After dismissing everyone.
Su Zhe picked up the teacup and took a sip, spat out a tea leaf, and said with a smile, "The reappearance of the Zhenyuan Pill in the world is enough to shake the entire alchemy world of the human race, isn't it? In fact, our Medicine King Valley has always been committed to alchemy for the benefit of all, and we don't have any great ambitions. We just want the pill formula for the Zhenyuan Pill."
Du Fen frowned.
Su Zhe continued, "Your Du family is just a small one. The highest realm among you is only you, Du Fen, at the sixth realm. The Du family doesn't have such a big appetite to swallow so much. Instead of choking, it's better for us to cooperate. Naturally, our Medicine King Valley will not mistreat the Du family. It's just a business deal, why fight to the death?"
Du Fen clasped his fists and said, "Mr. Su, how do you plan to cooperate?"
"Hmph..."
Su Zhe took out a storage bag from his embrace. Ten dazzling golden coins, known as Jin Zizhu, poured out with a clatter. He also took out many pills stored in brocade boxes. He said, "Here are one hundred spiritual pills to aid cultivation, plus ten Jin Zizhu. If Patriarch Du Fen is not extremely lazy, he should be able to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage with these. In a blink of an eye, he can live for another six hundred years, and the Du family will surely rise along with Patriarch Du Fen's realm improvement. The benefits are obvious, I don't need to elaborate."
Du Fen's heart was greatly moved. The conditions offered by Su Zhe were too tempting!
"How about it?"
Su Zhe smiled calmly, "Neither I nor the Medicine King Valley have much patience. Please make a decision, Patriarch Du Fen, as soon as possible. And after accepting these things, you don't have to worry about the Medicine King Valley killing you to silence you. After all, our Medicine King Valley is a sect listed in the Shan Hai Shu Die of the Great Shang Dynasty, a true reputable sect. Many people know that I, Su Zhe, have come to the Du family in Yunzhou. I wouldn't exterminate your entire clan for these Jin Zizhu. The Medicine King Valley produces countless pills every year, and we are not short of these Jin Zizhu."
"Actually."
Du Fen made up his mind and frowned, "Currently, I don't know where these two Zhenyuan Pills came from. I only know that they were refined by a young Daoist from the Northern Region. As for where the Daoist lives or his name, my grandson and granddaughter know. They both refused to say and I have locked them up."
"Refuse to say?"
Su Zhe couldn't help but chuckle, "A trivial matter. When I was young, I learned a method of probing people's minds from an immortal in the mountains. Take me to see them, and I will naturally make them speak. However, this method has some side effects after use; their spirits will suffer a certain degree of damage."
"Hmph, those two unfilial descendants deserve to die! Lord Su Zhe, feel free to do as you please."
Du Fen's gaze was icy.
...
In the secret chamber.
With a "clang," the door opened. Du Yue hurriedly got up, but the person who walked in was not her father, Du Xian, nor her grandfather, Du Fen, but a refined scholar in a long red robe, exuding an aura of martial intent.
"Who are you?"
Du Yang suddenly stood up, shielding his sister.
"It's you."
A sinister smile appeared on Su Zhe's lips. He suddenly opened his five fingers and grabbed Du Yang by the neck, pressing him against the wall. At the same time, he kicked out, sending Du Yue flying horizontally. She fainted upon landing. Su Zhe then extended an index finger, a faint blue spiritual light flickering at its tip, and gently pressed it against Du Yang's brow.
Instantly, the strong young man's body went limp, his eyes filled with a deathly pallor.
"Speak, who did the two pills come from?"
Su Zhe asked with a smile.
Du Yang's expression was vacant, and he mumbled, "Jiu Hua Mountain, Daoist... Xu Ming'an..."
"Hmph!"
Su Zhe suddenly threw Du Yang's body aside and turned to Du Fen, smiling, "The news of my visit must be kept strictly confidential. Otherwise, there will be no place for your Du family to stand in Yunzhou in the future."
"Yes, Mr. Su..."
...
North of Shan Hai Pass, south of Fu Su Great Wall.
Nestled amidst a cluster of mountains, there is a valley that is spring-like throughout the year. The valley is vibrant with life and overgrown with spiritual herbs. This is the legendary Medicine King Valley, the most outstanding sect in the entire human race's alchemy world, with the most alchemists.
Inside the Patriarch's residence.
Su Zhe, in a flowing red robe, descended gracefully. Before him stood a middle-aged cultivator in a red robe, Sun Tingxuan, the current head of the Sun family of the Medicine King Valley. The original head was the eldest son, Sun Bai Gui. Unfortunately, when Sun Bai Gui's two daughters, Sun Xingchun and Sun Yun Nuan, were seven years old, he went out to fight a great demon to protect the Medicine King Valley and died of exhaustion. After that, the position of head fell to his second brother, Sun Tingxuan.
"Patriarch."
Su Zhe bowed respectfully.
"Mr. Su, you are too kind!"
Sun Tingxuan helped Su Zhe up and smiled, "Any gains?"
"Yes."
Su Zhe transmitted his voice directly, "Your subordinate has seen the brocade pouch where the pills were stored. Judging from the residual pill fragrance, it is indeed the Zhenyuan Pill, no different from the descriptions in the rare copy of 'Thousand Pill Compendium' in the mansion. Your subordinate spent ten Jin Zizhu and one hundred spiritual pills to obtain information about the origin of the Zhenyuan Pill, which comes from Jiu Hua Mountain in the Northern Region. There is a young Daoist on the mountain named Xu Ming'an, and it is said that he is the one who refined these pills."
"Xu Ming'an?"
Sun Tingxuan frowned, "I've never heard of such a person in the martial world."
"Who knows? Perhaps he's a young man who stumbled upon a great opportunity. Unfortunately, he couldn't hide his abilities and is destined to be a stepping stone for others. Xu Ming'an must have the formula for the Zhenyuan Pill."
"Understood. This matter must remain confidential."
"Indeed!"
Su Zhe said in a deep voice, "The pill formulas circulating in the human world have been incomplete since ancient times. Once the complete formula for the Zhenyuan Pill appears in the world, hmph, it will likely be the time when our Medicine King Valley becomes famous throughout the world!"
"Don't rush."
Sun Tingxuan was cautious in his consideration, "Since Xu Ming'an is someone who has obtained an opportunity, perhaps the one who bestowed the opportunity is still around. Therefore, even if our Medicine King Valley wants this formula, we must not act rashly. It's best to start with courtesy before force. How about this: Tomorrow, please trouble Mr. Su to accompany Xingchun and Yun Nuan. Representing the Medicine King Valley in their name, purchase the formula from Xu Ming'an. This way, the method of doing things will be more astute, fitting our status as a reputable sect, and it will also avoid angering the powerful individual behind Xu Ming'an. If it doesn't work out, we'll think of another way. In short, we must remain calm and not act recklessly out of eagerness for credit, which would ruin the grand plan."
"Understood."
Su Zhe nodded and smiled, "Patriarch, don't worry. The two young ladies and I will head to Jiu Hua Mountain tomorrow."
"Good."
Sun Tingxuan nodded, "There are still over a thousand Jin Zizhu remaining in the treasury. Take them all. We must show our utmost sincerity. Even if it costs a thousand Jin Zizhu, we must obtain the formula for the Zhenyuan Pill!"
"Yes!"
...
Upper realm, on a broken mountain peak in Wuwang Mountain, Demon Realm.
This mountain peak had been split in half by a sword. One half still stood, while the other had sunk into the deep sea. On the remaining mountain peak, two figures descended gracefully. One was a young sword cultivator in a blue robe carrying a silver empty sword sheath, and the other was an old Daoist in a gray-white robe, leaning on a walking staff.
The blue-robed guest sat down and took out a jar of wine from his storage bag. It was the Dongting Red Bamboo Wine from the Villa on the Mountain Peak, a whole jar that he had managed to acquire.
"Hmm?"
Old Daoist Wang sniffed, "Red Bamboo Wine?"
"That's right."
The blue-robed guest took out a bronze wine bowl, scooped out more than half a bowl of wine, and offered it. He smiled, "This is fine wine gifted by Lord Shang Xuli of Dongting Lake to my junior brother, and brought back by Old Mr. Fu Sheng. You're lucky to have it. I heard that you were freeloading for a while at Xueyu Tianchi. My junior brother basically only treated you to inferior wine that came in 10g flasks. Come, come, taste the Red Bamboo Wine and let you know what good wine is."
Old Daoist Wang looked displeased, but he still drank the wine. He took a big gulp, and his face immediately became more ruddy.
He looked down, and everything in the lower realm was incredibly clear.
"Alas, human hearts are like ghosts."
The old Daoist sighed and said, "My foolish disciple, in his kindness, has caused trouble for himself!"
"Don't worry!"
The blue-robed guest took out a plate of spiced beef, grabbed a piece of meat, and threw it into his mouth. Then, he raised the jar and took a large gulp directly from it. The dignified Fourteenth Realm Soldier Sage drank like a cow, laughing, "Your disciple, Xu Ming'an, has never had any great opportunities in his life. His greatest fortune was to meet my junior brother on his journey south. Don't worry, with my junior brother as his close friend, how much harm can Xu Ming'an really suffer?"
"That's true."
The old Daoist smiled. This was something he had to admit. In fact, why Xu Ming'an obtained the Danxia Compendium and why he became his nominal disciple were all thanks to Lin Zhao acting as a go-between. Of course, Xu Ming'an himself also had opportunities, such as the sword willing to recognize him as its master. Such an opportunity, ordinary cultivators could only dream of. Although that sword was not among the top ten swords in the world, in terms of combat power, perhaps only the top three swords could guarantee a stable advantage.
After drinking the wine.
The blue-robed guest clasped his arms and said, "Continue?"
"Alright, let's continue."
Old Daoist Wang laughed heartily and shouted into the distance, "Come, come, continue fighting! Are you Wuwang Mountain done for? Before we, the Soldier Sage and I, arrived, weren't you clamoring to flatten our Human Race's Bai Yu Mountain and Chang Sheng Realm, and then trample the Eternal Secret Realm? Come on, if you have the guts, come and fight!"
"Presumptuous!"
In the deep sea, a majestic figure turned, and the mountains trembled.
"Are they really coming?"
The blue-robed guest laughed heartily and stomped his feet downwards. The entire mountain peak shifted downwards and crashed heavily onto the massive body.
"Your turn," he tilted his head and looked at Old Daoist Wang.
The old Daoist wiped the wine stains from his beard with the back of his hand, then licked it. It was truly good wine. After finishing this, he looked into the distance, his eyes filled with great righteousness, and he pointed a single finger at the sky: "Sword, come!"
At that moment, from the broken green gourd, countless flying swords, reassembled from sword mud, shot up into the sky with a "swish, swish, swish," transforming into a rain of swords that struck the deep sea at the foot of Wuwang Mountain. Instantly, countless blood water churned up.
While the lower realm was lively, the upper realm was no less so.
...
Early morning, Danxia Mountain.
Two exceptionally beautiful figures disembarked from a spiritual boat at the foot of the mountain. They were the sisters Sun Xingchun and Sun Yun Nuan, who intended to climb the mountain on foot to show their sincerity. Following behind them was the steward Su Zhe, along with a group of escorts from the Medicine King Valley.