Chapter 854: All Sorts of Powers
“Boss Ye, impressive business you’ve built,” a quiet voice remarked. Though understated, the voice resonated deeply in Ye Mo's ears. The speaker's power rivaled Li Baisen's; likely a False Core cultivator.
Ye Mo turned to see a man appearing to be in his forties, sharp-eyed and radiating a palpable aura of violence. His business was barely launched, yet he already faced such competition. He recognized his unfamiliarity with the city and knew securing his place required both increased power and understanding the city's dynamics.
Ye Mo instructed Sun Zhicai, “Brother Sun, reach Foundation Establishment first. Afterwards, return to work here.”
Sun Zhicai bowed and departed, but upon reaching the middle-aged cultivator, he bowed again. “Greetings, Manager Peng of the All Pill Tower.”
The manager sneered.
Ye Mo nodded, his impression of Sun Zhicai improving. Sun Zhicai, despite anticipating the manager's displeasure, had identified the man. Knowing his opponent was advantageous for negotiations.
Ye Mo knew the All Pill Tower was one of River State City's three major pill towers, second-ranked and part of a larger franchise with numerous branches throughout the North Far State. Its influence was considerable.
After Sun Zhicai's departure, Ye Mo offered a slow fist salute to the manager. “Friend, what brings you here?”
Manager Peng, already displeased by Ye Mo's lack of initial greeting and subsequent refusal to invite him inside, remained outwardly calm. “I am Manager Peng Shiping of the All Pill Tower. I have matters to discuss with Boss Ye. Are you not going to invite me in?”
Ye Mo scoffed. The man's superior attitude belied his questionable intentions.
“Manager Peng of the All Pill Tower. Our shop is newly opened and rather small. If you have something to say, say it here.” Ye Mo held no regard for Manager Peng. He intended to establish his business, but not by currying favor with such individuals. Even the All Pill Tower's owner wouldn't receive preferential treatment.
“Brother, we’ve sold all our pills,” Ye Ling quietly informed Ye Mo.
Ye Mo nodded, moving to the shop's entrance. He announced, “Friends, thank you for your patronage. We’ve sold out! Please return tomorrow. And I have further news: Starting today, this store will also concoct pills for others!”
A ripple of surprise spread through the crowd. Concocting pills was the domain of large pill towers. This small shop, China Pharmaceuticals, dared to offer such a service?
Peng Shiping bristled at being left to overhear the announcement, but his anger subsided.
“I didn’t expect Boss Ye to be a pill master! My apologies. Since you're concocting pills for others, what grades of pills can you create? What if someone requests spirit grade or even heaven grade pills?” Peng Shiping’s tone softened considerably.
Ye Mo smirked. Did he think he could decipher his plans? He laughed. “I neglected to mention: For River State City, the highest grade I'll produce is spirit grade, level one.”
“Boss Ye can make spirit grade pills?” Peng Shiping was stunned. He hadn't anticipated the seemingly unassuming boss was a spirit grade pill master.
Ye Mo remained silent, noticing two more individuals approaching. One, a handsome man in his fifties. The other, a goateed man in his thirties. To Ye Mo's surprise, the handsome man was a Golden Core tertiary stage cultivator, seemingly unaware of Ye Mo's perception of his power. He entered and offered a fist salute. “Boss Ye, so young yet a spirit grade pill master. I am Zhang Chengfeng, River State City's lord. I have come to pay a visit, if you’ll permit.”
Ye Mo was shocked. The city lord's personal visit was unexpected. The city’s power was distributed amongst various factions, with the city lord representing a major one. Such respect was remarkable. While he knew the visit was likely for the face-preserving pill, he admired the city lord's charisma. This was the perfect opportunity to implement his plans.
The city lord gestured to the goateed man. “This is Manager Yan Zheng of the Immortal Treasure Tower. We encountered each other en route.”
Yan Zheng quickly offered a fist salute. “Yan Zheng greets Pill Master Ye.”
His demeanor was far more respectful than Peng Shiping's. Clearly, they valued Ye Mo's pill master status above even their own superiors. Despite his dislike of goatees, owing to Dongfang Xi, Yan Zheng's politeness was appreciated. Ye Mo knew the Immortal Treasure Tower, the city's largest pill tower, also dealt in magical and spiritual artifacts.
Ye Mo returned the salute. “City Lord Zhang and Manager Yan, I'm honored by your visit. Please, come in. Ye Ling, prepare tea.”
Peng Shiping's face turned green. While he had been ignored earlier, Ye Mo now showed great courtesy to Zhang Chengfeng and Yan Zheng. He nevertheless saluted them. "Peng Shiping greets City Lord Zhang and Brother Yan."
Zhang Chengfeng simply nodded, while Yan Zheng chuckled, “Manager Peng is swift! Hehehe!”
As Ye Mo sat with his visitors, Ye Ling and Song Yangzhu sat nervously beside him, acutely aware of the guests' power.
Ye Mo knew their purpose. “City Lord Zhang and Managers, I believe you seek the face-preserving pill left by my master.”
“Indeed, Pill Master Ye is forthright. My wife is out of town, but upon hearing of the pill, she instructed me to acquire it immediately. Please, Brother Ye! Otherwise, I'll face her wrath,” Zhang Chengfeng explained.
Ye Mo appreciated the city lord's candor, yet found his wife's influence amusing.
Peng Shiping quickly interjected, “Boss Ye, our All Pill Tower learned of the face-preserving pill and our boss instructed us to purchase it, regardless of cost. Name your price! Millions, tens of millions, it matters not.”
Yan Zheng sneered, “Ambitious, Manager Peng. You intend to hold an auction. A few million spirit stones? You'll acquire it for a few million and resell it for several million mid-grade spirit stones.”
Ye Mo hadn’t anticipated such value. A mid-grade spirit stone was worth ten low-grade ones.
He rose and offered a fist salute. “Thank you for your interest, but the face-preserving pill is a prized possession of this shop. I have no intention of selling it.”