The people of the Great Yu spent their days and nights dreaming of reclaiming their lost lands, fostering a society that universally revered martial prowess.
After eighteen years of prosperity, the lives of the common people had improved considerably, but most of a family's income was still poured into their children's cultivation.
Thus, Lingge held a Pill Association event once a month. At this time, the major Pill Workshops would emerge to sell their elixirs or use them to recruit Household Servants for their patrons.
Of course, aside from these, there would often be treasures related to alchemy.
However, these items were beyond the reach of commoners and were typically sold at auctions. Only Alchemists and individuals with sufficient wealth were permitted entry.
The auction was hosted by the Pill Alliance. The Pill Alliance was a loose organization of the Various Pill Workshops under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Family, making it something of a neutral territory that belonged to no single power. The interior had two floors but a mere fifty seats, a clear testament that this was a game for the privileged few.
「On the second floor, in a private room.」
Gu Xiangzhu looked at Zhao Ci and said gravely, "Your plan is too risky."
But Zhao Ci just smiled. "It's fine!"
"What do you mean it's fine? Zhao Yong is no fool. The moment he realizes what you've done, he'll be sure to ruin your reputation. If you don't establish yourself in the Elixir Realm, trying to accumulate merit through other businesses will be an uphill battle. When the time comes to take on missions from the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Justice, if he's determined to obstruct you, your situation will become perilous."
"You are right, Mother!"
Zhao Ci was surprisingly touched. 'This woman from the Demon Sect really knows how to show concern for someone.'
'She was right. I have no followers right now, nor have I built up my own strength. And while Zhao Yong may be a terrible person, his cultivation is already considered quite strong for his age, and he has many elite soldiers and fierce generals under his command.'
'The Imperial Clan Court encourages fierce competition between the Prince's Mansions. In the business world, he won't move against me directly for now. But the moment missions from the Ministry of War or Ministry of Justice are involved, he absolutely won't let me off the hook.'
'After all, what I pulled this time was a pretty scummy move. Paying for a smear campaign is bound to have repercussions.'
But he still smiled. "Mother! Since I chose to establish my own Prince's Mansion, I'm aiming for the very top. If I just wanted to run an ordinary business, why would I have bothered? It's better to go all in. If I win, I'll feast; if I lose, I'll eat dirt. The worst-case scenario is I lay low for a while before confronting him head-on."
Gu Xiangzhu's brows remained tightly knitted, but a flicker of appreciation had appeared in her eyes.
'He really is a promising candidate for my sect.'
'To be honest, the more she saw of Zhao Ci these past couple of days, the more she liked him.'
'But she was also well aware that this was mainly because of his Medicine Extraction Skill.'
Yesterday, Zhao Ci had told her that mass production might be difficult, but with some effort, producing the quantity needed for the Gongdan Conference wouldn't be a major issue.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have registered the newly established Xiang's Pill Workshop in his name.
[Gu Xiangzhu's Current Wish]: Obtain this batch of Pill Furnaces from the Zhuge Family. Reward for Completion: Comprehension Value +100. Stealable Skill: Divinity Refining Furnace.
Zhao Ci: "..."
'Woman, I can see the longing in your eyes.'
'Divinity Refining Furnace... This skill sounds badass. It makes selling what little morality I have left for this auction completely worth it.'
Gu Xiangzhu said coolly, "I will not make an appearance at this auction. You will be in full charge. You must win them."
"Yes!"
Zhao Ci replied calmly, "Then I will head down now."
After receiving Gu Xiangzhu's approval, Zhao Ci went straight downstairs and entered the auction hall.
He hadn't expected to run into a familiar face as soon as he got downstairs.
"Brother Huang, you're here too!"
"???"
Seeing Zhao Ci's overly friendly demeanor, Zhao Yong's face instantly darkened. 'How can this person be so shameless? One minute he's pulling those dirty tricks, and the next he's acting as if nothing ever happened?'
He took half a step back and said in a sardonic tone, "I hear my Imperial Brother has a new Pill Workshop to his name. My heartfelt congratulations! However, as your elder brother who has been down this road, I must advise you to keep a clear head."
"The Imperial Clan Court keeps a very close watch on us. All external assets and personnel are converted and deducted from our merit scores. Don't get greedy for a quick win and force your hand to get this batch of Pill Furnaces, only to find yourself unable to pay back the merit debt for the next three years."
Zhao Ci said with mock emotion, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Huang! You're such a nice guy!"
Looking at Zhao Ci's simple and honest facade, Zhao Yong felt his stomach churn. It was only because they were in a crowd; if there were fewer people, this scoundrel would undoubtedly be pointing at his nose and cursing him out.
'This person is truly disgusting!'
He waved his hand dismissively and led Zhu Yan directly to their seats.
To his surprise, however, Zhao Ci followed them.
Zhao Yong's brows knitted. "Why are you following us?"
Zhao Ci smiled. "It's my first time at an auction and I don't have any experience. Following Brother Huang makes me feel secure."
Zhao Yong: "???"
He had a bad feeling about this.
But he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
For a moment, he actually felt a pang of anxiety.
But he quickly composed himself.
'No matter what, I won't fail to get the Pill Furnaces this time. The Alchemists under Zhao Ci are second-rate to begin with. As long as he doesn't get this batch of Pill Furnaces, he's doomed to fail at securing many orders. On the other hand, in his attempt to annoy me, he's left a massive opening. I have plenty of ways to crush him.'
'Foolish!'
Having figured this out, his composure returned.
He turned to look at Zhuge Wei Yue, who was not far off, and the handsome young man in a wheelchair beside him.
He cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and smiled. "Greetings, Elder Zhuge. And this is..."
Zhuge Wei Yue, still dressed in sharp attire, returned the salute with a carefree air. "The Ninth Prince has arrived. This is Zhuge Xiao, my eldest nephew!"
Zhao Yong beamed and returned the salute. "So it is Brother Zhuge. I have long heard of your great name! To single-handedly escort Pill Furnaces worth a fortune... I truly admire such courage."
Zhuge Xiao, holding a feather fan, returned the salute with a faint smile but said nothing. Zhuge Wei Yue had instructed him that since he was still a bit unsophisticated and likely not yet accustomed to the high-stakes business warfare of Lingge, the best thing to do was to stay silent and act profound. Otherwise, it would be difficult to place him in the Ninth Prince's Mansion.
Indeed.
Seeing Zhuge Xiao merely smile without speaking, Zhao Yong couldn't help but give him a few more glances.
What followed was an exchange of pleasantries and small talk, a scene Zhao Yong handled with practiced ease.
He hadn't been talking for long before he fell silent. He had spotted Kan Luotang and Zhu Li sitting not far away, and he suddenly felt his skin crawl.
He couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Why are they here?"
Zhu Yan's brow furrowed. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he pulled a small booklet from his robes.
It was the list of items for the auction. The Zhuge Family's Pill Furnaces were listed in the middle, positioned as a minor highlight of the event.
The first item, meant to warm up the crowd, was a rather strange and peculiar elixir.
The Fire Manipulation Pill.
It was an elixir that could enhance one's Fire Control Ability. Its effects were peculiar, and very few people were capable of refining it; not even anyone in the Zhu Family.
Logically, such an item should be a priceless treasure to any Alchemist.
In reality, however, those with strong innate Fire Control Ability had no need for such external aids.
And for those with poor Fire Control Ability, even if this elixir allowed them to successfully perform Alchemy, their ultimate potential would still be limited. They might not even recoup their investment.
In a word: marginal!
A typical Alchemist, upon seeing this pill, would usually remark on it with interest and then go about their business.
But there was one person present who was an exception.
And that was Zhu Li!
Her Fire Control Ability was poor entirely because her innate flame was too explosive, making it extremely difficult to regulate its temperature. Yet she was stubbornly determined to become an Alchemist, hoping to re-stabilize her father's position as the Patriarch.
Even if this pill were to fall into her hands, it wasn't guaranteed to have any effect. But the Zhu Family was going through a turbulent time, and no one wanted any unexpected developments.
Zhao Yong saw the connection as well. "The Zhu Clan suppressing her is their own business. You are my subordinate now; do not get involved."
Zhu Yan nodded. "Rest assured, Your Highness. There are other members of our Zhu Family present."
...
「Not far away.」
Zhu Li stared at the Fire Manipulation Pill in the booklet, her breathing growing rapid with excitement.
Kan Luotang sounded helpless. "Zhu Li! Your innate flame is incredibly potent. If you specialized in the Path of Slaughter, you would surely accomplish great things. Why are you so fixated on being an Alchemist?"
Zhu Li shook her head frantically. "I'm the daughter of the Zhu Clan's Patriarch! How could I become a common brute who only knows how to start fires? I have to become an Alchemist, to keep those vultures from rising up and bullying my father. Luotang, don't you support me either?"
"Of course I want to support you, but my coin purse doesn't. It's almost late autumn, and the plague in the Northern Three Prefectures is about to resurface. I can barely scrape together enough money for medicinal herbs as it is."
"This..."
Zhu Li hesitated. Although she was ostracized, as the Patriarch's daughter, her monthly salary was not insignificant.
But she had blown up one Pill Furnace after another. No amount of monthly salary was enough, and she often had to rely on Kan Luotang's charity to make ends meet.
This time, she had completely emptied Kan Luotang's personal savings.
She gritted her teeth. "I'll try one last time. If it doesn't work, I'll listen to you."
"Okay."
Kan Luotang nodded, and the two of them said no more.
Subconsciously, she glanced in Zhao Ci's direction, only to find him looking at her as well.
She felt a flicker of panic, but the phrase 'Act with integrity and sit with righteousness; there is no need for worldly wisdom or self-preservation' suddenly surfaced in her mind.
She composed herself.
And with grace and composure, she gave him a fist-and-palm salute.
...
'Why is she saluting me?'
'Is she afraid people don't know we're engaged?'
'Our wedding is three years away. You're not trying to win me over ahead of schedule, are you?'
Zhao Ci found this baffling. After all, he hadn't been looking at Kan Luotang.
[Zhu Li's Current Wish]: Become an Alchemist. Reward for Completion: Comprehension Value +1000. Stealable Talent: Yuxin Flame Seed.
'Holy mother!'
'Purple?'