The Red Maple Pill Domain was a vast alchemy civilization. Countless alchemists were affiliated with it. The Pill Domain collected medicinal herbs from various civilizations and distributed them to these alchemists for refining. The alchemists, in turn, had to hand over a portion as commission to the Pill Domain.
The commissions collected by the Red Maple Pill Domain were partly used to attract, retain, and protect the Divine-Demon martial artists who served as patrons. They were also used to maintain the interests and breakthrough cultivation of high-level alchemists, resulting in enormous expenditures every moment.
Returning four medium-grade pills for every five portions of medicinal herbs to the affiliated civilizations was already the maximum extent possible. Even so, they were beginning to run a deficit, and they needed to acquire additional medicinal herbs and refine more pills to compensate for the shortfall.
The Red Maple Pill Domain was already the Pill Domain civilization with the highest trade ratio in the entire Celestial Void Realm. They couldn't imagine any other alchemy force surpassing them, raising the four medium-grade pills to high-grade quality. That would be a completely unprofitable business, impossible to do!
"Is the information accurate?" Ancestor Red Maple asked in a deep voice.
Unlike other Earth God Realm alchemists who focused on other aspects, he was more concerned about the words 'regardless of grade' spoken by the Earth God Realm martial artist.
Even the number one alchemy master in the current Celestial Void Realm, the Pill God, wouldn't dare to utter such arrogant words!
Regardless of grade? Who in the world could refine Ancient God Realm pills?
Leaving that aside, even pills for the Eighth and Ninth Heavens of the Celestial God Realm were, to this day, unrefinable!
Medicinal herbs of that level required someone of the same realm to activate the divine fire for refining. However, those who reached the Eighth or Ninth Heavens of the Celestial God Realm were few and far between, and hardly any of them cultivated the Dao of Pills.
"Reporting to the Ancestor, the alchemy force's true strength is still unknown, but the six civilization lands have indeed gathered the medicinal herbs within their respective areas into a civilization land called Azure Domain."
The Earth God Realm martial artist answered truthfully.
"The people of those civilization lands shouldn't be fools. If they hadn't seen the results claimed by the alchemy force, they wouldn't have abandoned the Red Maple Pill Domain, which hasn't even announced a change in the trade ratio. That's clearly impossible..."
Ancestor Red Maple took a deep breath and heavily sat down on the main seat of the divine hall.
"Ancestor, I think the other party is definitely bluffing, deliberately trying to sabotage our Red Maple Pill Domain. Perhaps it's related to the Pill Master Divine Hall. We can maintain the trade ratio for now. When that alchemy force can't sustain itself and collapses, it won't be too late to change the trade ratio!" An elderly Earth God Realm alchemist said.
The Pill Master Divine Hall he mentioned was jointly established by multiple alchemy civilizations. Previously, because the Red Maple Pill Domain's trade ratio was too favorable, it affected the Pill Master Divine Hall's business, causing many conflicts between the two. If the Red Maple Pill Domain hadn't already accumulated considerable foundation at that time, and won over Celestial God Realm patrons for protection, it would have been destroyed long ago.
Now, this Earth God Realm alchemist immediately associated the alchemy force with the Pill Master Divine Hall. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that just as they were about to change the trade ratio, an alchemy force with an even more favorable ratio appeared?
Surely the Pill Master Divine Hall used some method to learn about the Red Maple Pill Domain's losses, using this to hinder their change in the trade ratio. This way, whether they continued to maintain it or subsequently changed it, their business would likely be far worse than before.
When that time comes, the Pill Master Divine Hall would be able to suppress or even destroy them!
"Pill Master Divine Hall? This old ancestor also thinks it's related to them, but..." Ancestor Red Maple slightly shook his head, his eyes narrowed.
The Great Wilderness was vast and boundless, and even the peak forces of the Central World wouldn't dare to claim control over the Great Wilderness and know everything about every force.
Therefore, Ancestor Red Maple had always maintained a certain reverence for everything in the Great Wilderness. He wouldn't dare to act rashly against the Great Wilderness forces without knowing their foundations.
"What you said about waiting and seeing, if it was just the other party releasing information without taking concrete action, would indeed be the best approach."
"But now, six civilization lands have already withdrawn from the Red Maple Pill Domain trade. Those six civilization lands have managed to survive in the crisis-ridden Great Wilderness. Do you think they are fools? If they hadn't seen the trade ratio of four high-grade pills, would they have abandoned our Red Maple Pill Domain?"
"You must know, this old ancestor only decided on the matter of changing the ratio just now. Could it be that they knew the news before this? Even though rumors of losses had been circulating within the Red Maple Pill Domain, there had been no actual changes."
"The medicinal herbs that were transported were always returned with four medium-grade pills. They abandoned us just like that, and they must have known the consequences. But the other party still chose to withdraw, even without concealing it and maintaining the previous trade with the Red Maple Pill Domain first."
"There are too many suspicious points in this."
Ancestor Red Maple looked around at everyone present and slowly said.
"Ancestor means to first investigate the other party's true strength? To determine whether it's just a bluff or if it's really the case, and then make a decision?" An Earth God Realm alchemist cupped his hands and asked.
"Not bad." Ancestor Red Maple nodded.
What made him feel apprehensive was always that 'regardless of grade'.
He didn't care about the former pill trade ratio at all.
With his current cultivation, refining pills below the Mortal Realm, he could easily refine high-grade pills, and even produce two to three pills from one portion of medicinal herbs.
But Earth God Realm pills, even with his status as a Celestial God Realm alchemist, he found it difficult to refine high-grade pills, let alone Celestial God Realm pills. Being able to refine low-grade quality pills was his maximum ability.
If the other party's 'regardless of grade' was genuine and they were truly fearless.
The meaning it represented would be terrifying to contemplate!
However, regardless of what was happening.
This mysterious alchemy force had already begun to affect their business.
Leaving it unattended, and waiting for the news to spread, would definitely be a huge blow to them.
They needed to investigate the situation before making a decision.
As for preparing to start a price war...
If the other party was really related to the Pill Master Divine Hall!
Doing so would inevitably fall into a trap.
It might directly drag down the Red Maple Pill Domain!
Thinking of this, Ancestor Red Maple couldn't help but look at the Earth God Realm patron and asked, "What kind of civilization is that Azure Domain?"
"Reporting to the Ancestor, it's an Earth God Realm Human Clan civilization. However, according to reports from scouts, Azure Domain was attacked by alien races from the Great Wilderness some time ago. They found a Celestial God Realm force from an unknown location to rely on, resolving the crisis of the alien races from the Great Wilderness. The news of the six civilization lands withdrawing from the Red Maple Pill Domain trade fair came shortly after Azure Domain summoned the six civilization lands.", the Earth God Realm patron said.
“So, it's related to the celestial god forces behind that Azure Domain civilization?” Ancestor Red Maple frowned slightly. If it involved celestial god forces, ordinary experts from the Red Maple Pill Domain couldn't investigate, as they would easily be detected. Only he could go.
After pondering for a moment, Ancestor Red Maple waved his hand, signaling the end of the meeting.
He then went to a high mountain in the center of the Red Maple Pill Domain.
“Senior Rotten Bamboo, may I request an audience?” Ancestor Red Maple arrived at the entrance of a cave on the mountain and cupped his fist.
The cave door slowly opened, and an old man in a gray robe, leaning on a cane, slowly walked out. The old man exuded an aura similar to that of rotten bamboo, carrying a faint aura of annihilation, quickly infecting the things around him, corroding everything.
This person was the guardian deity of the Red Maple Pill Domain!
Celestial God Rotten Bamboo, a Fourth Heaven celestial god!
It was because of his existence that the Pill Master Divine Hall didn't dare to use force.
Celestial God Rotten Bamboo had cultivation problems in his early years and was contaminated in his divine soul by the Rotten Great Dao. He needed a celestial god-level pill called the Wood Essence Divine Pill to resist the erosion of the Rotten Great Dao. Only three people in the entire Celestial Void Realm could refine the Wood Essence Divine Pill.
One was the Pill God!
The second was the second-ranked celestial god-level pill master in the Celestial Void Realm.
And the third was him!
The former had a noble status, and the clients he accepted were all celestial god giants, with the lowest level being Sixth Heaven celestial gods.
The one in the middle had an uncertain whereabouts, wandering in the Great Wilderness.
Given Celestial God Rotten Bamboo's status, it was difficult for him to reach either of these two.
Therefore, Ancestor Red Maple was able to win over such a powerful figure with his low-level celestial god pill master status to protect the Red Maple Pill Domain.
This time, he planned to have Celestial God Rotten Bamboo accompany him to the Azure Domain.
As for the other celestial god offerings, the Red Maple Pill Domain also had them, but they were not reliable against pill refining forces. The Wood Essence Divine Pill required by Celestial God Rotten Bamboo could only be refined by those with a Wood Spirit Body and those at the Celestial God Realm.
Moreover, the pill formula for the Wood Essence Divine Pill belonged to the ancient era, and only three people had inherited it to this day. That was why he dared to bring Celestial God Rotten Bamboo with him.
Because he knew that Celestial God Rotten Bamboo would protect him because of the scarcity of the Wood Essence Divine Pill.
“Red Maple, what do you want from this old man? Has the new Wood Essence Divine Pill been successfully refined?” Celestial God Rotten Bamboo's weathered voice came, completely unlike the demeanor of a Fourth Heaven celestial god. The Rotten Great Dao was a double-edged sword. If one could control it, its lethality would be terrifying, and one could even fight beyond one's level. However, if one couldn't control it, one's divine soul would be eroded by the Rotten Great Dao, eventually becoming ominous.
Celestial God Rotten Bamboo belonged to the latter!
“Indeed, but this little god has a request.” Ancestor Red Maple said, explaining his intention.
“So that's how it is. Don't worry, this old man will protect you!” Celestial God Rotten Bamboo nodded. With such a thing happening, it was no wonder Ancestor Red Maple would personally take action. However, among the people he had contacted, only Ancestor Red Maple could refine the Wood Essence Divine Pill. Since he came to ask, Celestial God Rotten Bamboo couldn't refuse.
“Time is of the essence. Please, Senior Rotten Bamboo, come with this little god.” Ancestor Red Maple respectfully cupped his fist.
After arranging matters, Ancestor Red Maple led Celestial God Rotten Bamboo towards the Azure Domain.
They planned to secretly lurk in the Azure Domain, hoping to find an opportunity to step into the celestial god forces behind the Azure Domain and investigate their details.
............
“You can wait patiently.”
In the Azure Domain Divine Hall, the Minister of Revenue waved his hand casually.
They had the divine power of the River God Lord after advancing to celestial gods.
They could open the divine gate at will and send the pills from the six major civilization lands into the imperial territory.
Previously, after he spoke, the six major civilization lands naturally didn't believe that the imperial court would give them such great benefits. After all, even pill refining forces like the Red Maple Pill Domain couldn't offer such prices.
However, when they took a chance and handed the medicinal materials they carried to the Minister of Revenue, it wasn't long before the agreed-upon proportion of pills was sent back, and the quality was excellent.
The pills were still warm, their medicinal power flowing, and their fragrance permeated the air. It was clear that they had just been refined and were not using previously refined pills to fool them.
This test made them realize that the imperial court definitely had a strong foundation in pill refining. They gritted their teeth and brought all the medicinal materials over.
The Red Maple Pill Domain was urging them to send the remaining medicinal materials. One of the Divine Demon Ancestors said that it was no longer needed. Seeing this, the other Divine Demon Ancestors were worried that if they didn't break away from the Red Maple Pill Domain, they would lose this assistance-style pill refining from the imperial court, so they also broke away one after another.
However, after breaking away, they regretted it.
In this way, they only had the imperial court as a trading partner. If the imperial court refused or swallowed the medicinal materials, their harvest for the year would be ruined. But since things had come to this, they could only bite the bullet and continue.
Now, they were waiting anxiously for news from the imperial court.
Even with the Minister of Revenue's reassurance, they didn't relax.
Seeing this, the Minister of Revenue wasn't in a hurry.
Time passed little by little. Soon, the pills from the six major civilization lands were placed in the storage rings and transported back.
“This is...”
“There really are so many pills, and they are all of excellent quality!”
The Divine Demons took their respective storage rings, scanned them with their divine senses, and their pupils shrank, taking a deep breath.
“How is it?” The Minister of Revenue's mouth curved into a smile.
Before the Divine Demons could respond, the Minister of Revenue continued, “This is just the imperial court's trade ratio with the outside world. For internal affairs, such as the imperial court's affiliated forces, it is generally five portions of medicinal materials for ten corresponding excellent-quality pills. In addition, there are some discounts...” The Minister of Revenue's bewitching voice filled the entire hall.
Hearing this, the Divine Demons' divine bodies trembled.
Pills were a shortcut for martial artists to evolve. Being able to exchange for four excellent-quality pills at the same price had greatly increased the speed of their civilization's development.
If they could get more than double that amount...
Wouldn't that mean that the speed of their martial arts foundation's development in the future would be more than twice as fast as before?
On the other side, Minister of Personnel Li Yuanfang followed the Sword Saint to the Azure Domain.
However, unlike the Minister of Revenue, they were on a secret visit and didn't let anyone know.
