Chapter Seven: How Can You Compare Yourself to Me

“Excuse me, Young Master Lin, with your parents missing, is your personal appearance this time meant to signal that you are taking over Lin Pharmaceutical Group?”

“Vice President Zhang Baole is, after all, your second aunt’s brother—your uncle. Yet you landed a blow on him as soon as you arrived…”

“Young Master Lin, you purchased a Foundation Establishment Pill recipe at such a high price without the group’s official authorization. Isn’t that a bit reckless?”

“It seemed you just said something to Mr. Zhang. Could you tell us what it was?”

“Does your altercation with Mr. Zhang, your uncle, indicate that Lin Pharmaceutical Group will face internal strife after your parents’ disappearance? Has something happened between you and Mr. Lin Kunshan?”

…

Zhang Baole, meanwhile, looked as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, constantly communicating with others through his device.

The questions from these reporters grew increasingly sensitive; the pill recipe itself was no longer their focus. What they really wanted was to dig into the power struggles within the Lin family—was there a battle for inheritance, a feud between uncle and nephew?

“You’re welcome to watch if you’re curious, but if you spread rumors or fabricate stories, you’ll have to bear the consequences. The Lin Group is very stable. I’m already eighteen, and have the legal right to inherit the shares and assets left by my parents. Today, I am merely handling some urgent matters. Other business is confidential and cannot be revealed at this time.”

In this life, Lin Qingyun did not expose his secrets or befriend those supreme warriors like the Blazing Sky Blade as he had in the previous one. However, when it came to his own company, he was now prepared to gradually take the reins.

Inevitably, this process would lead to friction with his second uncle and aunt, but Lin Qingyun was confident he could handle it.

Judging by how these reporters addressed him, it was obvious that, in their eyes, he was still just the privileged heir of the Lin Group. In fact, given his recent behavior, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a spoiled young master.

Yet, this also had its advantages. When his cold gaze swept over them and he strode away, none of them dared press him too hard. The Lin family was wealthy and powerful, especially this kind of young master—who knew if he might retaliate if provoked.

Pushing past the reporters, Lin Qingyun walked straight to the rear.

After the auction ended, Zhang Heng was supposed to bring Li Xiaobo out for the signing ceremony. But with Lin Qingyun besieged by reporters and Springwater not waiting for Li Xiaobo to get to the stage, he had already rushed backstage.

“Please rest assured, we will spare no effort to support you, give you the greatest freedom and space, and guarantee every resource you need to advance to Alchemy Master…” At this moment, Springwater was offering conditions to Li Xiaobo.

Springwater knew he had already lost the initiative. If only he had secured the recipe for Xiaobo’s Foundation Establishment Pill, further cooperation would have been easier. Now, it was much harder.

Li Xiaobo, though gifted in alchemy, was still experiencing all this for the first time. The two-hundred-million auction price had left him shaken, and after so much had happened, Springwater’s generous offer caught him off guard.

“Looks like President Springwater is still dissatisfied with losing just now and wants to go another round. I haven’t even had a chance to speak with Alchemist Li, and you’re already negotiating.” Lin Qingyun, having escaped the reporters, stepped onto the stage and interrupted Springwater.

“Young Master Lin, you misunderstand. This isn’t your usual event with celebrities. You bought a recipe, not Alchemist Li himself. His personal freedom is not yours to command simply because you paid for the recipe.” Springwater, who had seemed refined and courteous until now, showed his sharp edge.

“You have a clever tongue. No wonder Ivy Pharmaceuticals has flourished here,” Lin Qingyun replied coolly. “But do you know what it means when they say, ‘The wise see wisdom, the benevolent see benevolence, and the lecherous see lechery’? Trying to turn Alchemist Li against me isn’t particularly skillful. Do you think he can’t see through such tricks?”

With that, Lin Qingyun ignored Springwater and turned to Li Xiaobo.

“Alchemist Li, it is an honor to purchase Xiaobo’s Foundation Establishment Pill. Let me share my thoughts. I believe this pill is only a prototype—you must have deeper ideas.”

“Especially regarding the trial of the heart every cultivator must face transitioning from the Phoenix-Beginner Qi-Refining stage to the Zither-Heart Foundation Establishment. Most current Foundation Establishment Pills focus on suppressing, clearing the mind, strengthening will, and so on. Some have high success rates but rely on rare ingredients and external aids, which makes them inaccessible to most.”

“But if we can allow people to experience the heart’s trial early, recognize their own flaws, and use the Foundation Pill purposefully, efficiency will improve—and costs can come down.”

“The heart’s trial is not impossible to simulate. Although it is a tribulation ordained by heaven and earth, it is ultimately a struggle with one’s own demons. It doesn’t require many rare ingredients, just more experimentation. I’d set up a dedicated research team—or even a lab—for you, to delve deeper into this.”

“As for the scoundrel who was bribed to provoke you and betray his own, I’ll take care of him. As the heir and major shareholder of Lin Pharmaceutical Group, I sincerely invite you to collaborate with us. Name your terms—so long as they don’t exceed those of our resident Grade Nine Alchemy Master, who is half my mentor, I have no objection.”

The moment Lin Qingyun looked at Li Xiaobo and spoke, his entire demeanor changed.

In discussing professional matters, he was incisive—so much so that Li Xiaobo nodded repeatedly, eyes shining. Lin Qingyun’s apparently simple remarks revealed insights not yet fully realized in Xiaobo’s own recipe.

These were precisely the directions in which he wanted to further his research, and the other’s words made the path clearer.

While Li Xiaobo was delighted, Springwater’s heart sank. Though he didn’t understand the pill’s future as clearly as Lin Qingyun or Li Xiaobo, he could sense something was off.

As Lin Qingyun stated his terms, Springwater braced himself to fight for the deal—even if it meant raising the stakes. But Lin Qingyun’s conditions, though delivered flippantly, left him at a loss.

A dedicated team and lab—privileges reserved for high-level alchemists and masters. That alone would have been enough; nothing more needed to be said.

Not to mention Lin Qingyun’s jest about offering no less than the resident Grade Nine Alchemy Master.

“Young Master Lin, it’s easy to make promises, but even Lin Kunshan, Chairman of Lin Pharmaceuticals, can’t make such decisions on his own. Aren’t you just making things up?” But Springwater, seasoned in business, immediately countered.

Sure enough, the previously excited Li Xiaobo calmed down at Springwater’s words.

Lin Qingyun looked at Springwater. “President Springwater, do you know how we differ? Besides being a shareholder, I am the Lin family’s heir. Aside from my shares in the pharmaceutical group, I personally control billions in other assets. Your provocations are pointless. Everything I’ve promised can be written into the contract. If I fail to deliver, I pay the penalty.”

Springwater had hoped to provoke the young master into losing composure, but now found himself struggling to maintain his own.

How could he continue negotiations like this? Ivy Pharmaceuticals was big, but it wasn’t his. No matter how much he valued or prioritized this opportunity, he couldn’t compete with Lin Qingyun, who already knew the outcome. There was nothing more to be done.

“I hope Young Master Lin keeps his word. I’ll be watching to see how Lin Pharmaceuticals handles this.” With that, Springwater shook hands with Li Xiaobo and left.

“Young Master Lin, you seem to know a lot about the Xiaobo Foundation Pill, and about experiential and simulation methods as well…” Li Xiaobo, ever the researcher, noticed nuances even though Lin Qingyun had been careful in front of Springwater.

Lin Qingyun cared little whether the contract was signed publicly or not. Hearing Li Xiaobo’s inquiry, and with no one else present, he immediately began a discussion.

He shared some ideas—essentially the approaches Li Xiaobo had already perfected in a previous life—focusing on maximizing the Foundation Pill’s ability to resolve the trial of the heart.

Half an hour later, Zhang Heng came to fetch them, but Li Xiaobo shooed him away.

The public signing ceremony was canceled; Lin Qingyun and Li Xiaobo signed privately. Lin Qingyun didn’t say too much, only encouraging and accelerating Li Xiaobo’s progress along this path. Even so, Li Xiaobo regarded him as a kindred spirit.

He was deeply impressed by Lin Qingyun’s unique insights into alchemy. In this era, many of the medicines prior to the Ascension Stage could be mass-produced, forming the foundation for the rise of large pharmaceutical groups. But beyond the Ascension Stage—whether for cultivation, healing, or tribulation aids—only alchemists could personally refine such pills.

Modern technology was not yet able to mass-produce such advanced medicines.

As the culture developed, the nation made great efforts to train alchemists. Becoming an alchemist was akin to graduating from university; to become a higher-level alchemist or master, one had to join government departments, mighty powers, sects, or families.

Li Xiaobo was the cornerstone Lin Qingyun prepared for taking over and expanding the Lin Pharmaceutical Group. Thus, Lin Qingyun was patient in guiding, even teaching him.

Today, however, was clearly not the most opportune moment. Three hours later, his second uncle and aunt stormed in with Zhang Baole. Not wanting Li Xiaobo involved in family matters, Lin Qingyun ended their discussion and told him to await further news.

“All this, just for a mere alchemist? You assaulted your elder in public—what are you trying to do? Do you even know what you’re doing? Have you seen how many trending topics you’re on, or watched those videos? What right do you have to spend over two hundred million on a Foundation Pill recipe on behalf of Lin Pharmaceuticals?”

When Zhang Xueyi saw Lin Qingyun, her attitude was the complete opposite of her earlier support when she’d encouraged him to enter Ruins No. 18. Now, she was furious, her voice sharp.

She threw a holographic device to the floor, and instantly, videos, articles, and trending news filled the room.