Someone in the crowd eagerly asked, "Hall Master Qiao, I remember you said three types of pills would be released. Besides the Divine Show Creation Pill and the Blue Sea Pill, what's the third?"
"That's right! When it comes from Alchemist Hall, we can rest easy. Just tell us everything at once — let everyone enjoy the excitement!"
"Hall Master Qiao, stop keeping us in suspense. Say it!"
The crowd below buzzed with eager anticipation, every face turned upward.
Qiao Baishi nodded and smiled calmly. "This third pill has been carefully considered by us. After much deliberation, we've decided to release it — and when we do, Alchemist Hall will offer it at a significant discount. The goal is to repay everyone for their steadfast support of our hall over the years."
"This third pill is called One Buddha Powder. It's a clearing, heat-dissipating pill. Compared to the best similar pill currently on the market, One Buddha Powder's effectiveness may be twice as great. And our price? Just half of what the market's best pills currently sell for!"
Double the effectiveness, half the price!
When Qiao Baishi said this, the entire venue fell utterly silent. They almost suspected their ears had betrayed them.
Had they misheard?
A pill with double the effectiveness — not raising the price would have been unreasonable enough. And now the price was being *halved*?
This was...
Finally, someone couldn't hold back. "Hall Master Qiao, this... you're not joking, are you?"
"The Alchemist Hall's reputation stands right here — how would I dare speak nonsense? Our hall means every word we say. Rest assured. To be perfectly honest, we never intended to make much profit from One Buddha Powder in the first place."
That last part was a bit of a stretch. In reality, One Buddha Powder required no alchemy process, so there was no material waste. Its cost was merely one-tenth of Pill King Court's Crane Heart Pill.
With costs that low, cutting the price in half was still enormously profitable.
In fact, even selling it at the same price as Crane Heart Pill would have absolutely ignited the market. But Qiao Baishi deliberately slashed the price by half.
His goal, naturally, was to leave Pill King Court with no chance of recovery.
Beyond that, he intended to use this opportunity to cement Alchemist Hall's reputation for integrity and strengthen its position as the undisputed leader of the spiritual medicine world.
Qiao Baishi struck three times in succession, unveiling three pills one after another, each more stunning than the last.
But for Pill King Court, these three consecutive moves from Qiao Baishi were like three devastating blows — each more lethal than the last!
Court Master Wang could barely keep his feet. The world spun around him, and he nearly collapsed to the ground, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
He knew this was no joke. This was a bloodless slaughter in the marketplace. Alchemist Hall's three-pronged assault had already destroyed Pill King Court at its very foundation.
"Grand Court Master, what do we... what do we do?"
"Master Zi, say something! You can't just watch Pill King Court go bankrupt!"
"That's right, Master Zi — we all serve under Marquis Longteng, so you..."
Master Zi let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with contempt as he swept a look over Pill King Court's senior executives. Then he turned and strode away with a flick of his sleeves.
"Incompetent fools! You can't achieve anything, and you ruin everything you touch!"
Watching Master Zi leave, the last shred of hope among Pill King Court's leadership crumbled.
Over on Alchemist Hall's side, their executives were also feeling somewhat dreamlike. Qiao Baishi's one move after another had caught even them completely off guard.
After all, to prevent any leaks, Qiao Baishi had kept this entire affair under wraps. Even among the hall's own senior members present, many had been kept in the dark.
Only a few elders who were fiercely loyal to Qiao Baishi had received his hints in advance. Everyone else, including Second Hall Master Yue Qun, had known nothing whatsoever.
But Yue Qun couldn't care less about that now. Seeing the humiliated expressions on Pill King Court's side, his old face was practically splitting with delight.
"Old Three, that was a brilliant move!" Yue Qun clapped Qiao Baishi on the shoulder. "Before, when the Grand Hall Master trusted and nurtured you so much, I always found it a bit odd. Looking at this now, old Yue's eye for talent really doesn't compare to the Grand Hall Master's."
"Second Hall Master, you are seasoned and steady. There is still much I can learn from you." Qiao Baishi replied modestly.
Next came the entrance of the Pill Testing Warriors.
The profession of Pill Testing Warrior had one cardinal rule above all else: be impartial and speak the truth.
Of course, Alchemist Hall's spiritual medicines could withstand any scrutiny. After several rounds of trials by the Pill Testing Warriors, these pills received their complete and unconditional endorsement!
The Divine Show Creation Pill, the Blue Sea Pill, and One Buddha Powder — all genuinely outstanding!
With the Pill Testing Warriors' guarantee, the last traces of doubt in the crowd evaporated. All the guests erupted in excitement, swarming toward the display platform.
"Hall Master Qiao, I'm Young Master Fan from the Ministry of War — Minister Fan's son! I'll be at Alchemist Hall first thing tomorrow morning to place an order. Make sure you save me a spot!"
"Elder Yue, my elder brother is Vice Minister Zhang from the Ministry of Revenue. You two have been friends for decades, right? Save me a spot tomorrow, brother — I want to place an order!"
In an instant, people rushed forward from every direction, pulling connections, claiming acquaintances, doing everything they could.
Alchemist Hall had plenty of staff on hand, but even they were somewhat overwhelmed by the onslaught.
And Princess Gouyu, who had been invited by Alchemist Hall, watched this dramatic reversal with a deeply solemn expression, occasionally stealing a quick glance at Jiang Chen, her mind filled with questions.