Hearing this, Wei Tu understood Tao Fangde's intention.
The alchemists and talisman masters from the Hanshan Tao Clan would help him set up the basic framework of the Wei Clan's Pill and Talisman Workshop. The Wei Clan would take the lion's share of the profit, and all he needed to do was occasionally offer guidance to those Tao Clan cultivators.
'With Tao Fangde around, the Tao Clan won't fall anytime soon.' In his heart, Wei Tu gave Tao Fangde high praise.
Tao Fangde's proposal might've looked like a huge loss for the Tao Clan and a big win for the Wei Clan.
But it wasn't that simple.
Without Wei Tu holding things down in Ying Ding Tribe, starting the Wei Clan's Pill and Talisman Workshop wouldn't even have been possible. Even with Tao Clan alchemists and talisman masters, they'd never turn their expertise into solid profit so efficiently.
Yes, the Wei Clan took the bigger share, but the smaller share left behind was still enough to keep the Tao cultivators well-fed.
More importantly, guidance from a high-rank alchemist and talisman master would massively benefit the Tao Clan and deepen its foundation.
"This is fine. I agree. You handle the arrangements."
Wei Tu lightly tapped the tea table. His tone was casual.
"Thank you, Senior Wei." Tao Fangde was overjoyed and accepted with a broad smile.
But then, Wei Tu casually added one more sentence that made Tao Fangde's heart skip a beat.
"Just remember—whoever you assign to the shop better be sharp and dependable. No slackers or backstabbers."
Tao Fangde immediately understood. Wei Tu was warning him: the opportunity had been given. If the Tao Clan didn't treasure it, they'd suffer the consequences.
It hit him then—this Senior Wei, besides being generous and fair, had clawed his way up the cultivation world as a rogue cultivator.
Rogues were far more decisive and ruthless than clan-born cultivators.
"Please rest assured, Senior Wei. I'll do everything I can to keep the clan members in line," Tao Fangde swore solemnly.
Being generous was a good foundation, but being sharp and fierce only made him a more reliable patron. The former ensured long-term gain. The latter guaranteed that the Tao Clan would follow the Wei Clan far into the future.
…
Half a month later.
The Tao Clan members selected by Tao Fangde—including their alchemist, talisman masters, and several apprentices—arrived in Hu Jie Immortal City from the Zha Ma Tribe.
As for numbers:
One alchemist named Tao Zhongjing, a second-rank mid-grade alchemist.
Two talisman masters, one second-rank low-grade, the other second-rank mid-grade. These two happened to be the siblings Tao Jie and Tao Ya—faces Wei Tu already knew well.
It was said their interest in talisman studies was partly due to meeting Wei Tu during their escape years ago.
Wei Tu found that idea ridiculous. In his view, the more likely reason they went into talisman crafting was that, among the Four Cultivation Arts, talismans had the lowest entry barrier—and second only to alchemy in profit.
Times had changed.
The Hanshan Tao Clan, now a refugee clan in Kang Kingdom, no longer had the luxurious cultivation environment of the past. Most of their cultivators had to become like rogue cultivators—learning a skill to make a living.
With one alchemist, two talisman masters, and apprentices in tow, totaling six people, it was enough to support the basic structure of the Wei Clan's Pill and Talisman Workshop.
So, a date was set, and the shop officially opened in Hu Jie Immortal City.
Thanks to Wei Tu's fame, many forces and cultivators from Ying Ding Tribe came to congratulate him and added to the shop's popularity.
Wei Tu used the chance to take on a few commissions for third-rank pill refinements.
Their support wasn't just because of the grand opening and the thirty percent discount on third-rank pill crafting fees—it also had to do with the incident years ago, when the Wolf-Slaying Daoist tried to blackmail him.
That drama made a lot of noise. Though it damaged his reputation, it also revealed that he had successfully refined the third-rank "Essence-Draining Pill."
In a way, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Aside from the third-rank pill commissions, the first- and second-rank pills and talismans in the shop sold like hotcakes.
Tao Fangde, acting as shopkeeper, beamed with joy at the sight of all those spirit stones coming in. His face was glowing with excitement.
The revenue from that single day was nearly equal to what the Tao Clan had earned in three years back in Zheng Kingdom.
Of course, he knew it wouldn't last. That kind of revenue was mostly thanks to opening-day promotions and the support from many Golden Core cultivators.
Still, even if future earnings dropped to one-tenth of today's, it would still be an impressive profit.
"That's the Wei alchemist? He looks young. A third-rank alchemist at his age? I wonder how good he really is."
On the fourth floor in the reception hall, just as Wei Tu was hosting a banquet for Yuan Jie and other Golden Core guests, a young female cultivator in a short skirt walked in, cracking a riding whip with an arrogant air.
Behind her were two old women with tightly restrained spiritual energy, eyes closed in quiet rest.
Seeing this, Wei Tu looked at Yuan Jie beside him and sent a voice transmission asking who she was.
"Feng Wu Tribe, Lou Sanhua," Yuan Jie replied in a low voice.
Just like the Ying Ding Tribe, both the She Ri and Feng Wu Tribes had their own royal surnames.
The She Ri Tribe's royal surname was "Yuwen."
The Feng Wu Tribe's royal surname was "Lou."
Lou Sanhua was royalty in the Feng Wu Tribe. She served as a diplomatic envoy and was permanently stationed in Hu Jie Immortal City within Ying Ding Tribe territory.
On top of that, she was a disciple of the Feng Wu Tribe's "Prophet Seer, Xuan Tong."
"She's probably not here with good intentions," Yuan Jie warned softly.
A year ago, Wei Tu had been pursued by two fox-faced female cultivators. When he passed through Zhenwu Immortal City of the Feng Wu Tribe and called for help, he was turned away.
Since then, there was bad blood between them.
This was common knowledge across Ying Ding Tribe and even all of Kang Kingdom.
The better Wei Tu's prospects looked, the more uneasy the She Ri and Feng Wu Tribes became.
"Fairy Lou." Wei Tu smiled, rose to greet her politely, and showed no sign of displeasure.
The taller the tree, the more wind it catches.
Running a public shop, it was inevitable to run into trouble now and then.
"I heard Alchemist Wei has the skill to refine third-rank pills. As the saying goes, all guests are welcome. I just happen to have some spirit herbs on me and was planning to go to the Cangnan region to find someone to refine them."
"Now that Alchemist Wei has such ability, and with the three tribes so closely tied, I'll just entrust these herbs to you."
Once Wei Tu showed up, Lou Sanhua dropped her domineering attitude and offered a smile.
Within Ying Ding Tribe, she couldn't confront Wei Tu directly. All she could do was find subtle ways to sabotage him.
To disrupt his cultivation path however she could.
Wei Tu didn't answer immediately. He glanced at Tao Fangde beside him.
"I wonder what kind of pill Fairy Lou intends to have refined? Does she have any special requirements for quality or pill yield? If the requirements are high, the furnace fee will naturally be much more than standard."
Tao Fangde understood the cue and stepped forward with a pointed inquiry.
"Well…" Lou Sanhua hesitated, trying to organize her words and prepare a proper response.
Seeing this, the experienced Tao Fangde could tell at a glance that she had come unprepared, likely rushing over the moment she got wind of the shop's opening to stir up trouble.
"If Fairy Lou hasn't made up her mind, please return after you've figured it out. We also have other pills available here—feel free to have a look."
Tao Fangde was smooth in his handling.
Though his words put her in a tight spot, they still gave her a way out, without directly offending her.
Lou Sanhua's face turned from pale to flushed. Embarrassed and furious, she shot a glare at Wei Tu, stomped her foot, and left.
If Wei Tu had answered, she might've had a chance to provoke him further. But arguing with a shopkeeper like Tao Fangde would only cheapen her status and make her look unreasonable.
As for using force...
She wouldn't dare try that in front of a crowd of Ying Ding Tribe cultivators.
"I'll deal with you later," she muttered after stepping outside, glancing up at the fourth floor of the pavilion.
Once Yuan Jie and the others weren't around, she didn't believe someone like Wei Tu would be a match for her and her two guardians.
By then, no amount of silver-tongued talk from Wei Tu or Tao Fangde would matter.
…
After the feast.
Yuan Jie and the other guests offered their farewells.
"Judging by Lou Sanhua's attitude today, she's not going to let this go. If you need help, just send me a message through a talisman."
"I've still got some influence in Ying Ding Tribe."
Yuan Jie pulled Wei Tu aside and offered quietly.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yuan."
Wei Tu was genuinely moved. He had faith in Yuan Jie's standing in Ying Ding Tribe.
Years ago, Yuan Jie had killed the second prince of the Right Virtuous King's estate and faced no punishment. In fact, the Cangkun Alliance had grown stronger from it.
Wei Tu didn't believe for a second that Yuan Jie didn't have the backing of a Divine Master.
After sending off Yuan Jie and the others, Wei Tu prepared to leave the shop and return to "Cloud Lark Residence."
That was the name of the cave-dwelling he'd rented in Hu Jie Immortal City.
He had a fondness for old names, and since "Cloud Lark" sounded good, he used it again.
However—
Just as he turned to head back...
He saw a familiar female cultivator on the fourth floor of the workshop.
"Princess?" Wei Tu was surprised to see none other than Yuan Ying, the eldest princess of the Right Virtuous King's estate, dressed in plain robes, her beauty as radiant as ever.
He hadn't expected her to show up on his opening day to support the event.
"What? Is Alchemist Wei not happy to see me?"
Yuan Ying gave him a warm smile, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with faint tears, like she was teasing him for being so heartless.
"Just a bit unexpected," Wei Tu answered casually.
Only then did it occur to him—he had been the one who assassinated the Wolf-Slaying Daoist and leaked the secret that led to the second prince's death. The princess had no idea.
In her eyes, he was still someone who owed a debt of gratitude to the Right Virtuous King's estate.
"Enough teasing, Alchemist Wei. I came to the shop today because I heard you have some high-quality third-rank talismans for sale. I'm here to buy a batch for the estate."
Yuan Ying smiled faintly.
"Talismans?" Wei Tu was a bit surprised.
Although the shop sold pills and talismans alike, most customers preferred pills. Talismans sold poorly.
Compared to pills of the same rank, talismans were far less in demand—especially third-rank ones.
But Wei Tu understood the reason.
The priests and spellcasters of the three tribes preferred using all sorts of strange spells in battle, rather than relying on talismans or magical tools.
When working with a tight budget, it made more sense to buy pills than to splurge on talismans.
So Yuan Ying placing a large talisman order really was unusual.
"Here's the talisman catalog."
Wei Tu came back to himself, pulled out a jade slip, and handed it to her.
But when their hands brushed, Yuan Ying gave him a flirtatious look and softly scratched his palm with a slender finger.
Wei Tu pretended not to notice and simply placed the jade slip into her hand without reacting.
'Blockhead. Dense as a log,' Yuan Ying fumed inwardly.
Still, she didn't show it on the surface and got back to business.