With a single order from the Sword Gate sect leader Lan Feng, the Sword Gate forces in Shu Commandery vanished without a trace overnight.
News of the Sword Gate's withdrawal spread like wildfire throughout Yizhou. Everyone stared in shock and disbelief towards the northwest of Yizhou.
The man in yellow robes, who annihilated Xu Fei with a flick of his finger; the earth-shattering explosion that occurred in the Sword Gate a few days ago; these unbelievable tidings left everyone dumbfounded!
All assumed that Yang Hao was protected by a Grandmaster, whose immense power had suppressed the Sword Gate. They felt as if a colossal entity had suddenly established its dominance in the northwest of Yizhou!
Just as Yizhou was driven into a frenzy by the news from Shu Commandery, a legend from over a thousand years ago, that of the once mighty and world-renowned alchemist Muhua, once again resounded through the land.
The entire Wu Kingdom erupted into madness once more!
Muhua, over a thousand years ago, was also the only martial cultivator to have ever stepped into the path of alchemy.
Alchemists, a profession that inspired awe and obsession in the masses.
Alchemists, as the name suggests, could refine pills. These pills could extend life and also boost cultivation.
While many practiced alchemy, most remained at the level of Dan Tu (Pill Apprentice), never grasping the true essence. Muhua, however, was the only martial cultivator to have ever achieved the rank of Dan Shi (Alchemist).
What drove everyone to madness now was that upon his burial, Muhua's disciple had accompanied him in death, interring three Sheng Yuan Pills, painstakingly refined by Muhua, within the tomb.
A single Sheng Yuan Pill could allow a Half-Grandmaster to ascend to the Grandmaster realm in a single step, effortlessly crossing a chasm that others could never surmount in a lifetime!
However, at the time, Muhua's disciple had set up a formation. Any force above the Half-Grandmaster realm that dared to step into it would cause the tomb and its contents to be instantly reduced to ashes!
Instantly, the imperial court, the sects, and the clans – all Half-Grandmaster experts in the Wu Kingdom – turned their gaze towards Wuhui Ridge in the western Wuling Mountains of Liangzhou.
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Shu Commandery.
Yang Hao paced back and forth, a look of anxiety etched on his face, his brow furrowed. Su Dan Novel Network.
"My Lord, General Liao Hua is a man of destiny; nothing will happen to him."
Wu Yong looked worried. Liao Hua had been in a coma for three days, during which Yang Hao had meticulously stayed by his side, not sleeping for those three days.
"Indeed! My Lord, with both myself and Scholar Wu Yong here, you can rest assured. Please go and get some rest!"
Zhu Sheng quickly approached Yang Hao and gently supported his haggard frame.
"No need, I'm fine!"
Over the past three days, with the dedicated efforts of the physicians, Liao Hua's injuries had improved, but he remained unconscious.
*Creak!*
The sound of footsteps approached, and soon Zhou Yuji walked in.
"My Lord, Lord Che Ming has just entered the commandery city," Zhou Yuji reported.
"What is he doing here?" Yang Hao asked, bewildered.
"My Lord, if my guess is correct, he must be here for the Sheng Yuan Pills of Wuhui Ridge!" Wu Yong chimed in when he heard Yang Hao's question.
"Sheng Yuan Pills?" Yang Hao had remained indoors for days, tending to Liao Hua.
"Reporting to my Lord, there is an alchemist's tomb in Wuhui Ridge. Rumor has it that there might be Sheng Yuan Pills inside. It is said that consuming one can help a Half-Grandmaster advance to the Grandmaster realm in a single step!"
"Sheng Yuan Pills!" Yang Hao murmured to himself.
"My Lord, the Inspector of Yizhou has been stuck at the Half-Grandmaster realm for over fifty years. It is likely that Che Ming's arrival is for the Sheng Yuan Pills!" Zhu Sheng said, fanning himself with a wooden fan.
"What do you think, Wu Yong?" Catching this piece of information, Yang Hao felt that Che Ming's sudden visit was more than it seemed.
"I believe Lord Che Ming is here to travel together!"
As soon as he spoke, laughter echoed from within the manor.
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...
"Prefect Yang, it has been a long time." Che Ming strode forward from a distance, greeting him with a hearty laugh.
"Lord Che, we just saw each other last month. What do you mean by 'a long time'?" Yang Hao replied with a hint of disdain.
"Prefect, you jest. Have you heard of the Sheng Yuan Pills?" Che Ming looked at Yang Hao with a hint of nervousness.
This man before him was no longer merely the ruler of a city; he had managed to make the Sword Gate bow its head – something their own Inspector couldn't achieve. This Yang Hao must have a Grandmaster protecting him.
"My Lord, you jest. These Sheng Yuan Pills have been causing quite a stir lately," Yang Hao said unhurriedly.
Seeing Yang Hao's calm demeanor, Che Ming grew more anxious and said, "Prefect Yang, to be frank, the Wu Kingdom is about to undergo a major change!"
As he finished speaking, Wu Yong and Zhu Sheng subtly twitched their fingers.
"The King is at his last moments!" Che Ming exclaimed, tears welling up in his eyes.
"My Lord, please do not speak such nonsense," Yang Hao reprimanded. "The King is a man of destiny; do not speak of such things!"
Yang Hao knew that this was the Inspector, the current King's own younger brother, sending someone to test him. Zhang Jue's elimination of Xu Fei would not have escaped the court's notice, and Zhang Jue's appearance would undoubtedly threaten the balance of the Wu Kingdom.
"Yes, yes! I misspoke. Prefect, please do not be offended!" Che Ming had been intently observing Yang Hao from the moment he began speaking. Seeing Yang Hao so composed and unfazed, even showing a hint of annoyance at his earlier words, left him, a seasoned veteran of the Twelve Guards, utterly perplexed.
"Enough. Since you have no other business, I have matters to attend to. Wu Yong, please escort Lord Che." With that, Yang Hao left the hall.
"Prefect Yang, Prefect Yang!" Che Ming called out urgently.
"My Lord, my master has been overwhelmed with official duties recently. As you know, the Sword Gate caused considerable casualties during their campaign in our Shu Commandery, and General Liao Hua remains unconscious!" Wu Yong said with a somber expression, his gaze flicking towards Che Ming's face.
"My Lord, my master was only able to secure his position in Shu Commandery with your help back then. To achieve that, he even stood against the Sword Gate. My Lord, who does not know that the Wu Kingdom is in peril today? Yet, despite this, my master still fights for the Inspector. Do you not understand, my Lord?"
"Alas! I have misjudged the Prefect!"
"Chief Clerk Wu, please convey my apologies to Prefect Yang. Everyone's attention is now focused on Wuhui Ridge. Once the tomb is opened, the Wu Kingdom will gain three more Grandmaster experts."
"Chief Clerk Wu, this trip was actually for the Inspector to request Prefect Yang's assistance!" Che Ming said, his brow furrowed with worry.
"What does my Lord mean by that?" Wu Yong asked, his own brow knitting.
"Chief Clerk, the Wu Kingdom is currently facing a storm. If Prefect Yang is willing to send troops to aid us, our two families can join forces and certainly obtain a Sheng Yuan Pill."
"However, my master has no Half-Grandmasters under his command. The Sheng Yuan Pills are of little use to us, yet abandoning them would be a pity. There's no need to court trouble!" Wu Yong shook his head.
"Chief Clerk Wu, if Prefect Yang is willing to send troops to assist, the Inspector has promised to place Guanghan Commandery under Prefect Yang's jurisdiction!"
"No! That's not enough!" Wu Yong shook his head.
"Lord Che, are you truly unaware of the value of Sheng Yuan Pills, or are you underestimating my master?" Wu Yong's gaze turned sharp as he stared intently into Che Ming's eyes.