Chapter 2 : The Zhou Family's Medicine Storehouse

The pharmacy, as one of the important locations in the Zhou family, covers a vast area with pavilions and towers surrounded by flowers and plants, creating a pleasant environment with a faint fragrance lingering in the air.

Compared to the martial arts arena, there are far fewer people in the pharmacy. Upon entering the pharmacy's gate, Zhou Tong immediately smelled the medicinal fragrance, invigorating his spirit.

Behind the counter in the pharmacy, there was only one person organizing account books. Zhou Tong approached the counter, knocked lightly, and said slowly, "I've come to collect the spirit medicine for reaching the Heaven Element Realm."

Just as the person behind the counter was about to respond, a steady voice suddenly sounded from behind Zhou Tong.

"Why are you here today?" Zhou Tong turned around and saw a middle-aged man walking in. He appeared to be around forty, with a hint of sharpness between his eyebrows and a wise light in his eyes, giving off an unpredictable feeling.

"Uncle, why are you here today?" Zhou Tong greeted the middle-aged man respectfully.

"Here to pick up something. I heard you broke through to the Heaven Element Realm. How does it feel?" Zhou Xuanfei smiled and spoke, placing his hand on Zhou Tong's shoulder, channeling his elemental energy to examine him.

After a few moments, Zhou Xuanfei withdrew his arm and said with satisfaction, "Not bad. The elemental energy fluctuations are so stable right after breaking through to the Heaven Element Realm. Much stronger than that brat Zhou Xuanfei, who does nothing productive all day and plays with a broken sword."

"But didn't you find him a sword technique?" Zhou Tong said with a smile.

"If it weren't for fear that he would embarrass himself in this family competition, I wouldn't bother with him." Zhou Xuanfei shook his head and sighed, "Let's not talk about him. The reason you're here is for the spirit medicine, right? Now that your cultivation is stable, it's better to find some other spirit medicine for you. Let me think."

"Thank you, Uncle." Zhou Tong said excitedly.

After a while, Zhou Xuanfei raised his eyebrows, walked to the counter, and said, "Spirit medicine '丙' twenty-nine, get one for me."

The person behind the counter showed a troubled expression and said, "Master Xuanfei, I can make decisions about other spirit medicines, but this numbered spirit medicine, this..."

In the Zhou family's pharmacy, spirit medicines are classified into four grades: 甲 (first), 乙 (second), 丙 (third), and 丁 (fourth). Normally, the family members use spirit medicines of the fourth grade or below. The best ones are usually of the 丁 grade. Zhou Xuanfei's request posed a challenge for the pharmacy staff.

Zhou Xuanfei heard this and furrowed his brows. He was about to say something when a calm voice came from behind Zhou Tong.

"No need to worry. I'll take him to get it." The curtain behind the door lifted, revealing a plump figure. Surprisingly, it was Zhou Wei, the manager of the pharmacy.

Seeing Zhou Wei, Zhou Xuanfei said with a smile, "Why do you have time to stay in the storeroom today? Usually, at this time, you're lying in the courtyard drinking."

"Where did you hear such nonsense? I am diligent in my duties; how could I be that kind of person?" Zhou Wei responded with a smile.

"Zhou Tong, the young master, is truly extraordinary to break through to the Heaven Element Realm at such a young age. Today, I'll make the decision. The spirit medicine labeled '丙' twenty-nine, I'll give it to Young Master Zhou Tong," Zhou Wei said.

Zhou Tong now noticed that Zhou Wei held a wooden box in his hand. The box was dark green, engraved with strange patterns, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

"Thank you, Manager Zhou." Zhou Tong took the wooden box from Zhou Wei.

"Thank you, Uncle." Zhou Tong said to Zhou Xuanfei.

"Don't mention the matter of the spirit medicine to others, especially that brat Zhou Xuanfei. Otherwise, he'll come to bother me every day," Zhou Xuanfei said with a helpless smile.

Zhou Tong nodded in agreement and, after bowing to Zhou Xuanfei, turned to leave.

"Take care." Zhou Wei smiled from behind.

Watching Zhou Tong's disappearing figure, Zhou Wei put away his smile, turned to Zhou Xuanfei, and asked, "By the way, why did this busy person come here today?"

"甲字十一号, two portions," Zhou Xuanfei took out a token from his spatial bag and tossed it to Zhou Wei.

Taking the token, Zhou Wei's expression became serious. "Is Zhou Hong's injury not healed yet?"

Zhou Tong's father, Zhou Yan, had three sons. The eldest son, Zhou Xuanfei, the second son, Zhou Hong, the third son, Zhou Yan.

"Not yet. Continue using this medicine. We've tried many spirit medicines, and this is the only one that has any effect," Zhou Xuanfei said helplessly.

Zhou Wei held the token in his hand and led Zhou Xuanfei to the back of the pharmacy. This area seemed unrestricted by external space, vast and enormous. As they walked among the shelves, Zhou Wei said to Zhou Xuanfei, "Hasn't it been investigated yet? Who was behind it at that time?"

"No, Father also tried, but no clues were found," Zhou Xuanfei replied.

"The clan leader also took action?" Zhou Wei's face showed surprise. "That's not right. With the clan leader's strength, it's impossible not to find any clues. If the person who injured Zhou Hong had a higher strength than the clan leader, Zhou Hong would not have been able to come back alive."

Two years ago, when Zhou Hong went out, he returned a month later than planned, covered in injuries, and his strength had fallen to the fifth stage of the Nirvana Realm. To this day, his strength has shown no signs of improvement.

Moreover, after the clan leader's examination, it was revealed that Zhou Hong's injuries were caused by some special means. The elemental energy in his body was sealed, and his cultivation was stagnant. Unless the internal issues were resolved, he would have no hope of advancing to the sixth stage of the Nirvana Realm. Even the clan leader, who sought the help of a celestial symbol master, couldn't find any clues. This matter has remained a mystery.

"It's also my doubt." Zhou Xuanfei frowned and said, "When my father went to the location where the second brother had an accident, he found traces of someone taking action, but there was nothing else besides that. This has become an unsolved case. Now it seems that this matter is likely aimed at the Zhou family."

"Big trees attract the wind," Zhou Wei said. Then he changed the subject, "What do you think of Zhou Tong?"

"Which aspect are you asking about?" Zhou Xuanfei questioned.

"Regarding that matter, is it possible for him?" Zhou Wei

 inquired.

"It's hard to say. With his current talent, breaking through to the Heaven Element Realm before the age of fifteen is a rare occurrence in the Zhou family's hundred years. But the Zhou family has also produced talents in the past thousand years. That matter is not determined solely by talent. Even with our father's high talent back then, he didn't succeed."

At this moment, the two arrived at a cabinet. Zhou Wei placed the token on the cabinet labeled 甲字十一号, and the cabinet door opened, revealing a jade box.

Taking the jade box, Zhou Wei tossed it to Zhou Xuanfei, who waved his hand without saying anything more and left.

...

Zhou Tong returned to his room, refreshed himself, and then sat cross-legged, adjusting his body.

Although he had just broken through to the Heaven Element Realm, his cultivation was already stable, but he still needed some adjustments.

"Five-grade Yang Gang Qi, not bad, but it's a bit low. It's said that when Zhou Xi broke through, it was at the sixth grade. I wonder what realm he has reached after this half-year."

Thinking of this, Zhou Tong looked at the wooden box on the table. He still had one more thing to do.

Stretching out his hand, Zhou Tong opened the wooden box. Instantly, a red light emanated from the box, and a rich medicinal fragrance filled the room.

"This... this is a fifth-grade spirit medicine, Yang Yuan Fruit!" Seeing the spirit medicine in the wooden box, Zhou Tong exclaimed, his eyes instantly becoming fiery.