The local powers

One day in early May, the Number Nine Pill Shop was open for business as usual.

After the morning's Pill sold out, Zhang Ying, holding a strikingly bright red invitation, hurried upstairs to the tea room where Su Bai was.

"Boss, someone just delivered this, saying it absolutely must be delivered to you."

Zhang Ying handed over the invitation, a hint of worry on her round face. "The person who came only said it was from ' Golden Pavilion,' and left without saying anything else."

Su Bai had just finished Nourishing a batch of Pill.

Upon hearing this, he accepted the invitation.

It feels slightly heavy in the hand. The cover is made of some kind of Demon Beast hide, bright red in color, with a faint, barely perceptible fishy smell, like a silent intimidation.

He opened it and glanced at it. Five shop names were written side by side at the bottom. The first one was "Golden Pavilion". He had heard of the other four. They were all shops on the Alchemy Street that sold Golden Marrow Pill, but their scale and reputation were far inferior to the Golden Pavilion and another old shop.

"A meeting at the Star Tower?"

Su Bai lightly tapped the location on the invitation with his fingertip, a slightly mocking smile curving his lips.

"It seems our Number Nine Pill Shop has moved a bit too fast this past month, stepping on the tail of a local tyrant and stirring up some people's interests."

His tone was calm, but it made Zhang Ying's heart jump. "Boss,... could this be troublesome? That guy doesn't look like a good person."

Su Bai waved his hand, indicating that she didn't need to be nervous. "It's alright, we'll deal with whatever comes our way. I'll go and meet them tonight. You can run the shop as usual and just close it on time."

Zhang Ying nodded, but the worry in her eyes hadn't faded. After hesitating for a moment, she mustered her courage and said, "Boss, how about... I go with you? It'll be good to have someone to look after you."

In her mind, her boss was a highly talented, diligent, and focused Alchemist, a model of "Scholar Cultivator." Although he was only at the Foundation Establishment, he spent his days with Pill Furnace and herbs, so he probably wouldn't be good at dealing with such an obviously hostile situation.

Upon hearing this, Su Bai chuckled, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at Zhang Ying's genuinely worried face.

It seems that his identity as Azure Fish Hall assassin has been hidden thoroughly enough; even the shop assistants he sees every day only think of him as an "honest man" obsessed with Dao of Alchemy.

"What, you really think your boss only knows how to guard the Pill Furnace?"

Su Bai shook his head, his tone carrying a rare hint of relaxed banter, "Go ahead and relax. I know what I'm doing. A few Alchemist running shops can't possibly eat me alive, can they?"

Seeing that Su Bai appeared calm and not putting on a brave face, Zhang Ying felt somewhat relieved and bowed as she stepped back, saying, "Please be very careful."

After Zhang Ying left, Su Bai picked up the blood-red invitation again and examined it carefully.

He naturally knew about the Golden Pavilion; it was one of the two shops on Alchemy Street, besides Number Nine Pill Shop, that produced the best quality and most renowned Golden Marrow Pill.

Its Master, Wei Chun, possessed Peak Foundation Establishment and had been operating in this place for over fifty years, establishing a deep foundation.

It is said that there are always a dozen or so Pill-Refining Apprentice in his shop, including some Foundation Establishment Cultivator come to him to learn how to refine Golden Marrow Pill or to seek a stable future.

Therefore, Golden Pavilion can not only reliably provide Wei Chun's personally refined Upper Grade Golden Marrow Pill as its signature product, but also sell ordinary Golden Marrow Pill made by its apprentices at relatively low prices, covering different customer groups with different needs. Its business is large and stable, and its annual income is extremely considerable.

The other four companies on the invitation were of slightly smaller size, but they all primarily dealt in Golden Marrow Pill.

The fact that these five organizations jointly posted this message, implying that the banquet was anything but pleasant, speaks volumes.

The meteoric rise of Number Nine Pill Shop, especially its strategy of high quality at low prices, has already shaken their established interest structure.

"Very well, let's go see what these people are up to."

Su Bai casually put the invitation into his Storage Bag, his expression returning to calm, and turned back to the Pill Furnace.

No matter what troubles arise tonight, the pills that need to be refined must not be delayed for a moment.

Several hours later, the sun began to set in the west.

Su Bai changed out of his everyday clothes, which were faintly scented with medicine, and put on a simple but well-tailored moon-colored robe. He tied his hair up and wore a crown, making him look more like a refined scholar- Cultivator.

Rather than Alchemist who spends his days dealing with fireworks.

He didn't carry any conspicuous magical Law Artifact and left the Number Nine Pill Shop alone, heading towards the Star Tower on the Star Luo Market's Food Street.

Star Tower truly lives up to its reputation as a famous restaurant in Star Luo Market; its carved beams and painted rafters exude an extraordinary grandeur.

At the entrance, Late Qi Refining attendant greeted guests, and the faint sounds of traditional music and the enticing aroma of spiritual cuisine wafted from inside. It was said that occasionally a Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual chef would personally prepare the meals, and although the prices were astonishing, many Cultivator still flocked to it.

However, Su Bai knew that Wei Chun and the others could not possibly afford to host such a lavish "banquet".

Following the invitation, Su Bai, guided by a waiter, walked through the somewhat noisy Grand Hall and into the depths of the restaurant.

Finally, he found the agreed-upon Private Box in a relatively quiet corner at the end of the corridor.

The Private Box's door was plain and unmarked, appearing rather shabby compared to the other luxurious Private Box in the Star Tower.

"Ha, even if it were a trap, this kind of behavior is far too petty."

Su Bai chuckled inwardly, his first impression of Wei Chun and his group dropping even further.

Was he deliberately choosing a corner to avoid being seen? Or did he think that this new Alchemist only deserved such a position?

He deliberately arrived about half a cup of tea late, before raising his hand to knock lightly on the door and then pushing it open.

The Private Box was reasonably well-lit, and a large round table, big enough to seat more than ten people, was placed inside.

At this moment, five people were sitting close together on one side of the table; they were the five Master of the Pill Shop mentioned on the invitation.

The teacups in front of them were still steaming, indicating that they had been waiting for a while.

On the other side of the table, directly opposite their seats, there was only one chair, empty and conspicuous.

This arrangement doesn't resemble a banquet; it's more like a joint trial, clearly intended to intimidate and intimidate.

Su Bai's gaze swept across the entire room, taking in the expressions of the five people. He felt nothing, and even found it somewhat laughable.

He showed no sign of it on his face, gently cupped his hands, and said in a calm and nonchalant tone, "I apologize, the fire in the Alchemy Furnace is at a critical stage, and I was unable to leave for the time being, which has caused me some delay. I hope you seniors will not take offense."

"You son of a bitch..."

A young-looking Alchemist sitting second to Wei Chun's right immediately frowned, his face showing displeasure, as if he was about to slam his fist on the table and stand up.

This person had a somewhat fierce look on his face and unfriendly eyes.

"Tao Kan, calm down."

A middle-aged man sitting in the middle raised his hand, and the young Alchemist Tao Kan had no choice but to suppress his anger, let out a heavy snort, and turn his face away.

The man speaking must be Wei Chun.

He looked to be around forty or fifty years old, with a fair complexion, a short beard, and fine lines at the corners of his eyes. He had a gentle and composed demeanor, and wore a dark gold brocade robe. His fingers were well-maintained, and he was gently turning the teacup in front of him, his gaze fixed on Su Bai with a scrutinizing look.

"Since you're here, please take a seat." Wei Chun said calmly, pointing to the lone chair opposite him.

Su Bai felt no fear whatsoever; on the contrary, he found the scene rather comical.

He walked over confidently, pulled out a chair, sat down, straightened his back, and looked directly at Wei Chun. He took the initiative to speak, "This junior is Lu Jiu. I am honored by the high regard you all have for me. However, I have only been in the Alchemy Street for less than two months, and I have not offended anyone. I am truly flattered and somewhat... humbled and puzzled by your hospitality. I am deeply grateful for the invitation from the five of you to this banquet."

He spoke the last four words slowly and deliberately, his eyes clear, showing no sign of fear whatsoever.

"Idiot! Stop pretending!"

The young Alchemist named Tao Kan seemed to have reached his limit and spoke again, his voice sharp and filled with undisguised anger, "Don't you know what your Number Nine Pill Shop has done? You've disrupted the market, broken the rules, and yet you dare to put on airs here!"

"Tao Kan, shut up." Wei Chun spoke again to stop him, his voice slightly deep and tinged with displeasure.

His original intention was to first have Tao Kan, this impulsive man, make an attack to test Su Bai's character, and then intervene in his own "justice-seeking" manner. He did not expect that Lu Jiu, who seemed young, would be so calm in the face of such a scene and insults, and instead throw the problem back to him, making Tao Kan seem even more unreasonable.

Su Bai, however, did not give Wei Chun another chance to completely control the situation. He slightly turned his head to look at the furious Tao Kan, his tone calm and even slightly curious. "This... fellow Daoist, why are you so angry? I am a newcomer here and am quite ignorant. May I ask where you are from, and which treasure shop you are a disciple of? Such 'demeanor' has certainly broadened my horizons."

He deliberately paused slightly on the word "demeanor," the sarcasm in his tone was self-evident.

Do you really think you can humiliate him for no reason by playing the good cop and the bad cop?

High-Ranked Cultivator may value face for different reasons, but Su Bai knew that in this situation, showing weakness and yielding from the start would only embolden the other party.

He may not provoke trouble, but he is absolutely not afraid of trouble.

Tao Kan was momentarily speechless at Su Bai's seemingly casual yet subtly sarcastic words, which only fueled his anger. He retorted sharply, "I am Tao Kan of [Boundless Pill Prison]! What, you fool, do you intend to hold a grudge?"

The shop name "[Boundless Pill Prison]" carries a ruthless and Sha Qi, making it quite unique on the Alchemy Street. It specializes in some unconventional or special varieties of Golden Marrow Pill, catering to a specific clientele and operating on a small scale. However, Tao Kan himself is known for his fiery temper.

"Oh, [Boundless Pill Prison], Fellow Tao Kan." Su Bai nodded, his tone still calm. "I've noted it down."

Without uttering any harsh words or engaging in a tit-for-tat retort, the simple phrase "I'll remember it" left Tao Kan feeling frustrated, as if he'd punched cotton. His face flushed red, but he didn't know how to retaliate, so he could only glare fiercely at Su Bai.

"Enough!" Wei Chun's voice rose slightly, his brows furrowing.

His original plan was disrupted by Su Bai's unconventional attitude. It was clear that Tao Kan not only failed to suppress the other party's arrogance, but also found himself in an awkward position.

He Consciousness that the young Alchemist Lu Jiu in front of him was not as easy to control as he had imagined.

In order to avoid further embarrassment, he decided to skip these pointless probes and get straight to the point.

Wei Chun picked up his teacup, took a sip, and used it to calm his mind and regain the attention of the others present.

He put down his teacup, his gaze returning to Su Bai, and a seemingly amiable smile appeared on his face as he said, "Alchemist Lu Jiu, your youthful vigor is understandable."

"However, I invited you here today not to argue."

He paused, then his tone shifted to that of a senior commenting on a junior, "Speaking of which, Alchemist Lu has indeed demonstrated remarkable Talent in refining the Golden Marrow Pill. I wonder how many years Alchemist Lu has spent studying this pill?"

Upon hearing this, Su Bai's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

He pondered for a moment, thinking that from the time he first tried the Golden Marrow Pill at the Moon Wolf Tribe Settlement in Demon Star City to the time he had established himself in the Alchemy Street, including the time spent traveling and handling miscellaneous tasks, it was indeed no more than six months.

He felt that holding up five fingers wasn't enough, so he casually made a six gesture.

"Six years?" Wei Chun's eyes revealed a perfectly timed hint of surprise, and he nodded slightly. "To have refined the Golden Marrow Pill to such a near -Upper Grade grade in just six years, Alchemist Lu's Alchemy Talent is indeed outstanding."

His tone was appreciative, but he quickly changed the subject, "Given time, surpassing us established shops and refining even higher-grade Golden Marrow Pill shouldn't be too difficult."

Six years?

Su Bai chuckled inwardly, too lazy to argue.

Alchemy Talent is a mysterious and elusive thing, impossible to measure accurately.

Arguing verbally about whether it's six years or six months is pointless and may only lead to unnecessary suspicion and trouble.

He simply accepted the "six years" figure.

"Keep bragging! Six years? I'd say sixteen more like it! You idiot!" Tao Kan muttered under his breath, clearly not believing him.

Su Bai didn't even bother to lift his eyelids this time, completely ignoring Tao Kan.

His attention was completely focused on Wei Chun.

As expected, seeing Su Bai remain silent, Wei Chun continued in a frank and considerate tone, "Although Alchemist Lu has excellent Talent, he is still new to this field and may not be fully aware of some of the rules."

He paused, observing Su Bai's reaction, "I observe that you only operate two furnaces a day, producing no more than twenty bottles. In reality, your market share is limited, far from enough to steal all the Golden Marrow Pill business from the Alchemy Street."

"However, in order to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of the Alchemy Street, and to avoid vicious price competition that could damage the harmony and foundation of all industry peers..."

"I, Wei, have the audacity to represent my colleagues here today, and also for the sake of the entire Golden Marrow Pill Elixir industry, hope that Alchemist Lu will agree to two things."

The air in the Private Box seemed to freeze for a moment.

The other four Alchemist, including the irritable Tao Kan, also held their breath and focused their attention on Su Bai's face, waiting for his reaction.

Wei Chun held up two fingers, his tone calm yet authoritative. "First, I request that Alchemist Lu raise the price of the Golden Marrow Pill sold in your shop to the same level as ours—sixty Spirit Stone per bottle. With comparable quality, the price should naturally be uniform; this is the basis of fair competition."

"Second..." He withdrew one finger, leaving only his index finger raised, "Please promise, Alchemist Lu, that for at least ten years you will not recruit any Pill-Refining Apprentice, teach them the method of refining Golden Marrow Pill, nor expand the production scale of Golden Marrow Pill."

"This is to leave room for development for everyone here, and for Fellow Daoist new to the field."