chsdbacks Chapter 13 Tongji Society
Chapter 13 Tongji Society
Fang Qi roughly understood what the Tongji Society did.
This association has no rules or restrictions; it was mainly established by a group of ambitious individuals who intended to save the country through military force and serve the nation through industry.
"There, everyone exchanged martial arts techniques and shared information."
Liu Yanru's expression was sincere, showing particular affinity for the Tongji Society, and she earnestly invited Fang Qi to join.
To be honest, Fang Qi was intrigued when he heard that this organization could exchange martial arts techniques and share information.
"Let's do it in a couple of days, I've been a bit busy lately."
He planned to check out this organization, but he couldn't just go rashly; he had to find out what was going on first.
Disappointment flashed in Liu Yanru's eyes; these words sounded like an excuse.
However, everyone has their own ambitions.
This person certainly seems remarkable, and has considerable backing, but without a sincere heart, forcibly recruiting him into the Fellowship would be useless.
"In that case, I won't bother you any longer, sir."
Liu Yanru's expression returned to its alluring state. She lifted her skirt and walked out of the Fang residence with cat-like steps.
After he left, Fang Qi called Jia Si and Jia Nian over and asked the two women to investigate this "Tongji Society".
Although Liu Yanru praised the event to the skies, the more she praised it, the more cautious we should be.
"Before engaging with this group, digest these blood-gold primordial substances."
The Blood Gold Essence is the new drug that Liu Yanru mentioned. This time, she sent ten tablets, which, together with the three tablets from last time, make a total of thirteen tablets.
After taking all the Blood Gold Essence, Fang Qi went to the deepest part of the mansion.
There is a secluded lakeside garden here, with more than ten detection and warning talismans set up on the left and right. Only he, Jia Si, and Jia Nian can enter.
Normal cultivation and time travel are basically carried out in this lakeside garden.
"The Western medicine-like appearance of Blood Gold Essence is not suitable for the cultivation world."
"Impurities and toxicity in the medicine must also be thoroughly purified."
The body-refining pills commonly used in the cultivation world are mostly round pills or powders. The shape of Western-style pills might affect the price.
Fang Qi placed the thirteen pieces of Blood Gold Essence into the gold jar, then infused it with spiritual power to crush and grind it, removing the poisonous substances.
Before long, a jar of purified blood gold powder was obtained.
"It looks much better this way."
......
In the world of cultivation, there is the Dongxi Sect.
The Xiaodongtian Grand Competition is in full swing, and Chusheng Market has returned to its usual quiet state. In fact, because so many people are participating in the competition, the entire market is even quieter.
Fang Qi spent two days running around the market, selling off his Blood Gold Powder in batches, before finally managing to sell it all.
Fortunately, the trip wasn't in vain. The thirteen pieces of Blood Gold Essence sold for about three spirit stones each, resulting in a total of thirty-seven glittering spirit stones.
Five of them were taken out and exchanged for gold leaves.
To his surprise, one spirit stone could originally only be exchanged for eleven or twelve gold leaves, but now, due to the sluggish market, one stone could be exchanged for fifteen or sixteen.
Five spirit stones and more than seventy gold leaves, which is more than seven thousand silver dollars.
In the Republic of China era, they would definitely be considered wealthy.
Fang Qi planned to use the remaining thirty-two coins to buy some elixirs for cultivation and protective talismans.
If possible, he would also like to buy a spirit sword.
Although the market has quieted down, the popularity of treasures like spirit swords has not yet dissipated, and their prices remain high.
After his final shopping spree, Fang Qi bought two Golden Light Divine Protection Talismans and one Six Ding Divine Fire Talisman.
The former can withstand attacks from mid-stage Qi Refining, while the latter can unleash spell attacks comparable to mid-stage Qi Refining.
All three are mid-grade talismans, with a value equivalent to the Thousand-Mile Travel Talisman that Xiao Dacheng gave to him before.
In addition, there are more than a dozen low-grade talismans such as the Lesser Fire Talisman and the Golden Gang Talisman.
"With these talismans, we'll have a much better chance of dealing with the Tongji Society that Liu Yanru mentioned back in the Republic of China."
Fang Qi carefully put away the talisman, pondering what to do with the remaining dozen or so spirit stones.
"That 'Manifestation of Ten Thousand Beasts' manual might be worth considering, or perhaps I could buy a spellbook..."
With a large sum of money in his pocket, he strolled around the market a few more times.
However, the man who sold the "Ten Thousand Beasts Controlling Spirit Technique" might have gone to participate in the Small Cave Heaven Grand Competition, and Fang Qi couldn't find him.
I did find a book on magic called "The Immortal's Guidance," which allows one to concentrate spiritual energy at their fingertips and unleash it instantly.
The price wasn't high either; it only cost ten spirit stones, so Fang Qi bought it.
"I have seven spirit stones left. I'll buy a few bottles of Qi Gathering Pills and save the rest for later."
......
Wangjiang Pavilion during the Republic of China era.
This pavilion was a famous restaurant in the previous dynasty. It was located east of Tianjin and was built overlooking the river, hence the name Wangjiang Pavilion (Viewing the River Pavilion).
Fang Qi had been here twice and was quite familiar with the place.
But I'm not here to drink today.
"Mr. Fang, please come upstairs."
Liu Yanru walked ahead, smiling broadly, and politely guided Fang Qi upstairs.
We went all the way up to the fifth floor.
On this floor, there is only one large private room, "Tingyuxuan".
Fang Qi followed Liu Yanru inside and saw that four people were already sitting in the room.
He knew one of them.
"Mr. Fang?"
Xu Fangjing, a student at the Xingyi Quan school, was chatting and laughing with a young man in a Zhongshan suit when she saw Fang Qi enter. Her eyes lit up with surprise.
Fang Qi nodded, somewhat surprised.
On the way here, Liu Yanru only mentioned that her colleagues in the Tongji Society were all rich and powerful, but she did not mention that Xu Fangjing was here.
It makes sense, the two women didn't get along to begin with, it was already quite an achievement that they were able to sit together, so why would they single out each other by name?
However, Xu Fangjing's appearance is a good thing.
Between Liu Yanru and Xu Fangjing, Fang Qi felt that the latter was more reliable.
The fact that this woman is here means that she has most likely come to the right place at the Tongji meeting today.
But we cannot let our guard down.
The four people inside were all masters of hidden strength, surpassing the level of Ming Jin and having opened up the meridians.
"Please have a seat, sir."
Liu Yanru gestured for Fang Qi to sit down, and then the group introduced themselves.
"Longmen Trading Company, Cheng Ting."
The first to speak was a young man wearing round, silver-rimmed glasses. He looked refined, but his sleeves were bulging, clearly hiding a large, muscular physique.
"Tongda Shipping, Zhou Wei." The second person was a short-haired woman, dressed in a neat and smart outfit, whose heroic spirit was no less than anyone else present.
Then there's Xu Fangjing; because we're familiar with each other, I just nodded in acknowledgment.
Finally, there was the young man in the Zhongshan suit who had been chatting and laughing with Xu Fangjing earlier.
But when it was this person's turn, he just picked up his food without introducing himself.
"Fenglei Martial Arts School, Meng Yusen"
Liu Yanru reacted quickly, smiled sweetly, and began to introduce the other party.
She knew that the Fang family had previously held a martial arts competition where the disciples of the Fenglei Martial Arts School had suffered a loss, and Meng Yusen clearly held a grudge.
Protecting their own is in their nature as martial artists, and it's also about maintaining their own reputation and dignity.
Anyone present would probably have had the same attitude.
What Meng Yusen wanted was simply a way out.
"The Fang family, Mr. Fang," Liu Yanru introduced Fang Qi to everyone.
Fang Qi smiled faintly at Xu Fangjing and the other two, acknowledging their acquaintance.
Seeing that Fang Qi was ignoring him, Meng Yusen felt a surge of anger.
This time, it wasn't because of the martial arts school disciples, but because his reputation was damaged.
However, he did not react.
This is the meeting place of the Tongji Society, so we still have to give face to Liu Yanru, Xu Fangjing and the others.
This Fang Qi is just an outsider, a mere Ming Jin, who thinks he's something special just because he has the title of "Master".
He has plenty of time to play.
"Now that everyone is here, let's begin the thirteenth meeting of the Tongji Society Wangjiang Branch."
Meng Yusen put down his chopsticks, adopting the posture of the host of this meeting, and said, "As usual, let's start by sharing what has happened in Tianjin recently. I'll go first."
"The Zhou and Li families, who control more than a dozen wharves in Tianjin, are buying up rice, salt, and iron on a large scale, and building large ships in Anzhong. They seem to be plotting something."
The first thing he said was information that ordinary people would almost never know.
"Many members of the Bian and Hua families have left, presumably to escape the war."
The second piece of news ignited the atmosphere even more.
"Hiding from the war?!"
Xu Fangjing and the others were all shocked.