Chapter 330

Chapter 330: Cooperation [Year]

On the street, the father and his two sons strolled all the way to the front of Yao Yuan Pavilion.

They arrived at Yao Yuan Pavilion.

As expected, Yao Yuan Pavilion was still thriving with business, full to the brim with people.

Nowadays, when people bought potions, they mostly chose Yao Yuan Pavilion.

There was no other reason; it was purely because only the potions here were personally refined by Zhou Luo.

This was a second level Pill Master who could easily refine Foundation Establishment Dan, so the potions he refined were definitely better than those from other places.

This was the celebrity effect.

Seeing so many people, Zhou Luo did not enter; instead, he led his two sons northward.

Before long, he saw a building under construction.

The building was not yet completed, and it was made entirely of golden-threaded nanmu, very noble. Some craftsmen were working intently, while Wang Lang stood before the building, watching.

Zhou Luo walked over holding a child, instantly drawing his attention.

"Master Manager, why are you here?" Wang Lang looked pleasantly surprised and hurried over.

Zhou Luo said, "I came to check on the progress." He glanced at the building.

Wang Lang replied earnestly, "Rest assured, Master Manager, I watch it every day, and there will not be the slightest mishap."

Zhou Luo nodded slightly, and after chatting with him for a while.

During this, Wang Lang mentioned that the Potion Alliance had also sent people to help.

This was Pill Master Sun showing goodwill.

Besides this, Wang Lang brought up another matter.

The manager of Tian Xia Restaurant wanted to meet with him.

Not long ago, that manager of Tian Xia Restaurant had sent someone to find Wang Lang.

Wang Lang had been planning to take time in the evening to go to Zhou Fu and tell Zhou Luo about this.

He had not expected Zhou Luo to come himself.

"What did he want to see me about?"

Zhou Luo put down Zhou Changqing and let the two brothers run off to play.

"It might be because we were making too big a scene." Wang Lang was not very sure either.

Recently, the stir at Yao Yuan Pavilion was not small, especially around this building as the center, covering over ten nearby shops; the investment was not minor.

If it weren’t that Zhou Luo thought Wang Lang’s plan was feasible, and that he had already taken control of the Lin Family, he really might not have agreed.

Zhou Luo remembered that this Tian Xia Restaurant had a royal background from Huoyun Country; now that the other side suddenly approached him, unknown what it was about.

"When?" Zhou Luo asked.

"He said three days later at Tian Xia Restaurant." Wang Lang responded.

"Got it."

Unable to figure it out for the moment, Zhou Luo decided not to dwell on it. As it was rare to bring his two sons out, he intended to take them for a good tour.

It was not until evening that the three returned to Zhou Fu.

The two little ones were extremely happy, while Zhou Luo contemplated how to handle the situation with Tian Xia Restaurant.

He was definitely going to go.

Before going, he resolved to bring Little White as a precaution.

Though this was in Immortal City, no one could guarantee no problems would arise, especially with a formidable entity like Tian Xia Restaurant that had significant backing.

Now, Little White’s strength had grown; he could handle mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators effortlessly, and even against late-stage Foundation Establishment, he might still be able to put up a fight.

Three days later.

Zhou Luo appeared at the entrance of Tian Xia Restaurant as agreed.

As soon as he arrived, he was taken to the innermost room on the ninth floor.

It was a plain yet elegant room, its door adorned with exquisite patterns. The servant respectfully escorted him to the doorway, called out "Manager," then lowered his head and stayed silent.

"Come in."

A voice drifted out leisurely. That person gently pushed the door open and gestured invitingly.

"Pill Master Zhou, please enter."

Zhou Luo walked in calmly. What greeted him was an unadorned room, with a desk at the center where several jade slips lay spread out.

Behind the desk sat a round-faced middle-aged man.

He wore a smile, was dressed in lavish brocade robes, and had shrewd, narrowed eyes that gave him a very amiable appearance.

"Pill Master Zhou has arrived, please come this way." He warmly invited the guest to sit down.

Zhou Luo glanced at him, sensing the surging spiritual energy from the round-faced man. This person was absolutely a Foundation Establishment strong person.

He sat down calmly. On a nearby wooden table sat a cup of spiritual tea, steam still rising.

Before Zhou Luo could speak, the round-faced man initiated the introduction: "Pill Master Zhou, you may call me Manager Jin. I am currently in charge here at the restaurant."

Zhou Luo’s eyes flickered slightly.

The Tian Xia Restaurant in Qinyuan City wasn’t like Maple Leaf City’s. Anyone who stood firm here as manager surely had a substantial background.

With a smile, Zhou Luo saluted: "Manager Jin, unknown why you sought me out?"

Manager Jin smiled faintly: "Right now, Pill Master Zhou is soaring in reputation. I am here to propose a collaboration."

Yao Yuan Pavilion’s recent moves had been under his constant observation. Even a restaurant manager had to admit the strategic layout was genuinely profitable, so he wanted to get a share of the pie.

Tian Xia Restaurant was a chain; each manager oversaw a specific region.

To climb higher, one needed the managed region to yield higher profits for those above.

Though he ran Tian Xia Restaurant in Qinyuan City, he wasn’t content to stop there mentally. Seeing Zhou Luo’s arrangements sparked other ideas in him.

If he could leverage the other’s industries to boost his restaurant’s profits further, he might gain recognition from upstairs and advance.

"Oh?" Zhou Luo uttered in surprise, laughing: "Manager Jin, why say these words? I’m just dabbling in minor trades."

Faced with such a colossal entity for partnership, his instinct was to refuse.

But Manager Jin was determined; he said earnestly: "Whether it’s small business or not, you should know, Pill Master Zhou. If we collaborate, we could likely generate even greater profits."

Though only managing one restaurant, after centuries in Immortal City, his accumulated networks were extensive.

Facing this sudden collaboration proposal, Zhou Luo sank into thought.

Partnering with a giant like Tian Xia Restaurant wasn’t bad overall, but it meant sharing some profits.

Yet Immortal City was a mixed bag at its core, housing forces like Yao Chi Pavilion and various alliances beyond Tian Xia Restaurant.

He might stand firm temporarily on recent merits, but once his ventures began profiting, they’d squeeze the space of other forces.

Money was finite after all.

If he earned, others couldn’t.

At such times, lacking a deep background, his industries would inevitably face attacks.

His current status was insufficient.

Long-term, allying with a profoundly backed power like Tian Xia Restaurant promised gains, not losses.

Still, he couldn’t agree outright.

So he deliberately feigned difficulty: "Manager Jin, you understand—these are mere small businesses; I operate them for amusement."

A glimmer of light shone in Manager Jin’s shrewd eyes as he assessed the other, guessing the true intent.

Being an old hand like him, he grasped the situation thoroughly.

So he took initiative: "Pill Master Zhou, straightforward talk among honest men—Tian Xia Restaurant will bring out something that fully satisfies you."

Zhou Luo’s eyes lit up: "Since Manager Jin is so direct, we ought to negotiate properly."

Immediately, the two launched into a discussion lasting several hours.

Their topic naturally centered on Yan Yuan Pavilion’s upcoming industrial expansions.

Manager Jin, having already investigated, shared his vision and plans.

He aimed to develop that area into Immortal City’s most popular destination, patterned somewhat like the malls from his past life, encompassing diverse fields.

This genuinely intrigued Zhou Luo. Drawing from past-life wisdom, he offered suggestions that broadened the other’s perspective.

"I hadn’t expected Pill Master Zhou to possess such deep insights on matters like this," Manager Jin commended.

"Only occasional dabbling for me. For specifics later, dispatch someone to coordinate with Wang Lang," Zhou Luo replied with a laugh.