CHAPTER 1004: CHAPTER 1000: NEW BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS

Someone from the North Sand Sect walked over, bringing with them a wooden box. Upon opening it, it revealed hundreds of emerald stones. That person said, "Our sect leader has said that releasing the captives is the deserved reward. If you are willing to visit us, there will be an endless supply of emerald stones."

Ye Fan placed the wooden box into a storage bracelet and asked, "What kind of help do you need from us?"

"Please come to the sect’s gate for a discussion." The middle-aged sect leader at the Golden Core Stage also approached and said.

After consulting Wu Ding, Ye Fan agreed to head to the sect gate of North Sand Sect.

The North Sand Sect is built within a city oasis in the desert, surrounded by barren sand. However, around the North Sand Sect are lush green trees; outside it’s very dry, but the air inside the city is quite damp. Apart from cultivators, there are also some ordinary citizens living here.

"Our North Sand Sect has always remained aloof from worldly conflicts, but the Tai Yue Sect covets a treasure within our sect and constantly launches sneak attacks. After several battles, our casualties are severe." Sect Master Zhu Jingquan of North Sand Sect lamented to Ye Fan and the others, "Our sect holds countless emerald stones. If you can help us fight against the Tai Yue Sect, these stones can all belong to you."

Wu Ding smiled and said, "Listening to your words, it seems like we’re here to ransack and plunder?"

"That is not my intention." Zhu Jingquan said, "I can see that your cultivation level is quite high, but I don’t know which sect you hail from."

Ye Fan waved his hand and said, "The sect is inconvenient to mention, and we don’t wish for too many emerald stones, just a few hundred pieces."

Zhu Jingquan laughed and said, "Don’t just say a few hundred, even tens of thousands are possible. These emerald stones are not used as regular alchemy materials; they simply have the effect of extending the lifespan for ordinary people. Sadly, the difference between immortals and mortals renders them useless to us cultivators, but for those ordinary people, these emerald stones are extremely hard to come by, and it’s something they yearn for desperately."

"You speak truthfully." Ye Fan said, "We want to take some emerald stones to help a few mortal friends extend their lifespans."

"I won’t ask what you intend to do, please come inside to rest." Zhu Jingquan said, arranging for disciples of North Sand Sect to guide Ye Fan and the others to rest in the city’s palace.

The palace was resplendent with shining gold and jade, particularly the halls and bedrooms, rivaling the splendor of a royal palace. Wu Ding said, "There were rumors before saying that North Sand Sect is glorious, and it seems true; they have the resources of emerald stones, allowing them to exchange with humans for many luxury goods. Creating such a paradise on earth in the desert, who wouldn’t wish to reside here permanently?"

Ye Fan pondered and asked, "What impact would it have to bring emerald stones back to Earth?"

"Hehe, junior brother, are you contemplating making money off them?" Wu Ding laughed, "Emerald stones ground into powder, only needed a few doses, can transform a person’s constitution, making the body healthier and alleviating numerous illnesses. Furthermore, it can extend lifespan, and an ordinary seventy-year lifespan person might have their life extended by about twenty to thirty years after consuming emerald stone powder."

Even Tantai Wanrong found it intriguing and said, "Is it really that miraculous?"

"Do you think I’m deceiving you? Otherwise, why would the Light Refining Pill require emerald stones as materials, knowing that it can extend one’s lifespan to five hundred years? You Earthlings have peculiar thoughts; if you can cultivate to the Golden Core Stage, why bother with ordinary emerald stones?" Wu Ding queried confusedly.

Ye Fan, however, smiled and glanced at Li Zhaojun, saying, "If we can use the emerald stones in new biomedical applications, it might bring some blessings to ordinary humans on Earth."

Li Zhaojun nodded and said, "Indeed, it would be useful, but... if such new medicines are monopolized by certain companies or influential people, it would go against our original intention. Wealthy and powerful individuals might live to be a hundred, while ordinary folks would still hope in vain for medicine."

"That’s why Zhao Jun, you have more of a business mind and can assess matters better than me, an outsider." Ye Fan laughed and said, "If we do advance in this area of research, our goal is certainly not profit, but fairness and equity. We must set the medicine’s price very low and sell all medicines directly ourselves, allowing ordinary people to purchase them at drugstores. If the quantity is ample, ordinary people won’t find it expensive. Doesn’t this ensure everyone’s benefit?"

Li Zhaojun nodded, evidently agreeing with Ye Fan’s approach.

While he can cultivate, granting an exceptional lifespan compared to ordinary humans, those around him are also allowed to cultivate to the Golden Core Stage. But ordinary mortals should also receive some convenience from cultivation. This stems from Ye Fan’s sense of responsibility and his commitment and ambition, leaving Li Zhaojun no reasons to obstruct.

Tantai Wanrong smiled and said, "Little Fan, you’re more and more like a leader with responsibility."

"Keep praising him; he won’t even attempt to see whether he’s the chosen one. Yet, you claim he has responsibility? I reckon he’s the none-coward under this sky!" Wu Ding scolded on the side.

Before long, the sect master Zhu Jingquan returned and said nervously, "Friends, the people of Tai Yue Sect have issued another challenge, including several Golden Core Stage individuals ready to forcibly breach our sect’s barrier. Would you lend a hand?"

"Certainly, but remember to bring the emerald stones along." Wu Ding, with slightly ill temperament, got up and headed out of the palace, flying directly away.

Ye Fan urged, "Hurry after them; I sense the demonic qi within senior sister is rising again, and we cannot allow her to cause more slaughter."

The group mounted their magical swords and reached the city wall of the North Sand Sect, where they spotted a dozen Golden Core Stage experts in the distance. These individuals either belonged to the Tai Yue Sect or were hired help by Tai Yue Sect. What rewards they offered to recruit these individuals remain unclear.

"Zhu, open the city gates, and we guarantee not to harm anyone or anything within the city. However, if you persist stubbornly, you may find your entire city razed to the ground!" shouted a white-haired, Golden Core Stage elder.

Feeling somewhat apprehensive, Zhu Jingquan, merely at the initial Golden Core Stage, could not assess Ye Fan and his companions’ cultivation. If Ye Fan and the others were only at the intermediate or late Golden Core Stage, facing such strong foes would be truly overwhelming.

"That treasure is the essence of our North Sand Sect, and certainly not something we can yield readily!" Zhu Jingquan barked sternly, "To obtain it, you’ll have to tread over the corpses of everyone in our city!"

"You brought this upon yourselves, everyone, attack." The old man waved his hand and said, "The sect gate barrier of North Sand Sect is but a spiritual energy storm. It will deplete in just one or two hours; let’s see how long you can last!"

Wu Ding’s voice came from above them, "You guys are here for a raid, and still so arrogant, truly ignoring us!"

"Where did this demoness come from?" The opponents finally took notice of a woman hovering above them, remarkably unnoticed by their cultivation.

Wu Ding spread her arms wide, forming a massive spiritual energy vortex around her body, and she laughed, "Remember me, my name is Tantai Wanrong, your ancestors!"