Su Yuan organized his thoughts and chose his words carefully.
"After more than ten years of dedicated effort, this disciple has finally established some relationship with a person from the Sacred Demon Palace. Although this person is also only a Golden Core cultivator, due to the influence of the forces behind him, he was assigned to manage the procurement of low and mid-grade medicinal pills within the palace. After multiple contacts, he has previously agreed that if the impurity content of the pills we provide is less than thirty percent, then he will give me a chance. As long as we can pass his test without error, then in the future, twenty percent of the supply of pills below the fifth grade in the Sacred Demon Palace will be provided by us. If we can continue to cooperate for three years without any problems, more shares will be allocated to us."
At this point, Su Yuan's eyes shone with a brilliant light.
To achieve this goal, he had invested enormous energy and financial resources over the past decade.
Some of the good things he had given away were purchased elsewhere with his own spirit stones. Su Yuan knew that occasionally sacrificing personal interests would make the Sect Master value him more later on.
If he haggled with the sect over everything, he would never achieve greatness.
If he could make this deal, don't underestimate the twenty percent share the other party mentioned. The Sacred Demon Palace was a behemoth. Just this twenty percent alone would allow Falling Star Valley to make a fortune, and of course, that included Su Yuan himself.
He hadn't even told the Sect Master the truth when he sent a message back last time, fearing that an error in the message might deal a fatal blow to his plan.
He only said that a client needed two fourth-rank pills with less than thirty percent impurity. He had intended to inform Xing Ming in person after he arrived this time.
But the Sect Master had unexpectedly not been able to come personally this time, and these two pills were invaluable.
If he took them for a trial and the pills were significantly damaged, or even confiscated by the other party, without Xing Ming as a witness, he would have no way to defend himself.
A fourth-rank pill might be nothing to the Sacred Demon Palace, but to Falling Star Valley, it was an extremely valuable treasure. He would have to compensate with more than half of his fortune.
This point could be seen from how hard Su Yuan had once worked to obtain the "Essence-Increasing Pill." The "Essence-Increasing Pill" was also a fourth-grade pill.
And the pills Su Yuan finally got had an impurity content of about forty percent. For an alchemist to remove even a sliver more of impurity from a pill often required not only their own skill but also a bit of luck.
So, out of helplessness just now, he could only speak up first. Elder Zhang had to know about this matter. Only then could his value be reflected and his responsibility reduced.
As for Xie Tongyi also knowing about this, Su Yuan weighed it for a moment and chose not to avoid it.
Now it had come to the final stage of the trial. Whether it succeeded or not was up to that Golden Core cultivator from the Sacred Demon Palace. Since the pills had arrived, he would go over immediately. It was too late for Xie Tongyi to interfere.
At most, Xie Tongyi would want to interfere, but he would absolutely not dare to cause trouble in this matter. He knew Xie Tongyi's personality very well.
The other party's main goal was to earn more spirit stones and obtain more cultivation resources. More importantly, he had said this in front of Elder Zhang.
Once something went wrong, the first person to be suspected would be Xie Tongyi. He had heard that this Elder Zhang had once slaughtered a hundred cultivators by himself. He was definitely a ruthless person.
When Li Yan heard this, his mind stirred. A sharp glint immediately flashed in his eyes. He immediately thought of the two fourth-rank 'Seven Dragon Bone-Forging Pills' among the items he had brought.
"Are you talking about the 'Seven Dragon Bone-Forging Pills'?"
"Exactly. I requested in the message that the refinement must remove impurities and pill poison as much as possible, not exceeding thirty percent. I don't know..."
Although he had seen the jade bottle containing the medicinal pills in the storage pouch just now, he had not been able to inspect them one by one. Among the medicinal pills brought this time, there were also many other pills that the shop needed to sell.
"Oh, I've seen both the 'Seven Dragon Bone-Forging Pills' and that kasaya. You can rest assured about that. The grade and appearance of those two pills can meet your requirements. If you can use this to establish a connection with the Sacred Demon Palace, this will be a great merit for you. This matter is excellent, excellent!"
Towards the end, Li Yan said "excellent" twice, his admiration overflowing. If there was a chance to enter the Sacred Demon Palace, this was very good news for him.
Seeing Elder Zhang's reaction, Su Yuan felt even more at ease in his heart. He knew that this matter had attracted the high attention of the sect. Thus, his last worries about Xie Tongyi also disappeared.
Li Yan paused for a moment, and a trace of doubt appeared on his face again.
"Oh, right, Deacon Su, there is a question here. Didn't the Sacred Demon Palace have a supply contract with other sects before? Also, if this is successful, will the pills be delivered in batches every month, or all at once every year? Do we need to send someone to deliver them, or will they come to our door to pick them up?"
Li Yan's mind was racing, but his mouth slowly asked one question after another. He hid the question he really wanted to know among them.
"The Sacred Demon Palace, whether it's medicinal pills, spirit artifacts, talismans, or magical treasures, besides refining a portion themselves, they will also order from outside due to their large number of disciples. Magical treasures are relatively few. After all, both the raw materials and the degree of compatibility with the owner have very high requirements. They are usually refined by someone they trust. But spirit artifacts, talismans, and medicinal pills are in great demand. They have two separate halls for procurement, high-grade and mid-to-low-grade. High-grade pills and talismans are not something we can make. As for the sects that provide mid-to-low-grade pills, there were two before: the 'Heaven-Burning Sect' and the 'Ghost Flood Dragon Clan'. I believe Elder Zhang must know of the 'Heaven-Burning Sect'. It is a first-rate sect of our human race on the Forsaken Continent, and its alchemy skills are second to none. So he not only provides sixty percent of the mid-to-low-grade pills for the 'Sacred Demon Palace', but also accounts for about half of the high-grade pills needed by the 'Sacred Demon Palace'. And the remaining forty percent of the mid-to-low-grade pills, talismans, etc., are all controlled by the 'Ghost Flood Dragon Clan'. The line I've connected this time is actually a twenty percent share separated from the 'Ghost Flood Dragon Clan'. The process is very complicated. When Elder Zhang has time, this disciple will explain it to you in detail."
As he said this, his eyes intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Xie Tongyi on the side. How could the two of them not understand his meaning?
Xie Tongyi snorted softly, understanding that Su Yuan did not want him to know the specific process.
This was of course also a great secret of Su Yuan's. To connect with the Sacred Demon Palace, he had racked his brains. The two of them beside him would surely never have guessed the breakthrough point.
He had used the "Heaven-Burning Sect" as a breakthrough point. Su Yuan certainly would not say such a thing.
So, even if Xie Tongyi knew that he had made this connection, if he wanted to sabotage it, the direction of his actions would be off.
As for Xie Tongyi's cold snort, Li Yan gave a noncommittal attitude, while Su Yuan seemed not to have heard it at all, his face still wearing a smile as he continued.
"Of course, the delivery is once a month. This way, it's easier for us to purchase the required raw materials for alchemy. After the pills are refined each month, we will deliver them in a unified manner. These high and mighty major sects won't come to our door to pick up the goods!"
At the end, Su Yuan's face showed a bitter smile. What could their small second-rate sect count for here? They were just relatively strong among other second-rate sects.
You had to serve them well. Let others come to pick up the goods? What were they thinking?
Li Yan nodded slowly, his mind becoming more and more active.
He had been unable to get close to the "Sacred Demon Palace" and had been thinking of using the list of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators as a starting point.
After twenty years, he had no way of knowing whether Zhao Min was still at Foundation Establishment or had already condensed a Golden Core. He could only search over a wide range.
Now, there was unexpectedly a possibility of entering the "Sacred Demon Palace." Although the area he could enter was definitely limited, being able to get in would mean more opportunities.
At that time, he could personally escort the pills over. This was the main question he had been beating around the bush to ask. As for other matters, he was not too concerned.
This news made Li Yan's heart stir, but on the surface, there was no abnormality. He thought for a moment and then spoke again.
"Deacon Su, you said that the share you obtained was separated from the 'Ghost Flood Dragon Clan.' I don't know what means you used. If the 'Ghost Flood Dragon Clan' voluntarily gave it up, then there's no problem. Otherwise..."
He didn't continue, but the meaning in his words was already clear.
"Elder Zhang, the 'Ghost Flood Dragon Clan' does not know about this matter yet. After all, it hasn't been finalized. However, this matter is also what this disciple is most worried about. I was originally waiting for the Sect Master to come personally to see how to handle it. Now that Elder Zhang is here, it's the same. What do you think..."
A grave expression appeared on Su Yuan's face. He immediately bowed and replied. The meaning in his words was already clear. This was not something the "Ghost Flood Dragon Clan" had voluntarily given up.
Li Yan thought for a moment and then suddenly looked at Xie Tongyi.
"Deacon Xie, you should know how important this matter is to the sect. From now on, you put down what you're doing and fully cooperate with Deacon Su. However, everything is to be based on his requirements. You can only assist fully. You are not to inquire about things you don't need to know. I will also be staying here for a while recently. If you have any problems, you can come to me at any time."
Xie Tongyi could only stand up and accept the order. He knew the meaning behind the other's words.
From now on, if Su Yuan told him to stay obediently in the shop, he wouldn't even be able to leave the shop door. Otherwise, if the matter succeeded, all would be well. If not, he would just have to wait to be held accountable.
And when Su Yuan heard "Elder Zhang's" last sentence, his suspended heart finally settled. The thing he was most worried about was finally taken over by someone. Then he could go ahead and do it with confidence.
For the next two days, Li Yan went out during the day and only returned to the shop at night.
He had long since stopped caring about Feng Tao and her group. However, he still knew some things. In the end, only three Qi Condensation disciples were left in the shop. Feng Tao and the others were nowhere to be seen.
Su Yuan had also disappeared for the past two days, busy with something unknown. Xie Tongyi was left to guard the shop. At the same time, Xie Tongyi was also buried in his room, sorting out the information Li Yan needed.
Li Yan didn't ask about any of this. In these two days, he had tried to get closer to the mountainside again, but to no avail.
The guards of the "Sacred Demon Palace" were as strict as ever. With Li Yan's current cultivation, he could sense more powerful auras in the "Sacred Demon Palace" that he could not have sensed before.
Although he was confident that he could sneak a longer distance up the mountain now if he used the "Stealthy Night Art," it was also meaningless.
If he were to be discovered now, he would probably be facing a Nascent Soul cultivator directly.
On the evening of the second day, when Li Yan returned again, he saw Xie Tongyi drinking tea alone in the backyard.
Seeing Li Yan come in, he quickly stood up and bowed. He then handed a jade slip to Li Yan. After another respectful bow, he turned and went back to his room.
Li Yan watched Xie Tongyi leave, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and a slight smile on his lips. He had left a divine sense mark on Xie Tongyi. The other's every move was under his surveillance.
He was now very concerned about the matter Su Yuan had mentioned and couldn't really rely on Xie Tongyi's self-discipline.
'He's quite well-behaved. He hasn't even been to the front shop in these two days, afraid of being unclear after contacting people. He's really quick-witted!'