The colossal man's wrist flicked, conjuring up a hurricane-like vortex imbued with wisps of scorching heat, pointing skyward like spears. Though confined within his palm and condensed into a sphere, the intense fluctuations it contained could engulf not only the Wind Rise Pavilion but the entire desolate city!
Yet, a figure appeared faster than him, emanating a sinister aura, with shadows flickering around him. Ghostly and elusive, he tore through the thick air like a specter, appearing behind Shuro in the blink of an eye, his aura no less formidable than Adamo's.
Adamo stared at the Tiancan old man blocking Shuro, gritting his teeth as he withdrew his lethal move.
Shuro breathed a sigh of relief, his tightly clenched palms slightly sweating.
"Where did you learn about those names of elixirs?" The Tiancan old man's face flushed red, urgently asking.
"Not only the names but also the recipes. If you want them, it'll be thirty thousand Yin Coins per recipe," Shuro said.
"The recipes too? How is that possible..." The Tiancan old man paused, deeply studying Shuro before saying, "Clever lad, you're playing a game of misdirection, setting your sights on me. Thirty thousand Yin Coins may not be much, but how can I be sure that the recipes you speak of are genuine?"
"Twenty thousand deposit, I'll give you one recipe first, and you can try it out. Don't trust me? Then forget it," Shuro said, pretending to leave.
The Tiancan old man's mood was complicated. The elixir names the boy mentioned were ones the Tiancan old man's master had talked about many years ago. However, even the master had only mentioned them in passing, knowing only of their existence as top-quality elixir recipes, but not their contents. It must be noted that elixir recipes were extremely precious everywhere, and the ones the boy mentioned were all top-grade ones among elixirs. If any ordinary alchemist were to obtain one of them, they would soar to fame and glory.
The seemingly reckless youth had quietly set up a trap, luring him in.
The Tiancan old man gritted his teeth. Though he was unwilling to be coerced, compared to that, a completely new top-grade elixir formula undoubtedly stirred his interest.
"Let's talk it over. Everything can be negotiated," the Tiancan old man said, grabbing Shuro, a dry smile squeezing onto his face.
"Third Brother, bring twenty thousand Yin Coins,"
The customers, the assistants from the medicine room, and everyone else stared dumbfoundedly at the Tiancan old man, who held an esteemed position in Five Flowers City and even the entire Southern Domain.
The turn of events was unexpected. The boy, who had seemed like a clown just moments ago, had become the object of the Tiancan old man's favor. However, some of the shopkeepers in the medicine room didn't see it that way. Every elixir recipe the boy mentioned was almost legendary. Even twenty thousand Yin Coins wouldn't buy them, let alone two million Yin Coins!
Adamo stared coldly at Shuro, walking to the Tiancan old man's side, and said in a deep voice, "Master, please don't be deceived. This boy is just a mundane warrior."
The Tiancan old man's face stiffened. "Humph, what do you know? Each of the elixir recipes he mentioned can completely cure Edoardo's illness! Unlike now, where we have to readjust the elixir every ten days. Just like this young man said, my previous elixir was a bit overbearing. It was a last resort, but over time... sigh..."
The Tiancan old man was eccentric and often offended people. However, he was straightforward and never spoke empty words. This was precisely what made some of the cultivators from the major sects in the Southern Domain willing to ask him for elixirs.
Adamo opened his mouth but silently glanced at Shuro, ultimately choosing not to speak again. The boy's words stirred his thoughts. Until just now, he had never trusted this mundane youth even the slightest bit, holding back his murderous intent. However, when the words "Edoardo's Misconception" came out, Adamo's mind was shaken. Only he and the Tiancan old man knew the root of his son's illness.
"Good insight," the Tiancan old man sighed, his trust in Shuro rising to about fifty percent.
Shuro smiled. It wasn't from the boy that he deduced it, but because of the Desert Ginseng King Jade Pill the old man had just refined, which primarily treated Edoardo's Misconception.
Accepting the money pouch and stationery from the assistant with obvious reluctance, the Tiancan old man handed them over to Shuro with a smile. He rarely smiled; decades seemed to have passed since his last, and now his smile appeared stiff and eerie.
Weighing the money pouch in his hand, Shuro wasted no time. He grabbed the pen and paper and swiftly wrote:
"Half Refined Lotus Jade, Three Parts Earth Dragon Marrow, One and a Half Parts Sea Horse from Heaven... to be combined with Dragonling Root as the primary medicine. Boil in martial fire three times, dry refine once, and a pill shall form."
The Tiancan old man silently recited the recipe, nearly leaning into Shuro's chest, his eyes shimmering with intense curiosity. "Young man, which elixir recipe is this?"
"The Old Master's Revival Pill. In my opinion, this pill is neither too hot nor too cold, perfectly balancing Yin and Yang, making it most suitable for treating the declining conditions of young children," Shuro said, integrating the scattered memories of the Nine Dragon King and carefully considering his words as he handed the recipe to the Tiancan old man.
Excitement surged within the Tiancan old man as he eagerly accepted it, and even Adamo couldn't contain himself, taking a few steps forward.
"Can the elixir be formulated this way? If so, wouldn't it disrupt the natural order, mixing different categories?" The Tiancan old man furrowed his brows, his expression uncertain.
Adamo's gaze turned cold as he involuntarily glanced at Shuro. Shuro remained composed, but inwardly, he felt a hint of nervousness. Although Nine Dragon King enjoyed collecting elixir recipes, it wasn't his primary expertise; he wasn't a professional alchemist.
"I see... so it can indeed be formulated like this! Haha, truly worthy of a top-grade elixir recipe," the Tiancan old man exclaimed after a moment, slapping his thigh in excitement.
The crowd was in an uproar! Looking at Shuro again, there was no longer the mockery and ridicule from before. In the desolate city of Yin Chuan, the Tiancan old man was an authority in elixir crafting. If he said the elixir recipe was genuine, then it was.
On the other side, Diego's face darkened like water, his fists clenched tightly, making cracking sounds. When the Tiancan old man took out the twenty thousand Yin Coins as a deposit, Diego's heart sank to the bottom. He never imagined that this fifteen or sixteen-year-old mundane youth could persuade the Tiancan old man in elixir crafting. Within half an hour of the time limit, the mundane youth had already received twenty thousand Yin Coins... Impossible! It must be fake!
With this thought in mind, Diego couldn't help but shout, "Whether it's real or fake, we can only determine it by refining the elixir!"
Andrea remained expressionless, as if none of this concerned him.
"Humph, boy, are you doubting my judgment?" The Tiancan old man glanced at Diego, waving his hand coldly. "Let's start refining the elixir!"
The assistants in the medicine room hurriedly prepared the herbs and utensils. Just then, one of them exclaimed, "Master, we don't have Dragonling Root."
The mention of "Dragonling Root" sparked discussions among the crowd, and the Tiancan old man furrowed his brow deeply.
Anyone with a bit of cultivation knowledge knew that Dragonling Root was an extremely rare medicinal herb in the immortal cultivation world, akin to the Thousand-Year Ginseng or the Hundred-Year Zhu Fruit in the mundane world, priceless and scarce. It grew beneath the corpses of dragon-like creatures, requiring a perfect balance of the five elements to have even a one in a thousand chance of sprouting. In the Southern Domain, it was sometimes encountered once every hundred years or so. Its rarity alone ensured its value, not to mention its miraculous effects on curing various illnesses.
"Even with the elixir recipe, without the main ingredient, this elixir recipe is useless."
"It's a pity. Edoardo saw a glimmer of hope, only to fall into despair again."
"With this, it's hard to determine whether this elixir recipe is genuine or fake."
Listening to the discussions, Diego looked at Shuro, feeling secretly pleased. No matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve, it's all in vain. In the end, it's all for naught.
"Master, where can we find Dragonling Root? Please tell me," Adamo asked in a deep voice. The opportunity to cure his son's strange illness was right in front of him; how could he easily give up?
"Well... I've seen Dragonling Root before, but I truly don't know where to find it," the Tiancan old man shook his head. "Dragonling Root is usually hidden beneath the corpses of dead dragons. Over a thousand years ago, the dragon clan in the Southern Domain was frightened away by Bruno, and they relocated elsewhere. There should still be dragon corpses, but I don't know where."
Adamo's massive body trembled slightly, disappointment evident in his tiger-like eyes.
"I know where to find it," the young man's voice rang out.
Glancing at Adamo, Shuro shook his head. "Not you. Sun, please come here for a moment."
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Sun Zhongyuan strode over eagerly, his rosy face filled with excitement. "Brother, what do you need?"
"Take this money and go to the fifth shop on the left at the second turn from where we came. Buy the Snow Toad King there. It's in the jade basin at the second row from the right on the copper shelf, holding a wooden stick in its mouth. Be quick!" Shuro handed Sun Zhongyuan a handful of Yin Coins.
Without a word, Sun Zhongyuan disappeared in a flash before the Dan Pharmacy.
No explanation was needed from Shuro; everyone understood what was happening. Many faces showed signs of excitement, but no one dared to leave due to the presence of the Tiancan old man and Adamo.
In front of the Seven Treasures Pavilion, Andrea's eyes flickered with sharpness. His left foot had already taken a small step forward, but at that moment, a powerful and menacing aura surged like a vast sea and desert. Andrea's hair stood on end, his eyebrows raised. Adamo had already locked his gaze on him with the eyes of an ancient fierce beast, simultaneously taking a step forward with his right foot, just as Andrea's left foot was about to move.
Seemingly unremarkable, the movements of the two men contained the subtle shifts of Yin and Yang, the intricacies of the martial path, visible to no more than ten people in the Wind Temple.
The two had already assumed a confrontational stance. Whoever took another step forward to break the deadlock would inevitably lead to a deadly battle!
In the shadows of the Daoist passage, ten gray-robed law enforcers emerged, each carrying a blue and red sickle on their shoulders, folding their arms, bowing their heads in deference, silently watching, ready to intervene at any moment.
"Ahaha, I've fulfilled my promise." Sun Zhongyuan returned as swiftly as he had left, carrying a snow toad in his hands, running towards them.
All eyes focused on the snow toad, specifically on the seemingly ordinary short stick in its mouth.
Taking the snow toad, Shuro examined it for a moment before extending his finger and slowly pulling out the wooden stick.
"Ribbit!"
The long-dormant Snow Toad King opened its eyes, blinked slowly, then hopped off the stick and onto the ground. It stretched out its front arms, humanoid in gesture, and bowed twice to Shuro before hopping away.
No one paid attention to the Snow Toad King; instead, a strange fragrance emanated from the wooden stick.
Diego stared fixedly at the seemingly ordinary stick, feeling nervous, sweat forming on his palms.
But even more nervous than him was Adamo.
"Yes, it's Dragonling Root," declared the Tiancan old man definitively after feeling around for a while.
"The young friend not only possesses hidden talents but also keen insight! I roam the Wind Temple every day, searching for herbs, and I've encountered the Snow Toad King twice, but never did I realize that it held Dragonling Root in its mouth. Although this Dragonling Root is only a few inches long, its value surpasses all the herbs in my shop combined," sighed the Tiancan old man, speaking his mind as always.
Equally regretful were countless shop customers. The Dragonling Root had been right under everyone's noses, yet no one noticed it until this young man appeared. Everyone knew Dragonling Root was precious, but no one had imagined it to be so valuable! It was worth more than all the herbs in an eighteen-li radius combined—what an unimaginable concept! It meant that it was worth at least a million Yin Coins and was priceless!
With this Dragonling Root, what did the young man need to worry about money for? Selling it directly would be even better!
Adamo's face changed slightly, clearly also realizing this point.
Just like in the mortal world, the immortal realm also valued resources and wealth, the "treasures" among cultivators. To cure his son's strange illness, Adamo had almost exhausted his family's wealth. Now, he couldn't even produce tens of thousands of Yin Coins, let alone millions.
Staring at Shuro's departing figure, Adamo's eyes showed a hint of difficulty, several times he tried to speak but swallowed his words back.
Who could have imagined that the renowned Tiancan Ruffian would stoop to pleading with a mortal?
A hint of ruthlessness and a trace of shame appeared in his eyes.
If necessary, he would have to snatch it first and figure out the rest later! Adamo thought to himself.
The priceless Dragonling Root flew through the air in a graceful arc, caught steadily by the Tiancan old man.
"Hurry up and refine it. I'm still waiting for the other ten thousand Yin Coins," Shuro said.
"Brother, you're indeed a trustworthy person. What's ten thousand Yin Coins? Third Brother, fetch another ten thousand Yin Coins," the Tiancan old man said, his eyes filled with madness, waving his arms vigorously. "What are you all waiting for? Start the furnace! Start refining!"
Adamo looked at Shuro's back, then turned his head to stare at the Tiancan old man's pill furnace.
Under the gaze of the shop customers, Shuro returned to the Seven Treasures Pavilion with a bag full of thirty thousand Yin Coins.
"Thirty thousand Yin Coins, plus the previous amount, makes sixty thousand," Shuro said, placing the bag down.
The onlookers witnessed the whole process, and many of them were still in a daze even after Shuro had returned with a sack full of Yin Coins.
"Brother, what do you think?" The Red-Yin Nun's gaze was still fixed on the Dan Pharmacy, her expression blank. "That was Dragonling Root! There are only three in my Empty Mountain Sect's treasury, each guarded by eighteen layers of arrays and Black Mountain Guardians. He didn't even take a look and just tossed it to someone else."
"In one sentence, he saved Immortal Chuan's son. Haha, I wonder what Master Uncle thinks," Qin Jiatiangu laughed lightly. Compared to most people, he was rather calm.
"This kid, I'm staking my claim on him for Empty Mountain Sect!" the middle-aged nun said decisively.
"But his character..." The Red-Yin Nun hesitated.
"Red-Yin, in terms of judging people, you still need to learn more from Little Qin," the middle-aged nun said very satisfied.
"Character is secondary; the key is his ability to resolve crises. I was a bit worried before, but I didn't expect him to pull such a move so quickly. If Andrea wants revenge, he needs to consider whether Adamo and the Tiancan old man will agree," Qin Jiatiangu smiled and said, "Now I'm just curious about one thing: why would he risk offending the immortal families to compete for a mortal girl?"
"Sixty thousand Yin Coins... the first time!" announced the robed figure on stage loudly.
The gazes of everyone involuntarily fell on the embarrassed Diego.
This genius disciple of Kunting Mountain, the newly-prominent young master of the Tian Nan Territory, had ultimately lost to a mortal youth who was three realms lower in cultivation. Though it wasn't a battle of martial arts, but an auction, the talent and knowledge displayed by that mortal youth completely overshadowed Diego, the pride of heaven.
To be fair, Diego's defeat was not unjust.
"Sixty thousand Yin Coins... the second time."
Under the surreptitious gaze of some immortal family members, Andrea remained expressionless, showing no embarrassment. Just a moment ago, he had asked the youth to act as a furnace guardian, but in the blink of an eye, the youth had demonstrated a knowledge of alchemy that was not inferior to that of the Tiancan old man, even giving Andrea a slap.
Only those familiar with Andrea, such as Diego, knew what tumultuous undercurrents lurked beneath Andrea's seemingly calm exterior.
"Sixty thousand Yin Coins, for the third time. Sold!" The robed man smiled faintly, pointing at Faithe. "This beautiful warrior is now yours."
"Congratulations, Tiancan Brother."
"Congratulations!"
The scattered crowd approached to congratulate, and Shuro responded with a couple of perfunctory words. With a slight tap of his toes, he flashed onto the stage, breaking open the cage and tearing off the ropes binding Faithe.
Faithe's body went limp as she fell into Shuro's arms.
"How are you?" Shuro asked anxiously.
Faithe lifted her head, staring blankly at Shuro, her eyes glazed as if she were looking at a stranger, allowing Shuro to embrace her.
Suddenly, Faithe struggled frantically, waving her arms and screaming, "Let me go! Let me go!"
"Very impatient," came a dry chuckle from below the stage, unmistakably Diego's.
"Auntie, Auntie! It's me... Shuro. Auntie!"
Auntie?
The crowd below the stage was stunned, wearing various expressions. Diego's face turned red with embarrassment, wishing he could turn into a mouse and find a hole to hide in.
"The Third Young Master! The Third Young Master! The day I return to Caelius Capital will be the day you meet your end!"
"You bastard from Solitary Moon Mountain, you'll regret stepping foot in Caelius Capital!"
Shuro's eyes turned red, growling lowly.
After an unknown period of time, the struggling woman in his arms stopped, and in her weakness, a faintly confused voice sounded, "Is it... Shuro?"
Shuro's body shook, lowering his head, his eyes flashing with joy as he whispered softly, "Yes, it's me."
"Where is this..." Faithe's beautiful eyes gradually became clear as she asked.
"Warden City."
"Warden City... What! How did I end up in Warden City... Right! Where's John?" Faithe's face, full of vigor and charm, showed a hint of panic, her slender and plump body trembling slightly.
"Auntie, don't be afraid. That John is already dead!" Shuro gritted his teeth, wishing he could go back and kill John right now.
"Shuro, don't mind me, you need to leave! You can't compete with him; he has the backing of the immortal families from Solitary Moon Mountain... Why haven't you left yet?" Faithe shook her head suddenly, anxiously urging.
Shuro's nose tingled, his mouth twitched, but he didn't speak. Even at this moment, Faithe was still thinking of him.
Shouts came from not far away.
"It's done! It's done!"
"Truly worthy of Tiancan Brother, to refine it so quickly. Now, let's see Edoardo's reaction after taking it."
In front of the Dan Pharmacy, the boy opened his mouth, holding the pill emitting a green-purple light and a strange fragrance. Then he swallowed it forcefully. Adamo placed his hand on the boy's back, and after a short while, white vapors rose from the boy's head. Yet, underneath his skin, there was a rolling red light, as if something were burning inside him. However, the boy showed no signs of pain; instead, his eyes became clearer and more lively.
Exclamations erupted.
The boy, who was originally emaciated, was rapidly becoming fair and plump before everyone's eyes. The sickly green aura between his eyebrows also faded significantly, gradually disappearing.
"Worthy of being a top-grade prescription, fast-acting, effective, and no rebound! I'm satisfied with being able to refine this pill in my lifetime," the Tiancan old man's eyes gleamed. Then, he shouted loudly at Adamo, "That's enough, continuing like this will only lead to diminishing returns. Just relying on the power of the pill is enough!"
Adamo set down Edoardo, who had tears in his eyes, looking at his father, who had almost given up everything for him, unable to say anything. Although he was young, he had experienced a lot of suffering since childhood, making him more mature than others of his age.
"Wait for me a moment." Adamo patted the boy's head, revealing a gentle smile that didn't match his sturdy physique, then turned around and walked towards the Seven Treasures Pavilion.
As a towering figure, over two meters tall and robust like no human, approached, Faithe's complexion changed. She curled up in Shuro's arms, her delicate body trembling lightly.
Stopping five steps in front of Shuro, Adamo made no move, but a two-foot-long short spear appeared in his palm.
Holding the spear with both hands, Adamo's sturdy body slowly bent down, bowing deeply.
"I can't thank you enough for your great kindness. I owe you a life. From now on, whoever is an enemy of Shuro is an enemy of Adamo! If Shuro needs me, I will come, no matter how far!" His words resonated deeply. Feeling the warning gaze from Adamo, Andrea remained expressionless, pretending not to notice.
Faithe covered her mouth in astonishment. Even though Adamo intentionally restrained himself, Faithe still sensed a hint of terrifying aura emanating from the powerful man.
When Adamo bowed, only a trace of his powerful aura was released, but it felt like a thousand mountains were breaking apart, shocking Faithe. The strongest person she had ever seen was Old York Lady, but the man in front of her was undoubtedly much stronger. It was like comparing two completely different levels; a thousand Old York Ladies seemed insignificant compared to him alone.
"Pleasurable, pleasurable! I haven't felt this good in ten years!" Tiancan, with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, walked over, giving Shuro a meaningful look. "Young friend, if you don't accept this, Adamo will never be at ease in his life."
With that, Tiancan's gaze turned to Faithe, scrutinizing her for a while before forcing a smile and taking out a jade bottle from his pocket. "Don't worry, she's just a little frightened and hasn't suffered any injuries. With a bone age of twenty-nine, although she practices that deadly combination of alchemy and martial arts, she's still young, and her true qi hasn't fully formed. There's still a glimmer of hope for her to build her foundation and enter the path of immortality. The foundational pill I've recently developed can help martial artists under the age of thirty condense their true essence, with a success rate of about seventy percent. Young friend, if you want it, you only need to..."
Before Tiancan could finish, Shuro snatched the jade bottle away.
Staring dumbly at the jade bottle, Faithe could hear her own heartbeat. As the young master of the Luo family, she had naturally heard of foundational pills, which were priceless and rare.
Twenty years ago, there was a tragedy in the Tera Kingdom. For half a foundational pill, thousands of martial practitioners in the Grand Spiritual Realm fought for an entire year, with half-step Ascended and Ascended individuals joining the fray one after another. In the end, the half foundational pill was sold to the Tera royal family for ninety million gold coins. According to Old York Lady, the half foundational pill came from the hands of the immortal families of the Southern Heavenly Realm, and after taking it, there was a twenty percent chance of building the foundation. For this twenty percent chance, more than three hundred Grand Spiritual Realm practitioners and five half-step Ascended individuals fell in Tera that year.
"Auntie, keep it safe." While Faithe was lost in thought, Shuro had already handed over the pill bottle. Sensing the boundless vitality emanating from the white jade bottle, Faithe's doubts only lingered for a moment before disappearing, feeling like she was dreaming.
"A foundational pill..." Faithe had never imagined that one day she would come so close to immortality.
Shuro avoided Tiancan's eager gaze. He knew full well that Tiancan was eyeing the other several prescriptions.
"Master Shuro, we meet again." Just then, the warm voice of Qin Jiatian sounded.
Faithe turned her gaze and her heart skipped a beat. She saw three Daoists walking over, exuding an otherworldly air. Compared to Adamo's domineering aura and Tiancan's mysteriousness, these three were truly the embodiment of her ideal image of immortals. And the shocked expressions of the surrounding people also fell into Faithe's eyes. Obviously, these three immortals were not ordinary.
Oh my god, what's happening? How does Shuro know so many immortals? They're even approaching him actively to greet him... No wonder Shuro isn't afraid of John and Solitary Moon Mountain.
But John is still a quasi-disciple of Solitary Moon Mountain. To contend with John, Shuro would have to join some immortal sect.
Faithe raised her head, gazing intently at the young man's youthful face.