While Gu Junming and Yang Bolin were conversing, in the command center over two thousand miles away.

Listening to Yang Bolin's responses through the listening devices, Lin Li sighed quietly, a complex expression on his face as he said to Academician Pan Jianwei beside him:

"Academician Pan, it seems your speculation might be correct. The situation between the Damo Realm and the Demon Realm...is becoming quite dire."

Academician Pan Jianwei also nodded solemnly.

Gu Junming's previous words were carefully crafted rhetoric by the rabbits, the caravan delay and such were merely excuses meant to test Yang Bolin's reaction.

If the beast passageways also appeared around Ziqiong City, then Yang Bolin couldn't possibly remain unresponsive upon hearing these words, as matters like beast tides, concerning regional safety, must be taken seriously.

If the beast passage discovered around Chixian City is just an isolated case, then Yang Bolin, out of concern for his partners, would certainly show some courteous concern.

This was a typical two-option trap, no matter what Yang Bolin expressed, the rabbits could extract information from it.

Besides, Gu Junming's words had another purpose:

To assess Yang Bolin's knowledge of Chixian City—or to probe whether he was aware that the Xiaolianzi Mountain campaign was orchestrated by the rabbits.

Earlier, Taoshu Commerce Association's excuse came from the Wei Mansion Main House in the 'Celestial Moon Mountain Range,' and given the pleasant cooperation between both sides and the mysterious emergence of the demon passageways, this excuse isn't likely to be disproven in the short term.

After all, the Celestial Moon Mountain Range is not a small mountain; its nature is virtually identical to the local Qinling Mountains, a large mountain range defining regional characteristics.

Thus, exploring Taoshu Commerce Association's details by crossing the mountain is quite difficult, at least beyond Linyuan City's capacity as a transit station with a population of ten thousand—it isn't necessary either.

Nevertheless, although it's difficult to cross the Celestial Moon Mountain Range, reaching Chixian City isn't hard.

Therefore, as a merchant, with deepening trade exchanges, Yang Bolin will certainly send someone to investigate Chixian City—nowadays, even for small businesses, you would check a partner's information using tools like Celestial Eye or business search, let alone giant enterprises like Purple Treasure Pavilion.

Whether this investigation's purpose is pure curiosity or ulterior motives, it will definitely happen.

Otherwise, Yang Bolin wouldn't qualify as the Chief Shopkeeper of Purple Treasure Pavilion.

So, Gu Junming's words were a probe—in case Yang Bolin knew more about the rabbits' capabilities, he definitely wouldn't believe Gu Junming's words.

No matter how deep his scheming and composure is, within that split second of receiving the information, a micro-expression change would occur—unless he was like Zuckerberg.

For the rabbits, a split second almost equates to several hundred frames, allowing them to easily judge Yang Bolin's expression change.

Moreover, if Academician Pan Jianwei's speculation was wrong, with no beast passageways forming around Ziqiong City, then the rabbits' cost would only be extending the delivery cycle by a Damo Day.

Using a few days to verify the accuracy of a strategic speculation is a cost the rabbits can afford.

After discussing the news of the beast passageways, Yang Bolin continued:

"Shopkeeper Gu, I can fully represent Purple Treasure Pavilion to agree to your proposal of extending the delivery cycle, but in addition...could we increase our transaction volume?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Junming hesitated, showing a trace of dilemma on his face:

"Shopkeeper Yang, we originally agreed on receiving 30,000 units of Model 67 Happy Sticks every three Damo Days; that's already our production capacity limit. As you know, producing these..."

"Increase the price!"

Yang Bolin suddenly interrupted him, decisively raising five fingers:

"Each Model 67 Happy Stick for an additional 0.05 Spirit Stones, every four Damo Days I want 80,000 units of Model 67 Happy Sticks!"

Previously, the rabbits and Yang Bolin had agreed on Happy Sticks at 0.8 Spirit Stones per unit, now Yang Bolin increased the price by 0.05, meaning for the five thousand units, they could earn an extra...

2500 Spirit Stones!

This is no small amount.

This matter has exceeded Gu Junming's authority; his face changed several times before finally saying:

"Shopkeeper Yang, I've eaten too much, feeling slight stomach discomfort, may I go for a change of clothes?"

Yang Bolin laughed immediately and said:

"When nature calls, Shopkeeper Gu, please feel free to go."

He already knew Taoshu Commerce Association had some special means of distant communication, so Gu Junming was certainly making an excuse to contact Ma Ning—or Yang Bolin intended as much.

Gu Junming gave an apologetic bow and then quickly left the seat.

Yang Bolin leisurely continued to pick up a piece of marinade-steamed stinky tofu, the intense spicy and unique flavor filled his mouth instantly, causing him to squint in enjoyment:

"Truly delicious..."

About a quarter-hour later, Gu Junming returned to the private room.

First, he drank a cup of wine to apologize to Yang Bolin, after setting the cup down, Yang Bolin couldn't help but ask:

"Shopkeeper Gu, what is your esteemed side's decision?"

Gu Junming didn't directly respond to his question but paused, saying:

"Shopkeeper Yang, before this I have a question I hope you won't mind enlightening me."

Knowing this was likely instructions from Ma Ning, Yang Bolin briskly nodded and said:

"Shopkeeper Gu, feel free to ask."

Gu Junming paused for a few seconds, slowly speaking:

"Shopkeeper Yang, has a change occurred on the side of the demon rampart? Perhaps involving a significant figure..."

As soon as Gu Junming said this, Yang Bolin's expression changed starkly.

He pressed a hand against the table, instantly standing upright, his expression grave as he asked Gu Junming:

"Shopkeeper Gu, how did you know this?"

To tell the truth, since meeting Taoshu Commerce Association, Yang Bolin encountered many things challenging his worldview.

Be it Happy Sticks, Ma Yinglong, or even earlier bottoming layout strategies, he displayed at most expressions of surprise or bewilderment.

This kind of uncharacteristic display was indeed unprecedented.

Indicating how impactful Gu Junming's words were to him.

Yang Bolin became somewhat flustered, while on the other side, Gu Junming wasn't feeling great either.

Unlike the fictitious and vague charisma portrayed in urban novels, 'aura' or 'pressure' truly exists in the cultivators of the Damo Realm, manifesting increasingly stronger effects with higher realms.

Yang Bolin, being a cultivator nearly reaching the Core Formation Realm, unintentionally released his full aura, equivalent to a small mental storm for Gu Junming, a newly awakened quasi-cultivator.

Like having his head knocked by Er Gen sprinting fifty meters, it left him somewhat dizzy and disoriented.

Fortunately, Yang Bolin quickly realized this, swiftly retracting the scattered pressure, and unusually, offered an apologetic gesture to Gu Junming, a quasi-cultivator, saying:

"I apologize, Shopkeeper Gu, in my surprise, I momentarily lost composure, please bear with me."

As his mood calmed, Yang Bolin figured some situations:

Gu Junming or Taoshu Commerce Association behind him were probably bluffing, not truly understanding the insider details.

Given the gravity of the events at the demon rampart...

Put simply, if he weren't Yang Wanli's younger brother, the current Patriarch of the Yang Family, while managing such a giant like Purple Treasure Pavilion, solely with his Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer cultivation, it would be utterly impossible to know this matter.

Those qualified to know even the fringes should be at least Fourth-Layer Core Formation Realm cultivators.

Reflecting on this, Yang Bolin increasingly felt the enigmatic nature of Taoshu Commerce Association.

Regardless of bluffing, the basis for bluffing is having a prior speculation of some possibility.

The Damo Realm holds numerous significant passes, pinpointing the demon rampart accurately demands substantial reasoning ability.

Uncertain whether Taoshu Commerce Association speculated beforehand or deduced it merely from his own price increase rhetoric?

Contemplating this, Yang Bolin remained silent for a long time, clearly making some calculations.

Gu Junming didn't rush him, approximately a third of a quarter-hour passed before Yang Bolin finally made a decision:

He retrieved a certain array from his storage pouch, inputting spiritual power to activate it.

Moments later, a green light flashed, instantly forming a transparent protective shield in the private room.

"Shopkeeper Gu, this is a third-tier soundproof array, capable of blocking spiritual sense probing below the Sixth-Layer Core Formation Realm. Given the gravity of the matter, forgive my cautious actions."

Yang Bolin first explained to Gu Junming for a moment before slowly saying:

"Shopkeeper Gu, your...esteemed side guessed correctly, indeed some changes occurred at the demon rampart, with two Nascent Soul Realm significant figures unexpectedly falling..."

...

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