Just arrived at the small building.
Zhang Rongfang saw his master, Chongxuan, sitting on the third-floor balcony, sipping wine, eating sunflower seeds and braised beef, smiling contently.
"Back already?" Yue Dewen said with a smile.
"Disciple greets Master." Zhang Rongfang reluctantly cupped his hands and bowed.
"Have you understood?" Yue Dewen asked.
".... disciple..." Zhang Rongfang was left speechless.
"Seems you’ve understood. That little head of yours, I wonder what it’s thinking all day." Yue Dewen stood up, hands behind his back, and patted his disciple’s shoulder.
"Being a person requires focus.
Cultivating is the sa way. If one is distracted, thinking of martial arts here, cultivation of literature there, a lifeti is too short."
"Disciple understands."
"You understand nothing. Always searching for the main ingredient of the Golden Toad Skill, with such potential, yet not used on the right path.
Even the forr second-generation Moon King practiced himself to death. Who are you compared to him? You think you’re stronger than the founder of this skill?" Yue Dewen stated bluntly.
"I originally thought you were more sensible than Xiaozhi, but now it seems you’re also troublemaking." He sighed, feeling weary.
Zhang Ying truly is relentless, searching everywhere for the ingredients, stubbornly refusing to give up.
Fortunately, he discovered it early.
As long as he’s around, this kid can forget about ssing with the Golden Toad Skill.
Practicing the first layer wasn’t enough, and still disobeying to practice the second layer? There are better ways to kill oneself!
Practicing a few more layers will lead to ruin!
"Master...." Zhang Rongfang smiled wryly, wanting to speak but unsure how to begin.
"Alright, settle down afterward. I’ve inford those outside. No one will bother you anymore. From now on, you’re not just any Spiritual Master, but a Daoist of the Celestial Treasure Palace." Yue Dewen waved his hand.
"Disciple obeys...." Zhang Rongfang reluctantly agreed.
From any angle, he had no reason to continue practicing the Golden Toad Skill.
After all, he couldn’t reveal that he was unafraid of life-threatening damage.
"By the way, there’s one more thing, I have another disciple, whom you should call senior brother.
But his cultivation is slightly lacking, so don’t bully him. The boy’s nature is a bit too soft."
Yue Dewen adjusted his breath slightly and clapped his hands.
Soon, another person slowly walked up the stairs.
The newcor was of tall and well-proportioned stature, handso features, with clear eyes, and indeed it was Zhang Qingzhi, who Zhang Rongfang occasionally t.
"Xiaozhi, et your junior brother. From now on, you two should support each other, understand?" Yue Dewen instructed.
"This.... Zhang Ying turned out to be the new disciple of Master...." Zhang Qingzhi expressed surprise.
Zhang Rongfang was also a bit surprised, though it was within expectations.
When he first t Zhang Qingzhi, he felt that this person was not ordinary, aside from being a bit soft, in every other aspect, quite good.
"Hmm, you two should communicate more." Knowing that these two knew each other, Yue Dewen picked up the wine jug and sunflower seeds and left on his own.
Leaving the two, eyes eting, both a bit awkward.
"Brother Zhang Ying, this..... since we are brothers, let’s just forget about the previous profits..." Zhang Qingzhi said.
He felt a bit guilty for profiting off a fellow sect brother.
"It’s nothing, just...." Zhang Rongfang felt helpless, still thinking about previous matters.
The Golden Toad Skill determined whether he could quickly accumulate attribute points, but now, with his master finding out...
Unable to prepare the dicine, he could only wait patiently for ti to pass, accumulating at one point every seven days.
If it were before, he might have thought this was enough, but after witnessing the abnormal martial might after spiritualization, he felt that such accumulation was still too slow....
’Seems I’ll have to patiently wait for two more months....’ Zhang Rongfang thought helplessly, placing his hopes on Zhonghui Hang.
Waiting two months to transfer the goods, getting a hundred-year-old Red Reishi.
*
*
*
Ti flies swiftly, months pass by in the blink of an eye.
Two months go by swiftly.
In Great Capital City, in front of Zhonghui Hang.
Afternoon, the sunlight cast a shade over the wide street from the business house.
Many laborers, hot and tired from carrying goods, sat in the shade with water bags, cooling down.
In this weather, the flow of people was noticeably reduced.
Those coming at this ti were usually shopkeepers from city pharmacies or herb rchants selling goods.
Generally, those seeking dicine or large rchants would choose to co early or late.
In front of the long red doors, a few children in charge were playing, chasing each other and playing constable and thief gas.
Suddenly, an unremarkable black wooden carriage slowly drove up to the front.
The carriage door opened, and out stepped a burly man, over six feet tall.
The man wore a Daoist robe, radiating Essence Qi, and looked up at the sign.
He stepped boldly through the gateway.
"Daoist Zhang, you’ve been waiting!" As soon as he entered, Steward Shen Zheyun was already waiting at the door, bowing slightly.
"No need for formalities. Steward Shen, how’s the Red Reishi I requested?" This Daoist was none other than Zhang Rongfang, who had waited two months.
During these months, he diligently cultivated literature, kept practicing martial arts, and occasionally did alchemy.
With his foundational mastery of alchemy, he could now independently produce the Blood Replenishing Pills he needed.
This ensured at least a cost-efficient and safer option.
After all, once pills are finished, no one knows what’s been added besides the prescribed ingredients.
"This way, please." Steward Shen gestured, guiding Zhang Rongfang to a quiet room on the second floor.
Shutting the door, he turned around, revealing a slight bitter smile.
Seeing that smile, Zhang Rongfang’s heart skipped a beat, sensing that sothing was amiss.
"Steward Shen... has sothing changed??"
"Daoist Zhang, the Red Reishi was indeed found, but... it was intercepted halfway...." Shen Zheyun said helplessly.
"I tried my best, but... it seems like soone at the headquarters is specifically collecting hundred-year Red Reishi.... I hold a low position and weak authority within the trading firm..."
"What do you think? I could offer an eighty-year-old Red Reishi instead...."
"No!" Zhang Rongfang shook his head decisively.
The prescription ntioned it’s the main ingredient, and it cannot fail.
"But.... this...." Shen Zheyun was also at his wits’ end.
It felt as if soone was specifically waiting to intercept this hundred-year Red Reishi.
Such an expensive dicine, forcibly out of stock...
Zhang Rongfang understood in his heart, he had actually lost hope...
The Golden Toad Skill was found in the Great Dao Teaching’s Wuyun Pavilion, and clearly, Master Chongxuan Daoist must have seen it.
He probably knew all the important ingredients in it...
"Forget it, Steward Shen, don’t make it difficult for yourself. Rember to continue helping purchase. This ti let it pass...."
"Thank you, Daoist, for understanding." Shen Zheyun hastily cupped his fists and deeply bowed.
Leaving the Zhonghui Trading Firm, Zhang Rongfang glanced at his accumulated attribute points.
Until now, he had accumulated 11 points.
Originally, he was waiting to use them all on the Golden Toad Skill.
But now....
’It seems.... I must find a way to escape this predicant...’ Zhang Rongfang pondered in his heart.
It has been two months since the Eastern Sect’s collapse, and public opinion has long shifted to clothing and attire aspects.
The Celestial Treasure Palace, which once protected him, had now beco the shackles that restrained him.
Unable to cultivate martial arts, unable to practice the Golden Toad Skill, he could only cultivate literature.
Master Chongxuan and Daoist Mingyuan were elusive, possibly erging from any corner at any ti.
Especially Chongxuan, whenever he slightly started to practice martial arts, that guy would suddenly erge from so corner, staring at him intently.
Normally, regardless of eating, drinking, and other daily activities, Zhang Rongfang always felt soone following him.
He suspected it was Mingyuan, but couldn’t find evidence.
In such circumstances, he hardly dared to add points.
Afraid that adding points would trigger drastic changes in his body, thus arousing suspicion from Mingyuan and Chongxuan Daoist.
Leaving the trading firm, Zhang Rongfang was about to get back on the carriage but still paused, opting to leave on foot.
Feeling frustrated, he decided to take a good stroll nearby.
Having been in Great Capital for so long, he hadn’t truly explored this vast and prosperous city.
He walked along the pedestrian path beside Zhonghui Trading Firm, heading forward.
Passing a courtyard of independent residences with white walls and red tiles, he turned right into an alleyway.
Inside was a bustling street crowded with street food vendors.
A gate stood at the street entrance, inscribed with the words: Gathering Flavor.
Inside were sticks holding flags, plaques, and gray pennants full of dish nas. It seed endless.
Zhang Rongfang looked from the entrance into the street, fragrant smoke billowing, n and won, young and old, separated by just about half an arm.
Most were holding snacks, looking around with smiles.
He stepped into the food street, planning to buy sothing he fancied to whet his appetite.
He had barely walked a dozen ters.
Suddenly, from the right side of a stinky tofu shop, a low voice called out.
"Brother Ying, Brother Ying?"
Zhang Rongfang followed the sound.
Inside the stinky tofu shop, beside a small table against the wall, sat a pretty woman in a silvery-gray long dress.
The woman had her long hair pinned with a silver lotus-shaped hairpin, her chest full, the visible part of her calf strikingly white.
Totally different from the rest of the custors in the shop.
The rest were either burly laborers or freckled youths.
Zhang Rongfang was a bit puzzled, convinced he didn’t know her.
"I’m Shuangshuang." The woman waved enthusiastically at him. She even lowered her head to stuff a piece of stinky tofu drenched in chili into her mouth.
Yan Shuang?
Zhang Rongfang instantly recalled.
He slowly walked over, hesitantly sitting on a stool across from her.
The table was full of stains and oil smoke.
But Yan Shuang didn’t seem to mind, eating mouthfuls with chopsticks, her manner casual and natural.
Completely different from her enchanting deanor at their previous eting.
"Do you want to get out? Leave Great Capital?"
As soon as Zhang Rongfang sat down, he heard Yan Shuang’s words, hitting the nail on the head.
"!?" He was shocked internally, but showed no change in expression.
"Why would Shuangshuang say that? I have a revered master in Celestial Treasure Palace, harmonious senior brothers, many formidable Protectors, and boundless prospects. Why would I want to leave?"
"Heh, your talent might deceive others, but not that person." Yan Shuang pointed a finger upwards.
"Plus, with Zhenyi Sect’s maneuverings, we pretend to push a bit, your matter is almost settled."
"Settled what?"
"Naturally the matter you desire, and the matter your master doesn’t..." Yan Shuang said mysteriously.
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