“What if you cut off the supply of raw materials?”
Ling Xiao got straight to the point, stating his intention clearly. “Even the best cook can’t make a meal without ingredients. No matter how many alchemists Shenhuang Academy has, without raw materials, they’ll be in trouble.”
“Young Hero Ling, are you suggesting we stop supplying herbs to Shenhuang Academy?” Yun Ya, sharp as ever, grasped his meaning instantly.
But she shook her head helplessly. “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but our trade with Shenhuang Academy benefits both sides. They take the lion’s share, we get the scraps, but it’s still profit. If we cut off their supply, our stockpiled herbs can’t be turned into pills. It’s not just Shenhuang Academy that suffers, we do too.”
“Exactly, and it breaks the rules. Tianlong Auction House won’t risk getting involved in the feud between your two academies!” A man stormed into the room, fuming. “Kid, stop stirring trouble. We won’t fall for it.”
“Who’s this?” Ling Xiao asked, eyeing the newcomer.
“This is Apothecary Liu, our yellow-grade mid-level apothecary,” Yun Ya explained. “He speaks bluntly, but it’s the truth. We can’t break those rules.”
Ling Xiao smiled, not pressing further with persuasion but turning to inducement. “Agree to my request, and I’ll turn all your stockpiled herbs into these Rejuvenation Spirit Pills and plenty of perfect-grade pills!”
He handed Yun Ya a Rejuvenation Spirit Pill.
“You refined this?” Yun Ya asked, shocked.
“You can think I did, or that the master behind me did. It doesn’t matter. What matters is I have the ability. That’s enough for you to know,” Ling Xiao said with a faint smile.
Apothecary Liu, seeing the pill, was stunned. As an apothecary, he knew the impact it would have on the market.
“But how do we split the profits?” Liu asked.
“Simple. Fifty-fifty,” Ling Xiao said calmly. “Plus, I’ll refine one high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pill for you, free of charge.”
At this, both Liu and Yun Ya trembled, their heartbeats quickening.
“Young Hero Ling, it’s not about money. It’s about integrity,” Yun Ya said, trying to suppress her excitement.
“Two high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills!”
*Gulp!* Even Yun Ya, usually composed, couldn’t help swallowing hard, her heart racing faster.
Liu was on the verge of agreeing outright.
Two high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills were unimaginable. On Shenhuang and Tianlong Continents, no one, not even Sun Shang, could refine them. Perhaps someone on the Five Immortal Islands could, but one would cost at least ten million low-grade spirit stones—and even then, they were nearly impossible to buy.
Liu’s shift from firm opposition to urging Yun Ya to agree showed the pills’ immense value.
“Young Hero Ling, why put us in such a difficult position?” Yun Ya said with a wry smile.
“Three!” Ling Xiao raised three fingers, no nonsense.
“Yun Ya, are you mad? Agree already! This is a golden opportunity. Do you want to offend Young Hero Ling?” Liu roared, unable to hold back. Three high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills were something he’d never seen in his life. Even one could spark deadly fights among Cave-Heaven or Yin-Yang Realm experts, let alone three.
“Alright, Young Hero Ling’s boldness is irresistible. Fine, I agree. From now on, we’ll split our herbs: one part for our use, one for Qingxu Academy. We’ll stop cooperating with Shenhuang Academy. Are you satisfied?” Yun Ya was utterly overwhelmed by the offer.
Even she, who had seen many wonders, couldn’t resist these pills.
“Very satisfied. You provide the materials for the three high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills, and I’ll handle the refining. Within three days, I’ll deliver them. I just hope you won’t disappoint me, Princess Yun Ya,” Ling Xiao said, smiling.
Though his smile was warm, Yun Ya felt a twinge of fear.
Offending someone like him was Shenhuang Academy’s biggest mistake.
“Don’t worry, Young Hero Ling. I understand the stakes and won’t let you down,” Yun Ya replied, far calmer than Liu.
Excited as she was, she didn’t lose her senses.
Her initial hesitation was to test Ling Xiao’s sincerity in their partnership.
Three high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills were that sincerity—and an explanation to the auction house’s higher-ups.
Without them, her decision would upset the leadership, and with the auction house already rife with internal strife, she’d face consequences.
About two hours later, all the materials Ling Xiao needed were gathered. He didn’t linger, leaving under Yun Ya and Liu’s admiring gazes.
Once he was gone, Yun Ya realised her clothes were soaked with sweat from tension, sticking uncomfortably to her body.
“This young man is truly formidable. What’s his relationship with that master to be so favoured?” she murmured.
“Indeed. Three high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills, only a yellow-grade top-tier alchemist could refine those. No wonder he doesn’t take Sun Shang seriously,” Liu said. Top-tier meant peak, just below earth-grade.
“You were quite against working with him before. Why so eager now?” Yun Ya teased as she had a maid prepare bathwater.
“Don’t mock me. I’m just a yellow-grade mid-level apothecary. How can I compare to a yellow-grade top-tier? I opposed it because I didn’t know. Now that I do, refusing would be foolish!” Liu shook his head with a wry smile. “I should go. I used to think being a yellow-grade mid-level apothecary made me special. Now I see I’m nothing. I need to train harder.”
As Liu left, Yun Ya headed to her room. Soaking in a fragrant, warm bath, she smiled charmingly. “Shenhuang Academy’s really hit a wall this time. They may not collapse entirely, but Shenhuang Medical Academy is done for.”
