At the wine table, Gu Xiaofeng and his son were lavish in their compliments, and naturally, the guests enjoyed themselves to the fullest.
After three rounds of drinks, Jiang Yuan, unable to hold his liquor, returned to his room to rest, leaving only Zhong Lin and the other two.
"Family Head Gu, how is the collection of materials for the Breakthrough Pill coming along?"
Zhong Lin set down his wine cup and asked.
A man with no long-term concerns must have near worries. From the moment he stepped into the Upper Third Grades, Zhong Lin started preparing for the Breakthrough Pill. The materials were collected with the help of the Gu Family, while he researched the crafting method.
With the system’s assistance, combined with Zhong Lin’s Fourth Grade Alchemist experience, he was confident he could refine the Breakthrough Pill onto the system panel, failing at most once. Once it appeared on the system panel, there was no longer a possibility of failure.
"Well, Brother Zhong, in the past half year, our Gu Family spared no effort. We have collected Wind Bell Grass, Spirit Candle Fruit, and Golden Yangzhi, and we’ve also heard news about the Mysterious Ice Flower," Gu Ning said proudly.
Zhong Lin felt a thrill of excitement.
The three treasure medicines, Wind Bell Grass, Spirit Candle Fruit, and Golden Yangzhi, although precious, could still be found if one set their mind to it.
However, the Mysterious Ice Flower was extremely hard to find. It only grows on millennial mysterious ice and is difficult to transplant and preserve, but it is a key material for refining the Breakthrough Pill and indispensable.
Master Yin Daoyan had searched for it for over a decade without success, yet Gu Ning had news about it.
"Heavenly Fragrance Sect."
Zhong Lin looked puzzled, as he had never heard of this sect’s name.
Gu Ning hurriedly explained: "Brother Zhong, the Heavenly Fragrance Sect is a sect located on Qingling Mountain, specializing in incense-making. Their Ancient Incense has the effect of calming the mind and concentrating one’s focus. It is this miraculous incense that has brought a continuous source of revenue to the Heavenly Fragrance Sect. Even our Gu Family has purchased from them often. That’s how we discovered the existence of the Mysterious Ice Flower there."
"After my father learned about the Mysterious Ice Flower, he contacted Yan Changfeng, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Fragrance Sect, to negotiate a purchase, but was refused."
Zhong Lin’s expression shifted as he asked, "Didn’t you try other means?"
The father and son of the Gu Family were not ones to strictly abide by rules. After all, they rose to prominence with escort services, and their business spread throughout the Great Chen, not by maintaining a gentle and virtuous demeanor. Such people could not control a large family like theirs otherwise.
Gu Xiaofeng looked a bit embarrassed, saying, "I did try. For the Breakthrough Pill, I resorted to rather unsavory means, but Yan Changfeng guarded the Mysterious Ice Flower extremely closely. I fought him once and was defeated."
"Oh! Even Family Head Gu was not his match. How is this person’s martial arts cultivation?" Zhong Lin asked, surprised.
"He’s of the Second Grade Meridian Passage Scripture, at least the second level in cultivation," Gu Ning replied.
Zhong Lin nodded. It was indeed another martial artist stuck at the Second Grade Meridian Passage Realm.
"I was actually hesitating on what to do when I heard you, Pill Master Zhong, were here. Now, if we join forces, we can surely suppress Yan Changfeng. By that time, the Mysterious Ice Flower should be ours. What do you think, Pill Master Zhong?"
Zhong Lin looked up at Gu Xiaofeng. This old fox was truly adept at leveraging others! If Yan Changfeng were suppressed, it wouldn’t just be about acquiring the Mysterious Ice Flower. Zhong Lin didn’t believe Gu Xiaofeng wasn’t also eyeing the Ancient Incense.
Zhong Lin had Mei Changfeng investigate the Gu Family before. Linyue City wasn’t exclusively dominated by the Gu Family; thirty years ago, there was the Jin Family, and fifty years ago, the Lin Family.
With time, these two families declined, and as they disappeared, the Gu Family’s industries expanded to include dyeing and winemaking, the very businesses run by the Jin and Lin families previously.
There had to be some shady business involved, otherwise it wouldn’t make sense.
Zhong Lin suddenly extended his right hand, showing four fingers with a smile.
"What does Pill Master Zhong mean by this?" Gu Xiaofeng asked in confusion.
"I’m saying I want forty percent of the profits," Zhong Lin bluntly stated.
The smile on Gu Xiaofeng’s face froze.
"Let me be frank! I want the Mysterious Ice Flower. As for the profits from the Ancient Incense thereafter, I want forty percent. Every month, send it to the Sword Cauldron Sect. What do you think, Family Head Gu?" Zhong Lin said with a faint smile.
"Haha, Pill Master Zhong, you’re straightforward. It’s a deal."
Gu Xiaofeng extended his hand to hit Zhong Lin’s palm, showing no embarrassment about being seen through.
He truly was a wily old fox, sharp and cunning.
"When do we leave for the Heavenly Fragrance Sect? The matter of the Mysterious Ice Flower must be resolved quickly, with no room for mistakes."
"Qingling Mountain isn’t far from here, about two hours’ journey; we can..."
"Then let’s leave now."
Zhong Lin suddenly stood up, looking solemn.
"Very well, Ning’er, make the arrangements. We leave in an hour."
"Yes, Father, I’ll take care of it immediately."
Night fell, yet the Heavenly Fragrance Sect was brightly lit.
In the main hall of the Heavenly Fragrance Sect, the elders were reporting to Sect Leader Yan Changfeng.
"Sect Leader, we have purchased shops in the eight counties of Linyue City in recent times, and are now selling our unique incense, which is quite popular."
"Additionally, we have extended beyond Linyue County, acquiring shops in three surrounding county cities on a rolling basis."
"In the future, our incense business will surely spread throughout the Great Chen Dynasty, and our Heavenly Fragrance Sect will undoubtedly reach its peak."
Many elders and disciples of the Heavenly Fragrance Sect were very excited.
The sect’s founder was once an Upper Third Grade martial artist, but since the founder, no one from the Heavenly Fragrance Sect had reached the Upper Third Grades until Yan Changfeng became the sect leader. By chance, he formulated a unique incense using Ancient Rock Wax as the main ingredient, bringing the sect a continuous source of wealth.
The sect wasn’t originally named "Heavenly Fragrance." It was renamed following the creation of the unique incense, highlighting its importance to the sect.
Everyone knew that as long as Yan Changfeng was around, the sect would surpass any previous era it had experienced.
Even the sect’s founder could not compare to the current Yan Changfeng.
However, unlike the other enthusiastic elders, Yan Changfeng didn’t seem very interested and coldly asked, "What about that old bastard Gu Xiaofeng? Any news?"
The elders exchanged looks.
Finally, an elder stepped forward and replied, "Sect Leader, ever since the last battle with Gu Xiaofeng, when you defeated him, there has been no news from him; perhaps he has given up."
Yan Changfeng snorted coldly, "Others might not know, but don’t you know? The Gu Family is like a ravenous wolf that doesn’t spit out bones once devouring them. It’s impossible with his personality to give up. He’s likely hiding somewhere, watching me intently, ready to pounce at any sign of weakness and take a bite."
"Sect Leader, what should we do then?"