Brother Is a Legend

"Du Ling Juice?" Ximen Yaoji's lashes fluttered in confusion. She carefully opened the cap, leisurely waved the Small Jade Bottle beneath her delicate nose, and then her hand froze. When she looked at Liu Ding again, there was a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes. "What kind of medicinal liquid is this?"

"Like Zhe Spirit Liquid, it is a medicinal liquid for advancing from Five Soulforging Cauldrons to Six Soulforging Cauldrons. It can accelerate the condensation of soul qi. The Qilin Soul Qi contained in my Du Ling Juice is purer and gentler," Liu Ding explained slowly.

"Qilin Soul Qi? That is the unique effect of the Liu Clan's Soul Forging Pills." Ximen Yaoji's expression shifted slightly, and she looked at Liu Ding in disbelief.

One had to know that throughout Chixian, only the Liu Clan could fuse the soul qi of an auspicious beast like the Qilin into pills for Five Soulforging Cauldrons. Even the Zhe Spirit Liquid developed by the Murong Divine Pill Chamber based on the Liu Clan's Qilin Soul Forging Pill only contained the Beast Soul Qi of their Taotie subspecies.

"What, are you worried the Liu Clan will come after me? Don't worry. None of the ingredients in this liquid are ingredients of the Qilin Soul Forging Pill." Liu Ding smiled calmly. If he had not been short on money, he would not have brought this Du Ling Juice out into the world. But this bottle was merely an experimental product, and he himself was not very satisfied with its purity. Rather than waste it, he might as well benefit the people and make a fortune while he was at it.

Ximen Yaoji took out a slender silver needle and swiftly dipped it into the jade bottle before withdrawing it and holding it before her eyes.

The liquid on the silver needle slowly ran downward, gathering at the tip into a tiny droplet that hung there suspended. Nearly the time it took to drink a cup of tea passed before it silently fell.

Ximen Yaoji's gorgeous face gradually turned solemn. The longer the medicinal liquid remained suspended on the needle before dripping, the more condensed and substantial the Beast Soul Qi within it was.

She spread open her jade-like palm and brought the drop of Du Ling Juice that had splashed onto it to the tip of her nose. After sniffing it carefully, she murmured, "Jade Marrow Fungus and Yin Condensing Grass are both extremely rare immortal herbs. There are three others that I cannot identify, but one thing is certain: they cannot be ingredients of the Liu Clan's Qilin Soul Forging Pill."

Liu Ding was secretly astonished as well. Ximen Yaoji was no simple woman. Of the five ingredients, she had identified two.

"Young master, how do you wish to cooperate with our Spirit Herb Pavilion?" Having confirmed that this was the finest medicinal liquid for breaking through from Five Soulforging Cauldrons, Ximen Yaoji grew somewhat tense. Without realizing it, she had changed the way she addressed Liu Ding from "little brother" to "young master."

"I originally wanted an eighty-twenty split." Liu Ding paused and, as expected, saw Ximen Yaoji's red lips tremble and her cheeks twitch slightly. He smiled. "But since you are fighting the Murong Divine Pill Chamber, we are on the same side. So let us split it fifty-fifty."

"Fifty-fifty?" Ximen Yaoji could scarcely believe her ears. If this Du Ling Juice were put on the market, even a ten-ninety split would likely have pill halls scrambling to cooperate. After all, they only had to sell it on consignment and add a special counter.

"That's right, you heard me correctly. Fifty-fifty." Liu Ding nodded. "But I have two conditions."

"I am all ears." Ximen Yaoji thrust her full chest forward slightly, unconsciously displaying a seductive charm before Liu Ding.

She was simply too alluring. Liu Ding could not help licking his lips. He composed himself and said, "First, every three days, I want your Spirit Herb Pavilion to provide one Soul-Devouring Beast Gallstone Crystal, along with Jade Marrow Fungus and Yin Condensing Grass. Quality does not matter. I will handle the other three herbs myself. Only then can I successfully refine Du Ling Juice. Can you do that?"

The gallstone crystal of a Soul-Devouring Beast was an essential beast soul for refining Dream Incense. With Dream Incense, he could absorb large amounts of Yin Soul Qi from Everlasting Cave to replenish his powerful physical body and lay a solid foundation for advancement and breakthroughs. Moreover, the unique substances absorbed from the air within Everlasting Cave were also necessary conditions for his divine soul to take form and fuse into the Qilin

Soul Qi during the refinement of Du Ling Juice. It was not wrong to say it was for refining Du Ling Juice.

"We can." Ximen Yaoji did not even furrow her brows before immediately nodding. Soul-Devouring Beast Gallstone Crystals, Jade Marrow Fungus, and Yin Condensing Grass were indeed expensive, but with a little skill in selling Du Ling Juice—such as through auctions—just a few drops could cover the cost of those ingredients.

"Second, since the Murong Divine Pill Chamber wants to drive your Spirit Herb Pavilion to death, I do not want to hear empty nonsense about how a gentleman can take revenge even after ten years. I want you to strike hard and make them scurry out of Bleser City with their tails between their legs." Liu Ding snorted. Extorting my family's territory and swindling my Qilin Soul Pills... Murong Family, do not forget the old saying: if you walk the streets, you have to pay your debts.

"I like the sound of that." Ximen Yaoji smiled, revealing pearly teeth. It was as if a spring breeze had swept through the room, filling it with fragrance.

"What method do you have to make the Murong Divine Pill Chamber collapse for good?" Everyone naturally wanted to wash away past humiliation, but Liu Ding did not want to hear empty boasts. He wanted action.

"Well..." Ximen Yaoji pondered. "In half a month, Bleser City will hold a Pill Trade Fair. Nearly every pill hall in Chixian will attend. If we want to completely defeat the Murong Divine Pill Chamber, that will be the best opportunity to launch Du Ling Juice against their Zhe Spirit Liquid. But can you ensure that Du Ling Juice will be supplied in time?"

"As long as there is no shortage of Soul-Devouring Beast Gallstone Crystals, the supply of Du Ling Juice will not be a problem." Liu Ding spoke resolutely. "Since the Pill Trade Fair is coming, start tomorrow and promote Du Ling Juice aggressively. Put pressure on the Murong Divine Pill Chamber."

"That can be done." Ximen Yaoji's beautiful eyes lit up. She had not expected this half-grown youth to possess such a sharp business sense. "Should we let customers try the Du Ling Juice?"

"That will not be necessary." Liu Ding chuckled.

"Why not?" Ximen Yaoji did not understand.

"We will create an air of mystery and whet the customers' appetites. At the same time, we will make the Murong Divine Pill Chamber feel threatened and have them refine Zhe Spirit Liquid in large quantities. Then, hehe..." Liu Ding gave a sinister laugh. He was almost embarrassed by himself. I'm not a villain, okay?

"You are truly brilliant." Ximen Yaoji's beautiful eyes gleamed. Unable to restrain herself, she grabbed Liu Ding's hand. Whether or not the Murong Divine Pill Chamber believed that the Spirit Herb Pavilion possessed a medicinal liquid better than theirs, they would inevitably fall into the trap and expand production. When the time came, it would not be a matter of people failing to recognize quality, but of goods being compared against goods. The Divine Pill Chamber would surely lose everything and suffer a crushing defeat.

"Ahem." Liu Ding coughed lightly and discreetly pulled his hand free. Her soft, delicate hand was so passionate—what if he lost control for a moment? Better not make trouble. He was still young.

Yet Ximen Yaoji still noticed something unusual. Her gorgeous face inexplicably flushed dark red as well. She bit her lip, as if recalling something, and asked, "May I know how to address you, young master? And your position in the Liu Clan?"

"Liu Ding. I believe you have heard this name before," Liu Ding said.

"Liu Ding? You are that fool of the Liu Clan?" Ximen Yaoji blurted out, then immediately grew embarrassed. "Sorry, I spoke too quickly."

"It is fine. Geniuses and fools have always traveled together." Liu Ding shrugged indifferently.

"You truly are a genius." Light flashed in Ximen Yaoji's beautiful eyes. One had to know that refining pills required a Pill Consecrator to consecrate beast souls into the pills.

Yet the Liu Clan had no Pill Consecrator, and still it could refine pills of every level within the Soul Forging Realm. That family was simply a mystery.

Thus, Ximen Yaoji had no doubts about Liu Ding being able to refine Du Ling Juice.

Seeing the faintly worshipful light in Ximen Yaoji's eyes, Liu Ding smiled. "Do not worship me. I am merely a legend."