Chapter 32: Forced Transaction (Please keep reading, please vote)

This is the foundation upon which Wang Yu can operate. Having a sect certification provides numerous benefits, especially when cooperating with those in power within the establishment; its utility becomes even greater.

Hearing this, Zhou Tao shook his head.

"I have the credentials of a first-grade high-quality alchemist."

"Then we wait for Huang Kai and Luo Pinghu to secure them. We will gather here again at the beginning of the Si hour in three days. At that time, I will produce what you desire."

"It's a deal."

"Naturally."

The three men tacitly refrained from asking how much profit Wang Yu would take from this process. After all, no one is a saint devoid of desire, especially not in a Demonic Sect.

As long as the promised profits were guaranteed, how much Wang Yu earned was a matter of his own capability and had nothing to do with the three of them.

After disbanding, Wang Yu headed to another "Aoxue Pill Shop." This was the same shop where he had previously looked at the "Cold Blood Pill." Now that he had money in hand, he intended to buy one high-quality Cold Blood Pill.

The idea of a four-person team forming an alchemist association was actually a spontaneous thought. He had realized that relying solely on alchemy to make money was unsustainable; his cultivation time had been too short, barely a year.

Furthermore, being of slave origin with a wasted spiritual root, let alone possessing superb alchemy skills, even his current cultivation level was abnormal.

If someone were to investigate him closely, it would likely invite unexpected trouble. Therefore, changing his approach was another way to make money.

The alchemist association was born from this thought. As for the promised conditions, they were an idea that occurred to him immediately after he obtained the Law Enforcement Token.

That target was the Ice Snow Pavilion!

As for pills, they didn't necessarily have to be sold to pill shops; selling them to the Ice Snow Pavilion was actually more appropriate. Zhao Shang was a greedy and audacious man who dared to secretly defy True Disciple Su's wishes, but that didn't mean he wasn't afraid.

The Law Enforcement Token would be Wang Yu's ultimate trump card for a turnaround; even if Zhao Shang wasn't afraid, he *had* to be!

The Ice Snow Pavilion was a private force belonging to a True Disciple. It didn't just consist of ordinary disciples like Wang Yu; it also included various factions within the sect that favored the True Disciple and invested in him.

Consequently, junior disciples from various sides would be involved.

By extension, this could draw in a massive amount of influence, making it very easy to absorb the output of a mere three first-grade alchemists.

After purchasing the highly desired high-quality Cold Blood Pill from the Aoxue 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 surprised and slightly mocking tone.

"Look at this, isn't this Junior Brother Wang, who is so highly regarded by the True Disciple? What... back from filing a complaint?"

If there had been a hint of worry before, seeing Wang Yu return made Zhao Shang instantly feel untouchable.

"I think you've misunderstood, Brother Zhao."

Wang Yu glanced around. At that moment, several inner disciples were sitting behind a screen on the first-floor side terrace, presumably drinking tea; hearing the commotion, they all looked over.

"I feel 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, but if you keep talking such nonsense, the Ice Snow Pavilion will be your grave."

Seeing Zhao Shang's eagerness to pin a crime on him and define his character—even appearing ready to strike—Wang Yu instantly understood his intentions.

It was nothing more than "executing before reporting," eliminating a hidden threat.

What a madman!

*Thud—!*

A nameplate with gold-backed blood-red characters reading "Law Enforcement" was slammed into the counter's tabletop. Wang Yu said indifferently, "Harming fellow disciples, embezzling sect interests, and misleading a True Disciple's student. What do you think of these three charges? Will they help you advance further? Like... straight to heaven, perhaps?"

Zhao Shang's expression shifted. He knew Wang Yu's background. Was it given by True Disciple Su? No—if it were, he would already be dead, not talking.

In other words, another big figure had taken an interest in Wang Yu.

Damned lucky brat!

Zhao Shang had never been so jealous of a spiritual slave!

Cold sweat began to drip from his forehead. He dared to bully those above and flatter those below because he was certain that True Disciple Su was embroiled in trouble and had no time to manage the Ice Snow Pavilion. As long as the benefits sent upward remained unchanged, he wouldn't run into trouble.

The subordinates he oppressed were mostly ordinary disciples without backgrounds, like Wang Yu and Su Qingshan. Toward those from various lineages within the Ice Snow Pavilion, he was nothing more than a dog.

Take Duan Ping, for example. The Duan clan was True Disciple Su's maternal clan and held a high status in the Spirit-Reversing Blood Sect. Even if he was just a branch family member, he could command Zhao Shang to do his bidding.

If the Law Enforcement Hall were involved and the matter blew up, no matter the reason, he would be finished.

Thinking rapidly, Zhao Shang immediately changed his demeanor.

"Junior Brother Wang, you really... I was just joking with you, Senior Brother. I'll have that person vacate a room for you immediately. Just a moment."

"No need. Let's talk privately."

"That works too. We'll do as Junior Brother Wang wishes."

This time, things went much more smoothly. After 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 oppressed me first. I have a solution for this. Listen to it."

Zhao Shang remained smiling. "Speak freely."

"I need a batch of low-priced spiritual herbs for alchemy. The pills produced will also be purchased by the Ice Snow Pavilion through the official accounts, provided the price is higher than the market rate."

Having Zhao Shang pay him a sum of spirit stones privately was possible, but it was unstable and he might face retaliation later.

It was better to invite him to collaborate in swallowing the spirit stones belonging to the Ice Snow Pavilion. Through this cooperation, both men would hold leverage over each other; if one spoke out, both would die. They would become grasshoppers tied to the same string.

Although Wang Yu loathed Zhao Shang, he did not yet have the ability to eliminate him; he had to wait.

Hearing the request, Zhao Shang instinctively refused.

"That's impossible. I manage the Ice Snow Pavilion, but I am only responsible for the Essence Chamber and internal missions. The pills, spirit stones, and other resources distributed to others are not under my management. Besides, your price is too high. Market prices are already high, and you want even more? How is that possible? I'll be dead the moment the accounts are audited."

Wang Yu shook his head.

"I sell to you at market price. I don't know how much the Ice Snow Pavilion will pay."

The implication was: everything above the market price belongs to you; whether you make a lot or a little depends on your own ability.

Zhao Shang fell silent, calculating rapidly in his mind.

Anyone who had cultivated to the late stage of Qi Refinement and possessed some ambition would prepare for the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, and accumulating spirit stones was the top priority.

With the Spirit-Reversing Blood Sect as a backdrop, an ordinary Foundation Establishment Pill, such as a "Blood-Reversing Pill," could be bought for around four thousand spirit stones. If one wanted a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, the pill alone would cost ten thousand spirit stones, not to mention the high cost of using connections.

Part of his greed was due to this.

Within the internal channels provided by True Disciple Su for the Ice Snow Pavilion, there were three Foundation Establishment Pills available every year, priced clearly at thirty thousand spirit stones each.

That price would make even a dog fall silent.

It was too high—so high that even Zhao Shang couldn't save up that much—which was why bullying subordinates and flattering superiors had become his path to success.

After a long silence, Zhao Shang gritted his teeth.

"I agree, but you must have credentials from the Alchemy Hall. Otherwise, I won't be able to justify it to the fellow Daoist in charge of managing the pavilion's welfare."