Qilin Pavilion.

As for the proprietor of Qilin Pavilion, he waited from before the New Year until after it passed, yet received no word whatsoever from Ping City.

In the end, he even resorted to using Fang Huai’s whistle, but still received no response. Fang Huai’s departure had been like a stone sinking into the sea.

Originally, they had thought that Fang Huai seeking out Qin Zhou would cause a disruption in the supply of Snowflake Pavilion’s premium-grade elixirs. But the reality was that Snowflake Pavilion’s sales were booming. After the New Year, its reputation had even begun to subtly surpass that of Qilin Pavilion.

With no other options, Qilin Pavilion had no choice but to seek help from the upper realm.

“You couldn’t provide what I wanted, and now you expect me to handle your mortal affairs?” The blue-robed cultivator demanded fiercely.

The shopkeeper startled, hastily explaining, “Sir, that’s not what I meant! I was hoping you could sell some more third-tier pill ingredients to Qilin Pavilion. With those ingredients, Qilin Pavilion could weather this crisis.”

Snowflake Pavilion possessed precious-grade elixirs, but if Qilin Pavilion could also produce a substantial quantity of third-tier elixirs, perhaps they could even compete with Snowflake Pavilion.

The green-robed cultivator’s expression darkened. “Do you think third-tier alchemy ingredients are something easily obtained? I only managed to secure some for you because of the connections above. Speaking of which, how’s the progress on those auxiliary materials I asked you to find?”

“Well… the lower realms are spirit energy-depleted. Though you requested low-tier auxiliary materials, the quantity is too large… I haven’t managed to…“

”Enough. So you can’t get the auxiliary materials I asked for, yet now you want to take third-tier pill ingredients from me?“

The shopkeeper took a deep breath. ”Qilin Pavilion is willing to pay a high price for them.“

”Third-tier pill ingredients are priced beyond market value. Do you think they’re that easy to come by?”

“I—”

The green-robed cultivator waved his hand. “No third-tier alchemy materials right now. The higher-ups are cracking down hard. Even if I wanted to overcharge you, I couldn’t. Instead of scrambling for third-tier materials to compete with that Snowflake Pavilion, why not just tell me where that alchemist is? I’ll go kill him for you.”

Shopkeeper: ?!

He sighed inwardly. To cultivators of the upper realm, their lives in the lower realm were truly worthless.

But now, the Snowflake Pavilion’s premium-grade elixirs were sourced from Qin Zhou—a fact he had confirmed with solid evidence. It seemed… only with Qin Zhou dead could Qilin Pavilion truly secure its position as the premier elixir merchant in the provincial capital.

After weighing his options, the shopkeeper had no choice but to reveal Qin Zhou’s name. “Qin Zhou of Ping City.”

“Just wait.”

“Wait for what?” The blue-robed cultivator’s words had barely left his mouth when someone else took over.

The shopkeeper and the cultivator both turned to look behind them.

Two figures stood there, having appeared behind them at some unknown moment, likely having overheard their entire conversation.

The cultivator’s pupils contracted upon seeing the newcomers.

The shopkeeper was puzzled. Had his Qilin Pavilion become a place anyone could just walk into? Yet he dared not voice this thought. The two cultivators who had suddenly appeared before him—whether in demeanor or attire—seemed more refined than any upper realm cultivator he had ever seen. So exquisitely refined, in fact, that one feared even breathing might be an act of sacrilege.

“Disciple Jiang Feng greets the Sect Master.” While the shopkeeper was still sizing them up, the cultivator in green robes beside him had already knelt down with a thud.

Shopkeeper:?

Sect Master?

Then the young gentleman before him… Could he be… from the great medicinal sect of the upper realm, Yuanqing Mountain…

The long-haired young man standing behind the Sect Master frowned, his expression displeased. “Baixing, you have been far too lax in disciplining the sect’s disciples.”

Baixing: “My master is correct. Had I not been lax in my duties, I would never have discovered their audacity—smuggling third-tier pill ingredients to the lower realm for personal gain. Were it not for this warehouse audit, I’d never have known they’d established such lavish pill shops down here.”

Upon realizing his scheme had been exposed, Jiang Feng broke out in a cold sweat. “Master Sect Leader, there’s been a misunderstanding…”

“With matters having reached this point, Jiang Feng, what more can you say?”

“A misunderstanding?” Baixing’s voice was icy. “I already possess evidence of your bribing the warehouse steward. The steward has confessed. Otherwise, why do you think you find yourself facing me here?”

Jiang Feng’s hand trembled, his face turning ashen. “Master…”

Baixing knew full well that not everyone in Yuanqing Mountain possessed noble character.

Had it been merely a petty theft of minor items from the sect’s warehouse, he wouldn’t have flown into such a rage.

What they hadn’t known until they investigated was this: Qilin Pavilion had operated in the lower realms for nearly a thousand years. Of the high-grade elixirs sold there, seventy to eighty percent of the ingredients had actually come from Yuanqing Mountain.

For nearly a thousand years, they had been using Yuanqing Mountain’s ingredients to enrich themselves.

How could Baixing not be furious?

Moreover, what else had he heard?

Ping City, Qin Zhou—just kill them.

Setting aside that the target was his own great-grandmaster, the very tone that treated human life as worthless straw was enough to send Baixing into a rage.

Yuanqing Mountain was a medical sect. Healing lives was the path Yuanqing’s disciples were meant to walk.

If even healers had come to regard human life so cheaply, how could one expect them to administer medicine and save lives?

These people had utterly disgraced him before his master. What sort of creatures had he raised after founding his sect?

“I refuse to execute him myself. Return to the sect and face your punishment.” Baixing pressed his hand to his forehead, seething with fury.

Lu Wu patted his shoulder in consolation.

“…Understood.” The green-robed cultivator’s face was ashen. He understood that this time, going to receive his punishment meant he might never return.

As for the proprietor of Qilin Pavilion…

“From now on, Yuanqing Mountain will supply you with no more alchemical ingredients. You’d best take care of yourself!”

“Karma exists in this world. You sowed bad seeds, so you’ll reap no good fruit. That you still have your life left is already fortunate,” Lu Wu added softly. “Of course, if you refuse to heed this advice and insist on provoking Mr. Qin in Ping City, then I’ll only be able to light a candle for you.”

They came swiftly and departed just as quickly. Only after their figures vanished completely did the proprietor realize—

His Qilin Pavilion had thrived in the lower realms not because it had truly found a powerful patron in the upper realms.

It was merely a front for that green-robed cultivator to fence stolen goods.

He had believed he’d truly forged ties with Yuanqing Mountain, only to realize now he hadn’t even scratched the surface.

As for those foolish enough to provoke Qin Zhou of Ping City…

Don’t you understand?

Even that long-haired cultivator from Yuanqing Mountain said it plainly: to provoke him is to court death.

If you still refuse to heed this warning, you truly have grown weary of life.

“Has Qilin Pavilion truly run its course?” murmured the proprietor, his gaze fixed on the plaque bearing the establishment’s name, suspended within the room. He remained lost in thought for a long while.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

When Qin Zhou arrived in the provincial capital, he’d already heard about Qilin Pavilion.

Rumor had it that the proprietor had gradually disbanded his vast team of alchemists, many of whom had defected to the Snowflake Pavilion.

Qilin Pavilion’s shops across the provincial capital had all shut their doors one by one.

“It was as if overnight, Qilin Pavilion—the largest elixir merchant in the provincial capital—vanished,” Zhou Shilin sighed. “The last time my men saw the owner of Qilin Pavilion, it was outside the city. Word is he left the provincial capital with his family, saying he was returning to his hometown to start a small business.”

“Young Master Qin, what do you think happened?” Zhou Shilin clearly hoped to glean some insight from Qin Zhou.

After all, Qilin Pavilion had been thriving just before the New Year. The only significant event in between was Fang Huai from the Sword Sect seeking out Qin Zhou. Shortly after that, Qilin Pavilion shut its doors for good.

Qin Zhou shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“If Young Master Qin was the one who took action, then I should thank him for eliminating this business rival. From now on, the provincial capital’s pill trade will be dominated solely by Snowflake Pavilion. I wonder if Young Master Qin has any interest in high-grade elixirs? If so, perhaps Snowflake Pavilion and Young Master Qin could conduct more business together.” With Qilin Pavilion gone, Snowflake Pavilion might take over the high-grade elixir trade.

Qin Zhou had no interest in Zhou Shilin’s business and was weary of playing along.

He had come to the provincial capital for his own purpose.

“I won’t take on the high-grade elixir business for now. Should Snowflake Pavilion expand into the upper realm in the future, I’ll consider cooperation.”

Zhou Shilin froze. “What do you mean, Young Master Qin? Are you heading to the upper realm?”

“Indeed. I shall depart shortly. My visit to Snowflake Pavilion was solely to inform Pavilion Master Zhou that I may no longer be in Ping City. Should any new elixir orders arise, please accumulate them. Once sufficient quantities are gathered, I shall handle them collectively.” With that, Qin Zhou flung half a sack of rice onto the table before Zhou Shilin. “This should easily cover the Pavilion Master’s sales for over half a year.”

Under Zhou Shilin’s stunned gaze, Qin Zhou opened the sack.

Inside lay pill after pill, each resembling a black pearl—and every single one was a second-tier precious-grade elixir.

Only with Qin Zhou could one see such precious-grade elixirs piled together like worthless sheep droppings.

Noticing his astonishment, Qin Zhou calmly stated, “These were all refined using my own alchemical materials. Based on the agreed-upon price for finished pills, I’d like to exchange them all for spirit stones.”

Zhou Shilin swallowed hard. “Young Master Qin, who exactly are you…” Before he could finish the words “what kind of person,” Zhou Shilin suddenly felt Wen Jue’s gaze behind Qin Zhou. He instinctively shuddered.

He understood then that there were many things he simply couldn’t ask about.

With the precedent of Qilin Pavilion, Zhou Shilin knew there were many matters beyond his questioning. Though he wasn’t certain whether Qilin Pavilion’s sudden disappearance was connected to Qin Zhou,

Merely the speculation was enough to fill him with dread.

Zhou Shilin sighed. “I’ll have someone calculate the payment immediately. I’ll take all these precious elixirs. Young Master Qin, if I need to contact you in the future…”

“Send word to the Qin residence in Ping City or to the Dragon-Phoenix Alchemy in the provincial capital,” Qin Zhou replied. “I always stay in Ping City for a while every few months. As for the Dragon-Phoenix Alchemy, I trust Snowflake Pavilion will lend its support.”

“Rest assured, Young Master Qin,” Zhou Shilin nodded in agreement.

“Then we shall take our leave.”

“Take your time.”

Watching Qin Zhou and Wen Jue depart Snowflake Pavilion, Zhou Shilin slowly sat down, a vague sense of unease settling in his chest. He hadn’t felt this kind of palpitation even when that cultivator surnamed Fang from the upper realm had come looking for him earlier.

“What do you think of his cultivation level now?” Zhou Shilin couldn’t help but ask his guards hidden in the shadows.

His shadow guards were all mid-to-late Foundation Establishment experts.

One shadow guard replied, “Master, our abilities are too low to gauge Young Master Qin’s strength. But we faintly sense the oppressive pressure emanating from his cultivation. We dare venture that Young Master Qin has already formed his Golden Core.”

Golden Core.

Zhou Shilin sighed. Just as he suspected.

Golden Core stage.

Who could believe that just months ago, when he last saw Qin Zhou, the other was merely at the Qi Cultivation stage? No… it should be said that in just a few short months, he had transformed from someone utterly devoid of talent into a Golden Core expert.

Zhou Shilin racked his brain, but could only conclude that Qin Zhou had been possessed by some powerful cultivator from the upper realm.

But upon considering this, he shook his head. Even a powerful being seeking a vessel would choose someone with innate talent—why would they select someone utterly devoid of it?

He preferred to believe Qin Zhou was destined for greatness.