Times Have Changed

While it may seem absurd that countries are at war and engaging in private transactions, this has always existed.

Some people take risks in transactions for personal gain, while others engage in transactions through power struggles among high-level officials.

Zhang Xuezhou made an outrageous demand, but he precisely crossed the line regarding the skill level of Alchemist in the Northern Kuru Continent.

"Don't think that there aren't top-tier Alchemist in the Northern Kuru Continent..."

"Don't tell me those things. All I know is that you'll be implicated once you've lost your value, and if you can't atone for your crimes, you'll suffer a terrible fate!"

Hongku was eloquent, but Zhang Xuezhou kept hitting his weak points, so he couldn't make any sense of his reasoning.

Daojun was aloof, and no one knew what was on his mind.

Hongku could not guarantee that he would not be implicated. The only thing he could do was to take advantage of the Black and White Twin Horses' ability to travel back to the Sacred Land and bring back a large number of Qi and Blood Creation Pills and Law Power Creation Pills.

The shortage of elixirs is far greater than imagined. Normal cultivators do not need such a large number of elixirs, but the Sacred Land have this requirement.

Daojun even summoned Hongku for this purpose, and instructed him to complete the relevant elixir task.

Hongku watched Zhang Xuezhou slowly eating in the center of the main hall of the mansion, never expecting the negotiations to be so difficult.

"Before you left, the Daoist gave me a pill. This pill can relieve your splitting headache. You should know very well the value of this pill!"

Zhang Xuezhou's success rate in obtaining pills was very high, dropping from 70% to 30%, which corresponds to the profit Zhang Xuezhou wanted to extract.

This was far from the success rate of the pills that Hongku had guaranteed to Daojun. They couldn't possibly produce so many medicinal materials for pill preparation in a short time, so Hongku had to resort to his trump card in negotiations.

"I've heard that Daojun's throwing knife technique is unparalleled in the world; a single hit is fatal. How come there's suddenly an antidote?" Zhang Xuezhou asked with great interest.

"No one can stop Daojun's flying knife technique at full power, but even a slash at only 20% power can be countered with a medicine. The fact that you're not dead is proof of that," Hongku said. "Now it's up to you whether you want this antidote!"

"It's not a question of whether I want the antidote or not," Zhang Xuezhou laughed. "It's that if you want me to work, then you must make sure I have the ability to work. I can't refine any Creation Pills when my head is throbbing!"

"Marquis of Pingyang..."

"He'll be coming to me later. You can try to persuade him and see if he can provide you with a large quantity of pills!"

Zhang Xuezhou's nonchalant attitude made Hongku sink.

In normal deduction, the story should be that Zhang Xuezhou wept bitterly and begged Hongku for the antidote.

However, this antidote is not a true antidote. The pill contains a Incantation Technique medium, and once Zhang Xuezhou takes it, he will lose control of his own body.

He will send out his pills, and the recipient will obediently refine the Creation Pill.

However, in the brief exchange, Zhang Xuezhou relentlessly attacked Hongku's weak points, leaving no room for his usual rhetoric. He even questioned the antidote and then launched a counter-threat.

Compared to Zhang Xuezhou's relaxed attitude, Hongku was indeed more worried about his own fate.

The negotiations shifted to a third party, Hongku inevitably fell silent.

Without Zhang Xuezhou's matchmaking, he and the Marquis of Pingyang wouldn't have had such an easy time negotiating.

The Great Han Dynasty and the Great Xiong Dynasty had entered a state of extreme confrontation, Hongku was able to sense the storm brewing within them.

The prolonged restraint stems from disagreements among high-level officials, as well as external pressures.

Once the relevant needs are met, actions such as issuing kill orders in Sacred Land lands and border wars will inevitably continue to be promoted.

If the Marquis of Pingyang is found to be having illicit dealings with foreign countries, the other party will not fare well either; simple benefits are unlikely to tempt such a hereditary marquis to his doom.

Hongku didn't need to think; he knew perfectly well the outcome of his negotiations.

The best-case scenario is that Zhang Xuezhou returns to the Yedie River Holy Land; the next best is that Zhang Xuezhou is controlled by Incantation Technique and has no choice but to submit and cooperate; the third best-case scenario is that they trade on an equal footing.

There has never been a situation like the one that puts Hongku in such a dilemma.

Hongku felt that Zhang Xuezhou seemed completely unconcerned about being hit by a flying knife, displaying a boldness that disregarded life and death, and also somewhat like a reckless fool unaware of the consequences.

"Marquis Pingyang, someone wants to discuss elixirs with you!"

Silence fell over the mansion. Zhang Xuezhou ate slowly and deliberately, while the others remained silent with solemn expressions.

This mansion appears to be privately owned, but the theft of the Red Empyrean Sword has attracted widespread attention, with many powerful cultivators constantly observing and eavesdropping on it.

What Zhang Xuezhou talks about is serious enough to warrant execution, and it is bound to be listened to.

Gongsun Hong and his men dared not get involved in such a potentially fatal matter.

When Zhang Xuezhou called out towards the entrance of the mansion, his voice carried far, and everyone's eyes turned to the entrance.

There was no response at the door. After waiting for more than ten seconds, rhythmic knocking began.

Dou Shisan and Dou Shisi, their faces showing signs of fatigue, slowly opened the door.

At the entrance, the new emperor, dressed in opulent robes, strode in with an air of arrogance that disregarded even his closest relatives.

Compared to his previous appearances, the new emperor was alone this time, without the adorned imperial guards, which made him seem less like a nouveau riche.

"Hey, talking about pills again? I lost over a dozen Creation Pills just from discussing it with you last time!"

The new emperor strode in from afar, only shouting loudly once he entered the center of the mansion, clearly showing his extreme displeasure.

As his gaze swept across the room, the new emperor also saw Hongku, dressed simply, standing under the shade of a tree in the courtyard.

He frowned slightly. Although there were some ways to kill the avatar of Yang Soul, this technique was too difficult to defend against.

Preventing those skilled in flying and leaping is very difficult, and preventing those who can both conceal their bodies and fly is almost impossible. The imperial palace only has a Yao Qi -Demon-Revealing Mirror that targets demonic energy; there are no other treasures that can specifically target this situation.

Chang'an City has been under tight security this month, and the level of vigilance at the imperial palace has been raised to almost the highest level.

It seems that the first line of defense has been easily breached, and the second line of defense, which was patrolled and guarded by the Four Directions Zhang Xuezhou, has also become ineffective. It is not too difficult for these cultivators to break through and enter the palace.

His gaze swept over the long sword at his waist, and when the new emperor looked at Hongku, he forcibly suppressed his murderous intent.

"Why is this foreign merchant here again, dressed so simply? Could it be that he lost all his clothes while trying to sell medicine in the west?"

The new emperor neither entered the residence nor approached Hongku, but chose a middle ground between the two.

Zhang Xuezhou could speak over long distances using his Demonic Sound Technique, and Hongku had a similar ability, but he didn't have that ability and could only stand in the middle and shout.

Sitting on a landscape stone in the mansion, the new emperor looked at Zhang Xuezhou.

After Zhang Xuezhou moved his lips to convey a few words, he roughly understood the situation.

"Damn it, don't you know our Great Han Dynasty and the Xiong State are at war? Selling elixirs at a time like this is suicidal. Who would do business with you if there wasn't a huge benefit to be gained!"

The new emperor shouted.

Hongku's face was full of bitterness.

If the antidote could restrain Zhang Xuezhou, then how could Marquis Pingyang have any means to restrain him if he hadn't been hit by Daojun's flying knife?

For Marquis Pingyang, without a sufficiently large profit, it was simply not worth the other party's involvement.

What the other party wants is not just benefits, but huge benefits.