Chapter 705: Sold Out

Chapter 705: Chapter 705: Sold Out

"One month?" Zhong Shan lightly tapped his finger on the table, lost in thought.

"Yes, at the current rate of demand, if our Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop doesn't raise prices, we'll be completely out of stock in a month. Your Majesty, should we limit the daily sales or temporarily close the shop? We could wait until the frenzy dies down and then resume selling," Zhao Hai suggested with a worried expression.

"No, continue business as usual," Zhong Shan shook his head.

Closing the shop was not an option. This wasn't just a typical business situation; it was a confrontation with Lü Buwei. Closing the shop would be akin to admitting defeat.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhao Hai replied, his face still filled with concern.

"You may go now," Zhong Shan said.

"Yes!"

Zhao Hai left the hall, while Zhong Shan closed his eyes and continued tapping his finger on the table, pondering possible solutions.

In a courtyard of Lü's Merchant Guild.

Lü Buwei had fifty stalks of divining grass laid out before him, seemingly calculating something. His subordinates stood by silently, not daring to interrupt. After a while, Lü Buwei shook his head and sighed, evidently gaining nothing from his calculations.

Looking outside, Lü Buwei asked, "How are things out there?"

"All the Xu Mi stone prices in the city are rising, except for the Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop, which still sells at the original price. The whole city knows this and is flocking there. Da Rong's supply won't last much longer," a subordinate reported.

"Still the original price?" Lü Buwei's lips curled into a peculiar smile.

"Yes."

Outside the Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop, a long queue had formed. High-level cultivators didn't bother queuing themselves but sent their juniors or disciples. Those with lower cultivation levels didn't mind waiting, especially since they were buying storage equipment.

"Young Master Zhang Si, you're here for Xu Mi stones too?"

"Young Master Li Liu, you as well? Ah, our elders have us queuing here. What a disgrace!"

"Isn't it? But we have to buy now or miss the chance!"

"Why?"

"Can't you see? Other shops charge fifty times the price, while this one sells at the original price. Once they run out, the prices everywhere will soar even higher. It's only because of Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop that prices haven't already skyrocketed!"

"These greedy merchants!"

"Well, at least the family heads are buying us storage space early. Otherwise, we'd have to wait two more years."

"Da Rong's shop is the best, never raising prices!"

The long queue in front of Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop was filled with chatter, all praising the Da Rong Merchant Guild.

At the shop entrance, Zhong Shan and Zhao Hai watched the long line of customers.

"It's the tenth day already," Zhao Hai's eyes flashed with worry.

"Let's go, we need to talk," Zhong Shan said.

"Yes!"

Back at their residence, Zhao Hai looked at Zhong Shan with concern. "Your Majesty, it's been ten days. We only have twenty days left. We can't hold out much longer."

Zhong Shan remained silent for a moment before responding, "Prepare for our next move. We will not be raising prices, but we will make sure our supplies last. We need to stabilize the market and keep our reputation intact."

Zhao Hai nodded, though his concern did not fully abate. He trusted Zhong Shan's judgment, but the pressure of the situation was undeniable. The next few days would be crucial in determining the outcome of their standoff with Lü Buwei.

"No worries, I've thought of a solution," Zhong Shan said, frowning slightly.

After sending off the last of the customers, Zhao Hai wiped the sweat from his brow and returned to report to Zhong Shan.

"Your Majesty, we clearly have five more days of stock left. Why did we say we're out?" Zhao Hai asked, puzzled.

Looking at Zhao Hai, Zhong Shan replied, "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Reflect on this deeply."

"Understood," Zhao Hai responded, though still unsure.

In Lü's Merchant Guild inner quarters.

"Zhong Shan's stock has sold out?" Lü Buwei inquired.

"Yes," a subordinate confirmed.

"Good. Starting tomorrow, raise the price of Xu Mi stones to sixty times the original," Lü Buwei commanded.

"Why?"

"People are starting to panic. It's time to fan the flames and drive them to madness. Raise the prices; I want all shops in the city to follow this price."

"But what if some shops refuse to match our prices?"

Lü Buwei's eyes turned cold. "Do I need to teach you this? If they refuse to raise prices, buy out all their Xu Mi stones and then sell them at a higher price."

"Understood," the subordinate nodded, shivering.

In the city, inside a tavern.

"Why hasn't Da Rong Merchant Guild restocked their Xu Mi stones yet? The prices keep going up!" a concerned patron exclaimed.

"Maybe Da Rong won't be restocking. In such a remote place, how much could they have stored? It might take over a decade for more to arrive."

"Lü's Merchant Guild just raised their prices again. What are we going to do? If Da Rong doesn't restock, the prices will rise even more."

"I'll buy some now. The price just jumped from sixty to seventy times. Who knows how high it will go if Da Rong doesn't restock? It could even reach a hundred times."

"I'll buy a little too, just to equip my top disciple with storage gear."

Panic spread throughout the city as everyone focused on the Xu Mi stones. Even Lü's Merchant Guild and other shops started seeing long queues of buyers.

Twenty days passed in this state.

Lü Buwei frowned and asked a subordinate, "Has Da Rong Merchant Guild restocked yet?"

"Not yet! Zhao Hai said they would have stock in twenty days," the subordinate replied.

Lü Buwei sensed something was amiss. The Luntian Conference was about to start. Was Zhong Shan planning to strike precisely at this moment?

Lü Buwei walked out and saw the long queue outside Lü's Merchant Guild. His brow furrowed in thought.

Suddenly, a voice from afar shouted, "It's here! Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop has restocked!"

"Da Rong has restocked? Let's go buy from Da Rong instead!" The crowd cheered and quickly dispersed, leaving the queue outside Lü's Merchant Guild empty.

Lü Buwei's eyebrow twitched.

"Master, something terrible has happened!" A subordinate ran over in a panic.

"Why are you so flustered?" Lü Buwei glared at him.

"Master, Da Rong's stock has arrived. I saw it with my own eyes. A thousand miles south of the city, Da Rong's shipment includes thirty Xu Mi stone mountains. And that's just the first batch. There are five more batches on the way. These Xu Mi stones are enough for every person in [***] City to get a jin!" the subordinate exclaimed anxiously.

"Impossible!" Lü Buwei's eyes widened.

It was utterly impossible. Delivering thirty Xu Mi stone mountains in twenty days was inconceivable unless a Heaven Extreme realm expert had stooped to acting as a transporter. But Lü Buwei knew that Zhong Shan would never deploy a Heaven Extreme realm expert for such a task. It was absolutely impossible.