Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Admittedly, Qin Haishan's return was perfectly timed.

Qin Zhou wanted to live better and longer in this world. First, he needed to raise his cultivation level to a point where he could protect himself against any threat. Second, he had to build up more wealth.

Without savings, he’d never feel secure—especially since he would eventually need to find a partner.

Thus, he intended to expand his alchemy business.

Cultivators hardly ever came to Pingcheng, but the provincial capital was different. Not all cultivators were qualified to ascend to the upper realms, yet many thrived in the thriving mortal realm.

With Qin Haishan’s return, Qin Zhou could now hand him the elixirs.

"Once we establish the reputation of top-tier elixirs in the provincial capital, they’ll come running. If we can consistently supply such elixirs, word will spread, and the business will naturally grow."

At this, Qin Haishan’s easygoing demeanor vanished, replaced by a hint of caution. "Son, do you understand what top-tier elixirs represent? The provincial capital has two major elixir merchants, backed by major alchemy sects—Medicine Valley and the Medicine Moon Sect among them. Yet even they dare not claim they can reliably provide top-tier elixirs."

"I can." Qin Zhou’s tone held no arrogance, as if he were stating something completely ordinary.

Qin Haishan’s eyes widened slightly, and he glanced at his wife.

Was this really his son? His confidence was almost jarring.

Madam Qin sighed silently and nodded.

"Qin Zhou, even if you can supply top-tier elixirs, have you ever heard the saying, ‘The tallest tree catches the wind’? We’ve got no allies or clout. Once we put that out there, we’ll be the first to face the consequences." Qin Haishan’s tone wasn’t harsh—in fact, he considered his son’s ambition a good thing.

"Though we’ll market them as top-tier, we won’t offer high-tier elixirs—only basic ones. We’ll sell not only to rogue cultivators but also to sect disciples. Even the elixir merchants can buy from us." Qin Zhou spoke calmly, as if he had already thought twenty moves ahead.

However, dealing with sects and merchants wouldn’t be as simple as trading for spirit stones alone.

He couldn’t gather all the necessary materials by himself, but sects and merchants lacked none.

In such cases, he could simply charge a processing fee.

"What do you mean…?"

"As long as my roots grip the whole forest, no wind can uproot me."

As a merchant, Qin Haishan’s mind worked quickly. His interest was piqued the moment Qin Zhou finished speaking. His son’s plan was feasible—but…

"You can’t possibly refine all those elixirs alone, can you?" Qin Haishan still doubted. It’d run him ragged.

"It’s not just him. Our Chen San can also refine them, though he hasn’t mastered the craft yet—his elixirs don’t measure up to our son’s," Madam Qin interjected. "Besides, our son doesn’t need to refine too many. Do you really think rogue cultivators can afford top-tier elixirs? As for sects, they have their own Alchemists. They’d only turn to our son as a last resort."

Qin Haishan blinked. "Who’s Chen San?"

Madam Qin promptly explained Chen San’s situation—how even a mortal could refine elixirs, as Qin Zhou had claimed.

After hearing this, Qin Haishan rubbed his temples.

It was almost too much to process. He hadn’t been away in the provincial capital for long—how had so much happened at home?

"Father, if those two from the Medicine Moon Sect request to meet the distinguished guest after examining the elixirs, agree to it," Qin Zhou said.

Qin Haishan immediately understood his meaning.

If the Qin family's alchemy business is to expand on a large scale, then the Medicine Moon Sect will be the first sect capable of establishing 'connections' with them.

After all, the Medicine Moon Sect had once assisted the Qin family in alchemy, making them Qin Zhou's first consideration.

As for the Medicine Valley...

Qin Zhou wasn’t worried.

The Dark-Robed Cultivator had purchased his pills and taken them back, so naturally, someone would become interested in this Alchemist. It was only a matter of time before they came knocking.

Silently, his net had already begun to fall quietly among some minor alchemy sects. These people simply didn’t know yet.

...

After discussing some details with Qin Haishan, Qin Zhou returned to his courtyard.

He stayed in the manor that night.

The spirit herb field plan had been postponed, and he had brewed enough pills lately—so much so that the Qin family’s Alchemy Materials were running dangerously low. Tonight was a rare night off.

With nothing pressing, there was no need to return to the village.

After all, there was no one waiting in the village. Busyness kept him distracted, but boredom? That was worse.

Qin Zhou found himself thinking of Wen Jue.

He wondered if the fifth-grade Gu Yuan Pill would work for him.

If not, it could at least be treated as candy.

Gazing at the bright moon outside, Qin Zhou grew drowsy.

Though he hadn’t been here long, under the moonlight, he didn’t feel the slightest homesickness.

Perhaps it was because this world was leagues better than his old world.

There was no pushy father hounding him to marry, no crushing work pressure, and none of the social backlash for who he loved—

After all, in this world, Cultivators ruled supreme.

Choosing a male partner was just about what you wanted.

Qin Zhou’s eyes slowly closed.

Originally, he had thought that since he’d landed here, he’d settle in. Living well was enough.

But now, it seemed he was actually enjoying the unexpected perks brought by this transmigration.

...

Meanwhile, in the Upper Realm, an uninvited guest arrived at the Demon Sect.

After a chaotic scuffle, several guards were knocked flat, and the grand hall of the Demon Sect was blasted open.

The Sect Master, feigning sleep, slightly lifted his gaze, catching sight of the moonlit figure at the entrance, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Sovereign, someone has barged through the mountain gate—we… we couldn’t stop them!" a Demon Sect subordinate reported while coughing up blood.

"Lu Xiao, your subordinates won’t take a hint," the newcomer remarked, merely brushing off the dust from the scuffle. "I said I had business with you, yet they insisted on blocking me."

Among the countless sects of the Upper Realm, the Demonic Sect is the strongest. The Demonic Sect values strength above all else, and their Sovereign, Lu Xiao, has held the throne for thousands of years—no one has ever managed to overthrow him.

Yet, despite his unrivaled power, the Sovereign stepped down from his throne.

Under the stunned eyes of the Demonic Sect's cultivators, their Sovereign stepped forward to face the unexpected visitor and respectfully addressed him, "Uncle Wen."

Then, the Sect Master glanced at his subordinates, who were still coughing up blood on the ground, and remarked, "These fools have no manners."

The subordinates shuddered.

"Relax, I didn’t kill them," Wen Jue said, as he was only here in spirit form.

"What brings you here, Uncle Wen?"

"Fifth-tier Gu Yuan Pills, for some spirit stones."

Wen Jue flipped a porcelain bottle his way.

Lu Xiao caught it, popped the lid, and gave it a sniff—it was indeed a fifth-tier Gu Yuan Pill.

"Jiang Huan."

A shadow lurking silently behind the Sovereign suddenly stepped forward. "Sovereign."

"Bring ten spirit stones for Uncle Wen."

The shadowy figure called Jiang Huan swiftly approached Wen Jue and handed over the spirit stones.

Without even glancing at them, Wen Jue tossed them into his Qiankun Bag. "Where’s your father?"

Lu Xiao: "Which father do you mean, Uncle Wen?"

Wen Jue: "The seventh."

"I don’t know," Lu Xiao replied honestly.

Wen Jue let out an annoyed sigh. "Then I’ll take my leave."

"Safe travels, Uncle Wen," Lu Xiao nodded.

Just as Wen Jue took a step forward, Lu Xiao’s voice suddenly froze mid-step—

"Uncle Wen, before my father left last time, he left a message for me to pass on to you. This time, he still stands on your side."

"...Good." Wen Jue, like he had something to say, hesitated but then simply said, "I’m leaving."

Lu Xiao watched as he walked away.

In mere moments, Wen Jue’s spirit form disappeared entirely from the Demonic Sect’s territory.

"All of you, leave. Remember—no one visited the Demonic Sect’s grand hall today," Lu Xiao suddenly declared before the gathered sect members.

The subordinates all bowed their heads together.

They knew exactly what the Sovereign meant.

Anyone who breathed a word about today’s events would die—no exceptions.

Only after leaving the Demon Sect’s main hall and moving far away did someone clutch their chest, grumbling indignantly, "That man barged in and injured our people, yet the Sovereign not only failed to defend us but also ordered us not to talk about it. What kind of logic is that?"

"Guardian Jiang, do you know who that man is?" Most importantly, the Sovereign had actually addressed him as "Uncle Wen."

Jiang Huan, as the Left Guardian of the Demon Sect, was second only to the Sovereign and known for being approachable, though he rarely spoke. Hearing the question, he barely lifted his eyelids and replied, "The Sovereign Lu Xiao's uncle, the senior brother of the Grand Sect Leader."

A short answer, but it stunned the questioner.

The Demon Sect was overflowing with talent, but Lu Xiao's firm grip on the Sovereign’s seat was due not only to his strength but also because the sect had been founded by his father. As for the Grand Sect Leader—who was he? A top-ten name on the Celestial Ranking.

As for the Grand Sect Leader's elder brother, only one was widely known.

The one ranked first on the Celestial Ranking...

The one called the greatest demon in all the realms...

The Demon Sect cultivator regretted asking, trembling uncontrollably—not for any other reason but because he had just barely escaped with his life at Wen Jue's hands.

"Left Guardian... shouldn’t that one be imprisoned? Why is he here?"

Jiang Huan: "Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t."

The Demon Sect cultivator immediately fell silent.

Jiang Huan glanced at the sky and continued walking, though his brow remained furrowed.

Everyone believed Wen Jue was trapped in the Immortal Prison, yet who could have imagined his cultivation was unfathomable, letting his spirit wander freely?

In the upcoming millennia-long conflict between the righteous and demonic paths, the righteous side might not come out on top.

Jiang Huan turned back, staring at the distant, towering Demon Sect hall.

And what did Lu Xiao’s words mean?

*This time, he still stands on your side.*

Would the Grand Sect Leader side with Wen Jue? Did that also represent the Demon Sect’s stance?

And which "time" was this referring to?

"Jiang Huan."

A sudden mental message cut through his thoughts. He lifted his head slightly toward the direction of the Demon Sect grand hall. "Sovereign."

"Investigate the origin of this fifth-rank Gu Yuan Pill."

"Sovereign, that’ll be hard to track down," Jiang Huan said bluntly. "If I tail Senior Wen, I’d be lucky to make it back alive."

"...Aren’t you curious?" Lu Xiao, seated in the grand hall, found himself unable to close his eyes. "Since my birth, Uncle Wen has been alone—for millennia. Yet now, for a few spirit stones, he personally sought me out. Something’s wrong. Really wrong. Do you think... my uncle has fallen for an alchemist?"

"What would an alchemist need spirit stones for?" Jiang Huan asked mercilessly.

Lu Xiao sputtered.

True—what would an alchemist need spirit stones for? Spirit stones weren’t alchemy materials.

"Sovereign, sure, sects fight over alchemists who can make fifth-rank Gu Yuan Pills, but they’re still not good enough for Senior Wen. Also, stop seeing romance in everything."

The great demon lord has his eye on an alchemist? How could his 'two-faced' Sovereign even think of that?

"You... you don't understand, it's intuition." Lu Xiao sounded unsure. "Anyway, this matter must be investigated."

"I'll die," Jiang Huan said again, more firmly.

"Then let's go together. That way, Uncle Wen will spare our lives out of respect for my father." Lu Xiao gave a satisfied nod after speaking.

Just as Jiang Huan was about to refuse, a sudden gust of wind blew by, and Lu Xiao was already right in front of him, patting his shoulder. "Let's go!"

Jiang Huan: "..."

He was so done being a spy in the Demon Sect!