Ya Fei, I'll Support You!

"What?!"

A slash empowered by the Dou Qi Veil actually couldn't break through a Dou Zhe's defense?

Before he could react, Zhao Hu let out a roar and drove his other fist, whistling through the air, brutally toward Sun Li's chest.

There was no flashy Dou Technique in this punch, only strength refined to its absolute limit!

Caught off guard, Sun Li could only cross his arms before his chest and mobilize all his Dou Qi to defend.

Bang!

A dull thud rang out.

Sun Li was sent sliding backward more than ten meters, his feet carving two deep grooves into the bluestone slabs. He only stopped after crashing into a weapons rack.

His face shifted between green and white. It felt as though the bones in both his arms were about to fall apart, while his blood and qi churned violently inside him.

"This strength... it's already comparable to a high-level First Tier magical beast, isn't it?!"

Sun Li couldn't help swearing.

Gu Ni's jaw nearly dropped from the stands.

"Challenging someone above his rank? And across an entire major realm? Just through physical strength alone?"

Gu Ni was even stammering.

"Th-this Ironwood Root's defensive effect, combined with a magical beast's strength and bloodline, can actually be this powerful?"

Lu Heng swallowed the last bite of his bun, clapped his hands, and explained indistinctly,

"Ironwood Root hardens the skin. On top of that, the beastly power within the Magic Core dulls most of the pain. Zhao Hu isn't afraid of pain at all right now. As long as his weak point isn't breached, it really would be difficult for a Seven-Star Dou Master without a powerful Dou Technique to hurt him."

The battle that followed became a completely one-sided crushing.

Sun Li's attacks landed on Zhao Hu without causing so much as an itch, while every one of Zhao Hu's punches carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

The longer Sun Li fought, the more stifled he felt. In the end, he could only rely on his movement technique to circle around, not daring to take another blow head-on.

The time it took an incense stick to burn passed quickly.

The iron-colored sheen on Zhao Hu's body faded away like a receding tide, and his swollen muscles rapidly shrank back to normal.

Thud.

Zhao Hu dropped onto the ground on his backside, gasping for breath. He was drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled from the water.

"How do you feel?" Ya Fei hurried down from the stands and asked anxiously.

Gu Ni also rushed over at once, grabbing Zhao Hu's wrist to check his pulse.

Zhao Hu wiped the sweat from his face and grinned, his expression excited.

"Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!

For that instant just now, I felt like I could punch a magic bull to death! Right now, though, I just feel... hungry. Really hungry. It feels like all my Dou Qi and strength have been drained away, and I want to sleep."

Gu Ni released his wrist, and the expression on his face was utterly marvelous.

"His meridians are completely intact. They suffered a slight impact, but it's nothing serious.

He's only exhausted his Dou Qi and physical strength. Two days of rest and some nourishing food will be enough for him to recover."

Gu Ni turned toward Lu Heng. His gaze was no longer merely shocked; it was as though he were looking at a living god of wealth.

"No side effects... there really are no side effects!"

Gu Ni's voice trembled.

"If this pill reaches the market, those mercenary groups who spend their lives walking the edge of a blade will definitely fight until their heads bleed for it!"

"In fact, this thing is a little outrageous."

Gu Ni couldn't help adding,

"If an entire mercenary squad took this stuff, even if they encountered a magical beast one rank higher, they could beat it to death with their bare hands!"

Ya Fei's beautiful eyes flickered as she watched the young man innocently wiping the corner of his mouth.

She knew that the Miteer Auction House was truly going to make a fortune this time. And all of it had been brought by the Lu Heng before her.

After returning to the second-floor office, the atmosphere became completely different.

If there had been concern and doubt before, then now, Gu Ni looked at Lu Heng as though he were an unparalleled piece of jade.

"Lu Heng, you must find a way to mass-produce this pill!"

Gu Ni paced back and forth excitedly, the abacus in his hand clicking loudly.

"The Force Accumulation Pills on the market currently sell for around one hundred and fifty Gold Coins each.

Their effects are poor, and they have side effects. Our Beast Power Pills are cheap to make and overwhelmingly effective. Even if we sell them for five hundred Gold Coins each, people will still scramble to buy them!"

"Ironwood Root Elixir is difficult to refine, and blending the medicinal liquids is troublesome, so the price is very low. First Tier Magic Cores are a little more expensive, but a single Magic Core can be ground into powder to make many pills. This profit... it's simply obscene!"

Lu Heng sat in his chair and took a sip of tea to moisten his throat before speaking unhurriedly.

"Master Gu Ni, mass production is definitely necessary.

But I'm only a One-Star Dou Ze right now, and my Dou Qi is limited. At most, I can refine three pills a day. That little output isn't even enough to fill a tooth."

Gu Ni froze, only then realizing the issue. That was right. No matter how good the pill formula was, it would be useless if the alchemist couldn't keep up.

Lu Heng smiled slightly, took out a sheet of parchment he had prepared long ago, and pushed it across the table.

"So I've decided to offer up the pill formula."

"What?!"

Even Ya Fei could no longer remain seated. She stared at Lu Heng in surprise.

"Little brother, do you know what an exclusive pill formula means? It's a money tree, and you're just giving it away?"

In this world, pill formulas were an alchemist's lifeblood. Who wouldn't keep one hidden away?

Yet Lu Heng shook his head, his gaze clear.

"Big Sister Ya Fei, a pill formula is just a sheet of paper in my hands. Only when it becomes pills that can be sold does it become Gold Coins. Besides, I don't trust others, but I trust you and Master Gu Ni."

That straightforward declaration made Ya Fei's heart bloom with joy, and the emotion in her heart nearly overflowed.

"Since we're cooperating, we should discuss the distribution."

Lu Heng held up several fingers.

"I'll provide the pill formula, while the auction house will handle refining and medicinal ingredients. As for the profits..."

Lu Heng looked at Ya Fei, then at Gu Ni, and said seriously,

"The auction house gets fifty percent, since distribution channels, labor, and medicinal ingredients all cost money. Of the remaining fifty percent, Big Sister Ya Fei gets thirty percent, and I get twenty percent."

This was the result of Lu Heng's careful consideration.

He was living off Ya Fei and relying on Ya Fei for food, shelter, and cultivation resources. This was his way of repaying her for the care she had given him over the past few years.

"No!"

Without even thinking, Ya Fei rejected it outright.

She walked over to Lu Heng in her high heels, folded her arms, and her alluring face was filled with disapproval.

"Little brother, are you stupid? The pill formula is the core, yet you're only taking twenty percent?"

"And..."

Ya Fei glared at him. "Your sister is supposed to make money off you? Am I that kind of person? I don't want even one percent. It's all yours."

"That won't do."

Lu Heng became stubborn as well, raising his head to meet Ya Fei's eyes.

"If Big Sister Ya Fei refuses to take any money, then I'll tear up the pill formula. No one gets to do business."

"You!"

Ya Fei choked in frustration and reached out to poke Lu Heng's forehead.

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"Do whatever you want."

Lu Heng wore the expression of someone utterly unfazed by threats.

"Anyway, my goal is to become Big Sister Ya Fei's support. If you won't accept it, then what's the point of all my effort?"