Chapter 321

Chapter 321: Establishing the Brand

Previously, Zhou Luo had instructed Wang Lang to keep an eye on the industries in the Immortal City and come up with an expansion plan.

Wang Lang dared not slack off, studying and analyzing with the jade slips every day.

Forced to turn from a cultivator to a businessman.

He was a smart man, knowing that providing help to Zhou Luo and demonstrating his worth were far more crucial than cultivation.

Especially now that Zhou Luo’s identity had become so esteemed.

Through his relentless efforts, a preliminary outline of the full expansion plan had formed.

A few days ago, he had already given this plan over to Zhou Luo.

After reviewing it, Zhou Luo had to concede that Wang Lang indeed had unique vision and a strong talent for business.

Therefore, Zhou Luo allowed him to implement it himself.

And the first step in putting this plan into action involved the previously discussed empty land plot with Geng Feng.

Since the last time he stated his conditions, although Geng Feng verbally promised to do his best, he vanished without a trace after leaving.

Zhou Luo didn’t count on him and had been running about these days, negotiating with other high-ranking officials in the Potion Alliance.

However, even though these people knew that the rapidly rising Zhou Luo backed him, they disregarded him entirely, each one acting arrogant and haughty, with no room for discussion.

Although the Potion Alliance in this Immortal City was just an empty spectacle, after all, it internally had two second level Pill Masters and over ten top-level first-level Pill Masters, and its foundation was still substantial.

Currently, they planned to build their headquarters on that vacant plot and naturally didn’t want others to join in.

After hearing this, Zhou Luo sank into deep thought.

According to Wang Lang’s plan, that empty land was the vital link because all industries would radiate outwards from it as the center.

If the center wasn’t secured, coordination among the other industries would be severely reduced, and they would lose considerable profits.

"Who is in charge of the Potion Alliance?" Zhou Luo asked.

"It’s Pill Master Sun," Wang Lang replied, mentioning a familiar name.

Zhou Luo raised his eyebrows slightly; it turned out to be that person.

He had met Pill Master Sun before, and although the other was a second level Pill Master, his skill was really average since he had failed in refining Foundation Establishment Dan at that time.

Remembering that Pill Master Sun was also in the core area, Zhou Luo decided to visit him, to at least ascertain what exactly he wanted.

"I understand. First, you go and arrange other items; I’ll handle the Potion Alliance matter," Zhou Luo directed.

"Yes, Master Manager," Wang Lang said respectfully as he departed.

Once the servants arrived, Zhou Luo picked out a few clever-looking young maids to keep in the inner courtyard, while all the others were stationed in the outer courtyard.

Now, Yao Wu was less than two months from giving birth, so everything needed thorough preparation.

On the fifth day after moving in, someone from the core area finally couldn’t hold back and came before Zhou Fu.

Learning that the other party sought him to refine pills, Zhou Luo warmly received him.

Although the Wang Family had heavily publicized him for a period, some outsiders likely were still observing from afar with lingering doubts.

With someone willing to try now, he naturally did not refuse.

The other party came alone to have pills refined. To build his own reputation, he directly stated that he could refine the pills right now.

This surprised the other party somewhat, but relying on the principle that he did not doubt those he employed, he did not refuse.

Three days later, after deducting some auxiliary herbs, Zhou Luo successfully refined two Foundation Establishment Dans, both of ordinary quality.

Since this was the first person he publicly refined pills for, to attract others, he did not deduct the Foundation Establishment Dans.

The person who obtained the two Foundation Establishment Dans was overjoyed and amazed.

He repeatedly thanked Zhou Luo and offered some cultivation resources as payment again.

Zhou Luo cheerfully accepted and hinted that the person could help spread the word.

Besides, the person dwelled in the core area, so there was no worry about others coveting it.

The person readily agreed and spread the news the next day.

One furnace yielded two middle-quality Foundation Establishment Dans.

Upon this news emerging, it instantly caused a massive stir in the Immortal City.

Countless watching cultivators were utterly shocked and absolutely unable to believe it.

They never expected that Zhou Luo’s alchemy skills were so high.

After all, the Immortal City had only three second level Pill Masters: apart from one low first-level Pill Master, the other two middle first-level Pill Masters had only a fifty percent success rate for refining Foundation Establishment Dans.

That was just considering the successful pots; if they excluded the ruined pots or low-quality Foundation Establishment Dans, the success rate probably dropped by ten to twenty percent.

It was precisely because of this that the Foundation Establishment Dan was so rare and precious.

Everyone, each time they sought someone to refine pills, fully prepared for alchemy failure.

Now, Zhou Luo had refined pots only twice, yet his success rate had reached one hundred percent.

The most exaggerated thing was, he had also refined two middle-quality Foundation Establishment Dans.

This news exploded like a cannonball hitting water, triggering a fierce tremor.

With that, those who still harbored doubts could no longer sit still.

They all headed toward Zhou Fu.

Soon, over ten cultivators had gathered at the entrance of Zhou Fu.

They looked around, seeing the eager expressions in each other’s eyes.

"Friend Zhao, I didn’t expect you to be here?" an old man in white asked with a smile.

"No choice, Friend Wu; I am now at half-step Foundation Establishment, only one Foundation Establishment Dan away," the other shook his head helplessly.

"Didn’t the Immortal City auction recently sell one?" the old man in white said.

He was referring to one of the two Foundation Establishment Dans that Zhou Luo had refined.

That person, after obtaining the two Foundation Establishment Dans, knew not to be greedy, so he decisively sold that Foundation Establishment Dan to the Immortal City’s auction house, incidentally helping Zhou Luo publicize it.

After that, he vanished.

Probably, he was hiding in some cave residence attempting Foundation Establishment.

"Do you think I could seize it? It’s better to have Pill Master Zhou help refine it," the other stated plainly.

Those who could come here basically had Foundation Establishment materials; some gathered them alone, some crowdsourced for alchemy.

Whatever the case, their goal was one:

To have Zhou Luo help refine pills.

Although Foundation Establishment materials were hard to gather, as long as time permitted, they could eventually be collected.

The reason so many still hadn’t used materials to refine Foundation Establishment Dans

Was simply fear that their hard-earned Dan would go to waste.

After all, the skills of those two Pill Masters in the Immortal City were truly unimpressive.

If not pressed for time without alternatives, they wouldn’t choose them.

Thus, cultivators who still had time weren’t rushing the two Pill Masters, just wishing their skills would improve further.

Now, since a high-level Pill Master like Zhou Luo had emerged, naturally everyone felt restless.

Still, some remained observant.

These cultivators at the gate of Zhou Fu were like the vanguard; if Zhou Luo’s skills were truly proven, likely more would come.

Creak—

The door opened; all cultivators craned their necks, gazing toward the entrance.

An old servant looked at these cultivators and announced, "The master says you may all come in."

As the words fell, everyone surged forward eagerly wanting to see him.