Goddess Painting

In the heart of Qingyun City's most bustling street stands a magnificent nine-story building—Fengze Tower.

This is the most upscale den of iniquity in Qingyun City.

Glazed tiles, sandalwood, and every floor tile is engraved with a miniature array to maintain a constant temperature.

A meal here, even the cheapest seat in the main hall, costs several hundred low-grade spirit stones, which is several months' savings for an ordinary outer disciple.

As for the luxurious private rooms on the top floor, it's common for a single meal to cost over a thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and only the powerful and wealthy dare to set foot there.

Qin Feng, wrapped in an inconspicuous black robe, was led straight to the top floor by the waiter, who was so respectful as to be almost obsequious.

Pushing open the door to the "Listening to the Rain Pavilion" private room, a delicate aroma of fine tea wafts out.

The private room was luxuriously furnished, with faint shimmering lights on the walls—advanced soundproofing arrays set up to prevent prying eyes.

"Master Wind! You've arrived!"

When Li Qingtian saw Qin Feng enter, he immediately stood up to greet him, his usually dignified face now beaming with a warm smile.

Standing beside him, Li Wanqing wore a light pink fairy dress today, which made her complexion rosy and made her look even more charming.

Upon seeing Qin Feng, she gave a graceful curtsy, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's song:

"Wan Qing met Master Feng."

Qin Feng nodded slightly and calmly took his seat in the host and guest seats.

"Master Feng, this is the newly harvested 'Cloud and Mist Spirit Tea' this year. It has the effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit. Please try it."

Li Qingtian personally poured tea for Qin Feng, adopting a very humble attitude.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qin Feng put down his teacup and cut to the chase:

"Master Li, the reason I've come today is that I have an important matter to ask the Li family for help."

Li Qingtian's expression turned serious, and he immediately patted his chest to guarantee:

"Master Feng, please give your orders! As long as it's within the Li family's power, we'll do it without hesitation, even if it means going through fire and water!"

Qin Feng tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said slowly:

"There's no need to go through fire and water."

"Here's what happened... Recently, within the Qingyun Sect, the Lin family, in conjunction with Wang Tianyi, issued a blackout order against Tian Shu Peak."

"They not only banned all pill pavilions and shops from selling pills to Tian Shu Peak, but they even cut off the most basic cultivation resources, intending to force the new peak master Qin Feng to his death."

At this point, a cold glint flashed in Qin Feng's eyes, and his tone became several degrees lower:

"To cut off someone's path to spiritual cultivation is tantamount to murdering their parents! Such methods are utterly despicable!"

"I've heard that the Li family controls 60% of the Qingyun Sect's medicinal herbs. I wonder if Patriarch Li could lend a hand and teach those arrogant fools a lesson?"

"Snapped!"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Wanqing slammed her hand on the table angrily, her eyebrows furrowed.

"That's too much!"

"How could such a thing happen? This is absolutely outrageous!"

"We are all practitioners, this is clearly driving people to their doom! Cutting off someone's opportunity, what's the difference between that and murder for money?"

Compared to his daughter's righteous indignation, Li Qingtian remained silent.

He frowned slightly, his fingers stroking the teacup, his face showing reluctance.

"this……"

Li Qingtian hesitated for a moment, then spoke with some hesitation:

"Master Feng, you saved my daughter and have done my Li family a great favor. Logically speaking, if you had just asked, my Li family would have done anything to help you even at the cost of our lives."

"But this matter... is of utmost importance."

He sighed and explained with a wry smile:

"The Lin family is currently at the height of its power in the Qingyun Sect, with a Saint-grade prodigy in charge. Wang Tianyi is also a powerful figure in the Elder Hall."

"If my Li family were to rashly intervene, tamper with the medicinal herbs, or even raise prices to retaliate against them... this would undoubtedly be a declaration of war against the Lin family and Wang Tianyi."

"If a fierce backlash is triggered, it will not only affect the business dealings between the two families, but may also make the Li family's situation within the sect difficult, and may even... affect the stability of the entire medicinal herb market."

At this point, Li Qingtian raised his head, looking intently at Qin Feng, and tentatively asked:

"Master Feng, I also know a little about the affairs of the Qingyun Sect."

"Excuse me for asking... what exactly is the relationship between Qin Feng of Tian Shu Peak and you, Master? That you would personally intervene in this conflict for his sake?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng snorted coldly, his tone clearly showing displeasure:

"What? Is Patriarch Li interrogating me?"

"No, no!" Li Qingtian quickly waved his hand.

Qin Feng picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and said calmly:

"I am destined to meet Qin Feng."

"He has joined the Qingyun Sect and is determined to revitalize the peak. This kind of mentality is quite to my liking."

"Those who are destined to be with me will naturally receive my protection."

"They use their power to oppress people and ruin their futures. I can't stand it, so I just want to give them a taste of their own medicine!"

Qin Feng put down his teacup, looked directly into Li Qingtian's eyes, and threw out his final trump card:

"If Patriarch Li is willing to help with this, I will owe the Li family a favor."

"If the Li family ever needs my help in the future, I will certainly lend a hand, whether in medicine or anything else."

After these words were spoken, a brief silence fell over the private room.

Li Qingtian's hand holding the teacup stiffened slightly, and he was caught in a fierce internal struggle.

help?

Or not to help?

Helping them would mean completely offending the Lin family and Wang Tianyi, which is extremely risky.

But not helping... would not only offend this mysterious "Master of Wind", but also miss out on a favor from a divine doctor!

You should know that Master Feng is someone even the successor of the White Bone Immortal Healer is willing to admit defeat to!

A favor can be a lifesaver in a critical moment!

Just as Li Qingtian was hesitating.

"father!"

Li Wanqing, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore.

She tugged at Li Qingtian's sleeve, gently shaking it and saying coquettishly:

"What are you still hesitating about?"

"Master Feng is my daughter's savior! If it weren't for him, she would be dead by now!"

"The Master's affairs are the Li family's affairs! Moreover, those people are acting so despicably, ruining someone's path to immortality. Even if the Master hadn't said anything, we should have intervened!"

Looking into his daughter's expectant eyes and then at Qin Feng's indifferent expression, Li Qingtian finally felt a shift in his mind.

Others may fear the Lin family, but the Li family isn't too afraid. After all, their business is the source, and no matter how arrogant the Lin family is, they can't stop them from growing medicinal herbs, right?

"well……"

Li Qingtian gave a wry smile and slammed his hand on the table:

"good!"

"Since Master Feng has spoken, then I, Li Qingtian, will go all out! I'll help him out!"

Qin Feng was secretly delighted, but he maintained the composure of a superior, only raising his eyebrows slightly:

"Patriarch Li is indeed a straightforward person."

"However..." Li Qingtian changed the subject, a hint of difficulty appearing on his face, "but..."

"Just what?" Qin Feng's tone was slightly somber, indicating some displeasure.

Li Qingtian quickly explained:

"Master Feng, please don't misunderstand. Since I've agreed, I will never go back on my word."

"Although the Li family appears to dominate the medicinal herb market in Qingyun Sect, we only hold a 60% share."

"Aside from some individual sellers of medicinal herbs, the remaining 30%... is in the hands of the Shen family."

"The Shen family?" Qin Feng frowned.

"That's right." Li Qingtian nodded and said, "The Shen family, like my Li family, is also a renowned family of medicinal herbs in Qingyun City."

"Our relationship is complicated; we cooperate as well as compete."

"If my Li family raises prices and restricts supply on its own, and the Shen family does not cooperate and takes the opportunity to seize the market with low prices, it will not only fail to harm alchemy forces like Dange, but will also cause my Li family to suffer heavy losses and even lose market share."

"So... if we can't get the Shen family on our side, this 'cut off the supply' plan will probably have limited effect."

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng suddenly understood.

No wonder that old fox hesitated just now; the root of the problem lies here!

This is indeed a difficult problem.

We can't let the Li family suffer heavy losses just to help ourselves, can we?

This is going to be a bit tricky.

Seeing Qin Feng remain silent, Li Qingtian, fearing he might misunderstand and think he was making excuses, quickly added:

"Master Feng, it's quite a coincidence."

"Although I can't persuade that mortal enemy, if Master Feng were willing to step in, this matter... might be easily resolved!"

"Me?" Qin Feng asked, somewhat puzzled. "I have no prior knowledge of the Shen family. How can I possibly persuade them?"