Chapter 25

The actual transaction content is much more rigorous and complex, requiring official certification and verification, with both parties signing an agreement.

However, the verbal agreement between Nalan Ruyue, representing Qixiu Workshop, and Longxing was just that—verbal. Since both parties had always conducted their transactions this way, it led to Longxing's breach of contract this time.

After signing the agreement, Bai Chen left the Longhu Gate directly. As soon as he stepped outside, he heard Nalan Ruyue's scolding voice: "Bai, stop right there!"

Nalan Ruyue had already rushed in front of Bai Chen, drawing her sword and pointing it at him: "Bai, why are you buying so much grain?"

Bai Chen sized her up and down, then sneered: "Who are you? What does it have to do with you if I buy grain?"

"Do you know how many people have died in the Western Prefecture due to the changes in the land? How many people have been displaced, and how many families have been torn apart?" Nalan Ruyue's face was ashen, and her expression was as if she wanted to tear Bai Chen apart.

"What does their life or death have to do with me?"

Nalan Ruyue's face was cold and stern, her eyes filled with intense killing intent: "Do you know that because of your actions, the entire Shu region will face a grain shortage? Do you know how many people will die?"

Bai Chen remained indifferent: "What does it have to do with me?"

Nalan Ruyue gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with disgust, but after a moment of hesitation, she suppressed her anger.

"What will it take for you to give up on this grain purchase?"

"It's impossible," Bai Chen replied firmly.

Nalan Ruyue's face turned even colder, and she stared at Bai Chen intently, as if trying to memorize his face.

"I will remember you!"

"You're just a naive girl. Go back and learn a few more years before you come out and try to act like you're part of the江湖 (jianghu). Do you really think that everyone will give you some face just because of your identity? Do you really think everyone in the world is like your father, always yielding to you?"

Nalan Ruyue had already harbored the intent to kill, but she remained calm and did not act at that moment.

Qixiu Workshop was the largest sect in Jiangling, but it was not a force in Shu. In Shu, there were two sects that were as powerful as Qixiu Workshop: Wanhua and Tangmen.

As the representative disciple of Qixiu Workshop in Shu, every move Nalan Ruyue made was related to Qixiu Workshop's layout in Shu.

Even if she hated Bai Chen, she could not openly act against him.

Bai Chen knew what Nalan Ruyue thought of him, but it had nothing to do with him.

After returning to the inn, he began to lock himself in his room to refine pills again.

He had already investigated and found that among the several sects in Qingzhou City, Longhu Gate had the widest business scope and also controlled the largest grain trade channel in the entire Shu region.

Xiuqi Sect was the largest supplier of medicinal herbs in Qingzhou, owning more than a thousand acres of medicinal fields outside the city.

These fields not only grew materials for refining pills but also supplied herbs for pharmacies and medicine shops.

However, in recent years, Xiuqi Sect's business had been under attack by Danchi Sect.

This was actually quite understandable. Among the five major sects in Qingzhou, there were more or less some conflicts in the distribution of interests.

Just like the five elements of mutual generation and mutual inhibition, Danchi Sect possessed the pills needed by other sects, while Xiuqi Sect controlled the supply of most of the refining materials.

In recent years, Danchi Sect's development had been trying to break free from the influence of the other sects, especially in terms of refining materials.

Only by establishing and controlling their own refining material channels could Danchi Sect truly expand and no longer be constrained by others.

As long as Danchi Sect still needed materials provided by Xiuqi Sect, they could not boldly say "no" to Xiuqi Sect.

However, most of the areas outside Qingzhou City had already been divided among the powerful sects.

Longhu Gate and Yin Xu Sect occupied the largest territories, and these two forces were the most powerful. Danchi Sect did not dare to have any thoughts against these two sects for the time being.

Xiuqi Sect's land had been largely utilized, and Danchi Sect did not dare to have too much friction with Xiuqi Sect for the time being.

Therefore, Danchi Sect could only look to more distant places, such as Qing Shui Town.

Initially, Qin Youwei's purpose in going to Shanxing Sect was to get them to help find valuable medicinal fields.

One sixth-grade Bai Lu Pill, proficiency +100

One sixth-grade Bai Lu Pill, proficiency +100

One sixth-grade Bai Lu Pill, proficiency +100

Alchemy skill advanced to level 7: 12000/35000

Can refine pills of the same grade and below, with a 20% decrease in success rate for each higher grade.

Learned advanced technique "Chaos Opening," consuming 1000 points of internal energy per second, increasing the success rate of pills above the 11th grade by 10%.

At the moment Bai Chen opened the furnace, his alchemy skill finally advanced from intermediate to advanced.

To Bai Chen's surprise, the newly added advanced technique "Chaos Opening" required the consumption of internal energy.

However, this "Chaos Opening" could refine two types of pills simultaneously, allowing for multitasking.

But for Bai Chen, this technique was too impractical. With his current cultivation, the consumption of 1000 points of internal energy per second meant he could only sustain it for a few dozen seconds at most.

A single pill refinement session would take at least half an hour, which was far from enough.

Bai Chen needed to at least double his true qi cultivation to support a complete pill refinement session.

These days, Bai Chen had been lingering in Qingzhou City, focusing on refining pills, with little progress in his cultivation.

Of course, this was also related to the special nature of the Xuanhu Gong. Without negative energy, it was almost impossible to improve.

Tiebusan was also stuck at the fourth level, with no progress.

Weighing the Bai Lu Pills in Mo Heng, there were roughly thirty, which would be the last batch of Bai Lu Pills.

Bai Chen stood up, looked out the window at the setting sun, and remembered that today was the auction. At this time, the auction house should be about to close.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, followed by the voice of Manager Wang.

"Is Young Master Bai there? This is Wang Yifu."

"The door is not locked, come in."

Manager Wang pushed the door open and entered, accompanied by two attendants who were not his usual confidants.

These two attendants were not particularly tall, but their clothes were bulging, and they exuded a formidable aura.

Clearly, they were two bodyguards. Manager Wang gestured for them to wait outside.

"Young Master Bai, I am here to complete my task. Thanks to your trust in our business, you entrusted the precious pill to me for auction. Now that the task is complete, the pill was sold for 4.3 million taels. After deducting the auction house's 10% commission, it is 3.87 million taels. However, since Young Master Bai is a valued guest of our business, I have decided to round it up to 4 million taels. Please check."

"Thank you, Manager Wang." Bai Chen took the silver ticket, but noticing Manager Wang's flickering gaze, he did not dismiss him and asked with a smile, "Manager Wang, is there something else?"

"Not really, just hoping to get closer to Young Master Bai. If we can have more dealings in the future, it would be even better."

"Of course, I am a stranger in Qingzhou. If it weren't for Manager Wang's assistance these past few days, I would have been in a difficult position. If there are any more transactions in the future, I will definitely think of Manager Wang first."

Bai Chen was quite looking forward to the possibility of future cooperation with Manager Wang.

The process of working with Manager Wang was not particularly exciting, but his stability and reliability were his greatest strengths.

He was meticulous and efficient, never dragging his feet.

Bai Chen enjoyed working with such people, as he did not need to worry about anything, and the most crucial point was his integrity!

Bai Chen knew that most merchants in the world were profit-driven, but principled merchants were quite rare, and Manager Wang was definitely one of them.

"This inn is under my name, and Young Master Bai can stay as long as you like. By the way, after our business is concluded, the people who have been accompanying you will also withdraw. Please take care of yourself. Qingzhou City is not peaceful these days."

Manager Wang's gaze flickered, as if there was something he did not say. Bai Chen understood and nodded.

After some polite conversation, Manager Wang left with his people. Bai Chen closed the door and pondered Manager Wang's final words.

Is someone planning to harm me?

Is it Danchi Sect? Or Nalan Ruyue?

It could also be another force!

The only one that can be ruled out is Longhu Gate. Not only because of the agreement we signed.

If they acted now, they would be caught, and their reputation would be ruined.

More importantly, for Longhu Gate, money is secondary. The forty Jingxi Pills I have not yet handed over are the main concern.

If they were to kill me to keep ten Jingxi Pills, it would be too short-sighted for Longhu Gate.

Longxing would not dare to harm me at this time.

Currently, the most likely suspect is Danchi Sect. I have a major grudge with them.

Especially Qin Youwei, who is very likely to use Danchi Sect's power to come after me.

Of course, Nalan Ruyue is also a strong possibility, as she did not hide her killing intent when we parted.