Grandmaster Zhang watched Du Qiaokang, saying to the president of Du, "Please come in and take a seat!"
Du Qiaokang was overjoyed upon hearing this, he felt honored and stunned. It was such an honor to be personally invited by the Lord of the City, which would make him brag about it for half a lifetime! He wondered what orders the Lord had for him to come over.
Grandmaster Zhang glanced at Du Qiaokang and said, "President Du invited you over today because he wants to consult you on something!"
Du Qiaokang quickly replied, "There's nothing the Lord of the City could ask about that I wouldn't be completely forthright in answering. I will not hold back any information!"
Grandmaster Zhang nodded and asked, "President Du, I would like to ask about the high-level cultivation potions that can enhance one's strength. Are they easily available in terms of materials? What are the prices like for the materials?"
Du Qiaokang quickly bowed in a respectful gesture and said, "I apologize to the Lord of the City for my incapacity. High-level cultivation potions that enhance one's strength cannot be crafted by our alchemy association. We do not possess precious herbs either. Those herbs are too expensive for our association, so we are not very knowledgeable about their specific prices. I sincerely apologize to the Lord of the City for any inconvenience caused!"
Grandmaster Zhang and his companions shook their heads upon hearing this. If the president of the alchemy association doesn't know the prices, then who else could know them?
Grandmaster Zhang looked at Du Qiaokang and said, "President Du, have you not heard of this? Is it really that there are no such cultivation potions in the entire Taihuang Realm? That seems unlikely. Why is it that the strength of other cities has improved, while our Yundong City is always at the bottom among the ten cities in Taihuang Realm? Does this have anything to do with your alchemy association?"
Du Qiaokang's forehead beaded with sweat upon hearing this. He quickly bowed and said, "Please forgive me, Lord of the City. Our alchemy skills are also quite average, so naturally we cannot craft high-level cultivation potions. Every year at the Taihuang Realm Alchemy Competition, our Yundong City's Alchemy Association always comes in last place. I am very embarrassed by this, but I have no way to improve the situation since my own strength is insufficient. All I can do is leave with my tail between my legs. I am also a person who values face, but the herbs in our region are indeed very common. What else can I do? Seeking herbs in the Southern Mountains is akin to going to one's death, as there have been no survivors from those who have entered the mountains for all these years."
Grandmaster Zhang sighed and shook his head helplessly, "It seems that our Yundong City being at the bottom in all aspects is indeed due to some reasons. We are truly a weakling for thousands of years!" He said, "I can understand that you, President Du, cannot craft high-level cultivation potions. However, you don't even know the prices of the materials used in high-level cultivation potions. This seems a bit unacceptable! Don't you communicate with other alchemy associations? Or are you afraid to communicate with others? Is there really no high-level cultivation potion with enhanced strength in the Taihuang Realm Alchemy Conference? "
Du Qiaokang quickly bowed in a respectful gesture and said, "It is all my fault, Lord of the City. I thought I couldn't craft high-level cultivation potions and that knowing so much would be useless, so I rarely communicate with others. Please forgive me for any inconvenience caused!"
Grandmaster Zhang nearly lost his temper and was about to slap Du Qiaokang several times. "President Du, you truly have enlightened me! The lack of overall strength in our Yundong City is directly related to the head of your alchemy association. If your alchemy association could craft or purchase high-level cultivation potions, could our city's strength be as it is now? Soldiers are cowardly one by one, and commanders are cowardly in a crowd. If you, as the head of the alchemy association, are like this, how could the whole association be any better? Go back and reflect on yourself well. Let the vice-president handle the position of the head of the alchemy association for now, and directly appoint a suitable person as the head when the time comes!"
Du Qiaokang nodded quickly upon hearing this and said, "I will go back and announce it immediately. As for the head of the alchemy association, I have someone in mind, but unfortunately, that person does not seem interested in the alchemy association. Thus, my invitation has not been successful."
Grandmaster Zhang showed interest upon hearing this and asked, "Who is he from, and why does he not want to participate in the alchemy association or become its head? Does he have better prospects elsewhere?"
Du Qiaokang nodded quickly in response, "The person I'm talking about is the sworn brother of General Qian. His alchemy skills are several times better than mine. I dare to exaggerate and say that his alchemy level could be called master-level in the Taihuang Realm, and his alchemy techniques are among the top three. I have no ability to make him join the alchemy association, so I haven't reported it either!"
Grandmaster Zhang was so angry that he wanted to curse him. "Du Qiaokang, you fool! You think you can't let him join the alchemy association, but do you think others can't? Why didn't you report it earlier? If you had reported it earlier, I would have made him the head of the alchemy association a long time ago. General Qian is his sworn brother, and he will listen to his big brother no matter what. Even if General Qian cannot persuade him, there are the four great families in Yundong City: Jiang family, Xiao family, Ding family, and Tuoba family. With so many people advising him, I believe he should agree! You are truly a waste of resources! General Qian, I think this matter still needs you to step in. Otherwise, there is no hope for our Yundong City!"
Qian Xiaoyong nodded upon hearing this, "Lord of the City, I can discuss this with my brother Wenjie. However, I must say this in advance: If the people of Yundong City help Ye Qiuyang and pressure my brother to break off his engagement with the Xiao family, Qian Xiaoyong will not agree. It won't matter if I help everyone craft high-level cultivation potions; even if I kneel and beg, it won't be effective!"
Grandmaster Zhang looked at everyone and said, "Has everyone heard? General Qian's words are my words. If anyone dares to help the evil and harm my people in this matter, don't blame me for being ungracious towards them; I will expel them from Yundong City directly! You all may have conflicts with each other, and I won't interfere or favor any side. But if anyone dares to unite with outsiders to confront the people of Yundong City, don't blame me, Zhang Chengren, for turning a blind eye! Mo Wenjie is not only General Qian's sworn brother but also the son-in-law of the four great families of Yundong City. He might also be the head of the Yundong City Alchemy Association. Who dares to be unpleasant with him is being unpleasant with me! Do you all understand?"
Liu Servant immediately stated his position, "Lord of the City, please rest assured. Although I have some differences with General Qian, it's just an internal conflict. I don't even know if I like General Qian, much less betray him by selling his sworn brother. Ye Qiuyang did approach me and asked me to provide information on Xiao Yawen, offering me ten million spirit stones as compensation. I immediately informed Lord of the City about this and followed your arrangements. There was no money involved in this matter; I kept half of it for myself and the other half we used to buy everyone dinner until it was finished!"
Huang Daoling laughed heartily upon hearing this, "I said that Liu Servant is a miser, but why did he suddenly become generous? It seems he has found a fat sheep!" I think Liu Servant, you have kept five million spirit stones too much. Although you still need to deal with Ye Qiuyang, it's just a few words. I think the tea money for one million spirit stones is more than enough. The rest can be stored in Xianke! We can come and eat anytime!"
Liu Servant chuckled upon hearing this, "Chief Minister Huang, you're quite cunning, aren't you? The Lord of the City has already let bygones be bygones and given me fifty thousand spirit stones. You're asking for eighty percent of that! How can you be so greedy? Sir Liang, why don't you speak some justice here?"
Liang Junwei shook his head and said, "Both of you have valid points. I will remain silent for now. Silence is indeed golden."
Grandmaster Zhang laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Feel free to argue among yourselves! I will definitely not interfere!"
Qian Xiaoyong looked at Liu Servant after hearing this and said, "I think Chief Minister Huang is right. You, Liu Servant, are just a messenger. It's actually my brother Wenjie who should receive the money. Without my brother Wenjie, would Ye Qiuyang have given you any money? If Xiao Yawen wasn't engaged to my brother Wenjie, Ye Qiuyang would have gone to propose marriage directly. There's no need to go through you at all. You've already earned more than enough by taking one million spirit stones. Be content with that!"
Liang Junwei nodded and said, "I think General Qian's words make sense. As a person, we cannot be too greedy; we need to be satisfied with what we have. I think your five thousand spirit stones are just right for the five of us to share, each getting one thousand. However, Lord of the City is sure to look down upon this amount. Therefore, we will distribute it among ourselves and each get twenty-five hundred spirit stones. In this way, Lord of the City will receive one thousand two hundred and five hundred spirit stones, while I and General Qian will each receive one thousand two hundred and fifty spirit stones. This matter can then be considered resolved!"
Liu Servant looked at Liang Junwei and said, "I think Master Liang is even darker than them. He's the real outlaw!"
Huang Daoling chuckled, "I think Master Liang's calculations are sound. It's indeed time to distribute it this way. Just give it to us as Master Liang calculated, and we will not argue over who is right or wrong. Even if it's wrong, you can keep a little extra for yourself. It's of no importance!"
Seeing this, Liu Servant really wanted to run away, but how could he possibly escape? With no other choice, he decided to be a "lucky scapegoat" and thought, "Fine! Forget about it. I'll just give you the money instead of arguing."
Grandmaster Zhang watched them argue and just laughed heartily! The people of Yundong City should be like this. We can resolve internal conflicts among ourselves, but we must be united as one. No one can do anything that is against the interests of Yundong City!
Suddenly, the door to the VIP room was pushed open, and Ye Qiuyang stepped in. "Do you all have so much free time? You have time to come here and enjoy food and drinks, but not a moment to deal with my affairs? What does this mean, Lord Zhang? Are you ignoring my grandfather's words? Or is it because I haven't given you a gift that you're not willing to help me? My grandfather has sent someone to deliver a gift to you; they are on their way and will be here soon. You should hurry up and help me find Xiao Yawen!"
Liu Servant looked at Ye Qiuyang and said, "Is this kid really stupid? This is in Yundong City. How dare he talk to the city lord like this? If it were anywhere else, he might not take the city lord so lightly!"
Huang Daoling frowned upon hearing this, "Ye Qiuyang, how dare you speak to the Lord of the City like that! You're incredibly bold and reckless. How can you not respect the Lord of the City?"
Master Liang also took offense, "Ye Qiuyang, what do you think you are? Even if your grandfather wouldn't dare speak to our City Lord like this. You're being too audacious!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Qiuyang laughed loudly, "I am the son-in-law of the Starry City. In the Grand Domain, I am well-known. In the eyes of the Lord of Yundong City, what do you people in Yundong City matter?"
