Cooperation (Please Recommend)

Xiao Family's council hall.

Xiao Zhan occupied the seat of honor. To his lower left sat the three elders, along with some of the family's higher-ups.

Yet in the lower seat on his right sat a mysterious figure completely shrouded beneath a black robe.

Under the cover of the black robe, the mysterious figure's body looked somewhat bulky, and nothing could be made out.

Xiao Zhan had been very surprised by the mysterious person's appearance, but when the former revealed that one move, he had already lowered his stance.

"Old sir, may I ask what matter you have come to discuss this time?" Xiao Zhan's hand trembled slightly as he held his teacup, the tea inside swaying nonstop. Before them was an alchemist!

For an alchemist to be willing to establish ties with them—who knew whether this was a pie falling from the sky, or the gods watching over them?

"Heh heh, it's nothing much. I only heard from that boy Qingyun that the Xiao Family seems to be a little unsettled!" The mysterious Black-robed person's somewhat hoarse and aged voice slowly came out.

When these words were spoken, the Xiao Family's higher-ups were instead slightly stunned.

As for the mysterious person's age, Xiao Zhan was somewhat surprised. The hands the former had exposed were clearly a young man's hands, yet his voice was so aged.

However, Xiao Zhan did not think too deeply about it. Instead, his expression grew even more respectful. On the Dou Qi Continent, the stronger a person was, the more their appearance would remain unchanged even after hundreds of years. Clearly, the mysterious Black-robed person before him belonged to this category.

"Heh heh, those words are indeed true. Unfortunately, the Jia Lie Family has a Rank 1 Alchemist. The Rejuvenation Powder he refined has stolen much of our Xiao Family's business!" Xiao Zhan shook his head and sighed, his brows furrowing as though he had aged by several years.

Although he and Lin Qingyun already had a solution, at this moment, firmly clinging to this mysterious Black-robed person's thigh before him was absolutely the right move.

"This old man has also come precisely for this matter. Though I do not have any deep friendship with your noble clan, I get along rather well with Qingyun and Xiao Yan. If Clan Leader Xiao is not afraid that an old fellow like me is up to something wicked, why don't we cooperate?" the mysterious Black-robed person said with a light laugh.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan was first startled, then a trace of pleasant surprise surfaced on his face. Was this not exactly the sentence he had been waiting for... After exchanging a glance with the three elders, he nodded without the slightest hesitation and said, "What old sir has said is naturally exactly what I could ask for!"

An existence who, according to Lin Qingyun's account, was at least a Rank 4 Alchemist—an existence they could not normally even see. If the former had not also said he greatly admired Xiao Yan and Lin Qingyun, Xiao Zhan truly would not know what they had that could move this person.

"Then... may I ask how we are to cooperate?" Xiao Zhan asked with considerable caution. He did not want any misunderstanding to arise in the mysterious person before him because of his words or behavior, causing the cooperation to fall apart.

"I will provide the Xiao Family with sufficient healing pills!" the mysterious person said with a light laugh.

"Is that true!" Shock appeared on Xiao Zhan's face, then he could not help being overcome with wild joy.

The plan he and Lin Qingyun had devised was merely to cut off the Jia Lie Family's source of medicinal ingredients from the root, but if they wanted to truly suppress the Jia Lie Family and make it fall into becoming a second-rate force, it was still somewhat difficult.

But if this mysterious Black-robed person before him provided healing pills, then the Xiao Family could crush the Jia Lie Family in a short time.

This unexpected joy would also nearly make every Xiao Family higher-up present grin from ear to ear.

They knew very well the stakes involved.

"Naturally it is true!" The mysterious Black-robed person nodded, showing no ripple at all because of Xiao Zhan's excited tone.

His exposed palms moved. The left hand lightly flicked the black ring on the right hand's finger. Instantly, light flickered...

And only then did Xiao Zhan carefully notice that black ring. For an instant, he was dazed. That ring gave him a... somewhat familiar feeling.

Before Xiao Zhan could think about where this familiar feeling came from, he was immediately shocked by the large pile of jade bottles that suddenly appeared on the ground.

In an instant, the empty floor was filled to the brim with nearly a thousand jade bottles.

Looking at the countless jade bottles that had appeared out of thin air, everyone in the hall was shaken by this enormous number and drew in a breath of cold air.

"Here are eight hundred and forty-two bottles of healing medicine, named 'Blood Coagulation Powder.' Although I would not dare call it the finest among healing pills, compared to that so-called Rejuvenation Powder, its effects are naturally more pronounced." Looking at the shocked gazes in the hall, the mysterious Black-robed person still introduced them softly as though nothing had happened.

The corner of Xiao Zhan's mouth twitched, and he drew in a deep breath of icy air.

He guaranteed that this was the largest scale of pills he had ever seen in his life, even if they were merely the most ordinary healing pills used for treating injuries.

However, at this moment, Xiao Zhan felt a little smug in his heart. His gaze flicked over the Xiao Family higher-ups who were trapped in shock and unable to pull themselves free, and he could not help snorting inwardly, "See? My Yan'er still has the greatest face."

As for a certain someone else, he had long since ignored him off to the side.

Looking at the silent council hall, shaken speechless by the healing pills laid out on the ground, the mysterious Black-robed person coughed lightly, waking Xiao Zhan, who sat in the seat of honor.

"Uh..." His face reddened slightly, and Xiao Zhan gave an embarrassed laugh. When he looked toward the mysterious Black-robed person, there was even more reverence in his eyes.

"Old sir, you also know the Xiao Family's current situation. This act is simply sending charcoal in the snow. I am endlessly grateful." Xiao Zhan sighed with slight gratitude, pondered briefly, then asked hesitantly and probing, "How about this! Our Xiao Family will be responsible for selling these healing pills. Of the money earned, seventy percent will be given to you, old sir, and the remaining thirty percent... heh heh, though it is a little thick-skinned, we do still need this money to manage some things. Old sir, what do you think?"

After speaking, Xiao Zhan looked toward the mysterious Black-robed person. Although from the tone the mysterious person had revealed earlier, he seemed to have quite a favorable impression of Xiao Yan and Lin Qingyun, in this matter, Xiao Zhan did not dare go too far.

Moreover, if they could make this mysterious person's favorable impression of the Xiao Family deepen by even a little, it would only benefit the Xiao Family's future development.

"Heh heh." The mysterious Black-robed person laughed lightly and slowly shook his head.

Seeing the mysterious Black-robed person act like this, Xiao Zhan's expression changed slightly, but it quickly returned to normal, as if everything had been within expectations.

Only, just as he was about to speak, that aged voice left him at a loss and stunned for a moment.

"Clan Leader Xiao is too polite. Although the pills were refined by me, selling them is not an easy task either. How could I take such advantage of you? Let's be fair, fifty-fifty. Heh heh!"

Hearing these words from the mysterious Black-robed person, everyone in the entire council hall was instantly stunned. Only after a long while did they involuntarily touch their ears, all somewhat doubting the truth of those words... split the accounts fifty-fifty? Even if he wanted to take ninety percent, they would probably be willing, as long as they could cling tightly to this huge thigh.

"A pie really fell from the sky..." After exchanging glances, this sentence surfaced in everyone's hearts.

After standing there in a daze for a long while, Xiao Zhan finally slowly came back to himself. He took a deep breath and said, "Old sir's help leaves me endlessly grateful."

Waving his hand casually, the mysterious Black-robed person smiled faintly and said, "This bit of profit holds no attraction for me. If I weren't afraid your heart would feel uneasy, then even that fifty percent, I would actually be too lazy..."

Yet before the mysterious Black-robed person could finish speaking, he suddenly turned his head and looked outside the council hall doors, smiling faintly. "Boy Qingyun, after listening for so long, you should come out now, shouldn't you?"

"Heh heh, old man, you actually found me."

Outside the doors, Lin Qingyun walked over slowly, waving a folding fan in his hand. When he reached the mysterious Black-robed person's side, he plopped himself down on the seat beside him.

"Qingyun, there is an honored guest here. Do not be impudent."

The First Elder blew his beard and glared as he shouted, then said with an extremely nervous expression, "Old sir, please do not take offense. This child's nature is unruly. It is also our fault for not disciplining him more. We ask old sir to be tolerant."

"Heh heh, no matter. I have met this boy Qingyun a few times and have quite a favorable impression of him. Otherwise, I would not have acted to break open his blocked meridians. Moreover, he and my disciple Xiao Yan are brothers, so he can be considered half a nominal disciple of mine," the mysterious Black-robed person said with a soft laugh.

As soon as these words came out, the council hall fell so silent that a falling needle could be heard.

Everyone's gazes landed on Lin Qingyun, then shifted to Xiao Zhan.

In short, they kept moving back and forth between the two of them.

Even Xiao Zhan was stunned, but very quickly, an extremely comical and exaggerated smile appeared on his face. It was only lacking the words "smug" written across it.

"Ahem, since Qingyun is here, there are also some words to explain." The mysterious Black-robed person coughed twice.

Xiao Zhan also restrained his expression and said with great solemnity, "Old sir, what instructions do you have? Please speak freely."

"It cannot really be called instructions. It is only that this old man spends most of his time cultivating, so I will have Qingyun deliver the refined healing pills when they are ready. As for the payment, Clan Leader Xiao may simply hand it over to Xiao Yan," the mysterious Black-robed person said with a light laugh.

"Regarding what old sir has entrusted to me, I would not dare forget it." Xiao Zhan also nodded, extremely solemn.

Only after these words fell did Lin Qingyun's brows wrinkle slightly, and he said, "Old man, this isn't what we agreed on."

Lin Qingyun was somewhat anxious. Originally, they had agreed that the fifty percent payment would first go into his pocket, but what was being said now was completely different from what they had agreed on.

This had to be revenge!

As if the mysterious Black-robed person had turned a deaf ear, he smiled faintly and said, "Heh heh, I still have some other matters, so I will not stay here long. Clan Leader Xiao need not see me off. Arrange the clan's affairs, heh heh."

With that said, under everyone's gazes, he headed straight out of the hall.

When he reached outside the main doors, the mysterious Black-robed person's steps suddenly paused, and he smiled. "Before leaving, I'll add one extra word. Xiao Yan is indeed very good. Heh heh, this old man thanks you!"

Before some people even had time to guess, they saw someone rush out in a whirlwind, and a sentence drifted through the air.

"Old man, stop right there! Explain yourself clearly to this young master!"

"Heh, that boy Yan'er actually started hiding things from me too. Disciple! Haha, the heavens truly opened their eyes!"

Even though he had already learned a little from Lin Qingyun's mouth earlier while interrogating him, hearing it with his own ears now truly felt different.

Then looking again at those high-level figures of the family, especially the envious, jealous, hateful eyes of the three elders.

If it were written in one word, that would be

Awesome!

"However, Qingyun seems to have planned this long ago! Jia Lie Family, you're in for some suffering!"

Writing to this point, I don't even know what I'm writing. Somehow, as I kept writing, it turned into this.