Fulong City, Guiyuan Pavilion.
In the courtyard filled with the scent of medicinal herbs.
Beside a medicinal pot the size of a water vat, Luo Yin held a pestle as thick as a water bucket, continuously pounding.
The entire courtyard was filled with nearly a hundred flat baskets, each containing a type of medicinal herb. If someone familiar with medicinal herbs saw this scene in the courtyard, they would likely be shocked, as the herbs in these baskets were all quite rare and valuable exotic treasures.
With a grasp of Luo Yin's palm, several types of medicinal herbs fell into the medicinal pot.
The scent of medicinal herbs emanating from the courtyard became increasingly intense.
In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the nearly hundred baskets were already empty, all the medicinal herbs having been thrown into the medicinal pot.
The large medicinal pot was already filled with a thick medicinal liquid, presenting a black-purple color.
As if undergoing a chemical reaction, the black-purple medicinal liquid continuously bubbled up in large blisters, actually falling into a state of boiling.
Luo Yin had long since thrown the pestle aside. He clasped the medicinal pot with clawed hands, and a bright yellow force surged out. The next moment, the large medicinal pot had risen into the air, suspending in mid-air and continuously rolling.
After more than ten breaths, the bright yellow force suddenly surged. The large medicinal pot immediately shattered into powder, but the concentrated medicinal liquid within remained suspended in the air, enveloped by the force.
As the bright yellow force grew stronger, wisps of black smoke rose from the medicinal liquid and flew into the air.
The original black-purple medicinal liquid also gradually turned to a pure purple and became increasingly viscous.
Its volume had also shrunk by more than half, becoming only the size of a human head.
Soon the force dissipated. Luo Yin grabbed with his large hand, and the medicinal liquid was suspended before him. A crystal-clear jade bottle had already appeared in his hand, into which he drew the medicinal liquid.
Only after completing this did a smile appear on his face.
With a flip of his wrist, the jade bottle landed in the hand of a man in his thirties, who had a red moth-shaped birthmark on his left cheek and was quietly waiting in the courtyard.
“Congratulations, Master, the progress of this Dragon Elephant Great Bone Pill is smooth. This time, the Dragon Elephant Great Bone Pill will definitely be successfully refined.”
The man with the birthmark steadily received the jade bottle, his face filled with joy, and he said respectfully.
“It’s not that simple. This is merely the purification of the medicinal power of the auxiliary ingredients. The real difficulty lies in finding a way to fuse the dragon bone onto the elephant body.”
Luo Yin slightly shook his head, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.
“However, after the previous failures, I have quite a bit of confidence regarding this Dragon Elephant Great Bone Pill. This time, I have a forty percent chance of successfully refining it.”
“If it can be successfully refined, and if you, Fang'er, and your two fellow Disciples can refine the Dragon Elephant Power within it, it will be of great benefit to cultivating the Mad Tiger Devouring Elephant Skill.”
“Of course, even if it's not successfully refined, it doesn't matter. As a treasure pill above the third rank, it also has a very strong effect on your physique. Although its help to Bloodline potential is limited, it can develop your bones and roots once again, providing many benefits.”
Hearing Luo Yin's words, Yuan Fang's face showed a hint of anticipation.
“This Disciple believes Master will definitely succeed in refining it.”
As Luo Yin's second Disciple, he naturally believed his Master's words implicitly.
After all, his Master was not only one of the few Dark Star Envoys in the organization, a genuine Transforming Void Grandmaster, but also a Grandmaster of Alchemy who was deeply knowledgeable in the art of pill refining.
His Alchemy attainment was not only the highest among the Dark Stars, but also among the top few in the entire Northern Yan.
“Alright, stop the flattery. You've watched me purify the hundred herbs a few times now, haven't you? Do you have the confidence to purify the medicinal power of these hundred herbs?”
Luo Yin said with a laugh and a reprimand.
Among his three Disciples, although this second Disciple's talent was slightly weaker than the Leader and Third Brother, he had extremely high comprehension in the path of Alchemy.
It just so happened that he could inherit his Alchemy path, and he had always focused on cultivating his Alchemy attainment.
Don't look at his young age; he has already gone quite far on the path of Alchemy.
“Reporting to Master, I have fifty percent confidence that I can purify the hundred herbs.”
Yuan Fang pondered slightly and replied seriously.
“Fifty percent? Very good, that's a bit more confidence than I imagined. When I refine the great pill in a few days, you can watch from the side.”
Luo Yin's smile deepened, and he nodded with satisfaction.
“Okay! Thank you, Master, I will definitely seize this opportunity.”
Hearing this, Yuan Fang was overjoyed and quickly responded.
Seeing this, Luo Yin opened his mouth, and just as he was about to say something more, footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard.
“Come in.” Before the person could speak, Luo Yin had already called him in.
A figure dressed in black quickly entered the courtyard, came before Luo Yin, presented a letter, and then quickly departed.
Luo Yin glanced at the letter and then handed it directly to Yuan Fang beside him.
Receiving the letter, Yuan Fang's brows furrowed after reading its content.
“Master, isn't Third Brother's action a bit excessive? Anyone can see the targeted meaning behind it. Won't doing this easily cause conflict and dispute?”
The content recorded on the letter was precisely about the dispute between Gong Wei and Lin Sheng over the Spirit Bone Python, and it was recorded in considerable detail, even including the content of their messages.
“It is a bit excessive. After all, you are all our own people, and as seeds, you will inevitably support each other in the future. The Dark Star will rely on people like you to sustain it later.”
Luo Yin sat grandly beside a stone chair in the courtyard, picked up an Alchemy book from it, stretched lazily, and spoke indifferently.
“Then I will go find Third Brother now.”
Yuan Fang immediately prepared to take his leave, wanting to stop this dispute, but he was quickly called back.
“No need to rush, let him go. Speaking of which, I'm also quite curious about this Disciple Shen Jun suddenly took in. It wouldn't hurt to see his methods.”
Luo Yin turned the page and said with a smile.
“Master, you also know Third Brother's temper. What if things escalate and Ghost Face gets injured...?” Yuan Fang frowned, still somewhat uneasy.
He knew very well his Third Brother's temperament. Although his talent was outstanding, he was usually arrogant and overbearing, with a hot and easily angered temper. It was possible he might cause some great trouble if he couldn't control himself.
“Don't worry. How could someone taken in by Li Shenjun not have some real skill? Moreover, Qi Ning is also quite optimistic about this kid. He definitely won't be just for show.”
“Although that's true, Master, I heard that Shen Jun's current problem seems to be getting more and more serious. Perhaps this acceptance of a Disciple was just an accident...”
“Shen Jun's situation is indeed a bit tricky, but Fang'er, you mustn't underestimate Shen Jun's methods. Even if he's just for show, he'll at most suffer some minor injuries. If Wei'er can't even grasp this much discretion, he won't be qualified to be my Disciple.”
“What if that Ghost Face is powerful? Won't Third Brother suffer a loss?”
Hearing this, Luo Yin slightly shook his head and said with interest.
“That would be even better. Your Third Brother's temperament has long needed tempering. If this Ghost Face is indeed strong and can defeat Wei'er, then it would be good to teach him a lesson. He's had it too easy under me for so many years; it's time he understood that there are always people stronger than you and skies beyond the sky...”
Seeing this, Yuan Fang's face also showed a look of realization, and he immediately stopped saying anything more.
*
*
Three days later.
“This is Fulong City...”
On the plains, Lin Sheng looked at the towering city walls that appeared in his sight.
Before this, the most imposing city he had seen was Tiannan Prefecture City, but compared to the towering giant city before him, it was clearly much inferior.
Fulong City is over a hundred meters high, with majestic and rough walls that have few seams, clearly carved and polished from an entire mountain body.
On the heavy city gates were carved two lifelike giant dragons, exuding a majestic aura that one dared not meet their gaze.
“What a magnificent Fulong City, truly the center of a region.”
Lin Sheng gently exhaled, unable to help but praise in his heart.
A city of this scale, even in a world with highly advanced technology in his previous life, would require an unknown amount of time and effort to achieve, and might not even be successful.
After this thought, he took large strides, his figure already disappearing from where he stood. In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he had already arrived inside Fulong City.
Although he had anticipated the scene within the city, upon entering, his heart couldn't help but be shaken. The streets inside Fulong City were tens of meters wide and very flat. There were many merchants and pedestrians, but it didn't appear crowded. Besides the local people of Great Yan, he could also see many foreigners with strange clothing and people from other countries.
Some of the foreigners even carried some slight traces of wild beasts on them.
Some had body hair dozens of times thicker than normal people, some had pointed ears, eyes like jade, and red or golden hair. Their facial features and appearance were clearly different from those of Great Yan.
Some of these people came from bitter cold lands, some from distant island nations. Although Northern Yan and Southern Qi were powerful and dominated a region, many small countries were vassals of the two countries.
However, this world was vast. Apart from these two major countries and the small countries on the periphery, the surroundings were basically surrounded by vast oceans.
And beyond the vast oceans, other countries also existed, but the sea routes were extremely distant and fraught with many dangers, so communication was not frequent.
Lin Sheng also knew some information from some books. For example, a tall silver-haired man with prominent cheekbones who had just brushed past him was likely from the overseas country of Sluo.
He didn't know much about the country of Sluo, only that it was a large country in the distant overseas.
The world never lacked desperadoes who would take risks to pursue profit.
Although they were extremely far from Northern Yan and Southern Qi.
The journey was fraught with danger, but there were still some merchant caravans, more or less, who came across the distant sea routes to trade.
“I wonder what the situation in the country of Sluo is like?”
This thought popped into Lin Sheng's mind, but he quickly chuckled and cast it aside.
These matters were still quite distant from him right now, and thinking about them held no meaning.
Passing through the long street, he soon arrived at the Dark Star stronghold in the city.
Guiyuan Hall.
He naturally knew that the Dark Star stronghold in Fulong City was Guiyuan Pavilion, mainly dealing in the sale of pills and medicinal herbs.
And Guiyuan Hall was its storefronts in the city, totaling nine locations.
Looking at the large storefront before him, which emitted a strong scent of medicinal herbs, Lin Sheng stepped inside.
Entering inside, he spoke the password and took out the seal symbolizing his identity.
A shop assistant immediately led Lin Sheng into the inner hall.
The Blazing Star Envoy was already a high-ranking member within the Dark Star, and this remained true even in a large city like Fulong City.
“Your subordinate, Gray Star Envoy Earth Rat, greets Blazing Star Envoy sir.” As soon as he entered the inner hall, this short shop assistant immediately bowed respectfully to Lin Sheng.
“Where are Thousand Faces and Huang Quan?”
Lin Sheng nodded slightly and spoke indifferently.
Since he had arrived in Fulong City, he naturally had to see Qi Ning and Huang Quan.
“This subordinate does not know the location of Thousand Faces and Huang Quan sirs, but this subordinate can contact the two sirs for you.”
The short man named Earth Rat said respectfully.
“Alright, go do it.” This situation was also normal, Lin Sheng merely responded indifferently.
Earth Rat immediately left quickly.
And Lin Sheng had no intention of staying. He stepped out, knowing that as long as Qi Ning knew he had arrived, she would naturally find him.
Before he could walk out of Guiyuan Hall, a manager from within the hall had already blocked his path.
“Ghost Face Blazing Star Envoy?”
This manager was stout and had a smile on his face. He seemed to be asking a question, but his tone was quite certain.
“It is I.” Lin Sheng looked at the other party with a calm expression and nodded.
“That's good. Ghost Face sir, I am Whitey. Crazy Tiger sir has been waiting for a long time and specifically ordered me to wait here.”
The stout manager's smile remained unchanged, and he continued, neither humble nor arrogant.
“In that case, lead the way.”
Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow and suddenly smiled.
He really didn't expect the other party to be so impatient.
They actually sent people to wait in the halls long ago. There are nine Guiyuan Halls in the city, and it's estimated that someone is waiting at each one.
The stout manager named Whitey before him had decent strength, possessing a cultivation of Bones Transformation fifth level. He was clearly a Hidden Star Envoy. The nine halls meant nine Hidden Star Envoys.
As expected of a Disciple of a Transforming Void Grandmaster, this identity is indeed useful in Fulong City.
“Alright, then please follow me closely, Ghost Face sir.”
Seeing that Lin Sheng did not refuse, Whitey's smile on his face deepened slightly, and he immediately led the way forward.
Leading Lin Sheng through the city, they arrived at a long street with significantly fewer people in just the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
Every city has its divisions in layers. The area they were in clearly belonged to the outer city, and it was even a remote area of the outer city.
Finally, Whitey led Lin Sheng into a spacious compound. Although the location wasn't particularly good, the decoration within the spacious compound was quite luxurious, with exquisitely carved rockeries and statues. There were also golden-red koi fish in the pond, each at least half a meter long, their scales shimmering with points of light under the sunlight.
“This is the place, Ghost Face sir. Crazy Tiger sir should be arriving soon. Please wait a moment.”
After leading Lin Sheng into the compound, Whitey said with a smile.
“As expected of a Disciple of a Transforming Void Grandmaster, it seems your Master is very rich.”
Glancing at the surroundings in the compound, Lin Sheng said with a hint of playfulness.
Hearing Lin Sheng's words, Whitey's brows furrowed slightly.
“Ghost Face sir, I am a Dark Star Hidden Star Envoy, not someone's slave. Please mind your words.”
“You are a Hidden Star Envoy?”
Lin Sheng's gaze moved away from the few koi fish. He turned his head and looked steadily at Whitey, confirming.
“Ghost Face sir, are you perhaps playing a trick on me? Of course, I am a Hidden Star Envoy, otherwise how could I know your identity?”
Although Whitey still had a smile on his face, there was already not much respect left in his words.
“Oh...”
Lin Sheng softly said 'Oh', and the next moment his gaze became sharp.
An alarm immediately sounded in Whitey's heart. He suddenly looked up at Lin Sheng.
He didn't know when, but a large hand with clearly defined knuckles had already pressed onto his shoulder.
Bang—Crack—
Amidst a muffled thud, Whitey's stout body had already knelt on the ground. Along with it was the crisp sound of bones shattering.
“Since you know I am a Blazing Star Envoy, why didn't you call me sir?”
Lin Sheng lifted Whitey's greasy chin, directly crushing his jaw, and spoke calmly.