Chapter 110: Materials Trouble the Heart

Xu Chuan neither agreed nor disagreed, smiling faintly, "There aren't many pills that can work on grandmaster martial artists. I don't have such pill formulas on hand either. When I have time in the future, I'll research them."

"Then eldest brother must have already reached grandmaster perfection long ago. But the little ones in the future will be blessed."

Xu Chuan shook his head with a smile, then slapped his storage bag. Three porcelain bottles flew out and landed in Xu Mingxian's hands.

"One bottle contains a middle-grade Breakthrough Pill that can help you quickly break through the eighth layer bottleneck. One bottle contains a superior-grade Breakthrough Pill to use when you reach the ninth layer bottleneck. The last bottle contains six superior-grade Qi Gathering Pills to help you advance your spiritual power."

Seeing him open his mouth to speak, Xu Chuan knew what he wanted to say and immediately raised his hand to stop him, "Don't refuse. Father is a pill master. Qi Gathering Pills can be refined again after some time."

"Breaking through to eighth layer of Qi Refining as soon as possible will also help you repair the array formation."

Xu Mingxian nodded heavily, swallowing back all his words.

"Continue your research. Father will go out for a walk."

"Father, be careful."

Xu Mingxian meditated for a moment, then threw himself into the deduction and completion of the array formation.

After making a round, Xu Chuan discovered that the five types of materials Xu Mingxian mentioned weren't difficult to find, but the key was the price. They were all second-grade spirit materials, easily costing over ten or twenty spirit stones each. The most expensive one cost over forty spirit stones.

Moreover, he thought one set might not be enough. It would be best to prepare two or three sets.

"That's over three hundred spirit stones again." Xu Chuan sighed slightly in his heart, "Continue buying spirit medicine and selling pills?"

However, he had concerns in his heart, afraid of being watched by Qi Refining clans, afraid of their boundless greed.

"I wonder how much deterrent power the Zhou family's guest elder token has?"

Just as Xu Chuan was hesitating, he suddenly heard people passing by discussing, "I heard that Prince Yong's manor is widely inviting pill masters, wanting to determine the most outstanding pill master to refine healing pills for the princess consort, and they're offering heavy rewards."

"If any pill master truly succeeds, I'm afraid superior-grade magical artifacts and large amounts of spirit stones will be within easy reach."

"Unfortunately, none of us are pill refiners. It has nothing to do with us."

The two people's tones were full of regret as their voices gradually faded into the distance.

"Treasure Pavilion belongs to Prince Yong's manor. That He-surnamed pill master's pill refining attainment shouldn't be low. Even he can't do it, so the pills to be refined must be extraordinary."

"However, I could give it a try."

Xu Chuan's original intention in coming to Tongshan Commandery was to establish connections with the Great Wei imperial family, but he lacked the opportunity.

As for rashly visiting their door, Xu Chuan wouldn't commit such a reckless act.

Now, using pill refining as a pretext was perfectly appropriate.

After a brief inquiry, Xu Chuan learned where Prince Yong's manor was recruiting pill masters in the marketplace, and he immediately headed there.

At the same time at Tongshan Commandery, Prince Yong's manor.

One of Xu Chuan's old acquaintances was currently in the prince's manor.

This person was Zhou Sen from the Zhou family.

Zhou Sen was also a pill refining master capable of refining superior-grade pills, so he was naturally among those invited by Prince Yong's manor.

"Master Zhou, after looking at this pill formula, do you have confidence?"

A middle-aged man dressed like a steward asked with concern. This person was Prince Yong manor's butler, with cultivation reaching ninth layer of Qi Refining.

In the great hall, besides Zhou Sen, there were three other pill masters, including that Master He.

"The second-grade Jade Sprout Pill was a famous healing pill even in ancient times. This old man has heard of it before and is finally fortunate enough to see it today." Zhou Sen stroked his beard, looking pleased to finally see it.

Shortly after, he looked up at the middle-aged butler with slight regret, "If it were an ordinary second-grade healing pill, this old man would be confident of refining it successfully within a few batches."

"But the Jade Sprout Pill is already difficult to refine, and you require middle-grade pills. Forgive this old man for being unable to help."

The middle-aged butler sighed in his heart. Although he had expected it, hearing Zhou Sen say this still weighed heavily on him.

Zhou Sen's pill refining technique was already above Master He and the others. If even he couldn't do it, would they really have to wait for the Dan Hall's Chief Elder to return from his travels?

The Great Wei imperial court had a Dan Hall organization that recruited pill masters from across the realm.

Its Chief Elder was even a pill refining master whose cultivation reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Although only mid-Foundation Establishment, his status was higher than some late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"However..."

As Zhou Sen's tone changed, the middle-aged butler's eyes brightened.

"My Zhou family has a guest elder whose pill Dao attainment surpasses mine. He might have some confidence."

"Truly? Then please have Master Zhou quickly invite him here."

Zhou Sen shook his head and sighed, "It's too late. Last year, he already left my Zhou family. To seek the Dao, he travels everywhere. This old man also doesn't know his whereabouts."

The middle-aged butler just wanted to curse in his heart.

Are you toying with me?!

"Please think of other ways, you four. Even if you can just stabilize the princess consort's injuries, our prince will reward you handsomely."

"We'll do our best."

Seeing the middle-aged butler bow with clasped hands, the four people also stood up to return the courtesy.

"By the way, four masters, I've already had people recruit pill masters in the marketplace. When they come, please help assess them."

"Naturally, no problem." Zhou Sen nodded in agreement.

The others also nodded.

…

Tongshan Commandery marketplace.

Prince Yong manor's pill master recruitment office.

There were very few people here. Including Xu Chuan, there were only three.

Master He's reputation in Tongshan Commandery marketplace was illustrious. Unless they were newcomers, everyone knew of his relationship with Prince Yong's manor.

Without real skills, no one dared come register here.

Weren't they afraid of Prince Yong manor's fury striking them down directly?!

"How should I address this master?"

"Daoist Sansu."

"Origin?"

"Yuehu Commandery."

"Mm, please wait over there, Master Sansu. At the hour of wei, this humble one will take all of you to the manor."

Xu Chuan's eyes briefly swept over the other three people.

He saw they were either hovering at sixth layer of Qi Refining or hesitating at seventh layer. Their temples were all frosted with autumn, their faces lined with ravines. Compared to his own years, they were all weathered ancients above seventy.

Exactly at the hour of wei.

"Masters, please follow this humble one."

The servant-dressed youth led Xu Chuan and the others out of the marketplace. Moments later, they arrived at Prince Yong's manor.

Two white marble carved suanni lions, majestic and imposing, had night-luminous pearls embedded as eyes. The vermillion lacquered beast-head main gate stood over one zhang two chi high. On both sides in front of the gate stood black-armored guards with surging blood qi, apparently grandmaster martial artists.

The servant youth took out a token. The two black-armored guards glanced at it and paid no more attention, letting him lead people inside.

Passing through three layers of bluestone spirit walls, they saw the ground paved with square bricks in tortoise-shell pattern. On the east side under a wisteria frame was an arrow-throwing game path. On the west side, Taihu rocks were piled into a "Little Zhongnan" artificial mountain.

Arriving at the great hall.

The main hall with seven bays and nine beams was covered with crimson carpet. Twelve linked glazed lamps hung between the beams. The entire north wall was carved from purple sandalwood with an "Eight Barbarians Presenting Treasures" relief. On both sides of the throne stood three-chi-tall bronze crane incense burners, with smoke issuing from the crane beaks forming auspicious cloud shapes.

"Butler Gu, today's recruited pill masters have arrived."

"Mm, you may withdraw. Have someone invite Master He and the others to the great hall."

"Yes."

After the servant youth left, Butler Gu swept his gaze over several people, his eyes deliberately lingering on Xu Chuan, only because his realm had reached ninth layer of Qi Refining.

In Great Wei's immortal cultivation world, there were quite a few at ninth layer of Qi Refining, but they weren't seen everywhere either.

Among rogue cultivators, there were even fewer.

"Please sit, everyone. Shortly, someone will come to test your pill Dao abilities. Only if you pass will there be a possibility of treating the princess consort."