools like Hong Xuan.
Dugu Wu’s words stunned Hong Xuan.
"Even if you can’t buy a Heavenly Stone, it’s still worth going to the Underworld Market to check it out. You might be able to find other valuable items. Although Poison Dragon Villa has no silver, we should at least have the qualifications to attend the Underworld Market auction. Brother, you must take me with you."
Hong Xuan clung to Lu Yin, refusing to let go.
From the conversation of those around her, Feng Bailing realized that attending the Underworld Market auction required certain qualifications, and she thought of her own VIP Card.
"The Underworld Market always handles their affairs in a unique and independent manner. When Master was alive, Poison Dragon Villa could get an invitation, but this time is uncertain."
Lu Yin said, hesitating.
"However, Dugu definitely can get an invitation, I remember he has a pretty good relationship with the young master of the Underworld Market."
Lu Yin said, his words carrying a suggestive tone as he winked at Dugu Wu. He also wanted to visit the Underworld Market auction, as it was rumored that for the Competition Among Ten Countries, the Underworld Market had also carefully prepared some merchandise. Even if he didn’t buy anything, just attending would be a feast for the eyes.
The young master of the Underworld Market?
Feng Bailing looked skeptically at Dugu Wu, who remained stoic.
"An invitation only allows for two people to participate. Lu Yin, you’d better figure out your own way to get an invitation."
After speaking, Dugu Wu promptly changed his clothes and went off to the Ministry of Revenue.
"This guy, now that he has a Princess Consort, forgets his friends for his love!"
Lu Yin lamented with a resentful glance at Feng Bailing, stopping short of saying more.
The brother and sister left Prince Shun’s Mansion with their noisy bickering, and Feng Bailing couldn’t help but smile. She felt that Wu Courtyard seemed more lively than before, a good sign indeed.
Thinking of her conversation with Li Mubei last night, Feng Bailing decided to find Ouyang Chenchen. She realized that since the Competition Among Ten Countries had begun, Ouyang Chenchen hadn’t visited Yuxiu Academy.
It had already been several days since Feng Bailing had last seen her, and she reckoned that at this hour, Ouyang Chenchen should be at the Drunken Immortal Inn. Therefore, she planned to make a trip to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce first, then go to the Drunken Immortal Inn to meet Ouyang Chenchen.
Regarding the matter of "Dragon Seed," she also planned to select a group of villages and farmers through Ouyang Chenchen in Daye.
First, Feng Bailing went to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, where Li Mubei had brought a list of urgently needed goods. Feng Bailing planned to have Zhang Dafa and Zhang Erfa prepare the goods before the Competition Among Ten Countries and also set aside a portion of silver to participate in the auction.
Having the VIP Card, Feng Bailing too desired to attend the Underworld Market auction, especially interested in the stone gambling mentioned by Hong Xuan.
As soon as he arrived at Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, he saw Zhang Erfa sitting there with a dejected look, and Zhang Dafa’s face was also ashen. The brothers looked downcast.
Since the start of Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s operations, its business had always been booming, with the brothers in high spirits every day, smiling from ear to ear. Feng Bailing had never seen them in such low spirits before.
"Feng San, come and help us judge. Zhang Erfa jumped up as soon as he saw Feng Bailing and started to pour out his grievances.
"Our Phoenix Chamber of Commerce is now quite sizable, so why are we not eligible to participate in the Underworld Market auction?" asked Zhang Erfa, feeling resentful.
Feng Bailing only realized why the two were in such a bad mood after listening to Zhang Erfa—it was because of the upcoming auction hosted by Underworld Market.
Underworld Market, as the leading chamber of commerce on the continent, was always a benchmark in the eyes of other chambers. Its auctions were known for their unique format and diverse range of products, which had long been the model for other major chambers.
As former mercenaries, Zhang Dafa and Zhang Erfa had heard of the Underworld Market auction before, but due to financial constraints, they had never had the chance to attend.
This time, with a learning attitude, they also wanted to participate in the auction. However, to their dismay, when they arrived at the inn where the person in charge of Underworld Market was staying with other chambers, they were turned away as soon as his people heard the name Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
"That person in charge, Elder Liu, was arrogant and dismissive, saying that our Phoenix Chamber of Commerce has only been established for a few months, has no reputation and no right to attend the auction. Even though our chamber can make a profit of 400,000 taels each month," said Zhang Erfa, with a tone of indignation.
Generally speaking, Underworld Market auctions targeted several types of clients.
The first type was wealthy big clients like Dugu Wu and Li Mubei who represented strong commercial power in their own right.
Then there were those with authority and status, such as the nobility and royal families of various countries, as well as some large mercenary corps. The last type included some chambers of commerce.
Although Phoenix Chamber of Commerce was newly established, in terms of scale and profits, it had already joined the ranks of medium-sized chambers on the continent. It was no wonder that brothers Zhang Dafa and Zhang Erfa were dissatisfied, especially since other medium-sized chambers were eligible to attend the auction.
"I’ve also heard that this auction at Underworld Market is quite sizable. It’s normal for Underworld Market to be unaware of Phoenix Chamber of Commerce since it’s newly established. You needn’t worry, though. Give it some time, and Underworld Market won’t dare to slight you," Feng Bailing reassured them after sharing her new plan with the brothers, Li Mubei and herself, invigorating their spirits.
Having been immersed in the business operations with Feng Bailing recently, the brothers had also picked up some commercial knowledge and understood that selling seeds was very profitable.
"Next, I’ll be participating in the Competition Among Ten Countries, and I’ll need to leave you brothers in charge of the chamber completely. You’ll also have to pay attention to Underworld Market. Our current strength is not sufficient, so let’s avoid direct confrontation with them," Feng Bailing comforted the brothers, and their emotions gradually settled down.
In her heart, Feng Bailing also had her suspicions—Underworld Market’s outright rejection was a clear sign of hostility towards Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, likely stemming from Phoenix’s recent rapid growth that had drawn Underworld Market’s dissatisfaction.
Her suspicions were quite correct.
At Xiankelai, the largest inn in the city.
Underworld Market’s representative in Great Chu, a middle-aged man with a serious face, was reviewing the guest list in his hands. The list was full of names from various honored guests and those in charge of large forces and medium-sized chambers from all over.
Among the names of the chambers was that of Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
Yet, upon seeing the four characters of "Phoenix Chamber of Commerce," the middle-aged man took a Vermilion Pen and marked a bright red cross over the name of Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.