An Unexpected Windfall

"The Azure Wood Sword Aura was a cultivation technique the Grand Elder obtained from the Misty Cloud Sect. It was said to be extremely difficult to cultivate, but its power was equally extraordinary! They said that if the accompanying sword aura was condensed to a sufficiently high quality, its power would not be inferior to a Profound-tier High-grade Dou Skill!"

Mo Lan spoke from the side, "This cultivation technique is also considered difficult to cultivate within the Misty Cloud Sect, and few disciples choose it. Its downgraded version, the Azure Wood Sword Art, is much easier to cultivate and not weak in power either, so it is rather popular.

It was precisely because this cultivation technique was so difficult to cultivate that our Mo Clan was able to find a way to trade for it."

Mo Lan's words were not beyond Yan Qingshan's expectations. Although he had only skimmed through it, he had indeed noticed that the threshold for cultivating this sword aura technique was quite high.

As for the Azure Wood Sword Art he mentioned, Yan Qingshan had some impression of it as well. Ge Ye of the Misty Cloud Sect, who had accompanied Nalan Yanran to the Xiao Family, seemed to have cultivated the Profound-tier Low-grade Azure Wood Sword Art.

"The Azure Wood Sword Aura really is an unexpected windfall!"

After briefly looking it over, Yan Qingshan tucked the scroll into his robes. This Azure Wood Sword Aura was exactly what he needed. He had been preparing to seek out a suitable Wood Attribute Profound-tier Dou Skill to expand his combat options. Just when he had dozed off, a pillow had arrived.

The Azure Wood Sword Aura was difficult to cultivate, but that meant nothing to Yan Qingshan. With Shuguang in hand, as long as he had enough time, he could find a way to make use even of Dou Skills whose attributes did not match his own, much less one with the same attribute.

"Since Clan Chief Mo Lan is so sensible, surely you would not begrudge me a few books?"

After putting away the Azure Wood Sword Aura, Yan Qingshan's gaze wandered around the secret chamber again. Although the Mo Clan was a newly risen family, it controlled Yancheng and had the Misty Cloud Sect as its backing. Its collection of cultivation techniques and Dou Skills was quite complete. There were Black Rank techniques and skills for all common attributes, with the best reaching Profound-tier Mid-grade.

Yan Qingshan was currently worried about his lack of foundations, so how could he stand on ceremony with Mo Lan? Aside from the Azure Wood Sword Aura, he also took a set of Profound-tier Mid-grade Lightning Attribute Dou Skills. Lightning Attribute Dou Skills were more precious than ordinary Dou Skills, and their value was comparable to that of ordinary Profound-tier High-grade Dou Skills.

"Profound-tier High-grade Cultivation Technique, Evil Blood Art; Profound-tier High-grade Dou Skill, Blood Hand Seal..."

Yan Qingshan opened one of the two boxes placed deepest within the secret chamber. As expected, it contained a set of Profound-tier High-grade cultivation technique and Dou Skill. Like the Lionheart King's Art, it had no Attribute Restriction, a sinister set of techniques dedicated to cultivating blood essence Dou Qi.

Mo Lan suddenly spoke solemnly. "Sir, this Evil Blood Art is the foundation of my Mo Clan. I sincerely hope you will not act recklessly."

After casually flipping through it, Yan Qingshan turned and glanced at Mo Lan. Mo Lan's meaning was obvious. If this set of techniques leaked out, even he, as clan chief, would not be able to suppress the matter. The Mo Clan would certainly fight to the death.

This was not unusual. Named families and factions across the continent always possessed distinctive trump cards and core abilities. These were the foundation of a faction. If such things were leaked, it would be like exposing the faction's greatest secrets. Who knew when someone might use some countermeasure to destroy them.

Therefore, once such core techniques were leaked, it would inevitably become a fight to the death. That ran contrary to Yan Qingshan's purpose in coming here this time.

Yan Qingshan put the Evil Blood Art back, and Mo Lan secretly let out a breath of relief. He had feared that Yan Qingshan truly harbored such intentions. If so, Mo Lan, who had brought him here, would become the eternal sinner of the Mo Clan. As clan chief, he would have to stop him immediately, even if it meant mutual destruction.

"This scroll is an alchemy formula notebook left by a Fourth-grade Alchemist... Has your Mo Clan not produced another alchemist since this alchemist?"

Delight flashed in Yan Qingshan's eyes. A true teaching could be conveyed in a single sentence, while false teachings filled ten thousand volumes. For certain professions, one could expend enormous effort and time without gaining anything, and that was where true instruction came in.

The profession of alchemist was precisely like this. Although the talent requirements for alchemists were rare, there were still quite a few people across the continent who met them. Yet very few truly became alchemists. The fundamental reason was a lack of proper guidance.

Physicians could also heal the sick and prepare medicines, but their potions were as different from an alchemist's spiritual medicines as heaven and earth. Every accomplished physician, regardless of whether he possessed the qualifications to become an alchemist, dreamed of becoming one.

Yan Qingshan was naturally no exception. In fact, because of his background and the greater knowledge he possessed, his desire in this regard was especially strong.

This notebook of the Mo Clan was exceedingly precious. It contained the lifelong insights of a Fourth-grade Alchemist, from his first studies in alchemy, to achieving success, to finding another path by researching the art of refining medicine with magical beast blood essence in an attempt to become a Fifth-grade Alchemist. It was equivalent to the complete inheritance of a Fourth-grade Alchemist.

If someone with the talent for alchemy followed its guidance step by step, their chances of becoming an alchemist would not be small.

Mo Lan smiled bitterly. "Since that ancestor passed away, the Mo Clan has not had a suitable candidate for many years. There were two who possessed alchemist talent, and we spent a great price to send them to study at the Alchemist Guild.

But this notebook had previously been borrowed by the Grand Elder and never returned..."

Yan Qingshan looked at Mo Lan and said solemnly, "I have no interest in the Evil Blood Art, but I want this. No problem, right?"

"Since you are interested in this notebook, then take it."

After weighing matters, Mo Lan nodded. To be honest, he did not want to agree so readily, but circumstances were stronger than men, and he had no choice now.

Yan Qingshan had forcibly entered the Mo Clan this time with a Tier Five Magical Beast. His arrival had been overwhelming from the start. Back in the council hall, the Mo Clan's people had already failed in their resistance. If Yan Qingshan had been more ruthless then, none of the Mo Clan's upper and middle ranks would have survived.

Under such circumstances, he had no desire to offend such a great calamity. If he could resolve matters peacefully and send him away, he would even be willing to suppress everything afterward.

When Yan Qingshan proposed visiting the treasure vault, Mo Lan had actually been pleased, because it meant Yan Qingshan could at least be negotiated with. That was why he had said nothing when Yan Qingshan took two Profound-tier cultivation techniques and Dou Skills, even taking the initiative to explain them.

However, he did not dare act carelessly regarding a foundational technique like the Evil Blood Art, and immediately stopped Yan Qingshan. Though this notebook was not a foundational technique like the Evil Blood Art, that Fourth-grade Alchemist had been the one who brought prosperity to the Mo Clan. Its significance and value were immense. If he had a choice, he truly would not want to give it away.

After selecting three sets of texts, Yan Qingshan left the collection area. This made Mo Lan quietly sigh in relief. He had feared that this lord would open his mouth like a lion and demand all the texts. Though the texts had copied editions, if too many copies leaked out, even he, as clan chief, would not be able to cover it up.

Yan Qingshan looked over the many treasures on the shelves: dazzling antiques and treasures of every kind, gems and pearls, gold and silver curios, along with many precious spiritual medicines and all sorts of rare ores.

Yan Qingshan passed through the piles of treasure without much feeling. The things here were less appealing to him than the texts. Still, he could tell that the three sets of texts were Mo Lan's limit. If he asked for more, Mo Lan might truly turn hostile.

"Hm?"

Yan Qingshan had originally planned to head straight for the spiritual medicine shelves, pick out a few precious herbs, and leave. Yet as he passed a pile of ores, he suddenly felt something and looked over.

It was a pile of grayish-white ore with a silvery sheen, stacked in one corner of the secret chamber. Around it were similarly precious raw ores, merely unrefined materials. Yet this pile seemed somewhat strange, as though it carried a faint fluctuation.

Where Yan Qingshan's Mental Power swept, he could sense that the space around the pile of ore seemed slightly distorted, though the effect was extremely subtle.

Mo Lan walked over and introduced it. "Sir, this is newly mined Nashi Stone. After refinement, its essence can be used to make Storage Rings. However, the Mo Clan's Nashi Stone mine is very small, and its quality is generally poor. These Nashi Stones are considered relatively good quality."

"Nashi Stone! That is quite an interesting thing."

Yan Qingshan approached the pile of Nashi Stone, blue light flashing through his eyes. Though this pile appeared ordinary, he vaguely sensed that some pieces were different. With a thought, his Storage Ring flashed and collected the entire pile of Nashi Stone. Then he took several quick steps to the other side.

Gold Coins were neatly stacked in chests, each chest containing one hundred thousand Gold Coins. Yan Qingshan collected ten chests in succession before stopping.

Yan Qingshan turned to Mo Lan and said, "I will not make things difficult for Clan Chief Mo Lan. Just those three sets of texts, one pile of Nashi Stone, and one million Gold Coins. Let this matter end here."

"If you are willing to settle matters like this, then that could not be better!"

Mo Lan had originally been somewhat puzzled as to why Yan Qingshan had taken the nearly useless Nashi Stone. Though Storage Rings made from it were valuable, the craftsmen who could process Nashi Stone were few in number. Once it was used, someone might trace it back to him.

However, when Yan Qingshan decisively took the Gold Coins and promised that the matter would end here, he suddenly "understood." He imagined that Yan Qingshan had merely chosen the last two items at random because he did not wish to offend the Mo Clan too deeply.

Otherwise, what normal person would leave behind all those spiritual medicines and weapons, only to take Gold Coins and a pile of useless Nashi Stone?

In the silent dead of night, at a hidden passage in one corner of the Mo Clan in Yancheng, a figure swiftly vanished into the shadows. After winding through several turns, he arrived at the rear courtyard of an inn beside a bustling street in Yancheng's western district.

"Young Master, you're back!"

Inside a room in the inn's rear courtyard, two girls, one older and one younger, had been waiting for news. When the signal of three long knocks and one short knock sounded, the petite girl in green hurried forward with light steps to open the door, her face full of joy.

"Are you all right?"

After Qingling, Xuelan also came to Yan Qingshan's side. Only after carefully examining him and seeing nothing unusual did she relax slightly.

Yan Qingshan returned the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake to Qingling's care, then removed his outer clothes and disguise and quickly disposed of them. Next, he went out into the courtyard and wandered around as though taking a stroll. Only after confirming that no one was watching their room did he return inside.

Xuelan and Qingling had prepared washing supplies for Yan Qingshan. After attentively helping him change out of his clothes, the three finally had a moment to spend together.