Chapter 1030: Island's Elixir for Sale

“You previously mentioned the Battle of Baining Pass, where our clan was defeated. Wanqi Tong blamed my old uncle entirely for that loss. In truth, as you’ve seen, my uncle’s temperament is not suited for commanding an army. After that battle, he was filled with self-reproach and pain, drinking heavily every day.”

He Lingchuan said, “Wanqi Song is only fit to be a deputy general, not a commander-in-chief.”

“When the Bailong clan was forced to evacuate, my uncle volunteered to stay behind and cover their retreat. Leading over a thousand men, he used the terrain to his advantage and held back the thirty thousand strong army from Ya Country pursuing them for a full nine days! This bought enough time for our people to safely withdraw. However, his direct subordinates were almost all killed, leaving him with no men to command.”

He Lingchuan nodded. During the internal strife between the Wanqi uncle and nephew, over a hundred Bailong people were still willing to stand with Wanqi Song, fighting and bleeding for him, likely out of gratitude for his selfless acts.

Wanqi Feng murmured, “My uncle’s insistence on seizing the Yangshan Archipelago was also driven by his urgency to find a place for our people to settle and thrive. He hoped to find a fertile land where we could grow strong, giving us hope to eventually reclaim our homeland. Though he can be irritable and contrary, he is utterly devoted to our clan and always considers their well-being. I beg the Island Lord to show him leniency.”

Although He Lingchuan hadn't killed Wanqi Song, opting instead to send him to the mines, as the Island Lord, he had a thousand ways to torment him. Thus, Wanqi Feng hoped for leniency, wishing for his uncle’s life as a miner to be less harsh.

He Lingchuan gave a noncommittal “Hmm,” saying, “I understand.”

It wasn't until evening that He Lingchuan returned to White Wave Villa.

Upon arrival, he immediately apologized, “Island affairs kept me busy; I hope the Imperial Advisor doesn't mind!”

Wang Xingyi chuckled, “Coming and going through wind and rain, truly the vigor of youth. You’re drenched; where have you been?”

He Lingchuan was completely soaked; a mere umbrella was useless.

“Dragon Ridge Island,” He Lingchuan replied, taking out two jade bottles. He handed one to Wang Xingyi and the other to Fang Canran. “This is the Emperor’s Dew collected last night, already purified. It’s best to consume it before its potency expires.”

The jade bottles were half a palm tall and felt heavy, filled at least eight-tenths full. The Emperor’s Dew collected by seven or eight sea travelers combined last night didn't amount to as much as one of these bottles.

This was an undeniably generous gift, and both men were visibly moved. Wang Xingyi shook his head, “How could I take advantage of a junior like you?”

Fang Canran, for his part, simply said, “I cannot accept a reward without merit.”

He Lingchuan, anticipating their reaction, immediately said, “Please don’t decline. I still have a favor to ask of you both.”

Then he asked Fang Canran, “Brother Fang, are you skilled in fire control for alchemy?”

“A basic skill. Why do you ask?”

“I collected this batch of Emperor’s Dew and urgently need to refine it into pastes and powders.” The Emperor’s Dew has a limited shelf life, so He Lingchuan had to brave the wind and rain, rushing to several islands to collect the spiritual essence gathered by the spirit-attracting formations. “However, I'm short-staffed; I've even called the cooks from the supply station to help with the refining. Could you also lend me a hand, please?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingyi immediately said, “Emperor’s Dew paste is easy to refine. I have over a hundred attendants here who all possess cultivation; you may command them as you wish.”

He Lingchuan was delighted. “The Imperial Advisor is truly righteous!”

He didn't have many skilled alchemists under him. Apart from Lingguang, the professional pharmacist, the eleven from Rongshan, Min Tianxi, Huang Zhao, and others had all been assigned tasks. Additionally, He Lingchuan had dozens of other cultivators who had recently joined him, but they were still under probation, making him hesitant to fully trust them with important tasks.

The Imperial Advisor immediately assigned over a hundred people to him, plus Fang Canran, significantly easing the staffing shortage. Since they were helping, both men felt justified in accepting the jade bottles, thinking to themselves that the young man was thoughtful, making even gift-giving feel comfortable.

As night fell, the wind and waves on the sea finally subsided. The hurricane, after making landfall, had sped northwest, further reducing its impact on the Yangshan Archipelago. However, it was already dark, and a moonless night, so the merchants and travelers simply decided to stay another night on Suoding Island.

The accommodations there were good, food and drink were inexpensive, and there were places for recreation. Shrewd merchants seized the opportunity of everyone being stranded on the island to expand their networks and conduct business, keeping themselves very busy. Due to the dual visitations of the hurricane and the Emperor’s Dew, most people found their two nights stranded on Suoding Island unforgettable.

The next morning, shipping lanes reopened. The merchants and travelers quickly ate breakfast, packed their belongings, and prepared to depart. However, before everyone boarded their ships, Suoding Island surprisingly announced a piece of news with a gong:

“Effective immediately, the supply station will sell Jicai Pills and Baishan Pills. Both are refined from Emperor’s Dew, with one thousand pills of each type available. Each pill costs two hundred taels of silver, and sales will continue until stock runs out.”

Jicai Pills are a tonic, greatly replenishing vital energy. For healthy individuals, they strengthen the body, and for those with chronic ailments, they can significantly alleviate symptoms, making them especially suitable for the elderly. Baishan Pills, on the other hand, are exclusively for cultivators. Taken once every seven days, the first time one cultivates after consumption, they can achieve an additional 20% effectiveness.

Both types of pills were excellent.

The sea travelers fell silent. It took hearing the gong-ringer's announcement two or three times before they snapped out of their daze: “Huh, what?”

Everyone's first reaction was: “Is this a hoax?”

“Whose Emperor’s Dew would be available for use? Suoding Island was actually selling such a treasure?”

Someone instinctively blurted out, “It must be fake, right? I've traveled north and south for years, and I've never heard of such a thing!”

A nearby merchant retorted sarcastically, “How old are you? How many rounds of Emperor’s Dew have you experienced? It's perfectly normal not to have heard of it then, isn't it?”

The Emperor’s Dew had only become frequent in the past two years, appearing three times within that period, but the sixty years prior had been completely blank. But what benefit would the Yangshan Archipelago gain from faking this? The effects of Emperor’s Dew are difficult to replicate even with existing elixirs and potent medicines.

The first person scoffed, “You're old enough. Come on, tell us, how many times have you experienced Emperor’s Dew?”

A buzz of discussion spread through the crowd. Soon, an old captain voluntarily stepped forward to try: “Give me one pill.”

This captain often docked at Suoding Island’s supply station and had known Rainy and her father for a long time. Over the years, the sea wind had caused his eyes to water in the wind, and he constantly saw “floaters.” Doctors had diagnosed it, but medicine could only improve the condition, not cure it. He had collected very little Emperor’s Dew the night before last, so he simply pulled out two hundred taels of silver and bought a Jicai Pill to test it.

The moment the pill entered his stomach, a warmth surged through his abdomen, rising comfortably to his forehead. The old captain even felt a periodic warmth in his eyes, as if a hot towel had been applied, which was very soothing. When he opened his eyes again, his vision ahead had become exceptionally clear, with no more “floaters” disturbing it.

“It worked! It worked! It’s truly effective!” For a seafarer who relied on his eyes for a living, who could understand the joy of having clear sight and sharp ears again? Many people on this shipping route knew him, and no one suspected he was an accomplice, as everyone could see that the cloudy, bluish lenses in his eyes had returned to their clear, reddish-brown color.

Was this medicine truly effective?

Driven by his example, four or five more people went to purchase and take the pills. The effects of Emperor’s Dew were usually immediate, and everyone quickly felt something after consuming it. One merchant's reaction was the most dramatic: less than fifteen breaths after taking a Jicai Pill, he clutched his stomach and rushed out to find a latrine, leaving everyone looking at each other in confusion. When he returned, his steps were light, and his face was beaming. It turned out that for nearly half a year, this person had suffered from difficult bowel movements and urination, and doctors had warned that his kidney passages were almost completely blocked. He had traveled across the ocean to find a legendary skilled physician, but unexpectedly encountered the Emperor’s Dew before his ship even reached its destination. Last night’s Emperor’s Dew had been diluted, with a ratio exceeding one to nine, and even after drinking a stomachful, it wasn’t as effective as today’s single Jicai Pill.

“It’s useful, effective!”

With so many people personally testing it, the sea travelers’ desire to purchase was immediately stimulated. By the end of the morning, over two hundred pills of each type had been sold. Over forty thousand taels of silver were brought in. Even after deducting the cost of the seven or eight types of supplementary alchemical ingredients previously procured by Ding Zuodong, it was still a huge profit.

This sales volume already exceeded He Lingchuan’s expectations, as the price of two hundred taels per pill was certainly not cheap, yet Lingguang could refine fifteen to twenty pills in a single batch. Not everyone on the merchant ships was wealthy. Some buyers, sensing a business opportunity, intended to act as profiteers, reselling the pills at high prices elsewhere. Once they resumed their voyages, they would spread the news of the Yangshan Archipelago selling Emperor’s Dew pills along their routes. The remaining thousand-plus pills served as an excellent gimmick and lure; He Lingchuan had no worries about selling them.

Why did he sell Emperor’s Dew pills?

Firstly, the Yangshan Archipelago is vast, and the amount of Emperor’s Dew collected was simply too much for him to use all by himself. For instance, the Emperor’s Dew collected in Lingxu City wasn’t just for the Demon Emperor’s sole enjoyment; high-ranking officials, nobles, and favored civil and military ministers would also be granted it. In the hands of those in power, such a treasure gained a stronger political purpose.

Secondly, broadly speaking, all the Emperor’s Dew in the entire Yangshan sea area belonged to He Lingchuan. Allowing all residents and travelers to collect it demonstrated the Island Lord’s generosity. Therefore, with merchants and travelers from all directions stranded on Suoding Island due to the hurricane, the sale of Emperor’s Dew pills became a significant draw. Once the sea travelers dispersed in all directions, they would spread the news that “the Yangshan Archipelago is selling Emperor’s Dew pills” everywhere. This was the advertising effect He Lingchuan desired: to let more people know about the Yangshan Archipelago and that valuable goods were for sale there, which would naturally draw them in. Even if they didn't buy the pills, they might discover other goods they liked while exploring the island. Ultimately, doing business boils down to finding new income streams and managing costs. For the sake of increasing income, what were a mere two thousand pills? This was only from the first night of Emperor’s Dew; there would be more to come.

And thirdly: Shinan had told him that the Divine Realm was becoming increasingly chaotic, and Emperor’s Dew would descend more frequently in the future. If it appeared every few days, would pills made from Emperor’s Dew still be so scarce and valuable? What is the opposite of a rare commodity worth hoarding? As someone privy to some inside information, He Lingchuan believed that if this business could be done, it should be done quickly.

With the hurricane gone, the delayed merchant ships resumed their journeys. He Lingchuan stood on the pier, watching them set sail one after another. It wasn't until that afternoon that Suoding Island finally saw off its last guests, returning to its peaceful routine.

Now, it was time to reward merits. The guard corps and everyone who helped maintain order received refined Emperor’s Dew pastes and powders, as well as large ingots of gold and silver. Those who led the suppression of the unrest were promoted by one rank and received additional rewards.