"Without my instructions, if you dare to walk out of this door today, this Xiao will treat you as not a member of the Heavenly Alliance!"
Xiao Chen's cold voice echoed in the pavilion, immediately freezing the Bountiful Treasure Pavilion's Liu Zhang.
With just one simple sentence, everyone could clearly sense the cold, emotionless, and indifferent killing intent from Xiao Chen's body.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became a little quiet.
Aside from the sound of heartbeats, there was no sound of wind or words.
Was Xiao Chen just bluffing, or was he really going to kill?
The Association Chiefs of the subordinate merchant associations could not understand what was going on. They stole glances at Xiao Chen. Aside from coldness, Xiao Chen did not show any emotion, appearing unfathomable and unfathomable.
Damn it!
Liu Zhang cursed in his heart. His expression turned extremely sullen as he stood with his back facing Xiao Chen.
No matter whether Liu Zhang advanced or retreated, it was an indisputable fact that he was at a disadvantage before Xiao Chen in their first clash.
At this moment, Liu Zhang was stuck in a dilemma. He did not dare to act rashly.
He was somewhat afraid, somewhat afraid that Xiao Chen would really disregard everything and kill him here.
Xiao Chen was clearly just a 1-Vein Sovereign Emperor. However, the strength that he showed deterred the 3-Vein Sovereign Emperor guards from making a rash move.
Liu Zhang also did not know where the gray-clad old man from earlier had gone.
If that gray-clad old man were still around, Liu Zhang was confident that he could protect himself even if Xiao Chen made things difficult for him.
Now, Liu Zhang really did not dare to gamble.
The best outcome would be for someone to step forward and share some of the pressure for him.
However, there was no one. No one in the pavilion stood up for him, making him feel even more flustered.
I cannot retreat!
Once I retreat, I will lose all my dignity. If word gets out that I was frightened by a brat, I will not retreat.
In the future, how am I going to establish myself in the cruel imperial capital?
Humph! If you want to play, this old man will play with you. At worst, this old man will die together with you!
This thought just appeared in Liu Zhang's mind when he suddenly felt the killing intent behind him multiply, rising rapidly.
It was Xiao Chen casually moving his right hand, silently forming the Buddhist sect's Seven Kill Seal.
Xiao Chen's killing intent seemed to make time stop as it penetrated Liu Zhang's body. Like frost, it spread through his limbs, bones, and internal organs.
As long as he dared to act rashly, Xiao Chen would definitely kill him without the slightest mercy.
"Guild Leader Liu, come back first. It won't be too late to leave after hearing what the envoy inspector has to say."
Su Ye frowned slightly and said softly. She did not wish to see an overly domineering Xiao Chen.
The moment this was said, Liu Zhang immediately heaved a sigh of relief. He said indifferently, "Alright, then this old man will listen to exactly what you have to say."
The Golden Essence Merchant Association's Jin Bao smiled coldly in his heart. You are so scared that you nearly peed your pants, yet you are still stubbornly holding on.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. His killing intent dissipated as he said softly, "Chairman Liu, please take a seat."
Liu Zhang's face was dark as he slowly sat down. However, he was no longer as overbearing as before.
The other Chamber Leaders felt somewhat rueful. Even Liu Zhang had submitted to Xiao Chen. How were they to face this new envoy inspector?
Xiao Chen's gaze swept across the faces of the ten merchant associations' leaders. Then, he took out stacks of account books and stacked them up.
Account books!
"Lord Xiao, what is the meaning of this? Do you not trust us? You want to check our accounts the moment you arrive? "
The one who spoke was the Heavenly Treasure Merchant Association's Chief. Account books were always sensitive things, especially for the merchant associations under the Heavenly Alliance.
When the Heavenly Treasure Merchant Association's Chief saw the account books, all of them showed unsightly expressions.
Even the calm Golden Essence Merchant Association's Jin Bao and the simple-minded Nine Cauldron Merchant Association's Wei Fatso showed somewhat grave expressions.
They all looked at Xiao Chen, waiting to see how he would respond.
"Lord Xiao, I have checked these account books," Su Ye said softly, raising her eyebrows.
Su Ye raised her eyebrows and said softly. The smile on her face was somewhat cold.
Everyone had their own bottom line. Clearly, this account book was the bottom line of everyone present.
As long as Xiao Chen dared to make a move, he would offend everyone here, forcing them into dire straits.
Jin Bao twirled the three pearls in his hand as he said seriously, "Lord Envoy Inspector, let me tell you a story … Once upon a time, there was a person who wanted to check the accounts on a whim."
The story came to an end. Xiao Chen understood. He purposely asked, "And then?"
Jin Bao replied calmly, "There is no then. That is the end of the story."
"Those who dared to touch this bottom line are all dead …" Jin Bao was referring to the previous three envoy inspectors, a disguised threat to Xiao Chen.
"No, this is just the end of your story. My story has just begun. Do you want to listen to me? "Xiao Chen asked expressionlessly as he looked at Jin Bao.
Jin Bao felt stifled. He could not understand Xiao Chen's question. So, he said seriously, "Please speak."
"Whoosh!"
Xiao Chen stood up and gently clapped his hand. Immediately, the stack of account books turned to ashes.
Such a scene stunned everyone, not understanding what was going on.
"There are no problems with the account books. Pavilion Master Su has already seen them. How can I find any problems?"
These words should have made the various Association Chiefs happy. However, Liu Zhang and the others felt that things were not that simple.
Xiao Chen paused for a while before continuing, "According to the Heavenly Alliance's rules, the subordinate merchant associations have to hand over sixty percent of their profits to the headquarters every year. Everyone has been following this rule for the past few years. This time, I am not here to check the accounts or to make things difficult for everyone. I am doing this for everyone's benefit. From today on, the various merchant associations only have to hand over forty percent of their profits to the headquarters. "
The moment Xiao Chen said that, the expressions of the ten Association Chiefs immediately changed.
"Hahaha! The envoy inspector is really generous, reducing our burden by twenty percent in one go. However, the heavens can bear witness to my loyalty to the Heavenly Alliance, with the sun and the moon as my witness. How can I, this Wei, be a short-sighted person who covets small profits? Only when the Heavenly Alliance is strong can we gain a foothold in the imperial capital. I am still willing to hand over the profits as per the old rules. "
Wei Fatso stood up and patted his chest as he spoke righteously.
Seeing that Xiao Chen was about to speak, Wei Dexin said, "Milord, there is no need to say anything else. I have already made up my mind. There is no need to try and persuade me otherwise."
Xiao Chen smiled coldly in his heart. In the past, they said they would hand over sixty percent. However, in reality, they were just making up the accounts. The profits that were truly handed over to the Heavenly Alliance's headquarters were less than twenty percent. The merchant associations and the Noble Clans of the dynasty split the profits in secret.
In some years, the profits were not even ten percent.
Since Xiao Chen was here, he naturally would not allow such a thing to continue. Most importantly, this concerned his own interests.
When the others saw Wei Fatso, they seemed to want to follow suit.
Xiao Chen raised his hand to stop them. Then, he looked at Wei Dexin and said, "I am not trying to persuade you. I am helping you. Here is a new contract. Take a look. If there is nothing wrong with it, change it to sixty percent and sign it. "
The contract was written on golden paper with bright red ink.
At the end of the seal was Xiao Chen's inspector seal and his own handprint. As long as Wei Fatso signed his name and stamped the seal of his Chamber of Commerce, he would be able to obtain the seal.
This contract would take effect immediately within the Heavenly Alliance and could not be changed.
With the contract in his hand, Wei Fatso took a look at it and his face turned pale.
While Wei Fatso was looking at the contract, Xiao Chen took out the other contracts and handed them to the others one by one. "You can sign the contract at forty percent. No need to change it."
"Reset the past and redo the accounts. This will be supervised by Pavilion Master Su and Master Ku Yun's disciple, Mo Chen. We are willing to hand over 40% of our annual profits to the headquarters of the Heaven Alliance, effective immediately … "
Upon seeing these words, the faces of the Chamber of Commerce leaders changed dramatically.
In the past, the accounts were all fake. They claimed to be 60%, but in reality, only less than 20% of the profits were handed over. Once this contract was signed, they would have to hand over at least 20% of their profits every year.
Twenty% was not to be underestimated. Given the prosperity of the imperial capital, Yan City, this additional 20% was an astronomical figure.
Every one of the ten great merchant associations had to hand over an additional 20%. That number was simply unimaginable.
The Heaven Alliance's profits in the Yanwu Dynasty in one year equaled ten years, even a century.
Back then, Xiao Chen, Mo Chen, and Bao`er had calculated that if they did not fake the accounts, the benefits would outweigh the disadvantages.
To these merchant associations, handing over only 40% of their profits would actually be more beneficial than detrimental.
However, it was not that simple to put into practice.
Every merchant association had connections with the Noble Clans of the dynasty or even the Royal Court behind them. A large portion of the profits that they embezzled went to these Noble Clans and the Royal Court.
If these merchant associations signed the new contract, it would be equivalent to severing ties with these Noble Clans. This required great courage.
The true purpose of the new contract was not to suppress these merchant associations but to remove the Noble Clans that sucked blood from the Heavenly Alliance.
Cutting off the tumor!
However, the tumor had already penetrated deep into the marrow, even merging with the body. Cutting it off would result in self-injury.
However, without such determination, the Heavenly Alliance's benefits in the Yanwu Dynasty would become empty shells sooner or later.
Xiao Chen's envoy inspector status would become a joke, not worth mentioning.
When the disease was beyond cure, one had to have the courage to face death, use the strongest medicine, and press forward.
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