"What do you mean?" Wei Jie's heart skipped a beat at the gravity in Jiang Chen's tone.
Jiang Chen had been turning this matter over carefully during their walk, analyzing it from every angle. Combined with Wang Teng's behavior and those people at today's auction, he couldn't shake the feeling that a thick, deliberate conspiracy was at play — and that it had something to do with him personally.
"Young Master Wei, don't you think Wang Teng's behavior today was rather... unusual?" Jiang Chen asked.
Wei Jie froze, thinking for a moment, but he couldn't quite grasp what Jiang Chen was getting at.
"Why did Wang Teng have Sikou Nan and Third Young Master Ji bid against each other over the Myriad Life Pill? And more than that — it didn't seem like he was just trying to needle Third Young Master Ji, or just trying to disgust him. I have the distinct feeling he did it on purpose, specifically to build hype around the Myriad Life Pill." Jiang Chen's tone was solemn.
The words made Wei Jie's expression shift. He was sharp, and in an instant he caught the subtext behind Jiang Chen's words.
"Brother Zhen, you're saying... the Myriad Life Pill was orchestrated by Wang Teng all along?" Wei Jie was genuinely shaken.
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice turning cold. "I hope it's just my imagination. But judging from Wang Teng's behavior, I can't rule out the possibility. The thing is, his plan was ultimately undermined by me in the shadows. He may not have succeeded in disgusting Third Young Master Ji, but his broader strategy actually reached its goal."
"Brother Zhen, isn't that a bit far-fetched?" Wei Jie was still half-skeptical.
Jiang Chen nodded. "It's only my speculation. But think it through from another angle — the Undying Heavenly Capital refined the Myriad Life Pill. Would the Glazed Royal City allow the Undying Heavenly Capital's forces to stride in and dominate this market so brazenly? Of course not. The Undying Heavenly Capital wouldn't dare do that openly. But they still want to crack open the Glazed Royal City market. So what would they do?"
With that line of reasoning, the doubt on Wei Jie's face gradually faded, replaced by a look of deep gravity.
"Find an agent — partner with a powerful force already in the Glazed Royal City."
"Exactly." Jiang Chen nodded. "Right now, the Myriad Life Pill has successfully entered the Lianshan Auction House. Without someone from the Glazed Royal City behind it, could they have built up this kind of momentum in such a short time? And if they needed a local partner, which family in the Glazed Royal City would be the best fit? The Panlong Grand Family? Sure, the Panlong Grand Family would be ideal — but they're drowning in their own problems right now, in total disarray internally. So... a rival Grand Family with the ambition to challenge for the top spot would naturally be the most suitable candidate."
Following that chain of logic, the Wangting Grand Family practically leaped to the foreground.
Combined with Wang Teng's behavior today, Wei Jie was eighty percent convinced.
"The Wangting Grand Family... the Myriad Life Pill..." Wei Jie murmured with a sigh. "If that's really the case, the Wangting Grand Family is about to make a fortune."
"And if this is true, it will also serve as a critical pillar for the Wangting Grand Family's future challenge to the Panlong Grand Family." At this point, Jiang Chen felt a surge of anger in his chest.
His own creation, being used as a pawn by both the Undying Heavenly Capital and the Wangting Grand Family — how could he not be furious?
After parting ways with Wei Jie, Jiang Chen returned to his residence.
Two more days until Taiyuan Pavilion's grand opening.
Everything was in place. All the personnel had been thoroughly trained and equipped with new identities, ready for the doors to open.
Seeing how smoothly all of Jiang Chen's preparations were coming together, Huang'er was genuinely happy for him.
In the final two days, Taiyuan Pavilion's signboard was hung up ahead of schedule, and a handful of recruitment notices were posted with great fanfare.
All of this was cover — a way for his people to enter Taiyuan Pavilion under legitimate new identities without arousing suspicion from the Sikou clan.
The fellow disciples from Danqian Palace worked behind the scenes, handling back-office operations and financial management.
Jiang Chen had entrusted full financial authority to Rong Zifeng — a tremendous show of trust. Rong Zifeng clearly hadn't expected so much confidence from Jiang Chen. He felt a mixture of pride, excitement, and deep gratitude.
Jiang Chen's most trusted person was actually Shen Sanhuo, but what he wanted from Shen Sanhuo was to become a Pill King as quickly as possible. Managing these affairs was beneath someone with that calling.
As for the ten Saint Realm experts Jiang Chen had handpicked, they were perfect for guarding the premises and receiving guests — exactly what a newly opened pill establishment needed.
Ten Saint Realm strongmen guarding the doors of a brand-new alchemy venture was already a formidable display.
But without any Emperor Realm powerhouses, it wouldn't come across as overly conspicuous.
As for the opening-day arrangements, the publicity, the crowd-drawing spectacles — Jiang Chen didn't spend a single thought on any of it.
He had virtually no connections in the Glazed Royal City and no channels to speak of. Even if he wanted to handle those things, he couldn't. He left it all to the Wei family.
Jiang Chen assessed the Wei family's current situation and figured their prospects weren't particularly rosy either.
After all, the Wei family carried no weight in the pill trade these days. Their own fortunes were on a steep decline, and in the eyes of most, the Wei family's position as a Ninth-Rank Family would be impossible to hold onto for much longer.
And yet the Wei family remained stubbornly loyal, still clinging to the Panlong Grand Family with unshakable devotion. But in the public eye, the Panlong Grand Family had already lost trust in the Wei family.
That being the case, very few forces would be willing to get too close to the Wei family.
And even fewer would bother to show up for a grand opening.
After all, everyone knew by now that the Wei family had become a thorn in the Wangting Grand Family's side.
The Glazed Royal City was a place where news traveled fast. Word had spread that the Wei family had refused to lease their shop to the Tong family, had rejected Wang Teng's olive branch, and had even destroyed the undercover Pill King that the Wangting Grand Family had planted among them...
The day before the grand opening, Jiang Chen led his group and officially moved into the Shennong Street Market.