Purple Mist Grass

Sacred Nether Grass was unique to the Sacred Nether Family and could strengthen Soul Power. The older the plant, the more potent its effects. A five-year-old Sacred Nether Grass was worth fifty thousand Spirit Coins, while ten- and twenty-year-old plants cost several times—or even dozens of times—as much.

"We'll do as Chen says!"

"Yeah, we'll listen to you!"

Chen Linjian looked around and counted the people. "There are twenty of us in total. We need to find more!"

Recently, the ruins of a town had been discovered not far from City of Brilliance. It was likely from before the Dark Era, and quite a few people had formed groups to explore it. Chen Linjian wanted to recruit people to go with him, so he was gathering a team.

Du Ze, Lu Piao, and the others glanced into the distance.

"If we had some Sacred Nether Grass, Du Ze could definitely break through to Bronze 1-star!" Lu Piao murmured. But Sacred Nether Grass wasn't something they could afford.

With money, they could buy all kinds of precious herbs and pills to help them cultivate!

Nie Li wasn't concerned about money. Something else had come to mind. In his previous life, many powerful experts had explored the ruins outside City of Brilliance, but found nothing. He hadn't known that Chen Linjian and the others would later discover a hidden passage there, eventually uncovering a vast treasure trove.

He'd heard that Ye Ziyun had also taken part in that expedition, and she'd told him all the details. Shen Yue had found a spirit lamp during the expedition, which was later auctioned off for a million Spirit Coins.

A mere million Spirit Coins wasn't enough to make Nie Li take action. But he knew what the spirit lamp could do. Obtaining it would be a tremendous help to his future cultivation.

He had to get that spirit lamp!

Nie Li stood and walked over to Chen Linjian.

"I'd like to join your team. Would you be willing to take me?" Nie Li looked straight at Chen Linjian, and memories stirred within him. Chen Linjian was an outstanding member of the younger generation from the various Lineages. In his previous life, he'd been only one step away from becoming a Black Gold Demon Spirit Master. Nie Li didn't know whether Chen Linjian was a good or bad person. During the final battle for City of Brilliance, when Chen Linjian learned that the Sacred Family had refused to fight and that the western gate had been breached, he'd been so furious that he'd killed six disciples of the Sacred Family.

He was a man who knew how to repay kindness and avenge wrongs!

Chen Linjian raised his head and looked Nie Li over. "Who are you? Do you even know what we're doing?"

The people around Chen Linjian looked at Nie Li with faint derision.

"Kid, have you reached the Bronze rank? If not, don't come here looking for trouble."

Nie Li ignored their mockery. "Of course I know what you're doing. You're planning to explore the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, aren't you?"

A trace of surprise crossed Chen Linjian's face. How did Nie Li know they were heading to the Ancient Orchid City Ruins? They'd kept the expedition secret and hadn't told anyone. If their Lineage found out, they'd surely put a stop to it.

"Who are you?" Chen Linjian narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in them.

"Nie Li."

"Nie Li?" Chen Linjian suddenly remembered him. Nie Li had been making quite a name for himself lately. He'd even embarrassed the Sacred Family. Chen Linjian had also heard that the Sacred Family had stolen an inscription and falsely claimed to have created it—something he found utterly shameful. "I hear you've read all kinds of books?"

"That's right. I've read everything I could find in the library." Nie Li nodded, brimming with confidence.

"Haha, what a boast!"

"You haven't even grown your first whiskers, yet you claim to have read every book in the library? What a joke! Even if you'd started in the womb, you still couldn't have read that many books."

The people beside them mocked Nie Li mercilessly.

Chen Linjian thought Nie Li was rather interesting. He didn't challenge Nie Li's claim, but tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Since you've read so many books, do you know what era the Ancient Orchid City Ruins are from?"

"Based on the clues available, most buildings in Ancient Orchid City have domed roofs, while the city itself is square in shape. That kind of architecture is consistent with two periods: the Snowy Wind Empire and the Divine Empire. But as for the evolution of the murals' style, I heard that someone found a huge lotus mural in Ancient Orchid City. Lotus murals only became popular in the late Divine Empire, so we can be fairly certain the city dates to the period between the late Divine Empire and the Dark Era..." Nie Li spoke calmly, analyzing the origins of Ancient Orchid City.

As they listened to Nie Li, Chen Linjian's men exchanged glances. They only understood bits and pieces, but even so, it sounded impressive.

"Excellent!" Chen Linjian rose abruptly. He hadn't expected Nie Li to pinpoint the age of Ancient Orchid City so easily. The knowledge might seem simple, but even some of City of Brilliance's scholars who studied ancient history might not have examined the evidence so thoroughly. He looked at Nie Li with a hint of admiration. "Come work for me. I'll provide you with resources for cultivation and study. What do you say?"

Chen Linjian's men were a little surprised. They hadn't expected him to think so highly of Nie Li.

Become Chen Linjian's lackey? Nie Li smiled faintly. "This time, we're partners, each getting what we need. I doubt anyone understands the architecture of Ancient Orchid City better than I do. If we find treasure, I'll choose one item first, and the rest will be yours. If that doesn't work for you, I'll just have to go by myself."

"You want to choose an item first? Who do you think you are?"

"You haven't even reached the Bronze rank, and you dare bargain with Young Master Chen?"

Chen Linjian studied Nie Li. The confidence radiating from him left Chen Linjian puzzled. Nie Li hadn't even reached Bronze rank yet—where did all that confidence come from?

"I can guarantee that if you bring me along, we'll find something this time!" Nie Li declared proudly. He knew exactly where the treasure of Ancient Orchid City was hidden, which was why he was so certain.

Chen Linjian had a treasure map of Ancient Orchid City, but it was incomplete. He fell silent for a moment. Could Nie Li have a more complete map?

"Fine, it's settled! I'll say it again: if you're willing to work for me, I'll make sure you're well rewarded. If you aren't, I'm sure we'll still have a chance to work together." Chen Linjian smiled confidently.

Chen Linjian's men were surprised. Young Master Chen had actually agreed?

"I hope our cooperation goes well," Nie Li said calmly, then turned to leave.

"Three days from now, six in the morning. Same place. Don't be late!" Chen Linjian watched Nie Li walk away, a playful smile on his face. Nie Li was an interesting fellow.

"So we're going to explore the Ancient Orchid City Ruins? Looks like there's a lot to prepare." Nie Li murmured to himself. He planned to go alone, because exploring the ruins without reaching Bronze rank would be quite dangerous.

Time passed slowly, and afternoon arrived.

The Alchemist Association of City of Brilliance.

The Alchemist Association's director was a woman named Yang Xin. Though she was only twenty-five, she'd already achieved remarkable things. Yang Xin was a Gold Demon Spirit Master. Her cultivation wasn't particularly outstanding, but her achievements in alchemy surpassed even those of some of the old hands at the Alchemist Association.

Because Yang Xin was so beautiful, when she first became the Alchemist Association's director, people there assumed she'd gotten the position through connections and her looks. But as she gradually revealed her talent and ability, the gossips fell silent one by one.

As usual, Yang Xin had all the letters from the Alchemist Association's mailbox brought to her. Many alchemists wrote down their insights and experiences in letters, and the Alchemist Association compiled them into books to distribute to every alchemist.

Since nine out of ten ancient alchemical texts had been lost, alchemists were important, but the pills they produced were of limited use. As a result, alchemy had become an awkward profession in City of Brilliance.

Yang Xin opened the letters one by one with her slender fingers. Some were even declarations of love, which she tossed aside without hesitation. Before long, one article caught her attention.

"On the Applications of Purple Mist Grass in Alchemy?" Yang Xin furrowed her brows, confusion showing on her delicate, fair face.

Other than smoking it to repel insects, what use could Purple Mist Grass possibly have?

Yang Xin continued reading. The article was densely packed with claims about the grass's uses: adding a little Purple Mist Grass when making Soul Gathering Pills or Spirit Nurturing Pills could increase their potency by thirty percent; combining Purple Mist Grass with five other common herbs in bathwater could nourish Soul Power; and so on.

There were more than sixty uses in all, nearly half of them extremely valuable. If each one proved true, the price of Purple Mist Grass would probably skyrocket dozens of times over!

Yang Xin let out a cold laugh. "You want to use me to drive up the price of Purple Mist Grass? You'll need to offer some real proof first! This person must be a fraud!"

She tossed the article aside. She didn't believe ordinary Purple Mist Grass could have so many uses!

As she read the other articles, Yang Xin hesitated. If Purple Mist Grass really did have so many uses, it could have a major impact on the development of alchemy.

"Never mind. I'll test it and see! Someone, bring me some Purple Mist Grass!" Yang Xin called. The Alchemist Association had a decent stock of various herbs. They should have some Purple Mist Grass.

Soon, one of her subordinates brought out some Purple Mist Grass.

"Director Yang, we don't have much Purple Mist Grass in stock. There are only three pounds left."

Yang Xin furrowed her brows. As the Alchemist Association's director, how could she not know that large quantities of Purple Mist Grass had been bought up over the past few days?

"Mm, understood." Yang Xin nodded, then began using Purple Mist Grass to make Soul Gathering Pills and Spirit Nurturing Pills.

The recipes for Soul Gathering Pills and Spirit Nurturing Pills had been passed down in City of Brilliance for hundreds of years. No one had ever dared to alter them. After all, the ingredients were very expensive, and even an ordinary alchemist would hate to waste a batch. Who would dare recklessly add something else?

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