I Can Control Resources

’We’re not stupid, okay?!’

"Gao Neng, just spit it out. How exactly do you want to do this?" After a brief silence, one of the Noble Young Masters finally lost his patience.

"It’s simple. Like I just said, any Alchemist here can challenge me. Using the same materials, whoever refines more pills than me wins," Gao Neng said with a wave of his hand.

"You’re really going to do it this way?"

"Of course!"

"Fine. In that case, our Beihe Meng Family will set an example for everyone. Second Uncle, please go up and have a match with him," the Noble Young Master said with a nod.

"Alright!" An old man in a loose-fitting robe stepped forward.

The crowd immediately parted to make way for him.

The robed elder walked straight up to Gao Neng.

"I, Meng the Second of the Beihe Meng Family, will compete against Captain Gao today. I wonder, what kind of pill would Captain Gao like to compete with?" the elder, Meng the Second, asked.

"Respect for one’s elders. Naturally, Second Uncle Meng should be the one to decide," Gao Neng said with a smile.

"I get to decide?!" Meng the Second was taken aback.

He wasn’t the only one; the other Alchemists in the crowd were also stunned.

’This is just too arrogant!’

Every Alchemist has their own specialty pill, one for which their success rate is usually the highest. Generally, in an Alchemy competition, the challenge is set by a neutral third party.

By allowing Gao Neng to choose the pill, Meng the Second was already using his seniority to make a concession.

But what happened?

Gao Neng showed no gratitude and instead turned it around, letting Meng the Second choose.

The Alchemists shook their heads. In a situation like this, there were only two possibilities: one, Gao Neng’s Alchemy Technique was truly divine; or two, Gao Neng was a fool who didn’t even know the first thing about it.

They chose to believe it was the latter.

In fact, Fang Yuan, the three directors, and Li Tiannan up in the attic were equally dumbfounded.

Of course, besides being dumbfounded, they also felt the urge to beat Gao Neng to a pulp. ’You bastard, aren’t you taking this act a little too far?!’

"Second Uncle Meng, you should choose the pill you’re best at refining. That way, your success rate might be a little higher," Gao Neng continued to urge, seemingly oblivious to the expressions of everyone around him.

"Hahaha... Truly, the young know no fear!" After a moment of shock, Meng the Second burst out laughing. "Very well, then. I will indulge you, Captain Gao."

As he spoke, Meng the Second’s gaze shifted to the elemental raw materials in the display area behind Gao Neng. He subconsciously swallowed.

"Alright, I’ve made my choice. I’ll refine five Fire-Resistant Pills. Taking this pill increases one’s fire-affinity attributes. It’s a pill I’m fairly skilled with, and the raw materials aren’t too precious. I’ll just need twenty stalks of Red Fire Lotus plus five pieces of Fire Crystal Ore. Of course, for the sake of this cultural exchange, I will explain the key points of refining the Fire-Resistant Pill during the process. Furthermore, I will make the Pill Formula public," Meng the Second quickly announced his selection.

As his words fell, the Alchemists from the various sects and noble families were stunned for a moment. Then, one by one, they covered their mouths to stifle their laughter.

They all understood what Meng the Second was implying.

Five Fire-Resistant Pills? When would that ever require twenty stalks of Red Fire Lotus and five pieces of Fire Crystal Ore? This wasn’t just an exorbitant demand; it was daylight robbery.

After all, under normal circumstances, five Fire-Resistant Pills would require four or five stalks of fire-affinity raw materials at most, and low-grade ones at that.

But Red Fire Lotus?

That was a high-grade ingredient!

Forget twenty stalks—a single one would have been enough.

As for the five pieces of Fire Crystal Ore, that was even more unnecessary. After all, plenty of other minerals could be used as a substitute.

Of course, Meng the Second’s words weren’t entirely baseless.

After all, he had made himself very clear.

He was willing to share the Pill Formula for the Fire-Resistant Pill and even provide a live explanation during the Alchemy process.

So, rather than calling it a robbery of elemental raw materials, it was more like Meng the Second was using his Pill Formula and Alchemy experience to barter for personal gain.

The Alchemists from the sects and noble families were all perfectly aware of this.

This was a transaction.

Naturally, they wouldn’t call him out on it. In fact, now that Meng the Second had set the precedent, they already knew what their own opening bids would be.

’If the formula for a measly Fire-Resistant Pill can be exchanged for twenty stalks of Red Fire Lotus and five pieces of Fire Crystal Ore, couldn’t other Pill Formulas be exchanged for even more?’

This wasn’t a competition; it was a slaughter.

A competition to see who could be more ruthless!

’Fortune favors the bold!’

’The timid starve to death!’

’This is three thousand stalks of elemental raw materials we’re talking about! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!’

CRASH!

Up in the attic, Li Tiannan kicked a stool, sending it flying.

Fang Yuan and the three directors also clenched their fists. They were furious, but they also believed Gao Neng couldn’t possibly be *that* stupid.

’Twenty stalks of Red Fire Lotus and five pieces of Fire Crystal Ore for five Fire-Resistant Pills? Even an idiot would know that’s impossible, right?’

Wu Qingjing and Yutian also had their brows furrowed in a tight knot.

The price Meng the Second had named was simply too outrageous!

It was blatant robbery!

Just as they were about to speak up and warn him, Gao Neng spoke first. With a casual movement, he also stopped Yi Qinglian, who was standing behind him and about to offer a warning of her own.

"Alright! Respect for one’s elders, of course. Whatever Second Uncle Meng says, goes!" Gao Neng beamed, because his hand was currently blocking Yi Qinglian right across her chest.

Yi Qinglian’s face, meanwhile, flushed beet red.

As an assistant, she shouldn’t have been speaking up in a situation like this anyway. Moreover, from the perspective of the sects’ and noble families’ interests, she had even less reason to do so.