Suppression

That winter in Demon-Slaying City, the wind was piercingly cold. Snow blanketed a thousand mountains, and even the scent of blood seemed frozen in the icy world.

An invisible undercurrent was quietly playing out within the city.

Almost overnight, forging workshops sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain in the dilapidated city.

They opened under the banners of the Three Teachings, the Three Sects, and the Chamber of Commerce.

The momentum of their grand openings was no less boisterous than when Xu Xian had first opened his workshop.

Within these workshops, sixth-rank spirit forgers were also present—and more than just one. There were also no small number of fifth and fourth-rank masters.

They didn't just have a grand presence; their lineup was complete.

As soon as they opened, they launched a price war against Xu Xian.

A low-tier earth weapon: four grade five ferocious beasts.

A mid-tier earth weapon: six grade five ferocious beasts.

A high-tier earth weapon: nine grade five ferocious beasts.

In short, their prices were exactly one beast lower than Xu Xian's.

For a time, Demon-Slaying City was in a state of uproar.

"Step right up, don't miss out! Fellow Daoists, the Tianji Sect Forging Workshop is now open! With a sixth-rank spirit forge master in residence, a low-tier earth weapon costs only four grade five spirit beasts, six for mid-tier, and nine for high-tier! Custom orders made on the spot! Our ten-thousand-year reputation guarantees value for your money..."

"Tiandao Academy Forging Workshop, grand opening promotion! The first ten customers get twenty percent off!"

"Wanxian Chamber of Commerce Forging Workshop, a seventh-rank spirit forger is at your service! What are you waiting for? Place your orders now!"

"..."

Even though it was the middle of winter when all things should be silent, Demon-Slaying City was a cacophony of advertisements and the rhythmic 'clang-clang-clang' of smithing hammers.

Early that morning.

Inside Demon-Slaying City's Number One Forging Workshop, Xu Xian was forging as usual when Liu Qinghui arrived in a hurry.

The deacon paced around anxiously, while Yao Xiaoxiao stood at the door with her hands on her hips, glaring furiously at the shop hands shouting on the street nearby, her face full of indignation.

"Pah! How shameless! All they know is how to copy us. Have they no sense of honor?"

Xu Xian's hammer fell, followed by quenching and spirit infusion. Once he finished his work, he examined the iron umbrella in his hand with satisfaction.

"Not bad."

He finished his task and set it aside.

Only then did Liu Qinghui dare to speak. "Little Grand-Uncle."

Xu Xian glanced at him and chuckled. "Oh, Deacon Liu, you're here. What, have you come to give me more money?"

Seeing Xu Xian's cheerful demeanor, Liu Qinghui said urgently, "Little Grand-Uncle, you really have a big heart. How can you still laugh at a time like this?"

Xu Xian paced to the table, poured some water, and drank. His pale and weary face was a mask of indifference as he said calmly, "If I don't laugh, do you want me to cry?"

"Sigh... That's not what I meant."

Xu Xian said playfully, "Alright, if you have something to say, sit down. Being so frantic isn't like the Deacon Liu I know."

Liu Qinghui sat down, then immediately stood up again to refill Xu Xian's tea. He did his best to suppress his unease and spoke steadily.

"Does Little Grand-Uncle know that another new forging workshop opened in the south of the city yesterday?"

Xu Xian gave a lazy, "Oh?" sounding slightly curious, but not overly so.

Liu Qinghui emphasized, "It's the people from Shanhai Academy, the Confucianists. I heard the person in residence is also a seventh-rank spirit forge master, and quite a famous one at that."

Xu Xian took a sip of tea and joked, "Hmm... As expected of the academy, quite a grand gesture. Sending a seventh-rank master right away—they're much more extravagant than the Daoists or Buddhists."

Just as Liu Qinghui was about to speak, there was movement outside. Yao Xiaoxiao shouted loudly, "Little Grand-Uncle, another one came to cancel their order. What should I do?"

Xu Xian replied unperturbed, "Just give him the refund."

"Oh! Got it..."

Seeing this, the words Liu Qinghui had prepared were swallowed back down. He picked up the tea on the table and took a small sip.

Ultimately, he was being too impatient.

How could Little Grand-Uncle not know the current situation?

However, it had to be said that Little Grand-Uncle's composure was truly beyond that of ordinary men.

Liu Qinghui fell silent.

Xu Xian didn't speak either. He closed his eyes, resting his spirit for a moment, and let out a long breath.

Counting the days, he had been in Demon-Slaying City for nearly a year, and he hadn't had a single night of good sleep. For months, he had not only dealt with high-intensity forging but also had to draw his own blood every month to sustain Yao Xiaoxiao's life.

He was truly exhausted.

He was making money, yes.

But he was gambling with his life.

In order to afford his expensive cultivation, he was effectively consuming medicine just to keep himself going.

After a short while, Yao Xiaoxiao ran inside. Her little head was hung low, her face was gloomy, and she complained with a pout, "It's done. Now it's great—we don't have a single order left."

Xu Xian opened one eye and asked with a smile, "They all canceled?"

Yao Xiaoxiao shot him a glare and said with a huff, "Yes, they're all gone! There weren't many to begin with, and they've been canceling for days. Now there's nothing left. It's only because Little Grand-Uncle is too kind and easy to talk to. If it were up to me, I wouldn't have given them a refund."

Yao Xiaoxiao wasn't complaining because Xu Xian's business had been stolen—that wasn't his fault.

She was complaining that her Little Grand-Uncle was a pushover.

They had a deal.

Yet the moment someone asked to cancel, he actually let them.

Who does business like that?

Liu Qinghui let out a silent sigh.

Xu Xian naturally understood the little girl's thoughts and comforted her. "Alright, it's just a few orders; it's not much money. It's not worth ruining my reputation over this. I am the Little Grand-Uncle of the Wendao Sword Sect, and I represent the sect. The reputation of the Wendao Sword Sect isn't something that can be traded for a few measly orders..."

Yao Xiaoxiao knew he was right but still grumbled under her breath.

Liu Qinghui nodded instinctively in agreement. "For Little Grand-Uncle to think this way is truly a blessing for our sect."

Xu Xian waved his hand and laughed. "Alright, don't start flattering me. We're all just common folk trying to earn a living."

Liu Qinghui frowned, hesitating. "Little Grand-Uncle, there are some things I don't know if I should ask."

Xu Xian took a sip of hot tea and leaned back in his bamboo chair, rocking slowly as he gazed out the door.

The cold wind whipped the snow, and the sky was dim.

He spoke unhurriedly. "In less than a month, seven new forging workshops have opened in Demon-Slaying City: Confucianists, Daoists, Buddhists, the Wanxian Chamber of Commerce, the Tianji Sect, the Immortal Talisman Sect, and the Hehuan Sect... Two seventh-rank spirit forgers have arrived, along with no fewer than ten sixth-rank ones. I won't even mention the fifth and fourth-rank ones."

"Their prices are all lower than mine. It's not strange for people to cancel, nor is it strange to have no orders. For the same product, people will naturally buy from whoever is cheaper. That's just the way of the world."

"These people from the Central Plains have spent a lot of capital just to snatch the cake out of my mouth."

Xu Xian saw the situation as clearly as a mirror.

Yao Xiaoxiao said indignantly, "These people are so wicked. They're clearly targeting Little Grand-Uncle. Hmph, I hate them."

Liu Qinghui saw through to the essence of the matter. "It's not that simple. This time, they aren't just targeting Little Grand-Uncle, but our Wendao Sword Sect. For so many forge masters to travel thousands of miles to this bitter cold place, they definitely aren't just here to make money. To put it bluntly, they can't stand to see the Wendao Sword Sect doing well. This is malicious suppression."

Xu Xian smiled in response. "Deacon Liu is right. These people have come with great momentum and coordinated steps. I'm afraid it's not just about stealing business. They want to suppress the Wendao Sword Sect right here in Demon-Slaying City, in our Northern Borders. Their intentions are truly malicious."

Yao Xiaoxiao understood a bit more now. "They only know how to use underhanded tricks. How despicable."

Liu Qinghui asked tentatively, "Since Little Grand-Uncle sees everything so clearly, do you already have a plan to deal with them?"

Yao Xiaoxiao leaned in. "Yeah, yeah! Little Grand-Uncle, what do you plan to do?"

Xu Xian curled his lips into a smile, looking profoundly mysterious. "Since they want to fight, then we'll fight them."

Yao Xiaoxiao swallowed hard. "A real fight?"

"What else?"

Yao Xiaoxiao slapped the table. "Then let's do it! I'll have my uncle go and smash all their shops to pieces!"

Xu Xian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"What are you thinking?"

Yao Xiaoxiao was confused. "Huh? Isn't that what you meant?"

Liu Qinghui was also in a fog.

Xu Xian narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of craftiness flashing in them as he said in a low, chilling tone, "This is a business war. We don't use fists; we use our brains..."