The White couple didn’t resist as Ian Song placed restrictive seals on them, then hurried off to kill Leon Bian as ordered.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, the White couple returned together, bringing Leon Bian’s severed head. Before killing him, they interrogated him thoroughly: although Leon had orchestrated the assassination, all seventeen other pill shop managers were involved and had contributed funds for the hit.
"You may go now."
Ian Song lifted the seals on the couple, signaling that they were free to leave.
The White couple could hardly believe it; they hadn’t expected Ian Song to actually let them go.
"Thank you, Young Master Song. We’ll take our leave!"
After expressing their gratitude, the White couple hurried away.
The next day, after Ian Song’s pill shop opened, he adjusted the exchange rules again: now, a first-grade Immortal Medicine worth 170 immortal stones could be traded for one top-grade Immortal Yuan Pill, and a second-grade Immortal Medicine worth 150 stones could also be exchanged for a top-grade Immortal Yuan Pill.
A third-grade Immortal Medicine valued at 130 immortal stones could also be exchanged for a top-grade Immortal Yuan Pill.
Even a fourth-grade Immortal Medicine worth 100 immortal stones could be traded for a top-grade Immortal Yuan Pill.
"We’re doomed! Completely doomed!"
When the seventeen pill shop managers heard the news, they all looked utterly hopeless. And since Leon Bian had vanished since last night, they assumed he was most likely dead.
"What do we do now?"
The seventeen pill shop managers gathered together once more.
"How about this—we just sell all our top-grade Immortal Yuan Pills to Ian Song at 150 immortal stones each? We’ll take a loss, but it’s better than what we’re facing now!"
In the end, everyone agreed and sent representatives to negotiate with Ian Song.
"I can buy your top-grade Immortal Yuan Pills for 160 immortal stones each," Ian Song said. Since they’d already surrendered, there was no need for him to push them further—especially since he didn’t plan to stay in Wildlands City much longer.
The two managers who came to negotiate were overjoyed and agreed immediately.
That evening—
Ian Song arrived alone at a restaurant, where all seventeen managers stood together at the entrance waiting for him.
"Greetings, Young Master Song!"
"Good evening, Young Master Song!"
............
Seeing the seventeen managers greet him so eagerly and with obvious flattery, Ian Song raised his hand. "No need to be so formal, everyone. Let’s head inside and talk."
The tables were piled high with delicacies and fine wine.
Ian Song didn’t stand on ceremony—he ate and drank his fill before finally asking, "Did you bring all the Immortal Yuan Pills?"
"We brought them!"
Everyone hurriedly produced their Storage Rings and presented them. After checking the goods, Ian Song handed over the immortal stones.
With the immortal stones in hand, the managers all breathed a sigh of relief. Now they could buy new pills to restock their shops.
"So, gentlemen—any interest in working together?" Ian Song asked with a smile.
"How does Young Master Song want to cooperate?" one of the shopkeepers asked.
Ian Song replied, "I can sell you top-grade Immortal Essence Pills and top-grade Xiang-Yuan Pills at eighty percent of market price!"
The seventeen shopkeepers were all visibly shaken by his words.
Immortal Essence Pills are used by Earth Immortals, and Xiang-Yuan Pills are for Golden Immortals.
Their shops did carry both kinds of pills, but only in small quantities—at best, a few high-grade Immortal Essence Pills, and at most, low-grade Xiang-Yuan Pills.
Now, Ian Song could offer them top-grade versions of both pills—an absolute boon for their businesses.
As for why Ian Song didn’t sell them himself?
He was an ascended immortal; if he drew too much attention, powerful native Immortal clans might come looking for trouble. To avoid unnecessary hassle, he could just use these seventeen shopkeepers to distribute his pills.
After a round of discussion, all seventeen agreed to cooperate with Ian Song.
Ian Song nodded. "Now, let me explain my terms: half of the pills can be paid for with immortal stones, but the other half must be paid with third-grade or higher Immortal Medicines. If you can pay with fifth- or sixth-grade medicines, I’ll drop the price to fifty percent!"
Hearing Ian Song’s terms, all the shopkeepers were tempted.
Unfortunately, fifth- and sixth-grade Immortal Medicines were extremely rare. Over the years, they’d only managed to collect a handful.
In the end, none of the shopkeepers could resist the lure of low prices. Over the next few days, they each brought out the few fifth-grade medicines they had to trade for top-grade Immortal Yuan Pills.
That day.
Ian Song lounged on a recliner in his pill shop, sipping tea in comfort. All pill exchanges were now handled by his women; he didn’t need to get involved anymore.
Just then—
A middle-aged man swaggered in, flanked by four guards.
He shouted, "Who’s the owner of this shop? Step forward!"
"I am!"
Ian Song sat up and looked at the newcomer, sensing he wasn’t here for friendly business.
The middle-aged man smiled, but his eyes were cold. "Very good. I am Victor Yuchi, one of the tax officers under the City Lord’s Mansion. We’ve discovered your shop hasn’t paid taxes. Pay up—now!"
"How much?" Ian Song asked.
Victor Yuchi smirked. "You’re an ascended immortal and didn’t register with the City Lord’s Mansion—so you’re suspected of tax evasion. You’ll hand over seventy percent of your income in immortal stones. Don’t think about underreporting—we know exactly how much you’ve made these days!"
"Seventy percent? Why don’t you just rob me!"
The women exploded with outrage. The hot-tempered Sienna Tuoba couldn’t help but shout.
"What? Are you planning to resist taxes now?"
Victor Yuchi sneered, then swept his gaze over the women, his eyes growing lecherous.
Ian Song’s eyes flashed cold, but he quickly put on a smile. "Lord Yuchi, could I have a word with you in private?"
As he spoke, Ian Song deliberately fiddled with a Storage Ring in his hand.
Victor Yuchi’s eyes lit up with greed. He gave his four men a quick order, then followed Ian Song into the back courtyard.
"Just a small gift, Lord Yuchi. Please don’t take offense!"
Ian Song slipped the Storage Ring into Victor Yuchi’s hand.
Victor Yuchi checked the ring and saw a full million immortal stones inside. His greed grew, but he deliberately scowled and barked, "What’s this? Are you trying to bribe an official?"
"Of course not! If you don’t want it, I’ll just take it back."
With that, Ian Song simply snatched the Storage Ring back from Victor Yuchi’s hand.
Victor Yuchi’s face turned ugly and sinister. "Are you messing with me?" he growled.
"That’s right! I’m messing with you—and I’m going to hit you!"
Smack!
Ian Song slapped Victor Yuchi hard, sending him flying.
"You dare hit an official? You’re dead!" Victor Yuchi roared in fury.
Hmph!
Ian Song sneered and stomped Victor Yuchi repeatedly, making him scream in pain.
After venting his anger, Ian Song used Puppet Mastery to enslave Victor Yuchi.
"Explain," Ian Song demanded.
Victor Yuchi replied honestly, "Master, your shop was targeted by the Tax Office on the second day you opened. We waited to squeeze more immortal stones out of you."
"Who’s the highest official in your Tax Office?" Ian Song asked.
Victor Yuchi replied, "Master, it’s Mason Jiang! He’s the son of the City Lord’s sworn brother and enjoys the City Lord’s trust!"
Ian Song sneered, "Fine. Tonight, you’ll invite him to Bayun Restaurant!"