Han Ming entered the secret chamber, his mind on guard.
There were only two people in the secret chamber.
"Welcome, welcome." Seated in the place of honor, Sun Lingtong clapped her hands, her tone warm.
The seat of honor stood in the center, with a row of three chairs on either side.
In the row to Sun Lingtong's left, an old man sat in the middle seat. His face was weathered and his expression gloomy. Seeing Han Ming arrive, he cast a scrutinizing gaze at him.
Han Ming's gaze flickered as he looked at the old man too, finding his face somewhat familiar.
After thinking for a moment, he recalled, He's the mechanism master in the Black Market who sold As-You-Wish Ropes.
"Please, have a seat." Sun Lingtong gestured.
Han Ming sat in the right-hand row, choosing the seat farthest away and closest to the secret chamber's exit.
"Sun Lingtong, you offered a hefty sum to invite me here. What do you want me to do? Say it plainly." Han Ming questioned her directly as soon as he sat down.
Han Ming was a Foundation Establishment Realm demonic cultivator. His features were delicate and beautiful, yet tinged with a layer of bluish gray. Combined with the frigid aura he radiated at all times, it gave him an eerie, cold beauty.
Sun Lingtong clapped her hands and praised, "Straightforward! Good, then I'll be direct."
"I want to deal with Sun Lie. After considering everyone, Han Ming, you're the most suitable partner."
Han Ming gave an oh, one brow lifting. "You want the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills too?"
A year ago, Sun Lie had refined eighteen Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills. After delivering the agreed portion to the Zhou clan, he had intended to give away the remainder on the spot.
Sun Lie was generous and bold, unconcerned with trifles. He had also been drunk at the time, declaring that any cultivators wishing to compete could fight it out on the spot, with the winner taking all.
Han Ming happened to be present.
He was an outer disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect and cultivated the Nine Revolutions Soul Devouring Art. The Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills suited him exceptionally well and were immensely valuable to him.
He immediately joined the competition, but there were too many opponents and the contest was fierce. Forced to use demonic arts, he directly killed one Foundation Establishment Cultivator and severely wounded three more.
His identity as a demonic cultivator was exposed as a result.
Naturally, Sun Lie would not publicly hand Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills to a demonic cultivator.
Han Ming could only flee.
Ning Zhuo spoke, his voice hoarse and his tone slow. "Who wouldn't want Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills?"
Sun Lingtong nodded. "In truth, we want even more."
"Sun Lie is a master alchemist. He has lived in Fire Persimmon Immortal City for over a year, and those seeking pills from him have come in an endless stream."
"His success rate in pill refinement is extremely high. With every commission he fulfills, he generally has several pills left over."
"I've already found out that there are over a hundred bottles of pills displayed on the shelves in his pill storage room!"
Han Ming nodded slightly, already tempted.
His identity had been exposed a year ago. Even now, he had not left Fire Persimmon Immortal City because he was unwilling to give up and still wanted to scheme for the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills.
Over the past year, he had gathered quite a bit of intelligence and probed Sun Lie several times, only to return with feathers scattered and wings broken each time.
Han Ming said, "Sun Lie is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and his combat strength is formidable."
"At the same time, he is a master alchemist. He has received the City Lord's Mansion's hospitality and has been staying at Purple Sun Villa."
"Purple Sun Villa is an asset of the City Lord's Mansion. The protective formation within is interconnected with the Immortal City Array."
"Thus, the Purple Sun Furnace within the villa can draw upon the inexhaustible earthfire of Fire Persimmon Mountain through the grand array to refine pills."
"Leaving aside the guards in Purple Sun Villa, even its protective formation is not something we can breach quickly."
"Once we get bogged down, we'll have to face City Guards rushing in from all directions."
Sun Lingtong burst into laughter. "Han Ming, don't forget what sect I come from. Take a look at this!"
As she spoke, Sun Lingtong took out a talisman.
Han Ming looked over, and delight immediately flashed through his eyes. "A Formation Breaking Talisman? Excellent!"
"I agree to this."
"But let's be clear first. I want at least three Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills!"
Sun Lingtong merely smiled without speaking.
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly. "You're dreaming! You should count your blessings if you get one."
"If the people we arranged hadn't failed to arrive, why would we add an outsider like you at the last minute?"
Han Ming's face turned cold, killing intent overflowing. He stared at Ning Zhuo, his eyes narrowing. "The last Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator who treated me with that attitude died a year ago. There were also three Foundation Establishment cultivators left severely wounded."
Ning Zhuo chuckled coldly. "You think this old man is one of those pieces of trash?"
As he spoke, his hair clumped together, forming thick, long black whips that raised their heads like pythons. Beneath his cloak, mechanism birds poked out their heads one after another. More than a dozen pairs of bird eyes crackling with electricity sized Han Ming up and down.
Han Ming's heart tightened.
Fire Persimmon Immortal City was covered by a grand formation. Cultivators like him, who primarily relied on spells in battle, were at a severe disadvantage when fighting here.
Under the array's suppression, body cultivators, corpse cultivators, beast tamers, and Mechanism Cultivators instead gained considerable advantages.
Han Ming could not see through Ning Zhuo's true capabilities. What he knew was this: the man made his living selling As-You-Wish Ropes and had earned a great deal of wealth. Anyone who could possess so much money and still live to this day was naturally far from simple.
Sun Lingtong clapped her hands, breaking the tense atmosphere. "Enough, enough."
"We're here to cooperate, not to fight to the death."
"Han Ming, you come from a Great Demonic Sect and are very strong. But I'm telling you, Chuitiao Ke is by no means weaker than you."
Han Ming snorted and withdrew his killing intent.
Ning Zhuo also dispersed the black whips, and his cloak settled back down, covering the restless flock of Thunder Stillness Birds.
Seizing the chance, Sun Lingtong said, "There will only be the three of us in this raid on Purple Sun Villa. Each of us is guaranteed at least one Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pill from the spoils."
"As for the actual circumstances, no one can say for certain. No matter how many there are, they will be divided according to our respective contributions during the operation."
"What do you two think?"
Silence fell within the secret chamber.
Ning Zhuo said nothing.
Han Ming was deep in thought.
He did not trust Ning Zhuo, but he trusted Sun Lingtong. Sun Lingtong came from the Unempty Gate, and the Unempty Gate and Soul Devouring Sect were both major sects under heaven. Their statuses were equal.
Sun Lingtong had also controlled Fire Persimmon Immortal City's Black Market for so many years and possessed an exceptionally strong reputation.
She is the Local Tyrant here. Since she wants to attack Purple Sun Villa, she naturally has confidence in success.
If I miss this opportunity, how much longer will I have to wait if I rely on my own strength alone?
At this thought, Han Ming nodded slightly, his voice icy. "I agree."
Sun Lingtong looked toward Ning Zhuo.
Only then did Ning Zhuo nod. "Fine. Let's sign a contract."
Purple Sun Villa.
Pill refinement room.
Sun Lie and Meng Chong stood before the Purple Sun Furnace.
This pill furnace stood over two people tall and occupied nearly half the pill refinement room. Its Red Copper body radiated blazing heat.
Meng Chong studied the Purple Sun Furnace, still unable to recover from what he had just heard. "Old Sun, you want me to enter the furnace and roast me like medicinal ingredients?"
Sun Lie raised his gourd and took a gulp of strong liquor, his cheeks faintly flushed. "Hahaha, exactly!"
Meng Chong frowned, puzzled. "Refining pills with a person... isn't that a method used by demonic cultivators?"
Sun Lie rolled his eyes. "What demonic cultivator method?"
"Among the hundred arts of cultivation, practicality is king. Whichever method works best, use that one. Righteous path or demonic path, both cultivate the Dao and seek truth—what difference is there in essence?"
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