Phoenix Tower was the largest and most luxurious restaurant in King Pan City. The people who came here were usually from prominent families. But now, the royal family of Pan County had spared no expense to book the entire Phoenix Tower as lodging for Qin Feiyang and his entourage.
「In the main hall!」
"I’m going to rest for a bit. If any of you want to go out, report to Elder Jia and Elder Lin first," Jiang Zhengyi instructed, before heading up to the second floor and entering a room.
「Over the past eight days,」
he had led everyone on a relentless journey. Even with his cultivation, he felt a degree of exhaustion.
Ling Yunfei asked, "Qingzhu, is your father always this domineering?"
"I don’t know," Lo Qingzhu shook her head. She didn’t seem to hold her rather imposing father in high regard.
Qin Feiyang glanced at Lo Qingzhu and smiled. "I’m going to freshen up. White-Eyed Wolf, come upstairs with me."
The Wolf King said, "Brother Wolf wants to go out for a stroll."
Zhao Shuang’er teased, "If you run out now, you’ll definitely be torn to pieces by the people here."
The Eldest Prince and the others cast gloating looks in its direction.
"Hmph, you think Brother Wolf is afraid of them?" The Wolf King was full of disdain.
Qin Feiyang said, "Enough talk. Are you coming with me, or going to the ancient castle? Your choice."
"You’re ruthless!" The Wolf King glared at him, then begrudgingly followed Qin Feiyang up to the second floor.
It really didn’t want to go to that ghastly place.
"After this long and dusty journey, I also need to wash up," Ling Yunfei said, then hurried after Qin Feiyang and the Wolf King.
Jia Hei watched the two men and the wolf depart. A cold glint flashed deep in his old eyes as he said to the Eldest Prince and the others, "It’s been a long and dusty journey. You should all go wash up as well."
"And what about those three?" The Eldest Prince pointed at Ho Jun and the other two.
Jia Hei said, "Elder Lin and I will stay and keep watch."
"Then we’ll be troubling you both." The Eldest Prince and the others clasped their hands with smiles, then went up to the second floor one by one, each entering a room.
Once everyone had entered their rooms, Jia Hei turned to Elder Lin and said meaningfully, "Brother Lin, this is a golden opportunity!"
"What opportunity?" Elder Lin’s eyes flashed, and he looked at Jia Hei in confusion.
Jia Hei smiled faintly. "We’re all discerning people here; why play dumb?"
"I truly don’t know what Elder Jia is referring to," Elder Lin said with a shake of his head and a smile.
Jia Hei said lightly, "It seems Brother Lin plans to swallow this grievance. If that’s the case, then pretend I never said anything."
Elder Lin smiled and lowered his head in silence, his gaze flickering restlessly.
「In the room.」
After freshening up and changing into clean clothes, Qin Feiyang brought Fatty and Lu Hong out from the ancient castle.
Fatty sidled up to the listless Wolf King and chuckled, "Brother Wolf, you even dare to threaten a War Emperor! You’re truly Master Fatty’s idol!"
The Wolf King bragged, "Of course! You should learn more from Brother Wolf in the future."
The man and wolf began their usual banter.
「Over here.」
As Lu Hong brewed tea, she asked, "Do you have any plans?"
Qin Feiyang replied, "The people of Pan County might know about the Potential Elixir, but they definitely don’t know its medicinal ingredients. You and Fatty go to the Treasure Pavilion right away and buy all of it you can."
Apart from Qin Feiyang, Fatty, and a few others, only Jiang Zhengyi and Chief Li knew the thirty-three medicinal ingredients for the Potential Elixir. Such an important pill formula was something neither Jiang Zhengyi nor Chief Li would ever leak.
"Why the rush?" Lu Hong was puzzled.
"I don’t want Jiang Zhengyi to beat me to it," Qin Feiyang said with a shake of his head and a smile.
"He’ll also try to buy the medicinal ingredients?" Lu Hong frowned.
"Definitely. He’s a businessman; he won’t miss this money-making opportunity."
"You two should disguise yourselves as well. After all, you’re both rather well-known now," Qin Feiyang said with a smile.
"I understand." Lu Hong nodded, then stood up and looked at Fatty, frowning. "Stop messing around. Get ready, we’re going to the Treasure Pavilion immediately."
"Alright!" Fatty agreed. He took out a Shape-shifting Pill, changed his appearance, then he and Lu Hong jumped out of the room’s window, one after the other.
Watching Fatty and Lu Hong leave, the Wolf King was extremely envious. It begged, "Xiao Qinzi, just let Brother Wolf go out for a stroll, please? Brother Wolf promises not to cause any trouble."
"Your promises are worthless." Qin Feiyang rolled his eyes at it and took out several hundred Top Grade Qi Gathering Pills. "Cultivate quickly. Try to break through another stage before the friendly competition begins. After that, I won’t care how wild you want to be."
The Wolf King’s spirits lifted. He said, "You must keep your word!"
Qin Feiyang nodded.
The Wolf King finally calmed down and lay before the Qi Gathering Pills, refining them one by one.
Qin Feiyang felt a wave of helplessness. This was the only way to get this fellow to settle down.
Just then, KNOCK, KNOCK! There was a knock on the door.
Qin Feiyang got up, opened the door, and his body tensed. He had thought it might be Ling Yunfei, Lo Qingzhu, or one of the others. Instead, it was a white-haired old man—one of Pan County’s four great figures.
"Greetings, Senior," Qin Feiyang cupped his fist in salute.
The white-haired old man chuckled. "Won’t you invite an old man like me in to sit for a while?"
"Please come in." Qin Feiyang stepped aside, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
The white-haired old man entered the room. When he saw the pile of Top Grade pills in front of the Wolf King, a brilliant light gleamed in his old eyes.
Qin Feiyang closed the door and smiled. "Senior, this way please."
The white-haired old man reluctantly tore his gaze away and followed Qin Feiyang into the tearoom.
"Please sit, Senior." Qin Feiyang gestured to a chair.
The old man sat down, leaning back in the chair, curiously observing Qin Feiyang.
Qin Feiyang remained silent, focusing on brewing the tea.
After a few moments, the old man asked, "Aren’t you curious about my identity?"
Qin Feiyang poured a cup of tea, slid it over to the old man, and said with a faint smile, "Throughout Pan County, the only people who would be so eager to find this junior are from the Elixir King Palace or the Treasure Pavilion."
The old man’s voice filled with interest. "Then tell me, am I the Hall Master of the Elixir King Palace, or the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion?"
Qin Feiyang smiled. "Senior, when you saw the Top Grade pills before the Wolf King, your eyes were assessing their value. That indicates you are the Grand Pavilion Master of Pan County’s Treasure Pavilion."
The white-haired old man was slightly stunned.
He saw through all that? Is this boy’s perception really that sharp?
He gave a thumbs-up and laughed heartily. "The name Qin Feiyang is truly well-deserved!"
Qin Feiyang smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Senior. Please, have some tea."
The old man picked up the teacup, took a shallow sip, then set it down. "In that case, can you guess why I’ve come to find you?" he asked.
"Senior, aren’t you deliberately making things difficult for this junior?" Qin Feiyang said with a wry smile.
The old man said, "If you guess correctly, I’ll leave immediately. If you can’t, you must promise me one thing. How about it?"
"In that case, it’s worth a guess." Qin Feiyang smiled and said without hesitation, "If this junior is not mistaken, Senior, you are here to inquire about the Potential Elixir, correct?"
"Uh!" The old man was taken aback.
Qin Feiyang smiled. "It seems this junior was fortunate enough to guess correctly."
Seeing Qin Feiyang’s confident smile, the white-haired old man couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
This boy must have discerned my purpose the moment he saw me. To think that I, the Grand Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion, was outmaneuvered by a mere boy. What now? I can’t go back on my word, can I?
Qin Feiyang said, "To be honest with you, Senior, Master Jiang also knows the medicinal ingredients for the Potential Elixir. Why don’t you ask him? After all, you are old friends. Perhaps he will tell you."
"Him?" The white-haired old man raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "I’d rather not try to curry favor with him only to be rebuffed. Little Brother, if you’re willing to tell me, I’ll give you a complimentary batch of medicinal ingredients."
Just one batch?
Qin Feiyang sneered inwardly.
Is he trying to dismiss me like a beggar? One batch won’t satisfy me. What I want are all the Potential Elixir’s medicinal ingredients in Pan County’s Treasure Pavilion.
He cupped his hands and said with an unperturbed smile, "Senior, anything else is negotiable, but on this matter, I ask for your understanding."
"If that’s not enough, Little Brother, I can also give you the medicinal ingredients for several Vermilion Glazed Pills," the old man said.
"I truly cannot, Senior," Qin Feiyang shook his head.
"SIGH!" The white-haired old man sighed deeply, then forced a smile. "In that case, I won’t disturb you further." His smile was strained; he was clearly unwilling to give up.
If Jiang Zhengyi weren’t here, he might have resorted to threats and inducements.
Qin Feiyang said, "I won’t see you out, Senior."
The old man had just risen to his feet when he added, "Oh, by the way, there’s something I’d like to ask your help with, Little Brother."
Qin Feiyang said, "Please speak freely, Senior."
The old man said, "I would like to trouble Little Brother to help refine some Top Grade Vermilion Glazed Pills."
"I’m afraid I can’t do that," Qin Feiyang shook his head.
"I heard from Qianxue that when you helped the major factions in Yan City with alchemy, it was always a fifty-fifty split of the finished pills. I’ll offer you the same fifty-fifty split. How about it?" the old man asked, unwilling to give up.
"No."
"The friendly competition between our two regions is about to begin."
"If I help you refine Top Grade Vermilion Glazed Pills now, it would be tantamount to helping Pan County increase its strength."
"That would be very disadvantageous for Yan Province."
"As a member of Yan Province, I cannot allow personal interests to place Yan Province at risk."
"Therefore, Senior, please don’t make things difficult for this junior," Qin Feiyang said, cupping his hands.
The old man was extremely frustrated.
How can this boy see things so clearly?
His true intention in refining Top Grade Vermilion Glazed Pills was indeed for this friendly competition. Because, once the participants consumed the Top Grade Vermilion Glazed Pills, their cultivation levels would soar. Then, Pan County would surely defeat Yan Province. He had thought that with such an enticing offer, Qin Feiyang would agree without a second thought. He never expected to be rejected again.
He frowned and said, "I truly don’t understand. Why would you forsake wealth for the sake of Yan Province?"
"Because I must repay a debt of gratitude," Qin Feiyang said with a faint smile.
"Repay a debt of gratitude?" The old man’s frown deepened.
"When I was in peril, it was Yan Province’s Martial King Palace that stepped forward unhesitatingly to ensure my safety. Naturally, I cannot disappoint them," Qin Feiyang explained with a smile.
One must not repay kindness with malice.
"I understand now. My apologies for disturbing you." The old man smiled, no longer pressing the issue. He turned, walked to the door, opened it, and came face to face with Jiang Zhengyi.
"Your Yan Province is truly lucky to have such a loyal and righteous young man," the white-haired old man said coldly to Jiang Zhengyi. "But if you lose this competition, Qin Feiyang will then belong to our Pan County!" He then strode off.
Jiang Zhengyi murmured, "The competition hasn’t even begun. Who can predict the outcome?" He then walked into the room and said with a smile, "I heard your conversation with Old Man Kong. I wasn’t mistaken about you, young man. You’re quite impressive. No wonder Qianxue is so fond of you."
Qin Feiyang felt a little awkward.
If Jiang Zhengyi knew that I’d already sent Fatty and Lu Hong to the Treasure Pavilion to buy up the medicinal ingredients ahead of him, he’d probably fly into a rage on the spot.

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