“On the sixteenth, the Zhang family is hosting an Immortal Pill Gathering. Their aim is to loudly proclaim that the Zhangs now possess an alchemist, and from this day forward, they too will claim a share of the profits from the trade in Spiritual Pills. Word is they’ve invited numerous cultivators from the immortal sects to attend and admire this gathering.”

The Zhangs even used the gathering’s name to invite our family. Anyone with eyes can see this is a declaration of war. The loser must leave Ping City… Those Zhangs talk a big game.

If we refuse, the people of Ping City will laugh at us—and that’s the least of it. Word will spread to cultivators everywhere, and our Spiritual Pill will become unsellable. For merchants, losing reputation means losing everything. But accepting this challenge means we must compete. Victory brings joy for all, but defeat… well, our pill business will be finished.”

On the surface, it seemed aimed at driving out the Qin family, but the real intent was to directly ruin their pill business, then seamlessly take over those herbal suppliers and the intricate network of merchants behind them.

Zhang’s confidence likely stemmed from having summoned a formidable figure to ensure victory. Settling the Immortal Pill Gathering in mere days suggested preparations to counter them had long been underway.

Though the Qin family had backing from the immortal sect, still…

“It’s too late to send someone to the provincial capital now to seek help from the immortal sect!” Madam Qin slammed her hand on the table. “That old fox Zhang Hesheng! Just because the master isn’t in Ping City, he thinks my son and I are easy to bully!”

“We have the pills refined by our young master! This so-called Immortal Pill Gathering—we might not lose after all!” The shopkeeper was equally furious.

Though furious, Madam Qin didn’t make a decision immediately. She turned to Qin Zhou, who had remained silent, and asked, “Son, what do you think?”

Qin Zhou: “Accept the challenge.”

Qin Zhou had risen to the position of project manager precisely because he wasn’t the impulsive type. Attending that trap-laden banquet without knowing their opponent’s hand was indeed risky.

But playing the coward was even less his style.

He also needed to settle the score with Zhang Heming for broadcasting his civil service exam failure across the entire city, turning it into gossip among Ping City’s elders.

The contest was about alchemy, and in this field, Qin Zhou had considerable confidence.

His steady tone pulled the agitated mood of those present back to calm.

“My son… are you certain?” Madam Qin asked uncertainly.

“Yes.”

That single word settled her heart. Perhaps they wouldn’t necessarily lose at this banquet set by the Zhang family.

“Then go,” Madam Qin declared decisively. Yet she hesitated, turning to her son. “But Qin Zhou, there’s something I must tell you first.”

Qin Zhou lifted his head, waiting for Madam Qin’s words.

“At that Immortal Pill Gathering, there will be many voices. Some may envy or resent you. If they speak harshly, treat it as wind passing by your ears. Words from unimportant people need not linger in your mind, understand?”

Qin Zhou paused, then nodded lightly. “I understand.” After a moment, he added, “Mother, I no longer let such things trouble me.”

The lady nodded with satisfaction. “If you ask me, this Immortal Pill Gathering is simply a banquet for my son to shine.” So what if he lacked cultivation talent? Her son was a pill master! Not a cultivator, but a pill master—a feat unprecedented in history!

“Mother, the origin of the Spiritual Pill must not be disclosed,” Qin Zhou cut off his mother’s daydreaming without mercy.

Madam Qin froze, then realized, “You mean…”

“The Qin family also has a benefactor. This benefactor is no less powerful than the Zhang family. That’s all that needs to be said.”

Hearing this, Madam Qin and the shopkeeper exchanged a glance.

“My son speaks wisely,” Madam Qin nodded.

The shopkeeper also bowed his head. “Rest assured, Madam and Young Master. I shall keep this secret. I will also ensure the servants present at the alchemy shop that day remain silent.”

Both he and the mistress knew the young master likely harbored some secrets… Support from influential patrons? Well, who could argue with that?

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

That afternoon, a servant from the Qin household arrived at the Zhang residence.

“He’s here on behalf of our mistress and young master. We’ve accepted the invitation sent by the Zhang household. Representatives from the Qin residence will attend the Immortal Pill Gathering.”

When this news reached the Zhang father and son, their reactions diverged.

Zhang Heming was astonished. “They dared accept? Father, didn’t you make it clear? The loser must leave Ping City.”

“The Qins have no choice,” Zhang Hesheng said, sipping his tea with a smile. “Refuse today, and tomorrow all of Ping City will know that the Qins are too cowardly to fight. Why would they refuse? Because their pills aren’t as good as ours. Ruin their reputation, and the Qins can’t do business. Not only will no one buy their medicine, but even the herbal merchants and the Immortals above will look down on them. Tell me, how could they refuse?”

“Father, so you had already thought this through when you sent that challenge letter?” Zhang Heming’s eyes brimmed with admiration.

This move left the Qin family with no escape route whatsoever.

“It’s a pity Qin Haishan isn’t here. Had he been present, with the backing of that immortal sect, I might have had to weigh my options carefully.”

“Speaking of which, where has Qin Haishan gone?”

“Still in the provincial capital, scrambling for help for his son’s immortal path. By the time he gets word and rushes back to Ping City, the Immortal Pill Assembly will be over.” Zhang Hesheng sneered. “Qin Haishan always kept me down, yet his son turned out to be a useless good-for-nothing.”

His son was a good-for-nothing in daily life, but when it came to cultivating talent, he truly brought shame upon himself.

“After the Immortal Pill Gathering, you’ll follow the Immortal into the mountains and study diligently. Remember this well: ruling over Ping City is useless. In this world, ascending the Immortal Path is the only way to rise above others.”

Zhang Heming nodded firmly. “Father, rest assured.”

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Amidst the Zhang family’s eager anticipation, the day of the Immortal Pill Assembly arrived swiftly.

Unlike the provincial capital, Ping City lacked resident envoys from various immortal sects or the talent assessments held every few years. It was said that residents of the provincial capital often witnessed cultivators flying through the skies on swords, a sight long taken for granted. Ping City, however, lay far from the provincial capital, and cultivators were rarely seen in daily life. For this Immortal Pill Gathering, the Zhang family had invited many guests. While few could be seen flying on swords, quite a few cultivators arrived wearing the uniform robes of their respective sects.

In an instant, the Immortal Pill Gathering commenced, and Ping City came alive with excitement.

“Where are you guys headed?”

“Off to the Immortal Pill Gathering to see the divine cultivators!”

“Hey, stop dawdling! Are you coming or not? If you’re not, I’m leaving without you! Everyone says the immortals are incredibly beautiful!”

“It’s not just the immortals. I heard two alchemy shops are competing today, with those immortals as judges. The loser has to leave Ping City!”

The venue was the tavern next to the Zhang family’s pill shop.

Perched along Ping City’s moat, the tavern offered ample space and splendid views.

The Qin family’s shop wasn’t far either. Yet today’s excitement belonged solely to the Immortal Pill Gathering.

Zhang Heming stood before the inn, greeting guests, dressed impeccably with his hair meticulously combed, showing not a trace of his usual playboy demeanor.

Yet when the Qin family carriage appeared, the veneer of his polite facade cracked slightly.

Qin Zhou, you finally showed up.

I thought you might hide like a turtle.

Zhang Heming thought to himself, still smiling as he stepped forward.

But the person stepping out of the carriage wasn’t Qin Zhou.

The curtain slid open. Chen San descended from the carriage, approached Zhang Heming, and handed him an invitation. “Young Master Zhang, this is the challenge letter the Zhang household sent to my master. We accept.”

“We’ll settle this with pills. The loser must leave Ping City with their entire household and shop.” Chen San’s voice remained steady.

Zhang Heming nearly lost his composure, his voice rising sharply. “You sent only a servant?! Where is Qin Zhou?!”

The Qin family sent a mere lackey to attend the Immortal pill Gathering?!

This was nothing short of trampling the Zhang family’s dignity underfoot!

The surrounding crowd, already alerted by the mention of “challenge,” had turned their gaze this way. Now, learning that the Qin family had sent merely a shop assistant to the appointment, they all froze in stunned silence.

Was this an outright declaration of hostility?

“Young Master Zhang, please calm down. I’ve brought all the required pills. My master is indisposed and unable to attend. Please forgive his absence.” Chen San offered a forced smile.

His words sounded insincere.

Yet they did calm Zhang Heming’s agitated nerves.

Could Qin Zhou really have lost his mind after being trapped in that cursed mountain for so long? Then again, if he hadn’t, why would he not show up?

Still, sending only a servant was a clear show of intimidation.

Zhang Heming sneered coldly, “Enter.”

Chen San’s heart trembled. He’d never handled a situation like this before. But remembering his young master’s instructions, he took a deep breath and walked in steadily, flanked by two guards.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

A massive stage stood at the inn’s center. The second floor was encircled by Ping City’s dignitaries, while commoners gathered below to watch the spectacle. On the third floor, immortals sat in their distinctive silk robes and Taoist gowns, surveying everything from above.

Some gazed upward in astonishment—these immortals were all young men.

“Though the Immortal Lords appear youthful, their combined age might surpass all of us here.”

“I see.”

Unmoved by the murmurs below, the cultivators fixed their gaze on Chen San’s position.

“That’s Zhang Hesheng’s rival. He stormed in demanding a duel, only to be sent a mere servant.”

“The Qins are acting with reckless arrogance. I must admit, I find it somewhat admirable.”

“Admirable? The Qins are backed by the Yaoyue Sect—our sworn enemy. The pills for the Zhangs were forged by Junior Brother Jin Ming. If they lose…”

Before he could finish, Junior Brother Jin Ming shot him a cold glare.

The speaking senior brother hastily took a step back. “Look at me… talking nonsense, haha… Junior Brother is the most skilled alchemist in our Yaoshan Sect! There’s absolutely no chance he could lose!”

Hearing this, Jin Ming snorted coldly.

The senior disciple felt a chill of fear. Among cultivators, alchemists were the ones you absolutely couldn’t afford to offend. And this haughty junior brother happened to be the most gifted among them.

Enough, enough.

“Jin Ming, once today’s matter is settled, you will accompany me back to the sect.” Among the Daoists, the eldest senior disciple spoke with a stern expression.

Jin Ming: “I know.”

“That pill master from Yaoyue Sect really has no sense. Of all people to provoke, he had to pick on our junior brother.” Someone chuckled.

Jin Ming possessed exceptional talent in pill refinement, but his temperament had grown wildly unruly. Hearing a single word of defiance from Yaoyue Sect’s pill master, he stubbornly insisted on settling the matter through competition. Just then, Zhang Hesheng approached, proposing a contest of skill with the Qin family shop affiliated with the Yaoyue Sect.

Jin Ming seized the opportunity and readily agreed.

Taking down a mortal apothecary shop would both humiliate the Yaoyue Sect and preserve surface-level harmony—which is precisely why the senior disciple consented.

Ultimately, when immortals clash, mortals suffer the fallout.

Little did they know their opponent today was no ordinary foe.