You're Not Being Honest

Jia Lie Bi suppressed his anger and forced a smile. "Steward Li, those are all rumors. Someone is trying to harm the Jia Lie Clan."

Li Dafu said, "Patriarch Jia Lie, it's useless telling me that. If my boss believes it's true, then it's true."

After a pause, he added, "Personally, I advise Patriarch Jia Lie to prepare the payment of three hundred thousand gold coins as soon as possible. This time, my boss specially brought along two Grand Dou Masters."

"Steward Li, the Jia Lie Clan can't come up with that much money for the moment. Besides, the agreed deadline hasn't arrived yet," Jia Lie Bi said bitterly.

Li Dafu said, "That is something you, as the patriarch, should consider. If my boss doesn't get his money, he'll be unhappy. The consequences will be very serious."

"Can't you make an exception?" Jia Lie Bi asked. "I can sign a promissory note and guarantee that the three hundred thousand gold coins will be delivered before the deadline."

"I wonder where Jia Lie Bi gets the confidence to say such things?" Li Dafu asked with a smile.

Jia Lie Bi explained, "Steward Li must have heard just now that the newly developed Blood Surge Pill has received an excellent market response."

"A pill worth six hundred gold coins?" Li Dafu said disdainfully.

Pills at that price were everywhere in Telan City. They were hardly anything rare.

Not to mention the quantity. Just over forty pills had sold out. Could such stock really be called doing business?

"Steward Li, the Blood Surge Pills were specially refined by Master Wang Teng, whom we invited. They are not ordinary pills," Jia Lie Bi said solemnly.

Li Dafu shook his head, clearly uninterested. He said flatly, "There's no need for Patriarch Jia Lie to tell me this. I'm only here to deliver the message."

Jia Lie Bi's expression stiffened, and he felt deeply aggrieved.

For the first time, he truly felt that the title of one of Wu Tan City's three great clans did not seem all that impressive.

"Patriarch!" Jia Lie Ku suddenly rushed in excitedly, breaking the somewhat frozen atmosphere in the hall.

Jia Lie Ku's face was full of excitement, and he had a bellyful of words he wanted to pour out.

After managing the clan market for so many years, this was the first time he had ever witnessed such a bustling scene.

Although the Blood Surge Pills had quickly sold out, the market's other businesses had also picked up, and they had received a huge number of preorders.

The root cause of all this was inseparable from Master Wang Teng.

However, a guard spoke before Jia Lie Ku could. He said to Jia Lie Bi, "Patriarch, someone outside calling himself Li Hu requests an audience."

"Bring him in," Jia Lie Bi said in a low voice.

Jia Lie Ku watched the departing guard with a puzzled expression. Li Hu? Why did that sound so much like the name of the Li Clan's Second Elder, the medicinal materials clan of Telan City?

The payment date agreed upon by the two clans had not arrived yet. Why had he suddenly come calling at a time like this?

This man had quite a reputation in Telan City. Though he had little talent in cultivation, he possessed a sharp business mind. At nineteen, he had founded a medicinal materials caravan, and at twenty, he had assembled a mercenary force. He traveled among the cities around Telan City, specializing in collecting the clan's bad debts.

If his name was heard anywhere outside Telan City, it was practically certain that he had come to collect money.

While Jia Lie Ku was deep in thought, three figures approached. The man in the lead wore a faint smile that gave off an approachable feeling.

"Elder Li." Jia Lie Bi stepped forward and saluted him.

Li Hu smiled. "Patriarch Jia Lie, you're not being honest. You had something this good and actually kept it hidden."

Jia Lie Bi froze where he stood.

Li Hu patted his shoulder. "If you'd said earlier that you had Blood Surge Pills, our two clans could have worked together. Such a fine pill can't reach its full potential being sold only in Wu Tan City."

A first-tier pill that could raise one's strength by a minor realm, allowing a nine-star Dou Practitioner to temporarily possess the power of a one-star Dou Master.

Such a pill would be highly sought after even in Telan City.

Breaking through to Dou Master was not something just anyone could do easily. Many people remained stuck at nine-star Dou Practitioner well into their thirties or forties.

If some young nine-star Dou Practitioners learned of the Blood Surge Pill, they would definitely scramble to buy it.

After all, once they took it, they would have the means to deal with second-tier magical beasts. If they succeeded, the rewards they gained would be worth far more than being unable to use Dou Qi for three days.

"Haha, I never expected Elder Li to be interested in the Blood Surge Pill as well." Jia Lie Bi felt nervous inside, but much of his awkwardness had faded.

He led Li Hu into the front hall. When he saw Li Dafu's astonished expression, he smugly raised his brows.

Hmph, weren't you looking down on the Blood Surge Pill just now?

What about now? Even your boss wants to work with me!

After Li Hu arrived, Li Dafu took the initiative to stand. He accepted the tea brought by a servant and placed it on the table beside Li Hu.

"Patriarch Jia Lie, would it be convenient for you to introduce me to the alchemist who refined the Blood Surge Pills?" Li Hu asked politely.

"Of course, Elder Li," Jia Lie Bi said. "However, Master Wang Teng is rather focused, so we may have to wait until he finishes refining pills tonight."

Li Hu smiled. "That's fine. I'm not in a hurry."

Jia Lie Bi glanced at Li Dafu and asked, "Steward Li said Elder Li came this time to collect the payment?"

Why is your mouth so fast?

Li Hu shot Li Dafu a sidelong glance before saying to Jia Lie Bi, "Afu only got half of it right. I came first to verify the situation. Now that the Jia Lie Clan's business is thriving, there's no rush over the money. We'll follow the agreement."

The two sides discussed some other matters. Li Hu wanted to ask for a Blood Surge Pill to see whether it had any effect on Dou Masters or Grand Dou Masters.

Jia Lie Bi tactfully explained that all the pills had been sold and that they would have to wait until Master Wang Teng refined more.

Afterward, Jia Lie Bi arranged accommodations for them, then gathered the Jia Lie Clan members for a meeting.

Xiao Clan, meeting room.

"Where is Yan'er?" Xiao Zhan asked when he saw Steward Mo enter alone.

Steward Mo replied, "The young master isn't in his room. Someone saw him heading to the back mountain."

He asked Xiao Zhan whether he should arrange for someone to search for him in the back mountain.

"Forget it. We'll wait until tonight." Xiao Zhan dismissed him, then turned to the three elders. "You haven't slept all night. You must be exhausted. Go back and rest first. We'll discuss it later."

After the failed attempt to ambush the Jia Lie Clan, the three elders had clearly become much more obedient. They no longer forcefully demanded that Xiao Zhan immediately bring Xiao Yan back.

Xiao Zhan then left the meeting room and returned to his study.

Sitting in his chair, he wore a face full of worry. The Jia Lie Clan had not focused on Return Spring Powder after all, but had instead brought out another kind of pill.

Moreover, the Blood Surge Pill's effects were excellent. A nine-star Dou Practitioner who took one could unleash the strength of a one-star Dou Master.

"In another week, Canaan Academy's recruitment team will arrive. Yan'er won't be able to stay in the Xiao Clan for much longer." Xiao Zhan knew clearly that the Xiao Clan's recent boundless glory was all thanks to Yan'er.

As the patriarch, he hoped the clan would develop in a better direction. But as a father, he knew that keeping Xiao Yan in Wu Tan City would only harm him.

At the same time.

Elsewhere in Wu Tan City, inside a room at the Mittel Auction House.

On a table covered in red cloth sat a small jade bottle, with a round pill beside it.

On one side of the table sat a woman in a red dress, her bearing mature and seductive.

On the other side sat an elderly man, who was intently examining the smooth, round pill from close range.

His eyes were filled with amazement.