191: Chapter 191 The Struggle Within the Li Family

Within Tiangong Market.

Ye Jing went alone. When he arrived at the Market Master's pavilion, he noticed the Immortal Attendants guarding the place looking at him with strange expressions.

This time, when he came to see the Market Master, an Immortal Attendant quickly invited him inside.

Bai Qian was waiting for him in a guest room of the pavilion. Upon seeing Ye Jing, he smiled slightly and gestured for him to sit. "Boss Ye, it's been a long time!"

Ye Jing nodded and took a seat.

Sensing a strange atmosphere in the pavilion, he got straight to the point: "Market Master, I have come because I wish to open a few more shops. Are there any vacant shops available?"

Bai Qian was startled, then laughed. "I see. Boss Ye Clan business is indeed flourishing. However, business in the market is exceptionally good right now; I'm afraid it will be difficult to rent any shops."

Ye Jing narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Market Master, is it truly impossible to rent even a single shop?"

Bai Qian nodded and smiled apologetically repeatedly. "Indeed. Why don't you wait a few more days, Boss Ye? If any shops become available, I will personally contact you."

Bai Qian was now speaking to Ye Jing with extreme friendliness and courtesy. The reason was simple: Ye Jing's eldest grandson, Ye Tianhao, had recently achieved a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment and was now the most highly regarded Genius of the Qingyun Sect.

Breaking through to Foundation Establishment at eighteen—what did that signify? Even in the entire Canggu Realm, those prestigious families and top Sects could not produce such a Genius.

Even though Bai Qian was currently a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he did not dare to look down on Ye Jing. It was just that the Li Family was pressing him too hard, threatening to make it impossible for Ye Jing to stay in Tiangong Market.

If he allowed the Ye Family to open more shops, his own Tiangong Market might be at risk.

Therefore, Bai Qian could only play Tai Chi with Ye Jing for now, trying to smooth things over, as he could not afford to offend either party.

Seeing Bai Qian's evasiveness and the strange behavior of those around him, Ye Jing naturally sensed something was amiss.

But since the Market Master of Tiangong Market had already spoken this much, asking further would yield nothing useful. Thus, he cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I have troubled you. If any shops become available, I hope the Market Master will keep me in mind."

After saying this, Ye Jing stood up and took his leave.

Wisps of white steam rose from the tea in front of Bai Qian as he sighed. A year ago, this Ye Jing was nothing more than an ordinary Qi Refining Loose Cultivator in his eyes. Now, he had actually cultivated to Qi Refining Perfection and had a Genius grandson in Foundation Establishment.

Consequently, Bai Qian had to treat Ye Jing with great care.

As the saying goes, thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank; times change and fortunes shift.

This was even more true in the cultivation world; one could be an ant yesterday and a presence that others look up to today.

After leaving the Market Master's pavilion, Ye Jing went to the Ye family shop, only to see several shops named "Li's" appearing in front of it.

These shops seemed specifically targeted, opening directly opposite the Ye family shop and selling Spirit Medicine. Most of the people on the street were going to the Li family shops.

Seeing this, Ye Jing immediately walked into his own shop. Although there were Cultivators inside, it was not as bustling as before.

Ye Tianhui, who was sitting at the counter, saw Ye Jing and quickly stood up. "Grandfather!"

Ye Jing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the sparse customers in the shop. His brow furrowed slightly, and his voice was steady: "Those Li family shops outside—when did they open?"

A trace of indignation crossed Ye Tianhui's face, mixed with a bit of helplessness. "Grandfather, just a month ago, the Li family suddenly requisitioned those shops across the street. They opened right opposite us and even put up a sign for 'Low-Price Spirit Medicine.' They hired several female Cultivators to shout at the entrance, and more than half of our customers were snatched away!"

As he spoke, Ye Tianhui pointed to the medicine shelf behind the counter, where many commonly used Spirit Medicines were neatly arranged. In the past, these Spirit Medicines were basically in short supply.

Now, they had remained on the shelf, barely touched.

Ye Tianhui was currently only a teenager, and in front of Ye Jing, he naturally couldn't keep his thoughts to himself.

"Grandfather! What's even more infuriating is that some of the Spirit Medicines they sell are inferior to ours in quality, yet their prices are nearly thirty percent lower. It's clearly a deliberate price war intended to force us out!"

Ye Jing heard this and merely smiled slightly; he didn't think it was a big deal.

It was just that the Li family was wary of the Ye family's Foundation Establishment junior and didn't dare to trash the shop, so they only dared to engage in a business war with him.

Even Bai Qian's unwillingness to rent him more shops was likely the Li family's doing.

He had lived for over a hundred years; what kind of schemes had he not seen?

Ye Jing said, "Hui'er, you needn't worry. The Li family is merely attracting customers with low prices. Our Spiritual Plants have always been of good quality and high potency. Those people going to the Li family shops are just looking for a bargain."

"Once they realize those Spirit Medicines lack potency, they will naturally return. Let them have their moment for a few days."

"But this is just too frustrating!" Ye Tianhui grumbled. He had nearly been beaten to death by the Li family before.

Now they were opening their shops so brazenly across from them; it was a direct slap to the Ye family's face.

Ye Jing let out a cold laugh. "They are nothing but a rabble. Hui'er, do not let yourself be angered by such people; that would be playing right into their hands. Rest assured, since they have come, I naturally won't let them have an easy time!"

"Grandfather, do you have a way to deal with them?" Ye Tianhui leaned forward and asked urgently.

These past few days, seeing the Li family shops across the street crowded with people while his own shop grew increasingly deserted, he was both anxious and angry.

Unfortunately, his cultivation was still shallow, and he didn't even have the right to step forward and argue. He could only watch as the Li family pushed their luck step by step.

Ye Jing raised his hand and gently patted his shoulder. His gaze passed through the shop's window frame and landed on the charming female shopkeepers in front of the Li family shops, a flash of coldness appearing in his eyes.

His tone was flat: "What's the rush? Dealing with clowns doesn't require haste."

"They rely on low prices to attract customers, which seems successful but is actually unstable. Inferior Spirit Medicines have less than thirty percent of the required potency. In the short term, customers might buy them for the sake of a bargain, but in the long run, they are ultimately ruining their own reputation."

At this point, Ye Jing looked at Ye Tianhui and waved his hand. A white, translucent Jade Slip appeared in his palm.

He handed the Jade Slip to Ye Tianhui and said, "This is a Spiritual Plant Ascension Method I obtained in my early years. Since you are now managing the family's affairs, you can take it to study. Starting tomorrow, all of our Ye family's Spirit Medicines will be purified and refined to enhance their potency, while the selling price remains unchanged."

Ye Tianhui took the Jade Slip. The moment he touched it, a stream of pure information flooded into his mind—it was indeed the Spiritual Plant Ascension Method.

This method was extremely profound yet easy to understand. Even though he was only at Qi Refining Level 5, he could comprehend it.

His eyes were full of surprise: "Grandfather, this is incredible! If we turn our Spirit Medicines into Medicinal Pill Prototypes with doubled potency, even if the price remains the same, those customers will definitely come back!"

One must know that the Ye family's Spirit Medicines were already popular; if they marketed these, they wouldn't have to worry about the damn Li family stealing their business.

"Wait!" Ye Jing suddenly stopped him, his tone becoming even more serious. "Remember, act with a low profile and do not be ostentatious. Purify the Spirit Medicines and follow the plan step by step."

"There is no need to provoke the Li family across the street, nor is there any need to boast to them."

"We only need to do our own work well and wait for the results."