26: Chapter 26 Eternal Youth

Su Yang listened to the entire explanation, feeling extremely surprised.

Initially, he only wanted to test his son's learning progress and see if he possessed excellent business acumen.

He never expected that Su Xuanming not only had a keen sense of business but had also thoroughly studied the commercial system and integrated it all together.

Shops, merchant teams, and pawnshops—the three unified.

Shops at fixed locations would handle purchasing and sales, merchant teams would travel everywhere to facilitate trade and open up commercial routes to earn the price difference, while the pawnshop would serve as a treasury to supply capital.

This type of business model had never appeared in Qingyuan County or Guangling County.

However, in some Immortal Cities and Cultivation Markets, there were Chambers of Commerce with similar models.

Su Xuanming had never seen it, yet he could propose such a business model, undoubtedly proving his extraordinary business talent.

"Father, if the Su Family opens a Chamber of Commerce, we cannot rely on the Immortal Treasure Tower for Medicinal Pill and Talisman Materials anymore. They can restrain us on price at any time."

Seeing that Su Yang had been silent for a long time, Su Xuanming thought he had revealed too much and quietly added another sentence.

"Your concerns are valid. If the Su Family opens a Chamber of Commerce, we must solve the Materials issue, and the Merchant Team you mentioned earlier is exactly what addresses that pain point."

Su Yang took a deep breath and seriously contemplated the Chamber of Commerce plan.

"The easiest place to acquire Materials for the Hundred Arts of Cultivation is actually the Cultivation Market. As long as we open up a commercial route with a Cultivation Market and establish long-term cooperation, the Su Family Chamber of Commerce can gain a firm foothold in Qingyuan County."

"I will refine a youth-preserving pill in a while to build the Chamber of Commerce's reputation."

Su Yang paused, his expression slightly solemn: "However, before that, we face two problems."

"Firstly, only Cultivators can enter the Cultivation Market. If the trade route is opened, you will need to represent the Su Family and frequently enter and exit the Market."

"Secondly, there is the security issue of the Chamber of Commerce; we must guard against Robber Cultivators day and night."

"The Su Family has many Martial Artists, but the methods of some Robber Cultivators can only be dealt with by Cultivators. The Su Family needs to recruit Cultivators, or you two must personally oversee things."

Su Xuanming's expression sharpened upon hearing this.

Making wealth is easy; keeping it is hard. This was the Su Family's biggest current issue.

Indeed, he had not considered things thoroughly enough, focusing only on ways to make money while ignoring how to protect that wealth.

"Big Brother and I will definitely diligently Cultivate and improve our cultivation to strive to become pillars of the Family as soon as possible!"

Su Xuanming's voice was firm and powerful.

Su Yang chuckled, "You two just continue your normal Cultivation; there's no need for pressure. Family development naturally takes time; it's not yet the moment for you to protect the Family."

"Right now, Father shields the Family; in the future, it will be you who shields the Family!"

Both sons thinking about taking over Family affairs was a good thing.

Su Yang would not discourage them because of their age or insufficient cultivation; instead, he would give them more opportunities for experience.

"Since you wish to contribute, then you shall be responsible for finding business talents within the Family. You two will jointly prepare the Chamber of Commerce, and its name will be the 'Su Clan Chamber of Commerce.' I will take you to the Cultivation Market in a while."

"Yes! Xuanming will certainly not fail Father's high expectations!"

Su Xuanming was thrilled. His business plan had received his father's approval, and he would be the one to realize it step by step.

He could finally contribute to the Family!

...

One month later.

Su Yang and Qin Jiangmei sat before a Pill Furnace, raging flames burning fiercely, releasing astonishingly high temperatures.

The two simultaneously cast spell seals, locking the temperature firmly inside the Pill Furnace.

Su Yang increased his spiritual power output to control the Pill Furnace's fire, while Qin Jiangmei seized the right moment to toss in the Spirit Medicines, finally adding the immortal gold peach.

The two separately swallowed a qi gathering pill and jointly injected spiritual power again.

The fierce fire burned, the immortal gold peach and various Spirit Medicines melted together into liquid.

The spell seal changed again, and Su Yang completely took over the pill condensation step.

Qin Jiangmei stared intently at the inside of the Pill Furnace, her jade hand unconsciously clenched tight. The two had already failed multiple times; if this attempt also failed, they truly had no other recourse.

Second-tier Medicinal Pills required too much spiritual power; even a slight fluctuation in spiritual power would cause the heat to become too high or lack even a sliver of heat, leading to Alchemy failure in the end.

This dual-person joint Alchemy was truly seamless.

Whether it was the control of spiritual power or the smooth handover of steps, it was as if they were one person.

They watched as the pill liquid quickly condensed into a sphere, accompanied by a wave of fragrance spreading out.

Qin Jiangmei held her breath, her heart rate accelerating.

Finally, the pill fire extinguished, and the overflowing fragrance caused both of them to tremble simultaneously.

The couple exchanged a tacit look, smiles appearing on both their faces without prompting.

"Success! youth-preserving pill!"

Su Yang let out a long breath, lifted the Pill Furnace, and retrieved the pills. Ten complete Medicinal Pills came into view.

Three High Grade, seven Medium Grade!

Achieving High Grade on the very first success was a huge surprise, three of them!

"Wife, let's stay young forever together."

Su Yang grinned lightly and handed one of the High Grade youth-preserving pills to Qin Jiangmei.

A High Grade youth-preserving pill could grant eternal youth, whereas Medium Grade and Low Grade ones only had a time limit.

Therefore, the value of a High Grade youth-preserving pill was a thousand times that of Medium Grade and Low Grade youth-preserving pills.

Qin Jiangmei took the pill but hesitated to swallow it, gazing softly at Su Yang.

"How about..."

"No need. Since we could succeed once, we can succeed a second time. We will have endless wealth."

Su Yang chuckled lightly, pulling his wife into his embrace without asking for permission, holding the High Grade youth-preserving pill between his fingers and gently tapping it against her lips.

Qin Jiangmei's eyes flickered, and she gave him a slightly coquettish glance, but obediently opened her mouth and took the pill.

She then picked up her own pill, her fingertips carrying a warm, gentle heat, and softly brought it to Su Yang's mouth.

The couple swallowed the youth-preserving pills together, feeling a slight warmth spread across their skin.

Qin Jiangmei was in the prime of her twenties, the age when a woman's grace is at its peak. Every frown and smile exuded a naturally mature charm; her eyes shimmered as if holding autumn water, and her entire being radiated a refined elegance achieved through deep experience.

The youth-preserving pill did not change her appearance, but her skin became even more lustrous like fine jade, gaining a touch of pure, creamy radiance.

In contrast, Su Yang's change was more obvious.

Although Cultivators could extend their lifespan and slow down facial aging,

Su Yang, at forty-one, had an appearance situated between youth and middle age.

He had shed the immaturity of youth and gained a bit of middle-aged stability.

The effect of the youth-preserving pill was as if the water of time had quietly flowed backward on him, washing away the weathering left by the years.

The mature stability remained, but the faintly discernible middle-aged aura had completely vanished.

At first glance, he was clearly a handsome young man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.

However, the wisdom and stability settled deep within his eyes had not been shaken in the slightest by this youthful facade.

When the couple walked out of the Alchemy Room side-by-side, Su Xuanjing and Xiao Mei in the courtyard couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Qin Jiangmei was fine; she was already young and beautiful, and without close inspection, it was hard to notice the change.

But Su Yang had returned to the appearance of a twenty-year-old, and the change in temperament was too obvious.

"Congratulations, Family Head, congratulations, Madam."

Xiao Mei quickly stepped forward to offer congratulations, her eyes full of envy.

Su Yang smiled as he looked at Xiao Mei, using his spiritual power to float a Low Grade youth-preserving pill into her hand.

"Family Head, this is..." Xiao Mei asked doubtfully.

"youth-preserving pill, it's for you. It's only Low Grade, so don't look down on it!"

"Ah?!"