What a Xiao Clan!

That night.

Three types of pills far superior to ordinary ones quietly appeared on the shelves of the Mittel Auction House.

By the next day, the news had swept through all of Wutan City like a storm.

"Have you heard? The new Healing Pills at the Mittel Auction House are unbelievably high-quality, and they're cheap too!"

"Really? Hurry, take me to see!"

"The Galle Medicine Shop is probably crying itself to death!"

That very afternoon, after the news spread, a long line had already formed before the Mittel Auction House.

Countless customers who had rushed over after hearing the news fought to purchase those three new types of pills.

For a time, the Mittel Auction House's counters were packed tight. Even several of Wutan City's wealthy nobles, who rarely showed themselves, personally sent people over to make purchases.

"Shopkeeper, give me ten Healing Pills!"

"I want twenty!"

"First come, first served! Stop pushing!"

Before the counter, a Mittel attendant in charge of sales was sweating profusely, but inwardly, he was overjoyed.

He had worked at this auction house for so many years, yet he had never seen any batch of pills sell so explosively!

In just a few short days.

Wutan City's pill market underwent earth-shaking changes.

The pills from the Mittel Auction House were in short supply, while the Jia Lie Clan's medicine shops had become deserted, their inventory piling up like mountains.

Those customers who had once bought Jia Lie's inferior pills for the low prices were now cursing furiously. Along with that, the Jia Lie Family's reputation plummeted.

Inside the Galle Medicine Shop, the shopkeeper was so anxious that he stamped his feet, roaring at the accountant.

"How could this happen?! How could this happen?! Our pills are clearly cheaper, so why is no one coming to buy them?!"

The accountant said bitterly.

"Shopkeeper, our pills are cheaper, but the new pills from Mittel are far better than ours, and their prices are almost the same... The customers aren't fools. Who would still want to buy our inferior goods?"

"Damn it!"

The shopkeeper violently swept the account books off the table.

"Where did that Xiao Clan get such excellent pills?!"

While the Jia Lie Clan was in complete chaos, the Xiao Clan Medicine Hall presented an entirely different scene.

"Elder Xiao truly foresaw everything!"

"This move of cutting off the source struck the Jia Lie Family so hard they had no power to fight back!"

Everyone in the Drug Hall admired Xiao Chen to the point of utter reverence.

Even the Drug Hall elder, who had always held himself in high regard, personally came to visit and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Elder Xiao, this old man has truly had his eyes opened today! Would Elder be willing to... exchange more insights on the art of alchemy with this old man?"

Xiao Chen smiled and returned the salute. "Of course, of course."

Ya Fei, meanwhile, gained both fame and profit from this battle.

She took the initiative to find Xiao Chen and solemnly proposed, "Mr. Xiao, Ya Fei is willing to establish a long-term supply partnership with the Xiao Clan. From now on, all pills produced by the Xiao Clan will be exclusively handled by Mittel!"

"That is exactly what I hoped for."

Xiao Chen smiled faintly.

That night, Xiao Chen returned to his small courtyard, and the system notification sounded in his mind once more—

"Ding! System settlement in progress..."

"The host used three improved pill formulas to crush the Jia Lie Clan's inferior pill market, achieving his first victory in commercial warfare!"

"Settlement result: Formula Improvement Insights ×1, Spirit Stones ×500 returned!"

"Return description: Formula Improvement Insights contains the essential principles of improving pill formulas and can greatly increase the host's efficiency in deducing new formulas!"

He opened that scroll of "Formula Improvement Insights." After reading only a few pages, his pupils contracted slightly.

The improvement methods recorded within solved many pill formula problems that had left him baffled despite endless thought, all with just a few words!

"Good stuff... This is the real good stuff."

The more Xiao Chen read, the more excited he became, carefully studying the entire scroll from beginning to end.

He knew well that in the path of alchemy, understanding one principle opened the way to ten thousand others.

With these insights, how could his future efficiency in improving pill formulas merely double?

Yet while Xiao Chen studied those insights, the Jia Lie Clan estate was shrouded in gloom.

Galle Bi sat in the seat of honor, his face livid as he stared fixedly at the account book before him, unable to speak for a long while.

"Clan Head..."

Jia Lie Ang cautiously began, "Over at the Xiao Clan..."

"Useless trash!"

Galle Bi slammed the account book onto the floor, beside himself with rage.

"Didn't you say that Xiao Clan was already at the end of its rope?! And now?! Their pills are being sold all over the city, while not even a fly will enter my Jia Lie Family's medicine shops!"

"Please calm your anger, Clan Head! Please calm your anger!"

Jia Lie Ang hurriedly dropped to his knees in fright.

"This subordinate has already sent people to investigate. That Xiao Clan has formed ties with the Mittel Auction House..."

"Mittel?!"

Galle Bi's expression changed sharply.

"How did the Xiao Clan form ties with Mittel?!"

"I heard..."

Jia Lie Ang swallowed.

"It was that Xiao Clan elder named Xiao Chen who gave three improved pill formulas to Miss Ya Fei of Mittel..."

"Xiao Chen?"

Galle Bi's pupils abruptly shrank. He pronounced that name word by word, a chilling glint flashing through his eyes.

"What a Xiao Chen... What a Xiao Clan!"

"Pass down the order. From today onward, keep a close watch on that Xiao Chen! I want to see what else he can stir up!"

That day.

Xiao Chen was studying pill formulas in the rear courtyard of the Drug Hall when he suddenly saw a maid approaching gracefully, carrying an exquisite brocade box in her hands.

"Elder Xiao, this is a gift of thanks Miss Xun'er asked this servant to deliver. She said it was to thank Elder for the care you showed her at the clan banquet that day."

Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, took the brocade box, and opened it.

Inside was a beautifully mounted copy of a pill formula scroll, filled with excellent prescriptions for nourishing the meridians and regulating one's breath.

He understood immediately.

What kind of gift of thanks was this?

This was clearly a test Xun'er had sent his way.

Sure enough.

Toward evening, a slender figure clad in pale green quietly appeared at the entrance to Xiao Chen's small courtyard.

"Elder Xiao, Xun'er has come to visit uninvited. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

Xun'er had changed into a simple, light-colored dress that day. Her features were exquisite as a painting, her temperament cool and detached, yet she stood smiling gently in the courtyard.

"Miss Xun'er's presence has brought honor even to this humble dwelling of mine."

Xiao Chen smiled as he ushered her inside and personally poured her a cup of tea.

"May I ask what brings Miss here today?"

"It's nothing important. I simply came to... seek some guidance."

Xun'er lightly took a sip of tea and spoke as though casually.

"Elder Xiao, Xun'er heard some time ago that the Dou Qi Continent is boundless. Beyond the Jia Ma Empire, there are many... extraordinary powers. Has Elder ever heard of them?"

As she spoke, her gaze landed on Xiao Chen's face without a trace, waiting to see his reaction.

How could Xiao Chen fail to see through the girl's intentions?

She was using "the Gu Clan's secrets" as bait to fish for him.

Yet he revealed nothing on his face. Instead, he smiled and shook his head.

"Miss Xun'er must be joking. This old man is merely a branch-clan elder who has spent his life tucked away in Wutan City. I fear I have never even left the Jia Ma Empire, so how could I know anything about extraordinary powers?"

"But Miss..."

Xiao Chen paused and gave Xun'er a meaningful look.

"Despite your young age, your horizons are already so broad. This old man is quite curious—where did Miss hear such things?"