Chapter 12

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/

Layout

“Miss, you’ve made quite a gamble in the hall. Are you merely hoping that I can provide ideas?” Lu Xingzhou chuckled. “I don’t believe you would make such an agreement without some confidence yourself.”

Shen Tang didn’t shy away. “I do have some ideas, but not enough to be truly confident. Since this matter was proposed by you, you must have a more comprehensive plan. Two heads are better than one, after all.”

Lu Xingzhou glanced into the hall and gestured. “Let’s talk somewhere else, please.”

Ah Nuo had a headache.

She couldn’t push two wheelchairs by herself; her arms were too short.

The good news was that Lu Xingzhou didn’t ask her to push. The bad news was that he and Shen Tang had happily wheeled themselves away, chatting and laughing.

Ah Nuo, feeling abandoned, stared blankly at the sight of them wheeling together. A strange thought suddenly popped into her head: If those two got together, how would they kiss…? The image just wouldn’t form.

However, Ah Nuo knew her Master had no such intentions.

Now, Master probably wouldn’t have intentions for anyone, nor would he dare to easily let his feelings sway him.

After all, the one who falls in love first always gets hurt first.

Ah Nuo sighed, hands behind her back, and shuffled back to the room.

The two arrived at a small garden in the back. There was a small pond in the garden. They stopped by the pond and simultaneously sighed, “So inconvenient.”

After speaking, both paused, seemingly surprised by their synchronicity. Then Lu Xingzhou fell silent, and Shen Tang also lowered her head, looking at the pond water, saying nothing.

The pond water was uncleared and very murky; it couldn’t reflect their images.

After a long while, Shen Tang finally said, “Asking swordsmen to do business is already a tall order. In the past, there were established channels, and things were all laid out for them. They were essentially just acting as security escorts. This time, I had them handle the promotion, knowing full well it might not be effective.”

Lu Xingzhou hummed in agreement.

He had actually thought Shen Tang wouldn’t be able to do it, but it seemed Shen Tang was different from ordinary swordsmen after all.

Shen Tang continued, “This kind of product can’t be promoted by relying solely on ourselves. Xiazhou people don’t have this awareness, and their minds can’t be changed by mere promotion. Therefore, this needs to be pushed from the government, from the top down. A word from the Elixir Bureau (丹药司) is more effective than anything else. But none of them thought of this; they actually went out one by one to sell…”

Lu Xingzhou turned to look at Shen Tang with some surprise. This kind of thinking, let alone her swordsmen subordinates, most ordinary people wouldn’t consider. This truly was the perspective of someone accustomed to being an Imperial Merchant.

He subtly nodded. “The reason you chose to come to Xiazhou was partly because you had people in the Xiazhou officialdom, right? Many disciples who graduated from the Heavenly Sword Sect used to work in various local government branches, so Xiazhou must be one of your major bases.”

Even Sheng Yuanyao’s choice to come to Xiazhou to “gild herself” might have a strong connection to their background. This was just speculation, so Lu Xingzhou didn’t voice it.

Shen Tang chuckled. “You had already considered this, which is why you gave me this idea, thinking it suitable for us? So, besides that, do you have anything to add?”

“This product has no technical barrier. Although a sword sect is better suited to making it, other factions aren’t incapable. And there are many major powers locally. Don’t let the government push it, only for you to lose the market to others and have your efforts snatched away.”

“That is indeed a problem. Do you have any ideas?”

“You need to quietly stockpile a large quantity first. Once the government promotes it, immediately seize the market on a large scale, catching others off guard. Of course, if you can get it officially designated by the government, that would be best. If not, you must also seize the opportunity to sign long-term contracts with major elixir shops. By the time others want to do it, only fragmented markets will be left.”

Shen Tang mused. “So, in reality, our main customers are elixir industry professionals, not the general public.”

“Precisely. Once the government pushes it, elixir shops will naturally procure it and bundle it with their elixirs. No one is a fool; this is a huge new business opportunity.”

Shen Tang showed a faint smile. “Hearing you say that, the direction has become much clearer.”

Lu Xingzhou casually said, “As for what comes next… actually, there will be a new development arising from this in the future.”

“What?”

“Different elixirs, due to their varying ingredients, also have different toxicities. Since the public will have to incur this extra expense to resolve elixir poison, they will naturally be more resistant to highly toxic elixirs in the future. However, most people aren’t too familiar with such specialized details. We can covertly publicize and educate them. For example, the ‘Spirit Qi Elixir’ that the Danxia Gang is currently promoting aggressively has seven or eight times the toxicity of a regular Qi-Replenishing Elixir.”

Shen Tang’s expression became very strange. She looked sideways at Lu Xingzhou’s nonchalant face, unsure how to describe it.

So you were waiting right here for this?

Bai Chi was not a mere empty figurehead; he was an alchemist who had already reached Seventh Grade. Liu Yan’er saying he was “on the verge of breaking through to Seventh-Grade” was merely because, like Lu Xingzhou, he hadn’t gone through formal certification, making him unrecognized in the “job market.” His Seventh-Grade strength was real. After taking over as the Chief Alchemist of the Danxia Gang, he had achieved significant results within days.

Previously, Lu Xingzhou’s main focus at the Danxia Gang was refining the most common and universally needed Qi-Replenishing Elixir, using high quality as a selling point, which had allowed the Danxia Gang to secure a foothold in the elixir market.

The Qi-Replenishing Elixir was used to aid in restoring spiritual energy, significantly increasing the recovery speed of spiritual energy, effectively a sustained recovery type.

Instant recovery medicines were generally high-grade, and most ordinary cultivators could only afford Qi-Replenishing Elixirs, consuming them in vast quantities.

Bai Chi, hailing from the prestigious Incense Burning Tower alchemy sect, possessed exclusive elixir formulas unavailable elsewhere. His current main product was called “Spirit Qi Elixir.” This elixir was also at the Eighth-Grade level, but it could instantly restore a tiny amount of spiritual energy, followed by sustained recovery. Although the instant recovery portion was very small, in urgent, dangerous situations, that tiny bit could mean saving a life or turning the tables, making it one of Incense Burning Tower’s signature products.

Its cost was about thirty percent higher than the Qi-Replenishing Elixir, but its selling price was double that of the Qi-Replenishing Elixir. It was highly favored by the market and caused a sensation shortly after being introduced to Xiazhou.

Bai Chi’s efficiency in refining this elixir was also five pills per furnace, yielding both excellent-grade and good-grade pills. While not as consistent as Lu Xingzhou, its significant profit margin indeed made it more lucrative than when Lu Xingzhou was there.

Of course, a gang couldn’t rely solely on the small amount of elixirs refined by its Chief Alchemist. The apprentices Lu Xingzhou had previously trained produced large quantities of simple Ninth-Grade Qi Restoration Pills, Qi Refining Pills, etc., which were the broader source of income. The Chief Alchemist’s refined products were merely the “signature dishes.”

But if the signature dish was boycotted, the reputation of all elixirs produced by this entire faction would be at risk…

This Spirit Qi Elixir truly did have significantly higher elixir poison than the Qi-Replenishing Elixir.

So this Lu Xingzhou, from the moment he proposed the elixir poison purification solution, was already laying the fuse to deal with the Danxia Gang?

However, for now, it seemed this could only deal a slap to the Danxia Gang, but not a fatal blow. After all, Bai Chi had many elixir formulas; if one ran into trouble, he could just switch to another.

Shen Tang didn’t think much further, simply chuckling. “Very good. Public opinion takes time to ferment. I can send people to covertly spread the word now… This has gone from you giving an idea to a mutual aid between us.”

Lu Xingzhou smiled faintly. “Indeed, it’s a mutual aid.”

The two parted ways. Shen Tang ordered the entire sect to work overtime to produce sword talismans. She herself wheeled out of the manor and headed towards the City Lord’s Mansion (城主府).

The Heavenly Sword Sect’s true backer was Xu Bingkun, the City Lord of Xiazhou, which was why they came to Xiazhou.

In a world of cultivation, the gap between one City Lord and another could be greater than that between a human and a dog.

If a region had no particularly strong local powers, the City Lord naturally held great authority.

If there were formidable sect powers within the jurisdiction, the City Lord would generally have little say, or the City Lord might even be a native of that sect, taking orders from the Sect Master instead.

But even in the latter case, these sects themselves submitted to the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty. Few dared to assert independence and carve out their own territory.

Ultimately, the imperial family needed to be powerful to rule as emperor, and they also relied on the Heavenly Jade Sacred Land (天瑶圣地) behind them to suppress the entire realm.

Many other distant nations in the world were roughly similar in structure. Competition between nations existed but wasn’t intense, as all humans shared a common great enemy: demons and devils (妖与魔).

Xiazhou City belonged to the type with no particularly strong local powers, so City Lord Xu Bingkun carried significant weight in his words.

“This proposal is firstly to be responsible for the health of Xiazhou’s people, and secondly, it provides this old man with a political achievement. Furthermore, it’s a request from Sect Master Shen. How could this old man object?” Xu Bingkun was extremely courteous to Shen Tang, smiling broadly. “I had thought Sect Master Shen also came to Xiazhou to engage in the elixir trade, but to find another path—truly, talent bestowed by heaven. This old man is relieved that the Heavenly Sword Sect has Sect Master Shen taking up the burden.”

He had graduated from the Heavenly Sword Sect and was of the same generation as Shen Tang’s Master. Having graduated, he was no longer strictly a member of the sect, but more like an “alma mater.” However, this relationship was much closer than a modern alma mater relationship. Although Shen Tang couldn’t directly order him, based on social consensus, he still had to give face to the Sect Master, otherwise he would be criticized by everyone in the world.

Shen Tang, however, held no airs, merely bowing slightly in acknowledgment. “City Lord Xu’s magnanimity is greatly appreciated. Shen Tang thanks you here.”

“No problem, no problem. This old man will inform the Elixir Bureau to cooperate. Sect Master Shen, why don’t you stay for dinner?”

Shen Tang paused. She had originally wanted to ask if she could be designated as the sole supplier, but the other party’s words immediately signaled a polite dismissal, making it awkward to speak.

Even if she did speak, it might be useless. Why humiliate herself?

She quickly regained her smile. “The sect has just been established, and affairs are numerous and complex. I won’t impose any further. I will go to the Elixir Bureau to discuss matters in detail with them.”

“Very well,” Xu Bingkun smiled even more amiably. “In the future, if you have anything, just send a message. Sect Master Shen is inconvenient in her mobility; why bother coming in person…?”

“Meeting the City Lord in person—how could I be disrespectful?”

Xu Bingkun laughed heartily. “Someone, escort Sect Master Shen to the Elixir Bureau.”

“No need,” Shen Tang said politely, smiling. “I have my guard.”

As she spoke, the hall seemed to grow several degrees colder, as the white-haired girl suddenly appeared beside her.

Xu Bingkun’s face subtly changed. “This is…?”

“My guard, Dugu Qingli (独孤清漓).”

Xu Bingkun eyed Dugu Qingli with some trepidation but continued to maintain a smile, escorting them to the door.

Dugu Qingli also said nothing. It wasn’t until she had pushed Shen Tang two streets away that Shen Tang lightly sighed. “The National Preceptor was right; human hearts are as treacherous as demons and devils.”

Dugu Qingli whispered, “You mean Xu Bingkun also has ill intentions?”

“Yes,” Shen Tang sighed faintly. “Thankfully, Lu Xingzhou had a contingency plan… Let’s go, first to the Elixir Bureau.”

– Mochinuna.