The Liu family was naturally not stupid.

  The Liu family also gambled, but in a different direction than that fool Liu Fu. The Liu family bet on supporting Xia Li well and basking in his glory.

  News of what happened outside Myriad Treasures Pavilion spread through Fenghe City at lightning speed.

  Before long, people from the marketplace arrived as well.

  "Truly, heroes emerge from youth. Alchemist Xia is remarkable!"

  "I am Huang Yu, Grand Steward of the marketplace. We've also brought a gift."

  Three people came from the Rogue Cultivator's Marketplace. The two attendants behind the leader carried a not-too-large chest.

  "Please accept this, Alchemist Xia!"

  With that, Huang Yu signaled his people to open the chest. But inside weren't spirit stones or treasures—rather, several bloody severed heads!

  The heads of Steward Yang who had bullied Xia Li, and the three rogue cultivators who had come to cause him trouble!

  Xia Li's expression shifted.

  Though he understood they were showing goodwill, this method was a bit extreme.

  This would cause him trouble!

  When the victims' friends and relatives came looking for answers, they'd definitely come to him!

  "Thank you for Grand Steward Huang's kindness, but isn't this a bit much?"

  Xia Li didn't kill anyone, but someone killed for him.

  "Alchemist Xia is merciful, but your mercy is your business. You may choose not to kill, but we must show our sincerity."

  "Alright..."

  Xia Li was speechless. This was truly his first direct encounter with this world's customs. Indeed, ruthless—ruthless to outsiders and ruthless to their own.

  Bully the right person and reap rewards, everyone understanding tacitly. Bully the wrong person and die—blame yourself for being blind.

  Everyone was just evil, but no one was stupid.

  "Now then... may we discuss shares..."

  Huang Yu looked at Xia Li. This was what the marketplace truly cared about.

  "Yes, we should. Let's find another place to talk slowly."

  "Agreed. Since we're right outside Myriad Treasures Pavilion, let's just use one of their private rooms."

  Huang Yu suggested using Myriad Treasures Pavilion's private rooms. Xia Li nodded without objection.

  Then...

  Third Uncle Liu, Elder Sun, and Huang Yu—representing Fenghe City's three major powers—entered a private room to negotiate with Xia Li.

  Inside the room.

  Xia Li sat in the host's seat. After everyone was seated, he spoke first.

  "I know what you want to ask. Let me explain my situation first."

  "My master has more than just me as a disciple, and he believes in the law of the jungle. Unless something major happens, he won't come. But if he does come, it means my standing in his heart will drop significantly."

  "Therefore, I've decided to give up half the profits and make the formula public to you."

  Xia Li immediately dropped a bombshell.

  Want profits? Then bind yourselves to him.

  He could share profits, but he needed corresponding protection and status.

  "A very reasonable request. Our marketplace will take fifteen percent. Leave all sales to us."

  Huang Yu nodded. This negotiation was going much smoother than expected. Xia Li was not only capable but also sensible—an excellent partner.

  "The Liu family will also take fifteen percent. We'll handle any external threats with full effort."

  Third Uncle Liu held a transmission jade slip—his words represented the Liu family leadership's position.

  "Then Myriad Treasures Pavilion will take the larger share of twenty percent. After all, we're the main supplier of spiritual herbs, and I can contact our larger branch to request protection."

  Elder Sun, representing Myriad Treasures Pavilion, claimed the largest share. The negotiation went incredibly smoothly, mainly due to Xia Li's cooperation.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Xia Li had never thought he could safely earn spirit stones on his own. But by binding Fenghe City's decision-makers to his interests, he could produce in volume and actually earn more.

  And be safer.

  "I think there's something off about this agreement."

  Xia Li spoke again.

  "To be precise, I'll take fifty percent of what I personally refine. For what you refine yourselves, I'll only take ten percent. Frankly, I don't think you can produce top-grade quality. Mid-grade would probably be difficult too."

  This addendum was also a concession—a reasonable one. Since the formula would be public, pills refined by others meant they did the main work. Taking a small cut was already quite good.

  "Friend Xia is truly generous. But is the Surge Qi Pill refinement process very complex?"

  Elder Sun immediately looked at Xia Li. From his observation, it hadn't seemed particularly complex.

  "Complex? Not really. But it has strict requirements for precision in spiritual energy control. That's my personal talent."

  "I see... that makes sense. If Friend Xia had no special abilities, why would your master have taken you in? How many can you refine per month?"

  "One thousand."

  Xia Li calmly stated a number. He could reliably produce eight per batch, four batches per day. That came to roughly one thousand per month. If he fell short at month's end, he'd just do a few extra batches.

  "Truly? You can maintain that quality consistently?"

  Elder Sun was now very surprised. Alchemy consumed not just spiritual energy but mental focus. He felt strained refining one batch every three days.

  "Yes. Would my master have taken me in otherwise? I was born with an unusually strong soul—excellent material for alchemy."

  "Good, good, good! That's eight thousand spirit stones of business per month. Fifteen percent comes to twelve hundred spirit stones."

  Marketplace Grand Steward Huang Yu was now grinning so wide his face nearly split. The marketplace's previous monthly income was barely one thousand spirit stones. This would more than double it.

  And this wasn't just the marketplace profiting—it was an opportunity to grow Fenghe City bigger and stronger.

  With Surge Qi Pills, Fenghe City could become the central hub for rogue cultivators in the region.

  "From now on, Friend Xia is an honored guest of our Liu family—a Grand Elder!"

  Third Uncle Liu immediately showed sincerity. From now on, anyone who crossed Xia Li in Fenghe City would face the Liu family's full wrath.

  "And a guest elder of our Myriad Treasures Pavilion."

  Elder Sun thought about how he had secured such a massive deal for the pavilion. The higher branch would surely reward him generously. Foundation Establishment in this lifetime was truly possible.

  "And a guest elder of our marketplace!"

  Just like that, Xia Li reached mutually beneficial agreements with Fenghe City's three major powers. Everyone obtained satisfactory terms.

  Xia Li had also risen to become one of Fenghe City's elite. The name "Alchemist Xia" spread through every street and alley within a single day.

  With the three powers' operations, Surge Qi Pills quickly sold to other cities, generating tremendous buzz.

  After all, the rogue cultivator's path was harder than ascending to heaven.

  The first realm of Qi Refining alone could stall half of all cultivators. The appearance of Surge Qi Pills was undoubtedly a blessing for the masses at the bottom.

  After stabilizing his position in Fenghe City, Xia Li focused on bitter cultivation besides his daily pill-making, striving to reach his Spirit Core's cultivation ceiling as soon as possible. He also purchased various spiritual treasures to enhance his potential.

  After all, Earth's cultivation tradition could unlock whatever potential you had.

  There were no people without talent—only poor people who couldn't afford good Spirit Cores.