: News Spreads, Instant Riches in One Night!

On that very day, a piece of news spread throughout the entire cultivation world of Zhao Kingdom.

Master Qingyangzi, a third-tier alchemist from the Sihai Chamber of Commerce, has released a new formula for a second-tier Foundation Establishment Pill.

It is said that the Foundation Establishment Pill made from this formula can not only increase a cultivator's success rate in Foundation Establishment by 40%, but also has no side effects from pill poisoning, and has a 10% higher success rate than existing Foundation Establishment Pills.

The news shocked countless cultivators in the Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world.

Countless cultivators stuck at the peak of Qi Refining went crazy for it.

All the major sects and cultivation families turned their attention to this pill formula.

And for the first time, the two main ingredients of the elixir formula—Dragon Blood Vine and Illusion Star Grass—came into everyone's view.

In no time, all the Dragon Blood Vine and Illusion Star Grass in the capital of Zhao were sold out.

Its price also began to skyrocket at an alarming rate.

Qingyun Peak, Sect Master's Hall.

Gu Qingxue was stunned when she heard the message her disciple sent back.

She looked at the intelligence jade slip in her hand and recalled the incomprehensible order Lu Yuan had given her three days ago.

So that's how it is... I see.

The old ancestor had actually foreseen today's events three days ago.

At this moment, her respect for Lu Yuan reached an unprecedented peak.

It turned out that her husband possessed such foresight and profound wisdom.

With great excitement, she returned to Changsheng Peak once again.

"Husband, we've struck it rich!" She could no longer maintain her usual aloofness, her tone filled with a hint of joy.

"As expected." Lu Yuan's reaction was much calmer, as if everything was within his expectations.

Lu Yuan said calmly, "You will sell all of our Dragon Blood Vine and Illusion Star Grass to Wanbaolou, the mortal enemy of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, all at once."

"Sell them all at once." Gu Qingxue hesitated. "If we followed the example of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and released them gradually, wouldn't we be able to earn more?"

"No need," Lu Yuan shook his head.

"Our purpose is to solve the sect's urgent crisis, not to do business. A one-time sale will not only obtain enough spirit stones."

This would also give Wanbaolou enough confidence to challenge the Sihai Chamber of Commerce's monopoly, letting them fight amongst themselves, which would be most beneficial to us.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingxue suddenly realized what was going on.

Without further hesitation, she immediately took the large quantity of spiritual herbs and secretly went to Wanbaolou.

Finally, after some negotiation, this batch of low-grade spiritual herbs, which would normally cost only a few hundred thousand spirit stones, was exchanged for a huge sum of thirty million low-grade spirit stones for the Qingyun Sect.

After obtaining this batch of spiritual herbs that was enough to change the market landscape, Wanbaolou immediately began to stock large quantities of Dragon Blood Vine and Illusion Star Grass in its own shops.

Although its price is also much higher than before, it is 20% lower than that of the Sihai Chamber of Commerce.

……

The capital of Zhao, a branch of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

Branch president Zhao Sihai, a middle-aged man with a plump build but incredibly shrewd eyes, was listening to his subordinates' report with a gloomy face.

"President, Wanbaolou... Wanbaolou has somehow obtained a large quantity of Dragon Blood Vine and Illusion Star Grass, and is selling them in bulk."

"What?" Zhao Sihai stood up abruptly, his face filled with disbelief. "How is this possible? We've already bought up all the stock on the market. Where did they get it from?"

He originally thought that this time he could use his monopoly on information to manipulate the entire cultivation world of Zhao.

But now, Wanbaolou's sudden entry has completely disrupted all his plans.

He lost his pricing power.

"Investigate." A sinister glint flashed in Zhao Sihai's eyes.

"I want to see who dares to sabotage the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's plans behind the scenes."

The capital of the Zhao state, a hub for merchants from all over the world.

Inside the secret room, all was silent.

Zhao Sihai looked at the secret letter that had just been presented to him with a gloomy expression.

"Qingyun Sect".

He slowly uttered those three words, his voice carrying a hint of coldness.

The secret letter clearly stated that the sole source of the massive quantity of Dragon Blood Vine and Illusion Star Grass that Wanbaolou possessed was the Qingyun Sect.

Three days before the pill formula was announced, the Qingyun Sect did indeed send a large number of disciples into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

All the clues point to one conclusion.

The Qingyun Sect had learned of the news in advance.

"President, could it be that there's a traitor among us?" a trusted subordinate asked cautiously from the side.

A sinister glint flashed in Zhao Sihai's eyes.

This is also what he suspects most.

The formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill is a top secret of the Chamber of Commerce. Apart from him and Master Qingyangzi, no more than five people know about it.

Who on earth dares to betray the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce?

"Guild Master, should we... take action against the Qingyun Sect?" his trusted subordinate asked again. "Let's teach them a lesson, let them know that ruining our plans will come at a price."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sihai fell silent.

His fingers tapped the table unconsciously.

They took action against the Qingyun Sect.

The thought only lingered in his mind for a moment before he extinguished it without hesitation.

A deep sense of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

Others might not know, but as the president of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, he was well-informed and knew very well what kind of existence Lu Yuan, the patriarch of the Qingyun Sect, was.

That's a madman.

A complete madman who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

He clearly remembered that when Lu Yuan had just advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, he stood alone outside the gate of the sect with which he had a grudge, demanding an explanation from them.

His most common method is to burn his life essence and lifespan, risking his life for another.

Since he advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, the number of Nascent Soul stage cultivators who have fallen at Lu Yuan's hands has already exceeded the number on both hands.

The entire cultivation world of Zhao was terrified.

Otherwise, how could the Qingyun Sect have maintained its position as one of the four major sects of the Zhao Kingdom for over a thousand years?

Dealing with such a madman.

Zhao Sihai asked himself, and he knew he didn't have the guts.

"No need." He slowly shook his head: "That Qingyun Ancestor is nearing the end of his lifespan and is about to die. There is no need for us to provoke him at this critical juncture."

"Let the Qingyun Sect linger on for a while longer."

His voice carried a hint of resentment.

But he knew very well that as long as Lu Yuan lived, the Qingyun Sect would not be something he could easily control.

……

Longevity Peak, inside the cave.

Midnight arrived quietly.

[Ding, daily intelligence update.]

Three new pieces of intelligence appeared before Lu Yuan's eyes.

[Green Intelligence: Beneath the stone tablet in the sect's Hall of Merit, lies a meditation cushion left by a previous elder.]

This meditation cushion is woven from thousand-year-old calming grass. Sitting on it to cultivate can eliminate distracting thoughts and increase comprehension by 30%. It has remarkable effects on cultivators at the Golden Core stage and below.