"Clan Leader, what should we do now?"
Niu Jiao looked at Niu Gao and inquired.
"Hmph! What else can we do? Of course, we follow them. Do you think we don't need to settle the final payment? Let's go!"
Just as Niu Gao was about to angrily lead Niu Jiao and the other to follow, he turned around and heard Ye Renxin's kind reminder from ahead.
"Clan Leader Niu, it would be best to have your two juniors wait outside."
Niu Gao paused, thought for a moment, and then followed Ye Renxin's suggestion.
He had Niu Jiao and the other guard the main gate, then strode alone to catch up with Dugu Bo and the others.
The Jade Scale Snake Dugu Family and the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye Family were both prominent families within the entire Spirit Master World.
While their scale might not compare to that of the Defense Clan, their respective inherited Martial Soul characteristics made them forces that could not be ignored in the Spirit Master World.
Moreover, Niu Gao clearly knew that Dugu Bo had always been difficult to deal with—capricious, unrestrained, and unwilling to be recruited or bound by any faction.
He also understood Ye Renxin.
One could say he was free from desires and benevolent, but he had always avoided any conflicts, focusing solely on healing and saving lives.
Thus, the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye Family remained relatively low-profile.
Many young Soul Masters didn't even know the formidable nature of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.
But now, these two families that had never taken sides seemed to have joined the same organization. And this organization had significant connections with the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.
This truly piqued Niu Gao's curiosity.
Catching up to Dugu Bo and the other, Niu Gao directly asked Ye Renxin: "Pavilion Master Ye, may I ask what exactly is this Longevity Pavilion you mentioned? Could you enlighten me?"
Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo exchanged a glance, sharing a knowing smile. Ye Renxin raised his hand and extended it toward Niu Gao, saying with a laugh: "Haha~ Clan Leader Niu, if you want to understand what kind of organization our Longevity Pavilion is, just try these two pills refined by our Pavilion Master, and you'll get an idea."
"Pills refined by the Longevity Pavilion Master?"
Niu Gao looked suspiciously at the two pills in Ye Renxin's palm.
One was purplish-black.
The other was an apricot-yellow color shimmering with moonlight.
These were precisely Ye Tian's First and Second Soul Skills: the Marrow Cleansing Pill and the Bright Soul Nourishing Pill.
Seeing Niu Gao's hesitation, Dugu Bo couldn't help but tease: "What's wrong? Niu Gao, you don't dare to take them? Are you afraid we poisoned the pills?"
"Hmph! What is there to fear?"
Gritting his teeth, Niu Gao snorted coldly and took the two pills from Ye Renxin's hand.
If Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin intended him harm, they wouldn't need to poison the pills. Dugu Bo could simply attack directly...
Although his Defense Clan was renowned for its defense, it couldn't achieve complete immunity to all poisons. Merely breathing in or coming into contact with Dugu Bo's Serpent Venom would, Niu Gao was certain, cause him considerable discomfort. Moreover, with Ye Renxin present, even if he could withstand the venom, Dugu Bo would undoubtedly exhaust him to death here.
As Niu Gao was about to swallow the two pills.
Dugu Bo couldn't help but chuckle, reminding him, "Niu Gao, I advise you to take them one pill at a time, savoring each carefully. For now, you only have this one chance."
Niu Gao furrowed his brow.
The more mysterious Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin acted, the more his curiosity swelled.
Without further hesitation, Niu Gao immediately waved his thick palm, scooped up the moon-yellow pill, and let it fall into his mouth.
He closed his eyes, savoring it carefully.
In just an instant, Niu Gao couldn't help but widen his eyes, clench his fists, and suppress the rush of pleasure that surged straight to his brain.
His ox-like eyes held hesitation and a trace of disbelief.
Seeing the knowing smiles on Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo's faces, Niu Gao immediately placed the other purplish-black Marrow Cleansing Pill into his mouth, savoring it carefully. The relaxation of every cell in his body made him momentarily cast aside all the burdens accumulated over the past few months, bringing an unprecedented sense of relief.
Niu Gao stared at Ye Renxin and the others in shock.
"Pavilion Master Ye, what kind of divine being crafted this... this pill?"
"Haha~ Clan Leader Niu, as I mentioned earlier, these two types of pills were casually refined by our Longevity Pavilion Master. They're nothing special. In the future, our Longevity Pavilion will provide all kinds of miraculous pills to the entire Soul World."
Ye Renxin always maintained an air of mystery around the Longevity Pavilion Master.
"Casually refined?!"
Niu Gao's ox-like eyes widened.
The purplish-black pill didn't have strong medicinal potency.
But the Soul Masters of their Defense Clan were renowned throughout the Spirit Master World for their defensive capabilities or physical strength, and even the subtlest changes in their bodies couldn't escape their own perception.
Niu Gao keenly detected the effects the Marrow Cleansing Pill brought him.
As for that pill shimmering with moonlight,
it nearly made him roll his eyes on the spot while he struggled to hold back.
Niu Gao quickly understood the effects of these two pills—targeting the physical body, targeting spiritual power, or rather, soul power!
Such two types of medicine, which even Yang Wudi, the clan leader of the Po Clan, couldn't refine, were merely casual creations of the so-called Longevity Pavilion Master. What kind of existence was this Longevity Pavilion?!
"Indeed, these are just pills our Pavilion Master casually refined. Producing a few hundred or even a thousand a day is child's play~"
Dugu Bo laughed in admiration.
"Hiss!"
Niu Gao was shocked once again.
A few hundred or a thousand—if he could grab a handful and swallow them all at once, how exhilarating... no, how much benefit would that bring!
At this moment, Niu Gao finally understood what the Pill Furnace placed on the top floor of this building was for.
With astonishment in his eyes, Niu Gao asked, "Dugu Bo, so this Longevity Pavilion is actually a place that sells medicine?"
Before his words faded,
Niu Gao recalled the second floor of this colossal structure—a towering auction hall over ten meters high, arranged in tiered steps like an arena.
"No! Not just simple sales, but also auctions!"
"Haha~ Clan Leader Niu, of course. Our Longevity Pavilion has many priceless Pills... There are Pills that directly help Soul Masters advance one level in cultivation, Pills that strengthen the body to help young Soul Masters absorb thousand-year first or second Soul Rings, and even Pills that enhance a Soul Master's talent and cause Martial Soul evolution. Such things naturally await the right price."
Ye Renxin's words stirred up a storm in Niu Gao's heart.
Advancing cultivation, obtaining a thousand-year first Soul Ring!
Enhancing talent, causing Martial Soul evolution!!
Could such things truly be achieved by a mere Pill?
Their Defense Clan was renowned for defense, naturally emphasizing physical conditioning, and thus they had many medicinal diets for strengthening the body. Yet even they dared not claim to raise a young Soul Master's physical strength to the point of withstanding a thousand-year first Soul Ring!
Not only could they not achieve it, but no one dared to risk lives to try.
"!!!"
Suddenly, Dugu Bo grabbed Niu Gao's shoulder, instantly putting Niu Gao on alert.
"Niu Gao..."
"Your Defense Clan has fallen to such a state. Have you never considered seeking another path?"
Niu Gao was taken aback, asking in surprise, "Dugu Bo, what do you mean by that?"
"Heh~ Clan Leader Niu, as you can see, the Longevity Pavilion has just finished building its mountain base and is currently short on manpower. The Longevity Pavilion in Heaven Dou City is only a starting point..."
Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo performed a duet.
"As for Star Luo City, our Pavilion Master has already made arrangements. The person in charge of the Longevity Pavilion there... is an old friend of Clan Leader Niu."
"An old friend?"
Niu Gao was somewhat puzzled.
At this point, those who could be called old friends were likely only the other three of the Four Great Clans.
Could it be that one of them had already joined the Longevity Pavilion!
Niu Gao furrowed his brows, not daring to be certain...
"Alright, Niu Gao, we'll leave it at that. In the coming month, you will witness the prowess of our Longevity Pavilion. If you then feel inclined to participate, you can come find me or Pavilion Master Ye at any time."
Dugu Bo smiled, then released Niu Gao's shoulder and distanced himself, leaving only a retreating figure.
Ye Renxin and Niu Gao exchanged slight nods before following Dugu Bo's steps.
Actions speak louder than words.
Ye Renxin believed that once the Longevity Pavilion's power was displayed...
Few forces would be able to resist being tempted!
Niu Gao watched the retreating figures of Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin and silently followed.
He said no more, having made up his mind internally.
Contact the other three clans!
Even though at this point, they had essentially completely severed ties.
But with so many years of camaraderie.
Reconnecting with them should still be relatively simple.
While Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin were inspecting the Longevity Pavilion.
Within the resplendent, vast Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Under the palace walls, within low eaves.
Wispy cooking smoke drifted upward.
Two girls with ordinary but delicate and lively features were squatting in the kitchen...
Holding small fans, fanning the stove fire.
"Sister Xue, we've been here for over a month now, finally arriving at the Crown Prince's palace."
"Yue'er, don't speak carelessly."
Clearly, these two girls were Qian Renxue and Jin Yue'er, who had left Spirit Hall City.
At this moment, both of them were dressed uniformly in the attire of servants from the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Qian Renxue's stunningly beautiful face had become utterly ordinary—black hair, black eyes, slightly yellowish skin, delicate features, and two small buns tied on her head.
Jin Yue'er was the same.
The two girls looked like sisters, their appearances bearing a sixty to seventy percent resemblance.
"Mm~"
Hearing Qian Renxue's reminder, Jin Yue'er immediately covered her mouth.
She glanced left and right, surveying their surroundings.
"Yue'er, whatever you have to say, wait until we return to our quarters and slip under the covers. For now, let's stick to the plan!"
Qian Renxue's black eyes held a calm resolve. In the more than a month she had spent in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, she had undoubtedly matured a great deal.
"Mhm, I understand."
Jin Yue'er nodded repeatedly, cautiously moving to the doorway to peer outside...
She gestured back to Qian Renxue with her hand.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue immediately retrieved a Zombie Pill from her Soul Guidance Device and placed it into the red-hot medicine pot simmering over the stove fire.
Watching the Zombie Pill dissolve into the medicinal broth...
A smile couldn't help but curl at the corners of Qian Renxue's lips. Success was finally within reach.
Once she had the crown prince completely under control, she could finally find time to return to Spirit Hall City and check on that fellow Xiao Tian!
The next day.
The streets of Heaven Dou City were filled with the clamor of gongs and drums, as if a hundred birds were singing in unison.
The procession of the Defense Clan stretched grandly and imposingly.
From the city gates all the way deep into the heart of Heaven Dou City's streets, the bright red carried within the procession was particularly eye-catching and extraordinarily festive!
Naturally, onlookers gathered along the way...
Niu Gao led the way at the front, guiding his clansmen as they carried the plaque custom-made for Dugu Bo and the others, heading with familiar ease toward the building opposite the Moon Pavilion.
Although delivering a plaque for someone else was rather undignified,
they couldn't resist the fact that Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin were exceptionally generous with their payment.
For the current Defense Clan,
not taking money when it was offered would be downright foolish!
Soon, the Defense Clan arrived at the building opposite the Moon Pavilion.
Standing before the structure they had personally forged,
Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin emerged from inside, stepping forward to greet the Defense Clan members. Close behind them followed Dugu Yan and Ye Lengling.
"Clan Leader Niu, you've worked hard this time. I, Ye, have already prepared wine and dishes inside. Please, come in! As for what follows, let Clan Leader Dugu handle it."
As Ye Renxin's words fell,
Dugu Bo summoned his Martial Soul, bearing two yellow, two purple, and four black Soul Rings—eight in total. He immediately activated his Martial Soul True Form, and a massive Jade Phosphorous Serpent phantom appeared on the street, causing passersby to exclaim in surprise.
A chilling, snake-like fishy smell also spread along with it.
It startled Tang Yuehua, who had been immersed in her performance.
With a snap!
A gap was pushed open in the window on the top floor of the Moon Pavilion, allowing Tang Yuehua a clear view of the emerald-green serpent phantom lifting the plaque delivered by the Defense Clan and carrying it toward the outer wall of the building opposite...
"Haha, Yan Yan, Leng Leng, time to unveil the plaque!"
"Yes!"
Ye Lingleng and Dugu Yan immediately grabbed the red silk ribbons hanging from both sides of the plaque and gave a slight tug. The red cloth fell away entirely, revealing the resplendent, gem-encrusted, luxurious plaque beneath... On it were three characters written with bold, sweeping strokes—Longevity Pavilion!
What followed, naturally, was a buzz of discussion.
"Longevity Pavilion?"
"What is this meant to be?"
"It looks like they're selling something? Could it be medicine?"
"Very likely!"
"Both Dugu Bo and Pavilion Master Ye should be well-versed in pharmacology..."
"Nonsense! How can they be the same?!"
Tang Yuehua shared the same doubts as most people. She didn't understand what the Longevity Pavilion was for or whether it posed a threat to the Moon Pavilion.
Dugu Bo excelled in using poison, while Ye Renxin was skilled in medicine.
What were these two families plotting by joining forces?
"Everyone!"
Ye Renxin ignored the murmurs, standing beneath the plaque and raising his hands to signal for quiet.
The effect was immediate.
In Heaven Dou City, who would not give him some face?
The deafening sounds of gongs and drums also fell silent.
"I am aware of everyone's curiosity, but without the Pavilion Master's orders, I truly cannot disclose anything. Please do not linger or attempt any schemes—"
"What?!"
As soon as Ye Renxin finished speaking, an uproar immediately erupted!
Most of the voices came from Soul Masters...
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!