"Master!"
"An immortal has arrived outside, riding a giant white eagle."
"He specifically asked to see the Third Young Master!"
That morning, a commotion arose outside the gates of Su Estate.
"An immortal? And he specifically asked to see me?"
At those words, Su Yun furrowed his brow.
Beside him, Father Su and Mother Su were visibly nervous.
"It's all right. Let's go take a look."
Su Yun reassured them, then led them outside.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The group had just left the main hall and stepped into the courtyard.
They saw a huge white eagle slowly beating its wings as it hovered in midair.
Perched atop the white eagle was a White-Robed Elder. He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, and an otherworldly air about him.
"Hm? A White Ghost Eagle?"
"Is this man an elder of the Mystic Blade Sect? And seemingly from the Pill Hall, too."
Su Yun considered it in silence, and a guess immediately came to mind.
Perhaps this Pill Hall elder had come for that Pill Fire.
Su Yun and the others had spotted the Pill Hall elder, and naturally, he had spotted them as well.
The next moment, he moved and leaped down from the White Ghost Eagle's head.
In less than a breath, he had landed in front of Su Yun.
"Screee!"
The White Ghost Eagle in midair seemed to have received the White-Robed Elder's command. It cried out and circled several times.
Then it vanished into the distance.
"Greetings, Pill Hall Elder!"
Su Yun cupped his hands.
The Pill Hall!
It was a highly unusual institution within the Mystic Blade Sect, and held a lofty position.
Nearly all the sect's pills were refined by the Pill Hall.
"Su Yun, you're a prodigy of my Mystic Blade Sect. There's no need to stand on ceremony."
The White-Robed Elder stroked his beard and smiled.
Then he looked at the others and spoke warmly. "There's no need for you all to be nervous."
"I've come here only because there's something I need to confirm in person."
"If it turns out to be true, perhaps the Mystic Blade Sect and Su Estate can strike a deal."
At those words,
everyone present was astonished.
A deal!
The Mystic Blade Sect actually wanted to do business with them?
Everyone knew that the Mystic Blade Sect was a top sect within the Great Cloud Dynasty.
And Su Estate was merely a clan in a small city.
Yet today, the Mystic Blade Sect wanted to do business with Su Estate?
It was simply unbelievable!
"The Mystic Blade Sect wants to do business with Su Estate—it must be because of the Third Young Master!"
"I heard before that the Third Young Master had become an Inner Sect disciple of the Mystic Blade Sect, and had even dealt with those Blazing Fire Sect martial artists."
"I didn't really believe it at first, but now it seems it might all be true!"
Everyone in Su Estate was stunned with disbelief.
The servants whispered among themselves, their faces full of shock.
Father Su and Mother Su were also astonished, unable to believe what they were hearing.
Why would the Mystic Blade Sect do business with Su Estate?
"Father, Mother, we shouldn't keep the Pill Hall Elder waiting outside, should we?"
Su Yun said with a smile.
His words immediately brought Father Su to his senses.
"Right! Please, Immortal Elder, come inside!"
Father Su hurriedly said with a smile.
"Su Yun, I heard that the Blazing Fire Sect had seized your Su Estate's Fire Origin Mine. You've already dealt with the matter, and you did well."
"Don't worry. Those people from the Blazing Fire Sect won't dare come looking for trouble at Su Estate again."
As soon as the White-Robed Elder sat down in the main hall, he stroked his beard and said with a hearty smile.
The simple words sent a tremor through Father Su and the others.
The White-Robed Elder spoke with such certainty.
That meant the Mystic Blade Sect must have sent people to the Blazing Fire Sect to give them a stern warning.
Perhaps they had even made an example of them.
That was why the Blazing Fire Sect didn't dare come seeking revenge.
A moment later, Father Su came back to himself.
He looked at the cheerful White-Robed Elder before him, his heart tightening.
He was certain that despite the Mystic Blade Sect elder's courteous manner, he would be absolutely ruthless when he fought.
The only reason he was treating them so courteously was Su Yun.
Without Su Yun, the Mystic Blade Sect wouldn't have given a small clan like Su Estate a second glance.
"I heard a Pill Fire emerged from that mine. Su Yun, did you take it?"
The White-Robed Elder looked at Su Yun and asked with a smile.
"That's right. I took the Pill Fire, and an alchemist has already refined it."
Su Yun answered truthfully, without hiding anything.
"In that case, on behalf of the Mystic Blade Sect, I can offer Su Estate a deal."
"The pills your estate refines from now on can be supplied directly to us."
"If you'd like to be paid in silver, we'll pay the standard price."
"If you'd rather be paid in Contribution Points, we can offer you a little extra. What do you think?"
The White-Robed Elder seemed to be discussing it with Father Su, but his gaze was fixed on Su Yun.
"A pill business?"
Father Su was taken aback, then hesitated.
After all, he wasn't completely confident in Su Ling's alchemy skills.
If something went wrong and the pills turned out to be defective,
Su Estate might be in trouble.
"Father, since the Mystic Blade Sect has taken the initiative to do business with us, just accept."
Su Yun said with a smile.
He had great confidence in Su Ling's alchemy skills.
In all these days, not one of the pills Su Ling had refined had been a dud.
And they were even more effective than the Jade Marrow Pills on the market.
Her success rate at alchemy could be called a perfect hundred percent!
"Then Su Estate accepts this deal. We certainly won't disappoint you, Immortal Elder."
Father Su spoke solemnly and cupped his hands in earnest.
"Good! This is the Mystic Blade Sect's flag. Take it."
"As long as you hang this flag, it means Su Estate has the Mystic Blade Sect's protection. Even if the Blazing Fire Sect comes here, they won't dare act recklessly."
As he spoke, the White-Robed Elder took out a crimson flag.
"Thank you, Immortal Elder!"
Father Su was overjoyed and hurriedly reached out to accept it.
"This is a communication token. Once you've finished refining a batch of pills, you can use it to contact a few Outer Sect disciples."
"They'll come to Su Estate and collect the pills."
After speaking, the White-Robed Elder took out a deep-purple token and handed it over.
"Good. I'll remember that."
"Su Estate will do everything in its power to fulfill this deal."
Father Su quickly accepted it, speaking with a solemn expression.
"Very well. Just do your best."
"If this deal goes well, perhaps we'll have more opportunities to work together in the future."
The White-Robed Elder smiled.
"We'll do everything we can."
Father Su nodded repeatedly.
He gripped the purple token tightly, his mind still reeling.
"All right, that settles it. I should head back and report."
"Su Yun, train hard. I'm looking forward to seeing you claim first place for the Mystic Blade Sect at this Disciple Ceremony!"
The Pill Hall Elder spoke with warm approval.
"I will!"
Su Yun nodded with a smile, then said,
"Let me see you off."
Su Yun rose and escorted the White-Robed Elder out of the main hall.
"Elder, I, Su Yun, will remember the Pill Hall's kindness."
The White-Robed Elder summoned the White Ghost Eagle, then easily mounted it. Su Yun watched him closely.
He understood perfectly well that the Pill Hall didn't actually need the few pills Su Estate could supply.
They had made a deal with Su Estate partly to win his favor.
They also wanted to ensure Su Estate's safety, so Su Yun could have no worries holding him back and focus on his cultivation.
He would naturally remember this favor.
"That's all I needed to hear."
"Now, this old man will be on his way. Keep up your cultivation."
The White-Robed Elder said with a kindly smile.
Then he left.
Inside the main hall of Su Estate,
Father Su clutched the purple token, his expression complicated.
His face showed both excitement and apprehension.
"Yun'er, surely I'm not dreaming, am I?"
He couldn't help asking.
Su Yun hadn't yet said anything when
Su Lin walked forward with a grin.
Then he reached out and tugged Father Su's beard, making him draw a sharp breath from the pain.
"You little rascal, what are you doing?"
"Father, if it hurts, that means you're not dreaming!"
Su Lin said with a cheeky grin, still acting like a mischievous little boy.
"You little brat, you're asking for a beating!"
Father Su scolded him with a laugh.
The whole main hall was filled with a festive atmosphere.
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