Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Upon learning about the cause and effect of the Tai Zecheng cultivators' frenzies, the Chi Xiao Sect sent investigators immediately.

However, due to the vast scope of the issue and the concern over causing panic among cultivators, along with the ever-watchful Mozong eyeing the righteous path, the Chi Xiao Sect could only probe into the matter covertly.

"The Master has dispatched people to Danmeng and the Wang family in Anqiu City to investigate Wang Qirong, as well as discreetly look into those who have had dealings with the Wang family over the years. In addition, the Master has instructed others to monitor the situation with cultivators in Central Continent; if any are found to be behaving like those in Tai Zecheng, the sect will send healers."

At this point, he turned to Ning Yuzhou, a regretful expression crossing his face. "Junior Brother Ning, should there be other cultivators elsewhere suffering from the same affliction, the sect might disclose the formula for Shaoyang Du'e Pill to the public, at which time..."

Ning Yuzhou raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a smile, "I understand. I've already given the formula for Shaoyang Du'e Pill to the alchemists in Tai Zecheng. If anyone else wants it, they may take it."

Though the formula for Shaoyang Du'e Pill was rare, Ning Yuzhou didn't hold it in high regard.

Not just Shaoyang Du'e Pill, but the numerous formulas in his inheritance, Ning Yuzhou didn't consider them significant either. He merely viewed them as references. Even if they were lost, he wouldn't lament their absence, as he could create newer, more suitable formulas for the current cultivation world without them.

After all, ancient formulas were products of ancient times, and many of the spirit herbs and medicines required in these formulas simply couldn't be found in the present cultivation world, having been lost to the passage of time.

It was better to discard these formulas and create new ones that better suited the current cultivation world.

Ning Ge was confident in his abilities.

However, Yi Xuan and the others were unaware of this, feeling guilty for causing him another loss of a formula. They planned to seek appropriate compensation for him upon returning to the sect.

Sheng Yunsen shared this sentiment, unwilling to let Ning Yuzhou bear the burden continuously, lest the sect lose face in front of its other disciples.

After discussing this, Yi Xuan inquired about the treatment of the afflicted cultivators.

Ning Yuzhou replied, "I've already taught them the method of treatment. They can refine Shaoyang Du'e Pill themselves, but the Treasure Branch Lamp is difficult to forge, so I must do it personally."

Having imparted the cure, Ning Yuzhou refrained from further involvement, leaving the task to the four Earth Rank alchemists.

This left the four Earth Rank alchemists both refining pills and administering treatments, overwhelmed with work.

Still, they were unwilling to pass up this opportunity, for Ning Yuzhou had promised them the formula for Shaoyang Du'e Pill if they could fully heal the afflicted cultivators. Whether for profit or enlightenment, he would not interfere with their future refinement of Shaoyang Du'e Pill.

The formula for Shaoyang Du'e Pill was the reward that motivated their tireless efforts without complaint.

Yi Xuan pondered for a moment before asking, "The Treasure Branch Lamp indeed proves effective, but having you forge them all is taxing. Can other artifact forgers not forge them?"

"Most likely not," Ning Yuzhou answered honestly. "They cannot learn my forging technique."

Yi Xuan was slightly surprised, wondering if Junior Brother Ning had developed a new artifact forging technique. However, recognizing this as a personal secret, he did not press further, only saying, "Then we shall trouble Junior Brother Ning."

Ning Yuzhou smiled faintly.

Seeing that they had covered most topics, Sheng Yunsen, who had remained silent until now, hurriedly spoke up. "Junior Brother Ning, this Treasure Branch Lamp is quite useful. Could you forge one for me? I'll provide the materials."

Ning Yuzhou was generous. "If Senior Brother Sheng likes it, I'll forge several more. You all should carry them; they might come in handy someday."

Overjoyed, Sheng Yunsen still had a conscience, unwilling to continually take advantage of Ning Yuzhou's kindness. He planned to scrounge up some items his parents could use and gift them to Ning Yuzhou upon their return.

As they needed Ning Yuzhou to forge additional Treasure Branch Lamps, they didn't rush to leave Tai Zecheng.

Upon hearing that Ning Yuzhou had returned to the artifact room to forge Treasure Branch Lamps, Tang Tuanyuan hurried over.

Now realizing that Lord Xu would not sell them Treasure Branch Lamps, they sought Ning Yuzhou's help instead.

Under the pitiful entreaties of Tang Tuanyuan, Ning Yuzhou eventually agreed to forge Treasure Branch Lamps for them, provided they supplied the materials.

Tang Tuanyuan had no objections, as this was standard practice in the cultivation world. When seeking alchemy or artifact forging services, one must provide their own materials. Even if the materials were wasted without any results, one could only accept it as bad luck and not blame the alchemist or artifact forger for incompetence.

This explained why specialized auxiliary talents were so highly respected in the cultivation world.

Ning Yuzhou then forged a few more Treasure Branch Lamps. Besides those sent to Lord Xu for rescue efforts, Yi Xuan, Sheng Yunsen, and Wen Qiao each received one, finally exhausting the forging materials gathered by Lord Xu.

Tang Tuanyuan, needing to gather materials for the Treasure Branch Lamps, visited Lingxu Pavilion as well. Since a few of the materials were hard to obtain and the Tai Zecheng branch didn't have them, they had to be transferred from elsewhere, taking some time.

Tang Tuanyuan had no choice but to wait patiently for Lingxu Pavilion's notification.

***

On this day, Ning Yuzhou took a rare break, leaving the city lord's mansion with Wen Qiao.

The streets of Tai Zecheng were bustling, even more so than before the outbreak of the strange illness.

There was a reason for this increased activity. While Wen Qiao and the others recuperated and forged Treasure Branch Lamps at the city lord's mansion, news of the appearance of Mozong cultivators near Tai Zecheng and the slaying of a Blood Lotus Sect Elder at the Yuanzong realm spread far and wide. This dramatic tale captured the attention of countless cultivators, further piqued by the disappearance of Shuilinyin and the Bloodthirsty Lotus Demon.

When word reached the Mozong side, countless Mo cultivators mourned the destruction of the Bloodthirsty Lotus Demon, regarding Duan Haoyan, who had obliterated it, as a thorn in their side and a splinter in their flesh, wishing to devour his blood and flesh and denouncing him for wantonly destroying a precious treasure.

Additionally, when the Blood Lotus Sect learned of the demise of one of their Yuanzong realm Elders here, they seethed with anger, vowing to avenge this insult someday.

These factors combined to make Tai Zecheng increasingly lively.

The duo wandered around the city for a while. When the time was right, they chose a random inn for a meal.

Ning Yuzhou meticulously reserved a private room, ordering an entire table of dishes and several jugs of spirit wine, savoring them slowly.

Wen Qiao and Wen Tutu stared at the jugs of spirit wine, each with a wine glass in front of them. Their drinking motions were nearly identical, befitting master and pet.

Ning Yuzhou found this sight quite amusing.

Midway through the meal, someone knocked on the private room door. Ning Yuzhou called out, "Come in."

Upon seeing the person who entered, Wen Qiao blinked her eyes, a look of surprise crossing her face. "Qianshou, what are you doing here?"

Qianshou bowed respectfully to the two of them. "Young Master, Lady." Then he respectfully answered Wen Qiao's question. "Young Master ordered this subordinate to find him here."

Wen Qiao slowly uttered an 'oh', unsure when Ning Yuzhou had contacted Qianshou. However, she knew that Ning Yuzhou and the Qianlin Guards shared a kindred contract, allowing them to sense each other's whereabouts.

In the past two years, since they joined the Crimson Sky Sect, the Coiled Scale Guards, under Qianshou's lead, have been secretly developing in the Central Mainland.

They formed a force called "Coiled Scale," recruiting many promising cultivators to join them. In these two years, Coiled Scale's development has been very rapid, and it has already grown to a considerable scale.

The reason Coiled Scale could develop so quickly was because of Ning Yuzhou's support behind the scenes.

The Coiled Scale Guards were not lacking in cultivation resources. When Ning Yuzhou initially gave them the Youth-Preserving Pills he had refined, whether it was through cooperation with the Lingxu Pavilion for auctions or selling them outside, the profits were enormous. Qianshou used the revenue from the Youth-Preserving Pills to continuously expand and develop "Coiled Scale," while also training the original Coiled Scale Guards he had brought with him. The cultivation levels of the Coiled Scale Guards all improved.

Wen Qiao glanced at Qianshou and noticed that his current cultivation level had reached the late stage of the Meridian Formation Realm.

He had grown quite fast.

She thought Qianshou's cultivation level had risen quickly, but Qianshou also found her cultivation growth to be terrifying.

It hadn't been long since they last met, yet she had already reached the middle stage of the Meridian Formation Realm, only one minor realm lower than himself. This clearly showed that she was a genius in cultivation.

Qianshou remembered when the Wen Clan tested the spiritual roots of their disciples and discovered that the eldest daughter of the main branch, Wen Qiao, possessed an Exquisite Heavenly Spiritual Root. At the time, people lamented her frail health, believing that despite having an Exquisite Heavenly Spiritual Root, she was just a sickly person who wouldn't live long, wasting such an excellent Primordial Spiritual Root.

Who would have thought that the sickly person, once looked down upon, would have such great fortune.

An Exquisite Heavenly Spiritual Root truly made one a genius in cultivation. The speed of cultivation was not something ordinary people could match. As long as she maintained this momentum and didn't accidentally perish on her cultivation path, she would surely ascend smoothly in the future.

After Ning Yuzhou finished listening to Qianshou's report, he asked about the situation in Dongling.

"Everything is fine in Dongling. There hasn't been any change in the Ning Clan, nor have any unfamiliar cultivators entered Dongling... However, regarding the Wen Clan," Qianshou glanced at Wen Qiao, "I heard that the fourth miss of the Wen Clan, Wen Mei, left Dongling a few years ago and has been missing ever since."

Wen Qiao looked at him in surprise.

Ning Yuzhou recalled that when they left Dongling, there were signs that someone had tampered with the formation at the shortcut leading out of Lintai Mountain. He guessed that the person who had messed with it back then must have been Wen Mei.

Wen Qiao was only slightly surprised before quickly setting the matter aside.

Ever since she took Lianyue and left the Wen family, the Wens had completely cut ties with her. If the Wen family was in danger, she would lend a helping hand, but beyond that, there was nothing more.

Growing up without parental care, the people of the Wen family hadn't cared about her, which led to her indifferent attitude towards them.

Affection was reciprocal. The Wens were unwilling to invest emotions in her, so she never had the chance to develop feelings for the Wens. Thus, each living well on their own was the best way for them to interact.

Ning Yuzhou handed over four storage bags to Qianshou and instructed, "Have the items in these two storage bags sent back to Dongling and delivered to my father. Use the rest for the development of 'Coiled Scale.' Also, continue sending people to monitor the situation in Dongling. If any unfamiliar cultivators enter Dongling, be sure to take note."

"Master, don't worry. I understand."

Qianshou put away the storage bags, glanced at Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao, and couldn't help but ask, "When the Coiled Scale Guards delivered supplies back to Dongling last time, the Emperor asked when you two would return?"

"For now, we won't be returning," Ning Yuzhou said. "Tell him to rest assured. We're doing well. Once Coiled Scale's development is more or less complete, we'll let the Nings come to the Central Mainland to develop."

Qianshou's pupils constricted slightly. Although he had already understood Ning Yuzhou's intentions, hearing his clear response still couldn't help but make him sigh inwardly.

Emperor Chenghao had indeed given birth to a good son.

With such a genius wholeheartedly planning for the Nings and Dongling, the Ning family of Dongling would sooner or later become a super clan in the Central Mainland.

Qianshou soon left.

Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao also left the inn, wandered around for a bit, and then returned to the city lord's mansion.

Upon returning to the city lord's mansion, they saw several Tang members who had just returned from outside.

The Tang members seemed nervous when they saw them. Tang Shaolin stepped forward and said, "Young Master Ning, we went to inquire at the Lingxu Pavilion earlier. It will take a few days for them to gather the materials we need. When will you be returning to the Crimson Sky Sect?"

Ning Yuzhou replied, "It should be within the next few days."

The Tang members looked like the sky was falling. Their Treasure Branch Lamp hadn't even been refined yet.

Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao couldn't help but find it amusing. Ning Yuzhou said, "If you're not busy, you can come with us to the Crimson Sky Sect. When the Treasure Branch Lamp is refined, you can leave then. It won't be too late."

This was indeed a good idea.

The Tang members' eyes lit up, and they happily said, "That's a great idea. Young Master Ning, Miss Min, then we'll go with you to the Crimson Sky Sect as guests."

Ning Yuzhou smiled slightly. "You're welcome anytime."

After bidding farewell to the Tang members, the two headed toward the guest courtyard.

Wen Qiao held Wen Tuba and couldn't help but look at him, asking, "Husband, why did you invite them to return to the Crimson Sky Sect with us?"

Ning Yuzhou said with a gentle expression, "Since I promised to refine the Treasure Branch Lamp for them, I naturally can't break my word. I can only refine it for them again when we return to the Crimson Sky Sect."

Wen Qiao responded with an "Oh." This explanation was reasonable, but based on past experience, she felt that things weren't that simple.

Upon returning to the guest courtyard, they saw Sheng Yunshen idly squatting in the courtyard, casually tossing spirit stones around, with remnants of an array formation still visible on the ground.

Yixuan wasn't present.

"Wen Qiao asked, "Senior Brother Sheng, where's Second Senior Brother?"

"Second Senior Brother went to see City Lord Xu."

Later, Yixuan returned and told them about City Lord Xu's investigation into the batch of spirit pills. As expected, they couldn't find anything.

"The other party acted very discreetly and covered their tracks thoroughly. It's impossible to clearly trace the source," Yixuan's cold face was tightly tensed. "We suspect that the force helping Wang Qirong transport the spirit pills to various cultivation cities is not small. Its infiltration into the Central Mainland is very strong."

Sheng Yunshen pondered for a moment but couldn't think of which force it could be.

Ning Yuzhou interlaced his fingers and mused, "There are many forces capable of infiltrating the Central Mainland: Dark Shadow Tower, Returning Origin Pavilion, Lingxu Pavilion, Danmeng... and the Three Sects, Four Gates, Five Clans. Any of them could be involved."

"Our sect definitely wouldn't do such a thing," Sheng Yunshen jumped up, vehemently refuting.

Ning Yuzhou glanced at him. "I was merely giving examples."

Sheng Yunsen also realized that his reaction was too intense and quickly said, "Junior Brother Ning, your statement encompasses too broad a scope."

Ning Yuzhou hummed in agreement. "Then let's start the investigation with the Shadow Tower, the Returning Origin Pavilion, the Ethereal Pavilion, and the Danmeng."

Upon hearing Ning Yuzhou's response, Sheng Yunsen revealed a smile, feeling reassured that as long as Junior Brother Ning didn't suspect Crimson Dawn Sect, everything was for the best.

As the son of the Patriarch of Crimson Dawn Sect, Sheng Yunsen cherished his sect deeply, believing that everything about it was good. Even if there were dark corners, they were trivial and wouldn't involve matters of principle and morality.

Yi Xuan glanced at him, then looked at Wen Qiao, who was quietly sitting beside him sharing spirit pills with Bunbun. He felt that Senior Brother Sheng indeed lacked sufficient experience.