Chapter 54: Business Warfare, Bloodless Battle!

The newcomer was the Sect Master of the nearby Heishan Sect, Zhao Wuji.

The Heishan Sect was a small sect that survived by mining and selling a kind of ore known as “Black Iron Mystic Crystal”. It was located no more than three hundred li from Qingyun Sect.

Recently, they had heard that Qingyun Sect had produced a man named Chu Feng, who had been stirring up quite a storm—even Li Aotian had been crippled by him—so a few traces of fear had already taken root in their hearts.

Today, Zhao Wuji happened to bring his disciples to the Qingyun Sect Market to sell ores. From afar, he had heard Chu Feng’s grand “Logistics Blueprint” speech and immediately couldn’t sit still.

“Ah, so it’s you, Zhao Sect Master.”

Elder Liu Changqing recognized the visitor and spoke with a smile that did not reach his eyes,

“Zhao Sect Master, shouldn’t you be digging in your Heishan Sect’s mines? What brings you to our Qingyun Sect’s territory?”

“Hmph! Liu Changqing, spare me the pretense!”

Zhao Wuji was clearly not intimidated by Liu Changqing. He pointed directly at Chu Feng and said unceremoniously,

“Boy, I don’t care what kind of tricks you’re playing in Qingyun Sect, but if you dare to set your sights on my Heishan Sect, don’t blame me, Zhao Wuji, for being impolite!”

The way Heishan Sect survived was through exploiting information gaps and geographic advantage—buying ores cheaply from rogue cultivators, and selling them at high prices to distant sects.

Once Chu Feng’s “Ascension Logistics” was established, it would directly cut off their entire source of income! That was no different from digging up their ancestral graves!

Faced with Zhao Wuji’s provocation, Chu Feng’s face still carried a warm and gentle smile.

“Zhao Sect Master, you misunderstand. Our Ascension Group—ah no, the Research Association—has always upheld the principle of ‘peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation’. We’re doing logistics to serve everyone. How could we ever be targeting you?”

“Mutually beneficial cooperation?”

Zhao Wuji sneered, “Nice words! Let me tell you, in my Heishan Sect’s territory, your flying boats won’t be allowed to fly even an inch! And my Heishan Sect’s ores—don’t even think about hauling a single piece!”

“Oh? Is that so?”

A playful glint flashed across Chu Feng’s eyes. “Zhao Sect Master, are you sure?”

“I’m absolutely, positively sure!”

Zhao Wuji thumped his chest with a loud bang bang.

“That’s truly unfortunate.”

Chu Feng sighed, his expression showing genuine regret.

“Since Zhao Sect Master refuses our goodwill, then we can only use our own way to solve this problem.”

After speaking, he ignored Zhao Wuji and turned toward Wang Teng beside him:

“Director Wang.”

“Subordinate present!”

Wang Teng immediately stepped forward.

“I’ll give you three days,” Chu Feng said calmly.

“I want the price of Heishan Sect’s ‘Black Iron Mystic Crystal’ to fall below cost. I want all their miners to leave and come work for our Group. I want Zhao Sect Master himself to come and beg me to buy out his sect.”

“Remember—no use of force. We are a civilized Group. We settle disputes through business means.”

“Yes, sir! I guarantee to complete the mission!”

Wang Teng received the order, his eyes brimming with excitement.

He loved nothing more than this kind of “killing without drawing blood.”

At the side, Zhao Wuji was first stunned by their conversation, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahahahaha! Did I just hear that right? You want my ores to fall below cost? You want all my miners to flee? And you even want me to beg you to buy me out? Boy, are you sleepwalking? Who do you think you are, the God of Wealth?”

He thought this was the funniest joke he had ever heard in his life.

Even Murong Xue frowned; she thought Chu Feng was being a bit overconfident this time.

Without using force, only with so-called “business tactics,” to bring down an established sect within three days? How could that be possible?

However, Chu Feng only gave her a mysterious smile before leaving with his group in high spirits.

Only Zhao Wuji remained behind, laughing arrogantly in place.

……

That very afternoon.

A silent “business war” officially began.

Step One: Information Warfare.

Members of the Ascension Group’s “Publicity Department”—a large number of chores disciples and outer sect disciples—swarmed into every market, tavern, and even mine tunnel within Heishan Sect’s territory, like a plague of locusts.

They didn’t fight, nor cause trouble; they simply handed out beautifully printed “flyers” to anyone they met.

The headline of the flyer was shocking——【Shocking! The Ore You Mine—Middlemen Take 90% of the Profit! Secrets Heishan Sect Doesn’t Want You to Know!】

The content, written in plain and simple words, dissected every step from mining to final sale of the Black Iron Mystic Crystal. Using precise numbers, it showed miners that after a full day of backbreaking labor, they earned less than what their Sect Master spent on a single cup of tea.

In an instant, unrest spread throughout Heishan Sect’s entire territory.

Step Two: Price War.

Wang Teng mobilized the Group’s liquid funds and opened an “Ascension Group Raw Material Direct Store” in the marketplace of Heishan Sect’s greatest competitor—the Hundred Refinement Sect.

The store sold only one item: Black Iron Mystic Crystal.

And the price was 30% lower than Heishan Sect’s own factory price!

Once the news spread, all sects that had previously ordered ores from Heishan Sect immediately canceled their contracts and flooded to Hundred Refinement Sect instead.

Mountains of unsold ore piled up in Heishan Sect’s warehouses—yet not a single piece could be sold!

Step Three: Talent War.

Just as Heishan Sect’s ores became unsellable, wages couldn’t be paid, and resentment grew among the ranks—

The Ascension Group’s “Human Resources Department” set up a massive “Recruitment Stage” right at the foot of Heishan Mountain.

The recruitment slogan was simple and crude——【Say Goodbye to Exploitative Bosses! Join Ascension Group! Double the Salary! Pills Provided! All Medical Costs Fully Reimbursed! Work Three Years and Receive Inner Sect Disciple Status in Qingyun Sect!】

For those miners who risked their lives daily with no protection or welfare, this offer was irresistible!

On the first day, dozens of bold miners secretly signed up.

On the second day, the number grew to hundreds!

By the third morning—

Zhao Wuji stood before the main hall of his sect, staring down at the vast, empty mining grounds where not even a shadow of a miner could be seen, and at the stewards who came one after another demanding unpaid wages and causing commotion.

His face turned ashen.

He finally understood that what Chu Feng had said that day… wasn’t a joke.

It was a… devil’s prophecy.