Chapter 144: The Moment Has Arrived

Within the Spiritual Land of the Gen Dao Imperial Capital.

As a famous elixir shop throughout the Gen Dao realm, it is backed by cultivation forces.

Naturally, the Hu family, the most renowned Alchemist clan in the Gen Dao realm, is the backing force behind the largest elixir shop here, Baiye Hall.

The other two are the Zhou family, which cultivates abundant Spiritual Materials, and the Qian family, which supplies the main ingredient for Zengyuan Pill.

Although they seem to have some grudges within the Spiritual Land, in reality they are hand‑in‑hand, heart‑to‑heart.

Spiritual Materials must pass through an Alchemist's hands to become elixirs, so the Zhou and Qian families, led by the Hu family, secretly orchestrated this grand scheme to harvest retail cultivators.

In a courtyard, the three parties gathered together with no one else around, and their representatives chatted and laughed about the slightly crazy market trends of recent days.

"Brother Qian, you were right. Using the Grand Ascension Conference to raise prices while releasing Zengyuan Pill really fooled those who thought they were a bit clever!" a white‑bearded elder laughed.

"Brother Zhou, that's not appropriate. What do you call it cheating? Clearly those people just wanted to earn some Spiritual Stones, but greed blinded them to the proper way," the middle‑aged man beside laughed.

The young man seated at the top smiled faintly: "Brother Qian, Brother Zhou, this matter has the full support of my Hu family; later you must not forget the promise you made to me."

The elder and the middle‑aged man clasped their hands and said, "Alchemist Hu, rest assured, we have calculated. Most cultivators will not accept a price above eight hundred Spiritual Stones per bottle of Zengyuan Pill; higher would be counterproductive. At this moment, we need to wait a few more days, then release the news of the price hike. By tightening the psychology of those who want to speculate, they will become even crazier to buy Zengyuan Pill from us!"

"When the time comes, Brother Qian only needs to drive a caravan loaded with Spiritual Materials around the Spiritual Land... hehehe."

The Hu family youth laughed, "That's good then."

"Oh, by the way, I heard the Hu family has produced another Alchemist who passed the Xuan Gen Dao assessment?"

The Hu family youth replied calmly, "It's that youngster Hu Xian."

"Oh? I heard Alchemist Hu Xian was almost expelled from the Hu family?"

"Hmph, that kid Hu Xian spends all day researching some breakthrough pill, draining countless family resources and achieving nothing! If he hadn't passed the assessment by luck, he should have been kicked out long ago!" the Hu family youth sneered, clearly displeased with Hu Xian.

The Zhou family elder and the Qian family middle‑aged man exchanged glances and laughed, "Haha, so Alchemist Hu, do you need us to do anything else?"

"I heard a Rare Stone Studio opened in the city? It has an Anomalous Source Stone; who is behind it?"

"Well... I heard its background is substantial, but it's not from the Xuan Gen Dao side."

"Hmm? If it's not Xuan Gen Dao, could it be opened by Upper Sect cultivators from the Wandao Mountains? Why come here?" the Hu family youth frowned, puzzled.

"Who knows?"

The Hu family youth fell into thought; the two beside him dared not disturb, and the atmosphere instantly quieted.

A few days later.

"What?! The main ingredient of the Zengyuan Pill, the Peiyuan Solid Spirit Herb, was stolen? Who's so bold!"

"I don't know, I heard that's how it happened."

"Yeah, I heard the Qian family cultivators were scolded to death by their shopkeeper over this."

"No wonder the Zengyuan Pill price has been rising, and it will keep climbing!"

"But that's not affordable for us independent cultivators."

"You say that, but we can still bite the bullet and buy a bottle."

Upon hearing the news, Yan Buji's mouth curved into a smile.

"The time has arrived!"

Just as he expected, the Qian, Zhou, and Hu families indeed have something hidden; otherwise how could anyone believe such a low‑grade rumor?

Yet at precisely this moment, the price of the Zengyuan Pill keeps soaring, further confirming the rumor!

Cultivators caught in dilemma, upon hearing this, will certainly not stand by idly;

And those who began hoarding Zengyuan Pill will inevitably intensify their stockpiling, selling off at the price peak.

If the market were that large, those hoarding cultivators might not be harvested; instead they could take a bite out of the big powers.

"What a pity the market isn't that big, hehehe," Yan Buji laughed.

Who can guarantee that the inventories of these three elixir shops cannot satisfy the needs of all cultivators in the Gen Dao cultivation world?

Since Zengyuan Pill can be bought through official channels, why should I trade with others? Where is the protection?

"If those hoarding cultivators have a stable retail channel to dump their stock at once, they won't lose money. But now the market is already chaotic, and with the three elixir shops possibly continuing shipments without shortages, the saturation of goods in this chaotic market means Zengyuan Pill cultivators naturally won't choose to buy now. Even if they buy, they cannot purchase in bulk."

When the quantity of a product exceeds the market's maximum tolerable limit, an unprecedented price drop is inevitable!

This is the inevitable result of supply outstripping demand.

For Yan Buji, wanting to intervene in such an environment requires having enough Spiritual Stones to act on his own. Hence the next steps must be taken cautiously, as if walking on thin ice.

The only regret is that Yan Buji's Spiritual Stones cannot wrestle with the three forces; otherwise he would show them the price of such games.

Soon, Yan Buji directly approached several nearby small elixir shops to discuss business.

"What? Fellow Daoist, you offer Spiritual Stones for us to purchase Zengyuan Pill?"

The shop owners looked at him like a fool; you could say taking advantage of the good market to use us as a white glove for a profit, but this market isn't good at all.

The Zengyuan Pill price has surged so high, and we don't know how far it will rise; isn't investing a large amount of Spiritual Stones now too late?

"May I ask boldly, this... fellow Daoist? How many Spiritual Stones do you have?"

"Don't worry about how many Spiritual Stones I have; my master doesn't lack Spiritual Stones. This small amount, you can take it first."

"Hmm?"

"You're offering ten thousand Spiritual Stones and call it a small amount?"

The shop owners stared at the masked Yan Buji, and for a moment didn't move any Spiritual Stone bags, some curiously asking:

"May I ask who your master is?"

"That's none of your business. I know you think you're late to the market, and even if you sell at a higher price you won't earn much. But who told you my master is about to act now?" Yan Buji laughed.

"What does that mean?"

"My master's meaning is to let you act after the Zengyuan Pill drops to fifty Spiritual Stones per bottle!"

"Huh?"

The shop owners were stunned on the spot.

We're not bros....

How can you be sure the Growth Origin Pill will definitely drop in price?

If the Qian family's goods were truly robbed, then perhaps even if the Growth Origin Pill's price does fall later, it wouldn't drop to this dreadfully low level, would it?

Fifty a bottle?