Ghost King Zhu Youwen!

After returning from the Directorate of Armaments, Zhu Youning had obtained a blueprint for the Great Liang Invincible General Cannon, along with thirty jars of Volatile Fire.

It was quite a fruitful haul.

Zhu Youning had long wanted to get his hands on the blueprint for the Great Liang Invincible General Cannon, though it was of no use to him for the time being.

As for these earthen mines, they should come in handy soon.

Just as Zhu Youning was pondering this, a guard hurried in from outside.

"Your Highness, Prince Bo has arrived!"

Zhu Youning immediately widened his eyes upon hearing this.

Prince Bo was Zhu Wen's son, Zhu Youwen—the Ghost King of the Xuanming Cult!

In the courtyard, Zhu Youning met his cousin, the Ghost King Zhu Youwen.

Zhu Youwen truly lived up to the title of Ghost King. He had a valiant face and a towering, burly frame, with crimson hair and a red beard. Simply standing before him brought an intimidating pressure that struck at the soul. He truly resembled an asura demon that had crawled out of hell.

"Since Second Brother has arrived, please come inside for tea."

Zhu Youning made a welcoming gesture toward the haughty-looking Zhu Youwen.

"That is precisely my intention." With one hand behind his back and an air of utter superiority, Zhu Youwen extended a hand. "Brother Ning, please."

"Please."

The two then headed toward the reception hall.

Zhu Youwen had not come alone. Two disciples followed behind him.

His disciples were Black Impermanence, Chang Haoling, and White Impermanence, Chang Xuanling, of the Xuanming Cult. Their original names had long been forgotten; only the Impermanence names bestowed upon them by the Xuanming Cult remained.

At that moment, Black and White Impermanence instinctively tried to follow Zhu Youwen into the reception hall, only to be stopped by Zhu Youning's subordinates.

Zhu Youwen naturally saw this. Rather than reprimanding the guards who had stopped them, he frowned and said, "I am meeting with Prince An. What are you two fools following me for?"

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Black Impermanence Chang Haoling's face, but it vanished in an instant. With an awkward laugh, he said, "This disciple was merely concerned for Master's safety..."

"Hmph!" Zhu Youwen snorted disdainfully. "Does my safety require concern from two pieces of trash like you? Stay here!"

"Yes, Master." Black and White Impermanence lowered their heads in acknowledgment, concealing their true expressions.

Zhu Youning took it all in. He could already tell that Black and White Impermanence harbored resentment, but judging from Zhu Youwen's attitude, he did not seem to care.

That made sense. In Zhu Youwen's eyes, the two of them possessed only Mid-Star Rank martial arts. Even if they truly harbored rebellious intentions, they posed no threat to him whatsoever.

Inside the reception hall, fragrant tea was served. Zhu Youning and Zhu Youwen took their respective seats as host and guest, exchanging nothing but polite pleasantries.

After chatting idly for a while, Zhu Youwen grew impatient and immediately changed the subject. "Things have not been going smoothly lately."

Zhu Youning looked at Zhu Youwen and feigned surprise. "Second Brother's martial arts are unrivaled under heaven. Is there truly anything that could trouble you?"

"No. I am not speaking of myself. I am speaking of you."

Zhu Youwen set down his teacup and looked at Zhu Youning.

"Me?" Zhu Youning was startled inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged as he smiled. "The Great Liang dynasty is peaceful and prosperous. What could possibly be troubling me?"

"It seems Brother Ning intends to go to Luoyang."

"Second Brother's eyes and ears truly reach everywhere. Impressive."

Zhu Youwen cast Zhu Youning a glance. "However, I fear Brother Ning's journey to Luoyang will not go smoothly."

Zhu Youning said nothing and quietly waited for Zhu Youwen to continue.

"Although Luoyang is the Xuanming Cult's main base, my eldest brother has entered seclusion and no longer concerns himself with the cult's affairs. On top of that, Brother Ning has yet to recover from his injuries. Should Qi and Jin send assassins from Tongwen Hall and the Huan Yin Workshop, I fear Brother Ning will be unable to withstand them."

Having said this, Zhu Youwen finally revealed his true intention. "I possess a miraculous pill that can rapidly heal Brother Ning's injuries. Would Brother Ning be willing to try it?"

By then, Zhu Youning already knew what pill Zhu Youwen was referring to.

The Xuanming Blood Pill!

The so-called Xuanming Blood Pill was a unique medicinal pill recorded in the upper volume of the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill, Nine Nether. It was formed by combining the practitioner's own internal energy and vital blood.

Zhu Youwen cultivated the upper volume of the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill, Nine Nether!

In terms of efficacy alone, the Xuanming Blood Pill was indeed an excellent tonic. Not only could it completely heal the user's injuries, it could also greatly advance their cultivation.

However, anyone who consumed the Xuanming Blood Pill would be afflicted by its blood pill poison, and only the person who created the pill could cure that poison.

Simply put, if Zhu Youning consumed Zhu Youwen's Xuanming Blood Pill, then until the blood pill poison was removed, he could only dance to Zhu Youwen's tune.

What a fine scheme!

Zhu Youning sneered inwardly, but his expression remained calm as he politely declined with a smile. "There is no need for Second Brother to trouble himself. Thanks to the miraculous medicine bestowed by His Majesty, my body has already recovered for the most part."

Zhu Youwen said, "My pill can do more than heal bodily injuries. It can also greatly advance your cultivation. Does Brother Ning truly not wish to try it?"

Zhu Youning immediately put on the expression of someone unwilling to accept a reward he had not earned and declined in a sincere tone. "Second Brother, how could I possibly accept such a precious miraculous pill? My martial arts are not particularly strong to begin with. If I took this pill, it would only be a waste of a heavenly treasure. Second Brother should keep such a miraculous pill for yourself. Your martial arts are already unrivaled under heaven; if you consume this medicine as well, your cultivation will surely advance greatly. You will become invincible beneath heaven and protect our Great Liang for generations to come!"

Zhu Youwen was greatly pleased by Zhu Youning's praise. Especially when he heard words like "invincible beneath heaven," the arrogance on his face was practically written in plain sight.

But here was the problem: with Zhu Youning refusing on such grounds, Zhu Youwen could hardly insist that he take the Xuanming Blood Pill.

After all, he could neither reveal the pill's true effects nor force the Xuanming Blood Pill down Zhu Youning's throat.

It seemed this matter could only be dropped.

"Brother Ning, since you've said so, I'll put this pill away for now."

With his objective unfulfilled, Zhu Youwen had no desire to linger. Rising to his feet, he said, "I have many matters to attend to today, so I'll take my leave first."

Seeing that Zhu Youwen intended to depart, Zhu Youning was naturally overjoyed, though his face still showed reluctance.

The two put on a hypocritical farewell before Zhu Youwen finally left with Black and White Impermanence.

Once Zhu Youwen had gone far away, Zhu Youning secretly let out a breath.

Though Zhu Youwen was his own cousin, he was no easy person to deal with.

Zhu Youwen's martial arts were extremely formidable. Every moment he remained here, Zhu Youning felt as though thorns were pressing against his back. They might have chatted and laughed together, but no one could say whether Zhu Youwen would suddenly strike amid the cheerful conversation and force him to swallow the Xuanming Blood Pill.

Such was the helplessness of the weak. Although Zhu Youning's own strength was not low, compared to a Great Heavenly Rank expert like Zhu Youwen, it was hardly worth mentioning.

It seemed that if he did not want to be manipulated by others, he had to improve his martial arts as quickly as possible!