Empress: I Asked You to Detoxify Me, Not to Become the Supreme Immortal Emperor - Chapter 20:

Chapter 20:

As time passed, the mountain of medicinal herbs in front of Qin Chuan gradually diminished, while the number of ceramic bottles filled with pills grew, neatly arranged off to the side. 

After spending a full three months inside the Heaven and Earth Spirit Furnace, Qin Chuan stretched his sore and swollen arms and slowly stood up from the ground.

Looking at the densely packed ceramic bottles on the floor, a faint smile appeared on his lips. 

Over these three months, excluding the failed attempts, he had successfully refined twenty thousand 1st-grade pills and two thousand 2nd-grade pills. 

Because he chose relatively simple pills to refine, he was able to produce such a large number in a short amount of time.

Not only that, due to the intense consumption of Profound Energy, his cultivation also broke through from the 3rd stage of the Profound Master Realm to the 4th stage.

“It’s time to go out…” A flash of cold light passed through Qin Chuan’s eyes as he exited the space of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Furnace.

At this moment, dawn was just breaking. As soon as he returned to the courtyard, Liu Fugui walked in with a nervous expression. To refine more than three thousand pills in a single day was simply impossible in his mind—he never believed Qin Chuan could accomplish it.

Before Liu Fugui could even speak, Qin Chuan handed him a storage ring. “There are ten thousand 1st-grade pills and five hundred 2nd-grade pills inside. Go sell them. Don’t sell them all in one day—limit both time and quantity each day.”

“Ten thousand?!”

When he heard Qin Chuan mention ten thousand pills, Liu Fugui’s eyes widened in disbelief. This number far exceeded all expectations.

“They really are ten thousand!” After seeing the pills inside the storage ring with his own eyes, Liu Fugui was so overwhelmed with excitement that words failed him.

“The rest is up to you. I have to go out for a bit.” As he passed by Liu Fugui, Qin Chuan patted his shoulder lightly.

“Yes! Please rest assured, Young Master!” Liu Fugui was overjoyed. With these pills, their pill market would no longer need to bow to the Ouyang family.

After leaving the courtyard, Qin Chuan went straight to one of the Ouyang family’s pill markets.

Less than half an hour later, he arrived at the Zhao family’s pill market. Although the foot traffic here was slightly higher than that of the Qin family’s market, it was still rather desolate. Qin Chuan figured this was due to the Zhao family relying on stored pills to maintain operations. Once they ran out, unless they submitted to the Ouyang family, they wouldn’t be able to sustain themselves.

At that moment, several attendants from the Zhao family noticed Qin Chuan approaching and came forward.

“Young Master Qin, what brings you here this early? If there’s anything you need, just tell us.”

Hearing this, Qin Chuan nodded inwardly. Thanks to Qin Zhantian sealing off the information, not many people knew about his recent feats. The Lin family also concealed the truth about Duan Qianqi, so his reputation hadn’t spread. He didn’t expect the Zhao family wouldn’t take advantage of this situation.

After a brief pause, Qin Chuan said, “Call the person in charge of your market. Tell them I have something important to discuss.”

“This…” The attendants hesitated and were about to refuse.

Just then, a pleasant female voice came from nearby. “I wonder what brings Young Master Qin to our Zhao family pill market so early in the morning?”

As the words fell, a woman in a light blue dress walked toward him. Her willow-like brows and dark eyes gave her a refined and dignified appearance. Her long legs were faintly visible beneath her dress. However, a deep fatigue lingered on her beautiful face, as if she hadn’t rested in days.

“Miss!” the attendants called out in unison.

This woman was Zhao Yuzhu, the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family’s Patriarch. Since the male heirs were still too young, a successor had not yet been chosen, and most of the family affairs were handled by Zhao Yuzhu. Qin Chuan had met her a few times in the past.

“Alright, you may all leave for now.” Zhao Yuzhu waved them off, then turned to Qin Chuan with a smile. “Everyone said Young Master Qin cried every day after the engagement was broken off. But to me, you seem even more energetic than before.”

Ignoring her teasing, Qin Chuan smiled slightly and said directly, “Let our families work together to break the Ouyang family’s monopoly on pills—and then swallow them whole.”

Zhao Yuzhu was visibly shocked. She looked around to ensure no one was nearby before finally exhaling a long breath.

“Young Master Qin, your Qin family’s pill supply is already mostly cut off. You’re barely holding on, and yet you talk about swallowing the Ouyang family? Are you just trying to provoke them into targeting us so your family can catch a break?”

Her elegant brows furrowed, and her tone was laced with displeasure. If Qin Chuan couldn’t offer a convincing explanation, she would throw him out regardless of his status.

“If I came here, naturally I’ve made all the necessary preparations.”

Qin Chuan smiled and continued, “The Ouyang family relies on one Master Mo to monopolize Guiyun City’s pill market, acting as if the rest of us don’t exist. Even if your Zhao family plays along and bows your head to them, that will only delay the inevitable. In the end, they’ll still come after you.”

Zhao Yuzhu fell into deep thought. She knew all too well the truth of Qin Chuan’s words. The reason she had been running around day and night lately was precisely because of this situation.

After a moment, she looked up and asked, “If our two families form an alliance, what plan do you have?”

“I can supply your Zhao family with at least five thousand pills daily to break the Ouyang family’s control.”

“Five thousand?! Where would you even get that many pills?” Her expression shifted from shock to deep doubt.

As far as she knew, the Qin family’s pill production was stretched thin. How could they possibly have the capacity Qin Chuan claimed?

“Miss! The Qin family just started selling a huge batch of pills! They’re even better quality than the Ouyang family’s! Tons of people are already flocking to their markets!”

At that moment, a steward rushed in with breaking news.

“Understood, you may leave,” Zhao Yuzhu said.

After the steward departed, she was silent for a long time. Finally, she nodded. “Alright, then our Zhao family will join forces with you to break the Ouyang family’s monopoly.”

“Miss Zhao truly is a wise woman.” Qin Chuan smiled and tossed her a storage ring. “There are ten thousand 1st-grade pills and fifteen hundred 2nd-grade pills inside. You know how to handle the rest.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ten thousand?

Zhao Yuzhu’s jaw dropped in disbelief. After checking the ring and confirming it was true, she looked at Qin Chuan’s retreating figure, feeling as if she could no longer see through this man.

Just then, Qin Chuan, who hadn’t walked far, suddenly turned back and looked at her with a grin. “Oh right, let me correct you. It’s not about breaking the Ouyang family’s monopoly—it’s about swallowing them whole.”

With that, he left without a backward glance, leaving Zhao Yuzhu standing frozen in place.