"Clan Leader Xia, did you and Senior Ao Ji have a misunderstanding?"
"And."
"Did you know he was going to cancel his cooperation with you?"
Gong Qingyang wore a playful smile, "If I'm not mistaken, you must have met people from other families, not just me?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, you must have said the same thing."
Upon learning that Ao Ji had terminated his cooperation with Tianbao Pavilion.
Gong Qingyang had an epiphany.
He understood the crux of the matter.
Xia Maofeng wanted to forcibly tie them together in this manner.
After all, after terminating the cooperation with Tianbao Pavilion, Ao Ji would definitely choose other families.
However, he didn't know which family Ao Ji would ally with.
Therefore.
Casting a wide net was the only option.
"So, Clan Leader Xia treated us father and son as idiots!" Gong Yi said with disdain, "Regrettably, your scheme did not succeed."
"If I'm not mistaken."
"All the herbal medicine merchants now know that you have lost the support of Senior Ao Ji."
He laughed gloatingly.
In the past.
He would never have dared to say such a thing in front of Xia Maofeng.
But now it was different.
Having lost Ao Ji's support.
Even if Tianbao Pavilion was the largest herbal medicine merchant in the Qian Kingdom.
Even if Xia Maofeng had a Grandmaster Alchemist behind him.
It would still be difficult to sustain.
"Son, let's go, let's go to Ao Ji Tea House now." Gong Qingyang stood up, completely ignoring Xia Maofeng.
When Ao Ji terminated his cooperation with Tianbao Pavilion.
The ending was already set.
Tianbao Pavilion would disappear from the Qian Kingdom in no time.
"Damn it!"
"Why did that old man publicly announce the termination of cooperation?"
"Why couldn't he give us just one day?"
"He's trying to drive my Tianbao Pavilion to extinction!"
Dan Chenzi was furious.
If Ao Ji had not publicly announced the termination of cooperation between the two parties.
They would still have a glimmer of hope.
But now.
They were truly pushed to a dead end.
"Master, have you noticed that this seems like a conspiracy?" Dan Chenzi's only female disciple, Mu Wanting, wore a white long dress, standing tall and graceful, beautiful and moving.
Dan Chenzi furrowed his brows, "What do you mean?"
Mu Wanting said, "Junior Brother Xia had mentioned before that after someone named Ye Ce ordered ten spiritual herbs, Senior Ao Ji suddenly terminated his cooperation with Tianbao Pavilion."
"Don't you think this is all too coincidental?"
"Although Tianbao Pavilion sells a few spiritual herbs of one hundred thousand years of age every month, if this disciple remembers correctly, no stranger has ever purchased ten plants at once."
A cold glint flashed in Dan Chenzi's eyes, "Are you implying that the Ye Ce fellow is in league with Ao Ji? His goal was to gain something for nothing?"
Mu Wanting shrugged her shoulders, unable to deny it, "Besides this, this disciple cannot think of any other possibility."
Dan Chenzi looked at Xia Maofeng, his eyes flashing with ferocity, "Did you give it? Did you give Ye Ce ten times compensation?"
Xia Maofeng swallowed hard, "Gave... gave it... Ah~~~"
Before he could finish.
Dan Chenzi sent him flying with a palm strike.
"Useless! You are a complete and utter failure."
"Do you know you've been played?"
Xia Maofeng knelt on the ground, terrified.
He was truly wronged.
After all, it was Dan Chenzi who told him to give ten times compensation.
If he hadn't given the order, he wouldn't have refunded eleven million high-grade immortal stones to Chen Nan in such a short period.
"Search! Dig three feet into the ground to find Ye Ce."
"I suspect he is Chen Nan."
Dan Chenzi gritted his teeth.
"What? Ye Ce is Chen Nan?" Mu Wanting was greatly surprised.
Dan Chenzi said in a low voice, "The reason Ao Ji terminated his cooperation with Tianbao Pavilion is because we posted a notice at the entrance stating that Chen Nan and dogs are not allowed."
"Although I don't know the relationship between Chen Nan and Ao Ji."
"But if I'm not mistaken, Ye Ce must be Chen Nan."
Mu Wanting nodded slightly, "If that's the case, then it explains why Ao Ji terminated the cooperation immediately after 'Ye Ce' purchased ten spiritual herbs."
"They must have colluded to harm our Tianbao Pavilion."
"This matter must be investigated thoroughly. I'd like to see if this Chen Nan has three heads and six arms!" A cold glint flashed in Dan Chenzi's eyes.
That man had stolen his spotlight.
He must be severely punished.
The termination of cooperation between Ao Ji and Tianbao Pavilion caused a huge stir in the Qian Kingdom.
No one expected that after so many years of cooperation, Ao Ji would suddenly announce this.
This also gave the other herbal medicine merchants a glimmer of hope.
After Ao Ji terminated his cooperation with Tianbao Pavilion, he would definitely choose other families to cooperate with.
If they could secure cooperation with Ao Ji, they would undoubtedly be able to replace Tianbao Pavilion.
For a time.
The clan leaders of several major families rushed to Ao Ji Tea House to discuss cooperation matters.
However, they were all turned away.
Even though they had offered exorbitant prices, they couldn't get to see Ao Ji.
At this moment.
Gong Qingyang and his son also arrived at the tea house.
Seeing so many families with deeper foundations and greater wealth than the Gong family being turned away.
The father and son had a bad premonition.
Even they couldn't see Ao Ji.
Could they?
Perhaps Ao Ji hadn't even heard of their names.
Despite this, Gong Qingyang still said to the tea house waiter, "Young man, please inform Senior Ao Ji that Gong Qingyang of the Gong family wishes to pay his respects."
"Clan Leader Gong, please wait a moment." The waiter turned and left.
"Clan Leader Gong, it's no use. Senior Ao Ji will not see you." The Li family clan leader sneered from the side.
The Li family ranked second in the herbal medicine field in the Qian Kingdom.
Second only to the Xia family's Tianbao Pavilion.
Of course.
Although ranked second, their market share was far behind Tianbao Pavilion.
The He family clan leader also wore a disdainful smile, "Indeed. Even if Senior Ao Ji wants to choose a new partner."
"He wouldn't consider your Gong family based on seniority."
"Stop daydreaming."
Just as they were speaking.
The waiter returned, his face respectful, and made an inviting gesture, "Mr. Gong, please come in."
Upon seeing this scene.
Everyone's expression froze instantly.
Including Gong Qingyang and his son.
They were all dumbfounded.
What was going on?
Why would Ao Ji see Gong Qingyang when he refused to see anyone else?
Could it be that he intended to cooperate with the Gong family?
But...
Why would he consider cooperating with the Gong family?
Overwhelmed with joy, Gong Qingyang and his son excitedly followed the waiter into the tea house and met Ao Ji, who was trimming flowers.
Gong Qingyang quickly bowed, "Gong Qingyang of the Gong family pays his respects to Senior Ao Ji."
Ao Ji put down his pruning shears and asked, "I heard your Gong family has a fellow named Gong Jian? What is your relationship with him?"
Gong Qingyang's face turned pale!
A bad premonition arose spontaneously.
Ao Ji knew Gong Jian?
If that were the case.
Was he seeing him out of consideration for Gong Jian?
What if Gong Jian reported the abuse and humiliation he suffered?
Would Ao Ji still cooperate with the Gong family?