While everyone in The Eternal Sect was cultivating diligently...
In the Red Brick City, the city that connected three more cities, one city is the lower mountain city of the Eternal Sect called Spirit Brook City. This city is small, but it is the only city situated at the lower area of the Eternal Mountain. The city at the west side of the Red Brick City is called Fallen Blossom City, which is under the jurisdiction of the Serene Willow Sect. This city was just as gentle as this 9th-tier low-grade sect. In the past, this sect was always bullied by the Li family due to its low power. The city at the south side of the Red Brick City is the same size as Spirit Brook City; this city was the city under the jurisdiction of the Li family. Now this city is also under the jurisdiction of The Eternal Sect. This city is called Iron Hoof City.
At the Red Brick City, a gentle girl was waiting outside a huge building. The building looked beautiful on the outside. Above the building, a massive plaque was hanging on the wall with the word "The Pill Hall" written on it. The girl was around 15 years old, with long black hair and jade-like eyes looking at the Pill Hall sign; she was hesitant to enter it. She clenched her fist; she can't choose anything else right now...
She is Yue Qing'er, the young mistress of the Serene Willow Sect. Her mother is the sect leader of the Serene Willow Sect. The Serene Willow Sect is a new sect, around 200 years old, founded by her ancestors. But it was never strong; they are gentle in nature. Gentle as a quiet leaf fallen on a water surface.
But now, the Serene Willow Sect is facing a devastating situation. Her mother, Yue Hua, is on her deathbed. No matter what method they used or what medicine they used, they can't save her at all. Their ancestors helped a 6th-grade physician before, and that physician gave their ancestors a plaque by which they can get a single help once. They even used that token to invite that physician. You should know a 6th-grade physician is like a divine being on this planet, but when that physician came, he said it's impossible to treat her mother—no 6th-grade physician could treat her...
The sect lost hope and wanted her to take the position of the sect leader at this moment. But she didn't lose hope at all. She came to the Pill Hall, wanting to invite an alchemist to check her mother to see if he or she can cure her mother's disease.
While the Serene Willow Sect was tending to a poisoned forest in their territory, Yue Hua used her own body as a conduit to "pull" the corruption out of the soil. However, the corruption contained Ancient Rot-Qi from a forbidden zone. Because she is a gentle cultivator with a "Spirit-Wood" constitution, the rot took root in her life-force; that's how she got onto her deathbed. Little by little, her skin is slowly turning into grey, dry wood. It starts at the fingertips and moves toward the heart. Instead of her cultivation nourishing her body, the "Rot-Qi" is eating her spiritual energy. Every time she tries to breathe, it feels like her lungs are filled with dry sawdust. But the more time she loses, the more she becomes ill. Now, she has even lost her consciousness and was on her deathbed when Yue Qing'er left the sect to come to the Pill Hall.
She entered the Pill Hall with a single bit of hope in her heart. At the reception, a boy around 25 years old was waiting to check the pills the customers wanted to buy. Seeing Qing'er enter the hall, he immediately said, "Welcome, miss, to the Pill Hall. What kind of pill do you want to buy?"
Qing'er looked at him and said in a gentle tone, "I want to get an appointment with the Pill Hall manager, please."
The boy got somewhat surprised; it's not normal to get an appointment with the Pill Hall branch manager. You should know the Pill Hall branch manager is a genuine 8th-grade alchemist certified by The Pill Hall. The Pill Hall has around 74 alchemists registered as 9th-grade alchemists, but for the 8th-grade one, maybe he's the only one. That's why the Pill Hall manager in Red Brick City is an arrogant fool. He doesn't see other people as human at all. Many times he gets bribed and does evil deeds, like he did to The Eternal Sect.
The receptionist somehow got embarrassed and said, "Umm, young miss, we can't disturb the manager for unknown reasons, you know."
Before he could say anything more, Yue Qing'er took out a token with the word "Willow" written on it and handed it over to the boy. The boy knew this token too well; this token is the sect leader token of the Serene Willow Sect. He immediately bowed towards her and said, "Miss, wait for a moment. I'll go and check if our manager is free to have a meeting."
The boy went to the manager's office and described the details to the Pill Hall manager, Zhao Fugui. He is a middle-aged man with the cultivation level of Nascent Soul level 5. He is the undisputed powerhouse for these four cities. He believes no one in these four cities could rival him. He looked at the boy and smiled an evil smile. "So the news was true; the sect leader of the Serene Willow Sect is on her deathbed. Hehehe, I heard that the young mistress is so beautiful that she can rival those 7th-tier sects. Heh, let me go and take that beauty for myself..."
After a few moments, the boy came out of the branch manager's office. The hall was already filled with some other customers and was being attended by the other 9th-grade alchemists of the Pill Hall. After a few minutes, a fatty middle-aged man with a lewd look came out of the manager's room. He looked at Yue Qing'er and said, "You are the young mistress of The Serene Willow Sect? What reason do you have to meet me?"
Qing'er somewhat felt uncomfortable by the gaze of the Pill Hall manager, but still, she bowed towards him and gave him a salute, saying, "Greetings, Manager Fugui. My mother is facing a disease that even a 6th-grade physician can't treat. Everyone lost hope, but I don't want to lose hope this soon. This time I came here to invite Manager Fugui to go with me to check my mother and treat her... No matter how many spirit stones you need, the Serene Sect will spend its whole treasury to fulfill the fees of Manager Fugui. Please treat my mother and save her..."
The whole hall fell silent. Even those customers and 9th-grade alchemists also heard the call of Yue Qing'er and felt pity. They knew that someone who can't be treated by even a 6th-grade physician cannot be cured by the Pill Hall also. But this girl didn't lose hope and wanted to try her last chance.
Zhao Fugui smiled a lewd smile and said, "I can go, but I don't want your spirit stones."
Yue Qing'er felt a little bit of confusion, so she asked again, "Please tell me, Your Highness, what do you need? The Serene Sect will do everything in its power to save the Sect Leader."
Zhao Fugui smiled a lewd smile and said smugly, "I can go and see your mother's condition, even going to treat her, but in payment, you need to be my plaything for your life..."
These words were just spoken and the whole hall fell silent. Everyone knew how much twisted and evil this person is, but they never knew that he is this shameless. Yue Qing'er clenched her fist so hard that blood drops started dripping on the floor of the Pill Hall.
Before she replied, Zhao Fugui mocked her again by saying, "Think about it carefully. No matter if I go or not, your mother is going to die anyway. What do you think a 6th-grade physician is? If he already told you that she can't be saved, then she can't be saved. Don't you just get a fair deal? By grabbing my feet, the Serene Sect will be safe after your mother dies, so accept my offer..."
The hall fell silent. Qing'er was so angry that she started shaking, but no one spoke a single word. This lewd, evil person was even destroying the faith Yue Qing'er was carrying by saying those words.
At this moment, a gentle voice spoke: "Oh, just because you can't treat her mother, no one can?"
This question changed the silence in the Pill Hall. Everyone looked in the direction from where the sound came; even Qing'er and Fugui looked at the direction.
It was the main gate of the Pill Hall. A guy around 17 years old was entering the Pill Hall. He was wearing a white long dress. His pure white coat, looking like clouds, was dancing around him. His long sleeves were fluttering in the air. Most of his long black hair was loose, dancing in the air, but a few strands were bound in a bun to make his golden-silver small crown look more majestic. Silver chains were dangling with his hair...
A single jade token was hanging at his waist. The word "Eternal" was written on one side, and on the other side was written the words "Sect Leader." His light brown eyes were deep like an ocean, as if containing the huge secret of eternity. His face was so good-looking that it was as if he is not from this world, as if he came from heaven. The sound of dangling chains made the silent Pill Hall more and more at peace. As if his presence stopped the motion of the planet and stars...
Qing'er felt a bit of warmth in her heart that someone at least stood up for her. But Zhao Fugui's face was looking dark; he felt that this person just insulted him in front of so many alchemists and customers. They are all lower rank than him; he is a 9th-tier citizen of the Red Lotus Galaxy. And specifically a renowned 8th-grade alchemist revered by everyone in this dilapidated western region, how dare a mere 17-year-old brat disrespect him and insult him in front of these ants...
He asked in a deep voice, "Who are you to question me?"
Huai just entered the hall, didn't look at anyone in the hall, bypassed everyone, and came to the side of Yue Qing'er and faced Zhao Fugui with a domineering look, then said, chuckling, "What, now simple people can't ask you a question anymore? What are you? Goddess Nexus?"
That question made his face more red. First of all, he knows that it is the human's right set up by the Nexus sovereign that any human can question another human for clearing doubts and misunderstandings. But he, as the only 8th-grade alchemist here, always disregards this rule; but now someone questioned him in front of so many people and even insulted him by comparing him with a woman. Even those around the hall looked at Fugui in pity; this guy is ruthless and didn't even give him a chance to refute, insulting him in his face...
Zhao Fugui looked at Huai in anger and said, "Boy, don't do things that you can't accept the consequences of when they arrive. If you want to show face to the girl, do it according to your boundaries."
Before he could speak again, Huai looked at him as if he were looking at an idiot. He just shook his head and sighed, then said, looking at Fugui, "Sigh! People always think that others are also like them. Old man, just because you are lewd in nature, do you think that I was trying to impress the girl? Heh! I just stood up for this little sister because no one was able to stand up for her, even if they wanted to."
These words made a great commotion again between the onlookers. This guy is right; they also can't accept the fact that this toad was trying to eat swan meat. Even those 9th-grade alchemists felt like hitting this guy's face, but they couldn't do it because of his status and cultivation level. But after hearing this guy ruthlessly slapping the face of Fugui with his words, everyone felt a huge respect for this guy; they even gave a thumbs up toward Huai in their minds.
The most surprised one was Yue Qing'er. At first, she thought that this guy was just standing up for her as a passerby, but hearing the words "little sister," she felt warmth in her heart that she had never felt before.
Fugui's face was as dark as if someone had specifically painted his face black. He was gritting his teeth in anger but couldn't attack this guy in front of so many people, or else the Goddess would have witnesses to make him pay.