“Hey!” Chen Chuqing pointed at Chen Qi, whose face had turned ashen, and said with an air of arrogance, “Elder, why haven’t you opened the Chen family’s gates yet to respectfully welcome our ancestor and elder inside? If you delay our ancestor’s time, can you afford to make up for it?”
Chen Qi knew he had lost today’s contest, having underestimated Chen Wen’s strength. Who would have thought that a third-level Liandanshi could become a fifth-level Liandanshi in the blink of an eye?
He felt ashamed of betraying the family head’s trust and letting down the clan members’ expectations.
But it didn’t matter. Wasn’t Chen Wen just after wealth, status, and power? Since he was a fifth-level Liandanshi with such heaven-defying abilities, why not let the main family give him what he wanted?
It would be like hiring a fifth-level Liandanshi at a high price to oversee things!
Moreover, the Alchemy Pills Chen Wen refined were of excellent quality—he had seen it with his own eyes—far more precious and rare than those of ordinary fifth-level Liandanshi.
After careful consideration, it wasn’t really a loss.
True to the Chen family’s ability to bend and adapt, Chen Qi quickly put on a smile and said, “Hahaha, look at my memory. Oh dear, actually, the family head didn’t just ask me to wait here for the senior alone, but also for Elder Wen and all the disciples from the branch families.”
Chen Wen snorted disdainfully through his nose and said, “Is that so?”
“Of course,” Chen Qi then glanced at the treasures that had nearly blinded Chen Miaomiao’s eyes and added, “These are all treasures meant as apologies to both of you. The family head said that Chen Wei’s actions were disgraceful and deserved punishment! Please don’t look down on them.”
Chen Wen laughed heartily and said, “If that’s the case, then I’ll take advantage of this generosity. Senior, please accept all of these.”
Having sworn to stand together with Chen Miaomiao through thick and thin, Chen Wen was naturally willing to give her benefits, especially since they weren’t coming out of his own pocket—the more, the better.
Chen Miaomiao didn’t stand on ceremony either and said, “Alright, thank you very much.” It would be foolish not to take advantage of such an opportunity.
Chen Miaomiao collected all the treasures, boxes and all, into her Qiankun Dai, patted her sleeves, and said, “Well, Elder Chen, shall we proceed?”
Chen Qi smiled obsequiously and said, “Please!”
Chen Qi took the lead, and as the vermilion gates slowly opened, the Yunluo Chenjia group strode proudly into the Fancheng main family. Everyone except Chen Miaomiao was thrilled to the core.
Although Little Miaomiao had lived in the Fancheng main family for many years, she had always been confined to a desolate courtyard, rarely even stepping into the backyard, let alone the front courtyard with its layered pavilions, carved railings, and jade-like structures. White jade paved the paths, Lingshi formed the scenery, and ancient trees towered majestically in the center of the winding corridors, exuding an aura of profound antiquity and grandeur.
Gradually, the Yunluo Chenjia members were awed by the main family’s imposing presence, and their relaxed demeanor faded away.
The path ahead seemed endless. Some walked until cold sweat soaked their clothes, their steps growing unsteady, as if taking one more step would be torture.
Finally, just as the disciples were on the verge of mental collapse, they caught sight of the Chen family’s “main hall”—the Miaofa Hall!
Chen Miaomiao immediately spotted the stern-faced, tall, and imposing middle-aged man seated firmly in the hall. Dressed in a black robe, with a handsome beard, eyes sharp as lightning, and an aura as majestic as a rainbow, he was none other than Chen Miaomiao’s good uncle—the current head of the Fancheng Chen family, Chen Yuan!
However, she recognized Chen Yuan, but Chen Yuan clearly did not recognize her. He was the first to laugh heartily, rising to greet them: “Esteemed Senior, Elder Wen, I have been awaiting your arrival for quite some time.”
Chen Miaomiao had no desire to engage in lengthy conversation with him. She glanced at Chen Wen and handed over the initiative to him.
Chen Wen was overjoyed. Had he known that a fifth-grade Alchemy Pill could make Chen Miaomiao so “unwaveringly loyal,” he would have presented it much earlier.
Although there was only one fifth-grade pill, exchanging it for Chen Miaomiao was absolutely worth it!
Chen Wen lifted his chin high, finally able to release the resentment that had built up over many years. After all this time, he could finally stand on equal footing with Chen Yuan.
“Family Head, I offer my respects.”
“Ah, Elder Wen, there’s no need for such formality. Yunluo Chenjia and the main family in Fancheng share the same ancestry and lineage, passed down through the same bloodline. Please, don’t be so reserved, lest it create distance between us. Have a seat, have a seat! Someone, bring tea!”
Both men inwardly cursed each other to the extreme, yet outwardly, they maintained utmost respect for one another.
After three rounds of Lingcha had been served and the younger generation had been taken away to rest, the two finally got down to business.
In essence, Chen Yuan demanded that Chen Wen refine Alchemy Pills for the main family—a fixed quantity each month, delivered on schedule, with guaranteed quality and no shoddy work.
But how could Chen Wen agree to this? He argued that the success rate for high-grade Alchemy Pills was not high, and the consumption of spiritual herbs and Lingshi required for refining was like flowing water. Setting fixed quotas and deadlines was nothing short of a fantasy.
The two sides exchanged sharp words, back and forth, neither willing to yield an inch.
But Chen Wen ultimately held the advantage!
He was a fifth-grade Liandanshi, and behind him stood the enigmatic and formidable presence of Chen Miaomiao. In the end, Chen Yuan had no choice but to concede.
“Very well, then. Each month, the main family will allocate fifty thousand Lingshi to the Yunluo branch. All spiritual plants, medicinal herbs, and other materials required for refining will be drawn from the main family’s treasury. For first and second-grade spiritual plants and herbs, take as much as you need. For third-grade materials, the agreed-upon success rate must not fall below one in twenty. For fourth-grade, the success rate must not fall below one in fifty. As for fifth-grade… no quota will be set. Is this acceptable?”
Chen Miaomiao sipped her tea, thinking to herself that these terms were quite generous. But she knew Chen Wen well—this ambitious man would not agree so easily.
Sure enough, Chen Wen made an outrageous demand: “Fifty thousand is too little. It’s not even enough to support the esteemed Senior. It must be increased.”
Chen Miaomiao: “…” Well played, shifting the blame like that.
A cold glint flashed in Chen Yuan’s eyes. “How much more do you want?”
Chen Wen: “One hundred thousand.”
Chen Yuan: “…”
If not for Chen Wen’s newfound status and value, Chen Yuan would have crushed his throat on the spot.
“Under the unchanged basic conditions, the main family will allocate one hundred thousand Lingshi to Yunluo Chenjia each month! If the Family Head agrees, I, as an elder, can also promise that all the Alchemy Pills I refine will not be sold externally. Apart from what Yunluo Chenjia uses for itself, everything will be given to the main family.”
“Heh…” You bastard, you’re already using the materials provided by the main family! Who else would you give them to?! What a greedy and ungrateful wolf in sheep’s clothing!
Chen Yuan swallowed the curses that rose to his throat, picked up his teacup, and took a light sip. His gaze, however, subtly drifted toward Chen Miaomiao, who was resting with her eyes closed nearby.
Unfathomable…
As the head of the Chen family, Chen Yuan had reached the peak of the Jindan stage many years ago, yet he had never been able to break through to the Yuanying stage.
But even as a Jindan cultivator, he could not see through the cultivation level of this Baipao Laozu…
Was it the Chuqiao Stage? The Fenshen-period? Or perhaps even higher?
Her strength… how terrifying indeed.
Fine, what’s one more concession?
“Alright, one hundred thousand it is!”
“Splendid!” Chen Wen was in high spirits. Thinking it appropriate to give Chen Yuan a little reward, he took out a jade box from his spatial storage and handed it to him, saying, “This Alchemy Pill, please accept it, Clan Leader.”