Jun Changxiao reached an agreement with the Pill Hall, establishing a cooperative relationship between both parties.
One side could provide medicinal ingredients comparable to heaven-and-earth treasures, while the other had sufficient manpower for refinement—this could truly be considered a powerful alliance.
If their competitors in the pill business were to find out, they’d probably already be trembling with fear by now.
“This trip wasn’t in vain.”
Lying on the bed in the highest-grade room arranged by the Pill Hall, Jun Changxiao revealed a satisfied smile.
Although he’d lost the price negotiation battle, it didn’t affect his mood. After all, as long as there were sufficient profits in the future, earning a bit less actually didn’t matter.
Coming all this way to visit the Pill Hall had two purposes: first, to complete a side quest, and second, to discuss cooperation. Now that both were accomplished, what followed was free activity time.
The next day.
Jun Changxiao went to the marketplace, planning to purchase some medicinal herb seeds and such.
Bai Chaoyang also took action, issuing a recall order for members to quickly return to Pill Hall headquarters to discuss major matters, including the six great chief alchemists working part-time elsewhere.
From this, it was clear that the Pill Hall side took their cooperation with the Eternal Sect’s pill division very seriously.
In fact, they had all consumed and studied the high-quality pills refined by Feng Guichen, giving them extremely high evaluations. If these could be mass-produced and introduced to the market, they would absolutely benefit the entire Upper Realm.
Of course.
If while benefiting the world, they could also earn some money to support their families, why not?
Jun Changxiao was currently shopping around, while the Pill Hall’s elite were rushing over from all corners of the world. Before long, there would surely be quite a grand scene.
As for whether he could win over the six great chief alchemists and gather all eight at the Eternal Sect’s Pill Hall—that would depend on his abilities.
……
That night.
Within a certain city, over a dozen black-clothed figures lurked in the shadows, their gazes locked deadly onto the Realm Hall’s branch mansion, their killing intent and fury gradually surfacing.
“No rush, no rush.”
A voice came from the darkest area of the alley: “Sooner or later, we’ll have our fill of killing.”
“Yes!”
Everyone replied in low voices: “Master!”
The speaker walked out, and by the faint moonlight, one could clearly see he wore black robes, revealing a tender face of about twelve or thirteen years old.
That’s right.
This was Jun Changxiao’s life-and-death brother, the tattooed man.
After reincarnation and recovery of his memories, he began launching offensives against the Realm Hall. Tonight’s sneak attack on the branch was the best proof!
……
Time slowly passed, dark clouds obscured the bright moon, and the entire city immediately plunged into absolute darkness.
“Move!”
“Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!”
Dozens of streams of light charged toward the Realm Hall branch.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
Then, explosive power resounded through the pitch-black city, instantly awakening the sleeping martial artists. They all released their spiritual sense to probe, only to discover that the most magnificent and splendid mansion was now being devoured by flames!
“Holy crap!”
“Someone’s attacking the Realm Hall branch!”
For a moment, the entire city erupted into chaos.
By the time they all rushed over, the battle had already ended, and the mansion burning in the flames had long since turned to ruins.
“There’s writing on the wall!”
Just then, someone cried out in alarm.
Everyone looked toward the still relatively intact outer wall of the Realm Hall branch, where several large blood-red characters were written: ‘Ten thousand years is too long, seize the day!’
Impressive!
However, the handwriting was truly awful!
“Ten thousand years is too long? Seize the day?”
Someone who had looked several times before finally making it out read aloud, but what came in return was the faces of the martial artists present changing drastically in shock, crying out in unison: “The rebel, Gu Zhaoxi!”
“That’s not right!”
“Wasn’t this guy already captured? How did he appear again!”
“I heard this person has a Reincarnation Spirit and can endlessly revive, even becoming stronger with each death!”
“Suddenly appearing here, destroying the Realm Hall branch and leaving behind handwriting like dog scratches—looks like he wants to tell the world he’s back!”
“Swoosh!”
Just then, a black shadow burst out from the shadows, pinned down the last speaker on the ground, and said coldly: “What I write is art, yet you dare describe it as dog scratches!”
“Swoosh! Swoosh!”
His subordinates quickly flew out from the shadows, forcibly dragging their berserk boss away, while roaring in their hearts: “After reincarnating so many times, why is Master’s handwriting still so terrible!”
Some people are strong in certain areas but weak in others.
For instance, Gou Sheng—once he opens his mouth, lives are at stake.
The tattooed man also had a weakness, which was that no matter how many times he reincarnated, his handwriting remained consistently unbearable to look at. Moreover, this guy had no self-awareness—when confronting the Realm Hall, he always loved to show off his calligraphy by leaving behind some message.
……
News that a certain city’s branch had been completely wiped out soon reached Realm Hall headquarters, immediately igniting the fury of the upper echelon.
“As expected!”
An elder said through gritted teeth: “As long as this guy reincarnates, he’s sure to come trouble us!”
“Quickly notify the branches in each city to heighten their vigilance. Once they detect news of the rebel, they must report to headquarters at the fastest possible speed!” the dignified elder sitting at the head position ordered.
“Report!”
“Empress Lingyao requests an audience!”
The upper echelon, who were currently troubled by the rebel, said rather perplexed: “Why has this woman come again?”
Last time she went to the Extreme Dao Cave Mansion to demand an explanation from True Immortal Tonggu, ultimately producing a legitimate reason for the Eternal Sect to destroy the Fuqian Sect, which left them quite displeased.
However, there wasn’t much they could say.
After all, it was Pei Sili who had given away the mine vein’s location and secretly told the Lingwei True Sect about it.
“Let her in.” the dignified elder said.
Before long, the cloud-wreathed Empress Lingyao entered the great hall and said: “I’m willing to volunteer to pursue and capture the rebel Gu Zhaoxi.”
“Oh?”
The gazes of the assembled upper echelon showed surprise.
Although this woman held a position in the Realm Hall, she usually kept to herself and was too lazy to bother with anything. Yet she first voluntarily went to find True Immortal Tonggu, and now wanted to catch the rebel—it was really quite strange.
“Of course.”
Empress Lingyao said: “There are conditions.”
“What conditions?”
“Recently, cultivating the martial path has left me short of resources. If I capture the rebel Gu Zhaoxi, I hope the Realm Hall can reward me according to merit.”
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood.
No wonder this woman had been more active lately—turns out she lacked resources for cultivating the martial path.
“Do you have confidence you can capture that guy?” the dignified elder asked.
Empress Lingyao said: “Back then, the Realm Hall dispatched numerous experts and spent hundreds of years before capturing him. Naturally, I don’t dare claim complete confidence, but at least I can give it a try.”
“Good.”
The dignified elder agreed.
Mainly because the Realm Hall had been quite busy lately and was a bit short-handed. Since this woman also had Nine Revolution cultivation, as long as she could find the rebel’s hiding place, capturing him shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Empress Lingyao said: “Ten million immortal stones for capturing Gu Zhaoxi.”
Having said this, without caring whether the dignified elder agreed or not, she turned and left the great hall—truly coming and going in a hurry.
“Has this woman gone mad from poverty!”
Someone said angrily: “To catch one rebel, she actually has the audacity to demand ten million immortal stones!”
“Hmph!”
A high-ranking member said coldly: “Does she really think she’s that important?”
The dignified elder remained silent for a moment, then said: “Go ask how Jin Hao’s injuries are recovering. If there’s no major problem, have him assist Empress Lingyao in pursuing and capturing the rebel Gu Zhaoxi.”
“Yes!”
……
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
In a certain empty wilderness, the tattooed man frantically bombarded the barrier restraining him. Only after being unable to break through did he finally look up in fury and say: “I didn’t expect you’d actually learned the long-lost Heaven’s Net Seal!”
“Therefore.”
Empress Lingyao said: “You cannot escape.”
After agreeing to pursue the rebel, this woman had actually only taken a few days to find her target, and even used a divine technique to seal him in, making it difficult for him to escape—this was truly somewhat unexpected.
“Swoosh!”
The tattooed man sat cross-legged on the ground and said: “Kill me or torture me as you please!”
With his Reincarnation Spirit, he completely had no fear of death. At worst, in a decade or so, he’d be a good man again.
“I won’t kill you.”
“What, you want to torture me?”
“No, this Empress wants to discuss a business deal with you.”
“Discuss business?”