12dz Chapter 100: An Interlude
Chapter 100: An Interlude
Fifteen minutes later, the group arrived at an island in the inner lake called "Little Moon Island".
There is a grand hall on the island.
One by one, the Li clan cultivators led the numerous alchemists into the main hall and then left.
When Yang Jiuli, Liu Yuelong, and Huang Cheng entered the main hall, they saw that several foreign alchemists had already arrived.
"Brother Liu, do you know what happened?" Yang Jiuli asked Liu Yuelong after the Li family left.
"I heard that an alchemist from another family colluded with outsiders and leaked the formula for the 'Azure Profound Pill'." Liu Yuelong glanced around and, seeing that no one from the Li family had arrived yet, he said in a low voice, appearing quite wary of the matter.
"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Yang Jiuli suddenly realized why the Li family had invited all the alchemists from outside the family this time.
The "Hundred Flower Dew" in the "Azure Mystic Pill" formula was specially made by the Li family, and it did not specify which kinds of spiritual flowers it contained.
Without this substance to neutralize the medicinal properties, it would be extremely difficult to successfully refine this inferior "Azure Mystic Pill".
Unless someone can identify which spiritual flowers the "Hundred Flowers Dew" was made from by its floral aroma.
Only in this way can we have the opportunity to verify and formulate a suitable "Hundred Flowers Dew".
However, Yang Jiuli did not take this matter seriously.
With so many non-family alchemists under the Li family's tutelage, it's normal that some would leak pill formulas.
It's even possible that some of the immortal seedlings collected in the past were deliberately planted by foreign races to steal the alchemy formulas.
A short while later, all twelve members of the Li family who were not related to the main family had arrived for the alchemy session, but one person was still missing.
Six years ago, the Li family recruited another batch of promising young talents.
However, the quality of the immortal seedlings recruited this time was not high, so only one person successfully refined the "Azure Mystic Pill".
Reason 1:
It is no surprise that, although the Li family appears to be at its peak, undercurrents are swirling beneath the surface, and all the families, large and small, are watching closely.
They dared not send any more outstanding talents from their clan to the Li family.
Without top-tier talent, the probability of cultivating a first-tier alchemist will naturally be greatly reduced.
Just then, footsteps sounded.
But then Li Wannian walked in through the side door of the palace.
Beside him were two of Li family guards, escorting a disheveled man.
This man's name is Wei Changhu, and he was among the first batch of immortal seedlings, even earlier than Yang Jiuli.
Clearly, he was the one who leaked the formula.
In addition, Li Yourong was also by Li Wannian's side.
Li Wannian entered and immediately sat down in the main seat on the platform.
Wei Changhu was imprisoned at the foot of the palace platform.
Inside the main hall, the alchemists all stood in neat rows, each with their own sense of self-discipline.
"Gentlemen, it is truly a breach of etiquette for my Li family to summon you here so abruptly..." Li Wannian said, looking down at the crowd.
As he spoke, the powerful aura of the ninth level of Qi Refining pressed down upon him.
The hall was silent as a cicada in winter.
"However, this time, a shameful incident has occurred in my Li family that has caused pain to our relatives and joy to our enemies," Li Wannian said with considerable authority.
"A scandalous affair?" Upon hearing this, one of the alchemists looked astonished, clearly unaware of what had happened and had not heard any rumors.
"Three days ago, Wei Changhu actually leaked the formula for our clan's 'Azure Profound Pill' to others for a mere two thousand low-grade spirit stones, causing my Li family to suffer huge losses. With the formula leaked, the pills you all refine will also be affected. In order to prevent such things from happening again, I, Li, have no choice but to summon you all here..." Li Wannian said with a solemn expression.
"What! The formula for the elixir has been leaked!"
"If the formula for the pills is leaked, how will our pills remain competitive?" Upon hearing this, many alchemists paled.
With competitors, their profits will also decrease.
"That Wei Changhu deserves to die!"
"This is taking away our livelihood!" Many people looked at Wei Changhu with anger.
Li Wannian waved his hand.
The crowd then quieted down.
"My Li family is willing to share profits with you all... and join hands to reach the summit... but if anyone dares to undermine the foundation of my Li family, we will never forgive them... This Wei Changhu is a traitor who intends to destroy our foundation. According to the contract... he should be executed."
Li Wannian said coldly.
As they spoke, a guard in the palace slowly drew his sword.
"No, Steward Li, spare my life! I didn't truly analyze the ingredients of 'Hundred Flowers Dew,' and the prescription I gave was incomplete. Steward Li, please spare my life for the sake of the many pills I've refined for the Li family. I'm willing to serve the Li family like a slave..."
Wei Changhu immediately begged.
"Kill!" Li Wannian said coldly, his face grim.
As the word "kill" fell, a flash of light appeared, and Wei Changhu was slain.
Seeing the head rolling away, many alchemists in the hall shuddered, still shaken.
Seeing everyone's expressions, Li Wannian nodded to himself.
He then looked at the crowd and said, "I hope you will all take this as a warning and not make any mistakes that could ruin your future."
"We will certainly abide by the contract and would never dare to break it," said the alchemist in the hall, bowing respectfully.
Everyone agreed.
"I wouldn't even take these pill formulas from the Li family if they were given to me for free, why would they sell them to others?" Yang Jiuli muttered to himself.
Let alone the authentic formula for the "Azure Mystic Pill".
Even Yang Jiuli possessed the "Supplementing the Essence and Correcting Myself Pill," which the Li family considered a family opportunity that could change their social class.
He even possesses several ancient formulas for forming elixir that surpass the "Supplementing the Primordial Essence and Correcting Myself Elixir".
Therefore, the matter of secretly selling the Li family's elixir formula had almost no connection with Yang Jiuli.
However, due to his status, he echoed the crowd.
Seeing this, Li Wannian nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very good!"
"May I ask Manager Li, will Wei Changhu's leak of the pill formula affect our pill sales?" Huang Cheng inquired.
He was quite concerned about this matter, as it concerned his income.
Everyone looked over.
"Hehe, everyone, rest assured, our clan's secret 'Hundred Flower Dew' has not yet been truly deciphered. Even if the formula is leaked, it will not be able to refine the true 'Azure Profound Pill'. Furthermore, the person who traded with Wei Changhu has been killed on the spot by my Li family."
Li Wannian said.
"That's excellent!" Huang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
The others also breathed a sigh of relief.
If the Li family's elixirs are affected, their dreams of getting rich will be shattered!
"Was he killed on the spot?" Yang Jiuli thought to himself, "It seems the Li family has been closely monitoring many non-family alchemists."
"I'll have to be more careful next time I go out!" he thought to himself.
After offering a few words of encouragement, Li Wannian left.
……
The incident involving Wei Changhu was just a minor episode.
Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.
It is already December, the end of the year.
In another month, it will have been thirteen years since Yang Jiuli joined the Li family of Yunmeng Lake.
Although it was the twelfth lunar month, the alchemists of the Li family did not feel any joy.
Because it has been three years since the last profit distribution.
Surprisingly, the Li family did not distribute any dividends at the end of the year.
This thwarted the plans of alchemists who intended to purchase magical artifacts and medicinal herbs with around a thousand spirit stones.
A non-celestial alchemist went to inquire about Li Wannian.
Li Wannian only said that in recent years, the Li family had contracted and acquired a lot of medicinal mountain land, investing a great deal of money.
We can discuss the profit-sharing later; the Li family will certainly receive plenty of spirit stones from everyone.
Upon hearing this, the alchemists had no choice but to give up.
"As expected..." Yang Jiuli had anticipated this.
The Li family patriarch of the Azure Flame Immortal Sect needs a large amount of spirit stones to purchase medicinal herbs at a premium.
It was clear that the Li family patriarch alone was not up to the task.
We can only rely on the Li family, this behemoth, to provide the best possible support.
"I hope the Li family will restrain themselves, otherwise they will suffer a backlash if they continue like this," Yang Jiuli said in a low voice.
After all, everyone comes to the Li family to earn spirit stones, hoping to refine pills day and night, earn some spirit stones, and attempt to establish their foundation.
If we don't even get these bonus spirit stones, wouldn't everyone be working for nothing?
It should be noted that this kind of alchemy has affected the cultivation progress of many people.
Take Huang Cheng, for example. He had to rebuild his cultivation after losing his power and spend a lot of time learning alchemy, which is why he has only now reached the fifth level of Qi Refining.
Huang Cheng tried several times to claim his share of the profits.
Therefore, he specially arranged to meet Liu Yuelong at Yang Jiuli's Luoxue Peak to discuss this matter.
At Luoxue Mountain Villa, the three gathered by the pavilion.
Yang Jiuli cooked wine for the two of them.
Huang Cheng wasn't in the mood for drinking. After taking a sip, he looked at Yang Jiuli and said, "Brother Jiu, the Li family has suddenly delayed the distribution of dividends. If this continues, won't we be working for nothing for several years? And the owed dividends will just keep piling up."
Over the course of three years, the Li family owed Huang Cheng nearly nine hundred low-grade spirit stones.
These are pills that he refined with more time than the average person, and the dividends he received after selling them.
Nine hundred low-grade spirit stones are enough for the Huang family to offer tribute to the Azure Flame Immortal Sect for twenty years!
If I work for another three years and owe another thousand, I'll have nearly two thousand low-grade spirit stones, which is quite a sum!
"So what do you want to do?" Yang Jiuli took a sip of wine and looked at Huang Cheng.
"I..." Huang Cheng was speechless. He naturally wanted to get the spirit stones back.
It is clear that he alone cannot force the Li family to compromise.
That's why he approached Yang Jiuli, wanting everyone to sign a petition together to demand a share of the profits.
"Please enlighten me, Ninth Brother!" Huang Cheng lowered his head, then mustered his courage and said.
"If you only want this share of the profits, you can certainly ask for it!" Yang Jiuli said, "but the Li family will definitely target you afterwards... They might even stop you from refining 'Azure Mystic Pills' or reduce your share, so you'll naturally have no more dividends in the future!"
This is based on Yang Jiuli's experience.
Even when he was still a corporate slave on Earth, some people had been suppressed in this way by their companies.
Having experienced several lifetimes, Yang Jiuli had long anticipated the course of events.
"This..." Upon hearing this, Huang Cheng's expression changed.
If that's the case, he will indeed no longer receive any dividends.
Liu Yuelong, however, remained calm, taking a sip of wine from his wine cup, seemingly unconcerned.
"The Li family can even let you leave the inner lake... to cultivate on an outer island!" Yang Jiuli said, taking a sip of wine.
Upon hearing this, Huang Cheng turned pale. He clenched his fists, feeling not only anger but also a deep sense of powerlessness.
If Li Jiazhen really does that, there's nothing he can do.
At the same time, he had no doubt about the ruthlessness of the Li family.
After all, Wei Changhu was executed in public back then!
"Then what should I do?" Huang Cheng loosened his clenched fist and asked with a frown.
"I see your cultivation level is only at the fifth level of Qi Refining... Spend more time cultivating diligently in the future and strive to reach the late stage of Qi Refining!" Yang Jiuli said tactfully. "After all, you have signed a contract with the Li family and cannot leave them in the short term."
Taking this opportunity to cultivate and improve one's strength is the best way to minimize losses.
Furthermore, improving one's strength will also benefit oneself.
Weigh the pros and cons, and in unfavorable situations, try to find solutions that are advantageous to you, while observing the situation calmly.
This is the experience that Yang Jiuli accumulated over several lifetimes.
"Cultivation..." Huang Cheng's eyes flickered, then he let out a soft breath and said, "At this point, this is the only way!"
At this point, he could only take advantage of his second-tier spiritual vein to further improve his cultivation!
Otherwise, if he really offends the Li family and is demoted back to the first-tier spiritual vein, his life will be truly ruined!