Translator: CinderTL
"There's no rush to hand over the pills, Fellow Daoist. Please, come in quickly."
Le Liang greeted Song Wen warmly and led him into his Cultivation Cave, where they sat down at a stone table.
He took out a tea set, brewed some Spirit Tea, poured a cup, and offered it to Song Wen.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, please try my Spirit Tea. This is Clear Heart Tea, a specialty of the Liangyi Sect. It calms the mind and neutralizes impurities in the body, making it especially suitable for us cultivators of the demonic path."
Song Wen took the cup, took a small sip, and savored it carefully. After a moment, he praised, "Excellent tea."
With that, Song Wen placed a Storage Ring before Le Liang.
"Hall Master, let's take care of business first. We can chat leisurely afterward. The pills are all here. Please inspect them."
"Very well."
Le Liang picked up the Storage Ring and began a thorough examination.
The ring was filled with jade bottles, each of which required individual inspection, a process that would take some time.
Song Wen sat quietly nearby, slowly sipping his tea.
After half an incense stick's worth of time, Le Liang finished inspecting all the jade bottles.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, the quantity and quality of the pills are all in order."
After putting away the Storage Ring, Le Liang continued, "If you hadn't come to hand over the pills today, I would have sought you out in a couple of days."
Song Wen looked curious. "Is the day of the transaction with the Cui Clan approaching?"
"Yes," Le Liang nodded. "When the time comes, I'll need to trouble Fellow Daoist Gou Jun to personally visit the Cui Clan."
"Me? Go to the Cui Clan?" Song Wen asked, puzzled. "Shouldn't such transactions be handled by the Hall of Foreign Affairs or Zhenbao Hall? Why would they send someone from our Alchemy Peak?"
Le Liang explained, "It's standard practice. Among the treasures traded with the Cui Clan are many Spirit Herbs and pills. A Pill Refiner is needed to carefully inspect them to prevent any deception."
"Ah, I see," Song Wen said.
Le Liang reassured him, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured. Hall Master Meng from Zhenbao Hall will also be present. You'll simply assist her."
"Hall Master Meng will be there too?" Song Wen asked.
A pre-arranged transaction requiring the presence of two Golden Core cultivators, including a Peak Golden Core cultivator and a Late Golden Core cultivator, surprised Song Wen.
Le Liang said, "This transaction involves numerous treasures. The pills we in the Alchemy Hall produce are only a small portion of the total. The sect naturally needs to be cautious. With Hall Master Meng personally leading the mission, accompanied by the Star Chariot Divine Ship, we can ensure a flawless journey."
"Hall Master, do you know what treasures are involved?" Song Wen asked with interest.
"I don't know the specifics. However, I suspect they're all Ghost Dao artifacts. Rumor has it that the Soul Refining Array in the Living Soul Cave hasn't stopped running for the past year, refining tens of millions of living souls."
"That many?" Song Wen's face showed a hint of surprise.
Le Liang said, "Recently, Sheep Island has been sending dozens of giant flying ships almost daily, continuously delivering two-legged sheep."
Song Wen asked, "What does the Cui Clan need so many living souls for?"
Le Liang's expression turned somber. "I fear it's related to the Human-Demon Conflict."
"Are the human and demon races about to reignite the flames of war?" Song Wen frowned slightly.
Le Liang said, "In my personal opinion, that's likely. Three days ago, Demon Sovereign Ye Hua summoned me and instructed the Alchemy Hall to accelerate the production of various grades of Healing Pills, Spirit Replenishing Pills, and Antidote Pills. Once you return from the Cui Clan, you'll need to start producing these pills as well."
"The Hall Master is absolutely right. Healing Pills, Spirit Replenishing Pills, and Antidote Pills are essential supplies for any major battle," Song Wen said, changing the subject. "I've been a disciple of the sect for a year now. I've even had the honor of meeting Demon Sovereign Ye Hua a few times. But why have I never seen Demon Lord Yin Shuo?"
Le Liang replied, "Demon Lord Yin Shuo entered seclusion ten years ago to cultivate and break through to Peak Nascent Soul. You naturally wouldn't have had the chance to meet him."
A look of respect filled Song Wen's face.
"If Demon Lord Yin Shuo truly achieves Peak Nascent Soul, the Wu Ji Sect's strength will grow even further. In the war against the Demon Race, the Human Race will gain a greater chance of victory. As a disciple of the Wu Ji Sect and a member of the Human Race, I sincerely pray that the Demon Lord succeeds in his breakthrough."
Le Liang said, "Gou Jun, I never would have guessed you'd take such a firm stance on the greater issues of the Human-Demon Conflict."
"Of course. The conflict between humans and demons is a battle for survival. Even though we are cultivators of the demonic path, we should still do our part," Song Wen declared with passionate conviction.
Seven days later.
Song Wen received a spiritual sense transmission from Meng Lengyu, instructing him to meet her at Zhenbao Peak to prepare for their journey to the Cui Clan.
When Song Wen arrived at Zhenbao Peak, a Giant Flying Ship was already hovering in the sky above the peak, awaiting them.
The ship was over twenty meters long, with a streamlined, shuttle-shaped design. Its hull was entirely black—the Star Chariot Divine Ship.
Meng Lengyu was already aboard the Star Chariot Divine Ship, along with ten Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.
Upon seeing Song Wen board, Meng Lengyu nodded slightly in greeting.
Then, she moved to the ship's bow, where a stone platform stood.
Meng Lengyu formed a magic seal with her hands and channeled it into the platform.
The platform immediately erupted in waves of azure light, which spread outward to form a protective barrier enveloping the entire ship.
The ship suddenly accelerated, hurtling southward at a speed comparable to that of an Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
The Star Chariot Divine Ship sliced through the vast expanse of the sea like a massive sword.
Song Wen was sitting cross-legged in a corner of the deck, eyes closed in meditation, when he suddenly received a spiritual sense transmission from Meng Lengyu.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, thank you for assisting Meng Cao a month ago."
Song Wen replied through spiritual sense, "Hall Master Meng is too kind. It was a simple matter. Besides, I should be thanking you for selling me the Bone-Melting Vine."
A month ago, a Golden Core elder from the Wu Ji Sect barged into the Alchemy Chamber where Meng Cao was staying and nearly beat him to death.
The reason? Meng Cao had slept with the elder's concubine.
Fortunately, Song Wen happened to be refining pills in the Alchemy Hall at the time. Upon receiving a report from a disciple, he rushed to the scene just in time to save Meng Cao's life.
Of course, the Golden Core elder, Liao Xin, knew Meng Cao was the son of Meng Lengyu and didn't strike a killing blow. Otherwise, even Song Wen's speed wouldn't have been enough to rescue him.
Seeing Song Wen appear and plead for Meng Cao's life, Liao Xin took the opportunity to back down, sparing the barely alive Meng Cao.
As for how Meng Lengyu compensated Liao Xin afterward to quell his anger and prevent him from pursuing further charges against Meng Cao, Song Wen didn't know.
Meng Lengyu turned her head, her gaze casually sweeping over Song Wen.
In the year since Song Wen had joined the Wu Ji Sect, he had already purchased ten feet of Bone-Melting Vine from her.
It could be said that Song Wen had spent his entire salary on this single item.
Meng Lengyu couldn't help but wonder what powerful cultivation technique Song Wen was practicing that warranted such a massive investment.
(End of the Chapter)
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