87: Chapter 87 Treasure Pavilion, you've gone too far!

As he spoke, he took out two jade boxes and pushed them in front of the two men.

Chen Tai and Deacon Lin exchanged a glance and each opened a jade box.

Inside the jade boxes lay three round, full Medicinal Pills shimmering with a precious light.

"top-grade qi gathering pill, top-grade body tempering pill, top-grade qi recovery pill." Deacon Lin softly read out the names of the Medicinal Pills, becoming even more confused.

"What is the meaning of this?" Chen Tai voiced the question in his heart.

They themselves had no use for these Qi Refinement Stage Medicinal Pills, but for their Disciples, juniors, or even as a means to reward and win people over, these would add a lot of prestige.

Liu Xing grinned. "Please don't overthink it, I have no other intentions; this is simply a gift between friends. My Zhenpin Pavilion knows that many talents have emerged under you two, and there must be a great demand for Cultivation resources."

"Therefore, I have specially opened an exclusive shopping channel for you. Each month, you may send someone with this waist token to purchase three types of supreme-grade pills from my Zhenpin Pavilion, five of each kind. And the price will still be the market rate."

These words made Chen Tai and Deacon Lin's hearts tighten.

Thirty supreme-grade pills every month, and at market price? Could such a good thing exist?

"Steward Liu, why is this?" Chen Tai asked again.

He truly didn't dare to accept this unearned friendship without knowing the reason.

Liu Xing smiled slightly and said enigmatically, "The Great Dao has three thousand paths, and each has its own fortune. You should know that the Zhenpin Pavilion was founded by the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, and our chamber loves making friends with heroes like yourselves. As for the reason, it's not something that cannot be said."

"My Zhenpin Pavilion's Foundation is still shallow, while the Tiangang Sect is a top-tier Sect in Qinghe Prefecture, and you two hold important positions."

"I was just thinking that if the children of my chamber have the Opportunity to enter the Tiangang Sect to practice in the future, I hope Elder Chen can look upon today's friendship and look after them a little."

"Furthermore, the Artifact Talisman Hall managed by Deacon Lin produces excellent Talismans and Magical Artifacts. Usually, the Guards of my Four Seas Chamber of Commerce travel outside, living a dangerous life, and they need some handy security measures."

"When the time comes, if there is a need, I hope Deacon Lin can privately offer some favorable terms. Consider this as my Zhenpin Pavilion forming a good karma in advance for future peace."

Liu Xing's words finally caused Chen Tai and Deacon Lin's furrowed brows to relax.

It turned out to be just these small requests, which were easy tasks for them.

Although this excuse still sounded a bit fake—the chamber had the cash cow that was the Zhenpin Pavilion, so what could they not get?

But it didn't matter; who would refuse benefits delivered to their doorstep?

This deal seemed to have a hundred benefits and not a single harm for them.

Even if the Zhenpin Pavilion had some scheme, that was a matter for the future. For now, the two of them felt a bit more confident in their influence within the Tiangang Sect because of Liu Xing's words.

After all, why did this Steward Liu not seek out others in the Sect but instead came to the two of them!

"Since Steward Liu is so hospitable, then we shall accept with pleasure," Chen Tai said with a smile and a cupped-hand salute.

Deacon Lin was also full of smiles. "Thank you for your trouble, Steward Liu."

The two took the waist tokens and left, each carrying the benefit of a monthly quota of thirty supreme-grade pills.

Liu Xing watched their departing figures, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

From then on, the news that had leaked from within the Zhenpin Pavilion and reached the Blazing Fire Sect—that "the Zhenpin Pavilion was privately trading supreme-grade pills with Chen Tai and Deacon Lin of the Tiangang Sect"—immediately became reality under Su Cheng's remedial measures.

The Zhenpin Pavilion naturally wouldn't publicly announce this matter, and Chen Tai and Deacon Lin also understood the principle of not flaunting one's wealth.

But not making it public didn't mean it wouldn't be intentionally leaked.

In the main hall of the Blazing Fire Sect, the atmosphere seemed even more oppressive than it had been a few days ago.

"Sect Master, I have sent people to conduct secret investigations for many days, and that broker has truly vanished completely," a Foundation Establishment Elder reported with a bow. "However, we did discover some unusual things from the Tiangang Sect."

"Speak," the Sect Master said with a solemn expression.

"It is rumored that Chen Tai, the Law Enforcement Hall Elder of the Tiangang Sect, and Deacon Lin of the Artifact Talisman Hall have been acting quite lavishly lately." The Elder paused. "The Medicinal Pills they reward to their Disciples are of the supreme grade quality unique to the Zhenpin Pavilion!"

This didn't seem like much at first. An Elder in the hall said dismissively, "What's so strange about that? Recently, the Zhenpin Pavilion has increased its sales quota for Medicinal Pills, and the management isn't as strict as before. With Chen Tai and Deacon Lin's status in the Tiangang Sect, it's normal for them to send their people to buy a few more."

"Normal?" the Elder who spoke first snorted. "If it were only two or three, why would I bother mentioning it here! According to reliable information, this month alone, each of them has rewarded at least ten supreme-grade pills under their names!"

"What!"

"Ten pills per person?"

At this, all doubt in the hall vanished, replaced by a suppressed rage.

"Zhenpin Pavilion! You've gone too far!" an Elder slammed the table and said hatefully, "One moment they put my Blazing Fire Sect on the blacklist, and the next they openly increase the Medicinal Pill quota and allow others to over-purchase! Were those rules they set before made specifically to slap the face of my Blazing Fire Sect today?!"

"Every word I say is true!" the Elder who spoke earlier continued. "Think back to the news we received earlier about several secret meetings between these two and the Zhenpin Pavilion to buy pills. I just didn't expect there to be so many. Every single detail has now been completely confirmed!"

The Sect Master stood up abruptly, a cold light in his eyes. "You mean Chen Tai and Deacon Lin are truly trading supreme-grade pills with the Zhenpin Pavilion in private? And in such large quantities, perhaps even that the Zhenpin Pavilion is secretly supporting them?"

"It must be!" another Elder echoed. "Since Chen Zifan and Lin Feier of the Tiangang Sect went missing, those two have likely been brooding over it. Now that they've colluded with the Zhenpin Pavilion, they probably want to use its power to strike at our Blazing Fire Sect!"

"After all, the conflict between the Zhenpin Pavilion and our Sect seemed mysterious from the start. Now it looks more like we were being used as pawns to target our Blazing Fire Sect. Could it be that the Tiangang Sect is actually the one behind the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce?"

This deduction, while absurd, vaguely fit all the inconsistencies.

The only flaw was the source of the supreme-grade pills; they certainly didn't come from the Tiangang Sect.

"Could it be that the Tiangang Sect has connected with some major power in the Prefecture City? But how is that possible?"

The more these Elders thought, the more outrageous and chaotic it became, until finally, they didn't dare think any further.

The most important thing now was that the Zhenpin Pavilion, relying on its supreme-grade pills, had established a firm foothold in the Prefecture City and had become a highly sought-after prize in the eyes of all major powers.

If their Blazing Fire Sect dared to cause trouble in the Prefecture City, the first to stand in their way would likely be those fellow Daoists who had received benefits.

The Sect Master paced back and forth, his face filled with both anger and urgency.

He had racked his brains before and couldn't understand why the Zhenpin Pavilion was targeting the Blazing Fire Sect. Now that this inside story had been revealed, all the mysteries seemed to have an answer.

"What a Tiangang Sect! What a Chen Tai! What a Deacon Lin!" the Sect Master shouted harshly, his voice causing the Spiritual Qi in the hall to surge. "How dare they be so insidious! Pass down my orders: starting immediately, strengthen the defenses of all Blazing Fire Sect properties in the Prefecture City! At the same time, closely monitor the movements of the Tiangang Sect and the Zhenpin Pavilion! We must not let them succeed again!"