âMaster, how come we ended up with not a single grain was reaped? I heard there were as many as ten elixirs, werenât there?â asked Murong Rui, who was the oldest member in the clan, Murong Xiong should call him uncle by seniority in the family or clan.
Murong Rui, being the most respected elder in the whole Murong clan, did not flinch confronting Murong Xiong. He decided he needed to demand a reasonable explanation from the master on the behalf of the whole clan.
âItâs true there are as many as ten Foundation Elixirs, but⌠âŚâ Murong Xiongâs face fell, âbut little did I expect the sell would sell them as a package.â
âAs a package?â three elders gasped in unison, âWeâve heard all of the elixirs were purchased by Nangong Family, is that true?â
âIâm afraid itâs true.â Murong Xiong nodded, âNangong Family has really taken off over the past few years, now that theyâve got all of the ten add insult to injury, for us thatâs no difference than adding insult to injury. We definitely need to keep an eye at them.â
âWhat is done cannot be undone, itâs useless dwelling on what had happened, letâs focus on what we can do to deal with the situation.â suggested Murong Xin, the Second Elder. He stroked his beard and continued, âWhat we need now is a solution.â
âXin, what do you have in mind?â Murong Rui asked promptly, âJust spit it out, we are all listening.â
âThereâs no need to complicate this issue yet,â a touch of shrewdness flashed across Murong Xiongâs eyes, âthe Foundation Elixirs cost them one hundred million gold coins, I know maybe it wonât incur bankruptcy for a big family like them, but they for sure it has cost them an arm and a leg. They must be desperate for some cash now.â
âThe Second Elder, you mean⌠âŚâ chimed in Murong Xiong, his eye narrowed which implied he seemed to get the gist of what Murong Xin was talking about.
âCorrect, I mean why not offer them a good price for the elixirs, plus we have betrothal engagement with them already, I donât think they would say no to us.â Murong Xin looked at Murong Xiong in the eye and said encouragingly, âWe are not buying all ten of the Foundation Elixirs, even they would only offer one for sale, for us thatâs better than nothing, isnât it? If they are too cynical to sell the elixirs, we can exchange the elixir with the treasures in our Treasury, anything they want.â
âThat sounds perfect.â Murong Rui also nodded in approval.
Murong Xiong pondered for a little while and called his butler Lin Guangxiong.
âButler Lin, I remember we have five Bone Moulding Elixirs of Third Grade, please go unlock two of them.â
Murong Xiong put a lot of thoughts in this, he thought probably his Bone Moulding Elixirs was the only treasure that stood a chance if they were going to carry out the exchanging plan.
The other three elders also nodded hearing what Murong Xiong thought about offering.
âItâs such a shame that we are reduced to adapting to Nangong Familyâs disposition when we Murong Family is the most renowned family in the whole country.â sighed Murong Rui when he realized his family was actually on the decline.
âWe have won the title this time purely by luck, who knows Murong Qingyan is such a great cultivator!â Murong Li, the other Elder in the clan said with great regret in his tone, âHow I wish we had treated that girl differently, if we have been on good terms with her all along I bet we still stand a chance keeping our good reputation.â
Murong Xiongâs face darkened when he heard Murong Li mentioned Murong Qingyan, he remembered how rude Murong Qingyan was towards him, vividly.
Seeing Murong Xiongâs face, Murong Li realized he had made an indiscreet remark so he stopped. It was an open secret in the whole family that Murong Qingyan and Murong Xiong were hostile towards each other, Murong Li didnât think he was in the position to tell Murong Xiong what he should do.
Dead silence reigned the hall.
âMaster, what a calamity!â shouted Lin Guangxiong who was just ordered by Murong Xiong to unlock two Bone Forming Elixirs from the Treasury, he ran towards the hall panting.
âButler Lin! Where are your manners? All the Elders are here, you are making a fool of yourself!â retorted Murong Xiong who was already in a bad mood, âDo you really want our family to become a laughing stock?â