The Ai Family, main hall.

Ai Family Head Ai Shangni was discussing the medicinal materials business from the past few days with several elders, his face occasionally breaking into smiles.

Ai Shangke and another elder also wore expressions full of smiles.

During this period, many cities and sects had come to purchase medicinal materials. Business was extremely booming, and profits were stronger than in previous years, so naturally their moods were quite good.

“Family Head, have you heard about the Tiegu Sect disciples winning the championship at the sect martial competition?”

With official business concluded, Ai Shangke began making casual conversation.

Ai Shangni took a sip of tea and said, “I heard about it.”

“Third Brother, you really weren’t wrong—this Tiegu Sect is no simple matter!” Second Elder Ai Shangfang said.

Ai Shangni said, “Four disciples sweeping the top four places in the sect martial competition—this is unprecedented in history. For the Tiegu Sect to accomplish this is definitely no coincidence.”

“Moreover.”

He paused, then said in a heavy voice, “The Lingquan Sect was also destroyed by the Tiegu Sect Master.”

“What?” Ai Shangke and Ai Shangfang exclaimed in shock.

The two of them had been in secluded cultivation these past few days, so their information had stopped at the Tiegu Sect’s championship victory.

Ai Shangni said, “That Jun Changxiao went up Lingquan Mountain alone, killed Wei Yixi, Wei Yinu, and over thirty disciples, then set fire to the Lingquan Sect.”

“That’s way too reckless!” Ai Shangfang said, eyes wide.

Ai Shangke said, “The Lingquan Sect has connections with the Shengquan Sect. For the Tiegu Sect to destroy it—isn’t that seeking death?”

Ai Shangfang continued, “Not just the Shengquan Sect. In my view, the Hundred Clans Alliance won’t let the Tiegu Sect off either, since the alliance has regulations that members must not commit sect annihilation.”

Ai Shangni said, “Yesterday, Alliance Leader Qin held an alliance meeting at the Star Moon Tower. They should be discussing how to punish the Tiegu Sect.”

“Flutter, flutter!”

A carrier pigeon flew over and landed on the tea table, with a small bamboo tube tied to its leg.

Ai Shangni removed it, saying, “News has arrived from Qingyang City.”

Opening it to look, his facial expression froze, his eyes revealing a look of astonishment.

“Family Head, what is it?” Ai Shangfang asked.

Ai Shangni tossed the letter over. Ai Shangke also leaned in to look. After both men read it, expressions of surprise similarly appeared on their faces.

The letter contained just a few sparse lines, the content being: The Tiegu Sect Master severely injured the Long Blade Sect Master with two moves.

“Severely injured Shen Tong, a ninth-grade Wutu, with two moves?”

Ai Shangfang exclaimed in shock, “Could that Tiegu Sect Master possibly be a Wushi?”

Ai Shangke recalled the scene of exchanging blows with Jun Changxiao, his expression grave. “No wonder his speed was so fast—turns out he’s a Wushi!”

The speed of those lingering afterimages remained imprinted in his heart, never fading. Every time he thought about it, his back ran cold, because if there had been killing intent at that time, he would have died many times over.

Ai Shangni remained silent for a moment, then said, “This Tiegu Sect is no ordinary matter!”

Initially, when Ai Shangke was defeated, he had still been unable to contain his anger and had almost been unable to restrain himself from leading people to the Tiegu Sect for revenge.

And now?

His attitude had changed.

Destroying the Lingquan Sect, severely injuring the Long Blade Sect Master—this represented that Jun Changxiao was no simple person!

The Ai Family was in business to begin with and emphasized harmony as most precious. The Tiegu Sect’s recent performance had been astonishing, so naturally they needed to consider carefully.

Ai Shangke said, “Family Head, for a sect like this, our Ai Family should befriend them if we can. If we can’t befriend them, we absolutely cannot make enemies of them.”

“That makes sense.” Ai Shangfang agreed.

“This is bad!”

Just then, a servant rushed in, flustered and panicked. “Master, Elders, someone is causing trouble at the medicinal materials shop!”

Ai Shangke and Ai Shangfang shot up from their seats with a swoosh, their eyes flashing with fury.

The Ai Family had been established in Huyang City for hundreds of years, and this was the first time anyone dared to cause trouble at their medicinal materials shop!

Ai Shangni said in a heavy voice, “What happened?”

The servant said urgently, “A guy claiming to be the Tiegu Sect Master beat up… beat up our shop guards!”

“What?”

Ai Shangke and Ai Shangfang’s mouths fell open.

Just moments ago they had been discussing Jun Changxiao, saying they should befriend him if possible, and if not, at least not make enemies—and now he’d come directly to their shop to cause trouble. This was just a bit… screwed up!

“Let’s go.”

Ai Shangni rose and headed out.

…

At the entrance of the Ai Family medicinal materials shop, a crowd of martial artists had gathered, sometimes pointing at the shop interior, sometimes discussing among themselves—total spectators eating metaphorical melon.

“That’s right, it’s the Tiegu Sect Master!”

“Strange—why would he be in Huyang City instead of at the Tiegu Sect?”

“The Ai Family has been established in this city for hundreds of years. No one has ever dared cause trouble here. This Tiegu Sect Master’s guts are really big enough.”

“If his guts were small, could he have destroyed the Lingquan Sect?”

“Someone already went to notify the Ai Family. There’ll be a good show to watch soon.”

“They’re coming, they’re coming! The Ai Family Head and elders are coming!”

Someone shouted.

The numerous martial artists all turned their heads in unison to see the Ai Family Head leading two elders striding over urgently, their expressions extremely serious.

“Swish!”

“Swish!”

The three members of the Ai family—Ai Shangni and the others—strode into the medicinal materials shop to find Ai Family martial artists clutching their stomachs and lying on the ground, apparently beaten so badly they couldn’t stand up.

“Elder Ai.”

Suddenly, a voice came from the reception hall. “We meet again.”

Jun Changxiao sat in a chair with his legs crossed, while the manager called Ma Zheng stood beside him clutching his face.

His calves were trembling violently because the Azure Dragon Glaive was pressed against his neck. The slightest movement and his head might part ways with his body.

Ai Shangni’s expression darkened.

His subordinates and manager beaten into such a state—this was truly going too far!

Ai Shangke said in a heavy voice, “Sect Master Jun, what do you mean by this?”

Jun Changxiao glanced at the trembling Manager Ma and said, “This one came to your esteemed shop to discuss business with your Ai Family, but the manager ordered people to seize this one, so I could only defend myself.”

Hearing this, the three members of the Ai family understood.

Ai Shangke cupped his hands. “Sect Master Jun, whatever you have to say can be said properly. Please put down the blade first.”

If they hadn’t heard about him severely injuring the Long Blade Sect Master, they definitely wouldn’t be this courteous.

“That’s more like it.”

Jun Changxiao withdrew his blade, saying, “If he had been as polite as Elder Ai, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.”

“Thud.”

With the blade no longer at his neck, Manager Ma collapsed directly to the ground, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

…

The injured martial artists had been carried away, and the still-shaken Manager Ma had also been helped away. The entire shop now contained only Jun Changxiao and the three Ai Family higher-ups.

The four sat in the reception hall, the atmosphere slightly solemn.

Ai Shangni suppressed his displeasure and spoke. “Sect Master Jun wants to discuss business with my Ai Family?”

“Correct.”

Jun Changxiao said, “A very large business deal.”

“What kind of business?” Ai Shangni’s interest was piqued.

Heaven is vast, earth is vast, but business is the greatest—the Ai Family’s consistent principle.

Jun Changxiao placed a piece of paper on the table, saying, “The medicinal materials written on this—however much your Ai Family has, this one wants that much.”

Ai Shangni and the two elders exchanged glances, then picked up the paper. The medicinal materials written on it totaled twelve types, including common ones and rare ones.

“Sect Master Jun.”

He raised his head and said, “You’re certain you want however much we have?”

From the Ai Family Head’s eyes, Jun Changxiao could tell that the Ai Family should have quite a lot of the medicinal materials he needed, so he said extremely seriously, “Correct. However much you have, I want that much.”

Ai Shangni said, “Sect Master Jun, just speaking of the rarest of these materials—the Tihua Leaf—my Ai Family has over two hundred stalks. Buying them all would cost no small sum.”

Over two hundred stalks?

Jun Changxiao’s heart surged with considerable waves.

The Qi Spiral Pill required three types of materials. The first two were relatively easy to obtain, but the Tihua Leaf alone was hard to find. For the Ai Family to have over two hundred stalks—if he bought them all, he could refine over two hundred Qi Spiral Pills in no time!

“I’ll take them all.” Jun Changxiao said without hesitation.

For the materials for all four types of pills, even if he had to sell everything down to the cooking pots, he had to obtain them.

Ai Shangni calculated on his fingers, narrowing his eyes. After some reckoning, he said, “Sect Master Jun, if you want all the medicinal materials listed above, you’ll need to pay at least one hundred thousand taels.”

One hundred thousand taels?

Jun Changxiao folded his hands and smiled. “No problem.”