Upon hearing Elian's request, Lin Qianshu's expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to normal.
"A few years ago, my master refined a batch of Yangmai Pills to heal Seventh Junior Sister. Only two remain."
"However, I can make the decision to sell you one for 1,500 spirit stones."
Elian's face lit up with joy upon hearing the price, which was 500 spirit stones less than he had expected. "Thank you, Senior!"
"It's just a business transaction," Lin Qianshu said, shaking her head. "No need to thank me."
"Wait here; I'll fetch the pill."
After a short moment, Lin Qianshu returned with the Yangmai Pill. The transaction was swift, and after verifying its authenticity, Elian couldn't help but smile.
"No matter what, I must thank you, Senior, for this deal."
Lin Qianshu said nothing further and smiled slightly. "Go on your way."
As Elian left Tianxu Pavilion, Lin Qianshu watched his departing figure before flying to the peak of Tianxu Mountain with her sword.
At the mountain summit, she landed outside a cave abode and respectfully bowed.
"Greetings, Master!"
"Come in."
A voice came from within, and the protective formations opened.
Lin Qianshu entered the cave abode, where a stunning young woman who appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old sat serenely.
Despite her youthful appearance, this woman was Jiang Daoren, the most powerful Purple Mansion cultivator in the Chu Kingdom, renowned and feared throughout the land. (HAHA, did you guys think she was a man? Well, you are wrong! :D )
Jiang Daoren's real name was Jiang Linglong. Her origins were mysterious, with rumors claiming she came from the eastern coast.
She was a prodigious talent in cultivation, excelling in alchemy, formations, artifact crafting, and talismans—fields where most cultivators would struggle to master even one in their lifetime. Her achievements in each were unparalleled in the Chu Kingdom.
Her youthful appearance was due to achieving Foundation Establishment at a young age, granting her eternal youth.
Jiang Linglong glanced at Lin Qianshu with a hint of curiosity.
"What brings you here?"
Lin Qianshu replied, "I took the liberty of selling a Yangmai Pill without your approval."
"This is no major matter," Jiang Linglong said with a smile. "Who bought it?"
"I didn't ask directly, but I can guess. The Chen family in Yu County is likely the only one urgently needing such a pill."
"The Chen family... I recall selling them a Foundation Establishment Pill over three years ago. I wonder if they succeeded."
Lin Qianshu sighed. "It seems they didn't. Otherwise, the buyer this time wouldn't be a Qi Refining cultivator."
"The Chen family has certainly faced many hardships," Jiang Linglong said, sighing as well.
"Sixty years ago, during the beast tide, they were betrayed over a piece of Ziyang Jade. Qingyang Sect's Purple Mansion elder Wei Chongyang stood by and let over a hundred Chen family cultivators perish in a single night."
"That Ziyang Jade eventually ended up in my hands. In a way, my breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm is tied to the Chen family."
Their conversation revealed a shocking secret.
If Elian had heard this, he would have been horrified. Though he had long suspected treachery during the Chen family's beast tide tragedy, he never imagined it involved the Qingyang Sect.
The Qingyang Sect, one of the three great sects of the Chu Kingdom, boasted Golden Core elders. Compared to them, the Chen family was no more than an ant.
"Though the Chen family's downfall was unrelated to you, the Ziyang Jade was a spoil of your battle with the Purple Mansion demon ape."
"Selling the Yangmai Pill at cost is a way of repaying that karmic debt."
Jiang Linglong smiled with satisfaction.
"You did well."
After acquiring the Yangmai Pill, Elian didn't linger in Tianxu Mountain and immediately began his journey to Yu County.
The path between Tianxu Mountain and Yu County spanned 100,000 miles of wilderness. While there were no Purple Mansion-level demonic beasts, the number of low-level demonic beasts was nearly endless.
Although the Chu Kingdom's forces had been clearing the wilderness for two centuries, many beasts still thrived in the region, and some areas even concealed a few Foundation Establishment-level beasts.
Elian carefully avoided territories with potential second-tier beasts. After several months and covering 70,000 to 80,000 miles, he arrived before a towering mountain.
"This is the place."
Comparing the mountain before him to his map, Elian nodded slightly.
On his return from Tianxu Mountain, he had detoured to search for the cave abode marked on the map.
"There's a spiritual vein in this mountain."
"The cave abode should be here."
With this thought, Elian put away the map and began ascending the mountain.
As he reached the halfway point, he noticed the spiritual energy becoming increasingly dense. Following the flow of spiritual energy, he soon found himself before a cave entrance.
It was an ancient cave abode, overgrown with weeds from years of neglect.
"This cave abode still has active formations."
Elian frowned slightly.
If the formations were left by a senior cultivator, their depth and strength were unknown. Entering recklessly could be dangerous.
With this in mind, he hesitated and felt inclined to retreat.
"I'm carrying the Yangmai Pill, which is crucial for the patriarch's recovery. I can't take unnecessary risks."
"Since I don't know the formation's strength, I'd better return to Qingyuan Mountain and come back after reaching Foundation Establishment."
With that thought, he turned and began descending the mountain.
Unbeknownst to him, this cautious decision saved him from a great danger.
Inside the cave abode, three figures watched Elian intently, their eyes filled with murderous intent.
One of them was the tall, thin cultivator who had sold Elian half of the map.
As the man saw Elian leaving, he grew restless and turned to the leader.
"Big Brother, are we just going to let this fat piece of meat escape?"
"Damn it! This brat is too cautious," the leader cursed. "Screw it. Let's get him!"
With that, he stepped out of the cave abode and unleashed a flying sword at Elian.
Hearing the sound of the attack, Elian instinctively activated his green shield.
With a crisp clang, the shield's barrier blocked the flying sword. Turning around, Elian saw three figures rushing toward him.
His expression darkened as his gaze fell on the tall, thin cultivator who had sold him the map. A chill ran down his spine.
"Baiting, ambushing, and robbing."
In that instant, Elian pieced together the situation and couldn't help but feel a deep sense of fear.
...
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