CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: GIVE AS MUCH AS NEEDED

"You certainly speak frankly."

Smiling as he wiped the corner of his mouth, Song Tingye set down his teacup. His gaze was deep. "It’s just that this price—might it be a bit too high?"

It seems my guess was correct. The secrets of the Initiate Realm are like the patent blockades of a previous life. Only the large sects, wealthy clans, and noble families have mastery over them. Regarding this secret, they all tacitly maintain a strict silence, an unspoken rule of keeping it confidential and unpublicized. Are they afraid that too many Initiates would impact their own ruling power?

Noticing Song Tingye’s intense reaction to his demands, combined with Yuan Baiyi’s explicit statement that it was impossible to trade the secret of the Ancient Gathering of Celestial Strength, a clear understanding gradually formed in Qi Xiu’s mind.

"Then, what price can you offer?"

Seeing that the other party had passed the bargaining power to him, Song Tingye pondered slightly, "As long as it does not involve the Initiate Realm, I can meet any of your requests. True Cultivation Powers, scriptures, secret medicines, gold, silver, beautiful women—whatever you ask for, I can provide."

Are you playing kick the can with me?

Seeing Song Tingye toss the topic back, Qi Xiu chuckled, "Well then, since we’ve come this far, I hope Prefect Song won’t feel that I’m asking for too much when the time comes."

"Of course not." Lightly waving his folding fan, Song Tingye exuded calm confidence. Mere worldly possessions; however much you want, I’ll provide.

Seeing Song Tingye’s demeanor of abundant wealth, Qi Xiu’s smile grew even broader. It appears Prefect Song has quite substantial backing. Since that’s the case, I shall not hold back.

"Oh, right, let’s agree on this beforehand—I can help protect your path, that’s fine. But I am not your subordinate. I can come for important matters, but I’ll follow instructions, not proclamations. Consider this carefully."

Even as an enforcer, one must not neglect their daily cultivation.

Qi Xiu straightforwardly stated his terms.

"Agreed." Without much contemplation, Song Tingye consented immediately. He had sought this mysterious expert to hold a trump card, one that would be effective when crucial moments arose. The deeper it’s hidden on normal days, the more impactful it is when the trump card is revealed.

"Prefect Song is a man of quick decisions, something I greatly appreciate. So let’s agree on this—if there’s an urgent matter, strike the gong seven times in Xiping Alley, and I’ll be there."

As soon as the words were uttered, Qi Xiu’s figure vanished. And with him disappeared the golden ginseng on the desk.

"Yue Ting, do you have any judgment of his strength?" Staring at the now empty chair across from him and waving his folding fan, Song Tingye spoke slowly.

"The True Cultivation Power this person cultivates has a formidable aura, his Inner Qi Cultivation is extremely deep, and he possesses an unheard-of Qinggong skill. However, his eyes are clear, without the hidden luster of divine radiance. It seems he has not yet stepped into the True Intent Realm." Hesitating, Sun Yueting voiced his assessment.

"Not True Intent Realm? Are you sure?" Song Tingye asked, his interest piqued.

"Based on appearances, indeed, but we cannot be certain whether he has mastered a Dharma Gate that conceals divine radiance. If he truly isn’t of the True Intent Realm, then the True Cultivation Power he cultivates is utterly terrifying. A mere Condensation Realm practitioner cutting down two True Intent Realm heretical fiends—could he be from some grand sect or noble family?" Sun Yueting speculated.

"He won’t be. If he were truly a descendant or Sect Member from a grand sect or noble family, why would he ask me for the keys to the Initiate Realm?" Folding his fan, Song Tingye shook his head. "This man has a mysterious origin. Have the family continue investigating. Moreover, hasten the training of those armored soldiers; I have a feeling the Blood Covenant people may arrive very soon."

"Yes."

...

「The following day.」

A list of medicinal ingredients spanning fifteen pages was delivered to the Song Residence. Clasping the prescription signed with respect by the well-known Protector Ye Wen, Song Tingye chuckled, "This man is quite honest, isn’t he?"

The matter was just agreed upon last night. This morning, the prescription has already been sent over. It looks like he wrote it overnight without sleep.

"Yue Ting, have the family gather the items on this list and send them over as soon as possible." Handing the list to Sun Yueting, Song Tingye thought for a moment and then added, "Charge it to Jiufang’s account."

...

「Dongping Alley.」

「The Qi Family estate.」

With his cheeks puffed out high, Qi Xiu sat on a chair, one hand propping his knee, the other steadying himself on the table. He was struggling to chew something. "This... UGH... stuff... is too hard to chew..."

As he chewed, mumbling to himself, veins bulged on Qi Xiu’s forehead. The gold ginseng he had obtained from Song Tingye was a rare elixir that enhanced one’s cultivation power without any impurities. He had once seen it mentioned in a pharmacopoeia. This thing was considered a quasi-Initiate Realm item, nearly unseen in the secular world. Normally, such a potent medicinal herb needed to be combined with a dozen other auxiliary herbs to suppress its strong medicinal properties, to prevent an overdose that could harm the body. But the Purple Golden Skill he cultivated was strong enough to assimilate the medicinal power of the gold ginseng. So, to save trouble, he chose the most convenient method of use. Oral consumption!

After gnawing on it for over half an hour and swallowing with a GULP, Qi Xiu, whose face had nearly stiffened, finally let out a long sigh of relief.

As soon as the gold ginseng entered his stomach, the Qi spring within his Purple Mansion’s Dantian sprang to life like a cat that had smelled fish. Purple Golden Inner Qi swarmed out. The surging, potent medicinal force was divided and devoured, integrating into the Purple Golden True Qi.

With his eyes half-closed, Qi Xiu silently circulated his Purple Golden Skill, accelerating the digestion of the gold ginseng’s medicinal power. At the same time, the proficiency on his panel began to skyrocket. A wealth of insights and experiences were born in his mind, causing a blurry and mysterious outline to gradually emerge from nothingness.

It took nearly ten hours, from daylight to midnight, for Qi Xiu to fully digest the gold ginseng’s medicinal power. The proficiency of his Purple Golden Skill rose by around 40%, reaching 79%.

Still short by 21%. Glancing at the proficiency panel, Qi Xiu felt his mood lighten. Just one gold ginseng ingested had saved him at least several months of hard cultivation. Once Song Tingye delivered the medicinal herbs from his list, he could start refining the secret elixir that assisted the cultivation of the Purple Golden Skill. Then, in at most half a month, he would be able to return to the True Intent Realm!

Gazing at the vague outline re-emerging in his mind, Qi Xiu’s smile was radiant. I can’t even imagine how strong I will be when I step into the True Intent Realm once more!

...

"Young Master, everything has been taken away."

Sun Yueting scratched his head, looking at the three large carts full of medicinal herbs. With so many herbs, when would he use them all up?

With a flickering gaze, Song Tingye grew increasingly curious about this mysterious expert he had hired. His Inner Qi and Qinggong are both so profound, and he’s also versed in Alchemy; this Ye Wen truly has many abilities.

He had shown the stack of prescriptions to the family’s own pharmacists. Though the varieties were numerous and covered a wide range, they were generally herbs of a warm, yang-nature, intended for nourishing and enhancing one’s power. According to the family pharmacists’ deduction, the person who wrote this prescription likely intended to use these herbs to concoct a secret medicine that boosts yang-natured power. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of the required herbs was truly astonishing.

"This is actually a good thing; the more his Cultivation advances, the more it benefits me. Yue Ting, if he sends another list, accept everything on it. Besides, with that many herbs, I reckon it will be enough for him for a month or two," Song Tingye said with an assured smile, remembering the three fully loaded carts.

...

「Ten days later.」

The same list of herbs appeared early in the hands of Sun Yueting. Looking at the thick stack of familiar prescriptions with a complex expression, Song Tingye looked up at Sun Yueting, "Did I promise him before to give him as much as he wants?"

With a helpless expression, Sun Yueting nodded lightly.

Taking a deep breath, Song Tingye leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. I was too hasty...