When Wang Xiuyuan saw Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao, he had only just greeted them when he suddenly noticed something. He said in surprise, “Young Master Ning, you advanced?”
Ning Yuzhou said modestly, “I entered seclusion these past few days and luckily broke through.”
This made Wen Qiao glance sideways at him. If she had not personally seen him break through so casually, she might really have thought his cultivation had not been easy.
On the Shengwu Continent, cultivators below the Yuan Martial Realm were all considered low-level cultivators. There were many cultivators at this level, and some with poor aptitude would remain there for their whole lives, their lifespan only a short two hundred years. Only by successfully advancing to the Yuan Martial Realm could one truly be considered to have stepped onto the path of cultivation and become a cultivator who defied the heavens and contended with heaven and earth.
A mere Yuan Bright Realm cultivator was not worth much at all. Normally, it would not attract much attention. In the eyes of the famous sects and great factions of the Central Continent, they would not take a Yuan Bright Realm cultivator seriously. But Wang Xiuyuan valued Ning Yuzhou’s alchemy talent, so every level Ning Yuzhou advanced was something he took very seriously.
Wang Xiuyuan could not bother with anything else and could not help asking, “May I ask what grade of spirit pills Young Master Ning can refine now?”
Ning Yuzhou remained very modest. “I have dabbled a little in mystic-grade pills. If I’m lucky, I can occasionally refine a few furnaces.”
Wang Xiuyuan was first startled, then could not help feeling overjoyed.
How could alchemy depend on luck? Although many alchemists could occasionally perform beyond their usual level and refine spirit pills above what their cultivation should allow, such cases were few.
Wang Xiuyuan considered himself quite good at judging people. Although Ning Yuzhou spoke modestly, how could he not know that this genius alchemist carried pride in his bones? This was a common trait among many alchemists, born from confidence in their own alchemy skills.
Since Ning Yuzhou dared say this, it meant he definitely could refine mystic-grade pills. Although Wang Xiuyuan did not know what quality they were, one must not forget that Ning Yuzhou was currently only at the Yuan Bright Realm.
Generally, alchemists capable of refining mystic-grade pills had cultivation above the Yuan Martial Realm. Very few alchemists could refine them while still in the Yuan Bright Realm. This was because alchemists below the Yuan Martial Realm usually did not have enough yuan spiritual energy in their spiritual apertures to support them through the complete refinement of a mystic-grade pill.
Ning Yuzhou’s performance could be called that of a monstrous genius.
Wang Xiuyuan’s gaze toward Ning Yuzhou became especially heated. Fortunately, he still remembered the purpose of his visit. He quickly gathered his thoughts and said with a smile, “Then I must first congratulate Young Master Ning on your great increase in cultivation. Young Master Ning has become rather famous recently. I hear that many people now want to seek you out to refine pills.”
Ning Yuzhou showed a puzzled expression. “What does Young Master Wang mean?”
“Didn’t Young Master Ning sell a batch of spirit pills at Yunlai Pill Shop a few days ago…”
Wen Qiao sat at the side holding Wen Tutu and quickly understood the situation from Wang Xiuyuan’s words.
It turned out that from the batch of spirit pills they had sold to the pill shop, the shopkeeper had already sold more than ten supreme-grade spirit pills at a high price. Although they were only low-level yellow-grade pills, as long as they were supreme-grade, there was no fear that no one would buy them. It could even be said that whenever supreme-grade pills appeared on the market, they would attract cultivators to fight over them.
Supreme-grade pills did not leave pill toxins accumulated in the body, and their effects were remarkable. These were life-saving items. Even if they were a little expensive, people would grit their teeth and buy them.
Because Yunlai Pill Shop had released supreme-grade pills in the past few days, its reputation had soared. Its business immediately surpassed the other pill shops, causing many cultivators to flock there. They all tried to find out who the alchemist was who had refined the supreme-grade pills.
The shopkeeper of Yunlai Pill Shop naturally wanted to keep it hidden, but when Ning Yuzhou came to sell the pills, he had not concealed himself much. Very soon, interested parties found out. Fortunately, the place where Ning Yuzhou and the others were staying was relatively remote, and those cultivators seeking pills had not yet found them. Otherwise, they probably would not have had any peace.
Wang Xiuyuan said, “I did not expect Young Master Ning to be able to refine supreme-grade pills at such a young age. It truly surprises me. Right now, there are many people seeking pills. Young Master Ning’s residence here will soon be discovered. Would Young Master Ning like to change locations?”
Ning Yuzhou pondered and did not answer him.
The meaning Wang Xiuyuan was revealing was very clear. Although alchemists were respected by the world and had rather high status, an alchemist without much background would instead arouse the selfish desires of some cultivators with malicious intentions. For example, they might force that alchemist to join their force, turning him into a tool for refining pills and squeezing out his potential…
Such things had happened before. Because the impact had been so great, the Pill Alliance had later been formed to protect the interests of alchemists.
In Wang Xiuyuan’s eyes, Ning Yuzhou came from the remote miasmic marshes of South Ming. South Ming was said to be a mysterious and dangerous place, full of swamps and rampant toxic miasma. Most of the cultivators there were vicious and lawless people, and only a few small forces and families stood there.
Ning Yuzhou was probably an alchemist cultivated by some small force in South Ming.
Unfortunately, he was still a little too naïve. Although he brought a group of guards with him, their cultivation was not particularly high. In the eyes of people from the Central Continent, they were nothing at all.
If Ning Yuzhou was smart, he should know to quickly choose a force to join for protection, allowing him to grow faster and become an alchemist no one dared provoke.
And what force could be better than the Pill Alliance?
Alchemists ought to band together. Only the Pill Alliance could better protect the interests of alchemists.
Anqiu City, where the Wang family was located, was one of the Five Cities of the Pill Alliance. The Wang family’s status within the Pill Alliance was not low. If Ning Yuzhou was willing to join Anqiu City and receive the Pill Alliance’s protection, who would dare touch him?
Wang Xiuyuan had come today to take the opportunity to draw closer to Ning Yuzhou. First, he would block those ill-intentioned forces for him and provide him with a residence where he would not be disturbed. Once their friendship deepened, would there still be any worry that he could not find a chance to persuade Ning Yuzhou to join the Wang family?
Ning Yuzhou pondered for a moment, then said apologetically, “Young Master Wang, please allow me to think about it first. May I give you an answer tomorrow?”
Wang Xiuyuan smiled faintly. Although he hoped Ning Yuzhou would agree immediately, his expression remained that of a courteous man who valued talent. He smiled and said, “Of course. However, I still hope Young Master Ning will decide as soon as possible. I hear that several forces are already investigating your information. Sooner or later, they will find their way here.”
“Many thanks, Young Master Wang. I understand.”
They chatted a while longer before Wang Xiuyuan finally took his leave.
After Wang Xiuyuan left, Ning Yuzhou called Qian Shou in and asked what news there had been in Cangwu Town over the past few days.
Qian Shou said, “Young Master, after Yunlai Pill Shop released the spirit pills you refined, they were quickly snatched up. People have started investigating your information. Aside from those seeking pills, there are also people who want to find you to treat an illness…”
After listening, Ning Yuzhou asked, “Find me to treat an illness? Do you know who it is?”
Qian Shou shook his head. “The other party’s cultivation is very high and they did not reveal their identity. This subordinate has not been able to investigate clearly for the time being.”
Ning Yuzhou asked about the other party’s appearance. After roughly understanding the situation, he told Qian Shou to continue having people pay attention to the news in Cangwu Town. If there was anything related to them, they were to report back in time.
After Qian Shou withdrew, Ning Yuzhou looked at Wen Qiao, who was sitting quietly at the side, and revealed a gentle smile. He said, “Ah Xian, we will be able to leave very soon.”
Wen Qiao nodded slightly. Although she did not know what her husband intended to do, from his tone, he had already made a decision.
—
At dusk, another guest arrived.
It was a woman dressed in red, carrying a large sabre on her back.
She was tall and slender, with a graceful, curving figure. Her features were bright and beautiful, yet carried vigorous heroic spirit. Her eyes were lively and full of focus. Judging from her face, she was a female cultivator with firm perseverance.
Only now, the female cultivator’s expression was anxious, and her heroic brows carried a trace of worry.
“You’re the alchemist who sold supreme-grade pills at Yunlai Pill Shop?” the red-clothed female cultivator asked directly.
When Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao saw her, they both understood. This female cultivator was the person Qian Shou had mentioned, the one who wanted to find Ning Yuzhou to treat an illness. Red clothes and a large sabre—she was very easy to recognise.
“That is indeed me. May I ask who you are, miss?” Ning Yuzhou asked pleasantly.
“Qin Hongdao,” the red-clothed female cultivator said concisely. “I tried the spirit pills you refined. They are of excellent quality, and your supreme-grade pills are flawless. I want to ask you to help treat someone.”
Ning Yuzhou remained calm and unhurried. “Miss Qin, I am only a yellow-grade alchemist. My ability is limited. I’m afraid I may not be able to help you. Perhaps you should look for another alchemist.”
“I’ve already looked for every alchemist in this town. None of them were useful!” Qin Hongdao’s temper was somewhat irritable. If not for the fact that every alchemist in town had already examined the patient and not one could cure him, she would not have come to find Ning Yuzhou.
There were naturally alchemists in town more capable than Ning Yuzhou, including two mystic-grade alchemists. Unfortunately, they had also been powerless. Qin Hongdao had come to Ning Yuzhou as a last resort, treating a dead horse as if it were alive and hoping to see whether he could cure it.
If time had not been pressing, she would not have stayed in Cangwu Town searching everywhere for alchemists. She would have long since taken the person to the Five Cities of the Pill Alliance.
In the end, Cangwu Town was indeed rather remote. Most of the people who came here were cultivators going to Cangwu Mountain to train. Alchemists were very few, and finding an earth-grade or higher alchemist here was extremely difficult.
Qin Hongdao was not an unreasonable person. She restrained the anxiety in her heart and said, “You don’t need to worry. Even if you can’t cure him, I won’t take my anger out on you.”
Ning Yuzhou did believe this. From the news Qian Shou had gathered, she had sought out quite a few alchemists, and none of them had been able to help. Yet those alchemists had all returned safely, without anything happening to them.
Even Qian Shou could not see through Qin Hongdao’s cultivation, which showed how high it was. If someone with such cultivation did take out their anger on others, others could only endure it.
On the Shengwu Continent, the strong were respected. This was not just a pleasant-sounding saying.
When the strong acted, even if it was unfair, the weak did not dare make a sound.
Since things had already been said to this point, Ning Yuzhou could not refuse. He agreed to go with Qin Hongdao to take a look.
Immediately, Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao followed Qin Hongdao out.
As they left, Qin Hongdao glanced at Wen Qiao. Her gaze suddenly fixed on the demon rabbit in Wen Qiao’s arms, and she said in surprise, “Is this a mutated demonic beast?”
Wen Qiao looked at her and nodded slightly.
This was the first person they had met who had discovered Wen Tutu’s identity as a mutated demonic beast. It showed that Qin Hongdao’s eyesight was quite extraordinary.
“Not bad. Mutated demonic beasts are rare. If it can be fed with heavenly treasures and earthly resources, when it grows in the future, its strength will certainly not be inferior to those high-rank demonic beasts with noble bloodlines.” A bit of a smile appeared on Qin Hongdao’s face as she specially gave this advice.
Wen Qiao suddenly developed a great favourable impression of her.
Her personality was bold, but she did not bully the weak just because she was strong. She had principles and a bottom line in how she acted. She was not greedy for other people’s treasures and could even give kind advice. This was the bearing of a disciple from a famous and prestigious sect in Wen Qiao’s mind, completely different from that despicable woman in pink she had met that day.
Qin Hongdao brought them to a small private residence in an extremely remote alley.
A profound formation had been set up outside the door. Ning Yuzhou glanced at it and quickly inferred how powerful the formation was. It could not be broken by anyone below the Yuan Spirit Realm. The fact that she could take out such a powerful formation showed that Qin Hongdao’s background was definitely extraordinary.
Qin Hongdao took out a jade slip and opened the formation, then led the two inside.
Past the entrance was an empty courtyard. Some weeds grew there, making it look very desolate.
Inside were several side rooms. Qin Hongdao walked to the middle room, pushed open the door, and invited the two in.
The light inside the room was somewhat dim. The air was filled with a faint fishy stench, mixed with a few traces of cloying sweetness.
This made Wen Qiao feel a little uncomfortable. After transforming into her demon body, her sense of smell had become extremely sharp. Like spiritual plants, she only liked natural, fresh air. She could not bear strange odours and would feel very uncomfortable.
Wen Qiao unconsciously held her breath.
Qin Hongdao walked straight toward the only bed in the room. As she walked, she called, “Junior Brother, I brought an alchemist over to examine you. Are you feeling any better?”
After a long while, a hoarse voice sounded from inside the room. “Senior Sister, don’t waste your effort. Why don’t you take me back? I want to see my parents one last time…”
“Nonsense! Pah, pah, pah! What does a child like you know? You’ll definitely be fine!”
Qin Hongdao raised her voice and scolded him a few times. Then she turned toward Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao by the door and said, “Young Master Ning, Miss Min, come over.”
Only then did Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao walk over to the bedside. In the dim light, they quickly saw the appearance of the person lying on the bed.
When Wen Qiao saw the person on the bed, she finally understood why the smell in the air was so strange. One black lump after another covered the person’s face. Those lumps had all split open, oozing disgusting pus and blood. His facial features could not be seen clearly at all. It was not only his face; all the skin exposed outside his clothes was covered with these things. It looked disgusting and terrifying, like an evil ghost.
The man on the bed seemed to be in extreme pain. His aura was weak, his eyes dim and lifeless. His mouth was slightly open, and he let out painful rasping breaths.
Qin Hongdao could hardly bear to look and turned her head away, urging Ning Yuzhou, “Young Master Ning, this is my junior brother, Sheng Yunshen. Please quickly examine him.”
Ning Yuzhou said nothing. His expression was very calm. He stepped forward, lifted the quilt, and examined Sheng Yunshen’s condition.
Qin Hongdao stood to the side and looked at Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao. Seeing that neither of them showed any strange expression, she could not help letting out a breath of relief.
Ever since her junior brother became like this, everyone who saw him reacted almost the same way. First they were shocked, then they avoided looking at him with strange expressions. Many could not help showing disgust. Even the alchemists she had invited could not help covering their noses, and some barely examined him before saying there was nothing they could do.
Ning Yuzhou’s reaction was too ordinary, as if he were facing a completely normal patient. This made Qin Hongdao feel a little better.
Over there, Ning Yuzhou pulled open Sheng Yunshen’s robe, revealing a chest similarly covered in black lumps. According to Qin Hongdao, these horrifying lumps covered every part of his body, without a single piece of intact skin.
He took out a silver needle as fine as a hair and collected some of the pus and blood secreted from the lumps. The silver needle quickly turned black.
Then he took out a fist-sized spherical object from his storage pouch. Its surface was not smooth but made up of uneven facets. Each facet had a different colour, as if inlaid with pieces of diamond-shaped fragments, though the colours were dull.
Ning Yuzhou took some of the pus and blood and dripped it onto the sphere.
The pus and blood were quickly absorbed. In an instant, the originally dull and lightless sphere emitted a bright colour. The diamond-shaped fragments on its facets lit up one by one—red, yellow, blue, black… more than ten colours flashed.
Qin Hongdao was very puzzled and asked, “Young Master Ning, what is this?”
“This is a Poison-Appraising Disk. I specially refined it to test poisons,” Ning Yuzhou explained.
Qin Hongdao was startled. Was he not an alchemist? How had he also become an artificer? However, this question was quickly pushed to the back of her mind, and she asked nervously, “Then can you determine what poison my junior brother has been afflicted with?”
After examining the reaction on the Poison-Appraising Disk, Ning Yuzhou said solemnly, “Miss Qin, the poison in Young Master Sheng is actually easy to cure. However…”
“However what?” Qin Hongdao asked impatiently.
Sheng Yunshen on the bed also looked at him anxiously. These past few days, he had taken many antidote pills, but none had worked. Those alchemists also could not determine what poison he had been afflicted with and could not give any explanation.
This was the first time someone had said with certainty that it could be cured.
Ning Yuzhou said, “Within this toxin is hidden nether poison from the Netherworld. That is the reason Young Master Sheng has been unable to detoxify it.”
—
While Ning Yuzhou was treating Qin Hongdao’s junior brother, several cultivators arrived in Cangwu Town.
After arriving in Cangwu Town, those cultivators went straight to the place in town where mission notices were posted.
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