C49 The More the Better!

The sun was blazing overhead as Su Yan, clad in a green outfit, meandered around the Yu family's estate in the northern part of the city. She circled the perimeter, seemingly without a hint of weariness.

After half an hour, Feng Lanyun, an elderly woman, couldn't contain her curiosity. "Miss, what's so fascinating about the Yu family? If you're so interested, why not go inside?"

"You don't understand," Su Yan replied with a hint of detachment.

Changing the subject, Feng Lanyun informed her, "Your uncle, on behalf of the Su family, has ceased purchasing medicinal herbs from the Yu family. Once word gets out, all the families and powers with ties to our Su family will take note and begin to act against the Yu family."

She paused before asking softly, "Did you instruct your uncle to do this?"

She assumed Su Yan had made the decision after Yu Yuan had offended her at the Vault of Wonders a few days prior, prompting her to direct Su Yin to act.

"I'm not that petty," Su Yan shook her head. "My uncle must have his own grievances with the Yu family. But now that he's made his stance public, the Yu family is likely in for some tough times."

"It's not just tough times; I doubt the Yu family will survive this ordeal," Feng Lanyun said with a cold laugh. "The Yu family won't fare well if they fail to please us. Without the Su family's business and facing pressure from other forces, the medicinal herbs they've worked so hard to cultivate will become worthless!"

"I'm curious to see what will become of the Yu family next," Su Yan mused.

"What can they do?" scoffed Feng Lanyun. "Just watch, it won't be long before Yu Cen comes groveling to your uncle. He's only sticking around to wait for that moment."

"Is that so?" Su Yan squinted thoughtfully at the Yu family's walls, her mind replaying the peculiar events of that night. She wondered, "Could the Yu family have some unexpected ace up their sleeve?"

"Mark my words, it won't even take a week," Feng Lanyun declared confidently.

Within just a few days, the entire city of Asvetaesi was abuzz with the news of the Su family's campaign against the Yu family.

The Yuan and Zhao family members were all taken aback by the news.

The patriarch, Yu Cen, had intended to keep it under wraps, but soon realized it was impossible to conceal.

Every member of the Yu family, including the counselors and herb slaves, had heard the news and were deeply unsettled.

After all, this concerned the Empire's Su family!

Without the Su family's purchases, what value would their cultivated spiritual herbs and flowers hold?

If the herbs couldn't be converted into soulstones, what would become of their cultivation? How would they acquire the necessary pills, tools, and spells for their survival?

Cultivators are not mere mortals; sustenance is not their only need.

"Elder, what should we do?"

"Leader, the new batch of herbs is nearly ready. If there are no buyers, we'll waste the herbs and their spiritual energy will be lost."

"Elder, should we approach Su Yin for a talk?"

"Su Yin is lingering in Asvetaesi, likely expecting you to relent."

"Leader, we must consider the bigger picture!"

Many Yu family members, especially the elders and counselors, were in a frenzy, all urging Yu Cen to negotiate.

They implored him to accept Su Yin's terms at any cost to prevent the Yu family from being at a disadvantage.

Yu Cen felt the weight of immense pressure.

...

At the Yu family's ancestral home.

"Hu!"

Yu Yuan exhaled deeply, his body thrumming with spiritual energy like a mighty river.

He rose to his feet, his face breaking into a radiant smile, "Spirit Channel, twelfth level!"

Thanks to the Channel Opening Pill and the wondrous Nine Glories Wheel, all twelve of his main meridians were completely open.

Just one more breakthrough, one more moment of insight, and he might advance further, reaching the Soul Awakening Realm.

Upon entering the Soul Awakening Realm, he'd be able to practice a specific spell he had chosen, one that would significantly enhance his combat abilities.

In the Spirit Channel Realm, he had focused solely on the Nine Glories Wheel, not allowing any distractions.

This was because the Spirit Channel Realm was relatively low and fraught with limitations.

The Soul Awakening Realm, however, was a different story. In this realm, the spiritual energy flowing through the twelve meridians could nourish the organs and purify the flesh, blood, and bones.

This stage emphasized the strengthening of the corporeal body.

The Nine Glories Wheel, a high-level spiritual spell, primarily dealt with the absorption and circulation of spiritual energy. It wasn't particularly beneficial for fortifying the corporeal body.

His aspiration was to advance into the Soul Awakening Realm, yet his intentions were multifaceted.

"The cycle of absorbing divine force has paused for now. Time to explore other avenues."

He retrieved the White Paper Fan, his pupils brightening as a thread of thought detached from his mind and was drawn into the four somber characters, "To Know All is to Suffer All."

He immersed himself in the emanating sorrow.

Fearing that the Yu family's deep-buried secret might be unearthed by prying eyes, he had been practicing in the old Yu family estate for several days.

Without the amplification of the peculiar formation, the melancholy emanating from the White Paper Fan wouldn't be so overwhelming and fearsome.

Using the White Paper Fan, the refinement of his heaven soul wasn't as effective as it had been that night.

Nevertheless, he was determined to persist with the Mind Magic that could clarify the heaven soul and enhance spiritual wisdom, even if the improvements were marginal.

The methods for cultivating the three souls of heaven, earth, and man were exceedingly rare and valuable. Fortunate to have discovered such a technique, he was intent on treasuring it.

"Mr. Yu..."

After some time, Ning Ji called out gently.

Yu Yuan roused from his meditation, surprised, "Ning Ji, haven't you been keeping my grandfather company these past days?"

"Yes," Ning Ji affirmed with a nod. "He's run into a bit of trouble and sent me to consult with you."

"What kind of trouble?"

Ning Ji laid out the situation: Su Yin's targeted oppression, the Yu family's anxiety, and the elder's earnest counsel.

"I see," Yu Yuan said with a nonchalant smile. "I anticipated this. Even without the Su family's interference, I had no intention of continuing to supply them with medicinal herbs. Hmph! The Su family's purchasing prices are insultingly low! Our cultivation costs are already steep, and yet they persist in driving prices down!"

As Ning Ji was uninformed about these matters, he could only listen without offering an opinion.

"Please ask my aunt to join me. I'd like to visit our family's medicinal garden and check on the maturity of our herbs," Yu Yuan requested.

"Alright."

...

Three days had passed.

On this particular day, Zhao Dongsheng approached his father and arranged the shimmering pills on the emerald table, saying, "The Seed of Life, a common level seventh grade pill, is specifically designed for the Soul Awakening stage."

"You don't need to explain the effects of the pill to me," Zhao Zhenghao interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm only interested in how potent it is."

"The efficacy is unquestionable, and in fact, it's even more potent than the standard Seed of Life," Zhao Dongsheng assured him.

"Did it come from the Yu family?" Zhao Xi inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes, Yu Lili herself delivered them," confirmed Zhao Dongsheng with a nod. "Her asking price is fifty soulstones per Seed of Life."

"Fifty!" Zhao Xi exclaimed, taken aback. "If I'm not mistaken, isn't the going rate for the Su family's Seed of Life around eighty soulstones each?"

"Exactly," Zhao Dongsheng said with a sly grin. "And the quality of the Su family's Seed of Life doesn't even compare to these."

"So, what's the holdup?" Zhao Xi couldn't understand the hesitation. "We should take as many as we can get. If we have surplus, we can easily sell them for a profit!"

"There's just one issue," Zhao Dongsheng said, frowning as he turned to his father. "This could potentially offend the Su family."

"Offend them, then," Zhao Zhenghao declared, taking a deep breath. "The connection we've been trying to establish is starting to materialize, thanks to Yafu's success with the Dragon Devour. If we can secure a large quantity of the Seed of Life, we might just get the assurance we need from them!"

"With their backing, Dragon Lake won't pose a threat, and the Su family won't stand a chance."

As he spoke, Zhao Zhenghao exuded a confidence that lived up to his name.

"Alright!"

...

That same night.

The Yuan family presented Yuan Lianyao with five Seeds of Life, informing her that the pills were from the Yu family and personally delivered by Yu Lili.

The price was the same as what the Zhao family had been offered: fifty soulstones each.

Yuan Lianyao, donning silver gloves, meticulously inspected each Seed of Life with grace and precision.

Afterward, she instructed her family members, "Tell Yu Lili we'll take as many Seeds of Life as she can supply. The more, the merrier!"