Fangya (坊衙).
Under the watchful eyes of Zhou Xuan and Zhou Fuling, Lu Ming refined another batch of Qi Refining Elixir.
"Not bad, you've become increasingly proficient in using the ' True Explanation of Six Refinements of Clear Qi,' and this Qi Refining Elixir has reached the superior grade." Zhou Xuan summoned the newly made Qi Refining Elixir, examined it in his hand, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.
Lu Ming was also quite pleased. A high-grade Qi Refining Elixir could be worth Heavenly Gold Sand, which was double that of a low-grade one. In terms of profit, this had already exceeded the cost of the medicinal materials. Therefore, Lu Ming could even find a job at a pill shop at this time.
"Back then Fuling, it took me several months and countless medicinal herbs to improve my proficiency and refine my first high-grade Qi Refining Elixir."
Zhou Fuling glared at him, annoyed. Why was he bringing her up for no reason?
"From now on, you must diligently study the ' True Explanation of Six Refinements of Clear Qi ' that I have taught you. Although the medicinal power is perfectly integrated when you refine pills, your Clear Qi is too weak to complete the 'dual refinement,' which is why you cannot refine pills of a higher grade."
"Once you cultivate your Clear Qi to the thirteenth level, you can try using the dual cultivation of Clear Qi to refine the Bone-Tempering Pill," Zhou Xuan said.
Lu Ming nodded respectfully. He had cultivated five paths of Clear Qi within his body, still some distance from the thirteenth. However, at this rate, he would likely reach that level in just over a month.
"Master, I have a favor to ask of you, is that alright?" Lu Ming said suddenly, setting aside the lotus-shaped alchemy furnace in front of him.
"There's still a lot to do," Zhou Xuan said, seemingly complaining.
Zhou Fuling poured Lu Ming a cup of hot tea, then glanced at Zhou Xuan.
Zhou Xuan could only cough and ask, "What is it?"
Lu Ming first thanked Zhou Fuling, then gave Zhou Xuan a grateful smile and said, "Master, the information you provided earlier was very important to our Thunderfire Hall. Based on our deductions, the Peach Mountain Band probably intended to ambush and kill the merchant caravan guarded by our Thunderfire Hall at the beginning of the month, ruining our reputation."
Zhou Xuan nodded slightly and said, "That's a ruthless move."
Over the past two months, Thunderfire Hall has been thriving and its reputation in Qingyuan Market has grown increasingly strong. If the caravan guarding Lei Huo Guan were to be targeted and killed by Peach Mountain Band at this time, it would be a fatal blow to the Thunderfire Hall.
In some ways, this blow was even stronger than Zhang Yue's withdrawal from the embassy.
"What are you going to do? Avoid the beginning of the month?" Zhou Xuan.
Lu Ming shook his head and said, "You can run away from the first day of the month, but you can't hide forever. Besides, how can you guard against thieves for a thousand days? How can we live like this? So we plan to continue the mission of protecting the caravan as usual."
"This time, I will also accompany the caravan on its escort mission."
Zhou Xuan was slightly taken aback. He sized up the tall, upright young man before him, whose face was youthful yet exuded a refined air. The young man's eyebrows were slightly raised, revealing a sharp, sword-like aura and a hint of arrogance. "You're going too? Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble? The Peach Mountain Band has been able to exist in Qingyuan Market for so many years; they're not easy to deal with."
"They don't want my Thunderfire Hall to have an easy time, so we'll have to fight to the death. From now on, in Qingyuan Market, only one of my Thunderfire Hall and the Peach Mountain Band can survive." Lu Ming grinned, his bright smile revealing an undisguised ruthlessness.
"Will Lu Jin be involved too?" Zhou Xuan asked.
Lu Ming nodded and said, "We don't know yet whether Guo Kui, the leader of the Peach Mountain Band, will show up, so to be on the safe side, Grandpa will also remain hidden in the background."
"Your Thunderfire Hall has come out in full force, ready to fight the Peach Mountain Band to the death!"
Zhou Xuan sighed, then said with a serious expression, "Can your grandfather's body withstand it? Even if we manage to defeat Guo Kui, won't his condition worsen?"
"If something happens to him, who will be able to support your Thunderfire Hall?"
"Your actions are too risky. It would be safer to back down, be patient, and wait for you to mature before seeking revenge."
His implication was that Thunderfire Hall should avoid direct confrontation this time.
Lu Ming paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "If the Peach Mountain Band's plan fails, they must have many other schemes. They are in the shadows, while we are in the open; it's impossible to guard against them all. Rather than living in constant fear, we should take advantage of this intelligence and fight them to the death to eliminate any future troubles."
"And..."
"I won't tolerate this either. They're targeting the Thunderfire Hall, and I want them all to die."
The young man calmly uttered the most ruthless words, causing Zhou Xuan's eye to twitch. He muttered to himself, "This kid is truly bloodthirsty; no wonder he's known as the Thunderfire Killing Prodigy."
However, Zhou Xuan could also see that Lu Ming and Thunderfire Hall had made up their minds.
"So what do you want from me?" Zhou Xuan asked slowly.
Lu Ming looked up, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Golden Gang Sword Hall in the city, and said, "Our Thunderfire Hall can only fight to the death with the Peach Mountain Band, but we cannot withstand any other interference."
You mean Lin Changkong?
Lu Ming nodded slightly. Lu Jin could only deal with Guo Kui, but Lin Changkong was also a potential threat. Although the other party might not risk showing himself, what if he did come? A True Qi Master could easily reverse the situation.
At that time, all of them from the Thunderfire Hall would really die outside.
This was an outcome Lu Ming did not want to see.
Zhou Xuan picked up his teacup, took two sips, and said, "You want me to help you restrain Lin Changkong and prevent him from leaving Fangcheng?"
Lu Ming nodded again. Only Zhou Xuan, the head of the workshop, could do something like this.
"As I told you before, it's not really our place to interfere in the feuds between the Divine Ability Hall. But everything in this world comes at a price. What do I get in return for all this help?" Zhou Xuan asked with great interest.
Consider it a favor I owe you.
Zhou Xuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "I wouldn't even want a favor from the Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall if it were given to me for free."
"It's not a favor from the Thunderfire Hall, it's a favor from me," Lu Ming said earnestly.
Zhou Xuan's laughter finally stopped. He stroked the slightly warm teacup with his fingers and sighed, "You little rascal, you're not that old, but you've got quite the nerve. With such little ability, you keep talking about favors. Are they really that valuable? Do you think I'm a country bumpkin?"
Zhou Fuling picked up the teapot and poured tea for Zhou Xuan, then splashed boiling tea onto the back of his hand.
Zhou Xuan shuddered from the burn and glared at Zhou Fuling.
Lu Ming said, "Anyway, you won't lose out. It's a highly profitable venture, so why can't you do it?"
Zhou Xuan wiped the tea off his hands, thought for a moment, and said, "Forget it, I won't argue with a kid like you. If you were just High-Grade Divine Ability Bone, I might think highly of you, but I wouldn't value your favor. However, I do value your talent in Dao of Alchemy quite a bit."
"After all, it's the Dao of Alchemy technique I taught you."
"Don't worry, I promise you. Lin Changkong won't be able to leave Fangcheng for the next few days. And not only him, I'll also keep an eye on Shi Tong of the Red Sand Hall."
"Are you satisfied with this?"
A bright smile finally appeared on Lu Ming's face. He clasped his hands in gratitude to Zhou Xuan and said, "Then I thank you for your protection, Master."
He felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders. With Lin Changkong gone, they could finally fight the Peach Mountain Band without restraint.
"That's all I can do, but in the battle against the Peach Mountain Band, you'll have to rely on your own Thunderfire Hall."
"Is your grandfather's body really capable of holding up?" Zhou Xuan asked with a hint of worry.
Many of Qingyuan Market's top experts knew that after his clash with Lin Changkong at the gathering, Lu Jin's already frail body was undoubtedly riddled with hidden dangers. In such a state, could he truly stand against Guo Kui, the leader of the Peach Mountain Band?
"Grandpa can." Lu Ming simply nodded, without saying anything more.
After Lu Ming used the Flame of Life to heal Lu Jin's injuries every day during this period, the hidden injuries in his body have almost been completely healed, and his condition is better than ever before.
This is also the source of their confidence to set up such a scheme directly.
Since Lu Ming had already said so, Zhou Xuan didn't say anything more. At the same time, he took out a jade bottle and placed it on the table. "Inside here are some mid-grade pills that can be used by Great Divine Ability Practitioner, called ' Lesser Primordial Restoration Pill.' They were all carefully refined by me and can accelerate the recovery of Primordial Qi. Perhaps they will be useful to you."
Lu Ming did not refuse, because he knew that these pills would be of great help to the Thunderfire Hall in the perilous situation it was about to face, so he accepted them directly and bowed respectfully to Zhou Xuan.
Then he whispered to Zhou Fuling beside him, "Thank you, Senior Sister."
He could naturally see that Zhou Fuling was helping to push things along, both openly and secretly.
Zhou Fuling blinked her bright, pretty eyes at him.
Lu Ming didn't linger and took his leave. He needed to go back and tell Lu Jin the news so that she could be completely at ease.
Watching his departing figure, Zhou Fuling asked with some worry, "Can the Thunderfire Hall defeat the Peach Mountain Band? Won't something bad happen to them?"
"What? Are you that worried?" Zhou Xuan asked with a smile.
Zhou Fuling rolled her eyes at him and said, "At least we're the seedlings we've been looking for. What will happen to the ' Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner ' if something goes wrong?"
" Lu Jin is a cautious person. He can think of things that we can think of. He is very clear about his importance to the Thunderfire Hall. If he falls, Lu Ming, with his High-Grade Divine Ability Bone, will probably lose all protection."
"Knowing this, his continued risky actions suggest they possess some hidden trump cards we don't know about."
Zhou Xuan held the teacup and took a sip.
"However, if they can truly inflict heavy losses on the Peach Mountain Band and return, then the reputation of the Thunderfire Hall will truly become renowned from now on."
"The reputation of the top restaurant is unshakeable."