Qin Changsheng frowned, "That girl loves to play tricks."
"But if she wants to go up against my Qin Family, she'd better have real skills."
Before he could finish his words,
Chen Silin's lips curved into a faint smile as she straightforwardly said, "Starting today, our Chen Family will be offering top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid in limited quantities!"
With that, she lifted the red cloth off the tray.
A single bottle of top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid was unveiled for all to see.
The scene immediately erupted into deafening commotion.
"Top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid! It's really top-grade! One bottle's effect equals five bottles of low-grade!"
"That's the pinnacle spiritual medicine that only disciples of the Green Cloud Sect have access to, and now it's available here in Lonely Boat City!"
"The Chen Family is defying heaven itself!"
Qin Changsheng's pupils trembled violently.
"The Chen Family, where did Chen Family get their hands on top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid?"
This was even more devastating than the mid-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid that had appeared out of nowhere ten years ago.
*But he couldn't make sense of it—how did the Chen Family suddenly bring forth top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid overnight?*
He started to panic, watching as all the customers in front of his booth swarmed toward the opposing side. In desperation, he screamed:
"Everyone, calm down! Top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid is worth at least fifty thousand taels of silver. Are you sure you can afford it?"
This statement caused many impulsive martial artists to pause in their steps, their faces showing a hint of embarrassment.
Indeed, how precious was top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid? It wasn't something an average person could afford. Better to honestly purchase low-grade or mid-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid.
However, Chen Silin's lips curled slightly as she said, "To thank loyal customers for their support of the Chen Family over the years."
"We announce that, for one month only, the price of top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid will be… twelve thousand taels of silver!"
She had carefully calculated this.
Of the twelve thousand taels, ten thousand would be paid to the senior soul master, one thousand would cover material costs, and the Chen Family would eke out a modest profit of one thousand taels.
Although the profit was small, it was enough to crush the Qin Family. That was all that mattered!
"What!? Top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid for only twelve thousand?"
"This price is even lower than the Qin Family's mid-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid at thirteen thousand!"
"Any fool would buy it!"
"I'll take one."
"I want one too!"
"Qin Family Head, the low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid I just bought from your booth—forget it, return my money!"
"Refund! Hurry up and refund!"
The crowd exploded into chaos. One group rushed toward the Chen Family's booth, throwing ten-thousand-tael silver notes.
Another surged toward the Qin Family's booth, demanding bulk returns and refunds.
The chaotic scene lasted until dusk.
*Qin Changsheng stared at the low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquids piled high on his booth, his bloodshot eyes filled with despair. "Why is this happening? Why?"*
*He couldn't understand where the Chen Family had sourced their top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid—and sold it so cheaply, no less.*
*It felt like it was targeted directly at his Qin Family.*
Grinding his teeth, he growled, "Chen Silin, no matter who backs you, you're still too inexperienced to bring down my Qin Family!"
He stood up and snorted, "I've supported Lu Zheng immensely; he should bring out his Tao Guardian and help the Qin Family now!"
Behind the Chen Family booth, in a temporary tent,
Jiang Fan sipped tea to moisten his throat.
By the end of the day, he had crafted fifty bottles of top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid and ten bottles of top-level Qi Cultivation Liquid.
The top-level ones he kept for personal use.
The top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquids were sold to the Chen Family for five hundred thousand taels.
At that moment,
Chen Silin walked gracefully toward him while carrying silver notes, her figure wafting a faint, pleasant fragrance. She said, "Senior, here are your five hundred thousand taels in silver notes."
Jiang Fan received them expressionlessly, tucked them into his chest, and said, "Tomorrow, I'll craft another batch of top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid. Be ready with silver and materials for the trade."
He finished speaking and prepared to leave.
"Senior, please wait."
Chen Silin's eyes gleamed with thoughtful wisdom. "Top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid is enough to cripple half the Qin Family's foundation, but they still have low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid and can continue to scrape by."
Jiang Fan pondered briefly, then understood.
*Top-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid could only be afforded by a minority of martial artists. Most martial artists still tended to purchase low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid.*
*The Qin Family had relentlessly suppressed him to support Lu Zheng; this debt needed settling.*
"Senior, can you craft some low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid as well?" Chen Silin asked tentatively.
Jiang Fan stared off in distraction.
*Low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid wasn't impossible to produce, but the sheer demand for it was overwhelming. Even if he worked day and night, it might still fall short of market needs.*
*His focus should be on his cultivation. Wasting time just to deal with the Qin Family didn't seem worthwhile.*
*But could he train a few soul master apprentices instead?*
Chen Silin's expression became slightly uneasy,
because Jiang Fan's gaze landed precisely on the rounded curve of her chest.
"Senior, what do you think?" Chen Silin subtly shifted her posture to conceal her chest as she asked quietly.
Jiang Fan snapped out of his thoughts and said, "Sorry, I was considering whether to train some soul master apprentices specifically to craft low-grade Qi Cultivation Liquid."
"However, such matters cannot be rushed. Selecting suitable personnel will be a hassle."
"Let's discuss this more in detail when time allows."
He glanced at the sky and rose to leave.
*Chen Silin, meanwhile, felt excitement stirring in her heart.*
*Training soul master apprentices?*
*Considering even Qin Changsheng, with his family's heirloom treasures, only reached the apprentice level, having soul master apprentices would secure the Chen Family's future!*
*But just as Jiang Fan sparked her interest, he shelved the idea.*
Thinking back to Jiang Fan's earlier distracted gaze, aimed at her chest,
*Chen Silin misunderstood something entirely. Biting her ruby-red lips, she sighed lightly:*
"Is he trying to hint at something?"
"Men—always the same, everywhere."
After a long pause, she said, "Bring out the Delusion-breaking Crystal. When he comes to the mansion tomorrow, I want to see his true form."
The Delusion-breaking Crystal was the Chen Family's ancestral treasure, capable of seeing through disguises.
*Before deciding whether she needed to make a personal sacrifice, Chen Silin at least wanted to know the soul master's true appearance.*
However, soul masters were typically elderly, with aged and haggard faces.
*This thought left her melancholic. Seeking someone to vent her mood, she said, "I recently heard Youran got engaged."*
"I've been so busy with the expo that I haven't had time to congratulate her."
"Shopkeeper, tomorrow go to the Xu Mansion and invite her to my residence as a guest."
The shopkeeper nodded slightly.
Chen Silin hesitated briefly before adding:
"Also, ask her to bring her fiancé along."
"She's so beautiful; countless talented men must admire her. This engagement must be to an extremely prestigious young master from a powerful family, right?"
"Let her bring him over; I'd love to see which family's scion managed to win Lonely Boat City's jewel."
Chen Silin and Xu Youran were once classmates and close friends.
Though their statuses were worlds apart, their personalities were highly compatible.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper chuckled wryly and said, "Miss, you might be disappointed. Her fiancé is Jiang Fan."
Chen Silin froze. "That man who's been living off the Xu Family, Jiang Fan?"
"Isn't he mute and without a Spirit Root? Are you sure it's him?"
The shopkeeper's eyes revealed a trace of pity, saying, "Absolutely true. The entire Lonely Boat City has heard of it!"
Chen Silin was stunned. "Xu Youran must have lost her mind! Marry him? That's like placing a flower on a pile of dung!"
"No way, I must convince her to call off this wedding!"
"And I need to talk to Jiang Fan. He has hands and feet; why does he rely on a woman?"
"A man should stand on his own!"