The Chixue Sea Region, Cangyu Islands.

This Sect’s lineage wasn’t very long. It had been less than five hundred years since they’d first seized control of the islands.

The current Island Master was Gu Binglong, a cultivator at the Middle Stage Golden Core Realm. He had held power for a little over twenty years.

Over twenty years ago, Gu Binglong’s father had coveted the beauty of Liu Qianlan, the Hall Master of Longevity Hall. He attempted to forcibly marry the stunning woman and annex the Longevity Hall’s domain in the process.

When words failed, the two came to blows. Liu Qianlan’s cultivation was superior, and she also wielded a Top Grade Magical Treasure. Consequently, Gu Binglong’s father was beaten and severely injured. After returning to the Sect, he barely clung to life for two years before finally perishing.

After Gu Binglong took power, he began actively plotting war against the Longevity Hall, vowing to crush his nemesis and avenge his father.

Of course, the enmity between the two Sects was long-standing. Even without this particular incident, they were bound to come to blows sooner or later.

At this very moment, on the main island of the Cangyu Islands.

Within a vital area of the Sect protected by the Mountain Protection Array, Gu Binglong was holding a council with his top confidants in an opulent, gilded hall.

"...So that’s why those families have all been flocking to the Feiyu Sea Region lately. It turns out they went to find that Female Patriarch from the Changqing Continent to refine elixirs for them?"

Seated on the main throne, the gloomy, rodent-faced Gu Binglong examined the Jade Talisman in his hand and spoke in a hostile tone.

Ever since the Ling Family from the Changqing Continent took control of the entire Feiyu Sea Region, gathering intelligence on them had become a top priority for all the surrounding powers.

As such, the news that Ling Qiyue was a Third Rank Alchemist was already common knowledge.

The aptitude required to become a Pill Master is exceptionally demanding, the training period is long, and the cost is exorbitant. Consequently, a Pill Master who can reach the third rank enjoys a status nearly on par with a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Especially among these mid-to-low-tier powers, a reliable Third Rank Alchemist was as rare as a hen’s teeth.

Even among some of the weaker Nascent Soul powers, a Third Rank Alchemist was an indispensable asset.

Upon learning that the Ling Family Patriarch was willing to accept commissions for alchemy, the leaders of many surrounding powers had their interests piqued. They prepared lavish gifts and came to her door, hoping this Pill Master would agree to refine elixirs for them.

An old man in a brocade robe standing nearby asked, "I wonder, just how many Third Grade Elixirs did those families obtain? Surely that Female Patriarch wouldn’t grant every single one of their requests?"

This was Gu Binglong’s uncle, Gu Changhe, an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator.

A middle-aged man in gray robes responded, "According to our intelligence, the Longevity Hall, the Nu Tao Sect, and the Feng Family have all recently had members break through to the Core Formation Realm.

Among them, an Elder from the Nu Tao Sect formed a Golden Core. Liu Xiuyan from the Longevity Hall and the one from the Feng Family had a stroke of bad luck, only achieving the True Pill Realm."

This man was Tang Iron, the Elder in charge of external intelligence.

"So, the strength of those three factions has increased again? That’s not good news for us," Gu Binglong said coldly.

The Nu Tao Sect and the Feng Family were one thing; their grievances with the Cangyu Islands weren’t that significant. But the Longevity Hall was their sworn enemy.

With them gaining another True Pill Cultivator, the future pressure on the Cangyu Islands would only increase.

"That’s not all,"

Tang Iron said with a frown, "The three factions also obtained many other types of Third Grade Elixirs from the Ling Family—for extending life, for healing and recovery, and for advancing cultivation.

As a result, the average strength of their existing Core Formation Cultivators should have increased, particularly those in the Longevity Hall.

According to our inside sources, the two True Pill Cultivators from the Longevity Hall that the Island Master injured not long ago have already recovered. They emerged from their seclusion a few days ago."

"Damn it!"

Gu Binglong slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, his face livid with rage.

The slight advantage they had fought so hard to gain in the last battle was now completely gone. Anyone in his position would be seething.

Liu Qianlan was already difficult enough to deal with. If war broke out again, wouldn’t the Cangyu Islands be in an even worse predicament?

Gu Changhe said, "The Sect still has some reserves in the treasury. Why don’t we also put together a batch of Core Formation Resources, then go to the major commerce associations to purchase some Third Grade Elixirs? Whatever we do, we can’t let the Longevity Hall get the upper hand."

Xu Song, the Elder in charge of the Merit Reward Hall, looked troubled. "That will be difficult. Our purchase quotas for third-grade resources from those commerce associations for the last fifteen years are almost exhausted.

If we want to continue purchasing, we’ll have to pay a steep premium or agree to certain additional conditions. The terms are too unfavorable."

The three great commerce associations in Yuzhou were the Xingyun sun Commerce Association, the Illusory Treasure Pavilion, and the Gathering Sea Pavilion.

All three operated in the Chixue Sea Region, but they had strict regulations regarding the sale of various third-grade resources, especially Core Formation Resources. They would not allow these powers to purchase them at will.

Furthermore, due to years of constant warfare and massive expenditures, the eleven Core Formation powers in the Chixue Sea Region were not only far from wealthy but were also heavily in debt. After all, resources for Third Grade Elixirs were never cheap.

In this respect, the Ling Family—which controlled the entire Feiyu Sea Region and had few superfluous members to support—was on much more solid financial footing than the powers in the Chixue Sea Region.

That was why the Longevity Hall, the Nu Tao Sect, and the Feng Family had thought to gather the Medicinal Herbs themselves and ask the Female Patriarch to refine the elixirs. It was a way to save a considerable amount of money.

Gu Binglong’s voice was cold. "Then we’ll have to find a solution. We can’t just stand by and watch. Send someone to speak with that Female Patriarch face-to-face. If she can refine elixirs for those families, why not for us?"