“Very well, anyway, from now on the academy earns money from Return to Heaven Spirit Pills, and I get sixty percent of it. This is also a good thing. But Princess Yun Ya, I do not like people acting clever on their own, especially using my name.”
Ling Xiao said faintly. “Your cooperation with Qing Xu Academy is your affair. Do not involve me.”
Yun Ya breathed a sigh of relief at once. “Yun Ya knows her mistake. In future, for any matters, I will certainly notify young hero first.”
Looking at this youth beside her who was only sixteen, she could not help feeling doubtful. So mature and steady, someone to be wary of, truly only fifteen or sixteen years old?
“Alright, no need to be so formal. I take my leave. Lately, busy with pill matters, my cultivation has been delayed.”
After speaking, Ling Xiao cupped his hands and turned to leave.
“Young hero, that expert behind you, cannot he show his face?”
Yun Ya finally could not hold back and voiced her inner thought.
“Some things, not knowing the truth is better. The day you see him might be the day cooperation ends completely. Do you still want to see?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Then forget it. Perhaps I am truly too persistent.”
Yun Ya shook her head. She actually had other intentions, wanting to bypass Ling Xiao and contact the expert behind him directly.
But hearing Ling Xiao’s words, she broke out in cold sweat. Truly wise all her life but foolish now. Doing so would offend Ling Xiao greatly.
“People should be content. Being too greedy will cause one to burst. I think Princess Yun Ya is a friend worth making, but you must not disappoint me.”
After speaking, Ling Xiao leaped away.
He naturally was not rushing to cultivate.
Though busy refining pills lately, his actual cultivation had not fallen behind. During pill refining, his Tian Yuan force not only became purer but also increased continuously.
Now he had advanced to early Six Arts Heaven realm.
He merely hid his true cultivation in front of others.
Standing in place, watching Ling Xiao disappear, Yun Ya sighed softly and murmured to herself. “Hope I did not offend him. Otherwise, it would be regret beyond remedy.”
…
After Tianlong Auction House and Qing Xu Academy reached full cooperation, one focused on pill production, the other on full promotion and sales. Market share kept expanding, bringing huge profits to both.
For a time, everyone in Qing Xu Academy was exhilarated.
Those disciples who persisted to the end without leaving Qing Xu Academy now reaped the benefits. Not only could they get large quantities of cheaper Return to Heaven Spirit Pills, but resources also increased greatly compared to before.
This delighted them.
In contrast, Shen Huang Academy was deathly silent, atmosphere extremely oppressive, just like Qing Xu Academy back then.
Those disciples who left Qing Xu Academy to join Shen Huang Academy not only got no better treatment but, due to their original Qing Xu Academy identity, faced severe exclusion and suppression.
Even Ximen Bumie, originally ranked first in Qing Xu Academy, and Li Chengxiu, ranked second, were no exceptions.
Their spirit stones were deducted, resources stripped. Conditions were extremely poor, worlds apart from Qing Xu Academy days.
Back then, they were elite disciples high above, with best resources and treatment.
Now, they became the lowest class.
They tried returning to Qing Xu Academy but were refused.
How could Qing Xu Academy accept those who betrayed in crisis?
Thus, these two thoroughly hated Qing Xu Academy, especially Ling Xiao.
Rumours outside said Qing Xu Academy’s Return to Heaven Spirit Pills came from Ling Xiao. They did not know if true, but since everyone said so, there must be reason.
They wanted to gain Shen Huang Academy’s favour by targeting Ling Xiao.
If possible, killing Ling Xiao at an opportunity would be even better.
Now the entire Shen Huang Academy was extremely unhappy.
But they had no way, could only watch their market being eroded step by step.
Since Tianlong Auction House cut herb supplies, they tried many ways, contacting nearby cities, even farther places to send herbs.
But distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Herbs would take long to transport.
Actually, waiting was fine. Once herbs arrived, they could at least hold the last market share.
But bigger trouble appeared.
Unknown mysterious bandits emerged, intercepting and robbing all the large batches of herbs Shen Huang Academy bought at high cost midway.
Learning this, Feng Ming Wan Chong flew into a rage, but to no avail.
The bandits came and went swiftly, each with storage rings. After robbing, they vanished instantly. Even rushing over was too late.
Crucially, bandits were very strong. Despite sending Cave Heaven realm experts to escort, herbs still got robbed.
At this point, Shen Huang Academy gradually realised, while scheming against others, a huge net was closing over them.
Helplessly, Feng Ming Wan Chong personally went out to escort herbs, but it was too late.
Now in the imperial city, Shen Huang Academy’s pill market share shrank to ten percent, propped up by die-hards.
Beautified as: internal digestion.
For Shen Huang Academy, the culprit was undoubtedly Qing Xu Academy. Thus, lately, conflicts between Shen Huang Academy and Qing Xu Academy disciples grew more frequent.
…
This day, Ling Xiao just emerged from Tian Yuan Treasure Pagoda cultivation and saw Dai Yaoling pacing anxiously.
“Yaoling, why not cultivate? What are you doing here?”
Ling Xiao asked curiously.
“Bad news, Big Brother Ling. Just now, I went shopping on the street with several sisters, but ran into Shen Huang Academy people causing trouble!”
Dai Yaoling was so anxious she nearly cried. “Among them, two were originally Qing Xu Academy’s ranked first Ximen Bumie and ranked second Li Chengxiu!”
“Two scums!”
Ling Xiao snorted coldly, grabbed Dai Yaoling’s hand, spread black-white wings behind, asked the location clearly, and flew over.
Though knowing in broad daylight Shen Huang Academy people dared not act rashly, Ling Xiao still worried greatly.
Gaining a confidante is not easy.
Moreover, not just one. Whether Ji Mingkong, Dai Yuling, Lan Yuer, Leng Mei, or Zhao Ci, all were life-and-death comrades.
None could have an accident.
On the imperial city main street, Ximen Bumie showed a ferocious smile.
He always wanted to trouble Ling Xiao, but lately Ling Xiao cultivated in Tian Yuan Treasure Pagoda. He never got the chance.
