Cui Shuo

Tianwu Main City, Cui Residence!

Great General Zhenyuan Cui Hong had long since retired behind the scenes due to old age and failing health, yet the Great General's name still shook the eight directions. More importantly, every descendant of the Cui Family was exceptional. Four generals had emerged from one household; his three sons had already become Wu Kingdom generals commanding their own regions. The family had truly spread its branches and leaves. Within the Wu Kingdom, the Cui Family's status could not be shaken anytime soon.

The Cui Family's younger generation was even more outstanding, led by Cui Shuo. Though only nineteen, he was already a Gangqi Realm expert and deeply valued by the Heavenly Fire Sect. His future prospects were simply boundless.

That day, three generations of the Cui Family gathered together. Great General Cui Hong sat in the council hall, his gentle gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on a spirited young man dressed in luxurious purple robes. He lifted his teacup, took a light sip to moisten his throat, and said, "I am deeply satisfied with what the Cui Family has achieved today. The grand gathering is about to begin. Make your preparations."

"This time, Xiao Shuo traveled thousands of miles back from the Heavenly Fire Sect precisely so that more members of our Cui Family could enter an Immortal Sect. The higher one climbs, the farther one sees. As Xiao Shuo said, the Wu Kingdom is merely a corner of the world." Cui Hong said energetically, his complexion rosy. At the thought of the Cui Family spreading its branches and leaves still farther in the future, his heart swelled with endless pride.

After a lifetime on horseback and the battlefield, he had rendered meritorious service to the Wu Kingdom. What had he fought so hard for? Was it not so the Cui Family could spread its branches and leaves and travel farther?

"Xiao Shuo, tell your uncles, elder brothers, elder sisters, younger brothers, and younger sisters about the Immortal Sects. Let them encounter such things early, so they understand the importance of diligent cultivation." Cui Hong gazed warmly at the high-spirited Cui Shuo and spoke slowly.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile hung on Cui Shuo's face. He slowly rose to his feet and swept his gaze across the cluster of siblings around him, standing among them like a crane among chickens. Clearing his throat, he said carelessly, "There's nothing much to say. In the Heavenly Fire Sect, I, Cui Shuo, have some standing. As long as you don't go too far, everything can be settled. As for the Wu Kingdom... there's even less to say. To put it bluntly, even Wu Kingdom Emperor Long Ao has to give me, Cui Shuo, some face..."

Before Cui Shuo could finish speaking, a shrill cry of grief suddenly rang out. "Father, you must seek justice for Xiao Yong..."

A middle-aged noblewoman came running into the council hall, weeping bitterly. She rushed directly before Cui Hong, threw her arms around his leg, and sobbed uncontrollably.

The Cui Family members in the council hall all rose when they saw the noblewoman. Cui Shuo furrowed his brow slightly. Someone had bullied a member of the Cui Family just after his words had left his mouth? He glanced at the woman and said with some displeasure, "Little Aunt, what sort of appearance is this? In the Wu Kingdom, what matter is there that our Cui Family cannot resolve?"

At that moment, several soldiers carried a stretcher into the council hall. Who else could the person lying on it be but Qin Yong? Qin Feng followed behind, his face deathly pale.

"Xiao Shuo? Xiao Shuo? You're back? You must seek justice for your cousin! Someone chopped off both his arms! Your cousin has always treated you best since you were little—you must seek justice for him!" Upon seeing Cui Shuo, the noblewoman seemed to have found a lifeline. She threw herself at Cui Shuo's feet and wept bitterly.

Cui Shuo looked at Qin Yong lying on the stretcher, his face pale and both arms severed. His brow furrowed as he said coldly, "Little Aunt, who did this? I would like to see who dares lay hands on a member of my Cui Family in the Wu Kingdom."

"His surname is Chen... he is on good terms with Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop," Qin Feng said with difficulty, doing his utmost to make his pronunciation clear.

"A mere pill shop dared cut off Xiao Yong's hands? Could it be they do not know that Xiao Yong is Father's grandson?" one of the Cui Family generals barked.

"Xiao Liu, could the Qin Family's strength not handle a pill shop? What has Qin Zhan been doing all these years?" another middle-aged man said coldly.

"Wait! Xiao Liu, did you say a pill shop?" Cui Hong, seated at the very top, suddenly spoke. The moment he opened his mouth, everyone was startled.

A pill shop—generally speaking, anyone capable of opening one certainly had an alchemy sect behind them. Even if not, they would have connections to an Immortal Sect.

"I would like to see what pill shop dares provoke my Cui Family!" Cui Shuo sneered. Then he took out a jade bottle and said, "Little Aunt, Cousin will be fine. So long as his meridians have not been damaged, this will suffice. This is a Healing Pill; it can restore his arms to their original state. Qin Feng, take me to Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop!"

"Yes." Qin Feng was overjoyed upon hearing this, and a vicious glint flashed through his eyes. He had long wanted to tear that Chen fellow into ten thousand pieces. Before, he had been wary of the one surnamed Zi, but with Cui Shuo here, Qin Feng no longer feared anything.

"Move!" Cui Shuo said coldly, then strode out of the hall.

While Cui Shuo and Qin Feng headed for Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop, Qin Yu had already returned to Qin Manor. Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua had also awakened, but both were trapped within the Defense Array.

Qin Yu entered the room and saw Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua excitedly discussing something. His gaze softened slightly as he opened the Defense Array. Before the two could say much, he said, "We can talk later. Go wait for me at Xue'er's place first. Remember, you must go to Xue'er's!"

Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua looked at each other. They had already been shocked for quite some time after being trapped in the Defense Array. Together with the pill cauldron, they finally realized that the Third Young Master, once timid and weak, had truly changed. Xiao Hua in particular had once held grievances against Qin Yu, but after this incident, she had already been completely won over.

After the two left, Qin Yu poured all the medicinal liquid from the pill cauldron into the small courtyard. After placing several hundred spirit stones around the courtyard, he shut the door, set up two arrays, and began brewing the medicinal liquid.

With a great enemy looming before him, Qin Yu did not have much time. He needed to raise his cultivation as quickly as possible. He guessed Qin Yong would certainly seek out the Cui Family, and then the Cui Family would go to Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop. Yet given Zi Xun'er's status, the Cui Family would inevitably hit a wall. By then... the Cui Family would likely vent their anger on him. Therefore, Qin Yu needed to reach the Martial Realm Sixth Level and awaken the power of blood qi before the Cui Family came for him.

Only with blood qi could one cultivate the Six Transformations of the Mad Demon and wield the power of the Mad Demon First Transformation, Blood Qi Transformation.

This time, Qin Yu had obtained quite a few things from Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop. Though he guessed Zi Xun'er's request for help was extremely thorny, he could no longer concern himself with that now.

"To reach the Martial Realm Sixth Level from the Martial Realm Third Level in such a short time, I can only risk it all."

"With the power of the Mad Demon First Transformation and the arrays, perhaps I can fight Gangqi Realm Cui Shuo! With the Sword Talisman, I could kill Cui Shuo! Unfortunately, there is only one Sword Talisman left." Qin Yu muttered to himself. This body's constitution was far too poor. Though its bones and roots had been tempered, there had been no time to consolidate them before he began forcibly raising his cultivation again. This would cause tremendous harm to the body itself, and he would need to spend considerable effort making up for it later.

Having made his decision, Qin Yu activated the pill cauldron, placing the medicinal herbs into it one by one and beginning to brew the medicinal liquid.

Though Qin Yu had once held external aids in utter contempt when it came to raising cultivation, his present circumstances left him no choice.

Meanwhile, at Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop.

"Demolish this pill shop for me! I, Cui Shuo, will bear all consequences! Those uninvolved, leave within a hundred breaths, or bear the consequences yourselves!" Cui Shuo stood before Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop, pointed with his right hand, and spoke in a voice that rang like a great bell. The three hundred soldiers behind him instantly surrounded Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop.

The surrounding townsfolk stared at Cui Shuo in astonishment, while the cultivators inside Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop were all dumbfounded. They hurried out to see what was happening, and upon seeing the three hundred soldiers, they all fled in haste.

"Does your Senior Brother Wang Ping know you are doing this?" A clear, icy voice drifted down from the pavilion of Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop.

Under everyone's gaze, a graceful figure slowly stepped onto the pavilion balcony.

Cui Shuo's heart thumped, and he inwardly cried that things were bad.

Senior Brother Wang Ping?

The reason he had dared claim that even Wu Kingdom Emperor Long Ao had to give him some face was chiefly because he had a backer—his Senior Brother Wang Ping. Wang Ping was the grandson of the Heavenly Fire Sect's Third Elder and held lofty status within the Heavenly Fire Sect. Yet this insignificant pill shop actually knew Senior Brother Wang Ping. How could that not give him a fright?

Cui Shuo stared uncertainly at the woman above. When he saw that peerless face, his pupils suddenly contracted. Unlike the others, whose eyes were filled with infatuation, his were filled with terror.

"Zi... Alchemist Zi?" Cui Shuo stammered as though he had seen a ghost. Where had his previous arrogance gone?

"Your name is Shuo, isn't it? You are the one who wanted to demolish my Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop?" Zi Xun'er looked cold and proud, her eyes slanting toward Cui Shuo below as she spoke indifferently.

Cui Shuo shuddered all over, then gave an awkward smile and clasped his fists. "A misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding. Alchemist Zi... even if Cui Shuo were given ten thousand times the courage, I would not dare demolish your pill shop. Alchemist Zi, Cui Shuo has presumptuously disturbed you. Another day, I will come to apologize in person. I shall take my leave first." Without waiting for Zi Xun'er's response, Cui Shuo fled in disarray.

The three hundred soldiers and Qin Feng looked at one another. They too understood that this peerless woman was someone they could not afford to provoke, and they quickly left as well.

Standing atop the pavilion, Zi Xun'er paid no heed to the countless fervent gazes cast up at her. Her eyes turned toward the Qin Family's direction as she murmured, "It is time to see just how deep you are. Why can you make me unable to see through you?"