Chapter 328: Masterstroke

"Lu Xun, the sword you wanted is ready."

Heavenly Craft Pavilion.

Madam Liushou handed several weapons to Lu Xun one by one.

Heavenly Craft Pavilion, like the Jia Clan Group, conducts most of its business on the surface of Lan Xing, mainly focusing on sixth-rank and below.

They can also forge sixth-rank weapons.

For example, Lu Xun's set of flying swords mixed with divine bone ash.

Originally, Heavenly Craft Pavilion intended to forge it as sixth-rank, but due to the divine bone ash, it unexpectedly transformed into a saint rank.

The Saint Rank here still differs considerably from the Saint Rank elixir Lu Xun refined.

The Saint Rank elixir Lu Xun refined has three layers of colored patterns, making it a true Saint Rank.

Under Heavenly Craft Pavilion's definition, the Saint Rank appears to Lu Xun as a false Saint Rank.

Including the Flowing Cloud Layered Shadow Sword they sold, it is the same.

This time, Lu Xun had them upgrade the Flowing Cloud Layered Shadow Sword to fourth rank to satisfy Murong Wan's needs.

This is something Heavenly Craft Pavilion had promised earlier.

Besides the Flowing Cloud Layered Shadow Sword, Lu Xun also had Heavenly Craft Pavilion forge a set of flying swords and a spirit shield suitable for Chu Youqing.

Upgrade all of the two women's weapons and equipment.

Their current strength is still fourth realm, so there's no need to bother Master Ge with the weapons.

"Thank you, Madam."

Lu Xun took it.

"Is it so hard to call me sister?"

Madam Liushou's tone was resentful.

"Goodbye, Madam."

Lu Xun left Heavenly Craft Pavilion.

"Wow, Lu Xun, such a good weapon must cost a lot, right?"

When Chu Youqing received a whole set of flying swords, her eyes lit up.

This time, Lu Xun was even more willing, forging all sixth-rank flying swords for her, also adding some divine bone ash.

Well, divine bone ash is extremely precious to others, but having obtained divine metal from the Ancient God, to Lu Xun it's nothing.

He doesn't have too many good things in his hand.

"Youqing, if you're free tomorrow, come with me to the island."

"Mm!"

Tomorrow is the day when multiple stores of the Lu Clan Group open.

Lu Xun plans to bring her and Murong Wan to take a look.

"Little Wan."

After delivering the flying swords to Chu Youqing, Lu Xun also sent the Flowing Cloud Layered Shadow Sword to Murong Wan.

Murong Wan had just finished her cultivation, her body covered in fragrant sweat.

"Thank you."

She took the Flowing Cloud Layered Shadow Sword, waved it in her hand a few times, and was quite satisfied with this pair of swords.

"Shall I practice sword with you?"

Lu Xun proposed.

"Mm!"

Murong Wan agreed.

Lu Xun's swordsmanship is exquisite; each time they practice, her progress is significant.

Thus, Lu Xun accompanied her in practicing swords for several hours.

"No..."

However, just after finishing sword practice, Lu Xun became dishonest again, starting to train another martial skill.

He also discussed several business deals worth hundreds of millions with her.

He made Murong Wan earn a lot.

"Wow, Lu Xun, so many people!"

The next day.

On the top floor of the Lu Clan Building, Chu Youqing stood on the balcony, looking down at the plaza.

The plaza was packed with people.

The Lu Clan Building covers a large area, with a single floor exceeding one thousand square meters.

After Lu Xun renovated the top floor, he prepared it for his own residence.

The renovation is understated yet luxurious, using many materials from the Ancient Road Nodes; just the decoration consumed dozens of cubic meters of Dark Energy.

Converted to Huaxia currency, that amounts to several hundred billion.

Lu Xun set up multiple suites here; Chu Youqing and Murong Wan coming can stay completely.

"What background does the Lu Clan Group have, buying such a tall building right away?"

"I heard there are third- to fourth-rank Saint Rank elixirs today, real or fake?"

"The news has been released; it's definitely real."

"Now the Jia Clan Group has a competitor; haha, the more these big capitals compete, the better— the more they compete, the cheaper the elixirs we can buy."

By then, the plaza was already a sea of people.

The preparations for the opening of the Lu Clan Group had been underway for a long time, and the news had naturally been released long ago.

Just a single Saint-grade pill, even a third- or fourth-tier Saint-grade pill, has attracted who knows how many cultivators.

Today, Liuyun Dao can't even accommodate the crowd.

"Uncle Wang, have you still not found out the true situation of the Lu Clan Group?"

"No, they are very cautious; none of the alchemists we arranged have been recruited in."

"Is Bai Ling inside?"

"She should be; over a month ago, someone saw Bai Ling enter the Lu Clan Building."

"Looking at it this way, the Lu Clan Group really was established by Lu Xun."

"Miss, the registration information of the Lu Clan Group has been sealed; we've pulled many connections but still couldn't find it, so it's likely related to that Lu Xun."

On the other side.

In the headquarters building of the Jia Clan Group, Jia Yuyi frowned with worry.

The Lu Clan Group has been established for less than two months up to now.

At first, Jia Yuyi didn't pay attention to this Lu Clan Group.

Until the Lu Clan Group began purchasing alchemical materials on a large scale, Jia Yuyi instantly became alert.

She sent personnel to investigate.

Through this investigation, Jia Yuyi discovered that the Lu Clan Group's actions were not ordinary in scale.

The inventories of several major material suppliers in the East were completely swept clean by the Lu Clan Group.

The Lu Clan Group also signed continuous purchase contracts with them, the contract amounts being quite enormous.

This made Jia Yuyi realize that the newcomers harbor ill intent!

Jia Yuyi immediately came up with countermeasures.

The Jia Clan Group dominates the East alone, and their relations with major suppliers are very good.

Jia Yuyi visited those suppliers one by one, successfully persuading them to prioritize supplying the Jia Clan Group.

A large alchemical conglomerate needs a stable source of goods.

As long as we control a few major material suppliers, even if the Lu Clan Group obtains alchemical materials from other channels, they will remain scattered and not form a scale.

By then, when the Jia Clan Group launches a commercial war, with their foundation, the Lu Clan Group won't last long.

This kind of commercial war is not like the earlier one against Bai Ling.

The commercial war against Bai Ling was of a minor skirmish nature, and the Jia Clan Group never really exerted full force.

A commercial war between large alchemical conglomerates is a real fight with swords and spears.

All the way up, the Jia Clan Group has squeezed out who knows how many alchemical conglomerates.

Another important aspect of commercial war is the contention for alchemists.

Although the East is strong, there are not a few fourth- or fifth-tier alchemists, but those truly skilled enough to refine earth-tier or higher pills are limited in number.

Most of these alchemists are in the Jia Clan Group.

The Lu Clan Group is coming with great momentum; it surely has already gathered many alchemists, otherwise how could it digest alchemical materials worth several thousand cubic units of Dark Energy?

Jia Yuyi then sent out some loyal alchemists, hoping to infiltrate the Lu Clan Group as undercover agents to learn its details, then poach them at high salaries.

However, Xie Yuyan is especially cautious; the alchemists she hires mostly have had business dealings with the Divine State Auction House.

She knows the backgrounds of these alchemists clearly.

For alchemists whose backgrounds are unclear and who come to her door on their own, Xie Yuyi always keeps a wary eye.

Alchemists are actually a relatively simple group.

They spend their days either refining pills or refining pills; in terms of scheming and wariness, they fall far short of Xie Yuyi by a hundred and eighty thousand miles.

Whether there are problems, Xie Yuyi can basically judge seven or eight out of ten upon contact.

Moreover, in the process of recruiting alchemists, there is also a gatekeeper.

That person is Lu Xun.

For problematic alchemists, Lu Xun, through his mind-link, can detect them with just a covert observation; nobody can escape.

Thus, the alchemists Jia Yuyi sent out failed completely to infiltrate the Lu Clan Group.

This leaves Jia Yuyi knowing very little about the current Lu Clan Group.

She isn't even clear about who founded the Lu Clan Group.

Through the name of the Lu Clan Group, plus the factor of Bai Ling.

Jia Yuyi feels that this group is very likely established by Lu Xun.

I don't know if it's because Lu Xun angered her into illness, but whenever she thinks of Lu Xun, Jia Yuyi's stomach starts to hurt.

Her great-aunt begins to stir restlessly.

"In just over a year, he has grown to this point..."

Jia Yuyi also cannot help but admire how quickly Lu Xun has grown in over a year.

When Jia Yuyi first learned of Lu Xun, he was merely a genius of Qingbei.

There are too many geniuses at Qingbei, with several thousand each year.

To the Jia Clan Group, that amounts to nothing at all.

But Lu Xun's growth speed is astonishingly fast.

Having entered school only a few months, he could defeat third-realm senior students on the arena, be nearly invincible below the fourth realm, and even earn over ten cubic units of the Jia Clan Group's Dark Energy.

Ten-odd cubic units of Dark Energy are actually nothing to the Jia Clan Group; the problem is that a small school arena lost that much Dark Energy, and it also involves Bai Ling.

It would be strange if Jia Yuyi weren't angry.

After her father discovered this matter later, Jia Yuyi stopped her actions against Bai Ling, and Lu Xun and Bai Ling seemed to calm down as well.

Jia Yumei did not give up secretly watching Bai Ling, and she also incidentally paid attention to Lu Xun.

This attention startled her.

After Lan Xing entered the Ancient Road Node, Lu Xun was practically cheating, and everything he did was astonishing beyond compare.

First, during the insect plague he gave support everywhere, slaying five-realm foreign tribes; later, after entering the Spirit Realm to explore, things calmed down for a few months.

But when Yao Xing invaded, demonic cultivators took the chance to stir up trouble, and Lu Xun directly gave the world a massive shock.

He actually killed four Six Realm demonic cultivators.

This news left Jia Yumei stunned for a long time.

Recently, she learned of something even more astonishing.

Lu Xun actually cleared the Heavenly Dao Tower and took first place on the Heavenly Dao Battlefield!

Not many people outside know this news.

Jia Yumei still heard this news from her father.

Jia Yumei's heart was shaken again.

Now she is extremely jealous of Bai Ling, who actually encountered a genius like Lu Xun to protect her.

Otherwise,

Back then she could have forced Bai Ling into a desperate situation, making recovery of Bai Ling's pill meridian impossible.

After Lan Xing left the Ancient Road Node, Jia Yumei has been worried that Lu Xun and Bai Ling would cause trouble again.

Exactly what she feared came to pass.

This is,

Now Lu Xun and Bai Ling are indeed causing trouble.

"It might not be him! Even if it is, he's only strong in cultivation; in the way of alchemy, he wants to compete with us but is not qualified!"

Jia Yumei steadied her mind.

She actually isn't afraid of Lu Xun.

No matter how strong Lu Xun's cultivation is, it's still just cultivation.

On the path of alchemy, Lu Xun couldn't possibly be that strong.

Even Bai Ling as she is now, Jia Yumei isn't afraid.

What she fears is that mysterious Saint-rank Alchemist.

The Lu Clan Group has announced that Saint-rank elixirs of tiers three and four will be sold externally on the opening day.

They wouldn't slap themselves in the face, would they?

This shows that the mysterious Saint-rank Alchemist is within the Lu Clan Group.

This poses a certain threat to the Jia Clan Group.

However,

Jia Yumei still isn't particularly worried.

A Saint-rank Alchemist is just a pillar.

How many elixirs can one person produce?

And how many people can afford Saint-rank elixirs?

The Jia Clan Group possesses several hundred veteran, high-level alchemists, and even slightly better fourth- and fifth-tier alchemists from the east have all been taken in by them.

Over the past month or so, the Jia Clan Group has also recruited all the somewhat lesser alchemists.

This has brought the Jia Clan Group's number of alchemists over a thousand.

Their purpose in doing this is to prevent the Lu Clan Group from recruiting alchemists.

If the Lu Clan Group had only one Saint-rank Alchemist, it could not pose a threat to the Jia Clan Group.

What Jia Yumei truly worries about now is Bai Ling going to apprentice under that mysterious Saint-rank Alchemist, rapidly improving her alchemy skill, and then returning to the Jia Clan Group to seize power from her.

Hmm,

She doesn't yet know that the Saint-rank Alchemist the Lu Clan Group plans to announce publicly is Bai Ling.

All that worry was for nothing.

"Here they come!"

At that moment, the gates of the Lu Clan Group opened.

Xie Yuyan walked out.

Today she wore a splendid outfit, fiery red lips, elegant with a hint of charm.

"Eh, isn't that the auctioneer from the Divine State Auction House?"

"What auctioneer? She's actually the owner, okay?"

"Is the Lu Clan Group run by the Divine State Auction House?"

Below, someone recognized Xie Yuyan, and everyone started getting curious.

"Ladies and gentlemen,"

Xie Yuyan opened her lips softly; though her voice was not loud, it echoed throughout the venue.

"Welcome everyone to attend the Lu Clan Group's opening ceremony; today we have prepared a small gift for each friend who has come."

After Xie Yuyan finished speaking, she lightly clapped her hands.

Inside the Lu Clan Building, etiquette ladies in cheongsams walked out one by one.

Each of them held an exquisite box.

"Please stay in your places and don't move; we will immediately deliver the gifts."

As she spoke, Xie Yuyan approached an etiquette lady and opened the box.

Instantly, medicinal fragrance overflowed.

One after another, medicinal pills flew out of the boxes, heading toward the left area, accurately landing in front of each cultivator.

"Wow."

"Boss, is this for us?"

Some cultivators couldn't believe it.

The Lu Clan Group just opened, and they're directly giving out medicinal pills?

"That's right, these are second-grade Qi Blood Pills; taking them increases qi and blood, extends lifespan, and they have some effect for both martial cultivators and Immortal Cultivators. Even if you don't need them yourself, you can give them to friends and family."

Xie Yuyan smiled as she explained.

Immediately after, she opened the second and third boxes.

Each box contained plenty of pills; when opened, the pills that flew out precisely landed above the cultivators.

"Wow, they're actually second-grade Qi Blood Pills!"

"Boss, you're generous!"

"As expected of a big group, from now on I'll only buy pills from the Lu Clan Group!"

Many cultivators, after receiving the pills, spoke up in turn.

Who wouldn't like free pills?

Everyone loves a bargain, cultivators included.

"Miss, their methods are grand."

"Great tactics!"

At the Jia Clan Group headquarters, Jia Yuwei's face darkened.

The two buildings aren't far apart, only two or three hundred meters; Jia Yuwei's cultivation is at the third realm, and although she is an Immortal Cultivator, observing the situation over there is no problem.

The Lu Clan Group sent out several thousand pills at once; this generosity is hardly small.

To dare give so many shows that the Lu Clan Group's pill refiners are likely far more numerous than she imagined.

Several thousand pills, not first-grade but second-grade Qi Blood Pills, prepared in less than two months; without enough pill refiners, it would be hard to produce them.

Another benefit of the Lu Clan Group doing this is that they publicly demonstrated their strength.

Many cultivators buying their pills will then have no reservations.

This let Jia Yuwei realize.

This will be a troublesome opponent.