CHAPTER 453: CHAPTER 89

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

The unexpected knocking interrupted the exchange between the man and the Spiritual Beast. The visitor was a Female Official by Zhu Ying’s side, seemingly named He Lan.

"What brings you here, Officer He?" Chen Jiuge asked the beautiful Female Official before him.

He Lan covered her mouth with a light chuckle. "Manager Chen, you are too polite. We are not officials and do not deserve the honorific ’Officer.’"

"I am here this time on the orders of Chief Steward Zhu."

"Chief Steward Zhu?" Chen Jiuge furrowed his brow slightly, knowing Zhu Ying to be a person of both great strength and broad-mindedness.

Just as when she had overseen the construction of the Qing Jade Mouse farm, she hardly inquired about the process; only the results mattered to her, and she was very generous with rewards.

"Officer He, has something happened?" Chen Jiuge intended to bribe the Female Official.

He Lan looked down at the fluffy object in her hand. It was a tiny Fire Spiritual Mouse with a Cultivation in the Heavenly Origin Realm. This was a decent gift for He Lan, who was only in the Dharma Manifestation Realm.

The most important aspect was that in the Snow Concubine Hall, it was rare to receive bribes, all thanks to Zhu Ying’s management.

Quietly pocketing the Fire Spiritual Mouse, her cheeks blushing slightly, He Lan said, "Manager Chen, I saw people from the Bei family visiting Lady early in the morning."

"Additionally, the low-rank Magic Artifacts made from the horns of Qing Jade Mice are very popular, and the Bei family owns virtually all the businesses in Beian City."

So they’re encroaching on the Bei family’s business! Chen Jiuge nodded thoughtfully.

Shortly after, they arrived at a side door next to the main hall, Zhu Ying’s office, also known as the Documents Pavilion.

...

Inside the hall, Bei Long, who had a refined demeanor and was dressed in a blue robe, looking more like a scholar than anything else, sized up Chen Jiuge as he entered.

"So this is the Spiritual Beast Master spoken of by Official Zhu," Bei Long said with a beaming smile.

Zhu Ying spoke indifferently, "The Qing Jade Mice were raised by him. Family Head Bei, there’s no harm in stating directly what you want."

Bei Long was forthright. "Young friend, I am Bei Long, the Family Head of the Bei family. I’ve asked Official Zhu to summon you because I have a favor to ask."

Chen Jiuge knew full well that the cultivation of the man before him far exceeded his own. Therefore, he did not dare to be presumptuous and bowed respectfully, saying, "I am unsure what matter Senior refers to. My own abilities are quite limited, and I may not be able to carry such a great responsibility."

"No worries. First, hear the Bei family’s request. If you can do it, then do so. If not, there’s no need to worry, as you are one of our Snow Concubine Hall’s own," Zhu Ying said lightly.

Bei Long’s expression stiffened slightly. Zhu Ying’s words were somewhat dismissive. However, although the Snow Concubine had fallen out of favor, this did not mean the Bei family could afford to offend her, so Bei Long dared not rebut.

"I hear that the Snow Concubine Hall recently produced a series of low-rank Magic Artifacts that are quite popular among low-rank Cultivators. These artifacts are made from the horns of Qing Jade Mice you have raised."

"I would like to request that you supply such Spiritual Beasts to the Bei family," Bei Long said graciously.

Chen Jiuge looked up at Zhu Ying, who indifferently stated, "My Snow Concubine Hall is not a shop."

Hearing this, Chen Jiuge breathed a sigh of relief. Zhu Ying’s implication was that low-rank Magic Artifacts created from Qing Jade Mouse horns were not very important to the Snow Concubine Hall.

"How many does Family Head Bei need?" Chen Jiuge inquired.

Bei Long quickly calculated. According to intelligence from the family’s spies, the Snow Concubine Hall should have around ten thousand Qing Jade Mice. However, the Snow Concubine Hall was not interested in trading, whereas the Bei family’s caravans and shops were far more numerous.

"One hundred thousand," Bei Long deliberated before saying.

This number was not excessive. It could bring considerable income to the Bei family without causing trouble.

"One hundred thousand?" Chen Jiuge frowned.

This number was not large to Chen Jiuge; even a million or ten million was just a matter of probability. The key issue was that the Qing Jade Mouse farm built by the Treasure Pavilion could accommodate a maximum of only three hundred thousand Qing Jade Mice.

"Is there any difficulty, young friend?" Bei Long frowned.

The Qing Jade Mouse is merely a variation of the white mouse. Cultivating such low-rank Spiritual Beasts, which are not much different from wild beasts, should not be very difficult.

"Not to conceal it from Senior, the difficulty of cultivating Qing Jade Mice is not great, but I don’t have such a large space for cultivation. It might take a long time, and I also need to cultivate rare Spiritual Beasts for Lady," Chen Jiuge offered an excuse.

Zhu Ying’s expression changed. She had recently acquired Yang Pole Deer and Yin Pole Deer. After sending them to the Imperial Palace, it was said they were greatly favored by the King, even causing his attitude towards Lady to soften somewhat. She couldn’t afford to delay crucial matters over a trifling issue from the Bei family.

However, it’s not good to directly refuse the Bei family; Lady’s foundation is too thin. Although the Bei family’s power isn’t remarkable, Beiming Hai is still quite impressive, Zhu Ying calculated rapidly in her mind.

"How about this: I will assign people to build some facilities for raising Spiritual Beasts and allocate another group of people to help you manage," Zhu Ying proposed.

"Official Zhu, how could we impose such expenses on Snow Concubine Hall? It just so happens that my second brother recently captured many Barbarian slaves from the frontier and seized quite a few treehouses," Bei Long hurriedly said.

"Fine, let’s do it that way. Manager Chen, how long will it take to cultivate approximately one hundred thousand Qing Jade Mice?" Zhu Ying nodded in agreement.

"If the number of white mice is sufficient, probably about three years," Chen Jiuge purposely extended the timeline.

"Three years? Good! I will send the items over tomorrow," Bei Long said excitedly.

...

Following that, Zhu Ying discussed many major issues of the Qingming Ancient Country with Bei Long. This allowed Chen Jiuge, who was listening, to gain much insight and a deeper understanding of the True Realm.

After Bei Long left, Zhu Ying invited Chen Jiuge to sit down, and the Maid beside them brought in fresh Spirit Fruit and Spiritual Tea.

"The Bei family is not strong," Zhu Ying began. "However, in recent years, a prodigy named Beiming Hai has emerged from their ranks. With only a few thousand years of cultivation, he has achieved True Immortal status. If he doesn’t die young, there is a great possibility that he will become a Heavenly Immortal of Great Power."

Chen Jiuge understood that Zhu Ying was offering an explanation for Bei Long’s matter.

"Lady fell out of favor and was exiled to Beian City," Zhu Ying sighed. "From what I can tell, the main reason is that too few people supported her. She lacked a strong enough backing, and cultivator support was also too scarce."

"Actually, from my first glance at you, I knew you weren’t an ordinary person. In an age when the Ascension pathways have nearly ceased, Ascenders who manage to reach the True Realm are almost always people of great ability."

"I hope you will remember Lady’s life-saving grace in the future and lend a hand in her time of need."

Chen Jiuge felt somewhat uneasy. Those words weighed heavily. I’m just a modest Divine Storage Realm practitioner; I can’t bear such praise from a Pure Yang True Monarch.

Zhu Ying seemed to realize she might have spoken too strongly and awkwardly changed the subject. "Bei Long will bring one hundred Barbarian slaves and ten treehouses tomorrow. These are all yours, and consider it payment for cultivating Qing Jade Mice for him."

"Additionally, Snow Concubine Hall will reward you. Your authority will be elevated to First-rank Manager. Except for the main hall, you may move about freely everywhere else," Zhu Ying stated indifferently.

Chen Jiuge was inwardly moved and thanked her, "Thank you, Chief Steward Zhu."

"No need to thank me; it’s what you deserve. If there’s nothing else, you can go about your business," Zhu Ying gestured for him to leave.

Just a few steps away, Chen Jiuge suddenly turned back and asked, "Why does Family Head Bei address you as Official?"

"Official is an official title that every Lady’s palace can bestow. There is one Fourth Grade Great Official and two Fifth Grade Officials. If you are outstanding enough, the vacant Official position within the hall could also be yours."

With that said, Zhu Ying waved her hand, dismissing Chen Jiuge.

Official? Interesting, Chen Jiuge pondered.

The hierarchy in Snow Concubine Hall was clear. At the very bottom were the slaves, ranked by their cultivation levels. They were followed by the most ordinary Maids and Attendants, like Qi Wen and Qi Gao. Although Qi Wen and Qi Gao both had low cultivation levels, being cultivators of good standing from the Qingming Ancient Country naturally ranked them higher than slaves of Alien Races.

Above them were the common guards—those whose cultivation didn’t reach the Great Divine Power Realm were only slightly more elevated than the Maids.

Above them were positions such as Second-rank Manager, First-rank Manager, Guard Captain, Lady’s personal Maids, and so on.

Above Managers, there was the Chief Steward and the Guard Commander; these were considered high-ranking in Snow Concubine Hall. However, these positions were not officially sanctioned.

Snow Concubine Hall’s Great Official was Zhu Ying. There was another Official who was the Guard Commander. Currently, one Official position was still vacant.

Chen Jiuge’s mind raced: Perhaps I could try to secure that vacant Official position.

Although it was just an Official position within Snow Concubine Hall, it wasn’t limited to the hall. An Official could change posts. Moreover, a Fifth Grade Official, once transferred, would be promoted at least one grade. This was the most desirable and direct path for Chen Jiuge’s upward mobility that he could currently aim for.