Chapter 329: Showing Off in Front of Me? I'll Kill You!
Xiao Yuan was briefly stunned by the sudden request to become his disciple. After processing the situation, he shook his head helplessly. "I'm not ready to take on a disciple yet. However, I'll be staying at the Ye estate for some time. I'll keep the herb, and during this period, I'll give you a few pointers. Whether you can break through to the eighth tier will depend on your own comprehension."
"Alright!"
The old man nodded with joy and carefully packed the Scorching Flame Serpent Tongue Grass into a jade box before offering it with both hands.
"Do you need any other ingredients? Even if I don't have them, I'm familiar with what others around here are offering."
The old man quickly packed up his stall and followed beside Xiao Yuan, smiling.
"Hmm, do you have Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Ganoderma?"
Xiao Yuan asked thoughtfully.
"Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Ganoderma..."
The old man pondered a moment before replying, "I've never heard of anyone around here having it. You'd probably have to go to the Pill Tower's headquarters if you want something like that."
"I see. Then we'll head ba—"
Just as Xiao Yuan was turning away, Tian Huo Zun Zhe's voice echoed in his mind: "Xiao Yuan, that copper piece on the shabby alchemist's stall to the north—get your hands on it. I've seen those markings before in ancient times. I don't know exactly what it does, but anything tied to ancient relics is never simple!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan remained composed and casually began browsing the trade area again.
Along the way, he picked up a few useful ingredients—not ones he urgently needed, but it was better to be prepared than not.
Eventually, the group arrived at the northern section, where an unkempt old alchemist sat. His stall displayed many items, with a chilling Snow Bone Ginseng being the most eye-catching.
Several other rare herbs were also laid out—so much so that even Xiao Yuan was slightly amazed. These herbs were likely as valuable as the Snow Bone Ginseng itself.
The scruffy alchemist noticed the elderly man walking beside Xiao Yuan and frowned in confusion.
"Old Wang, what's going on?"
The earlier events had been witnessed by everyone—this Elder Wang seemed to have followed Xiao Yuan for some reason.
Clearly familiar with the scruffy man, Elder Wang smiled and sent a voice transmission: "Old Yan, this young man is an eighth-grade alchemist. I'm following him to learn for a while."
"Eighth-grade!?"
Old Yan's expression changed dramatically. Shock filled his eyes as he looked at Xiao Yuan.
An eighth-grade alchemist?
How could that be possible?
"Are you sure?"
Old Yan now wore a serious expression. If it were true, then this youth's future would be terrifying. Worth making connections, indeed.
"Don't trust me?" Elder Wang glared at him.
"Elder, I'd like to trade a mid-tier seventh-grade Su Xin Pill for that Snow Bone Ginseng. What do you think?" Xiao Yuan smiled, pointing at the ginseng.
This herb was one of the key materials for the Bone-Merging Blood Pill. Though Xiao Yuan already had some, this one was clearly of higher quality.
"Deal!"
Seeing Xiao Yuan casually produce a high-quality jade bottle containing the pill, Old Yan believed Elder Wang's words a bit more and responded respectfully.
After the deal, Xiao Yuan's gaze drifted until it "happened" to fall on a small, faintly yellow copper piece in the corner of the jade table. It was covered in green patina and bore faint, peculiar patterns upon close inspection.
Everything else on the table looked valuable—except this copper piece, which looked like junk in a pile of treasure.
Xiao Yuan picked it up with casual interest.
The copper felt cool to the touch—likely due to prolonged exposure to the cold, not due to any innate property. He gently rubbed its surface, and its rough texture made it feel like an ordinary piece of metal. If not for the strange inscriptions, no one would bother with it.
But Xiao Yuan trusted Tian Huo Zun Zhe's judgment.
"Elder, this copper piece is interesting. How much are you asking?"
Xiao Yuan smiled.
"This copper is more expensive than that Snow Bone Ginseng. No haggling."
The unkempt old man scratched his ear and spoke casually.
Xiao Yuan's finger paused in motion. He smiled. "What's so special about it that it's worth more than the ginseng?"
"No idea," the old man shrugged.
Everyone nearby burst into laughter at his reply—clearly unaccustomed to such a candid vendor.
"But even though I don't know what it does, I do know it's an ancient item," the man added with a sly grin.
As soon as he said that, the laughter stopped. People stared at the copper piece in Xiao Yuan's hand with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Anything tied to the word "ancient" was never simple.
Xiao Yuan chuckled. "If it's an ancient artifact, I'm even more interested. Care to elaborate?"
"I once saw similar inscriptions in an old text, but I don't know their use. If I did, I wouldn't be selling it."
Everyone exchanged looks. It made sense, yet it felt unreliable. No wonder no one had bought it.
Xiao Yuan smiled and picked up a few rare herbs from the table, then produced a fine jade bottle. "Elder, I'll trade you this high-tier seventh-grade Bone-Merging Blood Pill, plus six mid-tier Su Xin Pills for these herbs and that copper piece. Deal?"
"Those pills are excellent, but I'd rather have the formula. I won't ask for the high-tier one—but the Su Xin Pill formula. Can that be part of the trade?"
The old man asked.
"You're asking for too much. You want the pills, the formula—what else? Unless you've got something better to offer?"
Xiao Yuan squinted his eyes, smiling coolly.
The old man gritted his teeth and pulled out another jade box from his storage ring—inside was another Snow Bone Ginseng, even higher in quality than the one before.
"One more premium Snow Bone Ginseng. How's that?"
He said painfully—he'd meant to keep that one for himself.
Xiao Yuan smiled. He had only asked out of curiosity and hadn't expected a bonus!
With a flick of his wrist, a scroll appeared and was tossed over. The old man caught it immediately.
Seeing his delighted expression, Xiao Yuan smiled, stored the better ginseng, and was just about to pocket the copper when a purple iron fan suddenly lashed out like lightning, striking the copper with a crisp clang.
Xiao Yuan reacted instantly, catching the fan and twisting it out of shape. He stored the copper into his ring and turned, face dark.
"Hehe, friend, I also took a liking to that copper piece. Would you be willing to part with it?"
A white-robed youth approached with a soft, gentle smile that seemed oddly sinister. His eyes lingered on Xiao Yuan with caution—this man had crushed his weapon with bare hands!
Behind him stood three elders. Xiao Yuan glanced at them, unimpressed. Two were clearly eight-star Dou Zongs, and the one in front had reached Dou Zun.
So what?
The youth's sudden interference drew attention. When the crowd noticed the three behind him, they were visibly startled—clearly this group had influence.
Still… were they really going to mess with two Dou Zuns?
"Hehe, I'll double whatever you paid. May I have the copper?"
The youth smiled.
"Get lost, trash."
Xiao Yuan's reply came with a slap, sending him flying.
As for his bodyguards?
Tian Huo Zun Zhe had already pinned them in place with ease.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Dressed in white and think you're me? So arrogant? Even I'm not that arrogant!"
Xiao Yuan stepped on the youth's chest, sneering.
The youth lay dazed from the slap. After spitting blood and recovering slightly, he growled, "I am Chen Xian of the Xuan Ming Sect. Who are you?"
"Xuan Ming Sect?"
Xiao Yuan's mind clicked. He was familiar with Central Plains factions now. The Xuan Ming Sect was no joke—on par with, if not superior to, Ice River Valley. More so because behind it stood one of the famed Two Sects—Tian Ming Sect.
The factions known as One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions didn't encompass all powers of Central Plains. There were many hidden giants like the ancient clans that even Soul Hall and Pill Tower dared not offend.
Tian Ming Sect was one such force, with Xuan Ming Sect being one of its three sub-branches.
Still…
"Even if you were from Tian Ming Sect, you have no right to steal from me. Xuan Ming Sect? I wiped out Ice River Valley, you think I care about you?"
Xiao Yuan laughed coldly and slapped Chen Xian again.
"This is Pill Tower territory. Understand? Even if you were Tian Ming Sect's son, you better behave here. Trying to act tough with me? I'll kill you!"
Two more slaps left Chen Xian's eyes bloodshot. Never in his life had he been so humiliated!
"You'd better not leave Pill Region, or you're dead!"
Chen Xian roared in fury, still not realizing his situation.
"Oh, I'm terrified!"
Xiao Yuan put on a mock-scared face before freezing Chen Xian with spatial power. Then with a ruthless technique, he shattered his chest, sending heart fragments and blood flying.
Smack!
Tian Huo Zun Zhe ripped open a spatial rift and tossed in the three elders. The turbulent flow obliterated the two Dou Zongs. The Dou Zun was left heavily wounded.
Given Tian Huo Zun Zhe's strength as a seven-star Dou Zun, crushing two or three-star Dou Zuns was effortless.
Xiao Yi Xiang also launched a poisonous arrow into the Dou Zun—poisoned with her Doomsday Poison Body. Certain death.
Tian Huo Zun Zhe casually tossed Chen Xian's corpse into the rift as well, letting the chaotic currents destroy them all.
Clearly, this wasn't his first time doing something like this.
"Sigh, Elder Tian Huo, that was careless! You didn't take their storage rings!"
Xiao Yuan sighed in regret.
"Eh?"
Tian Huo Zun Zhe blinked, then tore the air again, reached in, and after a moment pulled out three rings.
"Sorry, it's been a while since I've done this. Bit rusty."
He shrugged.
Many onlookers were stunned.
Who were these people? Murdering and looting right in front of everyone?
"You lot… committing violence on Pill Tower's grounds—do you really think we are powerless?"
A cold voice suddenly echoed.
Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes.
(END CHAPTER)
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