Exactly at dawn, Liam and Grace returned outside to resume their respective tasks.

An even bigger crowd greeted that return. More people had joined the audience, attracted by the promise of easy earnings and dirt-cheap alchemical products, creating logistical issues.

The valley was vast, but around a hundred people had amassed in front of Grace’s shop, ignoring the fighting platforms altogether, which that specific area wasn’t exactly meant to accommodate.

That wasn’t even the end. The cultivators who had arrived during the night or that morning weren’t limited to the crowd. More had settled on the valley’s slopes, the fights not claiming their gazes even once.

In total, the valley had to have three hundred cultivators now, which was unthinkable for Liam’s previous neighborhood.

Moreover, the newcomers on the stages weren’t nobodies. Multiple rooting experts had joined those ranks, with many wearing emblem-less but colorful robes. They were members of Sects, the only ones who had yet to fall prey to Grace’s business tactics, but not for long.

It was a few hours before lunchtime when the crowd went silent, devoid of the usual murmurs or arguments that afflicted it constantly.

Liam was immersed in the concoction of elixirs when he sensed the crowd part to make way for two figures that stood out from the rest even before he could glance at them.

One of the figures was a man in his twenties, his face stern, his brown hair short and a bit unruly, his ordinary features enhanced by his cultivation level. He was a rooting expert, and not an ordinary one.

The man wasn’t Maxwell, but Liam instinctively placed him above Joel. His cultivation was that advanced, and his mere stance radiated the confidence of a seasoned warrior.

Meanwhile, the man at the rooting expert’s side was younger and only at the foundation stage. He had long black hair and a long face, but a sickish paleness affected his complexion.

Still, both newcomers wore quite luxurious orange robes, which suggested the reason behind the crowd’s parting before Grace could announce it.

"I’m honored that esteemed members of the Roaring Thunder Sect visited my humble shop," Grace exclaimed, politely cupping her fist. "Fellow Daoists, what can I do for you?"

It seemed Grace’s status as a Chief allowed her to address Sect members as Fellow Daoists instead of Seniors. That, or she was resorting to another business strategy.

"Chief Grace, I’m Philip, inner disciple of the Roaring Thunder Sect," The rooting expert greeted, waiting for his sickish companion to do the same before continuing. "This is my Junior Brother, Lynn. We heard news of you and your partner, Master William, and couldn’t refrain from visiting ourselves."

"I hope reality matched your expectations," Grace announced. "I’m afraid I’m out of products. Master William’s concentrates have just sold out. However, he is in the process of concocting rank 1 Meridian-Cleansing elixirs. I’ll obviously give Fellow Daoists priority if you wish to purchase them."

The announcement hit the crowd like a hammer, but no complaints resounded. Philip and Lynn belonged to a Sect. Even the Guild members among the audience couldn’t argue with that change in the queue.

As for Philip, he glanced at the cloaked figure still managing the cauldron before refocusing on Grace.

"Chief Grace, I’m actually here to ask a favor," Philip revealed. "My Junior Brother was injured under my command. One of his spiritual roots went inert and is close to snapping, risking lowering his cultivation talent forever."

Grace had already understood what Philip was about to ask. She had actually waited for similar opportunities, so she didn’t dare to interrupt him.

"I know you have a business to run," Philip continued. "But I also have my duties as a Senior Brother. I must take responsibility for my Junior Brother."

"That’s very noble of you," Grace praised. "The Roaring Thunder Sect grooms inspiring disciples."

"Chief Grace, I can’t accept such praises when I’m about to make such a shameless request," Philip responded, lowering his head. "My Junior Brother urgently requires a Qi-Igniting Pill to reawaken his inert spiritual root. Is it possible to commission it?"

There was no real order to the products Liam was concocting, not one that the audience knew. No one would even dare to change that to maximize their potential earnings, but Philip had his Sect on his side.

Still, making such a request intruded on whatever business strategy Grace and Liam were relying on, so Philip had to lower his head and be on his best behavior despite his superior status.

"Master William is indeed capable of concocting rank 1 Qi-Igniting Pills," Grace revealed, since that product had yet to hit the shelf once. "Since an inner disciple from the Roaring Thunder Sect is requesting it, I’ll obviously comply."

Grace was giving that Sect face, earning goodwill from that superior force, and she knew things weren’t over.

"Chief Grace," Philip called, his head still lowered. "According to the news we heard, you are selling Master William’s products at a fixed price of one hundred spirit stones."

That was the real reason behind Philip’s visit. A Sect, any Sect for that matter, had access to or could find Qi-Igniting Pills. They were a popular product.

The price was the issue. Qi-Igniting Pills were among the most expensive rank 1 alchemical concoctions, often costing over three hundred spirit stones.

Sects didn’t trade in that currency, not when it came to internal matters, but that value remained, prompting Philip to seek that product elsewhere since the far lower price compensated for the trouble of getting spirit stones.

But commissioned products were more expensive than available ones. The trouble the Master went through to make that specific concoction had to be compensated for, hence Philip’s statement.

Naturally, none of that escaped Grace.

"It would be unbefitting of me to exploit your noble intentions," Grace declared. "Please, Fellow Daoist, raise your head. Commissioned or not, the price shall remain one hundred spirit stones."

"Chief Grace, thank you," Philip exclaimed, properly bowing. "I will never forget this kindness. If you are ever in need, don’t hesitate to come to the Roaring Thunder Sect."

"Thank you, Chief Grace," Lynn joined the bow. "Since you helped me restore my cultivation’s potential, I obviously will use it to repay this favor one day."

"Please, we are all fellow cultivators on the same journey," Grace also bowed. "Helping one of us is helping us all."

The development couldn’t have been more perfect. It matched Grace’s best predictions, but nothing in her vast experience and imagination could have prepared her for what came next.

"Which one?" A voice no one but Grace knew resounded among that meaningful silence.

The crowd inspected their surroundings, frowning and confused. Yet, one by one, everyone focused on the only possible source of that voice, the one their ears pointed at, but couldn’t believe that had spoken.

"Fellow Daoist," Liam called again, still dealing with the concoction, "Which Qi-Igniting Pill?"

Even Grace was surprised there. It was common knowledge that alchemy demanded absolute concentration. It was actually incredible how Liam could work despite the ever-murmuring and arguing crowd.

And yet, there Liam was, calmly addressing the recent topic, his voice carrying no trace of the mental strain doing that while managing a concoction should bring.

Honestly, Liam saw that as normal. It wasn’t only due to the inferior concoction. His Master’s interrogations had trained him for far worse.

’I’ll strangle him until he tells me all he can do,’ Grace thought, but nothing of that anger leaked on her face. Instead, she elegantly straightened herself and pointed at Liam. "Fellow Daoist, you can answer Master William."

Philip blinked. He knew better than most that disturbing alchemists wasn’t proper. His higher education said as much, so it was with some stiffness that he turned to address Liam.

"Master William," Philip cleared his throat. "Forgive my ignorance, but I only know of one Qi-Igniting Pill."

"There are six versions," Liam responded, his hood remaining on the cauldron. "The standard one, and one specific for each of the five basic elements and their derivatives."

That was advanced alchemical knowledge, something that no ordinary cultivator could know or even encounter randomly in markets.

"The specific one would have greater effects and higher chances of reawakening your Junior Brother’s spiritual root," Liam explained, "But the standard can work, too."

Liam didn’t insist since a dantian’s nature was a touchy topic. Still, he wanted to offer Lynn the best odds of recovery, both as an alchemist and because the pair reminded him of Joel and himself.

Philip hesitated out of sheer awe. He could understand small replies, but Liam had actually given a full explanation on the topic despite being theoretically indisposed.

Still, because of that very awe, Philip didn’t dare to make Master William wait, so he soon glanced at his Junior Brother, who nodded in approval.

"My Junior Brother has a wind core," Philip announced.

"Grace, we lack the Fairy Wings for the recipe," Liam promptly warned.

Luckily, Grace had been ready. It was the plan she had mentioned the previous night, so she reacted before the two Chiefs could beat her up to it.

"Fellow Daoist," Grace called, "As Master William said, we are currently one ingredient short. However, I remember seeing it among my fellow Chiefs’ wares. If you were to purchase it, I’d deduct its cost from the Qi-Igniting Pill’s."

That was the full extent of the plan, and it couldn’t have been simpler. Chief Leo and Chief Kent wouldn’t have hesitated to raise their prices to make things hard for Grace, but they just couldn’t with a client, especially one from a Sect.

Obviously, Grace didn’t stop there.

"Actually, all our stashes are running short," Grace revealed. "At this pace, this will be our last day of business. Yet, if any of you were to present the ingredients, I’ll account for their cost once Master William finishes turning them into products."

Grace didn’t say it, but the implication was obvious. Depending on the ingredients delivered, Liam would concoct a specific product, meaning the audience could choose what he made, no differently than a commission would.

And just like that, Grace’s expenses went down to zero since the crowd assaulted the two Chiefs’ shops to get all the ingredients they had. Actually, she even saved her remaining ones.