Chapter 53: Trading with the Golden Commerce Guild

Chapter 53: Trading with the Golden Commerce Guild Jiang Yun walked out of the auction room without a hint of interest. As he walked, he asked casually,

"I'm not the only one who possesses a system, am I?"

[That's correct, Host,] the system replied with its usual cheerful tone.

"How many systems were there earlier? Do you know?" Jiang Yun asked further.

[There were about three systems, Host: the Emperor System, the Clan Leader System, and the Investment System,] the system explained.

Jiang Yun nodded lightly. Although he didn't know all the details, his Eye of Insight couldn't fully penetrate some people. Yet, he had a hunch that others in this world also possessed systems like his. A small smile crept onto his face as he thought to himself, "This is getting interesting."

As he passed through a large courtyard, a group of seemingly powerful people blocked his path. They knelt in unison, and one of them spoke up respectfully,

"We have found you, Young Master!"

Jiang Yun halted. He glanced at the group and used his Eye of Insight to assess them. Instantly, all their information was laid bare before him. He realized that they were people from the Jiang Imperial Clan. He had previously sent the Samsara Clone to gather information about the Jiang Clan and his own identity, and he had learned some things that made him despise the Jiang Clan, no matter who they were.

"Young Master, do you wish to return to the clan?" one man from the group asked respectfully.

Jiang Yun didn't answer. He simply turned away and vanished into the void, leaving the group behind in bewilderment and shock.

"The Young Master has disappeared!" one of the group exclaimed in panic.

"Should we report this to the clan leader?" another asked hesitantly.

"I think we should," the first man replied firmly.

"But what if he gets angry?" a third man countered, fear evident in his voice.

The group fell silent, none daring to decide what to do next.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yun reappeared at the Golden Commerce Guild. He emerged from the void gracefully, and the branch leader of the Golden Commerce Guild immediately came forward to greet him, as they had already made contact earlier during the auction.

"I want to buy something," Jiang Yun said, his tone calm yet filled with authority.

The branch leader bowed slightly before responding respectfully, "Please, feel free to tell us what you require."

In the luxurious reception room of the Golden Commerce Guild, Jiang Yun stared coldly at the branch leader, as if weighing something in his mind.

"I want all the skill manuals you have," Jiang Yun stated, his voice calm yet commanding.

"From Immortal Dao levels all the way up to Immortal Emperor levels. Bring me everything you have. I'll buy them all."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yun tossed a spirit ring toward the branch leader nonchalantly. The branch leader quickly used his spiritual sense to inspect the contents, and his eyes widened in shock. Inside the ring were countless immortal spirit stones, far more than he could have ever imagined. These stones were worth far more than what had been auctioned today.

"You... have this much wealth..." the branch leader muttered to himself before adjusting his posture and pulling out a communication jade. He spoke quickly into it, "Bring all the skill manuals we have from this branch, and send for more from other branches. Do it as quickly as possible."

The branch leader gave his orders immediately, sending his spiritual energy out to direct his subordinates, and everyone began to move swiftly.

Jiang Yun paid little attention to the flurry of activity around him. After a brief conversation with the branch leader, he sat down to sip some tea. But this moment of peace was soon interrupted by a man in black who appeared soundlessly from the void.

"Greetings, Young Master," the man in black said, his voice trembling slightly. Jiang Yun's presence was enough to make him feel fear.

Jiang Yun glanced at the man sharply before turning back to his tea, as if the man were nothing more than a passing breeze, unworthy of his attention. Meanwhile, the branch leader of the Golden Commerce Guild showed clear displeasure. The man's appearance in this private room without permission was a serious breach of protocol.

The man in black waited for a response from Jiang Yun, but after receiving none, he quickly spoke up,

"The clan leader wishes to meet with you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the man's head detached from his body in an instant. Blood splattered onto the floor, but there had been no warning, no sign. Before anyone could even react, the man in black was dead.

The branch leader watched the scene with a cold expression. He wasn't too surprised; in fact, he had allowed the man in black to enter as a test of something. And now, the result was clear.

Jiang Yun spoke, "Next time, it might be your head."

The branch leader immediately apologized, "I'm terribly sorry, sir."

The tension in the room grew thick, but not long after, piles of skill manuals were brought before Jiang Yun. The branch leader spoke with a solemn tone,

"Here are 13 Immortal Emperor-level manuals, 120 High Dao-level manuals, and 842 Dao-level manuals. We also have tens of thousands of Immortal-level manuals, all brought from this branch."

Jiang Yun glanced at the manuals briefly before a slight smile played on his lips. He was satisfied with his acquisition.

In the grand reception room of the Golden Commerce Guild, Jiang Yun sat amidst a sea of skill manuals. He raised his hand and opened one slowly. Then, a time aura began to form around him. The entire room seemed to freeze, while the countless manuals were swiftly absorbed. Time flowed differently in Jiang Yun's domain, far faster than in the outside world.

The branch leader of the Golden Commerce Guild, seated across from him, watched the phenomenon in awe. He muttered to himself softly,

"The Law of Time... No, wait... Is it a pattern?"

Before long, Jiang Yun placed the final manual down and spoke simply, "This will do."

The branch leader felt a subtle pressure release. He wanted to ask if Jiang Yun wished to see manuals from other branches, but he refrained, quickly finalizing the remaining transactions. He returned the excess immortal spirit stones that Jiang Yun had given. As the two finished their business, Jiang Yun prepared to leave, but the branch leader spoke up hesitantly,

"Sir Jiang Yun, would you be interested in joining the Golden Commerce Guild? If you do, I can offer you a high-level executive position. Not only will you have vast resources and a tremendous monthly stipend, but you'll also have the full support of the entire Golden Commerce Guild. I believe it would greatly benefit you."

Jiang Yun chuckled softly before responding,

"And what about you? Would you be interested in working for me instead?" he asked, his gaze piercing as he studied the branch leader.

"I may not have as many resources or offer as high a salary as the Golden Commerce Guild, but I can guarantee that if you follow me, you will become an Immortal Emperor in the future."

The branch leader's heart raced. Jiang Yun's proposal was so arrogant, yet the promise of becoming an Immortal Emperor, a title held by so few, stirred something deep within him. He felt a strange, profound belief in Jiang Yun's words, but at the same time, his loyalty to the Golden Commerce Guild held him back.

After a moment of silence, the branch leader spoke with determination,

"My life is tied to the Golden Commerce Guild. I cannot betray it. I apologize; I cannot walk the same path as you."

Jiang Yun continued smiling as he turned and disappeared into the void. He left behind a final, quiet remark,

"What a shame." Sёarch* The NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

When Jiang Yun's figure vanished, the branch leader collapsed into his chair, feeling utterly drained. Guilt clawed at his heart, as though he had just made the biggest mistake of his life. He could only ask himself, "Why? Why? Why?"