177: If, I mean if...

Zhao Shoucheng looked at his grand-disciple, utterly speechless. "Tell me about the dismantling of the Qingcheng branch."

This unlucky grand-disciple just kept getting beaten.

Zhao Yuan was on the verge of tears. "They said the Wei Family of Qingcheng colluded with the Yao Race."

Zhao Shoucheng frowned. "Is that true or false?"

Zhao Yuan looked at the Old Ancestor awkwardly. "It should be true..."

Because there wasn't enough evidence yet to prove it.

But based on the known intelligence, removing that "should" only required time to find the evidence.

Zhao Shoucheng felt he had never been so speechless in his life. "..."

Things have come to this; how do you expect me to step forward for you?

If I step forward now, won't my old face be trampled on?

Do you expect me, an old man who has fought the Yao Race for half his life, to defend a small, broken Family that colluded with the Yao Race?

The air fell into an awkward silence.

Zhao Yuan looked at the Old Ancestor awkwardly. "The person the Stick Figure Great Power put in the open is named Tang Gao. When Tang Gao first arrived in Qingcheng, he discovered that the Xu Family Old Ancestor had fallen into the Demonic Path and colluded with the Demon Race. The Stick Figure Great Power personally took action to suppress the Xu Family."

"Old Ancestor, this Stick Figure Great Power specifically targets the Yao Race, Demon Race, and others who are detrimental to the Human Race..."

Zhao Shoucheng rubbed his forehead. "The Wei Family colluded with the Yao Race, but didn't they survive?"

Zhao Yuan covered his face. "Wei Qiang was unaware of the collusion with the Yao Race. It was the internal descendants of the Wei Family who colluded with the Yao Race for power and profit. After Wei Qiang was punished by the Stick Figure Great Power, the first thing he did upon returning home was to kill those traitors who colluded with the Yao Race."

Wei Qiang was ruthless enough to directly purge forty percent of his clansmen, in exchange for a chance to save his life and for the Family to be protected.

Zhao Shoucheng looked at his grand-disciple, speechless. "A bunch of disgraceful things, poor oversight, failed to get things done. Do you really expect me to drag this old face out and talk my way into getting back the profits from that entire province for you?"

If you just gave me one solid reason, I could try to make it work.

Zhao Yuan smiled awkwardly. "Old Ancestor, we certainly made mistakes, but the bottom line wasn't crossed, after all... It wasn't us who broke the law... It was the ignorant Wei Family..."

"Also, the profits from this province are indeed substantial."

"Besides, the territory is so vast, we can't oversee it all."

"Generally speaking, we've fulfilled all our obligations."

Zhao Shoucheng looked at his good-for-nothing grand-disciple, disappointed. "Tell me how they did it!"

Zhao Yuan swallowed. "They established a new Pingdan Group. Their Pill Formula optimization is over twenty percent better than the branch group's, and they've produced three years' worth of Medicinal Pill reserves, with prices even lower than ours... Hmm... All collectively lower."

Their foundation was shattered.

Even without these embarrassing incidents, the branch group couldn't compete with them.

Of course, this was only discovered after getting beaten and then investigating.

Before the beating, they thought it was a betrayal.

After the beating, they realized how deep the water was.

So, this life's most hated is the behind-the-scenes type.

This kind of behind-the-scenes type is too suitable for sneak attacks, go!

Zhao Shoucheng looked at his grand-disciple, speechless again. "...You've lost the moral high ground, and you're inferior in skill. You're supposed to be researching Medicinal Pills, yet you have no advantage whatsoever. How do you expect me to make this work?"

Zhao Yuan looked at the Old Ancestor awkwardly, only able to stare blankly. "Old Ancestor, the profits from a province cannot be lost..."

Zhao Shoucheng's old face darkened. "Reduce Family welfare, strengthen moral education, and increase the oversight of the group. I don't want any more problems to arise during this sensitive period."

"This incident has already reminded us that if our Zhao Family suffers a calamity, it will be from these minor details!"

"Look, it's precisely because of your poor oversight that they were able to act in anger."

"It's precisely because you only cared about collecting money and didn't properly research Medicinal Pills and operations that they overturned your foundation."

"And you, you've been arrogant and overbearing since you were little, always shouting about the Zhao Family, royal Bloodline!"

"Don't always exploit the face of our Zhao Family and the majesty of the royal Bloodline!"

"One day, if our Zhao Family and the royal Family suffer, it will be the disaster brought about by the likes of you!"

Zhao Yuan lowered his head awkwardly, knowing that everything the Old Ancestor said was reasonable, and quietly retorted, "I've also worked hard to Cultivate..."

"Slap!"

A flick to the forehead made tears stream from Zhao Yuan's eyes. Zhao Yuan clutched his head in pain.

"Is this your reason for losing my old face!"

"Originally, I intended to salvage my reputation by myself, but now I've changed my mind."

"You're coming with me too!"

"And, call all those idiots for me. This lesson from the province, all of you must remember it!"

"Poor Family discipline, ineffective work, moral decay, insufficient oversight!"

"A bunch of idiots!"

Zhao Yuan held back his tears. "Alright, I'll go notify them now."

Zhao Shoucheng was disappointed. "Notify Qingcheng. I'll personally take you there and see how much profit we can get back with my old face."

"Ah... Yes, sir. You've been troubled."

Zhao Shoucheng kicked him directly, his anger flaring. "If you know it's trouble, then don't cause any more for me!"

Zhao Yuan was directly sent flying by the kick, tumbling out of the Immortal Cave and crashing into the passage outside the Forbidden Ground.

...

Tang Gao, the largest shareholder of Pingdan Group and also its honorary CEO, or President Tang.

He received his first urgent notification from General Liu Zhen.

Tang Gao looked at the video call on his phone, dumbfounded. "What the hell? Zhao Family's Ninth-Stage Old Ancestor Zhao Shoucheng is leading the Zhao Family's higher-ups to personally come for a meeting?"

No way!? You guys are seriously outrageous!

I just chased away a trashy Eighth-Stage, and you immediately call out the Old Ancestor!?

Are you that decisive?!

Tang Gao was completely stunned, unable to believe it. "That's not right, aren't Ninth-Stages not supposed to easily leave seclusion?"

Liu Town rubbed his forehead, speechless. "Theoretically, yes, but now is a sensitive period, and Ninth-Stages don't dare to easily enter death seclusion.

"He probably sensed that this matter isn't simple, so he came in person."

"By the way, do you know about the Zhao Family's envoy being severely injured?"

When Zhao Yuan came, he came secretly, without using official channels.

But when he went back, he was beaten like an idiot and directly took the highest-grade teleportation array back.

Even the teleportation fee was on credit; he was stripped of everything but his battle armor, not a single coin left on him.

Tang Gao's mouth twitched. "Alright, a meeting it is. When are they coming?"

"8 PM, Nine Heavens Tower. We've already booked it. The success or failure of this meeting will determine the development of our Pingdan Group."

"Don't be angry. How can we possibly swallow such a large entity in one go? At that time, try to negotiate terms that satisfy everyone."

Tang Gao stroked his chin, thinking seriously. "You know, if, and I mean if.

"If the Zhao Family Old Ancestor, on his way here, coincidentally encountered a powerful enemy with a great weapon, and was severely wounded and on the verge of death by this enemy."

"Then wouldn't our Pingdan Group be able to develop peacefully?"

Only needs satellite lock, three seconds preheating.

It could blow that Zhao Family Old Ancestor into a big idiot.

Let him dare to come here to cause trouble!

Does he really think I, Tang Gao, am easy to bully!?

General Liu Zhen jumped in fright and quickly waved his hand. "No! Don't even think about such a foolish thing!

"A Ninth-Stage is a high-end combat force of the Dynasty. At this time, internal conflict must not be triggered. The bigger picture is more important!"

"Besides! To dismantle a pillar for profit, that's against the rules!"

Tang Gao regretfully gave up on this tempting idea. "Alright, then what if the other party doesn't follow the rules?"

Liu Town looked at him, speechless. "Do you think anyone who can become a Ninth-Stage is an idiot?

"This matter should be handled peacefully if possible. Do not cause conflict unless absolutely necessary."

Tang Gao clicked his tongue. "Alright, 8 PM, Nine Heavens Tower. See you there."

----

I have a cold, three chapters done, going to sleep. Good night, everyone!

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