Shameless Immortal: Emperor of Ten Thousand Beauties

"The Cao Clan?"

Bai Ruolan’s professional demeanor locked tightly into place, the residual blush on her pale skin rapidly fading as her focus shifted to the fierce economic battlefield of Crimson Iron City.

She clutched the sealed jade vial tightly against her voluptuous chest, her large blue eyes narrowing with a sharp, cold intensity.

"They have been insufferable lately. Ever since our research hit a wall, they’ve been smugly implying across the commercial districts that the Golden Cauldron Union’s alchemy standard has reached its peak. They’ve even managed to poach a few of our alchemists."

"Well, their smugness is about to face a very abrupt, very expensive end," Shen Yu chuckled, a dark, dangerous undertone slipping into his smooth voice.

He took a step closer to the stone dais, leaning his hip casually against the edge.

"My sources have yielded some highly exquisite pieces of intelligence regarding your rivals."

"The Cao Clan has completely run out of fluid capital to continue their own Tier 3 pill research. Their endless failed batches have bled their vaults bone-dry."

"They’re bankrupt?" Ruolan gasped, her mind racing as she processed the revelation.

Her massive boobs heaved slightly beneath the indigo silk as her breath hitched.

"But they are still maintaining such a massive front in the market! How can they afford to keep their main workshops running?"

"They can’t. At least, not for much longer on their own," Shen Yu smirked, his long green hair swaying slightly over his shoulder as he leaned forward, dropping his voice to a confidential murmur.

"Right now, they are entirely desperate. To stave off complete financial ruin, they are planning to launch a ruthless, highly aggressive campaign within the next few days to completely monopolize the low-tier pill market, Tiers 0 to 2, across the city, undercutting every small-time merchant to force a quick injection of capital."

"A predatory monopoly..." Ruolan whispered, her knuckles turning white around the jade vial.

"If they flood the city with low-grade pills at dirt-cheap prices, it will disrupt our supply lines and starve out our smaller partners before we can even counter."

"Indeed. But that is only their short-term lifeline," Shen Yu continued, his hidden golden pupils tracking the subtle twitch of her lips with predatory amusement.

"Their true master play is a strategic political marriage. The Cao Clan is currently finalizing a contract to marry off their young lady to the young master of the Ge Clan from Flowing Spring City."

"The Ge Clan has immense, unspent capital, and the Cao Clan has the local distribution network. The moment the young master sets foot in the city to sign that contract, the Cao Clan will receive a massive financial bailout, securing their monopoly permanently."

Bai Ruolan stood frozen, the sheer gravity of the situation crashing down on her.

The Cao Clan wasn’t just competing, they were planning a total economic stranglehold.

If they succeeded, the Golden Cauldron Merchant Union would lose its dominance in Crimson Iron City within a single season.

But as the strategic implications settled, Shen Yu’s smirk deepened. He leaned in slightly closer, his voice laced with a sharp, provoking edge. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"And tell me, Little Alchemist... how do you think Vice Leader Zhao Tianxing will handle this news when the Cao Clan begins suffocating the city?"

At the mention of Zhao Tianxing, Bai Ruolan’s expression turned incredibly rigid.

The Golden Cauldron Merchant Union was currently a house divided.

While she ruled over the Alchemy Faction with absolute dedication, the ambitious Vice Leader Zhao Tianxing commanded the rival Refining Faction.

For years, the two factions had been locked in a cold war for internal supremacy.

To make matters worse, the Supreme Leader of the Union, Lord Meng De, had recently announced his intention to step down and appoint his successor.

Because Zhao Tianxing was a direct relative of Lord Meng De, the old man was already heavily leaning toward handing the entire union over to him.

Bai Ruolan had been backed into a corner, desperately needing a miracle to prove her worth over familial nepotism.

"Zhao Tianxing will use it as a weapon against me," Ruolan said, her voice dropping into a harsh, bitter whisper.

"The moment the Cao Clan undercuts our distribution network, he will run straight to Lord Meng De."

"He’ll claim the Alchemy Faction is failing to maintain market dominance and argue that only his Refining Faction has the strength to lead the union forward."

"If the Cao Clan succeeds, Lord Meng De will announce Zhao Tianxing as the next Leader before the week ends."

"Then don’t let them succeed," Shen Yu purred, his eyes flashing with a dark, predatory brilliance as he laid out the trap. "Take advantage of this exact crisis, Ruolan. Show them what you are truly worth. Right now, you hold a flawless, ninety-percent-plus purity Tier 3 pill."

He stepped closer, his voice smooth and intoxicating. "If you launch this tomorrow morning, the market dynamics will flip instantly. The Cao Clan will be utterly shocked to see a perfect Tier 3 pill hit the shelves. In their panic, they will inevitably double down and pour all their remaining energy into monopolizing those low-grade pills. But you can anticipate that move, tell your people to prepare for it ahead of time, and launch an all-out trade war to crush them on both fronts."

Bai Ruolan listened intently, her heart racing as the brilliant strategy unfolded. But then, a sudden realization hit her, and her brow furrowed.

"But what about the Ge Clan? If their capital still arrives, the Cao Clan might manage to bleed us out in a prolonged war."

Shen Yu smiled, a slow, enigmatic expression crossing his handsome face. "Hmmm... how about I help you take care of them?"

Ruolan blinked, her large blue eyes widening. "You mean..."

"Yes," he chuckled, his long green hair swaying slightly.

"I think I will go teach the Ge Clan a few valuable lessons. Like how there are certain things, and certain people, in this world they simply shouldn’t mess with."

He tilted his head playfully. "And you already know firsthand just how great of a teacher I am."

"Hehehe..." A soft, involuntary laugh escaped her lips before she caught herself.

She looked at him deeply, a sudden wave of curiosity washing over her. "But... why are you doing all of this for me, Senior Brother Mo?"

"Oh? Aren’t we friends?"

Shen Yu asked casually, shrugging his shoulders with an easygoing grace.

"How can I just sit still and watch when a friend needs help? Besides... this is all quite fun."

"This is fun to you?" Ruolan asked, staring at him in a mixture of awe and disbelief.

"Playing with the entire city’s market like a board game?"

-x-

A/N:

Weekly PS: 22/110

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