"A mere sixty thousand Spirit Crystals, yet you all barge in here with such ferocious postures. Is it really worth it? Truly a bunch of ignorant lackeys."
The voice of Ye Yunfei, filled with mockery, rang out once more.
On the high platform, everyone stared intently at the two vials on the table. Ye Tianpeng's emotions surged instantly. Rushing forward, he opened both vials. A rich fragrance of spirit pills wafted out.
No mistake about it!
Two Profound Origin Pills, and ten True Spirit Pills!
Utter shock gripped everyone present. How could a junior, with a casual reach, produce spirit pills worth thirty thousand Spirit Crystals?!
"Fei'er, where did these pills come from..." Ye Tianpeng asked, both excited and bewildered, looking at Ye Yunfei.
"Father, let's not worry about that for now. First, let's send these hounds of Qin Xiong packing," Ye Yunfei replied.
He had personally refined these Profound Origin and True Spirit Pills not long ago. For the time being, however, Ye Yunfei had no intention of telling anyone. If people were to find out that a young man with no prior alchemical experience and only Body Tempering Sixth Level strength had, on his first attempt, refined so many Second and Third Grade spirit pills... well, that would be enough to scare someone to death.
"Good!" Ye Tianpeng gave a heavy nod.
The expressions of the dozen representatives from the minor families and small factions turned extremely grim. The task Qin Xiong had given them was to drive the Ye Family into bankruptcy. It seemed that mission was doomed to fail.
"Wonderful! Our Ye Family is saved!" The Ye Family Great Elder, gazing at the pills in Ye Tianpeng's hand, was so moved he began weeping.
Just at that moment, suddenly—
"Report! The proprietor of the Lingzhen Pavilion has arrived to visit!"
A Ye Family member rushed urgently into the training ground, shouting loudly.
What?!
All on the platform paled with shock. The master of the Lingzhen Pavilion was, without a doubt, one of the most mysterious and powerful figures in all of Yuanyue City. Rumors said that even the City Lord and the patriarchs of the Four Great Families had requested audiences multiple times, only to be refused each time, unable to even gain entry. Yet today, this figure had unexpectedly come calling to the Ye Family.
"No need to ask; she must be here to collect a debt from the Ye Family!"
"Correct. Otherwise, why would a mere Ye Family warrant a personal visit from the Lingzhen Pavilion's master? She must have been hired by Qin Xiong to put pressure on the Ye Family."
"Who would have thought? The Qin Family produced a Heavenly Spirit Body, and even the master of the Lingzhen Pavilion has actively befriended them and is now doing Qin Xiong's bidding!"
"The Qin Family has truly risen!"
"The Ye Family is in for a terrible time. In the face of the Lingzhen Pavilion, the Ye Family is even weaker than an ant!"
...
The representatives from the small families and factions murmured amongst themselves.
"Our Ye Family... do we have business dealings with the Lingzhen Pavilion?" Ye Tianpeng suddenly turned to Ye Zhongnian.
"Yes," Ye Zhongnian nodded calmly, his expression unreadable.
"Invite them in," Ye Tianpeng took a deep breath and ordered.
Moments later, a graceful, exceptionally beautiful girl of about seventeen or eighteen, accompanied by a ruddy-faced old man, entered the training ground and ascended the high platform. Ye Yunfei gave a slight smile. This beautiful girl was none other than Xiao Chuchu, the master of the Lingzhen Pavilion. Following closely behind was Elder Huang.
"Xiao Chuchu of the Lingzhen Pavilion greets Patriarch Ye," Xiao Chuchu bowed to Ye Tianpeng.
*She* was the master of the Lingzhen Pavilion?
Everyone on the platform, except for Ye Yunfei, was left utterly dumbfounded. No one had anticipated that the master of the Lingzhen Pavilion was such a young maiden!
"Manager Xiao, may I inquire about your purpose for this visit? Please speak freely," Ye Tianpeng's face was somewhat strained. This visitor was most likely also here to collect a debt.
"Patriarch of the Earth Treasures Pavilion, paying respects to Manager Xiao!"
"Head of the Chen Family, greeting Manager Xiao!"
"Head of the Wu Family, offering salutations to Manager Xiao!"
...
At that moment, the dozen or so representatives from the small families and factions suddenly rushed forward, each vying to pay their respects to Xiao Chuchu, every gesture and attitude dripping with flattery and sycophancy. After all, the Lingzhen Pavilion was one of the famous major powers within the Great Qin Empire. Rumors suggested even the Imperial Royal Family and the four major sects extended it respect and courtesy. Encountering the master of the Lingzhen Pavilion was, for these minor representatives, akin to a commoner meeting an Imperial Envoy dispatched by the imperial court! The difference in status and position was like heaven and earth!
"Haha, Patriarch Ye. Today is the Ye Family clan meeting. I've heard that the Ye Family has a Young Master Ye Yunfei, talented and promising in his youth, truly a dragon among men. I specifically came to see his splendor for myself. I presume this is Young Master Ye Yunfei? Truly, heroes are born of youth; to meet in person surpasses all reputation."
Xiao Chuchu didn't even glance at those scrambling representatives. She spoke only to Ye Tianpeng, clasping her hands respectfully in a fist-and-palm salute, her manner dignified and polite. However, her beautiful eyes secretly swept towards Ye Yunfei, carrying a touch of sly mischief.
*This little lady can spin tall tales without blushing at all,* Ye Yunfei couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He knew Xiao Chuchu must have heard the news and had come specifically to show him support.
What?!
Everyone present was stunned by her words, wondering if they had misheard. They had all assumed the Lingzhen Pavilion master's visit to the Ye Family was certainly for debt collection, to assist Qin Xiong in pressuring the Ye Family. They never imagined she had come to see Ye Yunfei's "splendor"!
"Ahem... Manager Xiao, you flatter him too much. You came... truly for this purpose?" Ye Tianpeng found himself at a loss for words.
*What she says must be the opposite of her true meaning! Her real cutting remarks will certainly follow!* Turning this thought over, the dozen representatives couldn't help but chuckle in relief, assured of their assumptions.
"Indeed. My visit to the Ye Family is primarily for this purpose. Ah, no, there is another purpose as well. That is, from this moment on, all spirit herbs and pills sold by the Yuanyue City Lingzhen Pavilion to your Ye Family will be offered at a ten percent discount. Furthermore, our Lingzhen Pavilion intends to establish a cooperative partnership with the Ye Family." Xiao Chuchu's voice was crisp and clear, like an oriole's call.
"What?! Manager Xiao, are you... are you telling the truth?" Ye Tianpeng was both astonished and overjoyed, hardly daring to believe his ears. The seven Ye Family Elders were also overwhelmed with pleasant surprise.
How could this be? This pavilion master had not come to collect debts from the Ye Family, but to deliver *discounts*?!
"Of course it's true," Xiao Chuchu gave a light, graceful nod.
"Hahaha... Manager Xiao, the Ye Family will forever remember your kindness!" Ye Tianpeng laughed heartily, all the resentment, anger, and sense of injustice he had felt before now swept completely away. This was the Lingzhen Pavilion, one of the premier major powers in the entire Great Qin Empire! It actually sought to establish a cooperative relationship with the Ye Family!
"Father, let's still send Qin Xiong's hounds packing first," Ye Yunfei interjected suddenly.
"Right, I nearly forgot," Ye Tianpeng slapped his forehead.
"Servants! Go to the vault and fetch every single Spirit Crystal our Ye Family possesses! We will clear the debt immediately," Ye Tianpeng ordered loudly.
"I'll go fetch them personally!" The Great Elder stood up, departing from the platform. Moments ago, the Ye Family had been on the brink of ruin; then the situation suddenly reversed. The Great Elder was now flushed with excitement.
"Oh? These people are Qin Xiong's hounds, all here for debt collection? Hmph, a pack of despicable scoundrels! Elder Huang, remember them all. Starting now, our Lingzhen Pavilion will refuse any further business with these individuals. Moreover, throughout Yuanyue City, any force or faction that dares to engage in business dealings with this group of contemptible characters will be barred from any association with the Lingzhen Pavilion!"
Xiao Chuchu cast a cold glance over the dozen or so representatives, her voice icy.
"Manager Xiao, please!" Hearing her words, the representatives were completely dumbfounded, each one terrified, their faces turning deathly pale as they began to beg and plead incessantly. Given the terrifying might of the Lingzhen Pavilion, crushing these minor families and small forces would be easier than squashing an ant! This meant their future days would become extremely difficult.
"I have noted them all, Manager," Elder Huang said from behind Xiao Chuchu, his face expressionless.
Xiao Chuchu turned her face away, ignoring the desperate pleas of the representatives entirely, allowing them to beg and whimper to no avail.
In the end, that dozen or so representatives were coldly sent packing by a stern-faced Ye Tianpeng.