217: Chapter 217 So what now?

"President Fang, I still need to trouble you to send someone to Tongbao City to take another look," Su Cheng said.

Fang Zhenhai paused, stunned: "Tongbao City is in Canglan Prefecture..."

"It is not to cause trouble for the Tianyang Sect," Su Cheng interrupted him. "Just have someone make a trip to scout the situation. See if the Tianyang Sect has continued to send reinforcements to Tongbao City. While you are at it, have them head southeast along the road to meet my father and bring him back."

Fang Zhenhai realized: "Are you worried that the Tianyang Sect will pursue him?"

"Unlikely," Su Cheng shook his head. "Father has already crossed out of the Canglan Prefecture border. For the Tianyang Sect to pursue someone across prefectures, the cost would be too high. But that is not what I am worried about..."

He paused, gathering his words.

"Those three escaped Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, if they are foolish enough, might just do something stupid.

For example, after fleeing back, they might get scolded face-to-face by their Sect Master, and with their bellies full of unvented anger, some muddle-headed fellow might take it upon himself to come out and seek revenge.

It would only be one or two people acting alone, and they wouldn't need the Sect's approval. This kind of thing is impossible to guard against."

Fang Zhenhai nodded: "This subordinate will go make the arrangements right away."

"The number of people cannot be too few," Su Cheng held up a finger. "At least ten Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If that is not enough, use Spirit Stones to hire Loose Cultivators from outside, and you can offer a higher price."

"Ten Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators?" Fang Zhenhai gasped. "The Chamber of Commerce currently has twenty-four registered Foundation Establishment Cultivators in total. Excluding the three who left with Mr. Su, the remaining personnel must keep some in the Prefecture City and the two major Prefecture Cities, and most of them are newly promoted Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators..."

"Then find them outside," Su Cheng said straightforwardly. "There should be some capable Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Tianlan Province City who lack resources. With a commission of five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones per month, I don't believe you can't recruit anyone. Just sign short-term contracts, three months per term."

Fang Zhenhai quickly calculated the commission expenses in his mind, gritted his teeth, and said: "This subordinate can do it."

"After this team is assembled, go to the outskirts of Tongbao City to set up a forward position first." Su Cheng took a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch, engraved the route plan and precautions, and handed it over. "Take this route, bypass the core area of Canglan Prefecture, and skirt along the perimeter.

When you arrive near Tongbao City, do not enter the city first; inquire about the recent movements of the Tianyang Sect. Wait for my father's caravan to return from Xuanhuo Ridge, then escort them all the way back. Alternatively, you can head towards Xuanhuo Ridge to meet up with my father directly."

Zhao Shan, who was listening nearby, interjected: "Young Master Su, should this subordinate also go with them?"

"You do not need to go; rest well," Su Cheng glanced at him.

Zhao Shan opened his mouth, but in the end, he did not argue further.

After Su Cheng finalized this matter, the topic turned to the second important business.

He took two Storage Pouches from his Storage Pouch and placed them on the table. Inside were the Medicinal Pills he had refined at the Danding Sect during this period.

There were over a thousand each of the supreme grade qi gathering pill, body tempering pill, and qi recovery pill of the first rank; one hundred each of the supreme grade second-rank clear spirit pill and qi sea pill; ten foundation establishment pill; and six High Grade spirit nurturing pill.

Fang Zhenhai looked at the items on the table, his hands rubbing together unconsciously.

"For the first-rank ones, proceed as usual; sell them however they should be sold," Su Cheng pushed the Storage Pouches over. "For the second-rank ones, pick one to test the waters."

Fang Zhenhai's hands stopped.

"The clear spirit pill," Su Cheng chose for him. "Take thirty pills from these one hundred, and put them in the Zhenpin Pavilion in Qinghe Prefecture to sell. Do not put them all out at once; release one per day. You can set the price yourself, but each pill cannot be lower than five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

A supreme grade second-rank clear spirit pill for five hundred Spirit Stones; this price would be enough to cause an earthquake in Qinghe Prefecture.

A High Grade second-rank clear spirit pill produced by the Sect would cost at least three hundred Spirit Stones if traded privately.

supreme grade? They simply cannot be found on the market.

"First, test the reactions of the various forces in Qinghe Prefecture," Su Cheng said. "The Tiangang Sect, Qingxuan Sect, Hundred Beasts Gate, and Wanfa Pavilion—how great their demand for supreme grade second-rank Medicinal Pills is, how strong their willingness to pay is, and whether anyone wants to harbor malicious intentions—I need data on all of this."

Fang Zhenhai engraved every word into his mind: "Young Master Su, you mean that if the reaction is good..."

"Later, we will gradually reduce the input of supreme grade first-rank pills and slowly increase the second-rank ones. The profit from the first-rank ones is still too thin; supreme grade second-rank ones are the things that can truly create a gap."

Fang Zhenhai swallowed his saliva.

The reason Zhenpin Pavilion could have its current status was precisely because of its monopoly advantage on supreme grade first-rank Medicinal Pills.

But first-rank is, after all, first-rank; Foundation Establishment Cultivators have very little need for first-rank Medicinal Pills.

The reason the four major Sects of Qinghe Prefecture were willing to cooperate with Zhenpin Pavilion in the beginning was that supreme grade first-rank Medicinal Pills were crucial for their Qi Refining Disciples.

But what could truly make the decision-making level of a Sect tempted was always something of a higher rank.

Whoever held supreme grade second-rank Medicinal Pills in their hands could bring a Golden Core True Person to the negotiating table.

If this step was taken steadily, the scale of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce would skyrocket.

"This subordinate understands!" Fang Zhenhai stood up and solemnly cupped his hands.

Su Cheng took out the ten supreme grade foundation establishment pill separately.

"Take these ten foundation establishment pill and give them to the Peak Qi Refining Cultivators of the Chamber of Commerce. Select those with good Aptitude and high loyalty yourself. Cultivate a few more Foundation Establishment Cultivators; there will be many things to do later, and there will not be enough manpower."

Fang Zhenhai received the jade bottle with both hands; it felt heavy.

Another ten supreme grade foundation establishment pill, which was equivalent to another ten quotas for newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"Do not keep all the newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Prefecture City," Su Cheng added. "Select five reliable ones and send them to Qinghe County."

Fang Zhenhai was stunned: "Qinghe County? Isn't that the territory of your Su Family..."

"Yes, nominally under the banner of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, claiming to be discussing business cooperation with the Su Family, open a shop in Qinghe County and station there."

Su Cheng did not finish his sentence, but Fang Zhenhai already understood.

Five Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed in Qinghe County for a long term was clearly meant to back the Su Family.

How big of a place was Qinghe County? The strongest local Cultivators were merely the Qi Refining Cultivators of the Su Family and a few surrounding small families.

Five Foundation Establishment Cultivators appearing there at the same time was equivalent to erecting an iron wall at the doorstep of the Su Family.

"This subordinate will arrange it immediately."

"Hmm," Su Cheng nodded, then continued, "I will be staying in the Prefecture City for this period of time and am not in a hurry to return to the Sect."

After giving his instructions, Su Cheng left the Chamber of Commerce.

He went out the back door, walked along the street for half an alley, and turned into Qingfeng Alley in the east of the city.

Zhou Changgeng's Artifact Refining shop was still the same as before; the front was deserted, and the dusty sign hung under the eaves, swaying in the wind.

When he pushed the door open and went in, a dull sound of metal striking came from inside, with a steady rhythm, one strike after another.

Su Cheng did not make a sound, standing behind the counter and waiting for a good while.

The striking sound stopped.

The curtain was lifted, and Zhou Changgeng walked out from the back hall, his right hand still clutching a short hammer, his cuffs stained with black ash and iron filings.

Seeing that it was Su Cheng, he tossed the hammer onto the table.

"You came just at the right time. Revered Master said to let you come pick it up in half a month."

"I arrived early, and I wanted to ask about the progress."

"Progress?" Zhou Changgeng clicked his tongue. "That broken mirror of yours, my Revered Master took it apart and put it back together, put it back together and took it apart again; he has overturned and redone it three times from beginning to end."

Su Cheng's eyebrows twitched: "Three times?"

"Don't worry, it's not that he couldn't do it well." Zhou Changgeng leaned back in his chair, propping up his chin, and said, "It is Revered Master's temper. When he finished eighty percent of it, he felt it was lacking a bit here and a bit there, and he refused to compromise, so he took it all apart and started over from the beginning."

Su Cheng sat down opposite him: "So, what about now?"