Gu Zuo got a clear view of that white light. As it turned out, it was a snow-white cicada. The pair of jade-hued cicada wings was flapping furiously as if it was constantly struggling, but in the end, it couldn’t break free. Its entire body glittered like clinking jewels, and looked exceedingly lovely. It appeared to have quite a bit of spirituality. The instant it broke through the ovum, it wanted to run away. However, since it was born as wondrous medicine, how could anyone allow it to flee? Therefore, once his big brother took action, it was already captured.
After seizing it, Gongyi Tianheng only held the snow-white jade cicada between his fingers.
At this moment, the cicada didn’t move anymore. It was like a tiny, motionless jade carving.
Gu Zuo moved closer: “It’s a Snowy-Jade Cicada?”
Tianheng said: “Ah Zuo recognizes this thing?”
Gu Zuo nodded his head: “There’s a record of it in an ancient text.”
Although Details of Ten Thousand Medicines had very few records of wondrous medicines, it referenced many types. It was just that these wondrous medicines weren’t recounted in detail, and only rough drawings were given.
The Snowy-Jade Cicada was one such type. As a result, Gu Zuo could recognize it.
As for Tianheng, he had browsed through many books in Ten Ultimates Sect. Among them were those that contained things pertaining to medicine refinement. Although martial artists didn’t study the body cultivation methods of pharmacists, it was essential to read up on these kinds of medicinal ingredients — Otherwise, when they went out on adventures by themselves, what could be done if they failed to recognize the good things they encountered?
Coincidentally, Tianheng had read the introductions of wondrous medicine in some books, but the records in those books detailed an extremely sparse number of species. It was to the point that he wouldn’t have been able to recognize a few upon seeing them. He wasn’t familiar with the Snowy-Jade Cicada either.
Gu Zuo and Tianheng were together now. After supplementing each other, it seemed like there was nothing they didn’t know. In Shopkeeper Fang’s eyes, their extensive knowledge became increasingly apparent.
Gu Zuo slightly pondered, and put the Snowy-Jade Cicada into the Divine Medicine Palace Hall.
This thing had a bit of spirituality, but this spirituality was actually due to growing inside the stone ovum for years on end. Upon dashing out and coming into contact with the outside world, all of the spirituality would be discharged. Once this outburst passed and it was captured by someone, that spirituality would dissipate. Then, it would only be wondrous medicine to be used.
Sure enough, after more than half of the white light on the Snowy-Jade Cicada scattered, it didn’t struggle even a little bit. There also weren’t any signs of life or qi emissions to be seen. While it was considered a living thing, it wasn’t an animal or plant. Instead, it was an anomaly that straddled the line between both sides.
Gu Zuo considered things, but didn’t understand the principles of this thing’s existence. Thus, he didn’t think about it any further.
When all was said and done, did it really matter what it was? In any case, it could be turned into medicine.
No matter how lovely it looked, the Snowy-Jade Cicada was also…a type of medicinal ingredient.
Afterwards, Gu Zuo spoke to Shopkeeper Fang: “The Snowy-Jade Cicada is an excellent wondrous medicine. Shopkeeper Fang, pass along our gratitude to that friend of yours.”
Shopkeeper Fang smiled and said: “He would be most pleased if these two sirs would be willing to meet with him.”
This time around, Gu Zuo was very straightforward: “Shopkeeper Fang, you’ll still have to set a time and place.”
Shopkeeper Fang nodded: “He wants to entertain these two sirs properly, and hasn’t neglected anything. He previously mentioned that, if these two sirs agree to a meeting, it will be held at Phoenix Wind Restaurant, tomorrow at noon.”
Gu Zuo looked through his memories, and recalled that it was a well-known restaurant. He glanced at his family’s big brother.
Tianheng slightly nodded his head.
Gu Zuo answered: “Okay.”
Shopkeeper Fang’s heartstrings seemed to relax.
With this, the meeting was set.
Soon after, the three ate a meal together. Then, Tianheng and Gu Zuo bade farewell, and returned to the manor.
Meanwhile, Shopkeeper Fang turned around and went his own way. He also had many matters that required his busied attention.
Very quickly, the next day arrived.
Tianheng and Gu Zuo showed up at Phoenix Wind Restaurant on time.
At the restaurant’s entrance, Shopkeeper Fang was standing next to a similar-looking man with the facial features of a thirty-something year old. They both seemed to be waiting.
Upon seeing the two arrive, they stepped forward in welcome and cupped their hands in greeting: “Prodigy Gongyi, Pharmacist Gu. Punctual, as expected. Please come inside and have a seat.”
Gu Zuo and Tianheng similarly call out in greetings, and entered the restaurant with them.
As before, the meeting was held in a luxurious and comfortable private room. Following the gestures of a few people, they all took their seats one after another.
The Divine Wind Trading Company’s manager smiled and said: “This one is Lou Wei. As this location’s office manager, it’s this one’s pleasure to welcome Prodigy Gongyi and Pharmacist Gu. Sure enough, these two sirs are just as Anfu said — Radiant with health and vigor, and in possession of well-favored, handsome, and extraordinary bearings.”
While speaking, he cast a glance at Shopkeeper Fang.
Shopkeeper Fang cupped his hands.
As it turned out, his full name was Fang Anfu.
Gu Zuo listened to the adulations of this Manager Lou Wei, and felt slightly embarrassed.
All of this flowery language actually described his big brother perfectly. But when these terms were used to describe himself, didn’t it feel a little unnerving?
One just had to look at this scrawny body of his…
However, Gu Zuo’s current disposition was disguised as prideful and arrogant. As a result, he appeared to calmly accept these compliments.
Meanwhile, Tianheng slightly smiled, but didn’t say anything.
After Lou Wei’s sentence of praise, he didn’t waste time with excessive conventional pleasantries. From what Fang Anfu mentioned, he had long known about these two people’s temperaments. Inviting the two over also hadn’t been only to meet them.
Consequently, after the dishes and three rounds of drinks were ordered, he directly addressed his own objectives: “I won’t hide it from these two sirs. This Lou has actually come here on the order of his master.”
Tianheng’s expression remained the same. He faintly inclined his head, and gave the impression that he was listening attentively: “Oh?”
Gu Zuo put down his chopsticks, and looked over.
Logically speaking, a prodigy like Tianheng wouldn’t have made a personal appearance at a meeting with another organization’s subordinate to engage in talks. It was just that, because this business involved Gu Zuo and because Tianheng expressed how importantly he regarded his little pharmacist, Tianheng tagged along to safeguard Gu Zuo. As for Gu Zuo’s willingness to step forward, it was originally for the sake of building a connection with the owners of the Divine Wind Trading Company and Medicine Heart Pavilion…
Now, it looked like it would be happening earlier than they thought.
Lou Wei rummaged around his sleeve, and a pearl the size of a clenched fist appeared in the palm of his hand. The interior of this pearl was engraved with strange, lined patterns. The pearl radiated glistening and dazzling lights, but due to the patterns, the entire pearl was shrouded in a layer of mystique.
Gu Zuo raised an eyebrow: “What is this?”
Tianheng saw Gu Zuo putting on an act, and couldn’t help chuckling.
Gu Zuo: “…”
Don’t think that he couldn’t hear his big brother making fun of him in their consciousness.
Contrary to what one might expect, Lou Wei didn’t notice the communication happening between the two. He only respectfully stated: “This is a Gate Opening Pearl. It’s capable of opening a sealed leyline. This leyline manifested and took shape long ago, and it has produced countless stone ova. It only opens once every ten thousand years, and only those who carry a Gate Opening Pearl can enter it. Altogether, there’s no more than one thousand Gate Opening Pearls, and each pearl can only bring in two people.”
Gu Zuo’s heart slightly stirred.
This person wouldn’t have brought out the Gate Opening Pearl just for the sake of telling them about this matter, right?
Tianheng smiled and didn’t speak. He only waited for Lou Wei to proceed.
Lou Wei saw that these two people were calm so far, and couldn’t help thinking about his own master. Suddenly, his heart trembled. He didn’t dare to keep them in suspense, and continued to talk: “My master has three Gate Opening Pearls in his possession. The first was conferred by his sect, the second was bestowed by his clan, and the third was obtained through a fortuitous encounter.
“For the first Gate Opening Pearl, my master carefully selected someone from his own personal pharmacists. For the second pearl, it was reserved for an outstanding younger generation of my master’s clan and that younger generation’s personal pharmacist. As for this third pearl, my master intends to present it as a gift for these two sirs, and invites thee to journey together.”
Although Gu Zuo had a guess, he still felt that this favor was was a bit too big.
On the entire Central Continent, there were only one thousand Gate Opening Pearls, and the owner of the Divine Wind Trading Company only had three. Unexpectedly, he was giving one of the pearls to them… Wasn’t this a little unscientific?
Off to the side, Tianheng was as unflustered as ever: “This object is far too precious. I wouldn’t dare accept it presumptuously.”
Although “countless” stone ova were quite attractive to people and many would be reluctant to give them up, when Tianheng spoke in such a tone, he acted as if he didn’t care about it at all. It was like what he rejected wasn’t a huge opportunity to obtain resources, but an ordinary, trivial matter.
Lou Wei saw these two’s reactions, and was even more determined to not underestimate them. This was especially so when his gaze met Tianheng’s serene and deep eyes. He only felt a cold sweat sweep across his back. The muscles throughout his body stretched taut.
He composed himself, and voiced what hadn’t been said: “Naturally, there’s a reason why my master did this.”
After speaking this sentence, that suffocating pressure seemed to ease slightly. He hastily continued: “The location of that sealed leyline is unusual. Anyone carrying a Gate Opening Pearl needs to bring a pharmacist, and the age of the pharmacist must be less than thirty. If the person who brings the Gate Opening Pearl is a pharmacist, then the restriction will be the same. When taking along a martial artist, their age cannot exceed forty…”
Following this, Lou Wei gave a complete recounting of that leyline’s situation, and didn’t leave out any details.
Within that leyline, a pharmacist’s psychic power could be utilized, but a martial artist’s internal qi would be sealed within their body. They would have no other choice but to rely on their physical body’s strength to take action. Because the offensive capability of a pharmacist at this age usually wasn’t powerful, basically no fights would occur in the leyline.
After entering the leyline, everyone had to rely on a pharmacist’s psychic power to look for stone ova. Although there were many stone ova in that place, it didn’t mean that they were everywhere. The amount that one could find depended on the individual’s luck and strength.
Moreover, the leyline wasn’t completely without danger. That place had a type of organism called an Earth Worm. These creatures were just a little over a foot long. If a martial artist was fast enough, they could use their physical body to capture it. If one wanted to kill an Earth Worm, it required a pharmacist’s psychic power. However, suppose a pharmacist’s control over their own psychic power wasn’t particularly good. When they used their psychic power to explore for stone ova, an Earth Worm might pounce on the psychic power and devour it.
As a result, in times of great opportunity, so too would there be many challenges.
Thus, more than half of the pharmacists who could enter the leyline would’ve already been filtered out.
Through the summarized experiences of successive generations, the upper echelons of some large organizations determined the realm requirements for those going inside. The realm of those pharmacists had to be at the Core Psyche Realm. In addition, they had to be outstanding pharmacists — The most optimal were those who could refine pills of the top three grades and above. Otherwise, if weaker pharmacists went inside, it would end with most of their psychic powers being devoured by Earth Worms, and they wouldn’t be able to bring out their selected stone ova.
The pharmacists who satisfied these requirements usually had the potential to reach the earth level or higher — Almost all of them were twenty-something year olds at the Core Psyche Realm. And as for Gu Zuo, who hadn’t even reached twenty and was already at the Core Psyche Realm, that potential of his was absolutely at the heaven level.
Lou Wei said: “Begging thy pardons, but there’s no need to harbor suspicions. If these two sirs are willing to accept this object, when it’s time to enter the leyline, thou may move together with this one’s master for mutual assistance. Merely, provided that these two sirs reap a large harvest afterwards, please allow ten percent of them to be sold to this one’s master. This would be considered the price in exchange for the authority to use this Gate Opening Pearl.”
Speaking up to here, he paused. Then, he supplemented: “Naturally, if there’s anything among the stone ova obtained by this one’s master that these two sirs need, it can be bartered for.”
Gu Zuo listened to this, and felt that his own side had the greater advantage.
After all, this fellow said to sell ten percent, not take ten percent… Of course, he also knew that this might’ve been the other party valuing his so-called potential in the hopes that he could find even more stone ova. So long as there were stone ova, things like the price didn’t matter at all. Though, it still placed them in an awkward position to agree to this affair.
This was different from Qi Xuanao’s invitation previously. That time, Qi Xuanao had thought that such a team-up was required to enter the cave abode. Later on, after they were unexpectedly separated, and no one wanted to take out their own spoils to split things evenly. Thus, both sides reached a tacit agreement, keeping the benefits they obtained for their own means. But now, the owner of the Divine Wind Trading Company didn’t have to give them the Gate Opening Pearl. It also could’ve been granted to his own subordinates. This was purely sending off benefits…
Tianheng pondered slightly, and said: “Since it’s like this, many thanks for the kind intentions.”
Lou Wei heard this, and a smile spread across his face: “This Lou will promptly return to report to his master. Would these two sirs make early preparations? The journey will be set in a few days!”
Tianheng smiled: “Okay.”
On the side, Fang Anfu also said: “My master possesses a Gate Opening Pearl as well. If thou happens to cross paths with my master in the leyline, thou may join forces.”
At this time, Gu Zuo spoke: “If we run into each other, we naturally can.”
Fang Anfu smiled, too.
However, the fact of the matter was that, at the present time, Tianheng and the other two didn’t know one another…
Gu Zuo silently considered things.
That owner of the Divine Wind Trading Company would be able to get acquainted with Tianheng rather quickly. As for the owner of Medicine Heart Pavilion, the Divine Wind Trading Company’s owner was already familiar with him.
Actually, this made no difference.
After saying their farewells, Gu Zuo told Tianheng what he had been thinking: “I’m glad that they view us with importance, but this is a favor. It isn’t particularly good to owe too many…”
Tianheng smiled and said: “Ah Zuo’s words are reasonable, but there’s no need to overthink it.”
Gu Zuo raised his head, and looked at Tianheng.
Tianheng elaborated: “When all is said and done, it isn’t known how dangerous it’ll be inside the leyline. It also isn’t known how many stone ova we’ll be able to obtain. Thus, it isn’t appropriate to say too much in advance. After this trip is concluded, if we obtain enough stone ova, we can take out a number of them to present to the owner of the Divine Wind Trading Company. If he requires some stone ova that we don’t urgently need, then we can conduct an exchange with him. In this way, it doesn’t count as an owed friendship nor a claimed advantage.”
Speaking up to this point, he ruffled Gu Zuo’s hair: “Naturally, he’s giving us an opportunity this time. After that, you and I should observe his personal character. If he proves himself, then we can become friends. In the future, we certainly can’t forget about him when there are benefits. And if we can’t become friends, we’ll search for another way to pay him back for this opportunity.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head: “Then, we’ll do as big brother says.”
In this world, let alone taking unfair advantage of others, even becoming hostile and backstabbing one’s benefactors was a common sight. However, he always felt that, while it wouldn’t be a big problem if he did too many contemptible and petty things, he might develop some unseen heart knots or something — After all, he wasn’t someone who was born and raised here! It was better to be safe than sorry. What was he supposed to do if this negatively affected the speed of his breakthroughs? As a result, no matter what he did, he would maintain his own bottom line.
Gu Zuo silently glanced at Tianheng.
He would handle matters according to his own thoughts. Other things were for his big brother to consider…
A few days later, Lou Wei punctually arrived outside Ten Ultimates Sect.
Gongyi Tianheng’s mode of transportation had long been prepared. For this trip, he was bringing along Ao Min and the others, as well as five hundred battle slave elites. This grandiose and majestic delegation grouped up with Lou Wei’s procession, and both parties hastened towards their destination.
Because Lou Wei was the guide this time, he was received into Tianheng and Gu Zuo’s small palace hall. While sitting down on the side, he spoke in the capacity of his own master.
The owners of the Divine Wind Trading Company and Medicine Heart Pavilion were a pair of friends. At the same time, they were also fellow disciples of the same sect. The sect that the two belonged to was the gold-ranked organization known as Heavenly Martial Sect.
The Divine Wind Trading Company’s owner was called Shen Yuanbai. He was currently thirty-five years old, and was already a mid Celestial Realm young powerhouse. He had been developing his force for twenty years, and its foundations were deep. In addition, with the support of a gold-ranked organization, he established the Divine Wind Trading Company in countless cities, which brought him untold profits. Consequently, although he was only at the level of an exceptional genius, no one dared to provoke him. Even some prodigies held restraining fears towards him. Moreover, many people believed that his fast cultivation speed didn’t lose out to that of ordinary prodigies. It wasn’t known, but perhaps he had improved his potential beyond the level of an exceptional genius during these years of training.
Shen Yuanbai was traveling to the leyline to get a hold of even more stone ova for his Divine Wind Trading Company to act as merchandise. With such precious goods, he could open up higher channels, and allow the Divine Wind Trading Company’s reputation to grow. This would grant him with even more power.
With such a line of thinking, it appeared reasonable for him to boldly gift a Gate Opening Pearl to the newly-acquainted Tianheng and Gu Zuo.
As for the owner of Medicine Heart Pavilion, he was called Lan Wenxi. He was a low Celestial Realm young powerhouse, and was similarly an exceptional genius. Presently, he had just turned thirty-two. Because his clan’s organization was inferior to that of Shen Yuanbai, it had only been twelve years since he started developing his own force. However, he had been friends with Shen Yuanbai from the beginning, and the help he got from Shen Yuanbai wasn’t small. As a result, his current personal assets were substantial, and he was a well-known figure among his peers.
Of course, Lou Wei didn’t know too much about the specific circumstances, but his words made it clear that Medicine Heart Pavilion and the Divine Wind Trading Company were in a partial alliance at the very least.
For this time’s trip to the leyline, perhaps Lan Wenxi was simply traveling together with Shen Yuanbai.
Having come to such an understanding of certain things, half a month of time unwittingly flashed by.
The group travelled day and night. The wild beasts galloped at great speeds before arriving just beyond the boundaries of Heavenly Martial Sect’s sphere of influence.
However, everyone didn’t actually enter Heavenly Martial City, where Heavenly Martial Sect was located. Rather, they only waited outside its immediate territory.
This was because the location of that leyline wasn’t inside Heavenly Martial City. Instead, it was quite far away.
After gifting that Gate Opening Pearl, Shen Yuanbai had also been hastening his journey.
Both sides were going to meet one another at the iron-ranked Wuxin City.
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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