Chapter 165: The Divine Elixir Sect

(Page 1 of 3)

“What?!”

When Qi Sheng heard what Lin Le had said, he stared at him in astonishment, utterly unable to believe his ears.

Qi Sheng had never met anyone like Lin Le. Everyone else tried to bargain the price down—who had ever seen someone raise the price on his own initiative? And Lin Le had nearly doubled it in one stroke! Even if Qi Sheng sold this thousand-year-old ganoderma to someone else, he might not have been able to get such a price.

Ji Xiaorui and Liang Qiuyang, standing nearby, were equally baffled. Even if one had money, surely one did not have to spend it so extravagantly.

Lin Le, however, had his own reasons.

Cultivation in the future would require him to purchase medicinal herbs. Spending five million to establish a connection with an honest major herb merchant like Qi Sheng would benefit him greatly.

After all, old and rare medicinal materials were not things one could obtain just anywhere. Nor could Lin Le constantly travel to Upper Capital to inspect them in person. If he had an upright merchant like Qi Sheng select and screen them for him, it would save him a great deal of trouble.

“Mr. Lin, you truly are generous,” Qi Sheng said delightedly. “I, Qi Sheng, am determined to make you my friend!”

“Excellent. For quite some time to come, I may need to purchase medicinal herbs that are ideally at least three hundred years old. I hope you will keep an eye out for them, Boss Qi. And rest assured—the price is entirely negotiable.”

“Of course, of course! I will certainly keep an eye out for you, Mr. Lin!” Qi Sheng replied excitedly.

Qi Sheng was not worried that such precious old herbs would go unsold. He merely had to search everywhere for suitable buyers. After all, medicinal materials were unlike ordinary merchandise: different herbs were needed by different people.

Now that Lin Le had indicated he could take whatever Qi Sheng found, this would greatly reduce Qi Sheng’s trouble. Why would he refuse?

Qi Sheng could not help sighing inwardly. He had never imagined that his teacher would introduce such a major client to him. Mr. Lin was practically his benefactor!

Qi Sheng had already made up his mind to prepare some decent old medicinal herbs and send them to Mr. Lin as a gift to mark their first meeting.

Then Lin Le suddenly remembered something and asked, “By the way, Boss Qi, Dean Jia told me over the phone that some other people were also interested in this thousand-year-old ganoderma, and that they had put you in a difficult position. What exactly happened?”

“That is a long story. They are indeed rather troublesome people.” Qi Sheng looked somewhat helpless.

“Who exactly are they?” Lin Le asked curiously.

His first thought was that they might be people from the underworld. If so, he could mention the matter to Fourth Master Gu, who would likely be willing to do him a favor and settle it.

Yet Lin Le could not quite understand it. If they were underworld figures, what use could a thousand-year-old ganoderma possibly be to them?

(Page 2 of 3)

“Mr. Lin, have you ever heard of the Divine Elixir Sect?” Qi Sheng asked.

“The Divine Elixir Sect?” Lin Le shook his head. He had never heard the name before.

“I have heard a few things about them,” Liang Qiuyang suddenly said from the side. “The Divine Elixir Sect is no ordinary organization.”

“Oh? What is the background of this Divine Elixir Sect?” Lin Le asked in confusion.

“The Divine Elixir Sect only began appearing in Upper Capital two years ago. According to rumors in the martial world, it is a sect devoted primarily to alchemy,” Liang Qiuyang explained.

“An alchemy sect?” Lin Le was astonished. He had never expected a sect of alchemists to exist even in a modern metropolis like Upper Capital.

“That is right. I have also heard that the Divine Elixir Sect is remarkably capable. The pills they refine possess astonishing effects beyond the imagination of ordinary people. They not only nourish the body and restore vitality, but are also of enormous benefit to martial artists. In fact, they can even help them improve their cultivation.”

Liang Qiuyang moved within the circles of geomancy and was practically half a cultivator himself. He also had dealings with people from many different walks of life, which was why he knew so much.

“They are that powerful…” Lin Le murmured thoughtfully.

Authentic Daoist elixirs were, in essence, a form of traditional medicine—only far more profound and mysterious than ordinary remedies.

As for nourishing the body, restoring vitality, and benefiting martial artists by helping them advance their cultivation, those effects were indeed possible.

What Lin Le had not expected was that the Divine Elixir Sect truly possessed such formidable abilities.

“Exactly.” Liang Qiuyang nodded with a sigh. “Because the pills refined by the Divine Elixir Sect are so effective, they have attracted countless followers in Upper Capital. Most of those supporters are wealthy or highly influential members of the upper class. They have helped the sect build an exceptionally powerful network of connections, allowing it to become the most sought-after force in Upper Capital in less than two years. Even people from the underworld do not dare offend them lightly.”

Lin Le could readily understand that. Even in the cultivation world, alchemy sects were highly sought after and deeply respected. Their position was much like that of doctors: everyone had something to ask of them, so naturally they enjoyed tremendous status.

Liang Qiuyang’s explanation gave Lin Le a preliminary understanding of the Divine Elixir Sect.

Lin Le turned his gaze back to Qi Sheng.

“So the people who put you in a difficult position this time were from the Divine Elixir Sect?” he asked.

“To say they made things difficult would be an exaggeration. But their requirements are exactly the same as yours, Mr. Lin. Recently, they have also been searching throughout Upper Capital for old medicinal herbs, supposedly to refine pills,” Qi Sheng said.

(Page 3 of 3)

Lin Le smiled wryly to himself. Of course their requirements were the same. They both needed the herbs for alchemy.

“However, the Divine Elixir Sect relies on its large numbers and extensive connections, and they do have a tendency to force people into buying and selling,” Qi Sheng said with some dissatisfaction.

“When the people from the Divine Elixir Sect purchase herbs from merchants like us, they do pay, but they force the prices down so low that we can hardly make any profit. Still, they do not take things completely too far, so although everyone harbors some resentment, we endure it and let the matter pass.”

“But there is another aspect of the Divine Elixir Sect that is truly excessive. Whenever they take a fancy to a medicinal herb, we are required to sell it to them. Otherwise, we may encounter trouble afterward.”

“Oh?” Lin Le was astonished. He had not expected the Divine Elixir Sect to behave so outrageously.

“When word got out that I had received the thousand-year-old ganoderma, I do not know which fool spread it to the people of the Divine Elixir Sect. That was why I called my teacher and asked you to come collect it as quickly as possible.”

“Then could selling the ganoderma to us bring trouble to you, Boss Qi?” Lin Le asked, beginning to worry for him.

If that were truly the case, Lin Le would feel terribly guilty.

“Do not worry.” Qi Sheng waved his hand dismissively.

“The people from the Divine Elixir Sect called first. I knew it was them, so I simply did not answer. If they really come asking, I will say that I never heard the phone ring. In any case, you have already bought the ganoderma. What can they really do to me?” Qi Sheng appeared unconcerned.

“Very well. But if the people from the Divine Elixir Sect do come questioning you, feel free to place all the blame on me. I would quite like to meet them and see what sort of people they really are.”

As Lin Le spoke, a cold glint flashed through his eyes.

The Divine Elixir Sect’s practice of forcing people into buying and selling was already outrageous enough. If they truly dared to trouble Qi Sheng because of him, Lin Le would not mind teaching them a lesson.

Qi Sheng was startled when he saw Lin Le’s imposing manner.

Born into a family of merchants, Qi Sheng was a shrewd businessman and exceptionally skilled at judging people. At a glance, he could tell that Lin Le was a man of extraordinary ability, someone far beyond the level of an ordinary medicinal-herb merchant like himself. Qi Sheng could see it clearly in Lin Le’s eyes.

“All right. I understand, Mr. Lin.”

By the time Qi Sheng spoke again, his voice had taken on a distinctly respectful tone.