223: Chapter 212_2 223: Chapter 212_2 Lai Jianlin could feel the liquid in his dantian had transformed into a Golden Core, and his original Triple Spirit Root had caught up with the quality of Spirit Roots.
Within the Golden Core, three colors emerged: wood, earth, and metal.
As he solidified his cultivation with the last of the Spiritual Energy, he yearned to advance further, but regretfully he could only stop at the early stage of the Golden Core; his physical strength was no different from those who practiced Body Cultivation.
After some time had passed, feeling that his cultivation had stabilized, he consumed another pill, the Nourishing Soul Pill.
Upon ingesting it, he felt invigorated despite the dizziness in his head from taking the Vitality Pill earlier, which had strengthened his body.
Lai Jianlin felt that his Divine Sense had previously been at the Qi Cultivation Stage, but after consuming the pill, it kept on improving.
His Divine Sense grew stronger, rising rapidly, outpacing the advancement of his body, and finally settled at the Great Perfection of Golden Core.
The Sea of Consciousness within widened, housing a Golden Core.
Where he could once project his Divine Sense only a mile or two, now he could extend it beyond ten miles and utilize it for attacking and defending with spells.
Lai Jianlin didn’t stop his cultivation there; refraining from consuming more pills, he took advantage of the lull to cultivate the Golden Core Stage spells and techniques his master had given him.
Upon entering a new stage, one must enhance their cultivation techniques.
Unfortunately, his family only had individuals at the Golden Core Stage and had not stronger spells or techniques.
His future seemed to depend on his own ventures.
In the Cultivation World, supreme elixirs had emerged, and many families wanted to purchase them.
However, lacking connections, they could only pay auction prices for the pills.
The Jiang Family of Immortal Lord City was one of the three top clans in the city.
While other families aspired to become top-tier clans, the Jiangs faced their own pressures.
Having learned of the supreme elixirs in Immortal Venerable City, the Family Head and Elders of the Jiang clan discussed and decided to send key family members to make the purchase, as suggested by their informants in Immortal Venerable City.
The auction prices for the supreme elixirs climbed higher and higher, sometimes reaching a point where they were priceless.
“I heard that even the second-rate families of our Immortal Lord City are mobilizing to buy the supreme elixirs.
Our family can’t afford to fall behind,” the Great Elder said first, his opinion mirrored by the anxious looks on the other Elders’ faces.
While others grew stronger, they were only marking time.
This not only diminished the presence of their family but also dashed their hopes of advancing further.
“Here’s what we’ll do!
It’s not safe to send our own people to buy them; Immortal Venerable City harbors too many powerful figures.
It’s possible our pill purchasers won’t even make it back before being killed,” the Jiang Family Head’s words met with agreement from the other Elders.
“I’ve heard that the alchemist who refines the supreme elixirs has the surname Jiang.
Could we possibly establish some connection?” Elder Er suggested, his idea lighting up the eyes of the other Elders and the Family Head, who felt it was a good strategy.
“But on what grounds could we forge a connection?
Sharing the same surname doesn’t mean we’re kin,” the Jiang Family Head pondered inwardly.
“I’ve heard that the Holy Pavilion is about to open branches everywhere.
We could become a franchise, giving us a reason to build a relationship.
Only by becoming allies can we ensure that our family will never decline,” Elder Sann suggested.
“That’s a good idea.
Franchising is feasible.
Jiang Tang will supply us with resources to sell, and through this alliance, our family stands only to profit with no loss.
Plus, we would be able to buy cheaper elixirs from him for our family’s use.”
The Jiang Family Head thought it was an excellent idea and made the final decision.
On such an important matter, naturally, he wouldn’t send someone else to negotiate.
He took the three Elders with him, along with sufficient funds.
This time, they spared no expense, understanding that even if they didn’t buy many elixirs, having just enough for the key members to use would provide their family with the opportunity to become stronger.
They never considered bringing the elixirs back; the most significant risk was being robbed on their journey.
What they didn’t realize was that simply carrying money could make them a target as well.
The Jiang Family Head instructed the coordination of the family business and, secretly accompanied by the three Elders, exited through a hidden passage, using their Flying Treasures to soar through the sky.
…
In the Huang Family, one of the top three clans of Immortal Lord City, the Family Head was discussing with the Elders how they had made a good profit selling Communication Talismans in the past few months, thanks to the Luo and Lai families.
What a pity it was that while they had the ability to earn money, they lacked the means to improve their cultivation.
“Reporting to the Family Head, an individual capable of concocting Supreme Elixirs has appeared in Immortal Venerable City.
This person’s name is the same as the one murdered by the Princess—named Jiang Tang,” a scout from the Huang Family reported as he entered.
“What?
Wasn’t that man killed?
It must be someone else!” Family Head Huang couldn’t imagine; his grandson had failed in his murder and theft, and it had ended in retaliation with his own demise.
Now trapped inside an unknown Magical Treasure, his fate was uncertain.
Yet, this man hadn’t died and was even able to concoct Supreme Elixirs.
To concoct elixirs of such quality, one’s cultivation must be exceedingly high.
Wasn’t this an irony for him?
A first-class family unable to exact revenge, instead allowing an ordinary person to become powerful and wealthy by concocting and selling Supreme Elixirs.
Family Head Huang glared at the messenger with eyes filled with cold vengeance and hatred—this was absolutely humiliating.
“Family Head, I have found out that this Jiang Tang is indeed the same person who clashed over treasures with the young master.
I learned that he survived an ordeal in an oasis of Liusha Sea City and was then thrust by the young master into a space.
He lived in that space for over a month, during which, he advanced from the seventh level of Qi Cultivation to Ocean Wheel, having never been able to concoct Supreme Elixirs before.
Within that month, he also improved his alchemy skills.
He was able to neutralize the poison that appeared in Immortal Venerable City using just some flowers.
Moreover, he collaborated with the City Lord of Immortal Venerable City to establish a shop named Holy Pavilion, and auctioned many Supreme Elixirs.
I heard he gets his herbs from that mysterious space.”
“What?
A mysterious space?” Family Head Huang thought of the Taoist who took his grandson into a mysterious Space Magical Treasure.
Could it be that Jiang Tang had encountered his grandson?
Upon returning, Family Head Huang hadn’t informed the elders that his grandson’s soul could still cultivate.
The elders thought that he was just angry because the grandson was believed dead while his enemy was still thriving.
That aside, what mattered most now was acquiring Supreme Elixirs.
“Family Head, others are buying Supreme Elixirs to enhance their cultivation.
We can’t fall behind!” Elder Sann walked out following the messenger, starting to discuss with the others.
“Right, let’s not talk about revenge for now.
We must buy the elixirs first, enhance our power and speak of vengeance later.
A gentleman can wait ten years to avenge himself,” said Elder Er, trying to persuade the others.
“Hmph, as if I would let that man make money off me,” Family Head Huang was desperate for revenge but despised the thought of lining his enemy’s pockets with his money—an utter disgrace.
So angry that he was almost spitting blood, right?
“What can we do now?
All the first and second-tier families of Immortal Lord City are buying Supreme Elixirs to enhance their cultivation.
If our family remains inactive, we might lose our first-class status.
The Lai Family has always wanted to squeeze into the first-class families.
Our scouts have heard that Lai Jianlin has returned, chances are he might have brought back elixirs from Immortal Venerable City.” Elder Er was particularly anxious.
“Correct, Luo Yaxuan from the Luo Family has also returned.
The two of them came back together, and it is very likely that they have already acquired Supreme Elixirs.
Otherwise, why would both their families have gone into seclusion at the same time?” the Great Elder spoke with urgency and sorrow.
“Why didn’t anyone release this news sooner?
We could have taken action and possibly snatched them,” Family Head Huang thought of a sinister plan.
“Isn’t it too late now?
It’s been a day; if they had Supreme Elixirs, wouldn’t they have consumed them by now?
I heard only the Family Heads and elders obtained them, the elite members of their families did not, which means there weren’t many Elixirs to begin with,” regretted Elder Sann.
“Then, what about the Jiang Family?” Family Head Huang thought of another first-class family.
“It is said that, like us, they haven’t yet acquired any Supreme Elixirs and might be preparing to purchase some,” the Great Elder added.
“In that case, I have a plan.
If we want money to buy Supreme Elixirs without letting our rival profit from us, then we can only…” Family Head Huang’s statement lingered, letting everyone grasp the implication themselves.
“Brilliant, this idea of the Family Head is brilliant.
We shouldn’t delay; let’s set out immediately.”
“Good…”
Family Head Huang assigned his son the task of managing the family affairs and departed with the three elders through a secret tunnel.