Chapter 3133 — You're That Ruthless One?

That was why Wei Zhao had chosen to partner with Vice President Ouyang, and to hand over a share of the profits.

Of course, more importantly, with the Cultivators' Guild involved in the business, no petty schemer would dare covet it. And Wei Zhao and Vice President Ouyang were friends who had faced death together—a man worth knowing—so Wei Zhao did not begrudge him these things.

"Ha ha, Mr. Ling, since that is so, I won't stand on ceremony! Tell me, how shall we go about this partnership?" Vice President Ouyang was not one for false modesty; he nodded and asked straight out.

"My company produces three different grades of medicinal cauldron. One is the single-version first-grade automatic cauldron, one is the five-in-one version, and the last is the one before you now, Vice President Ouyang—the ten-in-one limited edition!" Wei Zhao said. "The first two are sold through our own company, while the last is to be auctioned by the Cultivators' Guild, where Vice President Ouyang is. The first two—the single version offers five types of pills, the same as the five-in-one—whereas this one of yours adds five more pill types that our company does not have."

"This..." At first, hearing that Wei Zhao's own company also sold the cauldrons, Vice President Ouyang felt somewhat disappointed. What difference was there between a ten-in-one and a five-in-one? Could one not simply buy two five-in-ones, or ten single versions? Who, then, would buy from him?

But then Wei Zhao said that his company sold only the first-grade automatic cauldrons for five types of pills; whether five-in-one or single version, anyone who wanted the first-grade automatic cauldron for the other five pills could only come to the Cultivators' Guild!

At that, Vice President Ouyang understood Wei Zhao's meaning, and could not help but stick up his thumb. "Clever—really clever! Our auctions here are not held at any time; we must prepare in advance for a period, and during that time we can only advertise. But what are the cultivators who see the advertisements to do when they are eager to buy? They can only first buy the simpler five-in-one or single version from Mr. Ling as a stopgap, and if they want the full-function ten-in-one limited edition, they must wait and come to our auction! In this way, profits are maximized! Mr. Ling, you truly have the makings of a businessman!"

Wei Zhao could only smile wryly. This was hardly his own idea—it was clearly Shen Yushu's and Han Jingyi's. What did it have to do with him? But at this moment he could only nod with a smile. "Moreover, for fairness and to prevent private resale, the automatic cauldrons we sell have a master-recognition function. The first time an alchemist refines pills, it locks onto that alchemist's pill-fire parameters; for anyone else to use it afterward is impossible!"

"No way? It even has a binding function?" Vice President Ouyang was stunned for a moment, then stuck out his thumb. "Mr. Ling, the way you do business is absolutely brilliant! This way, a sect with two alchemists can only buy two, and one with several disciples must buy several—truly, you'd have to try hard not to make money!"

"Heh heh..." Wei Zhao laughed. "However, the sample I'm giving you is not bound to a master; anyone can test it, which will make it easier for Vice President Ouyang to advertise. Of course, this item is not for sale—Vice President Ouyang should understand that!"

"Rest assured, Mr. Ling, I will guard this closely. To snatch something from the hands of our Cultivators' Guild is impossible!" Vice President Ouyang pledged, patting his chest.

Wei Zhao did believe that. After all, the Cultivators' Guild housed so many coveted heavenly treasures and rare materials—if they could truly be plundered clean, the Guild would have no reason to exist!

At this thought, Wei Zhao could not help but grow curious about the background behind the Cultivators' Guild. So many ancient sects—even the Five Luminaries Sect, where Ancestor Xuanchen belonged—had never set their sights on the Guild. The power behind it was surely not to be underestimated!

This was also why Wei Zhao had befriended Vice President Ouyang. And Wei Zhao vaguely knew that behind Vice President Ouyang stood a patron, a high-ranking figure in the Cultivators' Guild. If these connections were handled well, they would all become stepping stones for Wei Zhao to enter the ancient tier!

"That's good. With Vice President Ouyang, I am quite at ease," Wei Zhao said with a smile.

"Mr. Ling, since our relationship has already grown so close, don't call me Vice President Ouyang anymore. I have presumptuously lived a few decades longer than you—if you don't mind, just call me Brother Ouyang!" Vice President Ouyang said with a laugh.

But Vice President Ouyang's words nearly made Wei Zhao burst out laughing. Presumptuously lived a few decades longer? When ordinary people spoke, they said they had presumptuously lived a few years longer, and then addressed each other as brothers—but with Vice President Ouyang, it became a few decades!

Still, this was normal in the cultivation world. Vice President Ouyang was only just past forty; by cultivator seniority, he was still in the prime of youth. Setting aside the scions of ancient families and sects specially groomed to produce Heaven-tier cultivators in their teens, a Heaven-tier expert in his forties like Vice President Ouyang was already very young!

So there was no problem at all with Wei Zhao calling him Brother Ouyang—especially since Wei Zhao was a Heaven-tier expert himself.

"Very well, then I'll call you Brother Ouyang!" Wei Zhao nodded. "But since we are cooperating in all sincerity, I should tell Brother Ouyang my real name as well. Ling Yi is merely an alias I use outside; my real name is Wei Zhao!"

"What?! You... you you you you're Wei Zhao?!" Hearing the name Wei Zhao, Vice President Ouyang shuddered all over and pointed at Wei Zhao in disbelief. "Ling Yi... Wei Zhao, no wonder..."

"Brother Ouyang, why that expression? Is something the matter?" Wei Zhao looked at Vice President Ouyang rather strangely. "Actually, I did not mean to deceive Brother Ouyang—during the trials, I always used the name Ling Yi."

"I know that. It's nothing." Vice President Ouyang waved a hand, clearly unconcerned about Wei Zhao's alias. Instead, he said in shock, "You're the legendary ruthless rogue cultivator who trampled the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow sect so thoroughly they couldn't fight back?"

"Uh... apparently so." Wei Zhao smiled wryly. "Though I'm hardly some ruthless rogue cultivator—I merely exchanged blows with one of their disciples." (To be continued)

For the fastest updates, please read without pop-ups.