Chapter 841 - 673: Possession
"Forgive my intrusion, Junior! I’ll go fetch the building owner."
She hastily bowed and quickly retreated.
It wasn’t long before she returned.
A female cultivator dressed in palace attire with an elegant demeanor pushed the door open.
Her hair was styled high, her beauty was radiant, and her aura was full and harmonious, clearly a Fake Pill Cultivator.
Her gaze fell on Shen Xuan, scrutinizing him carefully.
"I am Chu Qiuyue, the humble owner of Wanhuafang in this place. Nice to meet you, Fellow Daoist Shen."
"Loose Cultivator, Shen Wenqing."
Shen Xuan stood up and responded with a simple bow.
The two sat down.
Chu Qiuyue did not engage in extra pleasantries; she formed a hand seal with her fingertips, and a gentle green light flowed from her sleeves, spreading like ripples, covering the entire reception room and isolating all sound and divine sense investigations.
Given the involvement of the Danxia Sect, she had to be extremely cautious.
Shen Xuan remained calm.
He had already changed his appearance and identity.
Besides, he planned to confront the Danxia Sect later, so there was no need for excessive caution.
The relationship between Cyan Cloud Sect and Danxia Sect had always been indifferent, with no concern for restrictions.
Upon hearing Shen Xuan’s need for intelligence on Danxia Sect’s Tier Three Alchemists,
Chu Qiuyue apologized, saying, "According to Wanhuafang’s regulations, we cannot sell any core intelligence related to Danxia Sect, especially regarding Tier Three Alchemists. This is a strict rule; I hope Fellow Daoist Shen understands."
Shen Xuan heard this, and a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Regulations?
You’ve come out to sell, and you’re talking about regulations?
The so-called regulations are nothing more than insufficient payment.
"What I need is not much, just two pieces of intelligence."
"Firstly, detailed information on Qianshan True Master. Secondly, the intelligence of a female Pill Master named Li Ruyi from three hundred years ago in the Danxia Sect."
Chu Qiuyue frowned slightly, "Fellow Daoist Shen, this is truly against the regulations."
Shen Xuan spoke no further and took out a medicine bottle.
Opening the bottle’s mouth, an indescribable refreshing fragrance quietly spread around.
It was invigorating, seemingly making the flow of spiritual power even smoother.
Inside the medicine bottle was a Life-Extending Pill the size of a dragon eye, with glowing lights swirling around it.
Chu Qiuyue saw the Life-Extending Pill and momentarily held her breath.
With her knowledge, she naturally recognized it.
A Tier Three special Longevity Spirit Pill, the Life-Extending Pill, capable of increasing the lifespan of Fake Pill True Masters, valued at a million Spirit Stones, and scarce in the market.
It was just what she needed at this moment.
Chu Qiuyue fell into contemplation.
Regulations are dead, but people are alive.
A single Life-Extending Pill is enough to break the so-called Wanhuafang regulations.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, I am willing to trade with you. However, once outside this building, I will not acknowledge any of today’s dealings."
"Agreed."
Shen Xuan quickly replied.
Given his current realm cultivation, only those two True Monarchs in the entire Danxia Sect posed any concern to him.
Moreover, those two True Monarchs specialized in alchemy, not combat.
They would not risk their reputation or the threat of heavenly punishment by confronting him directly in magical combat.
Exchanging a Life-Extending Pill for sufficiently valuable intelligence is worth it upon consideration.
Chu Qiuyue rose, offered a respectful bow, and then quietly exited.
After about one cup of tea’s time, she returned, holding two special Jade Scrolls.
"Fellow Daoist Shen, what you need is all within. Qianshan True Master’s part has been compiled from information gathered over the past century; Li Ruyi Pill Master’s part, due to its antiquity, has been organized from old rumors and fragmented records and may be lacking."
Shen Xuan took the tube, briefly scanned it with his divine sense, confirming the information within was what he need.
He pushed the medicine bottle containing the Life-Extending Pill to Chu Qiuyue.
Chu Qiuyue took the medicine bottle and quickly stored it away.
With the transaction complete, Shen Xuan did not linger, nodded slightly, and then gracefully departed.
...
In the Danxia Immortal City, Sect Inn, within one of the best heaven-grade rooms.
Two Jade Scrolls rested on the desk, their surfaces dimmed of spiritual light.
Shen Xuan had just finished reading their contents.
He lightly tapped with his fingertips, and the Jade Scrolls floated towards the opposite side.
Li Ruyi’s phantom appeared from the Soul Nourishing Wood, reaching out to take the two Jade Scrolls.
The information on Li Ruyi was quite brief.
Three hundred years ago, she was a small reputed Tier Three female Pill Master in the Danxia Sect.
She was outgoing, had a lively mind, did not follow conventions, and enjoyed improving pill formulas.
Li Ruyi and Liu Qianshan were siblings of the same lineage.
The recorded conclusion was that Li Ruyi got involved with pill formulas three hundred years ago, mistakenly went astray, fell into deviation, and met with an unexpected demise.
Li Ruyi’s phantom stood still, her gaze fixed on the Jade Scroll for a long time.
The luminescence of pearls in the room cast her transparent figure on the wall, gently flickering.
In comparison, the information on Liu Qianshan was considerably more detailed.
Qianshan True Master, five hundred years old, nearing his life limit.
Relying on Longevity Elixirs, his remaining lifespan is only about twenty to thirty years.
In recent years, he has withdrawn from public life, avoiding external guests, focusing on teaching disciples.
The Danxia Sect stationed two Middle Stage True Pill True Masters permanently at his cave mansion, ostensibly as protection but in fact as supervision, to ensure that his life’s cultivation of the alchemy dao is preserved within the sect.
Those two True Masters, one named Cui Jin True Master, a Golden Cultivator; the other named Bao Song True Master, a Wood Cultivator.
The Intelligence Jade Scroll included their cultivation techniques, spiritual artifacts, and more.
Shen Xuan glanced over their profiles, his expression unmoved.
Middle Stage True Pill is insignificant to him, akin to ants.
"So, the difficulty isn’t in dealing with Qianshan True Master, but in how to meet Qianshan True Master."
Shen Xuan said with a smile.
"I have a way."
Li Ruyi put down the Jade Scroll, her voice calm and steady.
She raised her hand, seemingly reaching into her hair bun.
A gentle luminous glow shot out from her soul body, landing in her palm, transforming into a simple styled hairpin.
The head of the hairpin was carved with winding lotus patterns, imbued with spiritual light.
"This is the Soul Condensing Hairpin, my protective magical treasure from when I was alive."
She gazed at the hairpin, her eyes somewhat bewildered.