"You arrived a few days ago, Senior."
After inviting the Fire Pattern Cultivator to the back courtyard, Chen Che got straight to the point: "Senior, what kind of Pill are you looking for to refine?"
Once in the back courtyard, the cultivator stopped concealing his Cultivation, revealing his Foundation Establishnt Realm.
"Hmm?"
The Fire Pattern Cultivator picked up his teacup and took a small sip. He didn’t answer, but instead gave a disdainful smile and asked in a probing tone:
"What Pills *can* Tributor Chen refine?"
Chen Che glanced at him and said coolly, "I can refine any Pill up to Tier Two Middle Grade."
At these words, the Fire Pattern Cultivator’s expression grew taut with shock. But seeing Chen Che’s placid deanor, which didn’t seem like a front, he voiced his admiration:
"Alchemist Chen truly lives up to his reputation!"
It must be known.
The Alchemy Dao is one of the Four Greats among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, and it is not easy. Just as with mortal Cultivation, one might spend their entire life just hovering at the threshold.
To master refining Pills up to Tier Two Middle Grade, one would need to be imrsed in the Dao for at least several decades.
He was only eighteen, which spoke volus of his talent.
"What Pill do you need to refine, Senior?"
Chen Che asked lightly.
He couldn’t grasp the man’s true intentions, nor did he know how many others were with him, so he forced himself to remain patient.
But he had a feeling the man hadn’t co for Alchemy.
As expected, the man asked in the next mont:
"Tributor Chen, how do you find it in Jinyun Valley?"
"If you have sothing to say, Senior, just say it."
Not wanting to beat around the bush, Chen Che put down his teacup.
"Since you put it that way, I’ll be direct."
The Fire Pattern Cultivator also set down his teacup. His gaze burned, and his words were laced with a captivating charm:
"Ye Jingzhou’s life is nearing its end, and Jinyun Valley is now surrounded by circling wolves. There’s no second Foundation Establishnt Cultivator In the Valley to defend it. Lu Yi can’t possibly hold it on his own. As the saying goes, a wise bird chooses the right tree to nest in. I wonder... would Tributor Chen be willing to pledge allegiance to ?"
"If Tributor Chen is willing, that Pill Furnace in Jinyun Valley will be yours."
’So it’s a recruitnt pitch!’
Chen Che wasn’t surprised. Many Major Cultivators had been eyeing Jinyun Valley for a long ti.
’This man is clever, trying to undermine the foundation by starting with .’
Strictly speaking, he himself was part of Ye Jingzhou’s "legacy," sothing for these Loose Cultivators to fight over. Of course, so of the stronger ones were confident they could smoothly take over everything after becoming the master of Jinyun Valley.
"At the assembly a few days ago, the Valley Master already gave the Pill Furnace," Chen Che said lightly.
"This..."
The Fire Pattern Cultivator was stunned, clearly not expecting this. After a mont of thought, he added, "Then I’ll add another offer. We will share Jinyun Valley. In the future, you will be second only to !"
"If Lu Yi takes charge of Jinyun Valley, I’d be sharing it with him anyway."
A hint of mockery appeared in Chen Che’s eyes.
’Recruiting is fine, but you have to offer sothing substantial.’
’But this Fire Pattern Cultivator has nothing to his na. He’s trying to bribe with things that already belong to Jinyun Valley as a reward.’
’Does he expect to be indebted to him for this in the future?’
"If Tributor Chen is unwilling, then so be it."
Seeing both of his offers rejected, the Fire Pattern Cultivator slowly rose. He wasn’t angry, but simply placed a Jade Token on the table:
"Ye Jingzhou is about to die, and Jinyun Valley will be in turmoil for so ti. Besides, from what I’ve seen, there are already several Foundation Establishnt Cultivators in the Market. The others aren’t as easy to talk to as I am. Tributor Chen, you must be careful..."
"...What is this?"
Chen Che glanced at it, and a glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.
’Inside this Jade Token, besides the restriction he ntioned, there’s also an extrely well-hidden Divine Sense Mark.’
"This Jade Token has a restriction I placed on it. If you crush it, I’ll be able to sense it. If Tributor Chen finds himself in danger, I can even step in to help!"
Seeing Chen Che’s confused expression, the Fire Pattern Cultivator explained with a light chuckle:
"As they say, even if the business deal falls through, the goodwill remains!"
"Tributor Chen is now the number one Pill Master in Jinyun Valley. With your aptitude, you’re bound to beco a Tier Three Alchemist sooner or later. By helping you out now, I can form a good bond with you. In the future, if I need a Pill refined, I’ll have soone to turn to!"
He spoke like an elder happy to guide the younger generation.
"Well then, I’d be remiss to refuse!"
Chen Che chuckled softly and took the Jade Token.
After a mont of small talk,
The Fire Pattern Cultivator then rose and took his leave.
"’A restriction?’"
After seeing the man out of the Pill Shop, Chen Che toyed with the Jade Token in his hand, a cold, sharp glint in his eyes.
...
"It seems Ye Jingzhou doesn’t have long to live. He’s already given away the Pill Furnace and designated status. He’s trying to prevent outsiders from poaching Jinyun Valley’s assets after he dies!"
In a teahouse in a corner of the Market.
The Fire Pattern Cultivator sipped his Spirit Tea and sighed faintly.
The teahouse’s private room was enveloped in a fire-patterned Magic Shield, obviously to prevent their conversation from being overheard.
"Master, why did you have to try and recruit that brat?"
In the teahouse room, besides him, there were three other Cultivators.
The leader of the three wore a long saber at his waist. He was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Great Perfection and was qualified to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishnt.
The other two had also reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
At this mont,
The leader’s face was full of indignation as he said, "Jinyun Valley was stable for two hundred years without him. Since he’s so ungrateful and won’t serve us, we should have just killed him on the spot. That would’ve stopped him from siding with soone else..."
"You think I didn’t want to?"
The Fire Pattern Cultivator stroked his beard, his tone sinister. "It’s just that the boy has the aptitude to beco a Tier Three Alchemist. It would be a real sha to kill him."
Among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, if one cultivated a skill to its peak, their status would be even higher than that of a Sa Tier Cultivator.
Of course, that was only if others needed sothing from you.
If you lacked strength yourself, you were just fish on the chopping block, ready to be carved up by others.
"At a trade et once, I heard a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator ntion that ng Changtu seems to favor him greatly! What’s more, I saw his daughter at the Pill Shop today!"
"What?"
At these words, the others in the room all frowned.
’Could it be that the ng Family also wants a piece of Jinyun Valley?’
If that was true, then their chances of seizing Jinyun Valley would be slim.
"However, I left a Jade Token when I left. There may still be a way to turn things around!"
A crafty glint appeared in his eyes. The Fire Pattern Cultivator whispered a few sentences before speaking in a cold, sharp voice:
"If this plan also fails, then there’s no use keeping him alive! Rong Ying, take your two Junior Brothers and make sure you get this done. There can be no mistakes!"
"Yes!"
Rong Ying cupped his fist in acknowledgent and turned to leave the teahouse.
The Fire Pattern Cultivator calmly poured himself a cup of tea and drank it alone.
He really had nothing to worry about.
Three Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivators ganging up on one person. Moreover, Rong Ying had the potential to reach Foundation Establishnt, so his strength far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators.
As long as this plan succeeded, taking control of Jinyun Valley would be a natural consequence.
...
’And I thought they were a big deal. Turns out it’s just a handful of small fry!’
In the Pill Shop, Chen Che held his teacup, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.
The Fire Pattern Cultivator thought his actions were seamless, but he had no idea that Chen Che’s Divine Sense had been secretly following him all the way to a teahouse.
Then, not long after, three Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivators went in after him.
"’Dare to sche against ? I’ve already laid claim to your worthless life!’"
With a soft laugh, Chen Che drained his tea in one gulp.
Since the other party was intent on scheming against him, they couldn’t bla him for being ruthless.
However, to avoid any other Major Cultivators getting involved, Chen Che patiently waited for three days.
That Fire Pattern Cultivator had not erged since entering the private room.
As for his three disciples, they remained hidden around the Pill Shop.
’Since no other Foundation Establishnt Cultivators are involved, it’s ti to make a move.’
Chen Che toyed with the Jade Token in his hand, a cold sneer on his face.
...
「By the evening of the fourth day.」
For the past few days, Chen Che hadn’t left the Market, staying in the Pill Shop to guide Zhao Deyou in Alchemy.
After all, he had taken many orders during ng Changtu’s birthday celebration, and they all needed to be completed on ti.
"Pack up the Pills. The clients will co to pick them up in a few days."
After giving his instructions, Chen Che strolled unhurriedly out of the shop.
It was the height of sumr, and even with the sun setting, the ground remained scorching hot, like a searing iron plate. His Divine Sense detected three "tails" appearing again, hanging back a good distance behind him. They were even using Concealing Techniques with extre caution.
The corner of his mouth curved into a slight smile as Chen Che walked out of the Market at a leisurely pace.
"Senior Brother, he’s finally leaving the Market."
Among the three n sent by the Fire Pattern Cultivator, one with a sword on his back and a ruddy complexion could no longer hold back. He gripped the longsword on his back. "We’ve waited for three whole days! I can’t wait any longer. When are we making our move?"
"Ah Qi, don’t be impulsive. This is part of Master’s grand plan. We can’t afford any mistakes!"
Rong Ying, the leader, said in a deep voice.
"Eldest Brother, you’re being too cautious. With the three of us working together, taking him down will be a piece of cake!"
The one who spoke up was the youngest, nad Shisan. He also carried a sword on his back.
"Everyone be careful. Let’s not get careless and ss this up."
Rong Ying said this, but in his heart, he thought the sa. With the three of them joining forces, there was no possibility of failure.
The three of them quietly followed Chen Che out of the Market, taking a small path into the deep mountains and heading further and further off the beaten track.
The trees grew denser. At first, they still encountered a few Loose Cultivators on the road, but gradually, the surroundings beca more and more desolate. Under the curtain of night, everything was silent.
They were now deep within the mountains, over a hundred li from Jinyun Valley.
"Senior Brother, why has he stopped?"
Seeing the figure ahead suddenly stop and even turn around, Rong Shisan asked nervously.
"He’s spotted us!"
Rong Ying frowned. His pupils suddenly contracted, and he barked in a low voice, "Attack!"
"Kill!"
With almost no hesitation, the cultivator nad Ah Qi gripped his longsword and revealed himself.
He moved with his sword, a dazzling sword light crossing several dozen yards in a flash, arriving before Chen Che in the blink of an eye.
As True Essence flowed, the sword light tore through the night, transforming in an instant into a ferocious Fire Dragon. It thrashed about, opened its great maw, and revealed its savage fangs!
And the Fire Dragon’s target was none other than Chen Che!
’Ah Qi’s Red Flood Dragon Sword technique is becoming more and more proficient, almost reaching Perfection. This one strike should be enough to seriously injure him. The heavier the injury, the better. Then Master can make his entrance and save the day...’ Rong Ying thought with a light chuckle, but the smile had barely ford before it froze on his face.
He saw Chen Che slowly raise his head, extend a right hand as fair as White Jade, and gently press down.
Like a Giant Spirit God upending Suru Mountain, it blotted out the sky! A colossal handprint suddenly materialized in mid-air, like Guang Chengzi’s Heaven-Overturning Seal. It directly slapped the Fire Dragon—and its wielder—out of the air and onto the ground.
"BOOM!"
The ground shook, revealing a deep Hand Seal in the earth. When the giant True Essence palm dissipated, not even a trace of bone remained.
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