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âIâll be able to reach the realm above the Origin King Realm by taking this pill?â Yan Qingâs throat felt dry, as he hadnât come across such a thing for years.
He Yun Xiang replied, âTo be precise, youâll have a chance. The pill is just an auxiliary, your own foundation is still the critical element.â
What she didnât tell him was that one indeed would stand a chance to reach a realm above the Origin King Realm by taking this pill, but the prerequisite was that one took enough of them over a long period of time. Just one Source Condensing Pill wouldnât help much.
It took a very long time for an Origin King Realm Master to transform their Saint Qi into Source Qi.
âHow would I know if what youâve said is true?â Yan Qing frowned. He was an old fox who had gone through the vicissitudes of life. After the initial shock, he had pulled himself together and started having doubts. [If this Source Condensing Pill is so powerful, why doesnât this woman take it herself? Why has she chosen to entice me with it? Isnât she afraid that Iâll take it from her by force?]
âI need something from the Yan Family, so it doesnât benefit me one bit to lie to you,â He Yun Xiang said solemnly.
Yan Qing shook his head, âI wonât simply believe you for what youâve said. If thatâs the case, I want to examine this pill first.â
In response, He Yun Xiang smiled at him, âSure.â
A beam of white light flashed across everyoneâs eyes as Yan Qing took the Source Condensing Pill in his hand, but he still couldnât believe it. [Whatâs wrong with this woman? Since this pill is so precious, why did she pass it to me so easily?]
âMadam, arenât you afraid that I might seize this pill?â he asked.
âWill you?â He Yun Xiang questioned in shock, as though she was an inexperienced girl while thinking to herself, [Youâll have to be powerful enough if you want to seize it!]
âNo.â Yan Qing shook his head. Everyone in this world did everything for their own interests. When faced with such a huge benefit, they would do anything to grab it. However, he didnât understand why this woman was so confident and wondered if she was suffering from some mental illness.
With a smile, He Yun Xiang replied, âIs this pill good enough to be traded for the way to enter the Ancestral Domain?â
Yan Qing let out a breath, âYes, but the prerequisite is that this pill is truly as good as youâve described it to be. Wait a moment. Iâll get someone to examine it.â
âPlease.â He Yun Xiang waved her hand gently.
Since this was an important matter, Yan Qing wouldnât dare to dawdle. He immediately turned around and disappeared into the inner hall.
He Yun Xiang turned to look at Yang Kai and spoke to him using her Divine Sense, âThe fish has taken the bait.â
With a calm expression, Yang Kai nodded.
He Yun Xiang went on to ask, âSir, given your power, you could just force the Yan Family members to hand over the method to reach the Ancestral Domain to you. Why do you have to do all of this?â
The Source Condensing Pill was just bait, and they were now in the Yan Familyâs base. An outsider with an unknown background was basically inviting the Yan Family members to snatch such a pill from her by taking it out. Since they were bound to suppress the Yan Family with their power anyways, she reckoned that they should just make a move straight away, thereby saving them some trouble.
That was how the Fierce Gale Pirates would do it. They would just snatch whatever they had their eye on. As the Head Manager of that pirate group, He Yun Xiang was a firm believer in that approach.
Yang Kai replied, âI have my own considerations.â
In fact, he just felt embarrassed to take action, using his strength to bully and oppress the weak. Given his Emperor Realm cultivation, him using force here would be akin to a full grown man snatching candy from a bunch of toddlers. Nevertheless, if they were naughty children, he wouldnât mind disciplining them.
In a secret room on the top of the twin summit, the Yan Familyâs Patriarch, Yan Luo, was studying the Source Condensing Pill as his expression changed repeatedly. Meanwhile, Yan Qing was standing to the side as he kept licking his dry lips.
Moments later, he asked, âPatriarch, is this pill really so magical?â
Yan Luo gave it a thought and shook his head, âIâm not sure. Letâs wait for the Grandmasters to come over.â
Even the Patriarch couldnât be sure about it. Yan Qing was surprised rather than shocked, as he thought, [This Source Condensing Pill is indeed something precious.]
A moment later, some people streamed into the room. Regardless of their cultivations, they all exuded the aromatic smell of pills. Apparently, they were the people who had spent most of their time with herbs and Spirit Pills. They were Alchemists.
In particular, these people in the room were Yan Familyâs top Alchemists who were all Origin King Rank.
After they entered the secret room and greeted Yan Luo and Yan Qing, an old man in a robe at the front said, âPatriarch, why did you summon all of us to this place suddenly?â
âPlease take a look at this pill.â Yan Luo passed the pill to him.
After the robed old man took the pill, the others shifted their attention to it as well. In an instant, they no longer appeared nonchalant as they widened their eyes and exclaimed, âWhat!?â
âWhat kind of Spirit pill is this?â
âLet me take a look.â
âDonât snatch it!â
All these prestigious Alchemy Grandmasters completely lost their noble bearings in an instant, as though they were all bumpkins who had never seen the city before. All of their eyes were brimming with shock.
Moments later, the agitated robed old man stared at Yan Luo and asked, âPatriarch, how did you get this Spirit pill?â
âCan you make out what grade this pill is?â Yan Luo asked him a question instead of replying to him.
âI canât, but I can guarantee that no one among us can produce this kind of Spirit Pill.â
The other Alchemists nodded in agreement. This Spirit Pill was beyond their knowledge and comprehension. They couldnât even ascertain the ingredients that were used, let alone produce it.
The answer was pretty obvious now. Even Third-Order Origin Kings and Origin King Rank Alchemists couldnât verify this Source Condensing Pill that had appeared out of nowhere. The only possibility was that this pill was indeed above the Origin King Grade.
Just when the robed old man wanted to ask something, Yan Luo waved his hand, âAll of you may leave now.â
Although the Alchemy Grandmasters were reluctant to go, they wouldnât dare to disobey him. After bowing, they turned around and left. Before leaving the room, they still looked longingly at the pill.
After they were gone, Yan Luo uttered dispassionately, âYou said the woman called He Yun Xiang simply gave this pill to you?â
âYes.â
âIt seems that she has more than one pill.â Yan Luo started laughing all of a sudden.
Seeing that, Yan Qing immediately understood what the Patriarch was up to. Certainly, that idea had crossed his mind as well. Both of them basically shared the same thought. Hesitantly, he questioned, âSince sheâs able to casually take out such a pill, she surely isnât someone who can be oppressed easily. What if thereâs someone powerful behind her?â
âItâs not possible. Also, donât forget where we are.â Yan Luo shot him an impassive glance.
Yan Qing was startled for a moment before he nodded, âGood.â
Then, he turned around and left the secret room. [Sheâs a woman without any background. Even if sheâs killed here, no one will realize it.]
âSir, itâs about to start.â Inside the main hall, He Yun Xiang looked at Yang Kai with a smile as sounds of some things breaking through the air could be heard. Like a large Dragon that was awakening, streams of powerful auras surrounded the main hall.
A person with a grim expression stepped out of the inner hall. He was none other than Yan Qing, who had left this place earlier.
He Yun Xiang asked, âElder Yan Qing, whatâs the result of your examination?â
Suddenly, Yan Qing bellowed, âHow dare you take a fake Spirit Pill to fool us! How are you so brazen?â
He Yun Xiang appeared flabbergasted, âElder Yan Qing, what do you mean that itâs a fake Spirit Pill?â
Yan Qing snorted, âI donât know where youâve gotten this pill from, but our Origin King Rank Alchemists have examined the pill and concluded that itâs totally useless. How dare you take this to trade for our top secret? Do you think weâre fools you can easily deceive?â
He Yun Xiang appeared terrified and pale as she said, âHow is it possible that itâs a fake pill? Itâs really useful for helping a cultivator to reach a realm thatâs above the Origin King Realm. I would never dare to lie to you.â
In her heart, she found his behaviour laughable. Now, she could understand why Yang Kai had to go through such trouble. Even the Yan Family had to come up with an excuse before they would deal with her. Perhaps a reason was needed to cover up their wrongdoing.
[Itâs just not as fun as when I was in the Fierce Gale Pirates. We could just kill and rob anyone as we pleased. It seems that I still need some time to get used to living on this side of the world.]
âAre you saying that our Origin King Rank Alchemists are inferior to you when it comes to their knowledge and insight?â Yan Qing snorted.
After a sigh, He Yun Xiang replied, âSince thatâs the case, please return the pill to me and just forget about my request, then.â
Yan Qing sneered, âYou want the pill back? Iâve already destroyed it.â
In an instant, He Yun Xiangâs eyes turned bloodshot, âHow can you do this to me? That was a precious Spirit Pill. Even if youâve failed to see its value, you shouldnât have discarded it so carelessly!â
She appeared aggrieved and helpless. Anyone who saw her in such a state would feel sympathetic towards her.
[Is this woman really this foolish or is she just putting on an act?] Yan Qing was somewhat puzzled. [Has she just come out from a long time of closed-door cultivation? Given her strength, why canât she see whatâs going on? Thatâs right! That must be the case! Thatâs why I havenât heard of a Third-Order Origin King Realm Master like her before! She must have gotten some incredible inheritance and been cultivating in seclusion somewhere!]
Yan Qing was shocked at this thought, and he no longer felt apprehensive.
âForget it. Itâs just a Spirit Pill, so it doesnât matter that youâve destroyed it. Since youâre so stone-hearted, Iâll take my leave now.â Appearing dejected, He Yun Xiang rose from the chair and wiped the corners of her eyes.
âDo you think you can come and go as you please from this place?â Yan Qing growled.
Flustered, He Yun Xiang asked, âWhat do you want, then?â
âYouâve tried to fool us in an attempt to steal our top secret. If we let you off, our reputation will be ruined. Lady He, you must remain behind.â
He Yun Xiang staggered backward and exclaimed, âYou want to confine me?â
Since they had fallen out with each other, Yan Qing stopped hiding his intention as he said, âLady He, if I were you, I would surrender without trying to resist. You appear weak, so I think youâve just reached the Third-Order Origin King Realm. If you oppose me, Iâm worried I might accidentally harm you.â
He was confident of capturing He Yun Xiang. Compared to her, he had been in the Third-Order Origin King Realm for a long time, so she was certainly no match for him. The arrangements outside the hall were just to make sure that she couldnât escape.
He Yun Xiang snarled, âYouâre so shameless. Why is there such a person like you in the Yan Family? I want to see Patriarch Yan and obtain justice from him.â
Yan Qing sneered, âHe wonât meet you.â
Just when He Yun Xiang parted her lips in an attempt to say something more, Yang Kai got up all of a sudden. Seeing that, she immediately kept her mouth shut.
Yan Qing shot him a cold glance and frowned. Then, he swung his hand at him in a nonchalant manner, as though he was chasing a mosquito away.