Gu Zuo smiled.
He wouldn't dare speak about the other medicinal pills, but he didn't need to use his head to antic.i.p.ate the results of the Ageless Pill. So, the unusually large earnings were to be expected.
However, in the wake of these huge profits, all parties became covetous. Though Gu Zuo only spent his time refining pills in the villa, even he knew there were many people snooping around.
During that time period, he withdrew into the secret room, closed the door, and didn't come out. As for Gongyi Tianheng, he was outside taking care of his own tasks and mobilizing the Tianlong Guard to wipe out all the spies both inside and outside the villa!
Basically no one was able to find any traces of Gu Zuo, let alone find the prescription.
Of course, in order to fool everyone, Tianheng also prepared some fake prescriptions, which were deliberately packed up under tight surveillance. These prescriptions were said to be fake, but one wouldn't be able to tell if they were. Apart from the errors of a single major medicinal herb and several regular herbs, they would've been identical, had their names not been subst.i.tuted for the different species on this continent.
Thus, even if someone found the prescription, they wouldn't be able to recognize many of the medicinal herbs within. And even if they recognized them, the rare medicinal herb would be a mistake. Once they tried refining, not only would it not be the Ageless Pill, it would instead be a Disfigurement Pill — While initially becoming even more beautiful, they would swiftly become disfigured after three months.
…It could be said to be utterly cruel.
As one could well imagine, if someone really managed to get away with it, then it would be like trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it [1].
In the villa, all sorts of arrangements were made with the greatest consideration. The Gongyi Clan's ancestral residence was also subjected to many repeated cases of spying.
As for the number one Clan in furtive activities, when their counterparts could only secretly snoop around, what was there to be afraid of? Those henchmen were all quickly captured and returned.
Gradually, even though there were still many people who were unwilling to give up, there were now very large discrepancies in the scouting strength and numbers. In addition, the occasional admonishment of the royal family suppressed many matters to the deepest depths. Even the small minority who instigated the situation publicly couldn't act up any more.
However, the fact was that once Gu Zuo studied the Xiantian Pill, which could cause an even greater crisis, he realized he had no way of immediately refining it.
On one hand, he still hadn't collected all the medicinal herbs. On the other hand, he still wasn't sure of the outcome.
Gongyi Tianheng's capacity to generate more blood was very powerful. But with regards to martial artists, the more vigorous one's qi and blood, the better. How could Tianheng have free time to drain his blood for experimentation? As a result, Gu Zuo didn't lose any sleep over this.
Besides this, the other matters were like a calm breeze and quiet ocean.
Merely, while Gu Zuo's happiness had taken a step further, his frame of mind couldn't remain peaceful.
Because after these several months pa.s.sed, his surrogate big brother was going to partic.i.p.ate in the Hundred Countries Tournament!
He still didn't know how the outcomes were going to unfold…
Just as he was thinking about this, Gu Zuo's mood slightly plummeted.
At the same time, Tianheng opened his mouth: “Ah Zuo, do you want to come with me to the Hundred Countries Tournament?”
Gu Zuo: “Eh?”
His first reaction was — Could it be that he could also go to this major event?
Gongyi Tianheng said: “Every time, a partic.i.p.ant can bring one pharmacist and one senior for protection.”
Even though everyone said they had a lot of confidence in the royal family, in the end, this was a secret that only the royal family knew about. The Clans definitely didn't have a complete understanding of the specific situation. In order to ensure one's safety, each martial artist partic.i.p.ating in the Hundred Countries Tournament would be permitted to bring along one of their own trusted Xiantian protectors. At the same time, because the martial artists could be injured during the tournament, it was necessary for one's trusted pharmacist to also be present.
Gu Zuo understood.
As a pharmacist who could be brought along, he could make use of one of those positions. But that Xiantian martial artist… Which of the seniors in the Gongyi Clan would his big brother select?
His mind already had a guess.
Tianheng verified his guess: “My grandfather will be accompanying me.”
Gu Zuo nodded his head: “Then I want to go with big brother, too.”
In any case, he felt that the location of the Hundred Countries Tournament was just too far away. If he stayed at the villa, even with Dragon One and Dragon Two following after them, he felt unsettled.
He might as well go together with Tianheng. It gave him a stronger sense of security.
Tianheng saw his response and was very satisfied.
This opportune moment would let people realize that Gu Zuo was the little pharmacist he wanted to nurture. This “fact” could unexpectedly reveal itself some time in the future. He needed to start making preparations right now. Otherwise, wouldn't waiting until that time to put forth an explanation be insufficient to persuade anyone?
Everything should be strategized from the very beginning.
After the two reached a unanimous agreement, they started making plans for the Hundred Countries Tournament.
Gu Zuo didn't have too many opinions, he just made top grade Qi Generating Pills, Rejuvenation Pills, Snowy Ginseng Pills [2], and Five Essence Pills — All of them were refined in huge quant.i.ties and stuffed into dozens of tightly-packed, large gourds. There weren't any plans to earn money. The only plan was that there would be enough for when Tianheng needed them. Only then was he satisfied.
Presently, it looked like it didn't matter if there was simply enough. Even if the pills were eaten like rice, it would be fine!
With respect to this matter, Tianheng definitely didn't restrict Gu Zuo, leaving him to his preparations. As for himself, he mainly had to consolidate his strength and do his best to unlock a few mysteries of the Xiantian realm. Up to now, he accomplished his mastery of all the martial skills he had. His skills levels had more than doubled compared to when he just came out of the Azure Dragon Pool.
— Although it could be said that his realm was still at Meridian Condensing stage three perfect-grade, apart from the few Xiantian mysteries that could be comprehended at half-step Xiantian, with regards to genuine strength, he'd long surpa.s.sed those half-step Xiantian martial artists. He had nothing to fear in the approaching tournament.
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Gu Zuo followed Tianheng to the palace together with a tall and st.u.r.dy old man, whose hair and beard were white and whose face was a healthy shade of red. There were several people already waiting for them.
Unlike last time when each of the eight finalists brought many clan members, this time seemed particularly cold and cheerless.
The other four great Clans and the Gongyi Clan were exactly alike. Each had the standard arrangement of only one person partic.i.p.ating in the tournament, one protector, and one pharmacist. As for the royal family, there was also an acquaintance. Cang Yu wasn't willing to pa.s.s the responsibilities on to anyone else. He had a great expert of similar background in the royal family, whose rumored strength was greater than a Xiantian stage nine martial artist. There was also a delicate and gorgeous young lady — So she should be the pharmacist. And from how they seemed to address each other so familiarly, her ident.i.ty must be the Cangyun Emperor's third daughter: Princess Yaomin!
Onlookers never expected that this Princess Yaomin was also a pharmacist. What's more, with the honor of a princess and the status of a pharmacist, she was still perfectly happy to accompany Cang Yu to the Hundred Countries Tournament.
This was a woman who didn't simply concede to men.
Within the other four great Clans, Helian Xingcheng and the others couldn't hide the admiration in their gazes as they looked upon Princess Yaomin. This kind of beauty and capability were equally important. With the ident.i.ty of an extremely respected young lady, her attractiveness was truly exceedingly powerful.
A sweet, fair, wise, and virtuous woman was a good match for a man of n.o.ble character.
If the royal family's princess was a martial artist, it wasn't necessarily possible to marry her off to a common aristocratic family. On the contrary, it might be possible to marry her to a very outstanding martial artist. However, if the aristocratic family's child was truly outstanding, the couple would be harmonious. As a matter of fact, it definitely wasn't impossible that they couldn't be connected by marriage.
Gu Zuo looked at this princess, and felt she was very beautiful.
In modern times, he'd seen many celebrities. Whether if it was on TV, in advertis.e.m.e.nts, or even on license plates, one could say that their presences could be seen anywhere one looked. However, those beautiful women had undergone many plastic surgeries, and they lacked a sense of beauty that had transitioned from natural to cosmetic. Their personalities were also vastly inferior to this princess.
Merely, a beautiful woman with makeup was still a beautiful woman. After seeing so many, Gu Zuo also developed an immunity to this kind of beauty without any makeup… Okay, the point was that he was currently dead-set on returning to the modern era. He didn't feel anything towards this beautiful woman, let alone any arousal.
However, while Gu Zuo didn't have any emotional responses, he still sneaked a glance at Tianheng.
The good points of the other four Clans' young masters were dwindling. For instance, the sort like Helian Xingcheng was no good. His eyeb.a.l.l.s were practically falling out over Princess Yaomin's body. Gu Zuo didn't know if his honorable big brother was thinking along the same lines.
Once Gu Zuo looked over, he found that his big brother's thoughts were… Gu Zuo couldn't tell what his big brother was thinking.
His smile was as peaceful as ever. His looks were as normal as always. His line of sight also didn't hover over Princess Yaomin's body for long. Who the h.e.l.l knew what he was thinking?
Watching this, Gu Zuo couldn't help thinking: Big brother's already close to being twenty years old. After he's twenty, he could get married. Although it'd be easier for an outstanding martial artist to marry late, would he marry earlier or later? If big brother married early, what'll happen to my secret? Would he tell his wife and children? Would they be trustworthy?
In a split second, his brain had many thoughts. Suddenly, he didn't feel very peaceful…
Gongyi Tianheng promptly discovered Gu Zuo's anxiousness. He thought things over and realized what his heart was worried about. Thus, he lowered his head and whispered: “Ah Zuo doesn't need to worry. I've made plans for this matter long ago. Now I've set my heart and soul on pursuing the martial way. Nothing else.”
Gu Zuo heard this, and his heartstrings loosened.
He naturally believed this honorable big brother's words. Furthermore, since his big brother had a plan, then he'd surely be able to hide his secret. It wouldn't be likely to cause him to suffer a loss.
The current predicament was just like this for the time being. As for how things would develope later on when everything came to a head, he'd certainly be able to come up with a capable resolution that would still get the best of both worlds.
He should have a bit more faith.
With everyone over yonder all present, the Cangyun Emperor had already appeared.
As the ruler of a country, he couldn't show up personally to this instance of the Hundred Countries War. However, he could nominate another person.
This person was the protector by Cang Yu's side. It was the Prince Beside the Emperor, Cang He. A Xiantian stage nine powerhouse!
Among each generation, the strongest powerhouse of the royal family served as the Prince Beside the Emperor. The strongest powerhouse absolutely didn't include those Immortal realm old monsters stuck in secluded cultivation in the imperial household. Rather, the person would be selected from among the best of those who handled external affairs.
The current generation's strongest powerhouse definitely wasn't Cang He. That would be the Cangyun Emperor. However, the Cangyun Emperor had already ascended to the throne. Thus, the second strongest Cang He was selected to act as the Prince Beside the Emperor. Among the next generation, if Cang Yu ascended to the throne, then the person with the second highest potential would inherit Cang He's position. And if Cang Yu didn't ascend, he'd be a Prince Beside the Emperor who would end up micromanaging everything!
Getting back to the main point, during this trip, Cang He would bear the responsibility for diplomatic relations and the protection of all the young martial artists who were going to partic.i.p.ate in the Hundred Countries Tournament.
The people brought by the Five Great Clans also similarly received his commands to act as a unified group. Under the premise that Cang He wouldn't make any poor decisions, Gongyi Zhuoyue and the rest would all follow his instructions.
After a round of introductions, Cang He whistled and the sky was immediately blotted out by a shadow like a splash of ink.
That country suppressing avian deity, the Cirrus-Cloud Eagle had appeared and began to descend!
This eagle beast was to be the flying tool that would bear the weight of these numerous martial artists.
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[1] 偷鸡不成蚀把米 - Tou ji bu cheng shi ba mi, trying to gain an advantage only to end up worse off.
[2] The author made a typo writing 血神丹 - Xue (blood) shen (spirit) dan (pill) instead of 参雪丹 - Shen (ginseng) xue (snow) dan (pill).
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