The Freedom to Choose

"Everyone, stop."

A cool, indifferent voice rang out in the courtyard. Though soft, bolstered by its owner's mighty Dou Qi, it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity, exploding like thunder!

I was startled and vigorously rubbed my ears, staring at Yun Yun in astonishment. That move was truly impressive.

Yan Shi was also taken aback by Yun Yun's display. He gave her a surprised look, then laughed heartily and took the opportunity to retreat and withdraw his hand.

I gave him a deep look. This guy appeared hot-tempered, but he was actually rough on the outside and shrewd within—though that was good, very good.

Rough on the outside and shrewd within meant he thought a lot. And if he thought a lot, he would have weaknesses. He would not be as troublesome as Ba Gu Li!

My expression darkened as I turned to Ba Gu Li. Yun Yun had already spoken, and Yan Shi had withdrawn, yet this fellow—a mere Dou Spirit—still refused to stop.

Black Dou Qi continued to coil around him, and he had not put away the dagger in his right hand. He was still gathering momentum, ready to charge at me again at any moment.

Gu He's little fanboy?

I swept him a cold glance, my heart filled with killing intent. Ba Gu Li, I will kill you!

"Everyone here is from the Gamma Empire. It would be better to discuss this matter. What do the Pill King and the Lion Heart Marshal think?"

Yun Yun asked softly. Nalan Jie warily glanced at Gu He, Yan Shi, and Feng Li, then cast another cold look at Ba Gu Li.

After pondering for a moment, he let out a raspy laugh and said in a low voice, "Sect Leader Yun is absolutely right. It is better not to harm our harmony."

Gu He had no choice but to state his position now. He lightly nodded at Yun Yun, then looked at me indifferently. "Nalan Ye, do you know how much effort an alchemist must expend to refine a pill? Do you know how much wealth an alchemist must spend to advance in rank?"

"When an alchemist refines pills, not only must they expend tremendous effort, but if an error occurs during the process, at best their Dou Qi circulation will go awry; at worst, their soul will be injured!"

"And every alchemist who wishes to advance must also spend countless precious medicinal ingredients practicing. Only then can they master the refining of a pill."

"Alchemists... how could it possibly be as easy as you imagine?"

I gave a cold chuckle. Being an alchemist was indeed not easy, but that was an alchemist's problem, your problem—what the hell did it have to do with me?

What the hell did it have to do with us?

I turned to look at Alchemy Elder Nalan Dong. He and Nalan Tie had also been startled earlier. Now, they stood protectively in front of me and the Xiao Family members, keeping a close watch on the seven Dou Spirits opposite us—especially Ba Gu Li.

I asked with a smile, "Alchemy Elder, may I ask whether an alchemist's, ah, cultivation is really as difficult as the Pill King claims?"

Nalan Dong hesitated, turning his head to glance at Gu He. Thinking that Gu He had come to seize his Azure Lotus Core Flame, he decisively rolled his eyes and said:

"Not difficult. This old man is also a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, and I do not find it particularly difficult."

I laughed heartily, shook my head, and could not be bothered to continue arguing over it. After pondering briefly, I said, "You should all remember that I said earlier I would give you freedom. That freedom is..."

I looked around at the people opposite me. That old man Feng Li was exceedingly deep-minded. Things had escalated to this point, yet he still sat quietly in his stone chair without moving an inch.

Yan Shi looked furious, but he was rough on the outside and shrewd within. Who knew what he was truly thinking?

As for the seven Dou Spirits, aside from Ba Gu Li, that blindly loyal fool, the other six were all seasoned schemers. Every one of them was expressionless, either standing or sitting, revealing not the slightest hint of what they were thinking.

"The freedom to choose!"

My face solemn, I shouted loudly, "Everyone, once my family's Alchemy Elder obtains the Azure Lotus Core Flame, he will have a ninety percent chance of successfully advancing to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist."

"At that time, our Gamma Empire will have two Sixth-Rank Alchemists. You will no longer have to rely solely on Gu He to refine Sixth-Rank Pills."

"You will have the freedom to choose. If you want Gu He to refine your pills, then go to Gu He. If you find Gu He unpleasant to look at, you may also come to my Nalan Family to have your pills refined!"

"Moreover..."

I deliberately drew out the last word, waiting until I had drawn everyone's attention before continuing, "You will only need to pay a refining fee to have my family's Alchemy Elder refine pills for you."

"Once the refining fee is paid, the transaction will be settled in full!"

"There will be no more damned 'favors,' nor will anyone use them to threaten you into doing this or that, running east and west."

Nalan Dong froze for a moment. Yet he was an old fox, and his expression quickly turned solemn as he nodded and followed up, "Rest assured, everyone. Once I advance to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, when I refine pills for you, I will absolutely not take the opportunity to use favors as leverage!"

At those words, Gu He's expression finally changed drastically. His body trembled faintly as he stared fixedly at me, his gaze somewhat terrifying.

I met his eyes without the slightest fear. After chuckling twice, I turned to look at the group of experts he had brought.

Feng Li's expression shifted slightly, while much of the anger on Yan Shi's face faded. His bell-sized eyes rolled about, and he wore a thoughtful expression.

The six Dou Spirits were much the same. Hesitation, furrowed brows, contemplation, raised eyebrows—one expression after another appeared on their faces before disappearing again. Their faces tightened once more, but faint traces of delight remained deep in their eyes.

I nodded in satisfaction, a smile appearing on my face. Gu He was the Gamma Empire's only Sixth-Rank Alchemist. Only he could refine Sixth-Rank Pills within the Gamma Empire—what was that?

It was clearly a monopoly!

Gu He had monopolized the Gamma Empire's Sixth-Rank Pills!

Who benefited from a monopoly? Gu He. And who suffered? Naturally, the consumers.

Sixth-Rank Pills were extremely valuable. Only Dou Emperors, Dou Wangs, and Dou Spirits with substantial wealth could afford them.

Yet even they had virtually no bargaining power when facing Gu He, who monopolized Sixth-Rank Pills. So long as Gu He was not excessively outrageous, they could only silently accept his exploitation.

For example, right now, they had to travel all the way to the Tagor Desert to support Gu He...

Which of these Dou Wangs and Dou Spirits was not a mighty expert who commanded respect in their own territory? All of them possessed their own pride and dignity—who would willingly let Gu He order them about like this?

But there was no helping it. They still needed pills!

But now, everything was different. The Gamma Empire was about to gain a second Sixth-Rank Alchemist, one who would break Gu He's monopoly!

When there was competition in the market, consumers gained the right to choose and greater bargaining power. For consumers, this was undoubtedly a blessing and greatly aligned with their interests.

How could they not be pleased? How could they possibly obstruct it?

Gu He was no fool, so he naturally understood the crux of it. His face twitched slightly, and a tangle of emotions filled his heart, even giving rise to a trace of fear.

A crisis—this was the greatest crisis of his journey!

If he failed to overcome it, he would lose the support of these powerful figures. And without their support, how could he, a Dou Wang who was not skilled in combat, obtain the Exotic Flame from the Nalan Family?