Translator: AnubisTL
Whoosh—
The crowd was initially stunned, then erupted into an unprecedented uproar!
If one disciple experienced diarrhea after taking a pill, it could be attributed to his own constitution. But if everyone who took the pill suffered the same fate, then the problem undoubtedly lay with the pill itself.
What was even more outrageous was that Gu Feng flatly denied selling Bone Cleansing Pills. This was blatantly lying through his teeth!
And he had the audacity to act so brazenly, as if Elder Liu's backing allowed him to run rampant in the outer sect, flouting the rules with impunity.
The law was impartial. The outer sect's regulations clearly stated that selling counterfeit or substandard pills would result in severe punishment from the sect.
All the disciples, including the victims, glared at Gu Feng with fury. This was a matter that directly affected their interests; they couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Gu Feng, have you no shame? Selling fake pills and harming us—how can your conscience be at ease?"
"Today, even if we have to take this to the Hall of Elders, we'll fight you to the end!"
"Gu Feng, you may be strong, but we have justice on our side. The outer sect isn't your personal playground; you can't just do as you please!"
"Let's petition the Hall of Elders to seek justice for us!"
"Punish Gu Feng severely!"
"Punish Gu Feng severely!"
"..."
By the end, everyone was chanting in unison, shouting the slogan, "Punish Gu Feng severely!"
Gu Feng's indifferent attitude even made the Alchemy Hall Elder, who had come to mediate, look displeased, his anger rising.
This was a mass incident that needed to be handled carefully. The Alchemy Hall Elder took a deep breath, stared at Gu Feng, and said sternly, "Gu Feng, with both witnesses and evidence present, denial won't solve the problem. It's better to handle this properly!"
"Gu Feng, this is Elder Zhao from the Alchemy Hall, responsible for pill safety..." Seeing the situation rapidly deteriorate, Yan Xixi whispered in Gu Feng's ear, introducing the elder's identity and signaling him to be polite. Gu Feng nodded in understanding.
"Elder Zhao, if they can prove that I sold fake Bone Cleansing Pills, I will willingly accept all punishment!" Gu Feng gave a slight bow to Elder Zhao and smiled as he spoke.
"Gu Feng, do you admit that this bottle of pills was purchased from you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, a male disciple immediately pulled out a pill bottle and questioned.
"Correct, it was bought from me!" Gu Feng stepped forward, opened the bottle, glanced inside, and nodded in acknowledgment.
"What about this one?"
"That was also bought from me!"
"..."
After verifying all the pills in the disciples' hands, Gu Feng returned to his spot and smiled at the crowd. "The facts prove that the quality of our Sunset Glow Sect's outer sect disciples is excellent—no one tried to pass off fakes. I admit that the pills in their hands were all purchased from my Jade Maiden Pavilion."
"However, I never once said these were Bone Cleansing Pills. That was just a misunderstanding born of your own wishful thinking!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd exploded. They couldn't believe that even now, Gu Feng was still trying to deny it.
The words "Bone Cleansing Pill" were clearly written on the bottle—a fact as solid as iron. Did he think they were all blind?
"Everyone, what my Jade Maiden Pavilion sold was the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill. I don't know where the misunderstanding came from, but somehow you all thought it was the Bone Cleansing Pill. Anyone with a brain knows that Bone Cleansing Pills are extremely rare. Without some extraordinary means, how could I possibly produce so many?"
His words were a wake-up call. The disciples who had bought the pills took a closer look at the bottle labels and were immediately dumbfounded. It seemed these really were Modified Bone Cleansing Pills.
But they looked so similar to the Bone Cleansing Pills—the bottles were the same style, the label colors and fonts identical. The only difference was that the middle dot in the three-dot water radical of the character "洗" (wash) had been replaced with a small circle.
If Gu Feng hadn't pointed it out, who would have noticed this was the character "冼" (rinse)?
"You... this is fraudulent sales!" one disciple said, his face pale as he gritted his teeth.
"Oh? May I ask, brother, did I ever say this was the 'Bone Cleansing Pill' when I sold it?" Gu Feng narrowed his eyes and countered.
"But... but you never said it was the 'Modified Bone Cleansing Pill' either! If I'd known it was the 'Modified Bone Cleansing Pill' when buying it, why would I have spent 20,000 Spirit Stones on some unheard-of pill?"
This disciple's words resonated with everyone present.
Gu Feng had indeed never explicitly said it was the Bone Cleansing Pill when selling it. But his body language, marketing tactics, and the packaging had all misled them into thinking it was the highly sought-after 'Bone Cleansing Pill.'
"Ha, I thought you all could read, so I didn't bother saying the pill's name!" Gu Feng flashed a bright smile, showing off his pearly whites. "The facts prove that I didn't sell fake pills. I've been honest in my sales from start to finish!"
Though his words were crude, the logic was sound. The cultivators who had bought the Modified Bone Cleansing Pills felt as if they'd swallowed a dead fly—disgusted yet unable to refute him.
Elder Zhao, standing nearby, picked up a Modified Bone Cleansing Pill and sniffed it, utterly speechless.
He'd heard that Gu Feng was a trickster, but he never expected him to go this far.
The smell and appearance of the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill were identical to the Bone Cleansing Pill—even purer than the genuine article. Even he would have mistaken it for the real thing, and a high-quality one at that, let alone the ordinary disciples.
Elder Zhao mentally reviewed the outer sect's pill regulations and found that Gu Feng hadn't violated a single rule!
Looking at the outraged disciples, the Alchemy Hall Elder felt a headache coming on, unsure how to handle the situation.
The scene was filled with whispers. Ordinary disciples muttered about how Gu Feng had scammed them, while those who also had stalls in the Trading Hall had their eyes lit up, realizing that sales could be done this way. It was truly an eye-opener.
The hundreds of cultivators who had bought the Modified Bone Cleansing Pills felt wronged. Given the current situation, seeking justice seemed difficult, but they weren't willing to swallow this bitter pill in silence.
The scene fell into a stalemate. Seeing the timing was right, Gu Feng cleared his throat and spoke up:
"Everyone, I, Gu Feng, am a businessman of integrity and a conscientious disciple of the Sunset Glow Sect. Let's be honest—aside from the diarrhea, does the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill have any other flaws?"
"On this point, you who have taken the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill are the most qualified to speak!"
With that, Gu Feng stood to the side, smiling as his gaze swept over the group of victims.
All eyes turned to the customers, who frowned in thought, carefully considering. They opened their mouths, wanting to speak but hesitating.
The efficacy of the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill was about one-third that of the genuine Bone Cleansing Pill. But as Gu Feng had said, aside from the diarrhea, there really were no other issues.
"I admit that. But the price is just too steep—20,000 Spirit Stones per bottle. With that kind of money, wouldn't it be better to buy other pills?" one disciple stepped forward and said gravely.
"Ha, are other pills as effective as my Modified Bone Cleansing Pill? This pill was perfectly crafted to mimic the Bone Cleansing Pill—it's a blessing for Body Tempering Realm cultivators! Even Chu Youhuan, ranked fifth on the inner sect's Heavenly Ranking, praised it, saying that with this pill, our Sunset Glow Sect would undergo a earth-shaking transformation..." Gu Feng rambled on.
"Kid, why drag me into this? You want to die?" Chu Youhuan, who was disguised nearby, gritted her teeth and whispered harshly.
"Of course, I also admit that 20,000 per bottle is a bit expensive. But I once promised, 'If there are any side effects, I'll compensate threefold—no cheating!'
I, Gu Feng, always keep my word. Refunds are out of the question, but I can give you three more bottles each!
Those interested, bring the pills you previously bought and come here to collect them!"
With that, regardless of whether they agreed or not, Gu Feng signaled the Jade Maiden Sect disciples behind him to bring out a large stack of Modified Bone Cleansing Pills, neatly arranged on a table.
Then, Gu Feng crossed his legs and sat to the side, quietly waiting.
This—
The crowd exchanged glances, weighing their options. After a moment, all the disciples rushed to the table.
"I bought one bottle, give me three!"
"I bought two, give me six!"
"I want some too—"
"..."
Everyone scrambled forward, even the female disciple who had been abandoned by her Senior Brother Wu after taking the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill joined the fray, muttering to herself, "Diarrhea won't kill me. I'll train hard and humiliate him at the annual competition!"
The scene instantly became chaotic. The onlookers watched with envy, their eyes red and their hearts green with jealousy. It was clear that the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill was about to become a hot-selling item.
"Everyone, starting tomorrow, the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill will change its pricing. Nine pills per bottle for 6,000 Spirit Stones, or four bottles for 20,000 Spirit Stones..."
"In a world where strength reigns supreme, you're willing to risk your lives, so why fear a little diarrhea? I, Gu Feng, hereby declare that the Sunset Glow Sect's outer sect is entering a new era of cultivation!
You will all rise like dragons, becoming the 'children of others' that people talk about; your parents will be proud, your elders amazed, your younger siblings will look up to you..."
"Don't worry about the supply of Modified Bone Cleansing Pills. I can't promise too much, but I'll provide at least 200 bottles a day!" Gu Feng's impassioned speech stirred everyone's nerves, rousing their emotions and igniting the restlessness in their hearts.
Everyone did the math. At this price, the same amount of Spirit Stones seemed to go further with the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill than with the Bone Cleansing Pill.
The only issue was the side effect. Diarrhea was a real problem—there weren't enough restrooms, and who wanted to deal with that at home? It would stink up the place!
This serious issue made them hesitate.
Gu Feng took in their expressions and shot a glance at Chu Youhuan, who immediately understood. She stepped forward, her emotions running high:
"Everyone, to address the concerns of taking the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill, my Jade Maiden Sect has specially built private cultivation chambers for you!
These chambers are secluded and equipped with a flushing system to promptly remove waste, ensuring fresh air...
The monthly rent is only 150 Spirit Stones, with a minimum lease of six months. A one-year lease comes at a discounted price of 1,500 Spirit Stones!
Limited availability, first come, first served!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the disciples who had bought the Modified Bone Cleansing Pills didn't hesitate. They rushed to Chu Youhuan to reserve cultivation chambers, most opting for a one-year lease. Chu Youhuan and the Jade Maiden Sect disciples were grinning from ear to ear.
One bottle of Bone Cleansing Pill could widen the gap between ordinary disciples, and four bottles of Modified Bone Cleansing Pill had the same effect. The only difference was that the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill caused diarrhea, while the Bone Cleansing Pill was nearly impossible to obtain. In comparison, the two were almost equal.
Thus—
Some quick-thinking cultivators began to take action.
"Do you have any more Modified Bone Cleansing Pills? I'll take four bottles!"
"I'll take eight!"
"Me too!"
"..."
The scene was completely chaotic. The disciples pushed forward, afraid they wouldn't be able to get their hands on the Modified Bone Cleansing Pills!
The security personnel Gu Feng had hired sprang into action, maintaining order.
"Line up, please! Let's buy the pills in an orderly manner!"
"Those who've bought the Modified Bone Cleansing Pills, please go to the other side to rent cultivation chambers."
"To ensure that those who've bought the Modified Bone Cleansing Pills can rent cultivation chambers, the Jade Maiden Pavilion and Jade Maiden Sect are collaborating. We only accept leases of three years or longer!"
"Severe punishment for speculators! Anyone who dares to resell at inflated prices, damaging the reputation of my Jade Maiden Pavilion, will face my wrath!"
"..."
The situation had taken a 180-degree turn. In less than an hour, Gu Feng and his Jade Maiden Pavilion had gone from being universally condemned to widely praised.
Gu Feng had become a benefactor of the outer sect.
What was a truly ethical businessman? Gu Feng was the definition. Not only had he solved the disciples' cultivation problems, but he had also considered everything for them, even preparing cultivation spaces.
Mom no longer had to worry about me being looked down upon for my cultivation. Strength was what mattered. If everyone was dealing with diarrhea, there was no shame—it was just about who could endure it better!
Elder Zhao watched the chaotic Trading Hall, his lips twitching and his eyelids spasming. His heart felt as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through it, leaving a mess.
He could already envision a future where the entire outer sect was cultivating while sitting on toilets.
"This can't go on. If this continues, our Sunset Glow Sect will become the laughingstock of the Chu Kingdom. The 'Toilet Sect' title will surely be pinned on us."
Elder Zhao was anxious, but since Gu Feng hadn't violated any sect rules, there was nothing he could do. Gritting his teeth, he also took out 20,000 Spirit Stones and bought four bottles.
He decided to take them back to the Alchemy Hall for research.
He wasn't necessarily against this pill—he just wanted to study its formula and then improve it, removing the diarrhea side effect.
To make the Modified Bone Cleansing Pill another legendary pill for Body Tempering Realm cultivators in the outer sect, alongside the Bone Cleansing Pill!
(End of the Chapter)
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