Although Hongjun was not deeply poisoned, and had almost expelled the toxic gas, he was still shocked by Bian Zhihuan's self-detonation. He had no intention of fighting, and seeing Mo Qi pursuing him, he unfolded his body and fled.
Mo Qi chased for a long time but could not catch up. Worried that something might happen to the imperial capital, he had to turn back.
Xiao Budian, Fire Demon, Golden Flood Dragon Scissors, Xiao Yi, Little Blood Man, Yao Shuang, and Wanyan Ting had all returned. Sun Qian had also recovered, and Ye Xiaowei had also recovered after treatment. Only Ye Qingqing was nowhere to be seen.
Some people said that in the chaos, Zi Luo had rescued Ye Qingqing.
Mo Qi felt a pang of suspicion. If she had merely rescued someone, she should have sent her back afterward. But why the silence? Could she be trying to hold him hostage?
The citizens of the city also returned one after another, and the imperial capital soon resumed its former prosperity.
Wanyan Ting had lost her mother and could not escape her grief for a long time.
Mo Qi empathized with her and made her his concubine. However, she left that night.
She left a letter telling Mo Qi that she felt he was pitying her, that she did not need his sympathy, and that she did not want to live under anyone's pity. From then on, she wanted to live freely, independently, and live her own wonderful life. She also hoped that Mo Qi would not look for her, and that they would meet again if fate allowed.
Mo Qi sighed in his heart and no longer dwelled on the matter.
He had Zhu Yan leave Sun Qian's body and put her back into the box.
Given Zhu Yan's excellent performance this time, Mo Qi was determined to go to the Earth Star world as soon as possible to restore his physical body, but before that, he had to unseal the Earth Star world first.
He felt that with his current strength, he should be able to achieve it.
When he had free time, he continuously improved the cultivation of the people around him through various methods. Yao Shuang, Sun Qian, Xiao Yi, Ye Xiaowei, and others grew in cultivation very rapidly.
After Hongjun returned to the Heavenly Dao Sect, he was very depressed. He sighed and looked worried all day long.
Mo Qi had now become his hidden danger. He felt as if he had a thorn in his side, and he would not be comfortable until it was removed.
But how could he eliminate this hidden danger?
He had personally gone several times, all without success. If he went again, it might embolden him.
But if he sent his disciples, who would be suitable?
He could not think of a suitable candidate for a while.
At this moment, the air rippled, and a hole opened in mid-air, revealing a face. It was Tai Wu!
Seeing Hongjun's dejected look, Tai Wu couldn't help but ask, "Master, what is troubling you?"
Hongjun's eyes lit up. He could send him!
"I went to the Jupiter world a few days ago. The seal there was broken, and it was done by someone named Mo Qi," Hongjun said slowly.
"Who is so audacious? Is he a Holy Emperor from somewhere?" Tai Wu asked in shock.
"He is not a Holy Emperor, just a Holy Monarch," Hongjun replied.
"A Holy Monarch? Uh, a mere Holy Monarch, Master, you don't need to be so worried. Just send a peak master to teach him a lesson, wouldn't that be enough?" Tai Wu said with a smile.
"Uh..." Hongjun hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "That's true. I shouldn't be so worried about such a small matter. I'll send a peak master to resolve this trouble later."
"Alright, then I won't disturb you, Master." Tai Wu quickly disappeared from the mirror.
Hongjun gazed into the endless void, feeling a sense of melancholy. After a long time, he couldn't help but sigh.
In the Red Leaf Empire, Mo Qi was busily preparing all the elixirs and magic treasures for his journey to the Chi Domain. At this time, Lang Sikong came to report that a group of cultivators had arrived in the imperial capital and established the Hong Clan Elixir and Artifact Pavilion, almost monopolizing the entire empire's elixir and artifact markets.
Their artifact refining and elixir making were indeed unique, attracting many fervent followers.
"It's good that the elixirs and artifacts they refine are excellent. Let them refine them," Mo Qi said.
He wished that their attainments would surpass his own, so he could just buy them directly, which would be much more convenient.
Elder Lang shook his head and said, "Our cultivation dynasty's main treasury income comes from elixirs and artifacts, and it is also elixirs and artifacts that attract cultivators. These people from the Hong Clan Elixir and Artifact Pavilion are always selling elixirs and artifacts in front of our Ye Family Elixir and Treasure Pavilion, shamelessly soliciting customers. Moreover, while selling elixirs and artifacts, they are also heavily promoting that in their hometown, the Yellow Leaf Kingdom, they have top-tier elixirs and endless cultivation resources, attracting everyone to go to the Yellow Leaf Kingdom. They are also secretly transferring their income to the Yellow Leaf Kingdom. I think this is an undeclared war launched by the Yellow Leaf Kingdom against us, attempting to bring us down!"
Mo Qi stood up. "This... this is simply too arrogant. I must go and teach them a lesson."
"Do you need me to notify Ye Xiaowei and have her gather her forces to go?"
Mo Qi shook his head. "It's not a war, why bring so many people? Since they want to win without bloodshed, it's not appropriate for us to draw our swords. We should fight fire with fire."
So Mo Qi took only Sun Qian and headed for the Ye Family Elixir and Treasure Pavilion.
Why did he bring Sun Qian?
Because Sun Qian was in charge of the Elixir Department.
He felt it was more appropriate to have such a crucial industry that determined the fate of the kingdom in his own hands.
Ye Xiaobu was in charge of the Ye Family Elixir and Treasure Pavilion.
At this time, the Elixir and Treasure Pavilion was deserted, with almost no customers.
Mo Qi felt very depressed. The elixirs shops under his name had never been so deserted.
However, Mo Qi had not invested too many of his own refined elixirs in this Elixir and Treasure Pavilion. Most of the elixirs inside were refined by people from the Elixir Department. Mo Qi himself did not know their quality.
When Mo Qi and Sun Qian walked into the Elixir and Treasure Pavilion, there was no one at the entrance. However, there were two people from the Hong Clan Elixir and Artifact Pavilion nearby soliciting customers. They offered some elixirs for tasting on the spot, and after the customers finished, they went to the Hong Clan Elixir and Artifact Pavilion opposite.
"This is too bullying!" Sun Qian was indignant and wanted to go up and question the young man soliciting customers, but Mo Qi stopped her.
Mo Qi said, "Let's go in and take a look first."
It was true that one had to be strong to forge iron.
Sun Qian agreed and walked into the Elixir and Treasure Pavilion with Mo Qi.
Shopkeeper Sun was someone Sun Qian had invited from the Black Stone Tribe. He was currently dozing behind the counter.
Two shop assistants, one tall and one short, came up to greet them. "Guests, what do you need?"
Sun Qian was furious and wanted to wake up Shopkeeper Sun and scold him, but Mo Qi stopped her again. "Let me ask them first."
Then, he turned to the short shop assistant and asked, "What elixirs do you have here?"
"We only have Spirit Power Pills left. Because there are not many customers, our alchemists haven't refined many elixirs," the short shop assistant replied.
Mo Qi's mouth twitched. These guys were useless mud that couldn't be plastered. They had given up.
Thinking of this, Mo Qi glanced meaningfully at Sun Qian. Sun Qian's pretty face turned slightly red. "All the alchemists and artifact refiners were directly hired by Ye Xiaobu. I... I have been busy with imperial affairs recently and have indeed neglected many things."
What kind of people did this Ye Xiaobu hire?
Mo Qi wanted to see what these alchemists and artifact refiners were doing. He strode upstairs, and the two shop assistants came up to stop him. He knocked them out with two hits, and they fainted.
He then led Sun Qian upstairs.
When they reached a window, they heard a lot of noise from inside.
One voice said, "Masters, please help us. Refine a few more batches of elixirs, or at least research strategies to develop some distinctive elixirs that can make the opponent lose their competitiveness, or find a way to make the opponent less arrogant. If this continues, our Elixir and Treasure Pavilion will not survive."
It was Ye Xiaobu's voice. It seemed he was still actively trying to change the situation.
Mo Qi felt a little relieved.
At this moment, another voice said, "Aren't we already thinking of a solution? Don't worry, give us another year or two, and we will definitely find a solution."
One or two years? If they continued to wait passively like this, let alone the Elixir and Treasure Pavilion, the Red Leaf Empire would disappear.
Ye Xiaobu seemed very worried that they would get angry, and said cautiously, "Isn't one or two years too long? I'm afraid our Elixir and Treasure Pavilion won't last for one or two months."
"How is that possible? Don't exaggerate. I'm telling you, I can deal with their little tricks with my eyes closed, but I have more important things to do right now."
"What important thing?"
"Is it any of your business?"
Another voice laughed, "He's busy dual cultivating with Red Fox, hahaha..."
A delicate voice said coquettishly, "Oh, Shi Xi, don't talk nonsense, it's so embarrassing."
The previous voice also laughed, "Haha, I am indeed busy dual cultivating with Red Fox. So, please don't disturb me."
Ye Xiaobu hesitated for a long time, then mustered his courage and said, "Fu Baishuang, I don't care what you want to do, but please don't interfere with the operation of my Elixir and Treasure Pavilion. I hired you not to dual cultivate. If you really don't want to stay here, then go find other places."
"Oh, you've grown brave, you even dare to talk back to me," Fu Baishuang said disdainfully. "If you drive us away, your Elixir and Treasure Pavilion will be ruined immediately. Do you think the opponent is prepared and has sent only incompetent people? In the whole world, besides us, no one can deal with them."
"Since you can deal with them, why aren't you taking action?" Ye Xiaobu softened his tone. He still hoped that these people would stay.
Fu Baishuang raised his eyebrows. "What's in it for me? I'm just an alchemist. Why should I bear the life and death of a kingdom?"
Ye Xiaobu immediately understood that this was price gouging!
"Then... what do you want?" Ye Xiaobu asked directly.
"At least, let me manage the entire Elixir and Treasure Pavilion," Fu Baishuang said with a roll of his eyes, then smiled again. "But if I manage this Elixir and Treasure Pavilion, where will you go?"
Ye Xiaobu was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to respond.
Frankly speaking, he did not want to manage this Elixir and Treasure Pavilion. He felt he did not have the ability.
However, on the one hand, he did not want to hold back his sister and father. On the other hand, it was not up to him to decide who would be responsible for the operation of the Elixir and Treasure Pavilion.