This thing was the foundation of Wang Yu's operations. Having an extra sect certification brought many benefits, especially when cooperating with those in power within the system—its role became even greater.
Hearing this, Zhou Tao shook his head.
"I have the certification for a first-grade high-tier alchemist."
"Then wait for Huang Kai and Luo Pinghu to obtain theirs. Three days from now, at the beginning of the Si hour (9 AM), we'll gather here again. By then, I'll have what you want."
"Agreed."
"Naturally."
The three tacitly didn't ask how much benefit Wang Yu could gain from this process. After all, no one was a selfless saint, especially not in a demonic sect.
As long as the promised profits were guaranteed, however much Wang Yu earned was his own skill, unrelated to the three.
After disbanding, Wang Yu went to another shop, [Proud Snow Pill Shop]. This was also the shop where he had previously inquired about the "Coldblood Pill." Now that he had money, it was time to buy a high-grade Coldblood Pill.
Regarding the four-person alchemist alliance, it was actually a spur-of-the-moment idea. He realized that relying solely on his alchemy skills to make money wasn't feasible. His cultivation time was too short—barely a year.
Coupled with his spirit slave origins and Waste Spiritual Root aptitude, forget about exceptional alchemy skills—his current cultivation level was already abnormal.
If someone investigated him carefully, it could bring unexpected trouble. Therefore, changing his approach could also earn money.
The Alchemist Alliance was born from this line of thought. As for the promised conditions, they were an idea that came to him immediately after obtaining the Enforcement token.
That idea was the Ice Snow Pavilion!
Pills didn't necessarily have to be sold to pill shops; selling them to the Ice Snow Pavilion might be more suitable. Zhao Shang was greedy and bold, daring to secretly defy True Disciple Su's wishes, but that didn't mean he wasn't afraid.
The Enforcement token would be Wang Yu's trump card for turning the tables. Whether he feared it or not, he would have to!
The Ice Snow Pavilion was a private force belonging to a true disciple. It didn't just have ordinary disciples like Wang Yu; there would also be factions within the sect看好 (kànhǎo -看好)看好 (kànhǎo -看好) him, investing in him.
Therefore, junior disciples from various backgrounds would be present.
From this, a considerable force could be牵扯 (qiānchě - involved, implicated), easily消化 (xiāohuà -消化)消化 (xiāohuà -消化) the output of three mere first-grade alchemists.
After buying the long-desired high-grade Coldblood Pill from the Proud Snow Pill Shop, Wang Yu went straight to the Ice Snow Pavilion. Since he hadn't been gone long, when he pushed the door open again,
Zhao Shang spoke in a tone mixed with surprise and slight mockery,
"Look who it is—Junior Brother Wang, valued by the True Disciple. What... are you back after tattling?"
If there was a trace of worry before, seeing Wang Yu return instantly made him brazen.
"I think you've misunderstood, Brother Zhao."
Wang Yu glanced around. Several inner disciples were sitting behind a screen on the first-floor side platform, probably drinking tea. Hearing the commotion, they all looked over.
"I think we need a private space to have a proper talk."
"Talk? You think you're worthy?!!
"You stinking beggar, I don't care how you tricked the True Disciple. If you keep spouting nonsense, the Ice Snow Pavilion will be your burial ground."
Seeing Zhao Shang eagerly trying to frame him, wanting to define the situation, even considering taking action, Wang Yu instantly understood his intention.
It was nothing more than acting first and reporting later, eliminating the threat.
What a madman!
*Thud—*
A gold-based token with blood-red characters reading "Enforcement" was embedded in the counter's surface. Wang Yu said calmly,
"Harming fellow disciples, embezzling sect interests, deceiving a true disciple—how do these three charges sound? Will they help you advance further? Directly... to heaven, perhaps~"
Zhao Shang's expression changed. He knew Wang Yu's background. Given by True Disciple Su? No—if so, he'd already be dead, not having a conversation.
That meant another powerful figure had taken a liking to Wang Yu.
Damn lucky brat!
Zhao Shang had never been so jealous of a spirit slave before!
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He dared to bully subordinates and flatter superiors because he was sure True Disciple Su was tied up with troubles and had no time to manage the Ice Snow Pavilion. As long as the benefits sent upwards remained unchanged, he wouldn't face trouble.
Most of the subordinates he bullied were ordinary disciples like Wang Yu and Su Qingshan, without backing. Towards those in the Ice Snow Pavilion from various legacies, he was just a dog.
For example, Duan Ping, Fatty Duan. The Duan family he came from was True Disciple Su's maternal clan, holding a lofty position in the Reverse Blood Sect. Even as a branch-line庶子 (shùzǐ - son of a concubine), he could order Zhao Shang around.
If the Enforcement Hall got involved and the matter blew up, regardless of the reason, he would be finished.
Quickly thinking it through, Zhao Shang immediately changed his expression.
"Junior Brother Wang, really... Senior Brother was just joking with you."
"I'll have that person vacate the room for you immediately. Just a moment."
"No need. Let's talk privately."
"That works too. Whatever Junior Brother Wang says."
This time, it went much smoother. Moving to a private room on the third floor named 〈High Mountains and Flowing Water〉, Wang Yu stopped pretending and laid his cards on the table.
"Zhao Shang, you bullied me first. I have a solution for this matter. Hear me out."
Zhao Shang still smiled.
"By all means."
"I need a batch of spiritual herbs at standard prices for pill refining. The refined pills will also be purchased by the Ice Snow Pavilion, through official accounts, at prices higher than market rates."
Forcing Zhao Shang to personally compensate with spirit stones was possible, but unstable; he might seek revenge later.
Instead, using cooperation as a pretext, inviting him to jointly embezzle spirit stones belonging to the Ice Snow Pavilion would mean both held leverage over the other. Exposing it would mean death for both, tying them together on the same rope.
Although Wang Yu deeply hated Zhao Shang, he didn't yet have the ability to eliminate him. He had to wait a bit longer.
Hearing his demand, Zhao Shang instinctively refused.
"Impossible. I manage the Ice Snow Pavilion, but I'm only responsible for the Essence-Qi Chambers and internal tasks. The pills, spirit stones, and other resources distributed to others aren't under my management."
"Moreover, your asking price is too high. Market rates are already high ; you want even higher? How is that possible? I'd be dead as soon as the accounts are checked later."
Wang Yu shook his head.
"I'm selling to you at market rates. What price the Ice Snow Pavilion can offer, I don't know."
The implication was that anything above market rates would be his. How much he earned depended on his own ability.
Zhao Shang fell silent, quickly calculating in his heart.
Any cultivator reaching the late Qi Refining stage with some ambition would prepare for Foundation Establishment, and accumulating spirit stones was paramount.
Backed by the Reverse Blood Sect, ordinary Foundation Establishment Pills, like the "Reverse Blood Pill," cost around four thousand spirit stones. For high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, the pill alone cost ten thousand spirit stones, plus the need to pull strings—the expenses were high.
This was partly why he was so greedy.
Within the internal channels True Disciple Su provided for the Ice Snow Pavilion, there were three Foundation Establishment Pills annually, explicitly priced at thirty thousand spirit stones.
That price would make even a dog speechless.
It was too high, so high that even Zhao Shang couldn't save up for it. Hence, bullying subordinates and flattering superiors became a path to success.
After a long silence,
Zhao Shang gritted his teeth.
"I agree, but you must have Alchemy Hall certification. Otherwise, I can't explain it to the fellow disciple responsible for managing the pavilion's"
(End of Chapter)