Chapter 4122 — Refining a Fifth-Rank Pill
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Huh?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. "Isn't it said that every merchant selling pills in the Central Island market must submit unconditionally to the oversight of the Pill Alliance?"
"In theory, yes—but our Five Elements Merchant Guild is an exception. You see, Young Hero Lin, when our guild was first founded, this confounded Pill Alliance did not yet exist! It was only because our guild rose like the sun at noon that the other pill merchants were forced to band together under that name for warmth, to isolate us, and to spread rumors that the Five Elements Merchant Guild's pills were of inferior quality, hoping thereby to contend with us." Cai Zhongxuan's mouth twisted in scorn.
"And then?" Wei Zhao and the others asked.
"And then my honored master said only one thing: 'Show me your evidence, and I'll gladly hand the title of Pill God over to your Pill Alliance—only, is there a single one among you who could bear it?'" Cai Zhongxuan mimicked Zhang Lifeng's tone, then gave a contemptuous little laugh. "After that, we did not have to lift a finger. The customers began spontaneously to boycott the Pill Alliance, and in the end the guild masters had no choice but to come knocking in a body to beg my honored master's pardon. Only then did the storm gradually subside."
"Heh, a pack of clowns indeed," Wei Zhao said with a laugh, marveling inwardly. His cut-rate master's influence and pull on Cloud Terrace Island were truly extraordinary—a single sentence could decide the direction of the market. That was not something mere status and strength could accomplish.
"So although our Five Elements Merchant Guild stands outside the Pill Alliance, if we so much as open our mouths, they would not dare let out a fart. I'll send word to them—I doubt they'll trouble your Heaven Pill Pavilion again!" Cai Zhongxuan promised with a smile.
"Good. Then I'll trouble you, Elder Cai," Wei Zhao said with a nod. With the double umbrella of Di Xingdao and Cai Zhongxuan over him, any sensible person should think twice before coming to make trouble.
"By the way, I see that most of what you have here are top-grade pills, but the highest rank is only fourth. I would suggest adding some high-grade pills of the fifth rank and above. Third- and fourth-rank pills will of course still sell, but you have only just opened. If you remain stuck at this level, you will lack competitiveness against the other great pill merchants—unfavorable for long-term growth," Cai Zhongxuan said after some thought.
"I've actually considered that carefully myself, but I have no fifth-rank or higher pills on hand, nor have I ever refined any. I can only take it slowly," Wei Zhao said with a helpless shake of his head.
"As vice steward of the guild, Brother Cai cannot well step forward himself to help. Otherwise, I could find some excuse to bring a batch over from the Pill Hall. So long as the quantity isn't too large, it shouldn't be a problem," Hou Guanqi put in.
"My thanks for the kind intentions, both seniors, but there's no need just yet. We've only just opened—these top-grade fourth-rank pills can hold us for a while," Wei Zhao said, hastily waving his hand in refusal.
Having Hou Guanqi fetch pills directly from the Pill Hall to support him would be simple enough, but even a fair trade in spirit jades would easily give others a handle against him. If Zheng Dongjue ever got wind of it and slapped him with the label of a traitor biting the hand that fed him, then even though Hou Guanqi was Zhang Lifeng's nominal disciple, he would likely find himself in dire straits. Wei Zhao did not want to put him at such risk on his account.
Seeing this, Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan exchanged a glance and said no more. Just as Wei Zhao feared, the risk was indeed considerable.