Now that Yisha knew Luo Tian’s true identity, she was somewhat hesitant about the evening banquet. She whispered to Ling Xiao, "Ling... Ling Xiao, are we really going to the banquet tonight?"

Ling Xiao smiled. "Don’t overthink it. It’s just a get-together for classmates. Let’s just treat it as a welcome party for Kaelin."

"Oh, right, Kaelin’s back." A smile appeared on Yisha’s face. "Kaelin’s injuries should be mostly healed by now, right? That Top-Grade Healing Pill... I had to beg my grandfather several times just to get one. Its effects are truly amazing!"

There was no trace of regret or reluctance on Yisha’s face. To her, the Elixir had served its greatest purpose, for it had saved a life. That was the purpose of an Elixir.

As Yisha spoke, her eyes, twinkling like stars, locked onto Ling Xiao. "Ling Xiao, the Anti-Aging Pill you refined is incredibly effective! If... if it could be sold, I’m certain it would make the noblewomen go crazy!"

Ling Xiao was stunned. The thought of selling the Elixirs he refined had honestly never crossed his mind. In the Cultivation Realm, bartering was the most common form of trade. While there were trading markets where one could sell magic treasures for Crystal Stones, Ling Xiao’s status and wealth back then were far too low. He wasn’t even qualified to attend a trading convention, which was why he’d resorted to scavenging for overlooked treasures.

’The world I’m in now,’ Ling Xiao thought, ’is a secular one. Although those Crystal Cores are expensive, they are things that can be bought with money! In the Cultivation Realm, if someone offered to trade Gold for Crystal Stones, they’d probably be dismissed as a madman. Everyone is a Cultivator; what use is Gold? It’s not even as good as refined iron for forging magic treasures! Therefore, in the eyes of a Cultivator, Gold is no different from a Stone.’

Seeing that Ling Xiao seemed tempted, a cunning glint appeared in Yisha’s eyes. She smiled sweetly and said, "Ling Xiao, I’ve already started to manage my family’s affairs."

Ling Xiao glanced at Yisha. To be honest, he still had no idea what her family did, and he had never asked.

Yisha gave a bashful smile. "My family is the largest medicinal herb clan in the Lanyue Empire. But even the best Alchemist in my clan isn’t as skilled as you!" As she spoke, a look of pride surfaced on her oval-shaped face.

"..." Ling Xiao was speechless. He figured if the Alchemists of the Yisha Clan heard that, they would probably faint from anger.

"It’s true! I’m not... I’m not just flattering you. Like that Anti-Aging Pill you refined... I’ve never even heard of an Elixir like that!" Yisha said, her tone filled with admiration. ’And if word got out that he could refine an Elixir that could unblock the meridians of a Celestial Vein Master... he’d become famous across the entire continent overnight! But I understand the principle that possessing a treasure invites trouble for an innocent man. Of course, I would never speak of it.’

"Ling Xiao, if you give me the sales rights to the Anti-Aging Pill, then I will give all the profits, after deducting channel fees, to you. My family only needs to use it to boost our reputation. And I will absolutely never betray you!"

Only when facing Ling Xiao would Yisha speak in such a humble manner. With anyone else, even if they possessed an even better Elixir, Yisha would at most offer them a share of the profits, but she would never reveal her family’s bottom line. Because Yisha also believed that what Ling Xiao valued was not profit!

And, most importantly, she was in love with Ling Xiao!

Ling Xiao gave a slight smile. "Of course I’d feel at ease leaving it to you. As for how to sell it, you can handle it as you see fit. You don’t need to tell me. However, the quantity won’t be very large. You should be prepared for that."

Yisha beamed. "Don’t worry. Even if you gave me a lot, I wouldn’t sell them in large quantities! If something this good could be bought so easily, wouldn’t that tarnish its name?"

In that instant, Yisha’s business talent was on full display.

Setting aside Yisha’s feelings for Ling Xiao, the value of the Anti-Aging Pill was enough to drive anyone with business sense mad. The women of the great noble families probably valued their own faces more than their husbands. If they knew there was an Elixir that could let them retain their youth forever, they would buy it even at a sky-high price.

The Yisha Clan’s reputation was already resounding in high society. Imagine if they added this Anti-Aging Pill that could drive women wild—if the family still couldn’t secure its throne as the Empire’s number one medicinal clan, people would find it incomprehensible. Moreover, Yisha’s position as the family heir would be unshakable!

Most importantly, Yisha knew her grandfather wasn’t very keen on her being with Ling Xiao. She wanted to prove to her grandfather just how outstanding the man she had chosen truly was!

The Xiangxie Inn, in terms of scale, would definitely not rank in the top thirty in the Imperial Capital. But in terms of fame, it would certainly be in the top three!

Even His Majesty the King had personally praised it: "Luxurious without being ostentatious, a perfect blend of grandeur and elegance. One cannot be considered a true noble without having dined at Xiangxie Residence!"

That one sentence was worth a fortune, rapidly turning the less-than-ten-year-old establishment into one of the Imperial Capital’s top-tier inns. The food and drink here were exceptionally unique, with many dishes that other places had never even seen, let alone been able to imitate!

Some had tried to poach the chefs here, but they could only manage to lure away the lowest-level apprentices. Yet, the small bit of culinary skill those apprentices possessed was enough to earn them the treatment of a head chef at other inns. This just went to show how popular Xiangxie Residence was.

Ling Xiao remembered coming here once with his father, but he was very young then, and the memory was a bit hazy. Yet someone like Yisha, from a prominent and powerful family, had never been here.

It was said that spending several hundred Gold Coins on a single meal here was considered completely normal. And for an ordinary family, a few hundred Gold Coins was enough to live on for decades!

For Luo Tian to choose such a high-class and tasteful place to host Ling Xiao showed just how much importance he placed on him.

Ling Xiao and Yisha stepped down from the carriage. Holding Yisha’s soft hand, he looked up. The three-story Xiangxie Residence appeared grand and dignified, with an antique charm. Its carved railings and painted beams, and its style, were different from the domed architecture of the Lanyue Empire. Ling Xiao paused, a sense of familiarity washing over him. It strongly resembled the houses from his previous life in the Cultivation Realm. Then he looked again at the plaque with the two large, flamboyant words "Xiangxie Residence," and below them, a single, simple word—Huangpu!

’The Huangpu Clan is really something else!’ Ling Xiao mused to himself, thinking of that bright and beautiful girl. ’Their business is so widespread and so successful. I wonder who’s orchestrating it all from behind the scenes. They seem even more capable than Yisha!’

Just then, Li Tianluo came out from the entrance to greet them, an elegant smile on his face. "Brother Ling, please, come in!"

Ling Xiao gave a calm smile. "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Haha, we just arrived ourselves. For Brother Ling to grace us with his presence, Luo Tian is endlessly grateful!" Li Tianluo’s eyes were filled with gratitude. Ling Xiao’s willingness to come was, in itself, a representation of the Ling Family’s stance. Even if Ling Xiao couldn’t fully represent the Ling Family, it at least meant one thing: the Ling Family would not easily side with the Crown Prince, even if the Crown Prince were to ascend the throne in the future!

"What a coincidence. Isn’t this my second younger brother?" Just then, a very gentle voice was suddenly heard.

But Ling Xiao, whose meridians were now fully open and who was extremely sensitive to his surroundings, suddenly felt a bone-chilling sensation. He whipped his head around and saw a group of people walking towards them. Among them was an old man in gray robes whom Ling Xiao would recognize even if he were turned to ash. The other man had clearly recognized him as well and was now staring at Ling Xiao with a look of mockery and derision, his old, triangular eyes filled with contempt.

"What a coincidence!"

Ling Xiao let out two cold laughs, his grim gaze locked onto the gray-robed old man. With one hand, he slowly drew his Fine Willow Sword and pointed it at Hai Tian. "Old bastard, today, I will use you to consecrate my sword!"