For two full days, he cultivated without sleep or rest, stabilizing his cultivation at the peak of the Eighth Layer of the Acquired Realm.
With only one day left, he devoted himself fully to refining Heavenly Spirit Pills.
The medicinal ingredients on the floor steadily dwindled as Heavenly Spirit Pills emerged from the furnace one after another. The fifth day arrived as promised.
The Xu Household's gates had barely opened when Lei Tao was already standing outside, frightening the servant into a shudder. He thought Lei Tao had come to cause trouble; the Xu Household had seen little peace lately.
After Lei Tao explained why he had come, Xu Yilin personally came out to welcome him. Without the Pill Treasure Pavilion at the beast arena last time, the Xu Household would have been in an entirely different state today.
When Lei Tao reached Liu Wuxie's courtyard, his eyes widened. He could hardly believe that the wild man standing before him was Young Master Liu, who had slaughtered his way through all opposition three days ago.
His hair resembled a bird's nest, and his body was filthy. For three days and nights, he had immersed himself in cultivation and pill refining without sleep or rest.
"Have the medicinal ingredients I wanted arrived?" Liu Wuxie did not invite him inside.
The two stood in the courtyard. The ground was such a mess that there was nowhere even to set foot.
"Soon. They've already reached the city gates," Lei Tao answered truthfully.
Five days ago, they had arranged for Nine Yang Fruit and Crimson Spirit Grass to be sent from Imperial Capital City. They would arrive in Canglan City today.
"Here are five hundred Heavenly Spirit Pills. Come back for the next batch in ten days."
Liu Wuxie did not produce the refining method. Instead, he took out several dozen porcelain bottles filled with pills. Selling these would bring in a large sum of money to purchase Spirit Stones for cultivation.
Once he reached the Xiantian Realm, he would need even more Spirit Stones. Relying on Spiritual Qi alone was too slow, especially since his Dantian differed from an ordinary person's. Desolate and ancient, his Dantian played out the transformation of vast seas into mulberry fields. It held more than ten times an ordinary person's True Qi, and the resources it required were equally staggering.
Lei Tao did not expose his intentions either. Liu Wuxie was guarding against their Pill Treasure Pavilion obtaining the refining method, then turning their backs on him and refusing to give him the Nine Yang Fruit and Crimson Yang Grass. One could never let down one's guard against others.
He opened a bottle, poured out a Heavenly Spirit Pill, and put it in his mouth. A surge of pure Spirit Essence burst through his chest, and his expression shifted slightly.
"An excellent pill."
The Spirit Essence had not yet been fully refined and remained stored within his body. He did not have the Primordial Desolation Physique, so his refining speed fell far short of Liu Wuxie's.
After a brief exchange, Lei Tao hurried away. Just yesterday, the Pill Treasure Pavilion had informed all of Canglan City that a new pill would be released today. Its price was modest, lower than a Heart-Nourishing Pill's but higher than an Origin-Nurturing Pill's, while its effects far surpassed both.
Liu Wuxie fetched a basin of clean water and thoroughly washed and groomed himself, then cleared away the rubbish in the courtyard. By then, the morning was well underway, and only then did he turn and leave the Xu Household.
An hour later, he finally managed to squeeze into the Pill Treasure Pavilion. The five hundred pills brought back that morning had sold out before noon.
This far exceeded Liu Wuxie's expectations. The Heavenly Spirit Pill's debut swept through all of Canglan City, and people discussed it for the entire day.
"We haven't bought any yet! Hurry up and bring out your stock!"
The martial artists who had failed to buy any slapped the counter and refused to leave, looking as though they would not rest until they obtained Heavenly Spirit Pills.
"We're truly sorry, but the Heavenly Spirit Pills have sold out. The next batch won't be available for another ten days."
The attendant wore a helpless expression. Even they did not know where the Heavenly Spirit Pills had come from; they had appeared overnight.
"Like hell we believe you! Would the Pill Treasure Pavilion really turn away business?"
That was true enough. The Pill Treasure Pavilion was also troubled. The Heavenly Spirit Pill's debut had left Origin-Nurturing Pills and Heart-Nourishing Pills unsold-not a single one had sold. This was not a good sign. It meant that without Liu Wuxie, the Pill Treasure Pavilion would have no income whatsoever.
Liu Wuxie ignored them and walked straight to the counter.
"I'm here to collect the Nine Yang Fruit and Crimson Spirit Grass."
Judging by the time, they should already have reached the Pill Treasure Pavilion. Once he obtained the two medicinal ingredients, he could refine a Meridian-Restoring Pill.
"Please wait a moment, Young Master Liu. I'll inform Steward Lei right away."
These two ingredients had arrived only recently, and Steward Lei had personally signed for them. None of the attendants had the authority to handle them. After the previous uproar at the Pill Treasure Pavilion, these attendants treated Liu Wuxie politely on the surface, with a trace of fear lingering in their eyes.
After a wait of roughly ten minutes, Steward Lei still had not appeared. Instead, the attendant returned holding the two medicinal ingredients.
"Young Master Liu, here are the Nine Yang Fruit and Crimson Spirit Grass. Please take them. Steward Lei asked me to tell you to wait a little longer. He'll be out to greet you shortly."
The two spirit medicines were wrapped and placed on the counter. Steward Lei was probably also fretting over how to refine Heavenly Spirit Pills.
The Alchemy Chamber!
Master Huo had tried several times, failing every time.
"Master Huo, is there really no way to refine them?" Steward Lei asked urgently.
If they mastered the technique for refining Heavenly Spirit Pills, they would hold the initiative in their own hands.
"No. I'll need a month to work it out."
Master Huo was exhausted and drenched in sweat. The moment he received a Heavenly Spirit Pill, he had eagerly begun experimenting, only to fail again and again.
"A month? Wouldn't that leave us at his mercy?"
The Heavenly Spirit Pills were already out of stock, and the next batch would not arrive for ten days. Just thinking about how many gold coins they would miss out on during those ten days made his heart ache.
"There's nothing I can do. This is my first encounter with this kind of pill too. He should be here by now, shouldn't he? Don't neglect him."
Master Huo spoke helplessly. His Shanzhong acupoint had begun aching faintly again, and he dared not continue refining.
Liu Wuxie reached out, picked up the spirit medicines, and let out a soft breath.
Once he resolved the problem with his heart meridians, his cultivation would undergo a qualitative leap.
"I want to see your shopkeeper! Bring out the Crimson Yang Fruit!"
A group rushed through the entrance, sending the ordinary martial artists tumbling in chaos. Many were knocked to the floor.
People from the City Lord's Estate!
They were the true masters of Canglan City, controlling its lifeline. Even the four great Lineages dared not offend them.
The man leading them was in his thirties, his sinister eyes radiating a chill. The guards behind him were even more disdainful of everyone, clearing away the bystanders on both sides.
"We're terribly sorry. The single Nine Yang Fruit our Pill Treasure Pavilion received today has already been purchased by Young Master Liu. You'll have to wait for the next batch."
The attendant dared not offend anyone from the City Lord's Estate and hurried forward, bowing deeply. His answer greatly displeased Liu Wuxie.
These attendants had been soundly slapped by Liu Wuxie five days ago and had harbored resentment ever since. Several of them were close to Zhou Tong, who had been expelled from the Pill Treasure Pavilion because of Liu Wuxie.
As soon as the words fell, everyone from the City Lord's Estate turned their eyes toward Liu Wuxie in unison. Their hostility shifted. The Pill Treasure Pavilion's attendant had effortlessly redirected the conflict toward Liu Wuxie.
He could simply have told them that the Nine Yang Fruit was sold out. Instead, he deliberately mentioned that it had been sold to Liu Wuxie. His purpose was self-evident: to use the City Lord's Estate against Liu Wuxie and avenge that day's humiliation.
"I heard this morning that the city lord's daughter was attacked by a Yin Scorpion Beast while training in the Sunset Mountain Range. Only Nine Yang Fruit can dispel the sinister yin Qi. If it isn't completely removed in time, it'll leave lingering effects."
Murmurs rose from the crowd. Word had spread that morning that the City Lord's Estate was searching far and wide for objects of utmost yang. So that was why.
Nine Yang Fruit possessed the utmost hardness and yang, making it the best medicine for dispelling sinister yin Qi.
"I don't care who you are. Hand over the Nine Yang Fruit. Our City Lord's Estate will buy it for twice the price."
The leading man spoke without a trace of feeling and stepped forward. A powerful current made the surrounding counters hum and rattle. He was in the Half-Step Innate Realm.
He demanded that Liu Wuxie hand over the Nine Yang Fruit and offered twice the price.
His tone was almost an order, which greatly displeased Liu Wuxie. Half a Nine Yang Fruit was enough to refine a Meridian-Restoring Pill. If the man had discussed it politely, he might have considered sharing half.
"Not for sale!"
Those icy words rejected him outright. Even if he threw it away, he would not sell it to this man.
"You dare refuse the City Lord's Estate?"
The man flew into a rage. His guards stepped forward, and a formidable killing aura filled the entire hall. The two sides stood at an impasse.
"Commander Guo, let's talk this over calmly."
A shopkeeper hurried forward, unwilling to let things escalate. The Pill Treasure Pavilion did not fear the City Lord's Estate, but there was no need to sour relations so badly.
"Scram!"
A slap swept out. The shopkeeper felt like crying but had no tears. Commander Guo had a bellyful of anger and nowhere to vent it. By suddenly stepping forward, he had invited humiliation upon himself.
Commander Guo advanced step by step, surrounding Liu Wuxie with his men, his eyes fixed on the Nine Yang Fruit in Liu Wuxie's hand.
"Brat, I'll give you one more chance. Hand over the Nine Yang Fruit, or else..."
Cold killing intent blanketed everything. More than a dozen guards drew their sabers, their frigid gleams radiating a bone-piercing chill.
The onlookers on all sides retreated into the distance, not daring to remain too close. The City Lord's Estate had always acted ruthlessly and decisively.
"Has this brat gone mad? Hurry up and hand over the Nine Yang Fruit! This is the perfect chance to curry favor with the City Lord's Estate. The Xu Household is being battered by wind and rain right now. With the City Lord's Estate supporting them, the Wan Household and Tian Household would have to fear smashing the vase when throwing stones at the rat."
Liu Wuxie's identity had long since spread throughout Canglan City. Everyone knew who he was.
"Offend the City Lord's Estate, and death is the only road left."
Voices tinged with gloating mingled in, wishing someone would hurry up and kill Liu Wuxie.
"Or else what?" Liu Wuxie suddenly smiled, his smile sunny and radiant.
This answer exceeded everyone's expectations. Had he grown tired of living, openly opposing the City Lord's Estate?
"Very good. You're the Xu Household's live-in son-in-law, aren't you? You're the first person who's dared speak to me like that. Even your father-in-law would have to treat me courteously if he were here. Since you're seeking death, I'll grant your wish."
Commander Guo laughed in extreme fury. He no longer wished to waste words on Liu Wuxie. He would simply kill him and take the Nine Yang Fruit.
As for the Xu Household, he truly thought nothing of them.
They would kill over a single disagreement. The City Lord's Estate's fearsome reputation had long since taken root in people's hearts.
"Commander, why waste words on him? Just kill him!"
A guard beside him could no longer hold back. No one had ever dared refuse the City Lord's Estate; Liu Wuxie was the first. They usually stood high above everyone else. Who did not bow and scrape upon seeing them?
Just as they were about to strike, a burly man emerged from the rear hall. Lei Tao had appeared to welcome Liu Wuxie and discuss the Heavenly Spirit Pills-whether he could deliver them a few days earlier. Ten days was too long.
"What happened?"
He glanced at Liu Wuxie, then at Commander Guo, and frowned. What were people from the City Lord's Estate doing here? They rarely appeared. The City Lord's Estate seldom purchased pills from the Pill Treasure Pavilion, as they had their own Alchemist.
The shopkeeper climbed to his feet and answered truthfully, without embellishment.
"Commander Guo, I've already sold the Nine Yang Fruit to Young Master Liu. You arrived a step too late. If you need one, you can order it in advance. It will arrive in five days."
Lei Tao cupped his fist and spoke courteously, unwilling to make an enemy of the City Lord's Estate.
"Steward Lei, I must obtain the Nine Yang Fruit today. This is between him and me. Please step aside."
Commander Guo likewise did not wish to make an enemy of the Pill Treasure Pavilion. As long as he killed Liu Wuxie, the Nine Yang Fruit would naturally fall into his hands.