Free Web NovelChapter 230: The Decision
Tang Fenghua’s lips twitched.
Isn't it perfectly normal for an alchemist to remain stuck for a decade or so? But when he thought about the speed at which Yaoguang’s cultivation had advanced... Fair enough. Compared to Deputy Hall Master Yaoguang, Hall Master Wu Qingying really does seem to be a bit of a disappointment.
Suddenly, Yaoguang received a message. His psychic mind stirred, and he entered the Void Psychic World. Inside the Void Psychic World, Li Qingshan had already arrived. Alongside him stood several other hall-master-level figures, including Zhou Lijian, Jiang Zhouyue, and Lou Yuyu.
When Yaoguang appeared, Li Qingshan immediately started speaking, his expression grave, "Not long ago, we signed an order with the Lunar Sect. They invested a hundred million to purchase three hundred export-model Purple Firmament Type 15 flying swords from us, with delivery set for six months. Given the recent intensification of the conflict between the Lunar Sect and the Dharma Heaven Pavilion, we assumed their internal sword consumption had grown too much, which was why they placed the order so urgently... It turns out this was a trap."
He paused, voice deepening. "Just now, the Infinite Star Palace joined forces with the Immortal Alliance, the Lunar Sect, and several other powers, including the First Yang Sect, the Great Sun Sword Sect, the Taiyi Cult, and the Yatai Dynasty. They jointly announced an embargo on artifact refinement materials, alchemy ingredients, and array-engraving resources, which will no longer be sold to our Nine Cauldrons Sect. Without these materials, our efficiency in producing those three hundred flying swords will be severely affected. As for that order..."
At this point, he turned his gaze toward Yaoguang.
"That order?" Yaoguang muttered
That order was worth a full hundred million. Yaoguang had personally attended its signing. At the time, the agreement stipulated that for each day of delay, they would pay 1% of the total order value as compensation.
Xu Qiexing had felt the penalty was steep, but since refining three hundred export-model Purple Firmament Type 15 swords within half a year seemed manageable, he had not been worried about those details. Now it seemed like it had been planned from the start.
"This should be the Infinite Star Palace’s counterattack," Yaoguang said.
Li Qingshan nodded. "It's specifically aimed to hinder our development in the artifact refinement market, as that's where we're hurting their interests the most. I just never expected that the Lunar Sect would stoop so low as to join hands with them to scheme against us."
"What materials are affected? How severe is the impact?" Yaoguang asked.
Li Qingshan promptly provided a detailed list.
Yaoguang scanned it briefly and thought for a moment. "It's not that bad. I can refine all of these components myself. The only reason we outsourced them was to save time. If I work overtime for the next six months, we will complete the order in time."
He paused. "But this likely won't be the last time this happens. Although the Infinite Star Palace's hands are tied because of the war with the Black Feather Sect on the Black Flame Continent, they can leverage their influence to have others act against us on all sides. The coming period will not be easy."
Several hall masters nodded in agreement.
"In the past, the Infinite Star Palace didn’t even consider suppressing our growth to be worth their time, not even doing so through indirect means," Zhou Lijian from the Public Relations Hall remarked. "They believed that once they freed themselves from the Black Feather Sect, they could wipe us out without effort. But over the past five years, with the deployment of the Vajra—I mean the Golden Body warship, and our fully self-developed third-generation Sky Patrol Warship, the Longxiang, taking flight, we now possess four Sky Patrol Warships. Two of them are third-generation models. They have no choice but to take us seriously."
He did not know whether he should feel stressed or honored that the Infinite Star Palace had to resort to indirect methods to deal with them.
"We should be grateful their combat forces remain tied down on the Black Flame Continent. Otherwise, this wouldn’t be limited to economic pressure. Their forces would likely act against us," Jiang Zhouyue said.
Lou Yuyu frowned. "It makes sense for the Infinite Star Palace to blockade us. We took over a large share of the artifact-refinement market, which they had essentially monopolized until then. But why are the Immortal Alliance and Lunar Sect joining in? Aren’t we one of their major clients? Especially Yaoguang. Every year, he spends tens of millions at the Immortal-Proving Tower. Even if most purchases are special pills, they still profit at least six million from him annually. And they abandon such a profitable client so easily?"
"I’ll speak with the person in charge at the Immortal-Proving Tower," Yaoguang said.
"If I’m not mistaken, they’ve noticed the massive increase in the demand for pills created by your new cultivation method. And they’ve likely realized you’re approaching the threshold of the Star God Realm," Li Qingshan said, looking at Yaoguang. "If you ask them, they may even claim that the production capacity for the specific pills you need has dropped. If you still want them, expect at least a thirty percent price increase."
Jiang Zhouyue, Lou Yuyu, and Zhou Lijian fell silent. Yaoguang also remained quiet.
After a while, Yaoguang sent out a message. "I’ve contacted Mo Er, the deputy director of the Market Department under the Immortal Alliance’s Logistics Hall and head of the Immortal-Proving Tower on the Heavenly Star Continent. The prices won't be increased by thirty percent. It’s going to be a fifty percent increase."
The hall masters immediately erupted in cold snorts.
"Fifty percent on top of the original price?! Outrageous!"
"I expected greed, but this... this is shameless."
"At fifty percent, they’re practically demanding that Yaoguang pour an entire year’s profit from the Purple Firmament Institute into the Immortal-Proving Tower. They want the entire institute working for them."
Li Qingshan said nothing. The Nine Cauldrons Sect had no truly skilled alchemist, so both the production and the pricing of the pills Yaoguang needed were dependent on others. Unless they relied on intermediaries to purchase on their behalf, they had little alternative source for the pills necessary for Yaoguang’s rapid cultivation.
But relying on others brought issues of trust and purchase limits. Aside from Yaoguang, which top-tier star lord could sustain annual expenditures in the tens of millions of spirit stones? Even those spending one million per year could be counted on one hand.
"For my cultivation pills, I do have a solution." Yaoguang glanced at Li Qingshan. "But using it will bring significant negative consequences. I originally had no intention of unveiling it."
He smiled faintly. "However, since the Immortal Alliance has made it clear they intend to align with the Infinite Star Palace in their attempt to blockade the Nine Cauldrons Sect and restrict our growth. Perhaps it’s time to try this method, regardless of the potential backlash."
Li Qingshan’s eyes brightened. "What method are you talking about?"
Yaoguang did not speak. Instead, he made a casual gesture, and a dossier appeared in the air in front of him. "The pills I use most frequently right now are the Heavy Star Pill and the Yanli Pill. Of the two, the Heavy Star Pill, a third-generation high-grade treasured pill, is the most important. Within the Immortal Alliance, only three alchemy grandmasters are capable of refining it. The one we need to focus on is Grandmaster Xie He."[1]
Yaoguang said calmly, "This alchemist originally came from the Star Sect. His family background was fairly well-off. Later, he was sent to the Immortal Alliance to study. Over eight years of training, he displayed astonishing talent in alchemy. By the age of thirty, he was already able to refine low-grade treasured pills. After achieving that level, he intended to return to his sect and serve it. To keep him, the Immortal Alliance tried many methods, but none worked. In the end, they dispatched people disguised as cultivators of the Quicksand Sect and exterminated his entire family. Even the city where his family resided was razed to the ground."
Li Qingshan and the others immediately began to grasp his plan. "Do you have evidence?"
"Yes. Five or six years ago, when we were constrained by the pill supply, I considered whether we could recruit one of the Immortal Alliance’s alchemists. Since then, I have been monitoring them. I paid particular attention to Grandmaster Xie He, who was not originally a member of the Immortal Alliance. For Dharma Form cultivators, if they truly wish to investigate something, nothing is beyond reach," Yaoguang replied.
Yaoguang smiled faintly. "I compiled this information half a year ago. I also identified the person who issued the order to annihilate Xie He’s family. It was Lewis, who is now the deputy director of the External Intelligence Department under the Punishment Hall of the Immortal Alliance. If we are able to infiltrate the Immortal Alliance, deliver the evidence to Xie He, and kill Lewis, it should be enough to ensure his loyalty."
He looked at Li Qingshan and then swept his gaze across the other hall masters. "The question is whether we act. Even if I handle it discreetly, the Immortal Alliance will eventually trace it back if they conduct a thorough investigation. The Nine Cauldrons Sect would be the first suspect, and they'll definitely consider me to be the instigator."
"If that happens, you may end up confronting a Dharma Form cultivator of the Immortal Alliance. The secrets you carry will be difficult to conceal," Li Qingshan said.
"Then I won’t conceal them." Yaoguang’s voice remained calm and confident. "If their Dharma Form cultivator does not come, all the better. If he does, I will make him understand that at the Dharma Form Realm, someone has already surpassed the old limits."
He paused. "If we severely injure a Dharma Form cultivator, it should be enough to make the Immortal Alliance behave."
Li Qingshan looked slightly astonished. "Are you this bold?"
"Mhmm," Yaoguang answered simply.
He sensed the terrifying energy within him, blazing like a fierce sun. Though he was not the true master of that power and kept it separated from himself when wielding it, no one could deny its world-shattering might.
It was the outer core, which he had refined from the Crimson Golden Core he had once received! Over the past five years, his qi cultivation had remained at the Foundation Building Realm and had not even reached the Unity Realm. Most of his time and energy had been spent refining this outer core.
However, the results were remarkable. With this outer core and the formidable stellar force field granted by the Psychic Heart, he was finally able to somewhat ensure his own safety.
After listening to him, Li Qingshan pondered for a moment. "Are you confident?"
"There shouldn’t be a problem." Yaoguang smiled faintly. "I don't believe the Immortal Alliance would wage full-scale war against the Nine Cauldrons Sect over a single alchemist, especially when we have already demonstrated the capability to severely damage their strength."
"Then do it," Li Qingshan said solemnly. "If you need any support from us, don't hesitate to let us know."
1. Fun fact: Yanli is also another name for the Luan bird, a mythological bird in East Asia. ☜
