A Single Pill Empties the Three Great Families!

Lu Heng paused, looked at Ya Fei's gradually widening alluring eyes, and spoke casually:

"There's a fifty percent chance of breaking through directly to the Dou Master realm."

"Hiss!"

Ya Fei sharply drew in a breath. Her slightly moist eyes instantly lit up, the instinctive reaction of a merchant who had caught the scent of money.

"Wait! What did you say? Break through directly to Dou Master?"

Ya Fei's voice cracked as she grabbed Lu Heng's arm.

"Is that true? Fifty percent?"

In the Jia Ma Empire, pills capable of directly breaking through a realm were all worth astronomical prices!

Not to mention a Yuan-Gathering Pill with a fifty percent chance of allowing a Nine-Star Dou Zhe to cross a major realm and become a Dou Master.

One had to know that within the Jia Ma Empire, there were no medicines capable of assisting the cultivation of Dou Qi.

(The Foundation-Building Spirit Liquid had yet to appear.)

Nor were there pills capable of directly raising the realms of Dou Zhes and Dou Masters.

Only after reaching the Da Dou Shi realm could one directly advance by taking a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.

Although the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill was nominally a fourth-tier pill, it was a peak fourth-tier pill. Ordinary fourth-tier alchemists simply could not refine it, and even fifth-tier alchemists could not guarantee success.

(For details, refer to Gu He's seventy percent success rate in refining Qi Gathering Powder.)

Thus, the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill could be said to be something money could not buy.

The Yuan-Gathering Pill, however, was different.

Although the Yuan-Gathering Pill was merely second-tier, it could directly allow Dou Zhes to break through their levels and even gave them a fifty percent chance of reaching Dou Master.

Though its price certainly could not compare with that of the fourth-tier Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, there were simply too many Dou Zhes in the Jia Ma Empire!

How many people in this world were stuck at Nine-Star Dou Zhe for their entire lives, unable to advance even an inch?

And how many families would spare no expense to let their younger generation become Dou Masters before everyone else?

All of that sent the value of the Yuan-Gathering Pill soaring!

Before Ya Fei could fully process the information, Lu Heng had already pointed at the third bottle.

"This is a third-tier pill, the 'Yuan-Coagulating Pill.'"

Lu Heng smiled harmlessly.

"Like the previous one, it is for Dou Masters. Below Nine-Star Dou Master, it raises one star with no side effects. If a Nine-Star Dou Master takes it, there is a fifty percent chance of breaking through to Da Dou Shi."

With a thud.

Ya Fei dropped back onto the stone stool, her face, which had just been filled with shrewdness, now completely blank.

Though she was not an alchemist, she had spent so many years in the auction house that her eye for such things was exceptionally sharp.

She had seen plenty of pills on the market, but something like what Lu Heng had brought out—simple, brutal, directly raising one's star level while also helping one break through barriers—was practically unheard of!

Especially the Yuan-Gathering Pill and Yuan-Coagulating Pill!

They were actually even stronger than the similar Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. One had to know that the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill could not assist with breaking through major realms.

Though the Yuan-Gathering Pill and Yuan-Coagulating Pill only had a fifty percent success rate, that was still enough to make countless people fight over them!

More importantly, the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill was a peak fourth-tier pill. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, the number of alchemists capable of refining it could be counted on two hands.

But Lu Heng...

"Little brother..."

Ya Fei swallowed, her throat feeling a little dry. "Can you... mass-produce these pills?"

If these things could be sold wholesale like candy beans, the Miteer Auction House would practically soar into the sky.

Lu Heng shrugged.

"As long as there are enough medicinal ingredients, I can refine as many as I want. But..."

A wicked smile curled across his lips as he leaned close to Ya Fei's ear.

"We can't sell them like that. Tell the public they're being consigned by some mysterious reclusive alchemist, and limit sales to just a few each month.

Scarcity makes things valuable."

The shock in Ya Fei's eyes swiftly faded, replaced by a calculating gleam that made one's heart race.

She had even begun constructing a marketing plan in her mind.

"Especially that Spirit-Nurturing Powder."

Lu Heng added,

"Big Sister Ya Fei, think about it.

Isn't Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family in the limelight right now? Ninth Duan Dou Qi at ten years old—him becoming a Dou Zhe at eleven is practically guaranteed."

"The Jia Lie Family and Aoba Clan are probably panicking so badly they could hang themselves. They're terrified the Xiao Family will produce another monster and swallow them whole."

"At a time like this, if a medicine suddenly appeared on the market that could multiply the cultivation speed of their younger generation..."

Lu Heng did not finish his sentence, but Ya Fei already understood completely.

She abruptly slapped the stone table, the force making the teacups on it jump.

"Those two families will go insane!

They'll do everything they can to get those medicines. Even if it's only to keep the Xiao Family from buying them, they'll drive the price through the roof!"

Ya Fei stood up and paced back and forth through the courtyard, her heels striking the bluestone floor with crisp, hurried clicks.

"And not just Wutan City! Once this thing gains a reputation, Black Rock City, even the Imperial Capital..."

The more Ya Fei thought about it, the more excited she became. A captivating blush spread across her pretty face from excitement.

How was this medicine?

These were clearly sickles for harvesting leeks!

And the kind where, once the sickle was extended, the leeks would still cry and beg to be harvested.

"After this round of maneuvering, forget one million gold coins."

Ya Fei stopped, turned to Lu Heng, and looked at him with eyes so fervent they seemed ready to devour him.

"If we handle it properly, we might even make those three great families empty out their entire fortunes and hand them over!"

Seeing the woman before him shine once more, even more brilliantly than usual, the stone in Lu Heng's heart finally fell away.

"Well? Big Sister Ya Fei, are you still panicking now?" Lu Heng asked with a smile.

Ya Fei walked over, extended a slender finger, and fiercely jabbed the list that had given her a headache all morning before poking Lu Heng in the forehead.

"You little bastard!"

Ya Fei scolded him coquettishly, but the corners of her eyes and brows were full of irrepressible amusement, the confidence of someone who felt she had the future firmly in her grasp.

"You really do take after me. This knack for scheming against people is exactly like your big sister's."

Lu Heng took hold of her finger without dodging. Instead, he leaned closer and replied in an ambiguous tone:

"Of course. After all... Big Sister Ya Fei is famous for being shrewd and capable."

Ya Fei froze for a moment. Looking at the youth's faintly smiling expression, she savored the word he had deliberately emphasized.

This little bastard actually dared to tease his big sister?

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Ya Fei pulled her hand back, two rosy clouds rising on her cheeks. Yet she was not truly angry. Instead, she turned and strode briskly toward the exit.

"Since we have something this good, the entire plan has to be changed! I need to draft a new proposal. This time, I'll make those old bastards cough up even their coffin savings!"

Watching that swaying yet murderous figure from behind, Lu Heng rubbed his nose.

The money problem was solved.

Next, it would be the turn of the three great families to feel the pain.

But...

Lu Heng looked at the jade bottles on the stone table, his gaze flickering slightly.

The Xiao Family...

The genius who had not yet fallen.

But that had nothing to do with him. Right now, making money was the true path.