Three Sects Come Calling
At the Medicine King Palace, the Grand Elder drew up a daily confinement schedule for Chu Xinghe.
In the mornings, Chu Xinghe cultivated Haotian Battle Intent and familiarized himself with the Haotian Sword Casket. The elders throughout the Medicine King Palace took turns sparring with him. It was painful, but his combat prowess improved by leaps and bounds before everyone's eyes.
So far, however, Chu Xinghe had found that he could still use only one Flying Locust from the Haotian Sword Casket. He couldn't use the other divine swords beyond it yet, probably because his cultivation hadn't reached the required level.
The afternoons were painful. The Grand Elder personally taught Chu Xinghe how to refine medicine. Although he had the Medicine Saint Inheritance, he still needed guidance to digest it. The Grand Elder's method of instruction was simple and brutal: practice!
Refine medicine like his life depended on it!
As it turned out, the Grand Elder's methods really did work.
When Chu Xinghe refined a fourth-grade pill, a supreme-grade Blood Spirit Pill, for the first time, the Grand Elder finally smiled. Chu Xinghe had indeed grasped some of the essentials as well. After that, whenever he refined Blood Spirit Pills, as long as he didn't get distracted, he could actually produce supreme-grade pills outright most of the time.
"Now that's what the Medicine Saint Inheritance should look like!" The Grand Elder beamed at the supreme-grade pills Chu Xinghe had produced.
But Chu Xinghe wasn't the only one suffering at the Medicine King Palace. Feng Fei had been utterly miserable these past few days too.
Although no one blamed him for the three million Shen Spirit Herbs, Feng Fei still felt terribly guilty. He had spent the past few days pondering what to do with all three million herbs.
The Vast Heaven Sect had its own merchant caravan, and Feng Fei had gone to see them. But when they heard he wanted to sell three million Shen Spirit Herbs, the caravan's manager nearly pissed himself in fright!
It was no exaggeration to say that demand for Shen Spirit Herbs in the outside world was practically nonexistent.
Forget three million. To sell even thirty thousand in a year, they would have to swindle and deceive people.
So, for now, those three million Shen Spirit Herbs were completely useless, aside from sitting in the Medicine King Palace's newly built medicinal herb storehouse.
Feng Fei had also discussed it with the Grand Elder, who told him to handle the matter himself.
Feng Fei gritted his teeth and stamped his foot. If nothing else worked... he would sell them at a discount. He would take a bit of a loss, but at least he could get rid of them.
The Shen Spirit Herbs were giving Feng Fei a splitting headache.
One day, the Grand Elder was instructing Chu Xinghe in medicine refining when a disciple came in. The Grand Elder looked up at the disciple entering the room. It was Shen Chun.
"Grand Elder, Elder Ma of the Star Moon Sect, Elder Shangguan of the East Moon Pavilion, and Elder Xu of Northern Nether City have come together..."
"What?" The Grand Elder was taken aback when he heard which three forces they were from.
Among the ten great sects under heaven, the Vast Heaven Sect sat firmly at the top, but beneath it were nine other extremely powerful sects. These three were among them.
Although the ten great sects did visit one another from time to time, this was the first time elders from three of them had appeared at the Vast Heaven Sect together.
The Grand Elder knew they would never have come unless it was something important.
Glancing at Chu Xinghe, who was resting, the Grand Elder said, "Stop lying there playing dead. Come with me to meet the elders from these three sects. Shen Chun, tell Feng Fei to go receive our three honored guests first. I'll be there shortly."
Shen Chun left to carry out the order, and Chu Xinghe quickly got to his feet.
As long as I don't have to refine medicine, I'll do anything!
With elders from all three sects arriving together, the Grand Elder dared not be negligent. He changed into his purple-and-gold robe embroidered with lightning patterns, the attire that represented his status as Grand Elder.
Chu Xinghe also changed into his personal disciple's robes. The black robes were trimmed with gold and covered in cloud patterns. In addition, the robes of personal disciples were adorned with star patterns, making them look extraordinarily magnificent.
Chu Xinghe followed the Grand Elder to the largest reception room in the Medicine King Palace. As soon as they entered, they saw three old fellows pointing at the newly built palace and clicking their tongues in admiration.
"Sorry to have kept you three elders waiting. I've been remiss," the Grand Elder said with a smile as he entered.
"Grand Elder, we were just talking about the Medicine King Palace. This newly built palace really is magnificent!" Elder Shangguan had also entered the Dao through medicine refining, but the East Moon Pavilion could never have a medicine-refining facility as enormous and luxurious as the Medicine King Palace.
"The Vast Heaven Sect truly lives up to its name. A Medicine King Palace like this is an undertaking of monumental proportions," Elder Xu added politely.
"More than the Medicine King Palace, I'd like to see the disciple who obtained the Medicine Saint Inheritance. I assume that's the young man behind you, Grand Elder?" Elder Ma's gaze settled on Chu Xinghe.
News of the Vermilion Bird communicating with spirits and the Medicine Saint Inheritance couldn't be kept secret. The various forces had heard about it long ago, though they hadn't learned the details. Now that Elder Ma had brought it up, everyone's eyes fell on Chu Xinghe.
"This junior is Chu Xinghe. Greetings, elders." Chu Xinghe stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the three elders.
"Good child... no need for formalities, no need... Oh dear, look at me. I came in such a hurry that I didn't prepare anything..." The three elders laughed heartily, but their gazes swept over Chu Xinghe from head to toe for a long while, as though they wanted to commit every hair on his body to memory.
The Grand Elder invited the three elders to sit. Chu Xinghe and Feng Fei helped serve tea and pour water, after which Chu Xinghe stood behind the Grand Elder.
After an exchange of pleasantries completely devoid of substance, Elder Ma was the first to get down to business.
"Grand Elder, we have come this time to ask a favor."
"You're too polite, Elder Ma. The ten great sects share the same Qi and are linked by their branches. There's no need to speak of favors. Whatever Elder Ma needs the Vast Heaven Sect's help with, as long as we can help, we won't hesitate!"
Elder Ma remained completely unmoved by the Grand Elder's words.
Won't hesitate? Like hell I believe you... On the surface, though, he maintained a grateful expression as he said, "The Star Moon Sect would like to purchase five hundred thousand Shen Spirit Herbs from the Vast Heaven Sect!"
The Grand Elder was visibly startled as soon as Elder Ma said it.
What? He wants to buy five hundred thousand Shen Spirit Herbs? Has Elder Ma had too much to drink?
But before the Grand Elder could wonder what on earth was going on, the other two spoke up as well. Their requests were exactly the same as Elder Ma's: they each wanted to buy five hundred thousand Shen Spirit Herbs!
Each of the three wanted five hundred thousand, for a total of one and a half million Shen Spirit Herbs!
Even Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded when he heard that. Have we run into ghosts? Why are you all scrambling to get your hands on junk like Shen Spirit Herbs?
Feng Fei, however, was so excited he was nearly jumping for joy.
He had spent the past few days racking his brains over what to do with three million Shen Spirit Herbs. If they sold one and a half million in one go, half would still be left, but it was still wonderful news!
Feng Fei looked at the Grand Elder excitedly, as if saying, Hurry up and agree... sell them the herbs!
But while Feng Fei was still excited, the Grand Elder spoke. "You three must be joking. One and a half million Shen Spirit Herbs? Even if we gathered every herb in the entire Vast Heaven Sect, we wouldn't have that many. I'm afraid you three have made the trip for nothing."
Feng Fei was dumbstruck...
Chu Xinghe was bewildered too. Just yesterday, the Grand Elder had been worrying himself sick over how to deal with the Shen Spirit Herbs. How come he wouldn't sell them now that someone wanted to buy them?
A conspiracy! There's definitely a conspiracy here!