Chapter 147: Chapter 140: Attacking God, Questioning the Heart
’They’re coming to the Pill Shop?’
Chen Che’s mind was in turmoil.
Last time these three Major Cultivators came to Jinyun Valley, there wasn’t such a large entourage. They just investigated the battlefield and were escorted out by Ye Jingzhou. Chen Che had only caught a glimpse of them from a distance.
’Are they back now because they’ve found a clue?’
’Or has Xiao Chan been exposed?’
"Tributor Chen!"
Just as he was thinking, Cao Xiong stepped into the shop and glanced at Chen Che.
"I have heard that Jinyun Valley has a talented Pill Master who is famous far and wide. So I came specially to see this True Master for myself. You are indeed a brilliant young talent."
His voice was clear and carried through the room.
Outside the Pill Shop, all the Primordial Sect disciples looked over, their gazes fixed on Chen Che with blank expressions, as if they would swarm him at a single command. The other two Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators stood with their hands behind their backs, sizing up the Pill Shop with great interest.
Immediately, Ding Fei, Zhao Deyou, and Meng Qingxuan all rose to greet them. They wouldn’t dare show the slightest disrespect to Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators.
"You flatter me, Senior. It’s just an undeserved reputation."
Unsure of the other party’s intentions, Chen Che cupped his hands in response.
"There’s no smoke without fire. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have caught the eye of Miss Meng of the Meng Family..."
Cao Xiong said with his hands behind his back, his posture amiable.
He was as casual as an elder, even glancing over at Meng Qingxuan.
Meng Qingxuan’s face flushed red at his words.
However, no one in the Pill Shop dared to treat him casually. This was especially true for Ding Fei. Whenever Cao Xiong’s gaze lingered on a pill bottle, even for a moment, he would respectfully retrieve it from the shelf and present it for inspection.
Cao Xiong ignored the Pill Shop’s ’no-touch’ rule for pill bottles. He opened one casually, waved his hand to waft the scent toward him, and sniffed the Pill Qi before commenting:
"The aroma is sweet and refreshing. Based on this alone, Tributor Chen’s Alchemy Skill is already comparable to that of some Tier Two Alchemists."
"Senior, is there something you need?"
Chen Che asked tentatively.
"Take a look, Tributor Chen."
Upon hearing this, Cao Xiong smiled and took out a Pill Formula.
"Several days ago, a Pill Master from the Sect gave me this Pill Formula. It’s said to have been pieced together from the hundreds of Medicinal Herb purchases made by a certain Rebel Disciple. I don’t know if it’s complete or even correct..."
His tone was light, but his words struck Chen Che’s mind like a clap of thunder.
"Seeing you today, Tributor Chen, I was suddenly reminded of this matter. So I brought it for you to have a look. Do you recognize this formula? Do you know what it’s for?"
With that, he gently placed the formula on the counter.
Chen Che glanced at it.
This formula had a few more Medicinal Herbs and was missing some Materials compared to the one Xiao Chan had brought that day. A layman wouldn’t be able to make sense of it, but an experienced Pill Master could tell at a glance that the two formulas had a very high degree of overlap.
Looking down, Chen Che replied:
"This Pill Formula? In response to Senior, this formula should be for replenishing Qi and Blood. As for whether it’s complete, I’m not sure yet. I would need to analyze it further."
"Tributor Chen, don’t be so reserved. Look up."
Cao Xiong’s voice was gentle. Chen Che subconsciously raised his head to meet his gaze, only to see a faint light glowing in the man’s eyes. His pupils were as deep as a starry sky, swirling like a vortex. Instantly, a wave of drowsiness washed over him.
’This is Attacking God?!’
A jolt went through Chen Che as he immediately realized what was happening. Divine Sense had many wondrous uses, which of course included invading the mind. Under such an assault, it was like an interrogation or hypnosis; anyone affected would have all their secrets easily extracted.
An ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator would be completely defenseless against such a move from a Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator.
"Tributor Chen, have you seen this formula before? Or a similar one?"
Cao Xiong’s voice remained gentle, yet it seemed to bore into his very mind.
’Trying to interrogate me with the Divine Sense of a Foundation Establishment Third or Fourth Layer cultivator?’
Chen Che found it laughable. His own Divine Sense, tempered by the Concentration Incense, had already reached the level of the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, several times stronger than his opponent’s!
However, he said aloud:
"I have never seen it..."
Cao Xiong nodded slightly, intending to ask more.
But as he looked into Chen Che’s eyes, a thought suddenly surfaced in his own mind: ’He has never seen this formula, so there’s no point in asking any more questions!’
At this thought, he immediately withdrew his Divine Sense.
This clash of Divine Sense seems complicated to describe.
But in reality, it happened in a flash. Ding Fei and Meng Qingxuan didn’t notice anything unusual at all.
"Since you haven’t seen it before, never mind. I’ll have to ask Tributor Chen to complete this formula for me."
As if nothing had happened, Cao Xiong took out a Middle-Grade Spirit Stone and placed it gently on the counter. "This Spirit Stone is the deposit. It doesn’t matter if you can’t complete it. But if you can, the Primordial Sect will reward you ten times over."
After speaking, he turned and left.
The Primordial Sect cultivators outside the Pill Shop followed suit, stepping into Jinyun Valley under everyone’s watchful eyes.
"Business from the Primordial Sect..."
Meng Qingxuan’s eyes danced with excitement. She looked at Chen Che, her gaze shimmering. "Not many Pill Masters can earn the favor of the Primordial Sect! Your title as a genius Pill Master is now endorsed by them as of today!"
"A Pill Formula from a Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator!"
Ding Fei picked up the formula and couldn’t help but stare at it. He wasn’t a Pill Master, so he couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Perhaps that was why Cao Xiong hadn’t shown him the formula. Now, his eyes were filled with daydreams. "Setting aside the reward of ten Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, if we complete this job, does that mean we might have a chance to become Tributors for the Primordial Sect in the future?"
"Become a Tributor for the Primordial Sect?"
Chen Che examined the Pill Formula in his hand with great interest, but inwardly, he was sneering.
’Cao Xiong has a kind face but a vicious heart, striking from the shadows.’
’He was speaking normally one moment, then suddenly launched a sneak attack.’
’If my Divine Sense hadn’t been strong enough and I had revealed that I’d seen the formula, today would have ended very differently. Of course, Cao Xiong would never have imagined that my Divine Sense was actually stronger, allowing me to cut off his interrogation and shut him up.’
’But after this, have I actually turned a disaster into a blessing?’
Chen Che mused, resting his chin on his hand.
After all, no one would suspect a Pill Master who had already been subjected to a Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator’s Attacking God and Inquiring Heart.
...
"Senior Brother, do you suspect Chen Che?"
After they had walked for some time, a tall, thin Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator with sallow skin asked in a low voice from within the group:
"Why not just capture him..."
"He hasn’t even seen the formula, so what’s the use in capturing him?"
Cao Xiong walked ahead with his hands behind his back, showing no suspicion about what had happened in the Pill Shop. Instead, he took out an exquisite, miniature Jade Flute.
This was a ’Sound Transmission Flute’.
It was a type of communication Magical Treasure capable of transmitting short messages.
Recently, they had obtained three clues.
The first was the Pill Formula, which a Pill Master in the Sect had pieced together from records of Xiao Chan’s visits to various Pill Shops.
The second was this Jade Flute. That day, a team had tracked clues to Jinyun Valley, and one of the disciples released this Jade Flute while fleeing.
The third was that the Sect had found a cultivator skilled in divination, who had determined that Xiao Chan was likely somewhere in Yunzhou.
Cao Xiong toyed with the Jade Flute and said with a smile:
"That Xiao Chan can’t live without his Pills. We already have people watching every Pill Master in Yunzhou capable of refining Tier Two Elixirs. He either stays hidden, or the moment he shows his face, he will inevitably seek out a Pill Master... We should just wait and see how things unfold."
"Also, there’s another clue. While on the run, Xiao Chan once received help from a Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator."
"Senior Brother, are you saying...?"
The sallow-faced Major Cultivator’s eyes narrowed as he stared ahead thoughtfully.
"I don’t know!"
Cao Xiong clasped his hands behind his back and slowly shook his head.
"On the surface, our trip here is just to discuss the matter of the Wuyin Ore Mine with Jinyun Valley. You’ll be in charge of everything else. Our other Junior Brothers have already infiltrated the five Foundation Establishment Influences in Yunzhou. Go poke around a few more bushes and see which hole that rabbit is hiding in."
"Yes!"
The man nodded slightly.
Cao Xiong’s eyes were half-closed, but killing intent roiled within him.
Back in the Sect, Xiao Chan’s aptitude was already top-tier. Now that he had become an Evil Cultivator, the threat he posed was even greater. Having reached his Realm, Cao Xiong naturally knew what a catastrophic disaster Xiao Chan would become if left unchecked!
...
...
Only after the Primordial Sect disciples entered the valley did the Market return to its usual liveliness.
"Three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, three of them!"
Watching them enter the valley, Chen Che’s eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of an aged figure flitting past in the distance, and his confusion deepened.
’Why hasn’t Xiao Chan left?’
’Is he really trying to hide in plain sight?’
’Or does he have another motive, like wanting me to refine more Pills for him...?’
Chen Che pondered.
But he truly had no clue.
But while that path was blocked, his own path was clear.
During his Cultivation in the Cave Mansion, he was circulating the Energy-Introducing Technique as usual one day when he realized he was on the verge of a breakthrough. Without hesitation, he consumed the Clear Moon Lotus Seed he had taken from Dan Guanliang and broke through the bottleneck.
"Qi Refining Eighth Layer!"
Although the Micro Crystal Brain was constantly monitoring his progress, he couldn’t hide his joy when the breakthrough actually happened.
This meant he was getting closer and closer to Foundation Establishment.
Looking inward, he saw vast and pure True Essence surging through his meridians like a mighty river. Even his tiniest, most minor meridians were now slowly flowing with True Essence.
Although each minor meridian didn’t seem to contain much True Essence, the total amount was immense.
It was like the capillaries in the human body. They seem insignificant, but their blood volume is a full six to eight hundred times greater than the blood flowing in the arteries!
Although Chen Che hadn’t reached that level yet, his body’s True Essence reserves were already 237% greater than that of other cultivators at the same realm!
The Micro Crystal Brain had even highlighted the line for his True Essence reserves in red.
It seemed that when it rained, it poured. Almost on the same day he broke through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, he received a message from Wu Neng.
That group of ’locksmiths’ had been studying it for nearly a month, and they had finally cracked all the Arrays on the Gold-Plated Jadeite Insurance Box.
So, upon receiving the news, Chen Che immediately took the insurance box over to them.
Even so, seven or eight ’locksmiths’ gathered in a circle and worked on it for a good half hour. With a CLICK, the sound of a spring mechanism releasing echoed, and a crack appeared on the tightly shut insurance box.
"What’s inside?"
"Yeah..."
Everyone was dying to know.
One of them, with quick hands, even tried to open the insurance box to get the first look.
SMACK!
But Wu Neng smacked his hand away, then carefully passed the box to Chen Che, not forgetting to remind him:
"Don’t close it! If you do, you’ll have to pay to open it again..."
"I know!"
Chen Che took a deep breath. He had been looking forward to this box for a long time, but he was worried he might find something gory or nothing at all, so he only pushed it open a tiny crack.
But one look was enough for his pupils to contract as he let out a gasp of surprise.
"...This is?"
