Yu Shenzi applied needles, channeled his qi, and poured medicinal broth into Jing Wudi’s unconscious form, all while grumbling incessantly.

"Fan Li, my friend, you have no idea how poor the Dark Heaven Sect is," he lamented.

“Those fellows, from their ancestor Jing Ke onward, have always lived a life on the edge of a blade. Assassinations, espionage, intelligence gathering - it’s a lucrative trade, about as profitable as my own Azure Cloud Sect… well, of course, life is priceless. It’s only natural for medical practitioners to charge a premium,” he added with a cough, justifying his own sect’s exorbitant fees.

“But the Dark Heaven Sect, over the past thousand years, has somehow managed to become poorer with each generation. Why is that?” he thought aloud.

“The root cause is a lack of business.”

Yu Shenzi then glanced at Jing Wudi with a disdainful expression.

“Here at the Azure Cloud Sect, we reside deep in the mountains. Our environment is peaceful and serene, perfect for gathering spiritual herbs and refining our medical skills.

The Dark Heaven Sect, however, has remained isolated for a millennium. While they've distanced themselves from worldly affairs, they've also distanced themselves from the market. Think about it,” he said, gesturing with his hand.

“How many people would willingly trek into the depths of the Southern Ridge Mountains to commission their services? Less business, dwindling profits, a vicious cycle.”

Fan Li stared at Yu Shenzi with newfound appreciation.

‘This fellow actually possesses business acumen?’

“Has the Dark Heaven Sect never considered the reason behind their decline?” Lu Fubao interjected. “Why haven’t they attempted to leave the mountains? They fled into seclusion to avoid the Qin Dynasty, but the Qin Dynasty collapsed centuries ago.”

Her question made Yu Shenzi’s expression turn increasingly awkward.

“Well… you see… it’s because of Jing Ke’s remains,” he finally admitted, unable to lie in front of his benefactor.

Fan Li had already anticipated this answer. He smiled faintly and asked, “Senior, are Jing Ke’s remains truly that important to your sect? If I were to purchase them, would your sect be willing to part with them?”

“Really?!” Yu Shenzi was stunned, then a calculating glint appeared in his eyes.

Perhaps this deal could be done?

Back when Jing Ke failed to assassinate Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the royal physician, Xia Wuqie, kept his remains for research.

It was because he had noticed something peculiar.

The swordsman, Jing Ke, in terms of cultivation, spiritual treasures, and bloodline, seemed utterly inferior to Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Yet, he dared to launch an assassination attempt, and within Qin territory, no less.

If there had been no chance of success, Jing Ke would never have thrown his life away so recklessly.

Moreover, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had been driven to such a desperate state during their encounter. Clearly, Jing Ke posed a real threat.

How did he achieve it?

Was it because of a unique cultivation technique? Or an extraordinary bloodline?

Xia Wuqie researched for a lifetime, but he never found the answer.

The Azure Cloud Sect had spent a millennium studying Jing Ke’s remains, but their efforts yielded nothing.

Truthfully, Yu Shenzi wasn’t particularly interested in Jing Ke’s remains. If not for the fact that they were passed down through his ancestors, he wouldn’t have bothered safeguarding them.

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When the Dark Heaven Sect came demanding their return, they offered nothing in exchange. It was simply an attempt to seize them for free. Of course, Yu Shenzi had refused.

Now, Fan Li was offering to purchase the remains. That was a different matter entirely.

“Ahem,” Yu Shenzi cleared his throat and said, “Young friend, you have shown great kindness to our sect. Though Jing Ke’s remains are a legacy from our ancestors, if they could be of use to you, our sect should not be stingy.”

He was a crafty old fox indeed. By framing it this way, he could justify his actions. He was willing to repay Fan Li’s kindness, even if it meant going against his ancestors' wishes.

However, if the deal went through, Fan Li’s debt to the Azure Cloud Sect would be cleared.

Moreover, considering the sect’s history and their ancestor’s role in obtaining Jing Ke’s remains, the price Fan Li offered couldn't be too low.

Two birds, one stone.

‘Heh,’ Fan Li chuckled inwardly. ‘This cunning old man. When I appoint him as the head of the Great Jin Imperial Hospital, perhaps I should make him the Minister of Commerce as well?’

He nodded and said, “Very well. Thank you, Senior. In that case, let's discuss the price.”

…

Jing Wudi felt as if he were trapped in an endless abyss of darkness. The haunting melody of a zither echoed through his mind. The sound was like a thousand blades, slicing and dicing his soul. The seven hundred disciples of the Dark Heaven Sect...

Elders and disciples alike had fallen beneath the torment of the zither’s music. Defeat was inevitable. Even their overwhelming numbers couldn't bridge the vast chasm in their cultivation levels.

Jing Wudi had desperately unleashed his ancestor’s assassination techniques, but his attacks had only managed to tear a small corner of the woman’s silk robe.

Damn it!

Damn it all!

Their ancestor, Jing Ke, the greatest assassin in history, had created two unparalleled techniques: Wind’s Lament and Yi River’s Chill. He had only passed down the former to his descendants.

When Jing Ke attempted to assassinate Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Yi River’s Chill was incomplete, hence why it wasn’t passed down.

However, legend had it that Jing Ke, upon entering the Qin palace, had experienced a moment of enlightenment, a perfect fusion of his mind and the Dao of Assassination, allowing him to complete Yi River’s Chill.

Sadly, Jing Ke had perished within the Qin palace. His descendants had never had the chance to inherit his complete technique.

“If only I had mastered Yi River’s Chill, I wouldn’t have let Sage Ruler Miaoyin escape unscathed!

Ancestor Jing Ke! Why didn’t you wait until Yi River’s Chill was complete, pass it down to your descendants, and then attempt your assassination?

Because of Crown Prince Dan’s taunts, you rushed into action, leaving your descendants to suffer for a thousand years!

With only Wind’s Lament, the Dao of Assassination is incomplete. How can I achieve unity with the Dao?!”

The ninth rank of the Divine Transformation realm had been the limit for every Dark Heaven Sect leader throughout history.

Achieving unity with the Dao had always been an unattainable dream.

The deaths of his seven hundred fellow disciples had, for the first time in Jing Wudi’s life, filled him with resentment towards his ancestor.

“Argh!”

The boundless darkness shattered. In its place, a mountain of corpses, the blood of seven hundred Dark Heaven Sect disciples staining the ground.

Jing Wudi stood amidst the carnage, staring at the gruesome scene, and let out a heart-wrenching cry.

Then, he truly opened his eyes and his consciousness returned to reality. He lay on a bed within a simple Daoist temple, his clothes and sheets soaked with sweat.

“Awake?”

A handsome young man stood at the doorway with a faint smile on his face.

“Who are you?!” Jing Wudi demanded coldly. He gathered his spiritual energy, preparing to strike.

This was Fan Li’s private chamber, but he had insisted on letting Jing Wudi recuperate here.

“Me?” Fan Li pondered for a moment, then said, “I am Fan Li, Emperor of the Great Jin.”

For a brief moment, Jing Wudi was speechless.

The Dark Heaven Sect might have lived in seclusion for centuries, but they weren't completely ignorant of events in the outside world.

He even knew that the Han Dynasty had fallen, splitting into three kingdoms: Wei, Han, and Wu.

“Nonsense!”

Jing Wudi’s gaze was sharp and hostile.

“There is no such thing as the Great Jin Dynasty.”

Fan Li replied, “Indeed, I just established it recently. The capital city is under construction, located south of Mount Yunmeng.”

Hearing Fan Li’s confident words, Jing Wudi didn’t know how to respond. After a long silence, he finally asked tentatively, “You… saved me?”

“To be precise, it was Yu Shenzi of the Azure Cloud Sect who saved you,” Fan Li replied with a smile. “I merely covered your medical expenses.”

Jing Wudi’s expression shifted rapidly.

He had been saved by Yu Shenzi?

They were sworn enemies, a thousand years of animosity between their sects. He found this difficult to accept.

But after careful consideration, he realized that in his gravely injured state, only Yu Shenzi could have saved his life.

“I owe you a great debt. From this day forward, if you have any need of me, Jing Wudi will repay your kindness, even at the cost of my life! I must take my leave now!”

He attempted to get out of bed, but the moment his feet touched the ground, a searing pain shot through his body. His legs went numb.

Fan Li chuckled. “You've only regained consciousness. Your wounds haven't healed yet. Where are you rushing off to?”

Jing Wudi flushed with embarrassment and awkwardly lay back down.

“Well, in any case, I will repay your kindness.”

Fan Li said, "There's no need to talk about repayment. From this day forward, you are my man…"