The upper realm had indeed been somewhat restless during this time. Even clans that rarely involved themselves in secular affairs had begun to move.

The instigator, Jun Changxiao, didn’t know that because of him, the entire world had become filled with undercurrents. At this moment, he was peacefully continuing to farm and make money in the sect.

With minimal capital investment yielding enormous profits, if the Eternal Pill Shop continued to develop, the wealth it accumulated would definitely be extremely terrifying.

Even if development reached the point where wealth became just a pile of numbers, who would complain about having too much money?

Therefore, Jun Changxiao began to consider whether to open branch stores in other cities, or perhaps establish other industries?

“No good.”

“Not enough manpower, insufficient materials.”

“Better to first develop the pill shop in Linyuan City, then consider expanding operations.”

After all, it wasn’t like the Pill Pavilion with one-click automated refining. The pill supply required sufficient manpower. Currently, only Feng Guichen in the sect could pitifully refine pills—they couldn’t keep making him work nine-nine-seven shifts.

“Sect Master.”

Li Luoqiu walked into the great hall and said: “Young Master Yuan sent word that many families operating in medicinal materials are willing to establish long-term cooperative relationships with us.”

The upper realm version of Patriarch Ai had not only arrived, but arrived in a large group. How unexpected!

During this month, the Eternal Pill Shop had already become popular throughout the surrounding area. Any medicinal material merchant with decent vision hoped to provide medicinal material supplies for them.

“Tell Old Yuan he can cooperate with them, but the medicinal materials must be supplied according to our requirements,” Jun Changxiao said.

Ordinary medicinal materials definitely couldn’t refine high-quality pills. The reason for still purchasing them was that they could be used to refine First-Turn Sculpting Pills.

Using materials nurtured by Nourishing Soil to refine high-multiplier pills for the main market to earn more profits for the sect, using ordinary materials for system pill refining to strengthen disciple strength—this calculation was precise and meticulous.

Li Luoqiu hurriedly sent the message to Linyuan City. After Young Master Yuan received it, he immediately summoned the heads of several medicinal material-operating families and began serious negotiations.

To put it bluntly—haggling!

After an hour of discussion, the heads of each family walked out dazed. They swore in their hearts that having mingled in the commercial world for so long, they’d never seen someone so stingy!

…

Several days later.

Large batches of medicinal materials were transported from Linyuan City.

After Jun Changxiao inventoried them one by one, he said in surprise: “The prices are this cheap?”

If Gou Sheng knew that Young Master Yuan at the negotiating table had sprayed saliva everywhere while haggling, nearly making people cry, he’d understand why they were so cheap.

“Swoosh!”

He opened the Pill Pavilion, matched the Sculpting Pill quantity, and began one-click automated production.

After a period of time, the pills were all refined. Jun Changxiao couldn’t help but sigh with emotion: “Cheating is still more convenient!”

The system said: “If host sells these pills, the profits brought will definitely be even higher.”

“I want to too.”

Jun Changxiao rolled his eyes and said: “The disciples haven’t all been equipped yet—where would there be extras to sell?”

…

The freshly produced Sculpting Pills were distributed one after another, benefiting more disciples who continued to devote their thoughts to cultivation.

Having ascended for several months now, the Eternal Sect’s overall strength could be said to be rising steadily, but it still couldn’t compare with Profound-level sects, since the top-tier strength only had the Black and White Demons supporting it.

“How can we become stronger faster?” Jun Changxiao pondered.

“Simple.”

The system said: “Farm the shop!”

Jun Changxiao said helplessly: “I want to farm too, but my strength doesn’t allow it!”

During this time, there hadn’t been any tasks. Contribution value remained stuck at forty thousand—truly a case of a clever wife unable to cook without rice.

“Staying at home every day without going out, how can tasks come!”

“Ding! Side quest triggered!”

System: “…”

“If you can talk, say more!” Jun Changxiao said. “Whether I can become stronger in the future depends entirely on you, the Face-Slapping Jinx System.”

Opening the system panel, the task content was—attend the sect symposium to be held at Lingfeng Mountain at the beginning of next month.

“This simple?”

Jun Changxiao looked dumbfounded.

Not fighting monsters, not leveling up, just going to attend a symposium—the task was really not difficult at all!

The system muttered: “Though the task is simple, with host’s personality, it’s definitely going to become an extraordinary symposium.”

“Impossible.”

Jun Changxiao said confidently: “I’ll just go listen to how the big shots from various sects brag. I absolutely won’t provoke trouble.”

Actually, whether in the lower realm or upper realm, various major sects holding seminars today or symposiums tomorrow was very normal. After all, everyone in the same circle needed to exchange ideas.

Jun Changxiao, newly arrived and unfamiliar with people and places, would naturally be willing to go broaden his horizons even if not for the task.

“Lingfeng Mountain…”

Taking out the map and confirming the location, he said: “Not too far. Setting out now, we should be able to arrive by the beginning of the month.”

With the side quest appearing, Jun Changxiao had motivation. That very day, he began arranging sect internal affairs and decided to set out tomorrow morning.

Learning he was going to attend a meeting between sects, Hua Meigui asked repeatedly: “Do they recognize you? Did they let you attend?”

“Well…”

Jun Changxiao shrugged nonchalantly and said: “We’ll see when we get there!”

Hua Meigui said: “I’m afraid you won’t get to attend the meeting but will instead be collectively targeted and bring back a whole mess of trouble!”

“Just kidding!”

Jun Changxiao said proudly: “My master is Tonggu Zhenren—who dares collectively target me!”

At this moment, Tonggu Zhenren, far away playing chess with a friend, gradually felt a subtle sense of foreboding in his heart, though its degree was still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from what Taixuan Elder experienced.

“Strange.”

Placing down a chess piece, he said puzzled: “Why do I feel uneasy?”

The friend sitting across, holding a chess piece, said seriously: “Recently, various major clans have emerged one after another. This already restless world will probably have new turmoil.”

Tonggu Zhenren smiled and said: “Such matters have nothing to do with us, so naturally there’s no need to concern ourselves.”

“Alas.”

His friend shook his head and said: “I’m afraid when the time comes, it’ll be difficult to truly remain uninvolved and avoid being dragged in.”

With that, he placed down his piece.

“Then you underestimate my dao heart,” Tonggu Zhenren said with a smile, that air of being carefree and seeing through the mortal world becoming even stronger.

“By the way.”

His friend asked: “I heard you and Gu Hong set a battle agreement, having disciples fight as proxies to decide victory?”

“Correct.”

Tonggu Zhenren nodded.

His friend said: “Since you can come play chess with this old man, you must have already found a suitable disciple?”

“Indeed.”

“What’s their aptitude?”

Mentioning his newly accepted disciple, Tonggu Zhenren’s face showed a smile as he said: “Carrying an entire sect-bearing mountain, withstanding the Ten Thousand Tribulations Thunder Formation to ascend—what do you think of this disciple of mine? Does he have a future?”

“Oh?”

His friend said in surprise: “That’s the great mountain that caused heaven and earth phenomena earlier?”

“Indeed.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, you’ve accepted a hot potato.”

“What do you mean?”

“Bringing an entire sect to forcibly ascend truly violates the heavenly dao. Even if he passed the Ten Thousand Tribulations Thunder Formation, he’ll inevitably be watched by the Realm Hall. If he commits any mistakes in the future, you as his master will definitely have to clean up after him.”

“This…”

Tonggu Zhenren’s smile gradually froze.

Though he didn’t care about the Realm Hall, after all, it was the organization that openly managed the entire world. If they really insisted on targeting his disciple, then that would be… let them try!

—