Chapter 42

What many people in the capital found puzzling was that although the news of Jiang Feng's attack was widely spread, the expected major upheaval did not occur.

The royal family did not make any significant moves.

The Longteng Marquis also seemed to be inactive.

Strangely enough, the Jianghan Marquis's residence also showed no major reactions. It was as if Jiang Feng's attack was just a minor episode, causing no significant waves.

Jiang Chen was unusually low-key, spending his days within the Marquis's residence, overseeing the overall situation and diligently cultivating.

After cultivating the "Nine Laughter Sea Heart Sutra," Jiang Chen used the Canglang True Qi to refine his meridians daily, making the six meridians extremely resilient.

With the stimulation and assistance of spirit medicines, Jiang Chen's six meridians were robust and full of vitality, with explosive potential.

Jiang Chen also successfully located the seventh true acupoint through the "True Acupoint Resonance" technique. However, there was a clear gap between the true qi of the six meridians and the seventh meridian.

The true qi of the six meridians was only considered to be at the intermediate stage of the True Qi Realm.

The true qi of the seventh meridian, however, was at the advanced stage of the True Qi Realm.

This small step forward was equivalent to a major advancement. Therefore, any martial artist would face more resistance at this threshold.

Jiang Chen was the same. Before finding the right opportunity, he did not rush to force a breakthrough.

Five or six days after the attack, Jiang Chen quietly went to the Alchemist Hall.

Qiao Baishi, who had been eagerly awaiting Jiang Chen's arrival, was overjoyed when he saw Jiang Chen. He had been waiting for him like a star in the sky, and finally, Jiang Chen had arrived.

"Little Marquis Jiang, I've finally waited for you," Qiao Baishi said with great joy, directly inviting Jiang Chen into a secret room.

"What's the matter?" Jiang Chen was quite surprised by Qiao Baishi's serious attitude.

"Little Marquis Jiang, our cooperation plan must be advanced," Qiao Baishi said bluntly. "We have received information from many channels that the Alchemy King Garden is developing a new healing holy medicine, aiming to capture this market. If the Alchemy King Garden gains the upper hand, it will be a fatal blow to our Alchemist Hall."

Qiao Baishi was indeed a bit anxious. He had not expected the Alchemy King Garden to suddenly make such a move.

It must be said that the Alchemy King Garden's move was indeed sudden, leaving the Alchemist Hall somewhat unprepared.

"Alchemy King Garden?" When Jiang Chen heard these three words, a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes. He naturally remembered how the Garden Master Wang had suppressed their Jiang family at the Longteng Marquis's residence.

Moreover, if the Alchemy King Garden had nothing to do with his father's attack, Jiang Chen would not believe it. His intuition told him that the Alchemy King Garden was definitely involved behind the scenes.

"What exactly is going on?" Jiang Chen was not panicked. If it came to a competition of healing holy medicines, he did not believe that anyone in the capital could outdo him.

"It's like this. Seven days from now, the Alchemy King Garden will hold a medicinal exhibition at the largest market in the capital. It is said that they will mainly promote a spirit medicine called 'Dragon Tiger Blood Transformation Pill.' This is an excellent physical healing pill, with effects far surpassing any similar medicine currently on the market."

As Qiao Baishi spoke, there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone. The Alchemist Hall was the recognized first giant in the spirit medicine industry in the Eastern Kingdom.

In the spirit medicine business, the Alchemist Hall alone occupied half of the market.

The Divine Farmer Hall and the Alchemy King Garden, along with some scattered small merchants, occupied the other half of the market.

If the Alchemy King Garden were to make a big move with the "Dragon Tiger Blood Transformation Pill" and gain the upper hand, it would be a significant blow to the Alchemist Hall.

First, it would be a blow to their reputation. The Alchemy King Garden was only the third giant in the spirit medicine industry in the Eastern Kingdom. If they were to crush the Alchemist Hall in the healing holy medicine market, it would be a huge blow to the Alchemist Hall's prestige.

Second, it would be a blow to their business. Everyone knew that healing medicines were the largest market in the medicinal field. Moreover, medicines were finished products, unlike cultivated spirit medicines. Their prices were often astonishing. If this market were to be completely taken over by the Alchemy King Garden, they would certainly gain significant strength in a few years. This would shift the balance of power, and in less than ten years, the position of the first spirit medicine giant in the Eastern Kingdom might change hands.

No matter which way you looked at it, the Alchemist Hall could not sit idly by and let the Alchemy King Garden rise.

Jiang Chen also understood the situation from Qiao Baishi's words.

"The Alchemy King Garden is suddenly so high-profile. It seems they have fully committed to the Longteng Marquis and found a powerful backer!" Jiang Chen sneered. "This move is likely the first step in their declaration of war against the Alchemist Hall. Third Hall Master, to be frank, the Alchemy King Garden has grand ambitions, possibly aiming to replace the Alchemist Hall."

Qiao Baishi's face turned ashen: "Our Alchemist Hall has held the position of the first spirit medicine giant in the Eastern Kingdom for hundreds of years. The Alchemy King Garden, a latecomer, has too much ambition. Little Marquis Jiang, I don't want to be pretentious, but now our two families are already tied together like two ants on the same rope."

Jiang Chen smiled calmly: "If they were to launch the medicinal exhibition tomorrow, we would indeed be unprepared. Seven days from now, we have plenty of time."

Hearing Jiang Chen say this, Qiao Baishi's stern expression eased slightly.

"Can we refine the Shenxiu Zao Hua Pill in seven days?" Qiao Baishi was unsure, and his question lacked confidence.

"Third Hall Master, do you only want to refine the Shenxiu Zao Hua Pill? Reacting to their moves will always put us in a passive position. If we act, we must strike so hard that the Alchemy King Garden has no chance to fight back!"

Jiang Chen's eyes flashed with a startling aura, finally revealing his hidden strength!

"Little Marquis Jiang, do you have other plans?" Qiao Baishi never expected that Jiang Chen's ambitions were even greater than his own.

"First, tell me, what is the Alchemy King Garden's most proud medicine in the capital? Or, what is their core competitiveness?"

Qiao Baishi thought for a moment and said, "The Alchemy King Garden's business is concentrated in two areas. One is the restoration of true qi, and the other is the calming of the mind and reducing fire."

Restoration of true qi medicines were mostly used in battles. In duels between strong individuals, it was common for true qi to be depleted. At such times, a restoration of true qi pill could instantly restore qi.

Calming the mind and reducing fire was more commonly used in cultivation. Martial artists faced many mental demons, and maintaining a calm and composed state was essential. However, controlling these mental demons was not easy, so calming and reducing fire medicines were used to control them during cultivation, preventing the risk of losing control.

Coincidentally, a few days ago, Jiang Chen had given Princess Gouyu a prescription for calming the mind and reducing fire. It was not a pill but a formula, and the spirit medicines only needed to be mixed and taken directly.

"How much true qi can the restoration of true qi pill restore instantly?" Jiang Chen asked curiously.

"Our Alchemist Hall also has similar products, but one pill can restore at most 20% of true qi. Moreover, it cannot be taken consecutively; taking it again within an hour is ineffective."

Qiao Baishi was somewhat ashamed: "In this field, our Alchemist Hall has always wanted to make progress, but the technology of restoration pills is highly advanced, making it difficult to break through. The Alchemy King Garden, however, has taken the lead. Their restoration pills can instantly restore 30% of true qi and can be taken again after half an hour."

Jiang Chen nodded: "What about the calming and reducing fire pills?"

"These pills do not have specific data, but their effects are immediate. In this area, our Alchemist Hall is also slightly inferior to the Alchemy King Garden."

Qiao Baishi did not deceive himself and told Jiang Chen the facts.

Jiang Chen did not immediately respond but closed his eyes to think. After a long time, he gently tapped his fingers on the table.

"If we could produce a pill that can instantly restore 40-50% of true qi, could we defeat the Alchemy King Garden in this field?"

"Instantly restore 40-50%?" Qiao Baishi stood up, his face full of excitement. "If our Alchemist Hall had such a good product, with our channels, connections, and strong distribution capabilities, we could make the Alchemy King Garden's products end up in the trash within half a month!"

"If the cost of the calming and reducing fire pills is only one-tenth of similar pills, but their effects are even better, could we make the Alchemy King Garden's products end up in the trash again?" Jiang Chen asked.

"Cost is only one-tenth? Effects are even better? There's no question about it; we must make them end up in the trash! We can just use a price war to knock them down!"

Qiao Baishi was excited, his eyes filled with desire: "Little Marquis Jiang, you're not joking, right?"

Jiang Chen said calmly: "Do I look like I'm joking?"

"This..." Qiao Baishi was momentarily at a loss for words. But his trembling lips betrayed his wild excitement.

Just thinking about the scenario where the Alchemy King Garden would be completely knocked down, the grand scene of their downfall, made Qiao Baishi's heart race and his blood boil.

"I have only one requirement: to knock down the Alchemy King Garden, make them disappear from the capital, and let that Wang fellow beg on the streets!"

Jiang Chen had a deep-seated hatred for Garden Master Wang. Just thinking about how he had lectured his father, Jiang Feng, at the Longteng Marquis's residence with a condescending tone, made Jiang Chen want to crush him.

"Little Marquis Jiang, if we can knock down the Alchemy King Garden in these two areas, they will be like a fly without wings, unable to flutter for long, and can be easily swatted!"

"Same as before, 60-40 split. I get 60, you get 40!"

Qiao Baishi nodded repeatedly: "It should be so. Little Marquis Jiang is indeed a dragon among men. To be frank, even with a 60-40 split, our Alchemist Hall is still benefiting."

Qiao Baishi was a smart man. The lower his posture, the more favor he could gain from Jiang Chen.

At this moment, the intelligent Qiao Baishi was very clear that the relationship between the Alchemist Hall and Jiang Chen was no longer an equal partnership but one where the Alchemist Hall depended on and flattered Jiang Chen.

If this relationship was not understood, the Alchemist Hall's business would not last long!