I walked through the bustling streets after another day of school, my thoughts wandering until something in the distance caught my eye. A tall figure stood at the center of a small crowd, holding something aloft. As I drew closer, I could hear his voice rising confidently above the chatter of passersby.
"This piece of armor in my hand is called Flaming Dark Armour. It’s bronze-ranked, and unless you had a hundred thousand demon spirit coins, you wouldn’t be able to get your hands on it!" The speaker was a student, proudly showing off a striking piece of red armor. His tall, athletic build, coupled with the way he carried himself, gave him an aura of authority, almost martial in nature.
The one holding the armor was Chen Linjian, a prominent figure from one of the city’s major families. As a direct descendant of the Divine Family, he held considerable influence. At just 20 years old, he had already reached 5-star bronze rank and was on the verge of breaking through to 1-star silver rank. The Divine Family, known for their immense wealth, made him stand out even more among the students.
Several girls standing nearby couldn't hide their envious expressions. Some even shot flirtatious glances at Chen Linjian, clearly taken by his good looks and the prestige that came with his family name. His popularity wasn’t surprising—after all, he had wealth, status, and strength.
With a casual wave, Chen Linjian tossed the Flaming Dark Armour to one of his men. "I gift you this," he said, his voice filled with nonchalance, as if handing over an expensive battle armor was no big deal.
The crowd around him was left speechless. A battle armor worth tens of thousands of demon spirit coins was gifted just like that? It was an amount that would make many think twice, but for Chen Linjian, it seemed like a trivial sum.
I stepped closer to get a better look at the Flaming Dark armor. Even at a glance, I could tell that while it wasn’t quite as exquisite as the highest-quality bronze rank armor, it was still an impressive piece—easily worth at least 50,000 spirit coins. A display of wealth and power, as expected from someone of the Divine Family, I thought.
Chen Linjian faintly laughed and continued, "There are six 5-year-old Holy Dark Grasses here. They were taken from my home; as long as you follow me and work hard, there won’t be any lack of benefits for you guys!"
I see… So he's recruiting more minions into his circle. I observed from a distance. Even if he’s rich, isn’t he being a little too careless with his spirit coins? But then, understanding dawned on me. He’s not just throwing money away—he’s creating loyalty. By giving expensive armor to his most loyal subordinates, he’s showing off his wealth and recruiting people. But for those who are just joining his team, they only get Holy Dark Grass. Even if someone came from the richest family, they wouldn’t be handing out bronze-rank armor like cabbages. Holy Dark Grass, on the other hand, is less costly and easier to cultivate.
I had heard of Holy Dark Grass before. It’s a product exclusive to the Divine Family, known for strengthening one’s soul force. The value of the grass is determined by its age, with older grass being far more potent. A 1-year-old Holy Dark Grass can sell 10,000 spirit coins, which is about the same as one of the Sacred Family’s elixirs.
However, a single 5-year-old Holy Dark Grass? That’s worth at least 50,000 demon spirit coins. The older the grass, the more its value multiplies. A 10-year or 20-year Holy Dark Grass could be several times more expensive, not just linearly—a 20-year-old grass would be worth far more than twenty times the price of a 1-year-old.
Some people began to gather around Chen Linjian, enthusiastically declaring,
"We’ll listen to Young Master Chen!"
"Yeah, we’ll follow you!"
Chen Linjian scanned the crowd, counting the number of eager faces. "There’s a few people here, but we still need to find some more."
At that moment, I stepped forward.
"Young Master Chen Linjian."
His attention shifted to me. His eyes briefly flickered with curiosity before he spoke.
"Hm? Are you interested in joining my team?" he asked, a subtle smirk on his face.
"Young Master Chen Linjian, my name is Naraku, from the Sacred Family. If you’re short on people, we can make a deal."
Chen Linjian's expression changed; his interest clearly piqued. "Alright. Let's go talk somewhere quieter." He motioned to his subordinates to take charge, then gestured for me to follow.
We walked to a nearby tavern, a place bustling with murmurs, and took seats at a secluded table.
Chen Linjian leaned back, his gaze sharp. "So, what kind of deal are we talking about?"
"I want to ask first—why do you need so many subordinates?" I replied, studying his expression.
Chen Linjian hesitated briefly before answering, "This is a secret to most, but since you're from the Sacred Family, I’ll tell you. Recently, ruins were discovered—likely remnants from the Age of Darkness. Quite a number of people have already gone there to explore, and I need more people to join me for the expedition."
"I see," I nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, I just had a dozen people join me recently. If you're interested, I could lend them to you."
"Lend?" Chen Linjian's brow furrowed, his skepticism clear. He had been handing out expensive gear to secure loyalty, fully expecting these people to join him permanently.
"That’s right," I clarified. "Give each of them a Holy Dark Grass, and they'll gradually follow you. They’re only bronze rank for now, but they've been trained by the Sacred Family. Not only will they assist in this exploration, but they’ll support you in future expeditions as well. Any spoils they find in the ruins will be split evenly between you and me."
Chen Linjian paused, weighing the offer. 'So, what he’s saying is that he wants ten Holy Dark Grass to cultivate his own subordinates, in exchange for helping me in the exploration and letting me keep half of the spoils. With the Sacred Family's backing, this expedition will be smoother. And they won’t interfere with my plans.’
Chen Linjian thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Naraku. We have a deal. Ten Holy Dark Grasses, but anything found in the ruins will be split equally," he said, a calculating gleam in his eyes.
"Of course, Young Master," I replied, shaking his hand firmly. The deal was sealed, and Chen Linjian handed me ten Holy Dark Grasses, their dark, shimmering leaves promising to boost the soul force of those who received them.
"We'll meet here again in three days," Chen Linjian added. With the agreement in place, I left the Tavern.
Chen Linjian then spoke to his subordinates; everyone gathered in the tavern, and slowly he began to recruit more people, using his wealth and reputation to draw in eager followers.
After an hour, a boy with orange hair arrived. He stepped forward and said, "I wish to join your team. I wonder if Young Master Chen is willing to accept me." As Nie Li looked at Chen Linjian, fragments of memories resurfaced in his mind.
Chen Linjian was a remarkable figure, even among the nobility. In his previous life, he had been one step away from achieving black gold rank as a demon spiritist. Nie Li didn’t know him well, but he remembered that during the final battle of Glory City, when the Sacred Family had fled and allowed the west gate to be breached, Chen Linjian had been furious, and in his rage, he had beheaded six members of the Sacred Family. He was certainly someone who held grudges.
Chen Linjian regarded Nie Li for a moment before responding noncommittally, "Who are you? Do you know what we are planning to do?"
The people surrounding Chen Linjian cast mocking glances at Nie Li. "Brat, have you reached bronze rank yet? If not, don’t come here to join," one of them sneered.
Nie Li turned to face his mockers, his expression unyielding. "Of course, I know what you’re all planning. You’re preparing to explore the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, right?"
A look of astonishment crossed Chen Linjian’s face. ‘How did he know we were exploring the Ancient Orchid City Ruins?’ he thought. ‘This matter has always been kept secret; if our families were to find out, they would surely prevent us from going.’
Chen Linjian narrowed his eyes, intrigued yet cautious. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and probing.
"I am Nie Li," he replied calmly.
"Nie Li?" Chen Linjian’s expression shifted as recognition dawned on him. He recalled hearing the name recently. This was the boy who had gained fame for damaging the Sacred Family’s reputation due to a scandal involving an inscription pattern fraud. Even Chen Linjian felt shame for their shortcomings. "They say you’ve read all sorts of ancient books."
"That's right. I’ve read everything I could find in the library," Nie Li said, a strong sense of self-confidence evident in his voice.
Chen Linjian chuckled, though there was a flicker of seriousness in his gaze. "Such a big claim for someone your age."
"Do you think you know more than me just because you're older?" Nie Li shot back, a hint of defiance in his voice. "I have valuable knowledge about the Ancient Orchid City Ruins. Information that could be the difference between life and death during your expedition."
"Ha ha, what bravado!" one of Chen Linjian’s companions scoffed.
"You haven’t even hit puberty, yet you claim to have read all the ancient texts in the library? How laughable! Even if you’ve been reading since you were in the womb, you couldn’t possibly have read so many books," another chimed in, their derision clear.
Chen Linjian observed the exchange, intrigued. ‘Nie Li is indeed interesting,’ he thought. He didn’t fully doubt the boy’s words. Gently tapping his fingers on the table, he inquired, "Since you claim to be well-read, do you know what era the Ancient Orchid City Ruins belong to?"
Nie Li smiled smugly. "Based on the current clues, the buildings in the Ancient Orchid City Ruins are round, while the city layout is square. With such a construction style, there are only two compatible eras: the Snow Wind Empire Era and the Sacred Empire Era. However, considering the murals, I heard some explorers discovered a large lotus mural. Lotus murals were popular in the later period of the Sacred Empire, so I can confidently say that the Ancient Orchid City Ruins date back to the time between the later period of the Sacred Empire and the Age of Darkness." Nie Li’s tone was neither gentle nor rushed as he analyzed the origin of the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, showcasing his knowledge with ease.
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Upon hearing Nie Li’s explanation, Chen Linjian’s underlings were left dumbfounded, and a hush fell over the tavern as his words resonated with the crowd. Even those who had mocked him were now silent, intrigued by his confidence, although they had no knowledge of the information he had just shared.
“Good!” Chen Linjian suddenly stood up, his eyes lighting with surprise. He had never expected Nie Li to so easily discern the origin of the Ancient Orchid City Ruins. While the knowledge may have seemed straightforward, even some historians in Glory City might struggle to conduct such an in-depth investigation.
Admiration flickered in his gaze as he regarded Nie Li. “From now on, you will follow me; I’ll provide you with training and learning materials. How does that sound?”
Chen Linjian’s subordinates exchanged glances, surprised that their leader valued Nie Li so highly.
Becoming Chen Linjian’s subordinate? Nie Li chuckled lightly. “This time, it’s about cooperation; each of us takes what we need. I believe no one understands the structure of the Ancient Orchid City Ruins better than I do. If treasure is found, I’ll select one item first, and the rest will be yours. If that’s not agreeable, then I’ll have to go on my own.”
His bold statement incited anger among Chen Linjian's followers, who began shouting.
“Choose one item first? Who do you think you are?”
“You haven’t even reached bronze rank and dare to negotiate terms with Young Master Chen?”
“I guarantee that there will be rewards if you bring me along!” Nie Li declared, pride evident in his voice. Though he had never explored these ruins in his past life, his archaeological knowledge gave him confidence in locating the treasures within the Ancient Orchid City Ruins.
‘This Nie Li hasn’t even reached bronze rank; where does he get this confidence?’ Chen Linjian had an incomplete map of the Ancient Orchid City Ruins; he paused, contemplating. Could it be that Nie Li possesses a more complete treasure map?
He leaned back, absorbing the information; his interest piqued. The boy was not just a brash newcomer; he had the potential to be a valuable asset on their expedition. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal! Let me reiterate; if you follow me, you won’t lack benefits. If you’re unwilling, I believe there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future.” Chen Linjian laughed proudly.
His underlings were taken aback. ‘He actually agreed to this?’
“Let’s hope for fruitful cooperation,” Nie Li replied calmly before turning to leave.
“Three days from now, at six o’clock in the morning, we’ll meet here!” Chen Linjian called after him, a playful smile creeping onto his face as he watched Nie Li walk away. ‘Nie Li, this guy is quite interesting.’
“Exploring the Ancient Orchid City Ruins. It seems I still have preparations to make,” Nie Li murmured to himself.
---
Time slowly passed, and afternoon arrived.
Glory City Alchemy Association
The director of the Alchemy Association was a woman named Yang Xin. Though only 25 years old, she had achieved remarkable success as a gold-rank demon spiritist. While this may not have been considered exceptional, her accomplishments already surpassed those of some older members within the association.
Yang Xin was strikingly beautiful, and when she first took on the role of director, many in the Alchemy Association believed she had secured the position solely because of her looks. However, as Yang Xin began to showcase her talent, those who had gossiped quickly fell silent.
As usual, Yang Xin was collecting letters from the Alchemy Association’s mailbox. Many alchemists would write about their experiences in refining medicine, and the Alchemy Association would compile these letters into a book to distribute among alchemists.
With most ancient alchemy texts lost, the profession of alchemist had become somewhat embarrassing in Glory City due to the limited effects of elixirs.
Yang Xin opened letter after letter. Some contained love confessions addressed to her, which she discarded without a second thought. Soon, one letter caught her attention.
“Regarding the applications of Purple Hazegrass in alchemy?” Yang Xin’s brow furrowed in doubt.
What other uses could there be for Purple Hazegrass aside from burning it to repel insects?
She continued reading, and the letter detailed the uses of Purple Hazegrass. When added to the Soul Assembling Pill and Spiritual Enhancing Pill, a small amount could increase their effectiveness by 25%. Furthermore, by combining Purple Hazegrass with five other herbs and taking an herbal bath, one could nourish the soul force and more.
Over sixty uses for Purple Hazegrass were listed, and nearly half of them seemed highly valuable. If all these claims were proven true, the price of Purple Hazegrass would skyrocket several dozen times!
Yang Xin coldly sneered. “Trying to trick me into inflating the price of Purple Hazegrass? You’ll need a more realistic proposition than this! This person is definitely a fraud!” She tossed the letter aside, incredulous that an ordinary herb like Purple Hazegrass could have so many effects.
Glancing over the other letters, Yang Xin hesitated. If Purple Hazegrass indeed had this many uses, it could significantly impact countless alchemists' work.
“Forget it; I’ll just give it a try! Bring me some Purple Hazegrass!” Yang Xin called out. The Alchemy Association had several herb storages, so someone should be able to find some for her.
Soon, someone brought over the Purple Hazegrass. “Yang Director, our stock is limited; we only have three pounds.”
Yang Xin frowned slightly. Recently, a significant acquisition of Purple Hazegrass had occurred, and as the Director of the Alchemy Association, she was well aware of it.
“Understood!” Yang Xin nodded and proceeded to use the Purple Hazegrass to refine the Soul Assembling Pill and Spiritual Enhancing Pill according to the instructions in the letter.
The formulas for these pills had been passed down in Glory City for hundreds of years, and no one dared to alter them. Who would risk adding other materials casually? The raw materials for the Soul Assembling Pill and Spiritual Enhancing Pill were expensive, and a failed attempt would lead to significant losses for the alchemist.
After two hours of refinement, the results amazed Yang Xin. Adding Purple Hazegrass indeed increased the effects of the Soul Assembling Pill and Spiritual Enhancing Pill by 25% and, additionally, boosted the success rate by 50%.
This experimental outcome was monumental for every alchemist. Previously, the Soul Assembling Pill and Spiritual Enhancing Pill could not be produced in large quantities due to their low success rates and inefficiency compared to better alternatives like elixirs. Now, with the increased effects and success rates, these pills could become cost-effective and be produced on a larger scale.
Glory City was always under threat from demon beasts, but if they could efficiently produce Soul Assembling and Spiritual Enhancing Pills, it would greatly bolster the ranks of Glory City’s experts. And although most of the Purple Hazegrass in Glory City had been cleared out, it matured every three years. Once a large harvest was completed after this period, it would hold significant importance for the city.
"I am aware you'll earn a fortune from this, but considering how much you've contributed to Glory City and the Alchemy Association, I’ll let you reap those rewards!" Yang Xin beamed with joy, realizing that this letter had likely come from those who had purchased all the Purple Hazegrass.
The letter also mentioned that bathing in a mixture of Purple Hazegrass and five other common herbs could nourish the soul force.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Xin decided to mix the herbs as described in the letter. She poured hot water over the combination and slowly stepped into the wooden barrel. As the essence of the herbs was released, she felt it being absorbed into her body, nourishing her soul force.
"The effects are quite noticeable!" Although not as potent as pills or elixirs, Yang Xin was astonished; she hadn’t expected this simple, common Purple Hazegrass to yield such results. The thought of how many families had burned it in the past filled her with regret for all that lost potential.
After soaking for about an hour, until the herbs were fully absorbed, she stepped out of the barrel and returned to her room.
"Director, what happened? You suddenly look more youthful!" one of the men in the Alchemy Association remarked, his eyes widening at Yang Xin.
The herbal mixture, combined with the Purple Hazegrass, not only nourished the soul force but also rejuvenated the skin, giving it a beautifying effect.
Yang Xin secretly rejoiced; no woman could resist the thrill of enhanced beauty. However, she lamented how quickly one pound of Purple Hazegrass had been used up.
She promptly compiled her findings on the remarkable uses and effects of Purple Hazegrass into a note and sent a copy to every alchemist, clearly stating the first and second uses that had been personally tested by her and were indeed effective. As for the remaining claims, she had yet to verify them due to the shortage of Purple Hazegrass and thus did not mention them.
The revelation of Purple Hazegrass's created an uproar within the Alchemy Association, prompting every alchemist to scour the city for it. Some even approached commoners who had stores of Purple Hazegrass in their homes.
The elders of the association began to confirm the herb's properties, successfully verifying all sixty-plus uses! A day after the news of Purple Hazegrass's extensive magical uses was released, it sent shockwaves through the alchemy circles. Within days, the price of Purple Hazegrass skyrocketed. After the Alchemy Association obtained the last batches, and as alchemists scrambled to acquire it for its immense value, it quickly became impossible to find in the market.
The price of Purple Hazegrass surged from one spirit coin per pound to several spirit coins, then to ten spirit coins, ultimately increasing a hundredfold. Some nobles even offered several hundred demon spirit coins for just one pound, captivated by the beauty-enhancing effects that made ladies covet it. Many women feared their husbands would be swayed by the allure of gorgeously dressed women outside.
Every garden nursery began to cultivate Purple Hazegrass, but even with this surge in demand, Glory City would face a severe shortage of the herb for the next three years.
---
The day I met with Chen Linjian for the expedition coincided with the release of the news regarding the two most important uses of the Purple Hazegrass. On my way back home, I caught wind of the commotion surrounding this revelation.
In the days leading up to this, I took notice of the gradual disappearance of Purple Hazegrass from the market when I went to buy some herbs, as if a figure had been quietly hoarding all available quantities.
So the Alchemist Association made a new discovery and is trying to cash in, I thought to myself.
Why would they willingly release such valuable information, detailing the use of the Purple Hazegrass? Clearly, they were attempting to manipulate its price.
The mastermind behind the large-scale purchases was likely affiliated with the Alchemist Association itself.
Soon, word would spread about the herb's uses, prompting a rush to buy, resell for profit, or hoard it for personal gain.
I couldn’t help but sneer at the audacity of those who dared to scheme so blatantly. However, there was no reason for me not to join in.
After confirming the herb's skin-nourishing properties, it was enough to determine it would be worth the investment.
While I had only a few bags of it stored away, I quickly dispatched my servant to buy up the last remaining quantities that were harvested recently, both within and outside the Sacred Family.
Traders were already purchasing it and reselling it at exorbitant prices, and I visited every one of them, acquiring all the Purple Hazegrass I could. By the end of my efforts, I had spent a total of 500,000 demon spirit coins.
Given the practical use of the Purple Hazegrass, its demand was bound to rise, while its supply would dwindle as it took time to grow, causing its price to increase. This was a basic principle of finance I remembered from my previous life; therefore, I saw no reason to sell now.
While it was certainly a gamble, I relished the thought of annoying the people of Glory City.
My gamble seemed to pay off when, just a day later, countless individuals began knocking on my door, desperate to buy back their Purple Hazegrass. With the demand skyrocketing and my stockpiles secure, I shut myself in, ignoring their pleas, instructing my servant to inform them that I was deep in cultivation, striving to break through to Bronze Rank 1. I had him collect their information, promising to sell a portion to them soon.
In the next two days leading up to the expedition, my focus was on increasing my soul force, currently at 135 points.
At night, I retrieved a Soul Assembling Pill I had just purchased. Such pills commanded exorbitant prices—one Superior Soul Assembling Pill or Spiritual Enhancing Pill could sell for over 20,000 demon spirit coins, nearly double that of elixirs, and were primarily produced by the Alchemist Association in limited quantities.
I settled into a cross-legged position and popped the Soul Assembling Pill into my mouth. As it began to dissolve, I felt a wave of warmth emanate from my abdomen, gradually coursing toward my soul realm.
Soul force surged within me. My soul realm, akin to scattered clouds, was suddenly filled with a frenzied influx of energy.
A faint cyan glimmer radiated from my body. The drug's efficacy of the Soul Assembling Pill was incredibly potent, designed solely for those who had reached one-star Bronze. An ordinary person would be considered fortunate to absorb even a tenth of it, but my practice of [Holy Primal Darkness] allowed me to fully assimilate the pill’s effects. Moreover, I discovered that my Dark Wood attribute amplified its base effect by 125%.
It’s worth noting that a Soul Assembling Pill could only be consumed once a week; otherwise, one risked damaging their soul realm foundation.
The processing of the pill's effects would take several hours, and as I sat in meditation, I sensed my soul force steadily increasing.
After fully absorbing the Soul Assembling Pill, I felt a significant shift in my soul force, rising from 135 to 160 points. The effect was astonishing; while most others could typically gain at most 16 soul points, I had experienced nearly a 25-point increase. The power surging through me felt exhilarating, and I knew that my efforts were paying off as I prepared for the upcoming expedition.