An Old Acquaintance Arrives
Little B is still caught up in the excitement of killing Zhu Wanshan.
Lu Ping skipped over Little B and Little C.
Lu Ping chose A.
[You chose A.]
[You seemed to have anticipated his response, and took out a Jade Bottle from your Storage Ring, handing it to him.]
"I trouble you, General, to send someone to deliver this item to Alchemist. Upon seeing it, he will surely recognize it as mine."
General Li's gaze fell upon the Jade Bottle.
[The bottle was made of ordinary Green Jade, but as soon as the stopper was opened even half an inch, an extremely pure medicinal fragrance wafted out, instantly invigorating the mind.]
General Li's eyes narrowed.
Although he wasn't Alchemist, he knew his stuff.
[This Pills is of a quality far exceeding what ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators can consume; it's even purer than the military merit healing elixir he exchanged last time.]
General Li closed the bottle and handed the Jade Bottle to a Golden Core Sword Cultivator behind him.
"Go to the Third Medicine Camp, give the items to Alchemist Chen Zhao, and tell him that the Elder Zhu the Profound Beast Taming Sect request an audience."
["Yes!"]
The Golden Core Sword Cultivator took the Jade Bottle, transformed into a streak of Sword Light, and flew towards the distant Medicine Camp.
You bowed to General Li again, then retreated to the deck and waited quietly.
The Profound Beast Taming Sect disciples on the Flying Boat exchanged bewildered glances, wondering why their Grand Elder suddenly wanted to see a pill Alchemist the Medicine Camp.
[However, your prestige is so great that naturally no one dares to object.]
[About half an hour later, two streaks of Escape Light through the air from the direction of the Medicine Camp, moving at an extremely fast speed.]
[The one leading them was none other than the Golden Core Sword Cultivator from before.]
Beside him stood a middle-aged cultivator in a blue robe, his face stern, his posture upright, and the Military Command Token of the Third Medicine Camp hanging from his waist.
[Nascent Soul Late Stage]
[You look at the person who has arrived, and a slight ripple stirs in your heart.]
[Chen Zhao.]
[Chen Zhao, more than forty years later, looks just like this.]
[His cultivation level is simply higher, and his aura is more refined.]
[Forty years later, Demon-Severing Cliff crumbles, he will unleash his Nascent Soul power to carve a bloody path for everyone.]
[Although, in the end, it still failed.]
[And now, he is still alive.]
He doesn't know you yet.
Chen Zhao's gaze fell on you, tinged with doubt.
[Workwear Thugs, in effect.]
[Commercial Espionage, effective.]
[The Workplace People-Pleaser, effective.]
[You met Chen Zhao's gaze, your face showing familiarity, and took the initiative to speak.]
"Brother Chen, it's been many years! How have you been? Why don't you come down to my tent and have a seat?"
[That address of "Brother Chen" came out perfectly naturally.]
[Chen Zhao's expression shifted, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.]
He turned to look at General Li, a slight smile appearing on his face.
"Commander Li, this Elder Zhu is indeed an old acquaintance of mine. May I bring him to the Medicine Camp for a reunion?"
[Since General Li saw that Chen Zhao had personally confirmed it, he naturally wouldn't stop them and readily allowed them to pass.]
[You followed Chen Zhao, passing through layers of Formation Technique, and entered the Third Medicine Camp.]
[The layout of the Medicine Camp is almost exactly the same as you remember.]
[Rows of Alchemy Chamber were embedded beside the underground array base, the air thick with the mixed scents of various spiritual herbs and poisons.]
[Chen Zhao led you silently to the front of a spacious Alchemy Chamber at the far end of the room, and pushed open the door to enter.]
[The moment you stepped into the Alchemy Chamber.]
[With a bang, the Stone Gate behind them slammed shut.]
[The Sound-Isolating Formation and defensive Restriction within the Alchemy Chamber were activated in succession, completely isolating the inside from the outside.]
[Chen Zhao's smile vanished, his expression turning cold.]
[He stared at you, his hand already on the Military Command Token at his waist, secretly channeling his Spiritual Power.]
"Elder Zhu, what is your purpose in seeking out Chen?"
[Options pop up.]
[A: Ignore his threats and take the initiative to get the Pills.]
[B: Little Nascent Soul! Activate the "Bully at Home" Trait, use the overwhelming pressure of Nascent Soul Perfection to crush him into the ground and teach him how to respect his elders.]
[C: Selling Chen Zhao the "Internal Examination Guide for the Demon-Suppressing Tower," only 3.2 million, guaranteed to pass the interview.]
When Little B goes berserk, he doesn't care about the opponent's faction or cultivation level.
They even kicked a passing dog.
Lu Ping chose A.
[You chose A.]
[You seem completely oblivious to Chen Zhao's heightened sense of urgency.]
[You walked to the stone table in the center of the Alchemy Chamber and sat down, as if you were in your own cave abode.]
You pointed to the Green Jade medicine bottle.
"Brother Chen, tell me, what is the quality of the Pills I gave you?"
[Your tone was calm, as if you were asking about the weather today.]
[Workwear Thugs, in effect.]
[The Workplace People-Pleaser, effective.]
Although Chen Zhao knew you had ulterior motives, he felt it was okay to play along with you for now.
[You old man, you look quite kind and gentle; you don't seem like the kind of person who would kill and rob.]
[Moreover, Chen Zhao was originally an Alchemist.]
[The Pills you gave him just happened to tickle his itch.]
He glanced at the jade Jade Bottle, his voice softening slightly.
"This Pills draws upon the life force of heaven and earth, refining all things back to their origin; it faintly possesses the power to 'revive the dead and heal the flesh from bones.'"
"It looks exactly like the Taiyi Origin-Returning Pill."
"However, compared to the genuine Taiyi Origin-Returning Pill, the main ingredient seems to have been replaced. The grade of the medicine used is at least one grade lower, yet the efficacy is retained by about 80%."
[Chen Zhao paused for a moment, then gave a fair assessment.]
"On the battlefield, it's enough to pull a Nascent Soul Cultivator back from the brink of death."
[You lean back in your chair, look at Chen Zhao, and nod slightly.]
"Brother Chen certainly has a good eye."
[You continue to throw out the bait.]
"Brother Chen, who do you think can truly refine the Taiyi Origin-Returning Pill? And what is the success rate?"
Chen Zhao snorted coldly.
"The Taiyi Origin-Returning Pill is a sacred Earth Grade healing medicine, which cannot be refined by anyone other than Fourth-Level Alchemist at the Nascent Soul or above."
Even so, the success rate is only about 50%, it requires immense mental effort, and the materials are incredibly expensive, making them impossible for ordinary people to obtain.
You smiled slightly and continued,
"What if I told you that this pill could be refined by Third-Grade Alchemist, and that the main ingredient could be replaced with something like the Jadegreen Spirit Vine?"
Chen Zhao's breathing visibly paused.
He certainly understood what this meant.
Although the Jadegreen Spirit Vine is precious, it is no longer something that can be found only by chance.
[Not only did the Demon-Suppressing Tower have stockpiles of these goods, but they were also widely circulated in the market.]
[If Third-Grade Alchemist can refine it, what does that mean?]
[This means that this Pills, capable of saving the lives of Nascent Soul Cultivators, can be mass-produced at the Medicine Camp of Demon-Severing Cliff.]
Chen Zhao stepped forward and looked at you.
"Is that really true? This pill is enough for Third-Grade Alchemist?"
[You met his gaze and said in a calm tone,]
"I happen to have the Pill Formula. As for whether Third-Grade Alchemist can refine it, Brother Chen, you'll know at a glance."
"If this elixir were widely available in the army..."
[You stopped speaking halfway through your sentence.]
Chen Zhao also fell silent.
He knew all too well the value of this item to the Demon-Suppressing Tower.
People are dying every day at Demon-Severing Cliff. If we had this kind of Pills, the casualty rate of high-level combatants on the front lines could be reduced by at least 60%.
[For a defensive line that constantly faces pressure from the Demon Race, this is equivalent to having tens of thousands more elite troops.]
The atmosphere inside the Alchemy Chamber shifted from tense and confrontational to somewhat delicate.
[Chen Zhao put away the Pills and also removed his hand from his waist token.]
He stared at you, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly spoke.
What does this fellow Daoist desire?
[Chen Zhao even changed his form of address, from "Elder Zhu" to "Fellow Daoist".]
[Options pop up.]
[A: To exchange a Pill Formula for Chen Zhao's friendship.]
[B: Requests a meeting with Song Fuan, the master of the Demon-Suppressing Tower.]
[C: He grabbed Chen Zhao, pulled out the "Four Regions Pharmaceutical Oligarch Plan," and proposed using scarcity marketing and penetrating lower-tier markets to turn counterfeit pills into hard currency in the Four Domains. He envisioned fleecing all cultivators, monopolizing the market, and dominating the Four Domains!]