"Reporting to Your Majesty, the situation is somewhat complex. I've reserved a private room in a tea house up ahead, where we can talk over tea," Xu Che said in a hushed voice.

Seeing Yuan Ming nod, Xu Che led the way, and in a short time, they arrived at a tea house named "Ming Yan."

"This tea house belongs to a Cultivator from Zhao Country who is a master tea maker and has a special method of roasting tea. He can blend different teas and spiritual materials together, creating tea cakes that are brimming with Spiritual Energy for everyone to try," Xu Che deftly managed the arrangements of tea for them.

Yuan Ming lifted the tea cup and took a sip, finding the taste refreshingly aromatic and the aftertaste lingering; indeed, it was a rare delicacy.

Vajra finished his cup in one gulp, smacking his lips as though unsatisfied, while Hua Zhi, sitting to the side, glanced at Vajra disdainfully, much like Zuo Qinghui, not touching her tea.

"Alright, let's hear it," Yuan Ming said, setting down his cup and erecting a soundproofing shield, he asked.

"Following Your Majesty's orders, I came to Purple Thunder City in search of clues for the Washing Elixir Spirit Liquid. I made no progress in the first year, but after getting familiar with some Cultivators here and attending several exchange meetings as well as auctions, I finally heard news about the Washing Elixir Spirit Liquid. It is refined by a business called 'Hundred Pills Square' in the city, extremely precious, and only supplied to some influential powers in the Black Wind Desert, nearly unknown to regular Loose Cultivators," Xu Che explained.

"Hundred Pills Square, I seem to recall this name, famous for their elixirs. Some of the Insect Pills in Xiansha City are indeed purchased from Hundred Pills Square," Yuan Ming tapped his fingers lightly on the table as if in thought, saying.

"Your Majesty is right. Hundred Pills Square is a rising power in the Black Wind Desert, established just over a decade ago and renowned for their Alchemy," Xu Che said.

"Now that you've discovered this business can refine the Washing Elixir Spirit Liquid, have you had any contact with them?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Yes, thinking that if I could purchase the Washing Elixir Spirit Liquid, there'd be no need to trouble Your Majesty to come here personally. A few days ago, I spent a good amount of Spirit Stones to invite a somewhat influential Cultivator from the city and approached Hundred Pills Square for the liquid, but the shopkeeper refused politely, citing a shortage," Xu Che said.

"Ha, 'shortage,' I fear that's just an excuse," Hua Zhi's voice came out sharp and thin.

Hua Zhi's Cultivation had improved a lot by now, just a hair's breadth from reaching the Upper Stage of Second Level. As her power greatly increased, the human form she assumed became more lifelike; although she couldn't drink tea, she could now speak with some effort.

"It may not necessarily be an excuse. If the refinement of Washing Elixir Spirit Liquid were not difficult, Hundred Pills Square wouldn't be doing business solely with powerful forces," Yuan Ming slowly shook his head.

"Should I use Earth Tunneling to sneak in and steal a couple of bottles?" Hua Zhi offered.

Xu Che's expression changed slightly. Purple Thunder City was Five Thunder Sect's territory, not a place to act recklessly. He was about to admonish her.

"Given Hundred Pills Square's dealings with major powers in the Black Wind Desert, we must not underestimate its strength. Although you have the Earth Tunneling Divine Ability, it would still be challenging. Let's do this, I will first make contact with someone from Hundred Pills Square. If it's truly impossible to make a purchase, we'll think of another strategy," Yuan Ming thought for a moment, then shook his head and said.

Hua Zhi was silent, appearing somewhat disappointed.

Yuan Ming instructed Zuo Qinghui, Hua Zhi, and Vajra to wait in the tea house for news, and he and Xu Che headed deeper into Purple Thunder City.

Within Purple Thunder City, the public order was relatively good compared to the Black Wind Desert. It did not suffer from the chaos of places like Xiansha City, and there was no division between inner and outer city. They quickly arrived in front of a tall shop deep in Purple Thunder City, with "Hundred Pills Square" written on the board above the entrance.

The business occupied a large area, nearly twice the size of the surrounding shops, and consisted of five floors. The business was booming as Cultivators continuously entered and exited, mostly with excited smiles on their faces.

Yuan Ming and Xu Che entered the shop, and Yuan Ming's gaze was drawn to the rows of elixir shelves, loaded with a variety of elixirs that were almost on par with the Qingmu Building of Shengye Sect.

"What elixirs would you like to purchase, guests?" a green-robed attendant approached them with a broad smile.

Without needing Yuan Ming to speak, Xu Che stepped forward.

After some negotiation, the green-robed attendant glanced at Yuan Ming and led them further inside, quickly reaching the third floor of Hundred Pills Square, where they met a white-robed scholar referred to as "Manager Huo" by the attendant.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, why have you come again today? I'm afraid I'm powerless regarding the matter you mentioned earlier; there's no need to waste your energy," the white-robed scholar glanced at Yuan Ming and said to Xu Che.

"Manager Huo's words are well understood by me. This is my master, and he has come to visit in person today. I hope you can inform Master Yan of Hundred Pills for us," Xu Che said.

"Our master isn't in Hundred Pills today; he's gone to see a friend and may not be available for your visit," the white-robed scholar's face turned cold, seemingly displeased by Xu Che's persistence.

"Is that so? Perhaps Manager Huo could check again; your master might have returned by now," Yuan Ming spoke calmly.

Hearing this, the white-robed scholar internally sneered.

Purple Thunder City was the largest city of Zhao Country in the Black Wind Desert, with countless Cultivators visiting every day. As a manager of Hundred Pills Square, he dealt with high-ranking members of large businesses and disciples and elders of Cultivation Sects on a daily basis. He thought little of Xu Che and Yuan Ming, questioning who they were and from which obscure small family they had come from, to be directing him.

Just as he was about to sarcastically retort, his gaze met Yuan Ming's and he felt as if stuck by a magnet, unable to look away.

The white-robed scholar felt his entire head turning numb, incapable of moving or making a sound, which made him panic.

As panic set in, it spread like a tide, rapidly increasing by tenfold, a hundredfold, until it consumed the white-robed scholar's every thought.

The person's body trembled, weeping bitterly, and a patch on the lower part of his pants became wet and quickly spread larger.

Xu Che observed this scene, his face betraying no emotion, while his heart felt a mix of shock and delight.

His Majesty truly possessed boundless Divine Skills, this White Jade Scholar was the major steward of the Hundred Pills Square. Although somewhat opportunistic, his Cultivation was very strong – a genuine Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator. It was said that he wasn't far from reaching the Fake Core Stage, yet a single glance from Yuan Ming terrified him to the point of crying uncontrollably!

This was probably one of the few times he lost his composure since entering the Cultivation World.

Yuan Ming also secretly nodded in approval; he had first used an Illusion Technique to control the White Jade Scholar momentarily, then manipulated his fear with the "Emotion Manipulation" ability. It was the first time he had used this power on a Cultivator, and he was quite satisfied with the results.

The combination of Emotion Manipulation and Illusion Technique had their power doubled; the White Jade Scholar's Cultivation was not much weaker than his, but he still had no power to fight back.

Yuan Ming did not continue to manipulate the emotions of the White Jade Scholar, and instead found a chair and sat down.

The terror in the heart of the White Jade Scholar gradually subsided, and he regained his reason. Filled with shame and anger, he dared not lash out at Yuan Ming; after giving Yuan Ming a deep look, he hurriedly ran out.

"Your Majesty, Manager Huo is a prominent figure in the Hundred Pills Square. Although he got what he deserved, by making him humiliate himself like this, you have indirectly slapped the face of the Master of Hundred Pills. I'm afraid our visit today will have been in vain," Xu Che said hesitantly.

"No matter," Yuan Ming waved his hand, unconcerned.

From the way Hundred Pills Square was selling the Washing Elixir Spirit Liquid, it was clear they were not just looking to exchange for Spirit Stones but to use the elixir as an intermediary to make connections with influential friends.

He was only a Loose Cultivator; through normal channels, it was highly likely he wouldn't be able to purchase it.

Yuan Ming had not held any hope of buying the item with Spirit Stones from the beginning; he and Xu Che had come here today solely to meet the Master of Hundred Pills face to face.

As long as he met this person, he could use further measures.

"By the way, I didn't get the chance to ask earlier; who is the Master of Hundred Pills, and what is her Cultivation like?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Master of Hundred Pills is named Yan Sijing. I haven't seen her myself, but it's said she is young and at the Late Foundation Establishment stage," answered Xu Che.

"Late Foundation Establishment…" Yuan Ming was taken aback.

To have established such a large Foundation like the Hundred Pills Square, he had thought for sure that she would at least be a Core Formation Stage Cultivator. He hadn't expected she was actually a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

His interest in this person increased.

...

The White Jade Scholar ran to the back hall, changed into a set of clean clothes, and then his mood finally steadied.

"Damn it, where did that youth come from? Just by looking at me, he left me in this state; it's something not even a Core Formation Stage Cultivator could necessarily do. Could that person be a Core Formation Stage existence? Probably not, but it's likely he isn't far from Core Formation." His heart was filled with trepidation, and the thoughts of revenge he had just began to formulate dissipated like smoke.

The White Jade Scholar hesitated for a moment, then stamped his foot fiercely and made his way to the fourth floor.

Yuan Ming, using his Divine Sense to track the White Jade Scholar, felt reassured upon seeing this and withdrew his Divine Sense.

It wasn't that he did not want to continue the tracking, but rather the fourth floor of the Hundred Pills Square had a soundproofing shield against Divine Sense, and forcefully probing might trigger the warning of the Forbidden seal, which would be counterproductive.

A flash of white light passed over the jade pendant hanging at the waist of the White Jade Scholar, and he went through the Forbidden seal laid down on the fourth floor, quickly arriving at the door of a side hall, where he knocked.

"Manager Huo, what's the matter?" A crisp female voice came from the hall, sounding like spring water tinkling yet also carrying a sense of authority.

"A guest in the Fake Core Stage has come to the workshop, seemingly with a notable background, wanting to purchase Washing Elixir Spirit Liquid. He is accompanied by the same Xu Hu who visited a few days ago. I dare not make a decision on my own and have come to consult with the Master," said the White Jade Scholar with a bowed head.

Xu Che had enemies in the Five Thunder Sect; although it was unlikely he would encounter them in Purple Thunder City, to be on the safe side, he had still taken a pseudonym.

"Xu Hu? The profligate Young Master from the Hundred Refinement Pavilion who brought that person? I remember he is a Loose Cultivator," the crisp female voice asked.

"Yes, however, Xu Hu called the person accompanying him his master, with a very respectful demeanor and tone. It seems that the intelligence we collected earlier was incorrect; the two of them should come from a Cultivation Family. But unfortunately, with my limited insight, I can't deduce their origins, so I have come to consult the Master," said the White Jade Scholar.

"Oh, if he is a Fake Core Stage descendant of a Cultivation Family, it's not good to refuse outright. I'll deal with it personally," said the crisp voice.

The door to the side hall opened, and a young girl dressed in pale yellow garb stepped out.

She appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, lively and engaging, with large, clear eyes that starkly distinguished black from white, giving off an odd elfin aura.

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