"Damn it, where did that Penguin Medicine Pavilion come from? Why couldn't they cause trouble for other merchant guilds in other great domains, and had to come to our Qingrao Domain to compete with us?"
The atmosphere was stifling, and one of the hot-tempered merchant guild leaders couldn't help but curse loudly.
The other guild leaders felt the same. A force with superior medicinal formulas was simply too troublesome for them.
The key issue was that they couldn't figure out the background of such a force.
If they knew the specific background of Penguin Medicine Pavilion, they wouldn't be so troubled. They could then devise countermeasures based on Penguin Medicine Pavilion's background.
If Penguin Medicine Pavilion's background was truly powerful enough that they couldn't resist, then they would naturally accept their defeat and concede.
If their background was insufficient, they could directly take action, and things wouldn't be so complicated.
At this moment, the voice of the president of the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild rang out again.
"Direct action won't work, so tell me, what other ideas do you have?"
After saying this, the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild president's gaze swept over the other seven people present.
However, the other seven showed thoughtful expressions and offered no response.
Clearly, besides the unrealistic idea of quickly developing more potent modified medicinal formulas than Penguin Medicine Pavilion, there seemed to be no other solution.
But if they acted directly, they feared that Penguin Medicine Pavilion's backing might be too strong for them to contend with.
Just then, the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild president's voice sounded again, tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Hmph! Making such a fuss to discuss with you all is useless. I might as well figure it out myself."
However, no one present argued with the Yan Zhi Merchant Guild president, each lowering their heads.
Finally, Mo Qiong's voice broke the silence.
"Fellow Daoist Yan, there's no need to be so agitated. I happen to have an idea."
Immediately, everyone present turned their gaze to Mo Qiong.
Mo Qiong's expression remained calm under their scrutiny.
"We still don't know the full details of Penguin Medicine Pavilion's background, but it's likely not simple."
"However, there's a saying: a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Even if Penguin Medicine Pavilion can introduce so many modified medicinal formulas with stronger effects than ours, they are still an external force."
"Directly joining forces and openly confronting them is out of the question. What if Penguin Medicine Pavilion truly has an invincible powerhouse behind them? We wouldn't be able to bear the consequences."
"According to my idea, I propose that we cooperate. Isn't Penguin Medicine Pavilion currently opening branches? Let's wait and observe the situation for now."
"If Penguin Medicine Pavilion intends to continue opening branches, then for every branch they open, how about we destroy one?"
Although Mo Qiong had previously sent people to probe Penguin Medicine Pavilion's strength and discovered a cultivator at the half-step Mahayana stage, that was based on them having only one headquarters.
If they were to open branches in other void black markets, Qingrao Domain was vast. Mo Qiong didn't believe that Penguin Medicine Pavilion could dispatch such a powerful guardian to every single branch.
After all, even merchant guilds of their caliber occasionally had their branches attacked in void black markets with fewer defenses.
As Mo Qiong finished speaking, the president of the Tian Qin Merchant Guild, Tian Zhi Shang, quickly voiced his agreement.
"I think Fellow Daoist Mo's words make sense!"
Since they dared not openly confront Penguin Medicine Pavilion, they would target their branches.
"I also think Fellow Daoist Mo's plan is feasible. However, we should act discreetly when the time comes, and try to conceal our identities. That way, Penguin Medicine Pavilion will have no evidence to blame us."
...
While these eight merchant guild presidents were discussing how to deal with Penguin Medicine Pavilion.
Li Qi, at this very moment, was still contemplating how to establish his next branch.
"Why do I have so few natal spirit puppets? If only I had an infinite number of natal spirit puppets."
Li Qi muttered to himself, clearly indulging in a pipe dream.
The three natal spirit puppets already helped Li Qi handle a multitude of trivial matters.
If he truly had an infinite number of natal spirit puppets, Li Qi would truly become a pampered infant who had everything done for him.
"Ah, people are so insufficient."
Li Qi held his head. Back in the Yin Zong Domain.
When Li Qi went to establish branches in numerous void black markets, he had the advantage of being able to select domain masters from the Yin Chuan Yin Zong Domain to manage them for him.
But unfortunately, the overall strength of the void black markets around the Yin Zong Domain was not strong. Any cultivator at the Dao Integration stage could easily manage a branch.
But it was different here.
Having a Dao Integration stage cultivator manage a branch in a void black market alone would be equivalent to handing over the branch's resources for free.
Even a regular low-level Tribulation Passing stage cultivator might not be able to manage a branch in a void black market.
After all, although Qingrao Domain was prosperous, it was also full of troubles. There were often cultivators who considered themselves exceptionally powerful and, like fools, came to cause trouble.
It was only because the combat power of his two natal spirit puppets was not weak that they could usually resolve most issues. In case of major trouble, he could always summon Li Qi remotely.
But for other low-level Tribulation Passing stage cultivators, they might not be able to resolve these troubles.
Even if they could resolve the vast majority of troubles, when they encountered insurmountable difficulties, they had no way to directly contact Li Qi.
Li Qi frowned deeply.
"Could it be that my plan to establish branches needs to be delayed?"
But it seemed that even if he delayed, Li Qi had no solution to the shortage of personnel.
After all, he was not the protagonist of other fantasy novels, who could shake his body and have all sorts of powerful individuals loyally serve him. It would be good enough if they didn't stab him in the back.
Suddenly.
At some unknown point, a spark of inspiration flashed through Li Qi's mind.
His thoughts instantly returned to a certain point in time.
At that time, when he was just starting to manufacture imitation medicinal pills to earn money.
At that time, a force called Cang Yan Medicine Pavilion had been constantly bothering him, making it difficult for him to sell imitation medicinal pills.
"Why not... develop more subordinates?"