Chapter 493

Chapter 493: The Mad City

After completing transactions with Mi Qing, the city’s Higher-ups descended into complete madness.

The reason was straightforward: Fang Lie’s pills surpassed ordinary spirit pills by at least thirty percent in potency while containing minimal Pill toxin. Such high-grade spirit pills were a rarity seen once in a century. Typically, such treasures would trigger frenzied bidding wars, yet now they could be obtained simply by exchanging materials—with no quantity restrictions.

Heavens! For the Higher-ups, this felt like manna from heaven. No bloodshed required—mere resale guaranteed massive profits. These high-grade spirit pills served as universal currency, perfect for gifting, trading, or flaunting one’s strength.

Driven by greed, the City Lord and his deputies ordered their forces to scour the lands for Seventh-rank materials Fang Lie demanded, regardless of cost. They fretted over Mi Qing’s remaining stock—high-grade pills normally took years to brew per batch, often yielding mere handfuls even when successful.

An ordinary Great Pill Master might produce a few hundred Seventh-rank pills over a century. Yet Master Yuan had shockingly disgorged over two thousand, draining both the city’s reserves and three Deputy City Lords’ private Warehouses, compelling external purchases.

All knew Master Yuan’s Seventh-rank pills weren’t infinite. With three thousand already distributed, scarcity loomed. The Higher-ups now competed viciously—every pill claimed meant one less for rivals.

But secrets never stay buried. Despite the trio’s efforts, news leaked within a day. Families, gangs, sects, and Powerful Beings sent envoys demanding answers. The City Lord couldn’t defy this collective might, especially with Mi Qing’s involvement.

When the truth emerged—that Master Yuan offered mountains of high-grade pills for materials—the entire city erupted. Mi Qing found herself besieged by waves of visitors: influential scattered cultivators and faction representatives. Only the qualified dared approach.

Suitors had two goals: curry favor with Master Yuan or obtain pills. The former group left disappointed—the alchemist refused all audiences, even snubbing the City Lord.

Pill-seekers faced mixed fortunes. Mi Qing remained unmovable, accepting only listed materials. Neither spirit pearls nor seventh-rank top-grade treasures swayed her.

Forced to comply, the crowds scrambled for Seventh-rank materials. These proved scarce, particularly the specified varieties. The City Lord’s two-thousand-pill haul came from millennium-old city stockpiles, while the three Deputy Lords’ combined forces secured mere scraps.

Other local powers pooled resources for five hundred pills. Scattered cultivators fared worse—their Seventh-rank material hoards barely covered single Fifth Rank pills.

Frustration redirected attention to Gold-Eating Rats. The list demanded live specimens regardless of size: 10,000 rats for a Fifth Rank pill, 100,000 for Sixth Rank, a million for Seventh Rank.

Elders (Fifth Rank Gold-Eating Rats) counted as 10,000. Kings (Seventh Rank) equaled 100,000. Ordinary rats were Third Rank, elites Fourth Rank. Achieving Fifth Rank marked Elder status through decades of cultivation. Seventh Rank Kings commanded millions, ruling territories through dozens of Elders.

But the Gold-Eating Rats weren’t a battle-focused race. Even their Seventh-rank Kings couldn’t match ordinary Wind Tribulation Immortals. They’d only flourished due to sheer numbers and tunnel-digging skills.

Fang Lie prioritized acquiring Gold-Eating Rat Elders and Kings because these stubborn old men guided their kin and preserved tribal knowledge. Without these higher-ranked leaders, the dim-witted common rats couldn’t be controlled, and their evolution paths would stall without mentors.

Fang Lie needed intelligent high-rank Gold-Eating Rats for his plans – these upper-tier specimens were essential.

In the Demon Domain, Gold-Eating Rats existed in endless swarms, particularly around this city where their colonies spread everywhere.

Small tribes numbered tens of thousands, massive ones reached millions. But beyond overwhelming numbers, they posed no real threat.

Even the largest rat colony could be crushed by a few Wind Tribulation Immortals.

Normally, nobody cared about these low-level demons. Exterminating them yielded only sub-Fifth Rank metals – not even worth a Nascent Soul True Immortal’s glance. Hardly worth the trouble.

Now everything changed. Gold-Eating Rats became prized goods – 10,000 rats traded for one Fifth Rank spirit pill!

Even Purple Palace realm cultivators could raid small tribes, capturing tens of thousands of rats plus Elders to claim multiple Fifth Rank pills – their highest-grade medicines.

Wind Tribulation Immortals had it easier. Form teams, crush large tribes, and harvest millions of rats with Elders and Kings to exchange for Seventh-rank pills. Who wouldn’t go crazy?

Immediately after meeting Mi Qing, cultivator groups mobilized for mass rat hunts.

Within two days, the City Lord’s men returned first – he’d deployed most clan members upon hearing the news. This group specialized in transporting slaves.

They delivered ten million Gold-Eating Rat slaves, hundreds of Elders, and three Kings stored in a space device.

Why hurry back? Everyone feared Mi Qing might break her promise. Worthless rats for precious pills? Despite her assurances, skepticism lingered.

But Mi Qing dispelled doubts through action. After inspection, she immediately honored the deal, even adding extra pills as first-trade bonus.

This news spread like wildfire, intensifying the frenzy.

Rat-hunting teams advertised openly on streets. Capture-focused treasures and Dao magic prices quintupled overnight.

City merchants profited hugely, especially pill sellers.

High-grade pill sales dipped slightly, but low-grade pills flew off shelves as cultivators stocked up for expeditions.

High-grade losses meant little since alchemists took most profits anyway.

Though Master Yuan’s scheme escalated Demon Domain conflicts – normally warranting City Lord’s wrath – the ruler happily encouraged it, being primary beneficiary!

Gold-Eating Rats weren’t strategic resources. Sects didn’t care how many got sold, even to Demonic Path factions, as long as spirit pills flowed in.

The City Lord feared not reprisals, but moving too slowly to exploit Master Yuan’s pill stockpile before depletion.

Citywide madness ensued. Fang Lie’s harvests swelled daily. By tenth day, first hunting groups returned with oceans of Gold-Eating Rat demons.

Mi Qing handled over a dozen groups that single day – some bringing ten million rats, others one million, totaling nearly 100 million.

At this rate, billions would accumulate within days.

Mi Qing grew uneasy. "Young Master," she pleaded, "we’ve got 100 million rats. Should we pause?"

"Why?" Fang Lie grinned. "A mere hundred million? I want ten billion minimum. More is better!"

"What?!" Mi Qing gaped. "Why so many?!"