Shortly after, under the guidance of a maid, a man clad in a white martial robe, with a broad face and a long beard, entered the alchemy room.
Seeing Helian Xiong's warrior-like appearance and slightly rugged aura, Geng Wen's brows furrowed slightly, revealing a trace of displeasure. However, considering the other party's Qi Refinement Eighth Layer cultivation, he quickly suppressed his dissatisfaction and did not show it on his face.
"What brings Daoist Helian here to visit me? Are you looking for some pills?" Geng Wen smiled as he stroked his beard. Most strangers who sought him out were usually there to request elixirs.
"I am not here to ask for pills." Helian Xiong shook his head, cutting straight to the point before Geng Wen could ask further. "I've heard that you and Wei Tu have some unresolved disputes. Wei Tu is an old acquaintance of mine, and I am willing to act as a mediator for both sides. I wonder if Daoist Geng would be willing to settle this matter peacefully?"
The moment he heard this, Geng Wen's smile immediately vanished, and his face darkened. Wei Tu? This familiar name stirred his suppressed irritation, and a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
With his experience, how could he not understand Helian Xiong's underlying meaning? The man was not just here to negotiate peace—he was issuing a blatant warning. This was a direct threat.
Narrowing his eyes, Geng Wen cast a glance at Chu Yin beside him, transmitting his thoughts via spiritual voice transmission, asking her to explain Helian Xiong's connection with Wei Tu.
Chu Yin swiftly relayed everything she knew about the relationships between Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou, and Helian Xiong.
A few breaths later, after digesting the information, Geng Wen's mind became clear. He casually waved his feathered fan, chuckled, and said, "Daoist Helian, to offend me, a pill master, for the sake of a mere First Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master—is that not a bit unwise?"
Among the four great branches of cultivation—alchemy, artifacts, talismans, and formations—alchemists held a higher status than the other three. Even among cultivators of the same rank, alchemists were granted more respect by the world.
Furthermore, Geng Wen was not just a mere alchemist; he was a First Rank Mid-Grade Pill Master, whereas Wei Tu was only a First Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master—the difference in status between them was clear as day.
At this moment, Geng Wen firmly believed that Helian Xiong's true reason for visiting his cave dwelling was not to stand up for Wei Tu but rather to use this as an excuse to extort benefits from him.
After all, who in their right mind would offend him, a high-ranking Qi Refinement Ninth Layer pill master, just for the sake of a casual acquaintance?
Seeing that Helian Xiong remained silent, Geng Wen became even more convinced of his assumption. He pretended to hesitate briefly before finally saying, "Daoist Helian, if you have any needs, feel free to speak. As long as the price is fair, you may pick any pill you desire from my collection."
However, contrary to his expectations, Helian Xiong did not respond immediately. Instead, the man's brows furrowed slightly, deep in thought.
A few moments later, Helian Xiong finally spoke. "I have long heard that alchemists are prideful. Today, I see that the rumors are true." His voice was laced with a cold sneer, his words blunt and unrestrained.
"What do you mean by that, Daoist Helian?" Geng Wen's expression darkened further, his tone now carrying a warning.
"You would do well to remember—disaster often stems from one's own words."
His voice grew colder, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Within Danqiu Mountain, thanks to his alchemical skills, his status was second only to the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and a few disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect.
He was a figure of significant influence.
Furthermore, he was the second disciple of Second Rank Alchemist Shu, and this title alone was enough to make even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators show him respect.
Yet, before Geng Wen could say more, Helian Xiong let out a cold snort. Without saying another word, he retrieved a medallion from his robes and slammed it onto the table.
On the surface of the medallion were three large engraved words: "Blade-for-Hire".
"In addition to hunting demonic beasts in the Demon Wolf Mountain Range, we Blade-for-Hire cultivators also take on missions from the market." Helian Xiong's lips curled into a faint smile. "If I recall correctly, there happens to be a bounty for capturing rogue cultivators within the market."
Then, he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
"Daoist Geng, do you truly believe that no one has noticed the things you've been doing in secret?"
For the sake of Wei Tu alone, he naturally would not go as far as provoking a Qi Refinement Ninth Layer Pill Master.
After all, offending a pill master was easy, but dealing with their connections was another matter altogether.
However, if he had solid proof of Geng Wen's crimes, then the situation was different.
Helian Xiong was certain that Geng Wen would choose to swallow his pride and let this matter slide.
After all, conflict did not always have to end in bloodshed—compromise was often the smarter path.
Going against him now would come at a price that Geng Wen could not afford.
Silence hung heavy in the air.
Geng Wen's expression turned grim. It took him several moments before he finally uttered through gritted teeth, "Daoist Helian, it seems you've done your homework."
"However, Daoist Helian… are you truly willing to oppose me for the sake of a mere First Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master?"
Seeing that his threats were ineffective, Geng Wen hesitated for a moment before once again attempting to sway Helian Xiong. He truly couldn't understand why Helian Xiong would make such an unwise decision—there was no benefit to be gained from this.
Hearing the same argument again, Helian Xiong shook his head and glanced at the aging Geng Wen, a hint of disdain flickering in his eyes.
"Daoist Geng, do you even know how old you are?"
"If you don't, you might as well ask the lady beside you."
With that, Helian Xiong didn't linger. He flicked his sleeve and strode out of the alchemy chamber, leaving Geng Wen's cave dwelling without another word.
"Age…?"
Inside the alchemy chamber, Geng Wen was momentarily stunned upon hearing those words, but his expression quickly darkened.
At this moment, he finally understood why Helian Xiong was willing to protect Wei Tu, even at the risk of offending him.
Because he was old.
He had no potential left.
If he failed to break through soon, then for the remaining forty years of his life, his rank as a First Rank Mid-Grade Pill Master would be permanently sealed.
On the other hand, Wei Tu—though currently only a First Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master—had plenty of time. In the years to come, he could very well reach First Rank High-Grade by the time he was Geng Wen's age.
"Never underestimate the elderly, but never look down on the young and poor. Good! Good! Very good! Helian Xiong, you actually dare to trample over me like this!"
Geng Wen was so furious that he burst into laughter.
He had always thought of that old saying as nothing more than a meaningless proverb. Yet, to his surprise, it had now come to pass in his own life.
"Shall I contact Blood Demon Elder to eliminate Helian Xiong?" Chu Yin asked softly, stepping forward as she noticed Geng Wen's rising anger.
The Blood Demon Elder she mentioned was a Qi Refinement Completion expert, renowned for having slain three late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators at once.
Unlike Zhuo Yan and Ying Bing, however, Blood Demon Elder was not just a hired hand—he and Geng Wen had a longstanding cooperative relationship.
"No need."
"For now, the priority is still to pressure Gong Shulan and force her to hand over the Foundation Establishment Spirit Item of the Gong family."
Geng Wen waved his hand dismissively.
Hiring Blood Demon Elder to take action came at a steep price, one he wasn't willing to pay just for the sake of personal revenge.
"Ever since that useless Wang died, she has been struggling to get by. If we push a little harder… she'll have no choice but to give it up."
"With that Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, I can partner with others to refine Foundation Establishment Pills."
"Once I achieve Foundation Establishment, I will personally settle this debt."
Geng Wen's voice was calm and steady.
In his mind, he was already picturing himself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, standing triumphantly before Helian Xiong.
After all, Foundation Establishment extended one's lifespan by another two hundred years.
By then, he would regain his youthful appearance and vitality.
At that time…
Who would be the old man? Who would be the promising youth? That would be the real question.
——
Helian Xiong was not the type to keep his achievements in the dark.
After leaving Geng Wen's cave, he immediately went to Yunque Street and told Wei Tu about how he had forced Geng Wen to back down.
"Wei Tu… I must thank Daoist Helian for lending me his support this time…"
"If Daoist Helian ever has any need for talismans in the future, feel free to come to me."
Wei Tu spoke hesitantly.
Although Fu Zhizhou had warned him in advance that Helian Xiong would offer him protection, he hadn't expected Helian Xiong to take such direct action by confronting Geng Wen himself.
At this moment, he couldn't help but suspect—was Fu Zhizhou's killing of Ying Bing orchestrated by Helian Xiong in the shadows?
Was it all a setup to make him owe a massive favor?
If not for Ying Bing's interference, Geng Wen might never have even set his sights on him again.
Thinking of this, Wei Tu lowered his head slightly. He decided that as soon as Helian Xiong left, he would add Helian Xiong's name to his ledger—so he would always remain wary.
Helian Xiong was not the reckless type.
If he had made such a move, it must have been calculated.
And if it was a calculated move, yet he hadn't discussed it with Wei Tu beforehand, then it was highly suspicious.
—He must have an ulterior motive, and likely a significant one.
"Wei Tu, since you put it that way, I'll be direct." Helian Xiong grinned. "I noticed that your Rock Shield Talismans seem to be stronger than those made by most talisman masters. Do you happen to have any Superior Rock Shield Talismans in stock?"
"If not those, any other superior-grade talismans will do. I'm willing to buy a few."
"Superior Rock Shield Talismans?" Wei Tu frowned slightly. "I do have two, but those are usually reserved for my own protection…"
"However, if it's for you, Daoist Helian…"
Wei Tu pondered for a moment before saying, "I wouldn't be opposed to letting you have them."
"I'll pay the full market price." Helian Xiong's brows twitched, internally confirming his suspicions.
"Seven-tenths of the price will suffice."
Wei Tu smiled slightly, retrieving two Superior Rock Shield Talismans from his sleeve and placing them on the table.
Over the past seven years, his Rock Shield Talisman proficiency had progressed to the Great Accomplishment stage. In a few more years, he would reach Perfection.
Thus, although he didn't have many superior-grade talismans, he still had about five or six.
This was the first time he had ever revealed his true skill in Talisman Dao to an outsider.
"Daoist Wei, you are truly generous!" Helian Xiong grinned and took out a brocade box from his robe, placing it on the table as well.
Wei Tu opened the brocade box and saw four translucent jade stones with a faint blue hue.
"Mid-grade spirit stones?"
Wei Tu was surprised.
A single mid-grade spirit stone was worth at least ten low-grade spirit stones.
A superior Rock Shield Talisman was equivalent in effectiveness to a First Rank Mid-Grade Talisman, and they were priced similarly—usually around twenty spirit stones per piece.
In other words, even with the thirty percent discount, selling these two superior Rock Shield Talismans to Helian Xiong should have earned him at most thirty spirit stones.
Helian Xiong had overpaid.
"The extra spirit stones—just keep them on account, Daoist Wei. In the future, when I buy more talismans, you can deduct the difference then."
Helian Xiong waved his hand, speaking with a generous tone.
Hearing this, some of Wei Tu's reservations about Helian Xiong faded.
—Helian Xiong might have his own motives, but that would be a problem for the future. As long as I stay cautious, there's no harm in dealing with him now.
At least for the time being, their relationship seemed amicable, and Wei Tu didn't feel uncomfortable interacting with him.
Two days later, Helian Xiong officially moved into Yunque Street.
To show his welcome, Wei Tu hosted a meal at Jingyun Pavilion, treating both Helian Xiong and Fu Zhizhou to celebrate Helian Xiong's new residence.
With this, life returned to normal.
Half a year later.
Wei Tu stepped out of his room just as Tong Peipei emerged from hers, the two of them meeting in the courtyard.
Tong Peipei was the first to speak.
"Daoist Wei, I heard that you have some connections with the Qiyue Zhao Clan… Would you be willing to introduce me? I'd like to do some business with them as well."
Wei Tu was momentarily stunned, wondering if Tong Peipei was trying to follow in Alchemist Wang's footsteps—only to end up like him, severely injured by Zhao Qingluo's casual flick of a sleeve.
So, out of kindness, he reminded her, "The Qiyue Zhao Clan only purchases First Rank Talismans."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Tong Peipei's expression turned indignant and embarrassed.
"Daoist Wei, don't look down on me. My talent in Talisman Dao may not be as good as yours, but I became a First Rank Talisman Master two years ago."
Wei Tu blinked.
I didn't know that.
To be fair, he rarely interacted with Tong Peipei, and their relationship was little more than nodding acquaintances.
"Very well. If the Qiyue Zhao Clan visits again, I'll let you know."
Wei Tu agreed.
The Zhao Clan always made bulk purchases, so even if Tong Peipei joined in, it wouldn't affect his business in the slightest.
Hearing Wei Tu's answer, Tong Peipei's face lit up with joy. She then said, "In a few months, news of the war between the Feng Dynasty and the Zheng Kingdom will probably reach Danqiu Mountain. Daoist Wei, you'd best start preparing—stock up on talismans while you still can. There will be high demand for them soon."
"What?"
"Those two mortal empires are going to war?"
Wei Tu was shocked.
As far as he knew, the two had been at a stalemate for nearly twenty years, never escalating beyond small-scale skirmishes.
"I heard from some traveling Daoists that the Zheng Kingdom's imperial court has been gathering vast amounts of grain in recent months…"
"As the saying goes, 'Troops move after provisions are secured.'"
"It's practically guaranteed that these two nations will go to war."
Tong Peipei said smugly.
"Daoist Tong, your foresight is truly impressive."
Wei Tu praised her.
Some can see the fall just by looking at a single leaf.
Some can recognize a leopard from just a glimpse of its spots.
With the Zheng Kingdom hoarding grain, there's little doubt that they're preparing for war. And with two powerful factions clashing, the Qiyue Zhao Clan will likely return to Danqiu Mountain for another large-scale purchase of talismans.
But why would they suddenly change their battle strategy?
Back in his room, Wei Tu frowned.
Logically, the two immortal clans should settle their dispute first before deciding the fate of the mortal kingdoms.
After all, as long as the Zhao Clan and the Chisong Jia Clan hadn't determined a winner, any victory or defeat among mortals was meaningless.
"Could there be some unknown factor influencing their decision?"
Wei Tu shook his head and stopped overthinking it.
Sometimes, things that seemed illogical weren't actually so—it was simply a matter of not having enough information to understand them yet.
Tong Peipei's prediction turned out to be accurate.
Three months later.
Once again, Zhao Qingluo—wearing her signature white dress—walked into Yunque Street's courtyard.
"Superior Rock Shield Talismans?"
Seeing the superior-quality talismans that Wei Tu had laid out, Zhao Qingluo's brows lifted slightly. Her gaze toward him held a trace of appreciation.
To be able to produce superior-quality talismans at his age, even if they were only First Rank Low-Grade, was a rare talent in Talisman Dao.
"What level is your cultivation at now?"
After a brief moment of thought, Zhao Qingluo looked at Wei Tu and asked bluntly.
To see through another cultivator's realm, one's spiritual sense had to be at least an entire major realm above them.
With her current level of divine sense, she could only vaguely sense that Wei Tu was at mid-stage Qi Refinement.
Why is she asking about my cultivation?
Wei Tu was puzzled but still answered honestly.
"Qi Refinement Fourth Layer."
"Qi Refinement Fourth Layer?"
Zhao Qingluo's expression changed slightly.
"Why is your cultivation so terrible? The spirit stones I gave you should have been enough to raise your realm by at least several levels!"
She was genuinely shocked.
She clearly remembered that even years ago, Wei Tu was already at Qi Refinement Fourth Layer.