The Council Hall was a vast chamber, with many chairs arranged neatly inside. It was normally where the sect's upper ranks gathered to discuss affairs.
Today, there were few people in the Council Hall, yet the atmosphere was especially solemn.
Gang Leader Ou had seen his wife off with a beaming smile, but the instant he entered the Council Hall, his expression changed completely, becoming exceedingly grave. The few people following behind him were equally solemn. Although Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing were Gang Leader Ou's personal disciples and trusted subordinates, they rarely came to the Council Hall. Once inside, they naturally followed the rules, standing not far from the entrance and not daring to move about carelessly. Fourth Brother and Sixth Brother of the Misty Six Tigers, along with Ou Peng's chief disciple Zhang Chengyue, stood before their respective seats according to custom, waiting for Ou Peng to sit first.
Ou Peng walked to the innermost part of the hall, where there was a rather large chair. He turned and sat down, facing everyone. Seeing him seated, the others carefully took their own seats as well.
Ou Peng looked over the crowd before saying to Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing, "You two come over as well. Find seats and sit."
Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing said in unison, "Thank you, Master." Then they found two chairs farther down and sat.
Ou Peng said, "Tell me what happened."
Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing exchanged a glance. Wen Wenhai said, "Yes, Master. This is what happened." He then recounted in detail everything that had happened from the time he and his junior sister left the Misty Sect until they encountered their two martial uncles just now, including the matter of saving Zhang Cai's family. However, Xue Qing's leaving a token for Zhang Cai, as well as the three medicinal herbs they had personally gathered from the herb garden in the Secret Realm, were not mentioned. Still, he added, "There are two more matters that need explaining. Please allow this disciple to report them later."
After considering it, Ou Peng nodded in assent.
Then Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing placed a Brocade Box, that small flat box, and the medicinal herbs they had gathered from the Secret Realm onto the square table beside Ou Peng.
Ou Peng did not open the Brocade Box. Instead, he said to Fourth Brother, "Go take care of it first. We'll wait for you." Fourth Brother replied, "Yes." Then he rose from his seat and hurried away. Of those present, only Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing revealed confusion in their eyes. Everyone else remained silent.
Before long, Fourth Brother returned. He nodded at Ou Peng and sat back down.
Only then did Ou Peng say, "Everyone has worked hard. After laboring for so long, we have finally received our reward. Let us see what treasures are here." By the end, a smile had actually appeared on his face.
Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing did not know this, but Gang Leader Ou was usually approachable and kindly smiling. Yet in the Council Hall, he had always been exceptionally stern; no one had ever seen him smile there. Today, he had done so, making the few who knew the situation feel an itch in their hearts. Eager light shone in their eyes. A treasure that could make the gang leader smile was naturally a priceless treasure.
Ou Peng first took the Brocade Box and carefully opened it. Inside lay a small booklet. When he took it out, it felt soft in his hand, neither paper nor silk. It was impossible to tell what material the booklet had been made of. A single large character, "Sword," was written on the cover. Its style somewhat resembled the characters for "Misty," but this character exuded a fierce, chilling aura. Ou Peng stared at it, then opened the booklet and read through its contents. After reading it once, he set it aside and narrowed his eyes in thought, neither commenting nor expressing approval.
After a while, Ou Peng looked again at the Brocade Box and examined it closely. Suddenly, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. He reached into the box and removed the compartment beneath the booklet, revealing three small bottles placed side by side below. The Brocade Box actually had two layers, and the compartment for the booklet occupied only one-third of its height. Ou Peng became even more careful as he took out one bottle. It had actually been carved from jade, and its mouth was sealed with some unknown substance. Three words were written on it: "Qi Boosting Pill"! Wild joy surged in Ou Peng's heart. Qi Boosting Pills had existed only centuries ago. They could increase one's inner strength, but their formula had long since been lost. According to the sect's ancient records, taking one Qi Boosting Pill could add thirty years of cultivation. If he took one himself, then his inner strength... As Ou Peng thought of this, his hand actually began to tremble.
He carefully returned the bottle to the box and took out another. This bottle was identical to the previous one, except the words written on it were "Bone-Strengthening Pill." Ou Peng frowned slightly. What was this for? Strengthening bones? The sect's records contained no mention of it. But since it had been placed alongside the Qi Boosting Pill, it had to be an extraordinary treasure. When he had the time, he would ask the other three sects. Perhaps their records contained something about it. He carefully put the bottle back.
Next, Ou Peng took out the final bottle. When he saw the three words written on it, he could not help rising to his feet, his eyes opened wide. Everyone in the Council Hall immediately stood as well, not knowing what unbelievable thing their gang leader had seen.
Ou Peng steadied his thoughts, forcibly suppressing his excitement as he sat back down. He also gestured for everyone to sit. At that moment, he felt some regret. He regretted not having taken Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing into the Secret Chamber alone. These items were now laid out before everyone; he could not keep them from knowing. Yet these things were far too precious. It was not that he distrusted them, but if word leaked out, it would bring a disaster capable of destroying the entire gang.
Ou Peng could not help closing his eyes in deep thought.
Everyone watched their gang leader's strange reactions in confusion. He had been startled one moment and alarmed the next; it was quite abnormal.
When Ou Peng finally made up his mind and opened his eyes, his expression immediately returned to normal. He put the bottle back into the box, picked up the small booklet again, and handed it to Zhang Chengyue. "Let your martial uncles have a look. The rest of you should look as well."
The small booklet passed through everyone's hands. After they had all read it, Ou Peng said, "Chengyue, make a copy of this sword manual and give it to your Sixth Martial Uncle. Put this sword manual into our sect's Library Pavilion and preserve it carefully."
Zhang Chengyue nodded and acknowledged the order. Then Ou Peng said to Sixth Brother, "Sixth Brother, you are responsible for training the disciples. Find a few with outstanding aptitude and have them cultivate this sword art. In the future, our Misty Sect will have another branch of swordsmanship."
Sixth Brother said, "Yes, Gang Leader. I will certainly do everything in my power to carry this sword art of our sect forward."
Ou Peng nodded without speaking.
Then Ou Peng said to everyone, "You must keep what happened today secret. It is to be regarded as the highest secret of our Misty Sect, especially what I am about to tell you. As for Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Fifth Brother, I will inform them myself."
Everyone rose from their seats and bowed in acknowledgment.
Then Ou Peng told everyone the names of the medicines in the first two bottles. Envious looks immediately appeared in their eyes. They truly were good things. They only did not know how many pills were in the bottles, or whether they might receive one themselves.
Finally, Ou Peng said, "There is one more bottle. It also contains pills—the legendary 'Longevity Pills.' I simply do not know whether they are genuine."
The moment his words fell, everyone's expressions became indescribably strange.
The Longevity Pill was unlike the Qi Boosting Pill. Everyone in the martial world knew the latter was a legendary sacred medicine capable of increasing cultivation, and everyone dreamed of obtaining one. Nor was it like the Bone-Strengthening Pill, something even an established sect like the Misty Sect knew nothing about. The Longevity Pill was known not only by martial artists, but even by ordinary people. It was a legend among legends. It was said that taking one could add ten years to a person's lifespan. Yet despite being so miraculous, it had been rumored for over a thousand years without ever appearing. In truth, anyone clever enough to think with their toes would understand: no one knew how long a person was supposed to live. The Longevity Pill claimed it could extend one's life by ten years, but after taking it, who could tell whether one's lifespan had truly been extended? Besides, who would give such a miraculous medicine to someone on the verge of death? Over time, everyone came to treat it as a joke, as material fabricated by storytellers. Yet this very dull punchline had suddenly appeared in the great hall of the Misty Sect's Council Hall, packaged exactly like the Qi Boosting Pill, a sacred medicine of the martial world. Anyone who saw it would be caught between laughter and tears.
Was it real? Or was it fake?
Yet everyone knew that, real or fake, if other famous major sects learned of it, none would fail to covet it. The Misty Sect would never again know a peaceful day. Annihilation? That was not impossible.
No wonder the gang leader had been so grave. It seemed this matter had to end here. But had the other three sects received the same things?
Everyone, including Ou Peng, began to wonder the same thing.
Next, Ou Peng opened the bundle containing the medicinal herbs, and once again, he was stunned. Ginseng hundreds of years old, Panax Notoginseng, mountain ginseng, He Shou Wu... many of them he could not even name. Looking at the bundle, fear rose in his heart. After calculating a thousand times and planning ten thousand times, he had never expected to obtain so many precious things this time. Had he known, why put on airs? Why play at mystery? He should have acted personally from the start. Yet he had allowed Hermit Yanming to manipulate him and play rock paper scissors. They should have simply met blades head-on. That old fellow had surely not gained little this time! Fortunately, A Hai and Qing'er had returned safely, and nothing had gone wrong with these items. Otherwise... it would have been too late for regret.
It was no wonder Ou Peng had so many thoughts. What he had seen earlier were all legends, perhaps merely rumors passed from mouth to mouth. Who knew whether they were real? Besides, their quantities were limited. But what lay before him now was solid and tangible, something he could touch with his hands. A ginseng root hundreds of years old could mean a life at a critical moment. If it were refined together with other medicinal herbs into healing medicine, its use would be even greater. When he had listened to A Hai and the others earlier, he had not paid much attention, believing Hermit Yanming had exaggerated. Now, it seemed he had to take it far more seriously. Moreover, there were still many such herbs in the Secret Realm. He needed to discuss matters properly with those several factions.
Then, amid the equally dumbfounded gazes of the others, Ou Peng excitedly ordered Zhang Chengyue to immediately summon the Hall Master of the Medicine Hall and its elders to the Council Hall.