"Yes!"
"I should be happy."
"A Level Nine Guardian Array, only the Gan Kingdom possesses it."
"But..."
The Emperor of Gan's face contorted in a grimace, "But I cannot find joy."
"Not happy at all."
"It's precisely because Chen Nan upgraded the array for my Gan Kingdom."
"You say he owed me a tremendous favor just now."
"And then, shortly after leaving, he bestowed such great benefit upon my Gan Kingdom."
"I am also a man who values his reputation."
"In the future, if I need him to do something for me, how can I possibly ask him again?"
Guo Kai understood why the Emperor of Gan was enraged.
It was evident.
Chen Nan had used this method to severely corner the Emperor of Gan.
This made him secretly admire Chen Nan's strategy.
The Emperor of Gan had retreated to advance, gifting that medicinal formula to Chen Nan.
After receiving it, Chen Nan owed the Emperor of Gan a tremendous favor.
In this confrontation,
Chen Nan had lost.
However.
He had helped the Gan Kingdom upgrade its Guardian Array.
Just as the Emperor of Gan had said.
Anyone with a shred of self-respect would never approach Chen Nan again to ask him for a favor.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," Guo Kai said, "Even if we cannot ask Chen Nan to act for our Gan Kingdom in the future, our Gan Kingdom now possesses a Level Nine Guardian Array, which is still a great boon."
The Emperor of Gan snorted coldly, "That fellow is celebrating too soon."
"Does he think that by helping my Gan Kingdom upgrade its Guardian Array, he can absolve himself of all future obligations?"
"We shall see!"
"Within three days, he will come begging me!"
Guo Kai was perplexed.
The Emperor of Gan explained, "It's nothing. The medicinal formula Chen Nan obtained is called the Supreme Origin Pill."
"And to refine the Supreme Origin Pill, the main ingredient is a million-year-old White Jade Ginseng."
Guo Kai's eyes lit up, "A million-year-old medicinal ingredient is known as a divine medicine. In the current Immortal Realm, only our Gan Kingdom possesses a million-year-old White Jade Ginseng, correct?"
The Emperor of Gan grinned, "So, what if Chen Nan obtained the formula for the Supreme Origin Pill?"
"What if he has connections with the Dragon Clan?"
"Can the Dragon Clan help him acquire a million-year-old White Jade Ginseng?"
"In the end, he will still have to beg me."
"When he comes again, I will certainly set three conditions."
"If he does not agree, he will never obtain that million-year-old White Jade Ginseng."
Guo Kai sighed, "I thought Chen Nan was already cunning, but compared to Your Majesty, he is far inferior."
The Emperor of Gan laughed heartily, "When you speak so well, say more."
Guo Kai: "......"
You are so shameless.
You could completely disregard the fact that Chen Nan helped the Gan Kingdom upgrade its Guardian Array.
You could completely force him to meet your conditions.
------
On the other side.
After leaving the imperial palace, Chen Nan impatiently opened the ancient sheepskin scroll.
Supreme Origin Pill.
This was a genuine divine elixir.
Upon consuming it, one could increase their cultivation, and at critical junctures, break through limitations.
However.
Upon seeing the required medicinal ingredients,
His heart gave a violent tremor.
To refine the Supreme Origin Pill, seventy-two types of elixirs were needed.
Furthermore.
The lowest quality had to be a hundred-thousand-year-old spiritual medicine.
Most were three hundred thousand to five hundred thousand-year-old spiritual medicines.
Especially upon seeing the main ingredient.
Chen Nan almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
"One million portions of White Jade Ginseng?"
"Is this going too far?"
Chen Nan had also consumed million-year-old divine medicines.
But that was in the Land of Creation.
Yet, even in the Land of Creation, million-year-old divine medicines were exceptionally rare.
"Forget it, I'll go find Ao Ji and see if he can acquire White Jade Ginseng for me!" Chen Nan sighed inwardly, then headed to Ao Ji's teahouse.
Even though it was night.
The teahouse was packed with people.
Gathering many who came to listen to storytelling.
Of course.
Although there were usually many people,
Only when Ao Ji told stories did such a crowd gather.
Seeing Chen Nan arrive, Ao Ji's eyes lit up, and he was about to find someone to substitute for him.
Chen Nan's voice echoed in his mind, "You continue your storytelling. We will sit at leisure."
Ao Ji acknowledged.
He quickly had someone arrange a private room for Chen Nan.
Then, tea and snacks were served.
Approximately half an hour later.
Ao Ji came down from the stage.
He immediately went to Chen Nan's private room and apologized, "I am sorry for making you wait, Master."
Chen Nan replied, "I haven't had much rest either. Listening to your stories is a rare moment of relaxation."
Saying this.
He took out the ancient sheepskin scroll, "Can you help me find the medicinal ingredients listed here?"
Ao Ji received it with both hands.
After reading it, he said, "Master, most of these medicinal ingredients, I can help you prepare."
"After all, as you know, the Demon Realm is vast and abundant, home to many rare medicinal ingredients."
"However, I cannot acquire the White Jade Ginseng."
"Yes, if it were any other divine medicine, my Dragon Clan could also obtain it."
"But the White Jade Ginseng has a unique growing environment."
"It thrives in places of exceptional natural beauty and spiritual energy, a characteristic that means it is destined to be absent from the Demon Realm."
Hearing his words.
Chen Nan felt a surge of disappointment.
If the White Jade Ginseng cannot be obtained, what use is this medicinal formula even if he possesses it?
"Master need not worry," Ao Ji said with a smile, "Although the Demon Realm does not have White Jade Ginseng, the Gan Kingdom possesses a million-year-old White Jade Ginseng."
Chen Nan's eyes gleamed, "Are you serious? Does the Gan Kingdom truly have a million-year-old White Jade Ginseng?"
Ao Ji confirmed, "Yes, the Gan Kingdom indeed has a million-year-old White Jade Ginseng."
A bitter smile played on Chen Nan's lips, "Even if it exists, it's likely in vain."
"That old scoundrel, the Emperor of Gan, will not give it to me."
The formula was given by the Emperor of Gan.
If the Emperor of Gan truly wished to fulfill his benevolent intentions and allow him to refine the Supreme Origin Pill.
Why would he only give him the formula?
If he truly wanted to do him a favor, he should have given him the million-year-old White Jade Ginseng along with it.
Ao Ji assured, "Master, do not worry. I will go to the palace and meet the Emperor of Gan immediately."
"At most, I will offer two divine medicines in exchange."
"This transaction would not be a loss for him."
Chen Nan nodded slightly, "Alright, then I shall entrust this matter to you."
"Very well, this old man shall go to the palace now."
Ao Ji said, then vanished from Chen Nan's sight, heading directly to the imperial palace to meet the Emperor of Gan.
The Emperor of Gan stood in the imperial garden, hands behind his back, gazing at the night sky, "I observed the celestial movements and predicted the arrival of Daoist Ao Ji; it is indeed as I surmised."
"If I am not mistaken, Daoist Ao Ji's late-night visit must be concerning that White Jade Ginseng, correct?"
Ao Ji smiled, "Your Majesty's insight is remarkable. Then I shall be direct."
"My Dragon Clan is willing to offer two divine medicines in exchange for the White Jade Ginseng from the Gan Kingdom."
The Emperor of Gan replied, "In that case, it seems I am benefiting from your Dragon Clan's generosity."
Ao Ji stated, "Business is business; prices are clearly marked, and there is no question of one party benefiting more than the other."
The Emperor of Gan turned to face Ao Ji, a meaningful smile on his face, "What if, I am not inclined to make this deal?"