Free Web NovelChapter 221: Chapter 219: Your Treasure, My Trash
The room instantly fell deathly silent.
Everyone stared at Qinling Mountain, dumbfounded, before turning to look at Qin Li with envy and jealousy.
Even the younger generation of the Qin Family, like Qin Suo, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as they looked at Qin Li.
The old Patriarch’s protectiveness over Qin Li was truly enviable! It even bordered on blind devotion, as if Qin Li were the savior of the Qin Family!
But who could say if he was truly worthy of the old Patriarch’s trust?
More than one or two people in the room harbored such doubts.
However, not a single person voiced any objection. This was because the family had always been united, and Qinling Mountain’s authority was deeply ingrained in their hearts.
Still, they waited to see what Qin Li would do next. If he did nothing, then no matter how strong his martial prowess or how great his talent, these legitimate sons representing the various branches of the Qin Family would never truly submit to him.
If Qin Li had only held a favorable impression of the Qin Family before, then after hearing Qinling Mountain’s words today, he felt it would be truly unjustifiable if he didn’t do something more for them.
This kind of trust was too precious!
Although it was built upon his own monstrous talent and strength, not just anyone could be like Qinling Mountain, placing such unreserved trust in a junior family member not even a fraction of his age.
So, Qin Li smiled calmly, scanned the dozens of people in the room, and then asked Qinling Mountain, "This matter is extraordinary. It’s not that I don’t trust everyone present, but if what I’m about to say gets out, it won’t just be a matter of facing pressure. I’m afraid great clans and major sects will come straight to our door to annihilate us!"
When the people in the room first heard Qin Li, they were a little displeased, feeling that he didn’t trust them. But as he continued, they couldn’t help but grow solemn. This was a responsibility none of them could bear.
The one who had unintentionally revealed that the Qin Family had created a new elixir was also a core legitimate son. He hadn’t revealed it on purpose, but had drunkenly boasted about it. As a result, that descendant was sentenced to five hundred years of seclusion... If he couldn’t cultivate to the Venerable Realm, he would probably never get out in his lifetime!
Yet no one sympathized with him. If he hadn’t let it slip, how would the Qin Family have ended up in this crisis?
Therefore, after Qin Li finished speaking, they all fell silent. free𝑤ebnovel.com
Qinling Mountain gave a slight wave of his hand and said, "Follow me."
Qin Li followed Qinling Mountain to a secret chamber. After scanning it with his Divine Sense and finding nothing amiss, he relaxed and smiled at Qinling Mountain. "Great-Grandfather, you trust me so much. This junior would not be at ease if I could not repay you."
Qinling Mountain waved his hand and said casually, "You are worthy of my trust. The Qin Family has always been this way. When a Great Power appears, the entire family must devote all its resources to serve them alone! Because only such a person can lead the family to greater glory!"
Qin Li nodded slightly. Without asking a pointless question like what would happen if that person proved untrustworthy, he said directly, "This junior suggested giving up the Pill Formula for two main reasons. The first is something everyone already knows: even if we give it up, we can still produce the elixir. We just won’t have exclusive rights. By releasing it, we can let the other families fight over it until they’re black and blue, which will naturally ensure our own safety."
Qinling Mountain nodded. "Of course. I had planned for this from the very beginning. Offending all the major families for a single Pill Formula is not worth it. Although it’s infuriating, this is the consequence of being weaker than others. It’s perfectly normal."
Qin Li smiled and then said, "The second reason I wanted to mention is the real one. In my hands, I have an elixir formula that is a hundred times better than this one. Great-Grandfather, after hearing this, do you still find it so hard to part with that Pill Formula?"
"What?"
Despite Qinling Mountain’s mighty strength at the Celestial Embracing Realm and his state of mind that had been as calm as an old well for many years, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes. He shot to his feet, his gaze fixed on Qin Li, his breathing growing ragged.
"Do you have any idea what your words mean?"
Qin Li nodded and said with a smile, "I have no reason to lie. I didn’t take it out before simply because our family lacks the strength to protect this formula!"
As he spoke, a small porcelain bottle appeared in Qin Li’s hand. He tipped out an Essence Pill and casually handed it to Qinling Mountain. "This elixir is a gift for you, Great-Grandfather. I hope you break through to the Venerable Realm soon and become the guardian deity of our Qin Family!"
Qinling Mountain took it and sniffed it lightly. The expression on his face suddenly froze. The corners of his mouth twitched violently, and the hand holding the elixir couldn’t help but tremble slightly.
He muttered, "To think... that Divine-grade Elixirs truly exist in this world! They really exist..."
Then, Qinling Mountain stared at Qin Li with utter disbelief. Seeing the clear purity in his eyes, it took a long moment before a look of ecstasy spread across his face.
Then he said, "Child, this elixir is too important. I’ll accept it! But don’t tell me the Pill Formula! I understand what you’re thinking, and I know it’s not that you don’t want to contribute to the family. You’re right, our family is too weak. We don’t have the strength to protect a Divine-grade Pill Formula! Therefore, it is enough that I alone know of this. Wait until... wait until you have the power to truly protect it. Then you can make it public!"
Qinling Mountain’s gaze toward Qin Li was now filled with even more doting affection. This great-grandson truly satisfied him. By extension, he was even incredibly pleased with Qin Li’s good-for-nothing father, Qin Wenxuan. He believed that Qin Wenxuan’s greatest contribution in his life was having a son like Qin Li. This achievement was worthy of being recorded in the family’s historical annals!
"Qin Li, I have a private request for you."
"Please speak, Great-Grandfather!"
"Our Qin Family, including myself, currently has four Martial Artists at the Celestial Embracing Realm. When the other three Supreme Elders are about to attempt a breakthrough, could you give them an elixir... I know this elixir is incomparably precious, but..."
Qin Li smiled and cut Qinling Mountain off. "Great-Grandfather, I am also a member of the Qin Family! The family has treated me so well. How could I be the kind of person who doesn’t know how to repay a kindness?" As he spoke, Qin Li poured out three more elixirs. "In the future, for any Martial Artist in the Qin Family who is about to break through to the Celestial Embracing Realm, I will provide an Essence Pill free of charge!"
Deeply moved, Qinling Mountain said repeatedly, "Good child, good child!"
When Qin Li and Qinling Mountain reappeared in the Qin Family’s secret main hall, Qinling Mountain announced with a composed expression, "Qin Suo, go and make a public announcement. Say that in ten days, our Qin Family will openly auction this formula at the Four Seas Auction House in Fengsha City! At the same time, do your best to spread this news as far and wide as possible! Hmph, if my Qin Family can’t hold onto something, then let them fight over it!"
The members of the Qin Family were no fools. They saw that when Qinling Mountain spoke, not only was there not the slightest hint of dejection, but his tone made it seem as if he held this formula—the fruit of generations of the Qin Family’s labor—in complete disregard. There was even a faint trace of contempt.
’What... is going on?’
Many people immediately cast suspicious glances at Qin Li. But they saw him sitting nonchalantly in a corner, whispering with Shangguan Shiyu, a relaxed expression on his face. A question mark couldn’t help but form in their minds: ’What on earth did Qin Li discuss with the Patriarch? What could make the ever-serious old Patriarch so openly joyful?’
Qin Suo acknowledged with a steady voice and turned to leave.
Half an hour later, a sensational piece of news exploded across Fengsha City!
The Qin Family had finally caved! They were going to auction that Elixir Formula!
Highest bidder wins!
The Qin Family sincerely invited all major families and sects to come and share this formula!
The greatest Elixir Formula on Profound Island in the last three hundred years was going up for public auction!
For a time, all sorts of news flew about, stirring up a storm.
Some were happy, some were worried, some were surprised, and some were furious... Regardless, it seemed this fierce conflict over the Elixir Formula, which had raged for months, was ending with the Qin Family succumbing to the pressure. The next step was to see how the powerful families and sects would use their various means to snatch up the Pill Formula.
Shangguan Shiyu, who knew the whole story, had always been a cool and indifferent girl. But as she watched more and more powerful figures and experts appear in Fengsha City, all aiming to obtain the Pill Formula that Qin Li had called "trash," she could only stare at him, dumbfounded, and say three words: "You’re too wicked!"
Qin Li wasn’t an expert in alchemy, but just as a gourmand doesn’t necessarily know how to cook, it’s enough to know what’s good. After taking one of the elixirs produced by the Qin Family and comparing it to the Essence Pill, the former truly was trash.
Therefore, Qin Li didn’t think his words were an exaggeration at all.
The Cui Family, who was determined to get the Pill Formula, had just bought a top-quality coffin, preparing to carry it to the Qin Family’s gates to demand an explanation, when this news broke. By the time they reacted, the news had already spread throughout Fengsha City!
As the local powerhouse of Fengsha City, it was incredibly easy for the Qin Family to spread this news.
As a result, everyone in the Cui Family, from top to bottom, was incensed and furious beyond measure!
They cursed the Qin Family, damning them for not compromising sooner or later, but waiting until after the Cui Family had suffered a loss they couldn’t even complain about. Before they could even retaliate, the Qin Family had given in.
This behavior... was simply outrageous!
Then, the Cui Family received a piece of news: that Qin Li, along with his peerlessly beautiful fiancée, was swaggering through the streets of Fengsha City, shopping!
This infuriated the Cui Family to no end. Their original plan to assassinate Qin Li had to be postponed! If they made any move at this time, they would certainly be treated with hostility by the other families and sects, who would think the Cui Family was trying to hoard the prize for themselves!
-----------------
Advertisement: Recommending a friend’s tech-focused book: The Great Tech Era. It was just featured on the front page and should be a solid read. Friends who like tech-focused stories can go check it out.
