After Lu Changfeng sat down in the great hall, he wasted no time beating around the bush and directly named the medicinal herb.
"Elder Jia, I need a medicinal herb called armored dragon saliva herb. I heard the Imperial Family's storehouse happens to have some in stock."
The moment Jia Xingtian heard this, he hurriedly nodded. "Armored dragon saliva herb? Yes, yes, the Imperial Family's storehouse does indeed have one stalk. It has been treasured there for many years."
"This herb is extremely rare, and we normally have no use for it, so it has remained in storage all this time. Since Lord Lu needs it, the Imperial Family is naturally willing to offer it to you as a gift."
As he said this, Jia Xingtian was actually making calculations in his heart. Although a stalk of armored dragon saliva herb was precious, if he could exchange it for a chance to befriend Lord Lu, it was absolutely worth it. After all, a favor from a seventh-tier alchemist was not something a single herb could compare to.
He immediately ordered an attendant beside him to fetch the herb from the storehouse, acting with utter decisiveness. Before long, the attendant returned carrying a jade box. Jia Xingtian took it and presented it to Lu Changfeng with both hands. "Lord Lu, the armored dragon saliva herb is here. Please see whether it is the right one."
Lu Changfeng took the jade box and opened it for a look. Inside, he found a stalk of spiritual herb, emerald green throughout and giving off a faint, refreshing fragrance. Its quality was indeed very good. He nodded in satisfaction, then put the jade box into his Storage Ring.
"Thank you, Elder Jia. This herb is indeed useful to me. How about this? I cannot take something from the Imperial Family for nothing. I can grant you one request as payment for this herb."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xingtian almost jumped up in excitement!
After all his attempts to curry favor and show goodwill during this time, had this not been precisely what he was waiting to hear?
Exchanging one stalk of armored dragon saliva herb for a promise from a seventh-tier alchemist-this deal was an enormous windfall!
Jia Xingtian rubbed his hands excitedly and hurriedly said, "Lord Lu, I do indeed have a favor to ask. I have been stuck at the peak nine-star Dou Emperor level for many years, unable to break through to the Dou Zong level."
"Might you have a pill that could help me break through this bottleneck?"
After saying this, he looked nervously at Lu Changfeng, afraid that he would refuse. After all, the bottleneck to Dou Zong was not so easily overcome. Not a single Dou Zong expert had appeared in the entire Jia Ma Empire, which showed just how difficult the breakthrough was.
After hearing him out, Lu Changfeng nodded without much hesitation. "There is a sixth-grade pill called the Sect Breaking Pill, specifically used to help peak Dou Emperor experts break through to the Dou Zong level."
"I can refine one for you, but you will need to gather the ingredients yourself."
Hearing this, Jia Xingtian nearly lost his footing in excitement and nodded repeatedly. "No problem, no problem! Leave the ingredients to me! Lord Lu, just tell me which herbs you need, and I will prepare them right away!"
Lu Changfeng soon took a sheet of paper from his Storage Ring, casually wrote out a list of ingredients, and handed it over. "Gather them according to this list. Once you have everything, just send it to the residence where I am staying. I will make time to refine it for you."
Jia Xingtian accepted the list with both hands and glanced at the names of the herbs. Although several were indeed quite rare, the Imperial Family's resources would still be enough to gather them all.
He carefully put the list away, then bowed deeply to Lu Changfeng. "Thank you, Lord Lu! I will engrave your kindness to the Imperial Family upon my heart! If you need anything in the future, the Imperial Family will spare no effort!"
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng waved a hand to indicate that there was no need to be so courteous, then stood up to leave.
"All right, I have the herb, so I will head back first. Once you have gathered your ingredients, send someone to notify me."
Seeing that he seemed ready to leave, Jia Xingtian hurriedly rose to escort him out personally, only stopping once he had seen him all the way to the palace gates.
After watching Lu Changfeng's figure disappear at the end of the street, Jia Xingtian paced back and forth in excitement, unable to hide the smile on his face.
The Sect Breaking Pill, the sixth-grade Sect Breaking Pill! If I really could break through to the Dou Zong level, what would that mean!
The entire Jia Ma Empire had not produced a Dou Zong expert in centuries. Once he, Jia Xingtian, broke through to Dou Zong, the Imperial Family's position in the Jia Ma Empire would be utterly secure. The Misty Cloud Sect, Pill King Gu He-they would all have to stand aside!
At this thought, Jia Xingtian grew more and more excited, even clenching his fists.
Although the Imperial Family had nominally ruled the Jia Ma Empire before, the Misty Cloud Sect had always competed against it in the shadows. The two sides kept each other in check, neither able to do anything to the other. But if he, Jia Xingtian, broke through to Dou Zong, everything would be different.
Before a Dou Zong expert, the Misty Cloud Sect's meager reserves would be nowhere near enough. Then the Imperial Family could truly unite the Jia Ma Empire under its rule, never again having to look to anyone else's face!
At this thought, Jia Xingtian trembled all over. He hurried back into the great hall, picked up the ingredient list, and read it over and over, unable to suppress the smile on his face.
He then immediately ordered his people to prepare the ingredients, wishing he could gather everything and deliver it to Lu Changfeng's residence that very day.
Over the next few days, Jia Xingtian remained busy gathering the ingredients, unable even to sleep soundly. Meanwhile, word that the Imperial Family was collecting high-grade medicinal herbs slowly spread.
Within three days, the news had reached the Misty Cloud Sect.
At that moment, Yun Yun sat in the seat of honor in the Misty Cloud Sect's great hall, listening to a subordinate's report.
"Sect Master, the Imperial Family has been making major moves lately. Jia Xingtian seems to be gathering a batch of rare medicinal herbs from all over. They are reportedly meant for someone to refine some kind of pill, though we do not yet know exactly what pill it is."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yun frowned slightly, feeling somewhat curious.
That old fellow Jia Xingtian of the Jia Ma Empire has been stuck at the peak nine-star Dou Emperor level for years without making any moves. Why has he suddenly started gathering medicinal herbs?
And a pill that could make the Imperial Family mobilize on such a scale certainly could not be anything ordinary. Could he be attempting to reach Dou Zong?
At this thought, Yun Yun's expression grew somewhat graver. If Jia Xingtian really broke through to Dou Zong, it would not be good news for the Misty Cloud Sect.
But on second thought, how could the bottleneck to Dou Zong be so easy to overcome? Jia Xingtian had been stuck for so many years without succeeding. Could a single pill solve it?
Yun Yun therefore shook her head and set the thought aside for the time being, but still instructed her subordinates to continue watching the Imperial Family's movements.
Meanwhile, Jia Xingtian still did not know that word had spread. He was still gathering medicinal herbs to the urgent beat of drums and gongs, wishing he could have everything assembled and delivered before Lu Changfeng as soon as the next day.