“Then it’s settled. The items have been delivered. You can handle the arrangements. I need to cultivate, so I won’t stay longer,” Ling Xiao said, cupping his hands in farewell.
“Alright, go ahead. Once these pills are sold, we’ll send your forty percent of the spirit stones to you,” Feng Qingyan replied.
“Thank you, Vice Dean Qingyan. Farewell, everyone!”
In truth, Ling Xiao had planned to take no spirit stones, but his funds were tight, so he settled for forty percent.
That wasn’t greedy, was it?
Besides, if he took nothing, the cautious white-bearded elder and Feng Qingyan might suspect he had ulterior motives.
That would be troublesome.
Mutual suspicion was the most bothersome thing.
After leaving the meeting hall, Ling Xiao didn’t go to cultivate but headed to the Tianlong Auction House.
Besides the ten thousand Rejuvenation Spirit Pills, he had also refined one hundred mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills.
Fifty were promised to the Tianlong Auction House.
A man’s word is his bond.
Moreover, he might need to rely on Princess Yun Ya for many things in the future, which wasn’t a bad deal.
…
At the Tianlong Auction House, in the VIP room, a delicate gourd sat on the polished marble table, containing fifty vibrant mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills.
When the stopper was gently removed, a strange fragrance filled the room, invigorating everyone.
Holding the smooth, glossy pills, Yun Ya’s fair hands trembled, her face beaming with uncontainable excitement.
Ling Xiao shook his head inwardly.
These fifty perfect-grade mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills had already thrilled Yun Ya.
If he showed her the other fifty soul-grade mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills, would she go mad?
Soul-grade pills, which he had invented, surpassed perfect-grade, their effects two to three times stronger. One soul-grade mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pill matched a perfect-grade high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pill but was far easier to absorb.
High-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills, top-tier yellow-grade pills, just below earth-grade, were hard for Heaven-Human Realm warriors to absorb and better suited for Cave-Heaven Realm warriors.
“Young Hero Ling’s alchemy skills are truly astonishing. These fifty mid-grade Rejuvenation Spirit Pills could only be crafted by a yellow-grade senior alchemist, and even someone like Sun Shang would struggle to succeed,” Yun Ya praised.
Ling Xiao chuckled. “Princess Yun Ya, you flatter me. These are just yellow-grade senior pills, a token of thanks to the Tianlong Auction House. You’ve helped me a lot lately, and I’d feel uneasy without repaying you.”
Yun Ya quickly shook her head. “Young Hero Ling, you’re too polite. We’re friends, aren’t we? Helping friends is my pleasure.”
Yun Ya was using both profit and friendship to win Ling Xiao over.
But Ling Xiao didn’t mind.
This world was about mutual benefit, and Yun Ya wouldn’t let him lose out, so why worry?
“Since Princess Yun Ya is so kind, I won’t stand on ceremony. Here’s a list. Please help gather the herbs and materials on it. I won’t shortchange you on spirit stones,” Ling Xiao said, smiling as he handed her a list.
Yun Ya glanced at it, a flash of surprise in her eyes.
Besides herbs, the list included materials for crafting weapons and armour.
While warriors often made their own gear, the quantity was excessive.
Yun Ya was puzzled but didn’t dare ask, fearing it was Ling Xiao’s secret. Annoying him could end their cooperation.
With the Tianlong Auction House’s resources, gathering these items wasn’t difficult.
“Young Hero Ling, do you need these urgently?” Yun Ya asked.
“The sooner, the better!”
Ling Xiao was preparing these for Qin Huo and his group. With unrest on Shenhuang Continent, he might need their help anytime.
Train soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one.
If he wasn’t willing to equip them, how could he expect their loyalty?
Yun Ya immediately summoned someone, handed over the list, and gave detailed instructions to prepare the items quickly.
Ling Xiao was grateful, but his plans didn’t end there.
Since he was at odds with Shenhuang Academy, he wouldn’t rest until he brought them down.
“Princess Yun Ya, I have a presumptuous request. May I ask for your agreement?” Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
Seeing his smile, Yun Ya knew it wasn’t anything simple, but she wasn’t eager to refuse.
The master behind Ling Xiao had extraordinary alchemy skills. Building a good relationship with that master could control the pill trade on Tianlong and Shenhuang Continents.
That would bring the Tianlong Auction House closer to its ultimate goal.
“Young Hero Ling, no need to be polite. Just speak,” Yun Ya nodded.
Ling Xiao said, “As far as I know, your auction house controls over ninety percent of the herb trade on Tianlong Continent and about the same on Shenhuang Continent. But in the finished pill market, you only have twenty percent, correct?”
“Correct!” Yun Ya’s eyes lit up. This young man was sharp, digging up such data despite his age.
“Your low share in the pill market is due to Shenhuang Academy’s dominance, right? You sell them herbs cheaply, but they make and sell pills, taking nearly seventy percent of Shenhuang Continent’s market.
In the past, you and Qingxu Academy could somewhat compete with them, but now Qingxu’s pill market is nearly gone, clinging to less than ten percent.
Once Shenhuang Academy crushes Qingxu, who do you think they’ll target next?” Ling Xiao asked, smiling.
“I believe you, Young Hero Ling, but right now, Shenhuang Academy has the Emperor’s strong support, Sun Shang, the Master Alchemist, and many yellow-grade alchemists. Even our Tianlong Auction House can’t do anything against them,” Yun Ya said, shaking her head. “Aren’t you overestimating our humble trade group?”
