Chapter 32: Forced Trade

This certification was the foundation for Wang Yu's operations, offering numerous benefits, especially when collaborating with those in power within the institutional system. Its utility would be greatly enhanced.

Hearing this, Zhou Tao shook his head.

"I possess a certificate for a first-grade high-rank alchemist."

"Then, wait for Huang Kai and Luo Pinghu to secure it. Three days from now, at the start of the 'Si' hour, we'll gather here again. I will then provide what you desire."

"It's a deal."

"Naturally."

The three silently agreed not to inquire about how much profit Wang Yu would gain from this process. After all, no one was a selfless saint, especially not within the Demonic Sect. As long as the promised profit was guaranteed, whatever Wang Yu earned beyond that was due to his own capabilities and irrelevant to them.

After they dispersed, Wang Yu headed to another Proud Snow Pill Shop, the same one where he had initially seen the "Cold Blood Pill." With money in hand, it was the perfect opportunity to purchase a high-grade Cold Blood Pill.

The idea of forming an alchemist guild with the four-person team was actually a spur-of-the-moment decision for him. He realized that relying solely on his alchemy skills to earn money was not viable, as he had only been cultivating for a little over a year. Moreover, he was a spirit-slave with an inferior spiritual root aptitude. Not to mention possessing excellent alchemy skills, even his current cultivation level was abnormal. If anyone were to thoroughly investigate him, it would likely attract unexpected trouble. Therefore, a different approach could also generate income.

The alchemist guild was born from this line of thought. As for the promised conditions, they were an idea he had immediately after obtaining the Law Enforcement Token. That idea concerned the Ice Snow Pavilion! As for elixirs, they didn't necessarily have to be sold to pill shops. Selling them to the Ice Snow Pavilion was actually more suitable. Zhao Shang, being greedy and audacious enough to secretly defy True Disciple Su's wishes, didn't mean he was fearless. The Law Enforcement Token would be Wang Yu's ultimate trump card. Whether Zhao Shang was afraid or not, he would have to be!

The Ice Snow Pavilion was a private force belonging to the True Disciple. It not only included ordinary disciples like Wang Yu but also powerful factions within the sect who were betting on him. Consequently, there would be junior disciples from various backgrounds. This connection could involve a considerably large force, making it very easy to absorb the output of merely three first-grade alchemists.

After purchasing the coveted high-grade Cold Blood Pill from the Proud Snow Pill Shop, Wang Yu proceeded directly to the Ice Snow Pavilion. Since he hadn't been gone long, when he pushed the door open and entered again, Zhao Shang spoke with a tone of surprise and slight mockery.

"Well, well, isn't this Junior Brother Wang, favored by True Disciple Su? What... did you come back after making your complaint?"

If there had been a hint of concern before, upon seeing Wang Yu return, Zhao Shang instantly became emboldened.

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

Wang Yu glanced around. Several inner disciples were currently seated behind a screen on the first-floor side platform, presumably drinking tea. Hearing the commotion, they all turned to look.

"I think we need a private space for a proper discussion."

"Talk? Are you even worthy?!!"

"You wretched beggar! I don't care how you fooled True Disciple Su, but if you keep blustering, the Ice Snow Pavilion will be your grave."

Seeing Zhao Shang eagerly trying to pin blame on him, intending to characterize him negatively, and even appearing ready to act, Wang Yu instantly understood his intentions. It was simply a matter of acting first and reporting later to eliminate the hidden danger. What a lunatic!

*Thud—*

A golden plaque, with the characters for "Law Enforcement" written in blood-red, was slammed into the countertop. Wang Yu said calmly, "Harming fellow disciples, embezzling sect resources, and bewitching a True Disciple – how do these three charges sound? Could they help you advance further? Perhaps directly... to heaven itself?"

Zhao Shang's expression changed. He knew Wang Yu's background. Was this given by True Disciple Su? No—if it were, he'd already be dead, not talking. This meant another influential figure had taken an interest in Wang Yu. That damn lucky brat! Zhao Shang had never felt such envy towards a spirit-slave!

Cold sweat involuntarily dripped from his forehead. He had dared to deceive his superiors and oppress his inferiors, convinced that True Disciple Su was too preoccupied to manage the Ice Snow Pavilion. As long as the flow of benefits upwards remained unchanged, he believed he wouldn't face trouble. Most of the subordinates he oppressed were ordinary disciples with no background, like Wang Yu and Su Qingshan. Towards those from various dharma lineages within the Ice Snow Pavilion, he was merely a dog. Take Duan Ping, for example, the fat Duan. His clan, the Duan family, was True Disciple Su's maternal lineage, holding a prominent position in the Reversal Spirit Blood Sect. Even as a mere collateral branch illegitimate son, he could still order Zhao Shang around. If the Law Enforcement Hall were to get involved and the matter escalated, he would be ruined, regardless of the reason.

Quickly understanding the situation, Zhao Shang immediately changed his demeanor.

"Oh, Junior Brother Wang, I was just joking with you, Senior Brother. I'll have someone vacate a room for you immediately. Please wait a moment."

"No need. Let's talk privately."

"That works too. Whatever Junior Brother Wang prefers."

This time, things went much more smoothly. They moved 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 before, and I have a solution for this matter. Listen."

Zhao Shang continued to smile amiably.

"Speak freely."

"I need a batch of spirit herbs at a fair price for alchemy. The pills I produce will also be acquired by the Ice Snow Pavilion, on the official accounts, at a price higher than the market rate."

Having Zhao Shang compensate him personally with spirit stones was an option, but it would be unstable, and he might face retaliation later. It was better to invite him to jointly embezzle the Ice Snow Pavilion's spirit stones under the guise of cooperation. With this arrangement, both would have leverage over each other; if one exposed the other, both would be ruined, like grasshoppers on the same string. Although Wang Yu harbored intense hatred for Zhao Shang, he didn't yet possess the ability to eliminate him and had to wait.

Hearing his request, Zhao Shang instinctively refused.

"That's impossible. I manage the Ice Snow Pavilion, but only the Essence Qi Chamber and internal tasks. The elixirs, spirit stones, and other resources distributed to others are not under my jurisdiction. Furthermore, your asking price is too high. The market price is already inflated, and you want even more? How is that possible? If the accounts are checked later, I'll be finished."

Wang Yu shook his head.

"I'll sell to you at market price. I don't know how much the Ice Snow Pavilion can offer."

The unspoken meaning was that anything above the market price would be his; how much he earned depended on his own capability.

Zhao Shang fell silent, rapidly calculating in his mind. Anyone who cultivated to the late Qi Condensation stage with aspirations would prepare for breakthroughs to the Foundation Establishment stage, and accumulating spirit stones was paramount. Backed by the Reversal Spirit Blood Sect, common Foundation Establishment Pills, like "Reversal Blood Pills," could be purchased for around four thousand spirit stones. However, a high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill alone would cost ten thousand spirit stones, and establishing connections would incur significant additional expenses. His greed was partly due to this. Through the internal channels of the Ice Snow Pavilion provided by True Disciple Su, three Foundation Establishment Pills were available annually, each explicitly priced at thirty thousand spirit stones. This price was so exorbitant it would silence anyone. It was too high, so high that Zhao Shang couldn't accumulate enough. Thus, deceiving superiors and oppressing subordinates became his path to wealth.

After a long silence, Zhao Shang gritted his teeth and said, "I agree, but you must have a certificate from the Alchemy Hall. Otherwise, I won't be able to convince the fellow daoist responsible for managing the pavilion's welfare."