Chapter 94: Looting
"Dragon Pill?" Xiao Tiannan was startled, then ventured cautiously: "Could it be referring to... a dragon's Mysterious Pill?"
"Correct." Yun Che nodded, then assumed a profound demeanor and spoke slowly, "The Mysterious Vein is one of the greatest gifts granted to humanity by the heavens. It allows humans to surpass the limits of their physical bodies. But the existence of the Mysterious Vein must conform to the rules of heaven and earth and the laws of nature. Whether in a genius or a mediocrity, its growth and strengthening must proceed step by step, without violating basic rules and order; otherwise, it is an affront to the Heavenly Dao."
"However, if the Mysterious Vein is destroyed, it is no longer a complete Mysterious Vein, so to speak... it no longer needs to follow the basic rules required for the growth of a Mysterious Vein. There is a saying: 'Only after breaking can one establish.' Now that my grandson Luocheng's Mysterious Vein has shattered and is nearly crippled, it fulfills the condition of 'breaking.' If we can obtain a Dragon Pill, then I have a way to directly infuse the power within the Dragon Pill into the damaged Mysterious Vein, and then repair the vein, allowing Luocheng's Mysterious Vein to be powerfully 're-established'! Among the Mysterious Pills of beasts, only the power of a dragon is closest to human Mysterious Force and most compatible with the human Mysterious Vein. Therefore, to achieve this 'breaking and re-establishing,' only a Dragon Pill can do it. The higher the grade of the Dragon Pill, the better."
Yun Che's words were, of course, pure nonsense. Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Luocheng listened as if they were hearing a fairy tale. But since these words came from the mouth of the Evil Heart Saintly Hand, they felt that their inability to understand was perfectly normal. They only sensed that it was profound and immensely powerful. But then, Xiao Tiannan's face fell: "There is such an astonishing secret technique in this world... It's just that, alas, dragons are the supreme beings among all beasts. Even the lowest-grade adult dragon is at the Heavenly Xuan Beast level. A Heavenly Xuan Pill is worth ten thousand pieces of gold and hard to come by. Even the main sect doesn't have more than a few, let alone a Dragon Pill. For Luocheng to meet you, Senior, is a gift from the heavens, but this Dragon Pill is simply impossible to find."
"Heh heh heh heh!" Yun Che smiled calmly and said, "Impossible to find? No. Right now, there is a place where one can be found, and it is even a King Xuan Dragon Pill!"
"Wh... what!? A King Xuan Dragon Pill?" Xiao Tiannan cried out in shock. A King Xuan Pill? That was something the main sect barely dared to hope for! For their small branch sect, it was a legendary divine object. And a King Xuan Dragon Pill could even be used to refine the legendary "King Divine Pill," allowing a powerful expert at the peak of the Heavenly Xuan Realm to easily break through bottlenecks and ascend to the King Xuan Realm!
"Where can it be found? If it can be bought somewhere, I will sell everything I own to buy it!" Xiao Tiannan said excitedly. Even though it was spoken by the Evil Heart Saintly Hand himself, Xiao Tiannan still found it hard to believe. How could such a divine object, capable of shaking the entire Cang Feng Continent, appear in this little New Moon City? If it really existed, New Moon City would have long been thronged by powers from all directions.
"Four days ago, when I passed by the New Moon City branch of the Black Moon Merchant Guild, I caught a whiff of a Dragon Pill's scent, and its grade was as high as King Xuan. In my life, I have come into contact with no less than eighty thousand high-grade Mysterious Pills, if not a hundred thousand. That was indeed a King Xuan Dragon Pill, no mistake. I was somewhat incredulous myself and even confirmed it repeatedly at the entrance." Yun Che glanced at Xiao Tiannan's shocked expression and continued, "For such a small New Moon City to possess a King Xuan Dragon Pill is indeed suspicious. But since it came from the Black Moon Merchant Guild, it is plausible. This King Xuan Dragon Pill should have come from the main guild; as for where it is headed, it's hard to say."
Xiao Tiannan was stunned, his heart surging wildly. Xiao Luocheng's eyes were wide open, and he shouted, "Father, Grandfather is the world's number one divine doctor; he cannot be wrong! You must find a way to get that King Xuan Dragon Pill for your child. My entire life, and the future of our branch sect, rest entirely on Grandfather and this King Xuan Dragon Pill."
The news that the Black Moon Merchant Guild had a King Xuan Dragon Pill shocked Xiao Tiannan as well, and he had no reason to doubt Yun Che's words. But he twitched his lips and said bitterly, "Since Senior recognized it, it must be correct. But a divine object like a King Xuan Dragon Pill is not something a small New Moon City should possess. Perhaps the main guild of New Moon City plans to sell it to some great power and is only temporarily storing it in New Moon City. I am merely the master of a small branch of the Xiao Sect. Even if I know the Black Moon Merchant Guild has a King Xuan Dragon Pill, they would never sell it to me. Even if, by a million-to-one chance, they were willing to sell... we simply couldn't afford a King Xuan Dragon Pill."
"I have already considered that." Yun Che began rummaging through his pockets. After searching for a while, he pulled out a sparkling purple Mysterious Coin Card—the one the clerk had given him during his first visit to the Black Moon Merchant Guild—and slapped it directly into Xiao Tiannan's hand. He said calmly, "About thirty years ago, the current master of the Black Moon Merchant Guild was ambushed by his enemies. After a fierce battle, he was severely wounded and nearly died. I saved his life. He gave me this Mysterious Coin Card, claiming that with this card, I could purchase anything I wanted at the lowest price from any Black Moon Merchant Guild on the continent. Thirty years have passed, and I have never used this card, but I have always carried it just in case. Since it was given by the guild master himself, it should be useful, right?"
Xiao Tiannan originally thought it was just an ordinary purple gold card upon inspection, but when he heard Yun Che's explanation, his hands trembled, and he almost dropped the card in excitement. The master of the Black Moon Merchant Guild was the number one business tyrant of the Tian Xuan Continent, a super heavyweight with overwhelming wealth and influence! A purple gold card personally given by him, coupled with his words... the value of this purple gold card was almost comparable to that King Xuan Dragon Pill!
"Senior, if it was given by the Black Moon Merchant Guild master, this purple gold card is far too precious... Senior has gone to such lengths for Luocheng, even willing to take this out. This great kindness leaves me at a loss for how to repay it." Xiao Tiannan held the purple gold card, speaking with emotion.
Yun Che laughed lightly, a trace of sadness in his expression: "Luocheng is my grandson. As a grandfather, isn't this what I should do? ...Sigh, I suppose it's also making up for the regrets of the past through Luocheng."
"Luocheng, hurry up and thank your grandfather!" Xiao Tiannan said loudly.
Xiao Luocheng immediately struggled to rise and kowtowed heavily to Yun Che, his expression almost tearful: "Grandfather's great kindness and virtue, Luocheng will remember in his heart for this lifetime... In the future, Luocheng will certainly be filial to Grandfather; otherwise, may heaven strike me with lightning and the earth reject me."
Yun Che's mouth twitched, and he smiled with a face full of "gratification." He patted Xiao Luocheng's shoulder and said cheerfully, "Good, good. You are truly my good grandson. I ask nothing else of you; just hearing you call me 'Grandfather' a few times each day warms my heart... Sect Master Xiao, there is no time to lose. You should immediately take this Mysterious Coin Card and go to the Black Moon Merchant Guild in person. I am one hundred percent certain there is a King Xuan Dragon Pill there. As for how to get them to produce it, that depends on your skill. Also, it would be best to bring Xiao Baicao along; he should be able to identify whether it is a King Xuan Dragon Pill."
"Understood. I will immediately call Elder Baicao and head to the Black Moon Merchant Guild!"
Without needing Yun Che's reminder, Xiao Tiannan knew he had to go personally and with as much secrecy as possible. If news of a King Xuan Dragon Pill in New Moon City got out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Soon, Xiao Tiannan called for Xiao Baicao. As they were about to leave, Yun Che stopped them and said, "The distance from here to the Black Moon Merchant Guild is considerable. Moreover, this matter of the King Xuan Dragon Pill is too significant. Even if you finally manage to purchase it, it will inevitably take a great deal of time. During this period, I may need to fetch medicines from the treasure vault from time to time based on Luocheng's condition. So, leave a key to the treasure vault with someone trustworthy."
"This..." Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Baicao exchanged glances. Then Xiao Baicao, without hesitation, took out the key to the treasure vault and said, "Senior, the sect has two keys to the treasure vault. They have always been kept by the Sect Master and myself and have never been in a third person's hands, nor would we dare entrust them to a third party. At present, the only person we can entrust this key to is you, Senior. When you need herbs or jewels and crystals, you can use this key to enter and exit the treasure vault at any time."
Yun Che's eyes widened, and he waved his hand in displeasure: "Nonsense! How can the key to the sect's treasure vault be casually handed over to an outsider! Both of you are nearly fifty; how can you be so reckless!"
Xiao Tiannan smiled and said, "Of course, the treasure vault key cannot be casually given to others. But although we have only known you for a few days, you and I, as well as Baicao, admire your peerless medical skills and noble character. We feel completely at ease entrusting it to you. Apart from you, we dare not give it to anyone else. While we are away, Luocheng's injuries may change at any time, and we will need you to take care of him. If treatment is delayed because we cannot access the treasure vault for medicine... So, please, Senior, accept this key."
Yun Che looked reluctant and troubled for a long while. Finally, he sighed softly and took the key from Xiao Baicao's hand. "Very well. You two should hurry and return as quickly as possible. For that King Xuan Dragon Pill, bring as much money as you can carry. Even taking all your belongings would not be excessive."
Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Baicao left, filled with excitement. After they had been gone for about fifteen minutes, Yun Che stepped into the medicine hall. Following the route he had memorized, he strutted straight toward the treasure vault.
He passed through layer after layer of guards without any obstruction. Not only did they not stop him, but they also greeted him respectfully. When he reached the door of the treasure vault, he took out the key, opened three stone doors in succession, and stepped into the treasure vault, which was filled with cold air.
Looking at the dazzling array of medicines, jades, crystals, artifacts... Yun Che stood at the entrance of the treasure vault, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward...
After all these days of hard acting, the time for harvest had finally come.
A thousand years of a sect's accumulation—what a colossal fortune it must be! If it all vanished in one night, the entire sect would probably collapse halfway...
Too bad you had to provoke this calamity of mine!!
If I hadn't had a trump card up my sleeve, the one crippled would have been Xiao Luocheng instead of me... or I might already be dead!
Breaking faith and going to the New Moon Mystic Palace to settle accounts? Heh... Now it's time to settle accounts properly! This thousand-year accumulation of yours, I, young master, will accept as compensation for mental anguish... Take it!!
Yun Che quickly moved to the rows of black wooden medicine cabinets. He pressed his hand against one cabinet and, with a slight effort, sucked a pile of medicinal herbs along with the cabinet into the Heavenly Poison Pearl. The absorption effect and storage capacity of the Heavenly Poison Pearl far surpassed that of ordinary Space Rings. Even though these cabinets were relatively large in volume, it didn't take much effort. In less than thirty minutes, well over a thousand medicine cabinets had vanished from their spots. Next came rows of cold jade ice chests...
This treasure vault was quite large, but the Heavenly Poison Pearl contained infinite space. Even if the vault were a hundred times bigger, as long as Yun Che had enough time, he could pull it all into the Heavenly Poison Pearl.
[Something happened at home recently... Ah, I feel like I owe many chapters. I'll do my best to make up for them.]