The Fox Borrows the Tiger's Might

Another magnificent white building stood southwest of the plaza. The entire pavilion was fashioned from white jade, with carved railings and painted beams, and two crimson lions flanking its entrance.

The three golden characters "Heavenly Treasure Pavilion" danced like dragons and phoenixes across the plaque, gleaming brilliantly.

The Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was no less important than the Scripture Repository—if anything, it surpassed it.

For Golden Light Sect Outer Sect Disciples who wanted pills, magical artifacts, formations, and other such items, aside from sect rewards and private bartering, the more common route was through the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

This time, Su Hao felt far more confident. Carrying his identity jade token, he swaggered into the main hall.

He swept his gaze over the hall's counters. There were seven or eight broad, solid redwood counters, exquisitely arranged, their tops displaying numerous magical artifacts, pills, talismans, and other goods for sale.

In one corner stood a tall counter that was not particularly conspicuous, yet a line had formed before it.

Su Hao took only one glance before his eyes widened. "Talent Loan?"

A sign stood there, its large gilded calligraphy impossible to miss.

What was a Talent Loan?

A loan?

It seemed the sect was far more humane than he had imagined. Ordinary disciples might not receive any monthly stipend, but if they could borrow money to solve the urgent problem of being weak in the early stages, then once their strength increased, earning spirit stones would naturally become much easier.

More than ten people stood in line before the window.

"Li Fen, Qi Refining Level 2, joined the sect two years ago. Eligible to borrow 60 low-grade spirit stones.

"After deducting a fire consumption fee of 5 spirit stones, 55 spirit stones will be issued.

"Repayment in six monthly installments. Each month, repay 10 spirit stones of principal plus 6 spirit stones in interest."

"Chen Ziting, Qi Refining Level 4, joined the sect five years ago. Eligible to borrow 150 low-grade spirit stones. After deducting a fire consumption fee of 10 spirit stones, 110 spirit stones will be issued. Repayment in ten monthly installments. Each month, repay 12 spirit stones of principal plus 12 spirit stones in interest."

"..."

The counter staff spoke loudly, showing no concern whatsoever that others might hear the customers' loan information.

As he recorded details such as the loan amounts, he had the borrowers sign contracts.

One after another, people kept entering the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and lining up at the loan counter.

Given how absurdly high the death rate among Golden Light Sect disciples was, how were they supposed to earn back the money after dying?

As Su Hao pondered this, the maidservant approached with a beaming smile.

"Where is your manager?"

Most of Su Hao's attention was still on the loan counter, and he answered casually, "Have him come out!"

"May I ask this Martial Nephew's surname? What business do you have with me?"

The curtain to the room behind the counter was drawn aside, and a white-clad old man emerged upon hearing him.

Su Hao handed over his jade token, then focused his attention and glanced at the old man's information.

Name: Huang Shanyu

Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 5

Talent: Earth Spirit Body (White)

"My Master sent me to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion to procure some supplies," Su Hao explained his purpose.

"So you are Alchemist Lin's esteemed disciple. I did not expect that, after only two months apart, Alchemist Lin would have taken in another disciple. Martial Nephew, you are a fine-looking talent indeed."

Huang Shanyu returned the jade token, his manner courteous yet neither servile nor overbearing.

Then he changed the subject. "In the past, Alchemist Lin would have Martial Nephew Lin Miao send over a procurement list at the start of each month. Our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion would prepare the goods according to the list and deliver them to Heavenly Medicine Mountain around the middle or end of the month.

"This month's materials were delivered to Alchemist Lin half a month ago.

"This is the first time anything has come up so suddenly."

"Who knows? I am merely following orders. But I heard Master and Senior Brother Lin mention that once Master emerges from seclusion, his strength may break through. Perhaps he has other plans," Su Hao replied.

"That makes sense. Alchemist Lin did say he would suspend pill refining for these past two months, as though something more pressing required his attention. So his strength is about to break through? Congratulations indeed. Alchemist Lin has been shackled at Qi Refining Level 7 for nearly ten years, has he not? He is finally about to shatter that bottleneck."

Huang Shanyu nodded, then shifted the topic. "May I ask what materials you need?"

"Fifty bottles of Pure Qi Pills, fifty doses of Spirit Gathering Powder, twenty bottles of Foundation Solidifying Pills, and twenty bottles of Tiger Heart Pills."

Su Hao glanced toward the pill counter. After spending an incense stick's time in the hall, he had already silently selected suitable pills and estimated their value.

If the value was too high, it would easily alarm figures of a higher rank. The greater the attention, the greater the hidden danger.

It would be best to keep it within the scope this shopkeeper could decide on his own.

"Besides, with Alchemist Lin's ability, purchasing materials and refining the pills himself would be more cost-effective. Many of this shop's pills were personally refined by Alchemist Lin.

"Now that he is purchasing them back from our shop instead, I can offer only some price reductions; I cannot sell them at cost.

"Our Qi Absorption Pills cost 5 low-grade spirit stones per bottle, Spirit Gathering Powder costs 8 low-grade spirit stones per dose, while Foundation Solidifying Pills and Tiger Heart Pills are the same price, at 20 low-grade spirit stones per bottle.

"All these goods come to a total of 1,450 low-grade spirit stones. Given Alchemist Lin's special status, I can offer the greatest discount within my authority—ten percent off, making it 1,305 spirit stones."

Huang Shanyu smiled as he led Su Hao into the rear hall and had someone serve tea.

"Thank you, Elder Huang, for the discount." Su Hao raised a brow.

Huang Shanyu smiled as he stared at Su Hao.

He said nothing, but Su Hao understood what he meant. Spirit stones?

"Then I'll have to trouble your esteemed establishment to prepare everything as soon as possible and deliver it to Heavenly Medicine Mountain." Su Hao took a sip of tea. "Also, I want to pick out some magical artifacts and talismans, put them on Master's tab. Sigh, you know how it is—the sect's atmosphere isn't exactly good. The old man worries I lack the strength to protect myself, and he doesn't have any suitable artifacts for me, so he sent me to Heavenly Treasure Pavilion to have a look."

"Hm?" Huang Shanyu's smile faded somewhat, suspicion appearing in his eyes. "Your Master said that?"

"Of course. He hurriedly gave me a few instructions, then went into seclusion. Seems like he's about to make a breakthrough. He took along a Medicine Slave to cultivate the Hundred Profound Gang Body. It looks like good news will come before long.

"Old Huang, could there be some other matter?"

Su Hao wore an honest, simple expression.

"Entering seclusion... to cultivate the Hundred Profound Gang Body? After all these years of planning, Alchemist Lin has finally achieved a favorable result. Congratulations, congratulations.

"Given Alchemist Lin's status and his many years of cooperation with Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, he naturally has the qualifications to obtain supplies on credit.

"But according to Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's rules, credit requires a handwritten letter. Without such a letter, it is difficult for me to handle."

Huang Shanyu stroked his beard.

"Master went into seclusion too hastily, so he likely overlooked it. Can't you make an exception? Given the relationship between Heavenly Medicine Mountain and Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, why be so rigid? As they say, the monk may run, but the temple cannot.

"Or does Old Huang doubt my identity?"

Su Hao's face hardened, and he looked somewhat angry.

"Rules are rules. They cannot be broken. I hope you can understand my difficulties, Nephew Su. Why not wait until Alchemist Lin emerges from seclusion? Bring the letter then, and I will personally deliver the medicine to Heavenly Medicine Mountain."

Huang Shanyu refused to yield.

Su Hao was deeply disappointed. "When I went to the Scripture Repository, Steward Zhang even gave me a cultivation technique as a meeting gift. I thought it was because Master had wide connections and good relations with all his fellow disciples. Now it seems I was thinking too much."

"Sigh, Nephew Su, don't make things difficult for me. Alchemist Lin's character is beyond reproach; throughout the outer sect, everyone sings his praises.

"But business is business. I am also carrying out duties for the sect.

"If he urgently needs pills, he can write a note himself when the time comes. He must have some spare time—there's nothing inconvenient about that, is there?"

Huang Shanyu occasionally glanced at Su Hao, suspicion beginning to stir in his heart.

"Old Huang, who can say when Master will have the attention to spare for such trivial matters?

"By your reasoning, instead of preparing the goods beforehand, we have to wait until then to get them ready. Going back and forth like that will waste quite a bit of time.

"Not long ago, I personally saw him kill four or five Medicine Slaves with his own hands. If it's inconvenient, then forget it.

"When the time comes, I can only truthfully tell Master of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's difficulties. I imagine he'll understand."

Su Hao snorted coldly, slapped the table, rose to his feet, and prepared to leave.

"Nephew, wait!"

Just as Su Hao had taken two steps away—

Huang Shanyu hurriedly stopped him, his face full of ingratiating smiles.

One-third of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's basic pills were refined by Lin Zhi Shan.

The profits he brought Heavenly Treasure Pavilion every year exceeded ten thousand spirit stones.

He did not dare gamble on whether Lin Zhi Shan would hold this against him.

"Last month's pill dividends have yet to be settled with Alchemist Lin, totaling 562 spirit stones.

"Let's deduct it from that first and prepare a batch of each kind of pill. Then, when he finds the time to collect the medicine, there will be no fear of having none available.

"Once we receive the letter, I'll deliver the remaining pills. That way, there'll be no delay."

Huang Shanyu grabbed Su Hao's arm and smiled helplessly. "I'm also working for the sect, watching people's expressions and acting accordingly. My status is far below that of a steward. Didn't you also need magical artifacts, Nephew? Steward Zhang gave you a cultivation technique, so I'll give you a low-grade magical artifact!"