Hou San froze for a beat after being asked, then said, "Hou San wouldn't lie to Fairy Lu, but I really don't know the person you mentioned. Every time I followed Qing Mian to the central area, we went to the same fixed spot to hand over goods."
He thought for a moment and added, "We had beef with Mao Wu because of how they set things up, we lost a lot when treasure-hunting. Back then Qing Mian wanted revenge, but after following Mao Wu a few times he gave up. Why he gave up, I don't know. After that our squad kept our distance from them."
Jian Dan smiled, having already guessed why Qing Mian quit chasing revenge. He figured he must've realized he couldn't wipe out Mao Wu, otherwise a squad that used to be stronger than Mao Wu wouldn't have accepted being under them.
"So you say you usually meet at a fixed trading spot, which means Mao Wu must have one too, right? Do you know where?" she asked.
"Yes, I actually do. The little shop they trade at for the items they collect is even smaller than ours. I couldn't tell the difference, but Qing Mian went to trade once, the prices were driven way down, and he never went back."
"Good, you knowing the place helps. Now tell my brothers the details of how the trade works, they don't know. I want to see if anything's changed since I left." Jian Dan twirled her round fan and spoke in that calm, measured way she always used.
"Yes." Hou San hurried to answer, then carefully explained how they survived out here.
"No matter how a cultivator came to this place, if they're from the lower realm they can't use spiritual power, so to survive they're forced into body cultivation. But only the Immortals in the central area have pills for body cultivation, and they're terrified we'll get strong enough to challenge them later, so they tightly control those resources.
We find stuff out on the fringes and in dangerous spots, and then they want it," he finished.
"If this is a corner of the Immortal Realm, they'd have the advantage, why don't they go look for those things themselves?" Jian Mao cut in.
"One, they don't have many people stationed here. Two, some of the Immortals they left behind are injured. They used to bully outside cultivators into serving them. But after that incident three years ago, they became more cautious. They tightened the control on cultivation methods and pills so things wouldn't go too far. Still, when we exchange what we find for their goods they squeeze the price." Jian Xu and the others nodded.
"And they don't only trade cultivation pills and manuals anymore, they also trade immortal stones, immortal artifacts, and Immortal Realm supplies with us."
"Oh? They're willing to give that up?"
"At first they weren't, but if they only offered body cultivation pills and manuals they'd be in trouble. They fear outside cultivators getting stronger than them here, so they started offering other items too."
"I suppose the ones willing to trade those things must be able to return to the original continent?" Jian Dan guessed.
"Right, Fairy Lu was right. Those who can go back are desperate to learn about the Ascended Immortal Realm, so they'll trade what they consider trash for these things."
"You don't have spirit pets, so you can only trade body cultivation items and pills. Qing Mian probably never traded for Immortal Realm goods, right?" Jian Dan raised an eyebrow.
"He never did, how did you know?" Hou San asked.
Jian Jing and Jian Dan exchanged a look, then Jian Jing spoke, "That's why Mao Wu targeted you."
Hou San stopped talking after saying the four words, "It's about trading." He'd only just realized the real reason they were being watched.
"Because you only trade body-cultivation stuff, the Immortals worry you'd grow strong and upset the balance, so they used Mao Wu to deal with you." Jian Dan said flatly. "They probably promised Mao Wu something, like early entrance to the Immortal Realm, or a way back to the mainland. Using outside cultivators to deal with other outside cultivators costs them nothing, just some immortal stones or a promise."
A cold light flashed in her eyes as she finished, the conspiracy was shamelessly open, but how many could escape it?
"No wonder Mao Wu picked a fight with our squad out of nowhere. Their squad used to be worse than ours, now it makes sense." Hou San muttered, then bowed deeply to the seven at the head, "Hou San will follow your orders, I only hope you'll point me a clear path before you leave."
He meant it. He wasn't as strong or as clever as they were, so clinging to a powerful group was his best bet.
Jian Jing snorted with a laugh. "You're sensible. These're only our theories, you didn't verify them and just believed it?"
"I was in the middle of it, couldn't see clearly. Now I've jumped out, and with your insight I see things better, your analysis should be right." Hou San admitted.
Jian Mao and Jian Xu shared a smile, they agreed with Jian Lu's assessment, after all she was the best at this kind of thing.
"All right, we roughly understand the situation, we'll ask for details when we get to the inner ring." Jian Dan said. "Next, tell us about the place you found with an Immortal Realm formation."
"Huh?" Hou San blinked.
"Need me to remind you?" Jian Dan asked with a small smile.
"I wouldn't dare lie, that place was found by Qing Mian."
"Where is it?"
"In that stretch of forest that's been most badly destroyed." Hou San answered right away.
"Good. Go tell Lady Di we'll abandon this place and head there to explore, then get ready to enter the inner ring." Jian Dan gave Jian Mao a look and issued the order.
"Yes, Fairy Lu." Hou San left, wiped his forehead though he wasn't sweating, and hurried to notify the nearby cave dwellings.
"He really said that place exists, I thought he made it up." Jian Jing looked at Jian Dan with newfound respect.
"It's probably true. When he brought the two of us there he was risking his life to draw Mao Wu's attention, so he'd tell the truth to make the trap believable. If Mao Wu probed deeper and found he lied he'd be exposed, so in that situation he'd only tell the truth." Jian Dan explained with a smile.
"You had to catch that hint, I didn't expect he had more to spare." Jian Xu shook his head.
"He didn't do it on purpose, it was instinct."
"Sister, do you want to go scout that place?" Jian Xu asked softly.
"Yes. If we're going to negotiate with Immortals, we need bargaining chips. There's still Yulin Sea, it's time he showed what he can do." Jian Dan said.
"All right, since it's decided we'll get ready. Lady Di's group—"
"Hou San already told them. See how they react. If they want in, we'll give them a share; if not, we won't force it." Jian Jing shrugged. "No use forcing something that won't be sweet."
"Fine, consider it training." Jian Chun agreed.
"Zūnshàng, what about the six prisoners?" Kuang Dao asked.
"Since they surrendered quickly, let them fend for themselves." Jian Dan replied. These were Mao Wu's underlings, not like Lady Di's people, they didn't need to join.
Lady Di's team, who'd been informed by Hou San, were also debating whether to go or not.