"Fifth Elder, what do you mean by that? Is it wrong for me to think of the family’s well-being?"

The Sixth Elder’s temper flared when he heard this.

As a prominent family, the Qin family naturally had its share of power struggles. The Fifth and Sixth Elders were not in the same camp.

"Enough! All this bickering is a disgrace."

A furious roar came from the head of the hall, and the entire conference hall immediately fell silent.

Qin Feng looked at everyone present with cold disappointment, his heart seething with rage. ’Even now, this group of elders is still fighting amongst themselves.’ He was utterly disappointed.

Qin Feng knew that if he left this matter to the elders, they would debate for half a day and get nowhere. They might even come to blows right here in the conference hall.

A look of weariness appeared on Qin Feng’s face. He waved his hand dismissively. "The Third Prince’s intention is for us not to go too far. However, since the Luo family dares to sling mud at us, if we don’t respond, won’t we become the laughingstock of the Imperial Capital? Who would fear the Qin family after that?"

"Of course, our counterattack can’t involve physical force, or it will bring unnecessary trouble to the family."

"Please enlighten us, Patriarch," the elders said in unison.

Qin Feng said coolly, "I hear the Luo family is in the Pill business. The Qin family, on the other hand, is one of the empire’s Alchemy Dao giants. If we want to crush a minor family like the Luos, do you think we lack the means?"

As soon as Qin Feng spoke, the hall erupted with excitement.

Indeed. The Qin family’s martial prowess was immense, but in the Imperial Capital, that power was like a caged tiger, unable to be unleashed.

But their strength wasn’t limited to martial prowess; they also excelled in the Alchemy Dao.

And yet, the Luo family, also an alchemy family, had dared to provoke them. Weren’t they just asking for death?

Almost at the instant Qin Feng finished speaking, seven or eight ways to deal with the Luo family had already popped into the elders’ minds.

"Third Elder, you will take the lead on this. I expect that by the time I next emerge from seclusion, the Luo family will no longer be able to stand in the Imperial Capital."

With that, Qin Feng left his seat and dismissed the meeting.

He left behind the excited Qin family elders, especially the Third Elder, whose eyes had narrowed into smiling slits. He chuckled inwardly with smug satisfaction, ’The Luo family... Heh heh. You dared to offend the Qin family? Just you wait to be destroyed.’

Meanwhile, at the Luo family estate, Ye Xuan was still immersed in tense preliminary preparations.

「One day, Luo Min paid a sudden visit.」

"Patriarch Luo, has something happened?"

Before Luo Min could even speak, Ye Xuan saw his worried expression and knew that something must have happened to the Luo family.

"Young Master Ye, I’m terribly sorry to disturb you right now," Luo Min said guiltily, "but we’ve searched the entire Imperial Capital for the materials you asked us to prepare, and we can’t find a supplier."

"No supplier?" Ye Xuan paused. "Which materials couldn’t you find a supplier for?"

After deciding which segment of the Pill market to target, he had immediately listed various materials for Luo Min to acquire in large quantities.

He was ready to organize the Luo family’s Alchemists for mass production as soon as the materials arrived.

Originally, Ye Xuan had planned for the Luo family to contact the major families of Black Stone City, like the Mo family.

Wukong Ridge was rich in materials, and the Mo family now had complete control of Black Stone City. They could definitely ship large quantities of Spirit Medicine to the Luo family. An alliance between the two families would result in a qualitative leap.

However, Wukong Ridge was too far away. A round trip would take at least two to three months. By the time the materials arrived, it would be far too late.

So, that was a plan for the long term. For the initial phase, Ye Xuan had instructed Luo Min to acquire the materials within the Imperial Capital.

From Ye Xuan’s perspective, given the network the Luo family had built in the Imperial Capital over many years, acquiring some Spirit Medicine materials should have been a simple matter.

He never expected Luo Min to come and tell him they couldn’t find any suppliers.

He thought back. ’The list I gave him shouldn’t have contained any particularly rare types of Spirit Medicine.’

But then Luo Min said shamefully, "Young Master Ye, it’s not a matter of a few types. We couldn’t find a supplier for *any* of the materials."

"How is that possible? The Luo family has been operating in the Imperial Capital for so long. Even if you don’t have your own medicinal gardens, you must have established suppliers, right?"

Luo Min’s expression was full of indignation. "We did have several long-term suppliers," he said. "But this time, when I went to purchase the herbs, they all claimed they didn’t have the materials we needed. It wasn’t just one supplier—I went to several in a row, and it was the same story. All the other Spirit Medicine suppliers said the same thing..."

Before Luo Min could finish, Ye Xuan understood instantly. This had to be the Qin family’s handiwork.

Ye Xuan had considered this possibility before.

He had just thought that since the Qin family was only one of the Imperial Capital’s four great Alchemy Dao giants, their influence wouldn’t be enough to sway *every* Spirit Medicine supplier. It seemed he had underestimated the Qin family’s reach.

If they couldn’t even purchase Spirit Medicine materials, then his plan to enter the Pill market was nothing but a joke.

"What about suppliers outside the Imperial Capital? Are they also not an option?" Ye Xuan asked with a frown.

There were other cities near the Imperial Capital, only a two or three-day journey away. While it would cost them some time, it wouldn’t derail Ye Xuan’s plans entirely.

"You don’t understand, Young Master Ye. The Qin family’s influence as an Alchemy Dao giant extends beyond the Imperial Capital; it radiates throughout the entire empire. From what I’ve heard, the Qin family has demanded that all major suppliers blacklist us. Anyone who does business with the Luo family will be making an enemy of the Qin family."

Luo Min sighed. "If the Qin family were just an Alchemy Dao giant, perhaps not many would have complied. But their chief Alchemist is also an elder in the imperial Alchemist Association. With that connection, very few factions would dare to disrespect the Qin family."

Ye Xuan pondered for a moment, then asked, "So you really can’t buy even a single thing from the suppliers you used to work with?"

Luo Min smiled bitterly. "Our biggest supplier was the Tianya Commerce Association, one of the major commerce associations from the Dream Realm Plain, and we worked with them through the Murong family. But now, I can’t even get through the door of their office here in the Imperial Capital."

At this, Luo Min’s face filled with frustration. When had he, the dignified Patriarch of a noble family, ever suffered such an indignity?

The Tianya Commerce Association may be large, but this was just their office in the Imperial Capital. In the past, it was always the family elders who handled communications with them. This time, he, the Patriarch, had gone in person, only to have the door shut in his face. Luo Min had been so furious he’d nearly smashed their doors in.

A glint appeared in Ye Xuan’s eyes the moment Luo Min mentioned the Tianya Commerce Association.

"I recall the Divine Walk Commerce Association is also one of the major ones, isn’t it? Do they have an office in the Imperial Capital?"

Luo Min didn’t know why Ye Xuan was asking, but he nodded nonetheless. "The Divine Walk Commerce Association is a major player. Of course they have an office in the Imperial Capital."

"Good," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

"Young Master Ye, you’re not thinking of partnering with the Divine Walk Commerce Association, are you?" Luo Min said hurriedly. "I’m afraid that’s not possible."

"And why not?"

"You don’t understand the situation, Young Master Ye," Luo Min explained. "The Divine Walk Commerce Association and the Tianya Commerce Association are both major commerce associations from the Dream Realm Plain, but they are fierce rivals. Here in the Sky Empire, the Tianya Commerce Association is considerably stronger than the Divine Walk Commerce Association. That’s why the Luo family has always worked with Tianya, and never with Divine Walk. They’re unlikely to agree to a partnership with us."

"That’s the first reason. The second is that the Divine Walk Commerce Association is already in a weaker position here in the Imperial Capital. And since their business is precisely in Spirit Medicine and Pills, they’ll be especially cautious about anything said by an Alchemy Dao giant like the Qin family. Putting the two together, it’s even more unlikely that the Divine Walk Commerce Association would ever agree to work with us."

"Our only option now is to go to some of the empire’s more remote cities, or partner with factions from outside the empire."

Ye Xuan shook his head and stood up abruptly. "How long would that take? If you don’t even try, how can you be so sure the Divine Walk Commerce Association won’t work with us?"

Ye Xuan wasn’t entirely confident either, but he did have a connection with the Divine Walk Commerce Association from his time in Black Stone City. Perhaps there was still a chance for a turnaround.

Since Ye Xuan had put it that way, Luo Min couldn’t argue. He immediately led Ye Xuan toward the Divine Walk Commerce Association.

Before long, the two arrived at the entrance of the Divine Walk Commerce Association.

The Divine Walk Commerce Association was located in a bustling district of the Imperial Capital. It was a grand and magnificent five-story pavilion.

"Gentlemen, how can I help you? If you wish to purchase Spirit Medicine or Pills, please use the main entrance to the right. There are staff there to assist you."

Luo Min and Ye Xuan had just arrived at the entrance, and before they could say a word, two of the commerce association’s guards spoke up.

Luo Min had led Ye Xuan to a side entrance of the pavilion, not the main one.

The main entrance was for regular customers purchasing Spirit Medicine and Pills. The side entrance was for staff or for those who had official business to discuss with the association. This was the only way to meet with the person in charge.

As the Patriarch of the Luo family, Luo Min was well aware of such protocols.

"We’d like to see your association’s manager to discuss some business matters..." Luo Min began cautiously. He sounded unconfident, completely lacking the domineering authority expected of a Patriarch.

He had simply been rejected by so many different factions over the last few days that he’d become timid.

"And which manager might you be looking for?" one of the guards asked after exchanging a glance with his partner.

Neither Luo Min’s attire nor the aura he projected suggested he was an ordinary man. So, despite his cautious tone, the guards’ attitude remained respectful.

Their question, however, stumped Luo Min.

To be honest, he didn’t know a single one of the Divine Walk Commerce Association’s managers.