Chapter 1198

Money received, service rendered; honest and fair to all.

Chen Guanlou avoided the city gate guards, successfully left the city, and went to Jade Spring Palace to purchase the most potent pills from Pure Yang Zhenren.

Pure Yang Zhenren was diligent enough to get up in the middle of the night to do his morning lessons. It was just that he was interrupted by Chen Guanlou's arrival right at the start.

"Enough to buy pills, for healing, and you want the most potent ones?" He was completely bewildered.

"You don't need to worry about killing anyone. The person has profound cultivation and strong power; mere pill toxins are nothing to them."

"Stronger than you?" Pure Yang Zhenren didn't quite believe it.

Chen Guanlou gave a hollow laugh, "About the same, about the same. Just tell me first if you have similar pills."

"I do, I certainly do! The sect made its fortune by alchemy; we first earned money by refining healing pills, and only then had the spare capacity to refine other types of pills. To be honest, we can only be considered skilled at other pills, but healing pills are what we are truly proficient in. This pill was refined by this poor Daoist personally several years ago, and it is excellent for warriors..."

"Refined several years ago? Wait, has the efficacy expired?"

Chen Guanlou suddenly thought of expired medicine.

People these days are not clear-headed; how could they be superstitious about old, aged medicine? Do they think medicine is like wine, where the older it is, the better the healing effect? Aren't medicinal herbs best when they are fresh?

Could it be that he misunderstood?

Pure Yang Zhenren was very displeased, his beard trembling, "Little Friend Chen, do not joke. This poor Daoist is not boasting, but I dare say that even a Grandmaster could not refuse the healing effect of this pill."

"Really?"

Chen Guanlou was half-believing and half-doubting; if he kept boasting, it would become an immortal pill that could bring the dead back to life.

"Absolutely true! At the time, this poor Daoist refined a total of nine pills; over these years, they have all been given away one after another, and only this last one remains."

"Can't you refine a fresh batch?" Chen Guanlou cautiously put forward a small request.

Pure Yang Zhenren glared, "Without the herbs, how can I refine them? Being able to refine them back then was all due to luck. The herbs have long been impossible to find; this poor Daoist is a clever woman who cannot cook without rice!"

He felt quite regretful.

Otherwise, he could have let the man surnamed Chen witness his alchemy skills! He might not be able to compare in martial arts, but in alchemy, he considered himself second to none.

When he was still a young lad, his Master said he was the most talented person in alchemy he had seen in decades. He did not let down his Master's evaluation; he completed the ancient formulas, refined various new pills, gained the favor of two generations of Emperors, and carried the sect forward, making it one of the few major sects in the world.

Chen Guanlou thought about it; anyway, it wasn't he who was eating the pill, so if it was expired, it was expired. Expiration only meant the efficacy might be reduced, not that it couldn't heal. As for whether the pill toxins had increased, anyway, Zhang Daohe wouldn't die from eating it, so there was no need to worry!

Pure Yang Zhenren knew how to do business.

He quoted a price of five thousand taels for one pill.

Chen Guanlou jumped up immediately, "Why don't you just go rob someone?"

"Little Friend Chen, you really know how to joke. It's a fair trade, both parties willing; how can you use the word 'rob'? The pill is worth this price."

"We've had a friendship for so many years, can't you make it a bit cheaper?"

"Absolutely not!" Pure Yang Zhenren shook his head and waved his hands, "This is already a discounted price. For others, it would be at least this much."

"Six thousand taels?" Chen Guanlou tutted twice, "Old Daoist, you've been living like a fish in water in the capital all these years and haven't been back to your hometown for many years. Could it be that you're just here to hoard wealth in the capital and specifically earn money from suckers?"

"Do not talk nonsense, stop ruining this poor Daoist's reputation." Pure Yang Zhenren was very pretentious and had to restore his reputation, "What do you mean by hoarding wealth, what do you mean by suckers? You can't say it like that. This poor Daoist has the skill of alchemy, and the effects of the pills I refine are well-known. If the powerful and wealthy families in the capital covet my pills, what's wrong with donating a bit more incense money?

At least I have real goods to give to the believers and have never cheated them out of a single penny. The bald donkeys next door give nothing, yet they are shameless, relying solely on their mouths to make believers donate incense money. By comparison, this poor Daoist is truly an honest man."

Chen Guanlou nodded repeatedly; it made sense, it made too much sense.

"Forget it, forget it, five thousand taels it is. If it has no effect, I'll smash your Jade Spring Palace and tear down your sign."

"You, you threaten people at every turn. This poor Daoist may be mediocre in other things, but in alchemy, I never speak falsely. Just take it back; if it has no effect, you are welcome to come and smash it!"

Pure Yang Zhenren was very disgusted; if it weren't for the silver banknotes, he would have kicked the person out long ago. After collecting the money, he hurriedly shooed the person away.

"Go quickly, go quickly! Don't ruin this poor Daoist's Dao heart."

"The Emperor ruins your Dao heart, and you don't complain. I ruin your Dao heart, and you whine and moan. You are truly double-standard."

"Stop talking nonsense! From today on, this poor Daoist is going into seclusion for about half a year. You should come back next year."

"Old Daoist, you are truly cunning."

"A load of nonsense! This poor Daoist is as honest as can be. Next time you go find the bald donkeys next door; this poor Daoist has no time to entertain you for now."

Chen Guanlou was 'kicked' out of Jade Spring Palace.

By the time he rushed back to the capital, the sky was already fully bright.

Back home, Zhang Daohe's face was pale, looking like he was on the verge of death, with only one breath left.

"Are you dying, dying, or dying? If you're going to die, say so in advance."

Zhang Daohe couldn't be bothered to argue with his sharp tongue and looked at him eagerly.

Chen Guanlou took out the pill, "Five thousand taels for one pill, dozens of times more expensive than gold. It's comparable to an immortal pill! Take it quickly.

The people at Jade Spring Palace bragged that this pill could bring the dead back to life, saving anyone as long as they had one breath left. The prerequisite is that your body can withstand it.

Because the medicinal properties are too fierce, ordinary people can't use it at all; only warriors with profound cultivation can barely take it. Therefore, this pill has been treasured for several years, and the efficacy should still be there. As for the pill toxins, anyway, it won't kill you, so you don't need to worry."

Amidst his nagging, Zhang Daohe decisively took the pill and then began to sit in meditation to refine it.

Chen Guanlou walked out the door and closed it behind him.

After being busy all night, he hadn't even had a sip of tea. Leaving a few sesame cakes for the other party, he got up and headed to the Heavenly Prison.

The Heavenly Prison is still the most comfortable; there are hot meals whenever you go, and people to serve you. Unlike at home, where the stove is cold and you have to busy yourself if you want to eat something.

"Early in the morning, the neighboring Imperial Prison is very lively. I asked around and was told that the Brocade Uniform Guard had an operation last night and captured many cult bandits, including high-level ones. There were hall masters and rudder masters."

Medical Official Mu started nagging him as soon as he saw him.

"When did the Brocade Uniform Guard become so impressive? Hall masters and rudder masters—why don't they just fly to the sky!"

"This time it should be real."

"In that case, the man surnamed Xiao has made a great contribution. The previous matters, the fire and the clash with the Censorate, can all be smoothed over."

"His Majesty must be happy! Once His Majesty is happy, everything is easy to talk about."

Chen Guanlou tutted twice, "The man surnamed Xiao has finished his bad luck and is now starting to have great luck. You can't envy that! When will this official also have some great luck."