CHAPTER (06)

CHAPTER (06)

---

[Gu Family House ] 

[Sun City, Scorching Sun Dukedom]

---

Inside a secluded room filled with the heavy scent of incense and the sounds of indulgence, a young man was seeking pleasure.

Surrounded by women catering to his every whim, this young man was Gu Changsheng, heir of the Gu family and lover of pleasure.

At the same time, he was a cultivator in the late stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.

But...His true strength lay in his family background.

The Gu family boasted more than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators and three Soul Formation Realm cultivators, making it the second most dominant force in Sun City.

Currently, the young man was enthusiastically performing waist exercises, which are beneficial for gentlemen in their youth.

"Yes... Auueg... harder, Master... fuck me harder, Brother Gu!"

But his pleasurable activities were disturbed by a sudden knock.

Soon, a woman with a dark complexion and a formidable aura entered the room. Her presence was imbued with the power of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and she did not wait for permission to enter.

"Master Gu, something has happened," she announced, her voice steady despite the scene.

Gu Changsheng, annoyed, slapped the butt of the woman beneath him, driving her to cry out louder as he thrust harder. "Speak," he growled.

"The men you dispatched to capture Bai Jianer have vanished. Their soul lamps have been extinguished, leaving no trace." she reported.

Gu Changsheng's anger flared. He squeezed the woman's buttocks, digging his nails into them. "Who did this?"

"They were last seen with Su Liang, perhaps even Zhu Qing," the maid replied.

Ignoring the maid until she finished, Gu Changsheng let out a final, brutal thrust and released inside the woman, whose eyes were as black as if she had no personality of her own—a clear sign that she was being controlled. He then turned to the maid, eyes burning with fury.

"Kill Su Liang first, and abduct that bitch Bai Jianer...Wait, did you say Su Liang was with Zhu Qing?"

"Yes, Master. Many believe that Young Master Zhu Qing killed those men. Otherwise, who would dare commit such a crime?"

"If that's the case, then... you can leave."

The maid nodded and exited swiftly.

Gu Changsheng's mind raced with thoughts of revenge. He would not tolerate any challenge to his authority.

"It seems Brother Zhu has chosen to follow the same treacherous path as that damned Ye Tian. Hmph, so be it. I'll handle you personally."

He spoke after a while, then took another aphrodisiac pill and indulged with another woman.

---

[ Meanwhile ]

[Divine Alchemy Hall, Duke's Castle]

---

Zhu Qing stood before the towering gates of the Divine Alchemy Hall, the most revered structure within Duke Long's Castle.

This place was the private domain of the Duke, as mere strength alone did not make one an absolute overlord in the Taixuan world.

Factors such as force value, alchemists, tasliman masters, array masters, and refining masters were all crucial.

For soldiers in the lower cultivation realms, qi-gathering pills and blood dragon pills were indispensable.

If a person lost all their qi energy in the midst of battle and lacked alchemical support, their fate would be sealed—absolute death.

Thus, six hundred years ago, Duke Long had already established this house, and his monopoly over all the great alchemists in the dukedom was a key reason for his overwhelming power.

He even lavished great rewards upon these masters, which is why many independent alchemists came each year to serve as guest masters for the Duke.

In Zhu Qing's eyes, this was the Duke's wisest decision. For other houses seeking power, it was equally devastating.

Soon he stepped inside. The air was filled with the strong smell of rare herbs and powerful elixirs. Alchemists worked at their stations, focused and precise, while apprentices hurried around with various ingredients.

Zhu Qing walked through the bustling corridors, greeted by several familiar faces. The masters, aware of his recent loss and engagement, treated him with a mix of respect and empathy.

"I'm truly sorry about your father. Zhu Tian was a great man. But I'm glad to hear about your engagement to the Duke's daughter. It's something positive in these hard times," said Elder Tao.

Elder Zhang also approached, his voice firm yet compassionate.

"Zhu Qing, losing your father is a heavy blow. He was a rock for many of us. Don't worry; we'll handle those demons soon, and you'll be back at the Mystic Sew Region. And congratulations on your marriage. It's a bright spot amidst the sorrow."

Master He gave a small smile, his eyes filled with memories.

"Your father and I had some good times together. It's tough to think he's gone. But your marriage to the Duke's daughter is a good sign. Maybe it means better days ahead."

Zhu Qing spoke briefly with each elder, their words offering some comfort.

Hearing others praise his father made him smile a few times.

Still, his determination to become stronger only grew. He knew that only through strength could he bring justice.

Eventually, Zhu Qing reached the heart of the Grand Alchemy House, where Master Shao Hai resided.

Alchemy was an art that not everyone could master; it required not only a strong comprehension level but also elemental affinity, luck, and abundant resources.

The highest known ranked alchemist in the entire Heavenly Dao Continent was the Ninth-Grade Pill Emperor, each grade divided into Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tiers.

An alchemist's strength could be gauged by the purity of their pills, their success rate, and most importantly, their aptitude.

Master Shao Hai was a fourth-grade, platinum-tier alchemist, a rank that placed him among the elite.

In the entire dynasty, the only one who could surpass him was the fifth-grade, diamond-tier Imperial Alchemist residing in the capital.

"Haha! Second son-in-law, welcome to my humble Grand Alchemy House," Shao Hai greeted with a bright smile, his eyes full of warmth.

"Haha! News of your engagement to the Duke's daughter has spread across the castle like wildfire. Sadly, no one can ask for a banquet. Haha. Soon, you will be part of our family, for that, I congratulate you, Master Zhu."

Zhu Qing nodded, feeling there was something wrong with Shao Hai's words but still nodded his head while smiling.

"Thank you, Master Shao Hai. I have an urgent request. Actually, I need a fourth-grade, diamond-rank Soul-Seeker Pill."

Shao Hai's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had expected a more casual conversation, not such a direct demand. Feeling he might have offended the Duke's son-in-law somehow, he turned more serious and respectful.

"A Soul-Seeker Pill? That's a challenging request, son-in-law. The ingredients are incredibly rare, and the process is complex."

The Soul-Seeker Pill was infamous in the realm of alchemy, often used by spies and dark cultivators to track and control their targets. Shao Hai's curiosity was piqued, but he held back from questioning Zhu Qing's intentions.

"What ingredients does the Divine Alchemy Hall lack? I thought you were the only one capable of crafting this," Zhu Qing pressed.

Shao Hai's expression grew serious as he led Zhu Qing to a quieter part of the Grand Alchemy House.

"The Soul-Seeker Pill forms a spiritual link with the target's essence, allowing the user to track them across great distances. Crafting it requires a master's skill and ingredients that are nearly mythical in rarity."

Without wasting time, he gestured for Zhu Qing to sit on a sturdy wooden chair and continued,

"We need the Starfire Lotus Essence, Soulbinding Devil Crystal, Moonlit Dew of the Two-Leaf Dark Flower, Heart of the Golden Ape, and Fire Grass. Master Zhu, these are the ingredients we need."

Zhu Qing's brow furrowed slightly. "These ingredients are indeed rare."

Shao Hai nodded, his expression serious.

"The Starfire Lotus Essence is extremely rare. It is extracted from the Starfire Lotus, a flower that blooms only once every hundred years under the light of a comet."

"The Soulbinding Devil Crystal is crucial but equally rare. This crystal is infused with ancient soul-binding spells and is essential for tracking spiritual energy. Without it, the pill's effectiveness would be severely diminished."

"Unfortunately, it can only be obtained by killing a minion of the Mind Devil, and only a Demon Dao worshiper can accomplish that."

"The Moonlit Dew of the Two-Leaf Dark Flower is also hard to find because of the flower's rarity. The dew enhances the pill's tracking capabilities, allowing us to trace the target over great distances."

"Additionally, it is needed to counteract the poison of the Heart of the Golden Ape."

Shao Hai took a deep breath before elaborating,

"The Heart of the Golden Ape is vital for stabilizing the pill's magical properties. Finally, the Fire Grass is used to boost the pill's effectiveness and purify it."

Shao Hai sighed, his gaze turning somber as he poured the spiritual tea for Zhu Qing.

"However, I must confess, Master Zhu, that I currently lack these ingredients: the Starfire Lotus Essence, the Soulbinding Devil Crystal, and the Heart of the Golden Ape. These are extremely difficult to obtain."

Zhu Qing felt a pang of disappointment.

"Is there any way to acquire them? You have run this alchemy house for centuries and yet don't have ingredients stored for such times?"

Shao Hai stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"This pill that Master Zhu wants is taboo for alchemists; it is not orthodox. Thus, we didn't collect them. But I think the Duke's treasury may have the Soulbinding Crystal."

"As for the Starfire Lotus Essence and the Heart of the Golden Ape, they are scarce. You would need to search for them yourself. The Starfire Lotus can be found in the Volcano Forest Valley, and the Fire Grass is not that rare."

Zhu Qing's shoulders slumped slightly but he quickly regained his composure. The biggest concern for him was the Soulbinding Devil Crystal; the others were less concerning. The Soulbinding Crystal originated from possessed humans once controlled by the Mind Devil, who had died millennia ago. Now, these crystals were treasures in the Demon Dao.

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Master Shao Hai. I will do whatever it takes to obtain these ingredients."

He didn't want to give Ye Tian any chances.

From the memories he had, protagonists like Ye Tian only gained recognition from the heavens after enduring a period of darkness.

But currently, everything was going smoothly for Ye Tian.

Zhu Qing believed it wouldn't be difficult to counter him, as long as he acted swiftly and decisively.

With a determined look, Zhu Qing exited the Divine Alchemy Hall. As he was about to fly home, a familiar voice called out,

"Young Master!"

Zhu Qing spun around, his eyes widening in surprise. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he saw the man standing before him.

"Uncle Wang! You're alive?"

Wang Ling, a Soul Formation stage cultivator and Zhu Qing's father's loyal companion, stood before him.

Zhu Qing thought Uncle Wang had perished protecting his father during the cultist war.

But seeing him alive brought immense joy.

Wang Ling stepped forward, a warm smile on his face.

"Yes, Young Master. I have returned. Didn't Second Miss tell you? I arrived when you were breaking through and didn't want to disturb you."

Zhu Qing's mind raced, recalling the kiss with Long Yulan. She must have forgotten to mention Wang Ling's arrival in the heat of the moment.

"I see. It's great to have you back, Uncle Wang. With you here, I feel more confident."

Wang Ling's face turned somber, and he knelt on the ground, his voice filled with emotion.

"I failed to protect my friend. I do not want to repeat the same mistake with his son, Young Master. Zhu Tian was like a brother to me, and his death... I swear, I will not rest until I avenge him."

Wang Ling and Zhu Tian were junior and senior brothers in the same sect, enduring countless battles and tough times, sometimes even prosperous and happy. Their friendship was solid as rock.

A few days ago, when the Mystic Sea region was surrounded by Demon Dao cultivators, Zhu Tian urged Wang Ling to leave the city, but he stayed to protect it until his last breath.

They fought on different fronts; Zhu Tian died protecting the capital island from a Void Refining cultivator.

Though devastated, Wang Ling left the island, driven by Zhu Tian's last command to protect Zhu Qing. Despite his guilt for leaving his friend's remains with the enemy, he chose to protect what was left.

"Uncle Wang, my father's death was not your fault. He chose his path, and he knew the risks. What matters now is that we move forward and honor his memory."

Zhu Qing's throat tightened as he struggled to suppress the question gnawing at his heart.

Why had his father, a mighty cultivator, perished while so many weaker ones had survived?

It was a son's lament, even though Zhu Tian had willingly sacrificed himself for the greater good.

Tears filled Wang Ling's eyes as he looked up at Zhu Qing, who was like his own child to him.

"I swear, Young Master, I will protect you with my life... no, I will get stronger so that I can kill stronger enemies for you in the future."

Zhu Qing helped Wang Ling to his feet, his grip firm and reassuring.

"We will deal with that in the future. Now, stand up. I have something to ask."

After that, Wang Ling stood up, brushing off non-existent dust from his robe in embarrassment.

"Uncle Wang, I need your help. I'm trying to obtain the ingredients for a Soul-Seeker Pill. Do you have any ideas where we can get those?"

Wang Ling nodded, his resolve strengthening.

"Young Master, there is a grand auction house of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in Sun City. They hold it once every three years. Luckily, six days later, it will be held near the plaza."

"Many giants from the cultivation world are expected to come here, making it quite troublesome for safety. Though risky, if you need it, we must go."

"Indeed," Zhu Qing said, determination burning in his eyes.

"But I cannot rely on chance alone. I will speak with Long Yulan. See if she could ask for the Soulbinding Devil Crystal from her father."

As Zhu Qing was about to leave, Wang Ling's heart sank. Just when he was about to speak, Zhu Qing's voice cut through the silence.

"Uncle Wang, protect me well."

Hearing this, Wang Ling smiled enthusiastically and disappeared into the void.

---

To Be Continued...