Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 6 We Collaborate

"Miss,"

A harsh voice rang out from beyond the pavilion's edge. The middle-aged driver looked up sharply, stepping forward to face his young mistress. As his eyes briefly flickered toward Zhao Sheng, they were drenched in a cold, murderous intent.

"Cease this rudeness! Withdraw at once,"

"As you command!"

The driver, Wang Si, lowered his head in a bow and complied, retreating to his former post where he stood in silent submission.

After sending the servant away with a sharp command, Wang Yu Yan turned back, her expression brimming with regret. "I must apologize for my servant's lack of manners; I truly did not intend to alarm you, Mr. Zhao."

A thin smile touched Zhao Sheng’s lips as he answered, "Think nothing of it; a mere Half-Step Innate expert is no threat to me. Still, I find this habit of resorting to violence when negotiations falter to be distasteful. Such behavior can easily invite catastrophe upon one's clan."

"Is that so? And you think you could cause such trouble?" Wang Yuqi snapped, her pride clearly wounded by his remark.

Zhao Sheng merely shook his head with a composed air. "Naturally, I cannot. However, the world is vast, and there are countless powers you simply cannot afford to offend. Even the status of your Wang family as a Cultivation Family would not be enough to shield you."

Wang Yu Yan’s face paled slightly at those words. She demanded, "How are you aware of our true lineage?"

Zhao Sheng plucked a string on his instrument, letting a single, haunting note ring out before speaking calmly, "Is it not incredibly simple to deduce?"

Before they could press him further, he provided his reasoning. "A top-tier Half-Step Innate expert acting as a humble coachman, two young ladies sharing the surname Wang, and your peerless, ethereal beauty... I can think of no other household that fits such a description other than the Cultivation Wang Family of Ganzhou."

"I understand now."

As Zhao Sheng finished his explanation, the tension in Wang Yu Yan’s expression faded.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuqi felt a surge of delight at his words, a proud smirk forming on her face. No one had ever described them as such divine beauties before.

What made the compliment even more effective was that the man delivering it was quite striking himself.

"I did not realize the Young Master possessed such sharp insight. I presume your own background is equally remarkable?"

"I shall not hide it from you, Miss Wang; I am a member of the Zhao family from Ganzhou," Zhao Sheng answered, revealing his identity without hesitation.

He had no desire to keep his origins a secret. Aside from the unexpected value of the perfume, everything was unfolding exactly as he had envisioned.

Based on the experiences of his previous life, he understood that winning over a woman from a Cultivation Family required a natural approach rather than elaborate schemes or deceit.

Kidnapping was certainly out of the question, as bloodline tracking spells were among the most elementary techniques used in the Cultivation World.

"The Zhao family of Ganzhou?" Wang Yu Yan looked confused. The name did not ring a bell.

Zhao Sheng was well aware of the typical arrogance found in Cultivation Families, but he hadn't expected to be so completely overlooked.

"We were originally from Nanyang, a lineage of the Martial Arts path. It is only natural that Miss Wang is unfamiliar with us," he clarified.

Despite Zhao Sheng’s respectful tone, Wang Yuqi turned to the driver and asked, "Wang Si, you spent time in the Martial World. You must have heard of this Zhao family, right?"

Do you have no manners at all?

At that moment, Zhao Sheng felt a strong urge to snap back with a sarcastic retort.

Wang Si replied in a monotone voice, his face a mask of indifference, "Mistress, the Zhao family of Nanyang is a prominent clan in Ganzhou and holds some reputation in the Martial World, having produced two Innate Grandmasters."

Wang Yuqi, never one to filter her thoughts, chirped, "Oh, Innate Grandmasters! I know of them; my third and sixth Uncles are both Innate Grandmasters. They are nearly as strong as those at the initial stages of Qi Refinement."

"Yuqi, that is enough,"

Wang Yu Yan gave her sister a firm nudge before saying apologetically, "My sister often speaks before she thinks, Mr. Zhao. I hope you will not take offense."

"Haha, Miss Wang possesses a joyful and innocent spirit. I find it quite charming; why would I be offended?"

Zhao Sheng’s response was bold and direct. Both sisters felt their cheeks warm at the comment, with Wang Yuqi’s face turning a deep shade of crimson.

In all their lives, no one had ever dared to speak to them with such forwardness.

It was only because Zhao Sheng had made such a favorable first impression that he wasn't punished; had any ordinary man spoken this way, his grave would already be covered in weeds.

By using such provocative remarks, Zhao Sheng successfully broke the tension and took command of the conversation.

Wang Yu Yan moved past the topic of his family and returned to the matter at hand. "Mr. Zhao, I am set on acquiring the formula for that perfume. Name your price!"

Her voice was resolute, signaling that she was prepared to do whatever it took to get what she wanted.

Zhao Sheng frowned slightly, his mind racing to evaluate the situation.

It appeared the perfume was far more valuable than he had initially guessed.

However, this unexpected turn of events worked in his favor.

After a moment of silence, he spoke firmly, "I cannot betray the wishes of my forebears; the formula is not for sale. However, a partnership is possible."

"What kind of partnership?" Wang Yu Yan’s eyes brightened as she pressed him for details.

Her fixation on the formula was driven by a simple goal: the acquisition of Spirit Stones.

To the common folk, the Wang family was a pinnacle of power.

Yet, within the hierarchy of the Cultivation World, they were at the very bottom, barely a step above common Loose Cultivators.

The entire clan consisted of only nine cultivators: two at the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, three at the Middle Stage, and four beginners at the first or second layers of Qi Refinement.

Notably, Wang Yu Yan was the least gifted among them. Possessing Five Spirits Roots, she had toiled for over five years just to reach the first level of Qi Refinement.

The family’s wealth came from twenty acres of spirit fields, the creation of First-rank magic talismans, and the refining of basic materials. Their total annual income was just over a thousand Spirit Stones—barely enough to sustain the needs of their cultivators, leaving them in a constant state of financial strain.

Consequently, the moment Wang Yu Yan tried the perfume, she recognized its massive commercial potential. Days of experimentation had only confirmed her suspicions.

Perfume was a gold mine!

In the realm of Cultivation, high-level female cultivators used methods like the First-stage Hundred Fragrance Pill to maintain a pleasant scent. One pill could keep a woman fragrant for a full year.

However, a single pill cost ten Spirit Stones. While affordable for some, it was a luxury for many.

The vast majority of practitioners occupied the lower ranks, and many Qi Refinement female cultivators were hesitant to spend so much on a single pill.

This was where the perfume found its market.

Is the Hundred Fragrance Pill too pricey, while scented powder feels too cheap?

The solution was simple: a large bottle of perfume for a single Spirit Stone, providing a year's worth of fragrance.

Wang Yu Yan estimated that earning nearly two hundred Spirit Stones a year was entirely feasible.

By that logic, the perfume trade could account for ten percent of her family's entire annual income—a staggering profit margin.

She was also painfully aware that if the clan elders discovered the perfume, neither Mr. Zhao nor she would be able to keep the secret for long.

Thus, she and her sister had planned to hoard as much profit as possible before the secret got out.

Even the daughters of a Cultivation Family needed to build their own dowries. With enough Spirit Stones, a woman could maintain her dignity and influence even after marriage.

This reality applied to both the immortal and mortal worlds alike.

Zhao Sheng’s offer was exactly what Wang Yu Yan needed. She lacked loyal followers of her own; even with the formula, she couldn't manage the production in secret. Zhao Sheng, however, had the necessary resources and was better positioned to maintain confidentiality.