But Lin Qinghen was telling the truth, he didn't think this was a bad thing.
Those who ran away were basically newcomers. Although a few of the people who had been following Mu Jiu and the others had left, the majority of them stayed. These were the ones who had experienced ups and downs with Lei City and were truly loyal. In terms of ability, they were the best compared to those who ran away.
So from his point of view, this test came as a good thing. When the waves wash away the sand, all that is washed away are the gravel, and what is left for him are the pearls. Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Although ability is important, the most important thing is to keep your original intention. To some extent, it also proves that Mu Jiu does have some ability and sincerity.
In the face of such powerful pressure and temptation, he was still able to keep such a large group of people. Even though this person had done something evil, Lin Qinghen did not do anything to him and is still using him now.
"Is Diemeng still here?" Lin Qinghen asked, "Don't worry, Diemeng's alchemist has escaped."
He meant something, but Mu Jiu didn't understand. Lin Yun was not far away, and when he heard this, he puffed out his chest and looked somewhat proud.
He felt that he would definitely run away, and he ran over after hearing this, as if he wanted to say something. However, as soon as he said "Don't panic", Lin Qinghen stopped him with a look.
Then, Lin Qinghen immediately changed the subject and started talking about other serious matters: "Those small medicine stores just took this opportunity to integrate. I told you last time that the medicine stores in Tear City are too scattered. In fact, they are more or less related to your Alchemist Association. Integrating them together is a long-term plan.
All of you messy pharmacies should be collected into the two largest ones, and the rest should not be left behind."
Mu Jiu naturally listened to him. He had thought that integration was difficult before, but after just a few days, it became the only option. When foreign enemies attacked, the best state was to gather together and unite.
"You have to do more for the rest." Seeing that his face was not looking good, Lin Qinghen gave him a reassurance, "Leave it all to me."
But even after he said that, Mu Jiu's heart was at peace. He did follow Lin Qinghen's instructions, but Lin Qinghen didn't make any other moves.
He watched with his own eyes as the shop of the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce was opened and given the glittering name of "Haihun Pharmacy". People from Haihun City also poured into the City of Tears in waves.
That was really lively.
In addition to the alchemists they poached, the Chamber of Commerce also brought in quite a few people, so that when this pharmacy in Tear City was first opened, it had 200 alchemists under it, which was twice the number of existing alchemists in the Tear City Alchemist Association.
Mu Jiu knew what Lin Qinghen was thinking. When a large group of people entered the city, Lin Qinghen went to watch the fun with a look of interest.
The more aggressive these people became, the less sense of crisis he had.
Yin Jiuxiao found him an excellent observation position on the other side of the city wall. Lin Qinghen glanced at every person in the team, and then discussed with Yin Jiuxiao. The two people's whispers could not be heard by outsiders.
Anyway, Mu Jiu, who was in a good mood recently, also understood that there was nothing to talk about with someone he could see. He made a bad face and wrote "worried" on his face.
Lin Qinghen didn't want to pay attention to him. The ones that attracted the most attention were the alchemists who entered the City of Tears. He even specifically asked Lin Yunhen what he thought of those people.
"It's just so-so," Lin Yun looked down upon these people with his eyes wide open, and snorted, "They are much worse than me. Don't bring them to our pharmacy, it would be such a loss of face."
He now very naturally calls Diemeng "our pharmacy".
When Lin Yun said this, Lin Qinghen showed disappointment on his face. He waved his hand and said that it would not happen. He also liked these people.
Not to mention him, Mu Jiu probably doesn’t dare to recruit people casually now.
"I'm not paying enough attention. The good alchemists from Haihun City haven't come yet," he said to himself. "That's right. They are all yellow-grade materials. They don't need very good alchemists. Tsk, let's wait."
Yin Jiuxiao heard everything, lowered his head for a moment, and asked, "Is Qinghen planning to steal the city of Sea Soul?"
"So what? Can I do what they can do? I heard that there are some promising talents in Haihun City, and I wanted to see them, but unfortunately they didn't come," Lin Qinghen touched his chin, "If they came, I would try to trick them to come over, so that I can keep Yunxi company."
All alchemists can come upon it by themselves like Lin Yun.
There is no lone alchemist in the entire spiritual world, especially those with good talent. If you want to snatch someone, you can only poach them, and Lin Qinghen will dig big.
He had said before that the arrival of Haihun City was both a risk and an opportunity.
Yin Jiuxiao not only criticized his behavior but also praised it, and quickly joined forces with Lin Qinghen, and even began to discuss: "If Qinghen becomes an alchemist, I may be able to get a few new guards for the Wolf Clan."
Then the two of them exchanged a look, turned their heads, and stared at the team entering the City of Tears, as if they were staring at some fat meat.
However, this had not yet been put into action, and only Yin Jiuxiao heard what he said.
Lin Qinghen's biggest move in recent days was to ask all major drug stores to strengthen patrols and defenses in the red round wheat fields, and Yu Yinyin also went to reinforce the formation.
When he distributed the seeds as agreed, he suggested, or rather forced, each drugstore to use too large plots of land to grow red round wheat.
The use of ripening agents is to save time. It is the most cost-effective approach and most importantly, it is safe.
Yu Yinyin couldn't set up a formation for a large plot of land, and the medicine garden couldn't use too good a guard to protect the yellow-level spiritual plants. But once someone took away a plant of red round wheat, the seeds would flow out and it would be over. He had a system bonus and a competitive advantage, which other medicine shops didn't have.
In the past, Mu Jiu was a little bit skeptical, thinking that the City of Tears was not that dangerous, but at that time he disobeyed any decision of Lin Qinghen, so he had no choice but to do this.
Yu Yinyin charged for setting up the formation, and he was a little reluctant to pay the money at the time. But now, it seems that what Lin Qinghen said did not come true.
Lin Qinghen silently made full defenses. He also sent a flower basket on the day when the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce officially opened its doors. At least on the surface, he looked very friendly.
But the other party's behavior has nothing to do with friendliness.
It is true that the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce is swift and resolute. On the third day after Elder Jiang Fushen came to visit the Yin family, the pharmacy was already open for business, at an unprecedented speed.
The forces coming from big cities are just different.
The people of Tear City haven't seen such a wealthy and powerful shop for a long time. It's a new store and they have specially organized a low-price promotion. The pills are indeed cheap and of good quality, with a full range of varieties and attentive service. It is obviously much better than other pharmacies in Tear City.
Mu Jiu disliked them, but for the general public, they didn't know the twists and turns behind it. This was the first time that the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce did something to win their favor.
Lin Qinghen also went around for a look himself. He had to admit that the other person's pharmacy did have a lot of goods, including all kinds of elixirs. The diversity of Diemeng's shelves was basically all supported by Lin Yun alone.
He became more determined to poach people.
The City of Tears is destined to be lively recently.
On the fourth day of the medicine store's opening, the first harvest season of the Tear City Plantation began.
From Lin Qinghen's point of view, this batch of five-star amaranths looks a bit like cactus, or red cactus. After he transformed it, it can grow to half a person's height, with thick leaves, and the whole body can be used as medicine, making it a very cost-effective spiritual plant.
He still had some joy of achievement when Mu Jiu really came out.
The Haihun City Chamber of Commerce not only snatched away his alchemist, but also came to steal the materials when the harvest season came.
The first knife thrown by the other party is price war.
The purchase price of the spiritual plants was decided after discussion between Lin Qinghen and Mu Jiu. It was very reasonable and on the high side for a yellow-grade five-star spiritual plant, and it was a huge concession for the common people.
But the purchase price offered by the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce was higher than theirs. Even if it was only ten spirit baht higher per share, it was indeed high.
Mu Jiu was panicked at first and asked Lin Qinghen whether they wanted to raise the price. Lin Qinghen thought about it and told him that he could give it a try.
In his opinion, raising the purchase price was a good thing for the people, since Diemeng would pay for it anyway. He had enough materials on hand, and it was enough for the purchase, so the Alchemist Association could give it a try if they wanted.
The result was just as Lin Qinghen expected.
If the Alchemist Association increases a little, the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce will follow suit, and they must suppress him. The gap has always been maintained at ten spirit baht. The other party does not care about money, so they are much more confident than Mu Jiu.
Mu Jiu tried several times and had to admit defeat. He had argued for this before.
The people in the city were also stupid. They felt that the thing they grew was really in short supply. The price kept rising just one or two days after the harvest.
Therefore, many people did not sell right away. After paying their fixed shares to Die Meng and the Yin family, they began to hold on to the goods and wait and see the market in the city.
After Mu Jiu's bidding stopped, it was a foregone conclusion that the purchase price would be lower than that of others.
But the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce did not stop there, and the next move of poaching the pharmacist was soon to follow.
The most important binding condition for purchasing medicinal materials is free medicine refining according to a certain ratio. Lin Qinghen and the Alchemist Association agreed on a ratio of five to one, which means that for every five materials purchased, the people can ask the Alchemist Association to refine a medicine for them free of charge.
Then the Haihun City Chamber of Commerce also provided the same service. They did not join Lin Qinghen's oath, but they could make their own oath, which was equally effective.
In addition to the same proportion, there is also a time difference issue in this oath.
It takes time for a pharmacist to refine the medicine. Mu Jiu thought it would take too long at the time and wanted to leave himself enough leeway. When he made the oath with Lin Qinghen, he was sneaky and said that he might not be able to refine it, so the free medicine delivery time was set within two days.
This was still suppressed by Lin Qinghen. He originally wanted to set it within seven days, but Lin Qinghen rejected it on the spot and forced him to change it.
In the past, people would react strongly when they saw the deadline. After all, it was only two days and everyone could wait. However, Mu Jiu had been cunning before and was taken advantage of at this time.
"The Tear City Alchemist Association is empty, and everyone knows this. They are busy here, but we the alchemists will take care of it." This is the slogan that the Sea Soul City Chamber of Commerce took the opportunity to shout out. "Our Chamber of Commerce has a rich foundation. We assure you that it will only take half a day to deliver the free medicine. We will deliver the pills to you as soon as possible! Please trust our Chamber of Commerce!"