Gathering Fire Basin, Cave No. 134.
"That concludes today's lecture. Do you have any questions?" Daoist Qing You's expression was aloof, and he occasionally waved his whisk back and forth.
It wasn't for any other reason than that Zhang Ying had been asking increasingly tricky and strange questions lately, making him somewhat uneasy.
Actually, he wanted to leave immediately, but the Hall Master had specifically instructed him to give Zhang Ying a lot of guidance.
Left with no other choice, he had to do as he was told.
Zhang Ying and Chui Xi sat side by side on Prayer Mat, each holding a notebook for taking notes.
Upon hearing this...
Zhang Rongfang spoke quickly.
"Pill Master, you just talked about the combination of the three medicinal properties and the Monarch-Minister-Assistant-Guide, but such combinations of medicinal properties are too simple."
Sometimes we need to amplify the properties of several medicinal ingredients, but these properties themselves contain inherent conflicts and variations.
The resulting byproducts have new effects on the medicinal properties of other auxiliary medicinal materials.
He spoke at length, rattling off a whole bunch of things, leaving Chui Xi to the side, completely bewildered and unable to understand what he was saying.
Qingyou also looked helpless.
This level of difficulty is truly at the Pill Master level, far exceeding the scope of ordinary Pill Master apprentices.
He immediately began to explain in detail.
The two of them talked and listened, and half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Qingyou's mouth was dry from talking, and seeing that Zhang Rongfang was about to speak again, she suddenly felt a pang of anxiety and quickly got up.
"That's all for today's lecture. I'm tired. I'll continue tomorrow."
"Yes." Zhang Rongfang and Chui Xi could only bow their heads in greeting.
Qingyou got up and ran out of the cave almost in the blink of an eye, carrying a pile of porcelain bottles containing pills. She disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Pfft.
Chui Xi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"You're really amazing." She looked at Zhang Rongfang with a hint of admiration.
"It's alright, as long as you study hard, you can master these things quickly," Zhang Rongfang said sincerely.
He wasn't lying; these were all Attribute Points added together.
But ultimately, it was something he learned diligently.
Wasn't he himself the one who used Attribute Points to speed up time and study hard? Chui Xi suddenly felt a renewed motivation.
"A few days ago, I saw some medicinal herbs you bought Pill Furnace. Have you started trying to refine pills yourself yet?"
"Hmm. I'm going to practice on my own."
"Do you need me to find some medicinal herbs? My family are medicine merchants, and we have a lot of old herbs. We're quite knowledgeable about them. Anyway, you don't seem to be short of money, do you?" Chui Xi smiled mischievously.
Several times, she also saw Zhang Rongfang slip money to Qingyou.
They naturally knew that his economic situation was good.
"Are there aged medicinal herbs? Can you find Hundred-Year Red Ganoderma?"
Zhang Rongfang immediately inquired.
Red Ganoderma lucidum is common, but those that are over a hundred years old are rare.
Or rather, it's a case of having a price but no goods.
The market price is very high, but the goods are snapped up as soon as they come out.
He asked Zhang Qingzhi and confirmed that there was only one 60-year-old plant left, and there were no others.
"Hundred-Year Red Ganoderma, we do have that. My father happens to have two in his collection, but the price will be a bit high." Chui Xi as she smiled.
"No problem, as long as the quality is good, the price is negotiable," Zhang Rongfang said with a smile.
His next level of the Golden Toad Skill, the Hidden Moon Second Layer, requires Hundred-Year Red Ganoderma Main Herb.
I was just wondering where to find this, but I didn't expect to find it at Chui Xi's house.
Zhang Rongfang didn't want to go directly to his master. After all, he had just promised his master that he would only practice the First Layer of the Golden Toad Skill.
The two agreed that after Chui Xi returned home and spoke with his father, they would arrange a time and place for the transaction.
After parting ways with Chui Xi, Zhang Rongfang took a stroll around the Heavenly Treasure Palace as a rest and relaxation.
The entire Heavenly Treasure Palace covers a vast area, encompassing almost all the surrounding hills.
Each Dao Palace has its own unique style, some majestic, some solemn, and some exquisite.
Nestled amidst Sunny Flower covering the mountains.
Despite the heavy rain knocking down many flowers, large swathes of blossoms could still be seen swaying in the wind.
As Zhang Rongfang left the Pill Hall, he passed through the forest path between the two Dao Palace.
But unexpectedly, they heard a faint sound, like a kiss.
His senses were sharp, and he looked in the direction of the sound.
Through the gaps in the branches, one could vaguely see a man and a woman embracing tightly in the Woodland to the right of the path, their bodies intertwined like dry tinder, constantly touching each other.
"Xiao He, come here, turn around!" The man had a high nose bridge and wore fine clothes, unlike Daoist Sect.
His face was handsome yet effeminate, with a rather frivolous air about him.
The woman was pretty and charming, with large eyes that gave her a pure and clever look.
But at this moment, she cooperated by turning around and bending over.
Zhang Rongfang didn't watch any longer. They were doing something good, and it wouldn't be right for him to be spying on them using his eyesight.
Continuing forward, he soon arrived at the Yuan Qing Hall.
The disciples of the Yuan Qing Hall are specifically responsible for the repair, maintenance, and other miscellaneous tasks of the entire Heavenly Treasure Palace.
This place is always bustling with people.
The renovation team of the Yuan Qing Hall is exceptional, and they frequently enter and leave the Dao Palace, so they are naturally well-informed.
Zhang Rongfang came here not only to stroll and rest, but also to inquire about news from the outside world.
During this time, he practiced alchemy in the Gathering Fire Basin. Many of the ordinary pills he produced were sold to a senior brother from the Yuan Qing Hall through this place, which helped him recoup some of his costs.
This senior brother's name is Zhou Yan. He used to frequently visit the Gathering Fire Basin, where he was responsible for purchasing many common pills from various cave dwellings and reselling them.
Of course, there are quite a few people like that.
Zhang Rongfang felt that Zhou Yan was more honest than the others, so he associated with him.
Soon, he asked several disciples of the Yuan Qing Hall for directions, and a few minutes later, he found Zhou Yan hanging clothes to dry under a Sunny Flower Tree.
The guy's clothes were clearly not clean, with some light oil stains on them, but he didn't care. He casually wrung out some water and hung the Daoist Robe on the rope.
"Brother Zhang Ying! Long time no see! You look even more muscular!" Zhou Yan turned his head and saw Zhang Rongfang, then immediately smiled. He walked over and patted his arm.
The hard skin on his arm bounced back, making his own palms ache.
"Tsk tsk, your Martial Cultivator are really impressive. I've seen many other Martial Cultivator, but few are as powerful as you," Zhou Yan exclaimed.
"It was just a casual practice, nothing to mention," Zhang Rongfang said modestly.
"I came here today to ask my senior brother what the situation is like outside these days?"
Zhou Yan shook his head.
"The rules of the Heavenly Garment Pavilion have been set. There are soldiers patrolling everywhere outside. Many merchants have been arrested and flogged. There are so many people that the execution ground is not enough. The government has opened up a large area outside the city to flog them all at once."
"Also, the Great Bright Light Temple you asked me to inquire about no longer exists," he said in a deep voice.
"Gone!?" Zhang Rongfang was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
The Great Bright Light Temple is the most powerful main force in the Eastern Sect and the birthplace of Imperial Tutor Damir.
It was precisely because the Imperial Tutor came from this place that the once ordinary Bright Light Temple was transformed into the Great Bright Light Temple, moved to Great Capital, and gained the reputation of being the number one temple in the Number One Under Heaven.
It is said that the Great Bright Light Temple covers an area larger than the Heavenly Treasure Palace. It houses thousands of monks, with sandalwood incense filling the air and Buddhist chants echoing throughout. The temple is brightly lit from morning till night, and the chanting of sutras continues all night long.
But now... such a big temple is gone?! "A few days ago, the Great Bright Light Temple was suddenly engulfed in flames. Some of the eminent monks Grand Initiation Master inside were burned to death, and some went missing. The entire temple was destroyed in an instant, everything was burned to the ground." Zhou Yan spread his hands.
Zhang Rongfang immediately knew there was something wrong with it.
The ancestral temple of the Eastern Sect Buddhist School, where the Imperial Tutor once came from, was burned down so simply?
What about the top experts of the Eastern Sect? Even without the Spirit Vein, would a powerhouse like the Heavenly Maiden just stand by and watch the Great Bright Light Temple burn down? Just think about it, and you'll know that the intricacies, conflicts, and disputes involved are absolutely incalculable.
"In addition, the Cloud Mist Mountain Manor that you asked me to inquire about for you is also finished. The entire Mountain Villa was slaughtered, including those people who came here last time to ask for medicine."
They were all killed after they returned. Not a single one was spared."Zhou Yan lowered his voice as he spoke, sighing repeatedly.
"I feel like things have been particularly chaotic lately. Anyway, when you go out, remember to carefully read the dress code to avoid getting into trouble or breaking the rules," Zhou Yan advised.
"Thank you, senior brother." Zhang Rongfang nodded.
Then he asked about the dress code. He carefully memorized each of the rules.
According to the rules of the Heavenly Garment Pavilion, although he was a member of the Daoist Sect, he only needed to wear Daoist Robe and didn't need to think too much about it.
However, if implemented thoroughly, different people can be distinguished by their external appearance, thus revealing their different identities and social classes.
***By candlelight.
Xiao Ling waited quietly in her room at the Inn.
He covered his face with a black cloth, placed a long knife on his knees, and closed his eyes to concentrate.
This is an ordinary Inn outside the Imperial Palace.
His purpose in coming out was, of course, to complete the secret mission assigned by Thousand Leaves Princess.
The door creaked open slowly.
A burly figure slowly entered the room, then closed and locked the door behind him.
"Brother Xiao, has Mother given any instructions?" The figure stepped into the candlelight, revealing a dignified, square face.
It was none other than Eastern Sect Cheng Hui, the Golden Wing Tower Master, one of the few remaining experts of the Eastern Sect.
"Yes." Xiao Ling got out of bed and stood up. She carefully examined Cheng Hui in front of her.
"To be honest, we've heard some rumors about you lately. Bad rumors."
Silence.
Cheng Hui's expression remained unchanged, but he did not utter a sound.
He waited, believing that the other party was still trustworthy since they had invited him here.
Otherwise, there would be no need to resort to this tactic.
Sure enough, after waiting for more than ten seconds...
Xiao Ling finally raised his hand, his palm open, revealing a delicate brown iron box in his palm.
"This is the task His Highness instructed me to give you. Deliver three items to three different Human Seed."
Cheng Hui's expression changed slightly.
He recognized the object's identity.
Golden Ring!
It is definitely a genuine Golden Ring.
The one that the Sensing Gate had previously snatched from the Grandmaster of the Great Bright Light Temple was probably just a fake. He reached out to take it.
Swish.
Xiao Ling suddenly withdrew her hand, her eyes fixed sharply on him, as if trying to discern something deeper within his gaze.
Cheng Hui remained calm.
"If you don't believe me, you can take it back."