Face is Given Mutually

Thinking of this, Li Youyan accepted the introductory method for Pill Doctors and said, "Young friend Yang Chen trusts this old man, so naturally, I can't be stingy. I've already reviewed this introductory method for Pill Doctors, and it's indeed genuine. I just don't know what Young friend Yang Chen requires for this transaction?"

Yang Chen smiled and said, "This junior only wants some spiritual medicine resources, dozens of kinds, and the quantity might be a bit large. But I believe the Li Family Commerce Association should be able to provide them. This junior isn't asking for the moon, but the introductory method for Pill Doctors is truly precious. Exchanging it was also done with the permission of elders in my clan, so I hope both seniors can understand."

Yang Chen deliberately mentioned "clan elders" to essentially leverage the Yang Family's influence.

"Haha, Young friend Yang Chen is joking. While our Li Family Commerce Association isn't the best in the Great Wilderness, we believe it shouldn't be difficult to meet the requirements of Young friend Yang Chen and your clan elders," Li Youyan said.

Upon hearing this, Yang Chen nodded with satisfaction and then listed all the spiritual medicine resources he required.

When the dozens of spiritual medicine resources were listed, Li Youyan gasped.

These spiritual medicine resources were all very rare, yet still within the Li Family's affordability. It was clear that Yang Chen had come prepared.

The combined cost of dozens of these items would indeed be a significant expenditure for their Li Family Commerce Association, but after weighing the pros and cons, Li Youyan had no intention of refusing.

Soon, Li Youyan said heartily, "Alright, our Li Family Commerce Association has all the resources Young friend Yang Chen requested. However, it will take some time to gather them all. How about this, if Young friend Yang Chen trusts us, within seven days, our Li Family Commerce Association will personally deliver these resources to your doorstep."

Although Yang Chen was not entirely satisfied with not receiving the resources immediately, he did not show it, replying gently, "You two seniors are too kind. This junior trusts the reputation of the Li Family Commerce Association."

"Since that's the case, then this transaction is settled. I wonder if Young friend Yang Chen would be interested in staying here for a while?" Li Youyan asked with a faint smile.

"I'm afraid I cannot accept your kind offer. My maid is waiting outside, and if I stay too long, she will worry. I won't linger," Yang Chen said, still hesitant to spend too much time with people who could control his life and death. With that excuse, he prepared to leave.

Li Youyan did not intend to make things difficult and stood up, saying, "Then I will see Young friend Yang Chen out!"

"Thank you both seniors."

Afterward, Yang Chen obtained the Fire Red Fruit and the promise from the Li Family Commerce Association, and left with Gu Mingyue.

Gazing in the direction Yang Chen had left, the two elders of the Li Family, Li Youyan and his brother, fell into thought.

"Big brother, isn't that kid asking for too much? So many resources, it's not like he's overturned our Li Family Commerce Association, but he has indeed taken a lot of our rare resources," said the elder beside Li Youyan, who was his second brother, Li Youren.

Li Youyan smiled and said, "Didn't that kid also give us the introductory method for Pill Doctors?"

"Actually, if you ask me, although the introductory method for Pill Doctors is precious, he clearly lacks experience and handed it over prematurely. Why did we need to adhere to so many 'jianghu' rules with him?" Li Youren was very displeased with Li Youyan's approach.

After all, dealing with a mere cultivator at the first level of Body Refining Realm, Li Youyan had been far too polite.

Li Youyan sighed, "Second brother, you only see the surface and not the deeper details. You see this kid acting foolishly, as if he has no experience, but this kid is actually very clever. Do you think he really handed over the method for the Pill Doctor path? Yes, he handed it over, but look at the wording in each sentence; this kid has clearly held something back."

"He dared to play us?"

"Play? Heh heh, playing, it's not exactly that. He did give us the method for the Pill Doctor path. However, he didn't give it all; at most, he gave us one-third of the content," Li Youyan stroked his beard.

"One-third of the content? Big brother, and you still let him ask for so much?" Li Youren was confused.

Li Youyan said exasperatedly, "Second brother, this is where you don't understand. You need to think carefully. It's already very difficult for the Yang Family to sell us the introductory method for Pill Doctors. The most crucial part isn't the method itself; even if this kid handed over the entire method, do you think we could learn it?"

"To be honest, the path of a Pill Doctor is the most difficult to tread. Even getting started is as hard as ascending to heaven. If it were that easy to learn, have you ever heard of any other Yang family member learning Pill Doctoring besides Yang Chen? No, not a single one! This means only Yang Chen has learned it."

Li Youren still said somewhat unconvinced, "Is Pill Doctoring really that difficult to learn?"

"More than difficult to learn? If it wasn't so difficult, do you think our Great Wilderness Hundred Clans would have no Pill Doctors? Do you really think that many people who left the Great Wilderness didn't have many opportunities outside? Hundreds of years ago, our Great Wilderness actually had a Pill Doctor, but that Pill Doctor's tribe never produced a second Pill Doctor besides him. What does this represent? Pill Doctoring has extremely harsh requirements for talent. You can't learn it just because you want to," Li Youyan shook his head.

Then, he continued, "So, this is why we need to appease him. As a Pill Doctor, this kid will undoubtedly be someone many tribes will want to curry favor with. The Yang Family will definitely treat him like a treasure. If we befriend him in advance, and in the future, we get injured, we will inevitably need his help. What's the big deal about giving him these resources in advance? You must understand that once we Spirit Martial Realm experts get injured, it's the most troublesome to resolve."

Li Youren finally understood, "Big brother, you truly have foresight. Speaking of which, this Zhao Xiaowen..."

"Yang Chen's identity as a Pill Doctor is now confirmed, and I don't believe a mere youngster like him can hide anything from my eyes. A Pill Doctor and an outsider shopkeeper, heh heh, second brother, you should understand which is more important, right? I'll leave this matter to you. Don't make it too awkward for Young friend Yang Chen next time he visits our association. Matters of face are mutual." Li Youyan said clearly and concisely.

"Yes, big brother, I understand." Li Youren licked his lips.

The conversation between the two in the association's main hall was something Zhao Xiaowen could not fail to hear.

The two elders of the Li family had no intention of excluding him from their conversation!

Li Youren had already walked up to him and sneered, "Zhao Xiaowen, you're quite something, treating the Li Family Commerce Association as your own, Zhao Xiaowen? Alright, you've heard what my big brother and I said. If you know what's good for you, get lost. Don't be an eyesore here."

"No, please don't. Elder, I, Zhao Xiaowen, rely on this shopkeeper position to make a living. You absolutely cannot expel me. That Yang Chen is just a nobody. Even if I offended him, you shouldn't expel me from the Li Family Commerce Association! I've worked hard for the Li Family Commerce Association for so many years; if I don't have merit, I at least have effort," Zhao Xiaowen said, tears already streaming down his face in panic.

Li Youren snorted coldly, "A Pill Doctor is a nobody in your eyes, so what do you think you are? Get lost now, or you won't even have the chance to roll away."

Zhao Xiaowen's heart turned cold, and he fell into complete despair. He knew that Li Youren was not joking in the slightest.

The Li Family truly intended to expel him.

How could he have imagined that someone he had considered a useless person would, in the blink of an eye, decide his future path?

At this moment, Yang Chen had already returned to the Yang Family. He was unaware that the Li brothers had already decided to curry favor with him. Currently, he was solely focused on refining the Gravity Pill. With a Fire Red Fruit in hand, it undoubtedly meant one more Gravity Pill, a guaranteed step into the second level of Body Refining Realm.

With the 'Coming-of-Age Ceremony' drawing nearer, Yang Chen dared not be careless. Making a stunning appearance at the 'Coming-of-Age Ceremony' was part of his planned strategy. Reaching the second level of Body Refining Realm was merely a foundation for that stunning appearance.

It was important to note that within the Yang Family, while Yang Heng's alchemy skills were the strongest, his martial cultivation was only average. It was only due to his dual cultivation of alchemy and martial arts that Yang Heng was considered a genius.

Within the Yang Family, there were not a few people whose martial cultivation was stronger than Yang Chen's. Some had astonishingly reached the third level of Body Refining, and there were even those at the fourth level.

Yang Chen naturally dared not be careless. His advantages lay entirely in alchemy and the utilization of resources, and he had to make perfect use of these advantages now.

"It's a pity that the Li Family's resources won't arrive anytime soon. If I could obtain those resources from the Li Family, even if I couldn't achieve the most perfect medicinal bath I envisioned, it should be enough to satisfy two or three parts," Yang Chen muttered.

The resources in the Great Wilderness Hundred Clans were truly too scarce. To achieve the most perfect medicinal bath infusion effect before entering the Spirit Martial Realm, this matter could only depend on fate. After all, in the outside world, medicinal bath infusions were only something major sects and large clans could afford.

"I will begin refining the Gravity Pill now." Yang Chen's eyes gleamed.

As the thought arose, Yang Chen wasted no time, throwing the prepared materials into the alchemy furnace.

The Fire Red Fruit was the main ingredient, with other materials as supplementary. The Fire Control Wood burned with a fierce flame...

"Miss, you're back!" Gu Mingyue greeted Yang Caidie from afar. "Miss, where have you been these past few days?"

Yang Caidie returned triumphantly from outside, her destination unknown. Two large rips marred her floral skirt, and her face was smudged with dirt, completely lacking the image of a proper lady. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that Yang Caidie clutched several geese in her hands.

Yang Caidie returned triumphantly, grinning and revealing her pearly white teeth. "Bao'er loves stewed goose the most. Didn't we run out last time? I hunted a few more in the Demon Beast Mountain these past few days. See these geese? They're plump."

The Bao'er she mentioned was, of course, Yang Chen.

Gu Mingyue blinked her beautiful eyes and said worriedly, "Miss, I heard the Demon Beast Mountain is very dangerous."

"So what if it's dangerous? Bao'er loves stewed goose, I'd go even if it were more dangerous." Yang Caidie happily squeezed the flesh of a goose, as if picturing Yang Chen's delighted face. "Oh right, what is Bao'er doing now?"

"Young Master has been in seclusion these past few days, reportedly cultivating martial arts and tempering his body," Gu Mingyue said cautiously. "Miss, I suspect Young Master has truly repented this time. You don't know, but I'm starting to admire Young Master. Following him makes me feel very secure."

Yang Caidie stood frozen for a moment before saying blankly, "You said he's been in seclusion for how many days?"

"About three days. He hasn't come out at all. I was worried Young Master would starve, so I quietly placed several bowls of food and dishes on the windowsill, but Young Master never ate them," Gu Mingyue said carefully.

Yang Caidie was expressionless for a while before saying dejectedly, "Don't say anymore."

"Miss, what's wrong?"

"As soon as I hear Bao'er cultivating martial arts, I think of the hardship and pain he endures during his cultivation. When I think of his suffering, I want to cry. Not eating or drinking for three days, what kind of cultivation is that? Couldn't he just let his sister do it?" Yang Caidie, from somewhere, produced a cleaver. "Enough talk, let's slaughter these two geese and stew them first. Otherwise, I feel too stifled."