Fury Immortal Doctor

Chapter 1822 -

The people present were momentarily stunned upon hearing these words. They exchanged glances but remained silent. Instead, it was the young cultivator who had not fully understood the situation and had come into the room to have tea in the evening who asked in surprise, "You don't recognize Shen Qiang as an alchemist just because he didn't greet you?""Nonsense!" The elder said harshly, "Which family's disciple are you? The Thirty-two Skillful Hands stand together, upholding heritage, etiquette, and integrity. When has Shen Qiang ever shown us any respect? Without presenting a name card or adhering to etiquette, why should we acknowledge him?"

"You must understand that alchemists in the Cultivation World are esteemed because of the reputation we built. Just because Shen Qiang can refine a few rotten elixir pills, does he think he can stand on equal footing with us?"

Upon hearing this, most of those present were dismissive. After a moment of hesitation, the bearded cultivator said, "Uncle Hu, although your words are not without reason, not all alchemists belong to the Thirty-two Skillful Hands."

The elder was furious upon hearing this and said harshly, "Nonsense! The Thirty-two Skillful Hands are a united front, naturally advancing and retreating together. Even if Shen Qiang knows alchemy, so what? Unless more than half of the families recognize him, just because he didn't present a name card or pay respects to the founder, he shouldn't expect the Thirty-two Skillful Hands to acknowledge his status!"

Instantly, all the cultivators present fell silent.

At this moment, outside the banquet hall, Zong Zixiao witnessed this scene with a cold smile on his lips.

He then stepped back into his office.

Sitting at his desk, he was silent for a moment. After looking at the list for a moment, he smiled coldly.

He made a phone call.

"Come over for a moment."

A short while later, a young cultivator entered the office.

"Master, you called me so late?"

Leaning back in his chair, Zong Zixiao looked at him with a calm gaze, silent until the young cultivator appeared faintly uneasy. Suddenly, Zong Zixiao smiled and said coldly, "A master is like a father; someone who betrays their master will never be valued elsewhere."

The young man trembled and quickly said, "Master, once a teacher, always a father. Please say whatever you need to."

Upon hearing this, Zong Zixiao smiled coldly and then gently tapped the list on the table, speaking solemnly, "You've obviously noticed the issues with this list, right?"

The young disciple of the Medicine King Valley was momentarily stunned, looking surprised, and said, "No, this is the exhibition booth arrangement personally issued by the Third Elder."

Zong Zixiao said coldly, "This is wrong. In past elixir conferences, exhibition booths were assigned based on the ranking strength of the Thirty-two Skillful Hands. Take a good look at the position of Heshenghe Shen Qiang's booth number."

"Booth thirteen," the young cultivator said dully.

Zong Zixiao leaned back in his chair with a cold smile and said, "Booth thirteen is the best position in the exhibition hall, the most visible place. Once the elixir exhibition starts tomorrow, it's not just these alchemists who will come; numerous cultivators will be there too. As a disciple of Medicine King Valley, how can you allow this to happen?"

The young disciple was momentarily stunned and said, "Master, what do you mean?"

"Shen Qiang, it's his first time participating in the elixir conference, and his skill level is poor; he hasn't even made it to the top hundred alchemists. So, such a good position cannot be given to him—this is basic common sense." Zong Zijin said while leaning in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, staring at his disciple.

The young cultivator's forehead started to sweat slightly, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Master, this arrangement is fixed by the valley. If we change it on our own, I'm afraid the Elder will be furious, and you…"

"Go, change Heshenghe's booth to booth twenty-nine," Zong Zixiao said coldly.

The young man was taken aback and said anxiously, "Master, booth twenty-nine is in a dead corner; it's the worst position. Basically, no one will go to that booth."

"As long as you understand," Zong Zixiao said coldly. "You're a smart guy; you should understand my intention. You know why I'm doing this. Everyone in the Cultivation World is watching. Whether it's the Thirty-two Skillful Hands or Shen Qiang, they are not here to fight but to take the opportunity to sell elixir pills."

Sitting up slowly, Zong Zixiao looked at the young cultivator coldly and said, "Based on previous sessions, even the worst seller can still secure nearly a billion in orders, but booth twenty-nine is a death trap. Every time a booth ends up there, their elixir pill sales are at least cut in half, reduced by fifty percent—this is something no one can change."

The young man's forehead was sweating profusely and he hesitated, "Master, the Elder will kill me."

"He won't," Zong Zixiao sneered. "Because you were placed by him to monitor me, so I know very well. If you do this, he'll probably just take it out on me at most. But if you insist it's your doing, your mistake, he won't be too harsh."

"But if you don't take the blame, you'll find that the Third Elder won't be able to cover for you because I'm your master. I can make you train in seclusion endlessly, or I can assign you trivial tasks every day."

Hearing this, the young man hurriedly defended himself, "Master, you've misunderstood me. I have nothing to do with the Third Elder..."

"Shut up," Zong Zixiao interrupted. "This is your only chance to prove yourself. I want Shen Qiang's trip to be in vain, or rather, as long as his elixir pills don't sell, no money is made, how will Heshenghe and those demons survive? Once he can't hold on, I'll be very pleased."

The young man hesitated, seeming like he wanted to say more.

Zong Zixiao slammed the table, "Don't test my patience. Go do it immediately. Even if someone realizes the mistake tomorrow, they can only continue with it because Medicine King Valley can't afford the shame, and the Thirty-two Skillful Hands will definitely not give up the booth."

The young man, having no choice, bowed slightly and said, "Disciple obeys."

This made Zong Zixiao's cold smile blossom.

Meanwhile, in the lobby of a five-star hotel twenty-three kilometers away from Medicine King Valley.

Bai Shiyi, the head of Heshenghe, was pleasantly surprised as he watched Baihua Palace Master Weisheng Zhimei enter, surrounded by female assistants.

"I haven't seen you in half a year, Palace Master, and your grace is even greater than before," Bai Shiyi greeted with a smile. "However, Baihua Palace's disciples rarely purchase elixir pills, and the Palace Master seldom attends the elixir conferences, so seeing you here is quite unexpected."

Baihua Palace Master Wenren Zhimei smiled slightly, a smile so dazzling even Bai Shiyi couldn't help but brighten his eyes. But what she said next made Bai Shiyi somewhat uncomfortable.

"Alas, there's no choice. Baihua Palace disciples are all over the world, but they're all young women, and their cultivation level can't keep up. But the Gathering Qi Powder is monopolized by two unscrupulous merchants, and you have to wait a while to buy it even if you have money. So..." With a playful smile, Weisheng Zhimei laughed, "I just had to make this trip myself!"