In the following days, Tian Feirong and the chubby guy fixed their schedule for setting up the stall. Gradually, this inconspicuous little stall gained a reputation, especially among those who bought elixirs and talismans. They became regular customers, and others dared not interfere, so the business of the stall thrived day by day.
Similarly, Bai Xiuer's flower cakes were well-received, particularly by female disciples with a sweet tooth. Some male cultivators also came to purchase, but they did so somewhat discreetly, earning a reputation for having a liking for sweet treats. Well, it somewhat damaged the imposing image of male cultivators in the eyes of junior and senior sisters.
Therefore, among the new disciples, besides Pei Yuchun and Hou Qiang, the two wealthiest individuals, the most prominent were Tian Feirong, the other three, and Bai Xiuer. Anyone with discerning eyes could see that although these two stalls didn't operate for long each day, they were earning quite a bit. They were the masters of not worrying about spirit stones, and compared to the first two, these two clearly had more staying power.
So, more people came to recruit, including Pei Yuchun and Hou Qiang. They even tried to tempt and threaten Tian Feirong to reveal the source of the elixirs and talismans. Once they had control over this source, spirit stones and followers would flow endlessly. This left Tian Feirong and the chubby guy feeling helpless and amused.
With spirit stones in hand, Gu Yao dared to explore various collections in the library. He refined elixirs, practiced cultivation, and accompanied others to lectures in the training halls. Life became particularly pleasant. Joining the path set by the Tian family and investing spirit stones in Tianfu Academy was undoubtedly the correct choice. The expenditure on these spirit stones was worthwhile.
One day, Gu Yao and Chi Changye returned from the library. Chi Changye efficiently flew them back using his sword. However, when entering the library, they encountered some fellow new disciples who gave them strange looks, mixed with a hint of disdain. Gu Yao was puzzled.
"Big Brother Ye, what do you think they're looking at? Did I wear something wrong?" Gu Yao asked, confused.
Chi Changye chuckled and said, "I might guess what they're thinking. They probably see us as guys living off Tian Feirong's generosity."
These past days, spending quite a few spirit stones outside, they hadn't shown a hint of reluctance. It inadvertently led to misunderstandings.
Gu Yao, with a puzzled expression, couldn't comprehend. Were they eating off Tian Feirong's generosity? Were they being supported by Tian Feirong and the chubby guy? What were these people thinking? Couldn't they focus on cultivation?
Before dinner, Tian Feirong and the chubby guy returned, bringing packaged meals from the cafeteria. These meals had different grades, ranging from the best ones costing dozens of spirit stones to the cheaper ones at around five or six spirit stones. Aside from being tastier, these meals were particularly nourishing, prepared by a skilled chef who could enhance the spiritual energy in the ingredients, making them more suitable for absorption by the body.
Since discovering these meals, they started ordering them. Considering their current financial situation, they could only afford the cheapest variety for now. However, it was still better than meals outside the package. As they earned more spirit stones in the future, they could gradually upgrade the quality.
The more they integrated into Tianfu Academy, the more they realized the need for earning more spirit stones. But as long as they had spirit stones, they could enjoy the most comfortable life.
Gu Yao didn't know about the situations in other sects, but he thought he and Chi Changye could survive here.
Tian Feirong swallowed the food, took a sip of water, and said, "I've basically inquired about Wu Fengzi's situation. Hearing his nickname alone gives an idea of his reputation in the academy. However, considering the principle of 'birds of a feather flock together,' he also has quite a few people helping him."
"Wu Fengzi is a member of the Mad Snake Gang, a mid-level figure in it," Tian Feirong furrowed his brow, "The Mad Snake Gang is a relatively small force in the outer courtyard. These days, people buying elixirs have warned me and the chubby guy to be careful of the Mad Snake Gang. Wu Fengzi might not be well-liked within the gang, but if we mess with him, it's like messing with the Mad Snake Gang. Weakening their reputation would make them look for opportunities to regain face."
This mentality was something Tian Feirong understood. After all, he came from the Tian family. No matter how small the town of Yuanyang was compared to Tianfu Academy, the competition and conflicts between various forces in the town were not necessarily simpler. In the end, the Mad Snake Gang relied on bullying the weak. If they challenged Wu Fengzi, it would be equivalent to challenging the Mad Snake Gang. Although the gang was not a big threat, they might be looking for chances to retaliate.
The chubby guy continued, "Tian Second Brother and I came up with a solution. We can use our popularity in selling elixirs and talismans to leverage our position. The Mad Snake Gang's influence isn't to the extent that everyone fears them. Knowing we have conflicts with the Mad Snake Gang, some forces still want to recruit us. We can pick a force that values principles more and cooperate with them."
Some people wanted to take advantage of the situation and make them join the gangs, hoping they would join the factions represented by these people. The chubby guy and Tian Feirong weren't naive. They knew what these people were after. Even if they were to join a force, it would be a faction they established themselves, free from external constraints, and able to operate freely.
Chi Changye asked in a deep voice, "So, which force have you chosen to cooperate with?"
Tian Feirong placed a paper on the table, "This is the information we recently gathered about various forces and their main situations. It's probably not complete, but it should be sufficient. Unexpectedly, the influence of the Star-Moon Trading Company is so significant. It's the number one force among both the inner and outer court factions."
No wonder they only offered a 2% discount. It turned out they were so wealthy. Tian Feirong admitted to himself that he was envious.
Gu Yao and Chi Changye leaned over to take a look. The name "Star-Moon Trading Company" sounded relatively decent compared to others. The combination of the inner and outer court members totaled in the hundreds. Groups with only a dozen members couldn't even compete. Just by looking at the listed forces, they could understand the complexity of the environment in the academy.
It was challenging to live peacefully.
Apart from the Star-Moon Trading Company and the Mad Snake Gang, they knew almost nothing about the other forces. Having entrusted the outside matters to Tian Feirong and the chubby guy, and trusting them, Gu Yao directly asked, "Which force have you decided to cooperate with?"
The chubby guy grinned, "Doesn't Gu Yao think it's the Star-Moon Trading Company? According to what we know, aside from Senior Zhou Lixian, Senior Jiang Yan holds an extremely high position in the Star-Moon Trading Company."
Tian Feirong gave him an elbow, "Do you think Gu Yao is that dumb? Compared to us partnering with the Star-Moon Trading Company, it's like a shrimp cooperating with a sea monster. Would a sea monster collaborate with a shrimp?" It wasn't cooperation; it was direct absorption.
The chubby guy made a face at Tian Feirong. That was because he hadn't spent as much time with Gu Yao and Chi Changye as Tian Feirong had. So, both sides had to adapt to each other during the cooperation process, and it was inevitable to test each other's bottom lines.
Tian Feirong turned and said, "Gu Yao and Brother Chi, do you remember that female cultivator from the first day?"
Both nodded. The events of the first day, especially the appearance of the female cultivator accompanying Zhou Li, were quite memorable.
Tian Feirong proudly said, "Her name is Tao Yue. Some call her 'Lady of the Moon,' while others refer to her as the 'Moon Enchantress.' Either way, she's not someone easy to provoke. Many male disciples who tried to make advances regretted it. Tao Yue is from the Miao Yun Pavilion, a place with few members specializing in business for female disciples—clothing, accessories, and skincare products. Joining the pavilion is exclusive to female disciples; they never accept male disciples. Their style might be unconventional, not appealing to all female disciples, so the scale of Miao Yun Pavilion is similar to that of the Mad Snake Gang, but their strength is even more formidable."
Chubby guy nodded in agreement, "Miao Yun Pavilion has many beautiful women. It seems the first requirement for joining is based on appearance. White Xiuer Junior Sister seems to fit their criteria, and I've heard someone trying to persuade her to join. She seems quite tempted."
Chi Changye had a sweatdrop forming, and Gu Yao blinked, suspecting whether these two fellows chose Miao Yun Pavilion for its strength or because they were captivated by beauty. He asked, "So, Miao Yun Pavilion would be interested in us? Will they shield us from troubles? Don't make assumptions."
Tian Feirong rubbed his chin with a sly grin. Chi Changye gave him a cold glance, prompting Tian Feirong to straighten up, clearing his throat, "Actually, the key is on Gu Yao."
Chi Changye glanced lightly, faintly guessing what ideas Tian Feirong and the chubby guy had.
Tian Feirong slapped the table, "Yes, it all depends on Gu Yao. He is the backbone of our little group of four. As long as Gu Yao can produce cosmetic and skincare elixirs that can captivate those beauty-loving female disciples, they will be more than willing to cooperate with us."
"Poof!"
Gu Yao couldn't help but chuckle. So, that was the case. He scratched his head, not having considered this aspect. However, he could try.
"I believe in you, Gu Yao. If you can't do it, others have no chance either. Right, Chubby?," Tian Feirong signaled to the chubby guy.
"Yes, yes!" The chubby guy nodded repeatedly. Over this period, he had developed great admiration for Gu Yao's alchemy skills. Chi Changye's talisman art was equally impressive. Such individuals were valuable additions to any sect. How could one think of coming to Tianfu Academy without considering them?
Moreover, he was starting to suspect the connection between Gu Yao and the high-quality Jade Essence Pills appearing in the Ten Directions City. Considering Gu Yao's consistent production of top-quality pills, even though he hadn't presented advanced elixirs yet, it didn't mean he couldn't refine them.
Connecting the appearance of high-quality Jade Essence Pills in Ten Directions City with other elixirs where Gu Yao was involved, all being top-quality pills, the chubby guy couldn't help but link the two incidents. The thought of him potentially taking the blame for Gu Yao crossed his mind, leading to a wry smile.