Chapter 268

Although he is an executive of the Renwudian, many things cannot be done too openly.

The Ziyang Sect does not care much about the lives or deaths of outer sect disciples, but this does not mean one of their own can be killed at will; basic guarantees still exist.

While Xu Yang and Sun Tao were both undertaking missions, he did not dare to forcibly terminate their missions and send the two of them out of the Shanmen.

For the time that followed, Xu Yang enjoyed the cultivation effects brought by his perfect bone structure while undertaking missions.

Returning at night, he also took time to cultivate several martial techniques, and his strength improved faster than ever before.

At the same time, among the Denglong disciples of their generation, more and more people reached the minor accomplishment of the Gang Qi Realm; Xu Yang remained completely still, and the calls for him to get out of the Ten Heroes List grew louder and louder.

Guo Huai, An Ping, and Tang Xiao did not come to find him much; only Shen Liang, whenever free, would come to gather with him and even proposed several times to fight Xu Yang again, but all were refused by Xu Yang.

In the blink of an eye, the one-month deadline arrived again; Xu Yang cautiously descended the mountain, refined two hundred Coagulating Blood Elixirs for the Zhu family, and successfully obtained the Returning Origin Elixir.

From Zhu Bin's mouth, he learned that the Su family was still looking for him, but as long as the Zhu family did not betray him, the possibility of the Su family finding him was not great.

"Shopkeeper Zhu, I wonder what conditions are required to obtain the elixir formulas collected by the Zhu family."

After this transaction ended, Xu Yang did not rush to leave, but instead asked Zhu Bin about the elixir formulas.

Every month, one must stay awake for three consecutive days and three nights to earn seven or eight hundred taels; he was already somewhat dissatisfied.

Most importantly, the Coagulating Blood Elixir had no effect on him anymore; as his physical body became stronger and stronger, even the effect of the Eight Treasures Body-Strengthening Elixir was diminishing.

He wanted a more powerful elixir formula, preferably one he could also use.

Zhu Bin put down the teacup in his hand and smiled: "Join my Zhu family, and the elixir formulas collected by my Zhu family can be studied by you at will; not only that, the same applies to cultivation methods."

"The medicinal herbs required to practice the elixir formulas will also be provided by the Zhu family."

This condition was very good; one must know that even to learn the simplest Qi-Enhancing Elixir, without thousands or tens of thousands of taels worth of medicinal herbs to practice on, one simply cannot learn it; this single point alone is enough to make all elixir masters' hearts flutter.

However, elixir masters are far too rare; they are generally cultivated from childhood by major powers, so luring a wild one is basically impossible; no matter how good the conditions offered, it is useless.

Xu Yang frowned: "Is there no other way? For example, after I learn it, I refine a certain number of elixirs for the Zhu family every month."

Although he had a good impression of the Zhu family, he had no intention of joining them; if he truly stepped into the spotlight and exposed his identity, the trouble would be even greater.

Zhu Bin shook his head: "Every elixir formula is the foundation of a family; if one is not an insider, it is absolutely impossible to transmit it."

Moreover, up to now, he did not even know the name of the person before his eyes, let alone their identity and origin; if it turned out to be another family using an elixir master to extract the Zhu family's formulas, would that not be falling into a trap?

He would rather offend someone than hand over an elixir formula for a trade.

"It was I who was abrupt."

With the conversation having reached this point, Xu Yang did not continue to speak much, stood up, and took his leave.

He had thought too simply; only for an elixir formula like the Coagulating Blood Elixir, which had been eliminated, could he possibly buy it at an auction; the secret formulas of great families are simply not something money can buy; they are the very foundation upon which a family is established, and can be said to be even more precious than Mi Chuan Wu Gong.

Returning to the courtyard, he changed into a new set of clothes and rushed to the Wanbaoge.

Although the Eight Treasures Body-Strengthening Elixir was not of much use anymore, it was still of some use.

Zhou Yong brought the Eight Treasures Body-Strengthening Elixir and said: "Young Master Xu, the Wanbaoge will hold an auction in seven days; are you interested in participating?"

Xu Yang's departing footsteps halted: "Does this auction have any elixir formulas for auction?"

Zhou Yong shook his head: "The Wanbaoge is still collecting auction items; there are none in the elixir formula aspect for now, but there are many elixirs for the Gang Qi Realm, and the scale is larger than last time."

Xu Yang nodded: "Reserve a seat for me."

With elixirs for the Gang Qi Realm available, he too became interested.

After refining elixirs several times and seizing from Yun Feng, he now had more than two thousand, nearly three thousand taels of silver on him, giving him the confidence to buy elixirs for the Gang Qi Realm at the auction.

"Good!" Zhou Yong nodded.

Xu Yang added: "If I spend a bit more, can I then purchase elixirs for the Gang Qi Realm at your Wanbaoge?"

His spending at the Wanbaoge was already close to three thousand taels, and the distance to the five-thousand-tael threshold was not far anymore.

Zhou Yong nodded: "Yes, but it is not unlimited purchasing; customers who spend five thousand taels receive a share of one Ten-Complete Great Supplement Elixir from our Wanbaoge each month; its medicinal effect is not inferior to the Returning Origin Elixir of the Ziyang Sect; this time, the Wanbaoge will also put up some Ten-Complete Great Supplement Elixirs for auction."

Xu Yang nodded and was about to leave when he heard Zhou Yong say: "Young Master Xu, did you learn the Coagulating Blood Elixir formula you auctioned last time?"

Hearing this, Xu Yang's heart sank, but his expression remained unchanged; he shook his head and said: "Learned my foot; it wasted a lot of my money."

Zhou Yong revealed a smile and respectfully escorted Xu Yang out of the Wanbaoge.

"Is it not him?"

Recently, the fact that the Zhu family in Qingyang City had seized a large portion of the medicinal herb market with the Coagulating Blood Elixir was naturally under the Wanbaoge's attention.

His first reaction was Xu Yang.

Because this type of elixir had been eliminated in the Qingyang City region for a long time; if the Coagulating Blood Elixir was refined by a local, it was probably only Xu Yang, who originally won the bid for the Coagulating Blood Elixir formula.

"Don't overthink it; relying on a single elixir formula to refine such high-quality elixirs? Do you think he is the sect master of the Medicine King Peak of the Ziyang Sect?" Tao Tao Huaijin appeared behind him.

He had also suspected Xu Yang, but quickly rejected it, believing it must be an outsider elixir master.

Learning from a single elixir formula is simply impossible, especially within a few months.

He himself had obtained the Coagulating Blood Elixir; without decades of elixir-refining experience, it was impossible to refine such good Coagulating Blood Elixir.

"Truly giving up on him? Just for that elixir formula?" Zhou Yong asked.

Tao Tao Huaijin shook his head: "No; he is now a Ten Heroes genius; even if his personality is low-key, he cannot remain low-key; treat him as a normal customer from now on."

"This little servant has ulterior motives."

Walking out of the Wanbaoge, Xu Yang became alert.

He had never suspected Zhou Yong, feeling he was just an ordinary servant, but upon hearing the other party ask whether he had learned the Coagulating Blood Elixir, he knew this was not an ordinary servant.

An ordinary servant would never be curious about this question.

"Eh... what a coincidence, Junior Brother Xu; you are not wearing outer sect disciple clothes; I almost didn't recognize you."

While he was pondering, a voice came to his ear.

Xu Yang looked up and found Jin Lei looking at him with a smile; beside him stood an outer sect disciple Xu Yang did not know.

"So it is Senior Brother Jin Lei; I greet both seniors."

Xu Yang's expression remained unchanged; he broke into a smile, as if utterly unaware that Jin Lei had once harbored murderous intent toward him.

Jin Lei nodded with a laugh and said, "Junior Brother Xu, have you just come out of Wanbaoge? What did you buy?"

Xu Yang shook his head: "How could someone like me have money to spend at Wanbaoge? I merely dared not take the Qi-Nourishing Pills issued by the Zong Sect to the black market, so I could only sell them to Wanbaoge."

"Senior Brother Jin, this junior brother still has urgent matters to attend to; I must take my leave first."

With that, he moved to depart.

Yet Jin Lei's hand shot out before him, blocking his path, as he said, "Is Junior Brother Xu planning to return to the Zong Sect? We happen to be heading back as well; why not go together?"

"This junior brother still has some affairs to settle and will not return to the Zong Sect for now; Senior Brothers, please go ahead."

Jin Lei sighed: "Very well; I had hoped to draw closer to you, a genius of the Ten Elites, but it seems that opportunity is lost."

"Senior Brother, this junior brother takes his leave." Xu Yang cupped his fists and hurried away.

Jin Lei narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Xu Yang depart until he was out of sight, then turned and strode toward the city gate.

"Brother Jin, were you not going to Wanbaoge to secure a spot for the auction? Why are you not going?" Fang Yun, beside him, showed a look of puzzlement.

Jin Lei laughed: "There is no rush to secure an auction slot at Wanbaoge; we can do it in a few days. Encountering Xu Yang is a rare chance."

Fang Yun's face lit up with sudden understanding: "You intend to ambush and kill Xu Yang?"

Immediately after, he frowned: "Xu Yang is one of the Ten Elites; if this matter is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable. Moreover, I heard his background is ordinary, so ambushing and killing him yields little profit. Why bother killing him?"

Jin Lei said with a bitter smile: "I once revealed murderous intent toward him, but he sensed it and fled in advance. Just now, when I tested him, although he clearly intended to return to the Zong Sect, he made excuses about having other matters; obviously, he is on guard against me."

"If I do not eliminate him before he reaches the small completion stage of Gang Qi, he will surely kill me in the future."

"Brother Fang need not participate in this matter, but I beg you to keep it secret; afterward, I will offer heavy thanks."

Ever since Xu Yang ascended the Ten Elites List, he had found it difficult to sit or lie down in peace.

He was a disciple who ascended the dragon in the previous cycle, yet his cultivation base remains at the small completion stage of Gang Qi; since Xu Yang has become one of the Ten Elites, sooner or later his cultivation base will catch up to his.

Although no blow was struck back then, everyone present is clever: one harbored murderous intent, while the other sensed it and fled in advance.

On the surface, nothing happened, but a deadly feud was already forged; if he does not act while he still has the power to kill Xu Yang, the one who ends up dead will only be him.

Fang Yun exclaimed in astonishment: "He is so vigilant! The words you spoke just now were so sincere and heartfelt, yet he still did not fall for them; I actually thought you intended to escort him back to Shanmen."

Jin Lei nodded: "This youth is excessively cautious."

"Since he is your enemy, he is also mine; however, if there are any gains, shall we split them fifty-fifty? I have never killed a genius of the Ten Elites before!" Killing intent gradually blazed in Fang Yun's eyes.

Ambushing and killing fellow disciples of the Jieshatong Sect was something few old disciples like them had not done; they bore little psychological burden.

Jin Lei said: "If Brother Fang is willing to lend a hand, this junior brother will not take a single coin of the spoils."

With two individuals at the small completion stage of Gang Qi acting together, the certainty of killing Xu Yang was even greater.

Fang Yun laughed: "These are your words; that sword on his back, I reckon, is worth at least one or two hundred taels."

"It should be about time."