The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

The demand for every type of low-grade pill was massive. Although the profit margin was minuscule, the sheer volume meant that any substitute had to be either significantly cheaper or far more effective.

The middle-aged man knew the effects of each version of the Drunken Immortal Brew. 'If it can really replace low-grade pills, then its production cost must be, as Zhang Jun said, "extremely low."'

Zhang Jun retrieved three jars of Drunken Immortal Brew from his Storage Ring and said, "Taste it for yourself and you'll understand. I plan to use the formulas for these first three versions as bait to lure out Lei Huachi, the Yun Gu Sect Leader. After our years of scheming, the Yun Gu Sect is desperately short on Spirit Stones. He's sure to take the bait."

The middle-aged man took a whiff. It was definitely Drunken Immortal Brew, though slightly different. Incredibly, the effects were identical. He asked urgently, "Only the first three versions? If we could get the fourth, Lei Huachi would be completely unable to restrain himself. He'd have to make a move personally."

"I don't know. We'll have to ask him. I imagine concocting the fourth version won't be a problem, considering he figured out the first three in such a short amount of time."

At this, both men looked over at Chen Dong. What they didn't realize was that even though Chen Dong's five senses were sealed, he still had his Divine Sense, and he had seen and heard their entire conversation and all their actions. It wasn't that they were being careless; a cultivator who could develop Divine Sense during the Qi Refining Stage was simply unheard of. It had never happened in the Wangyou Realm before. The idea that only a Golden Core Zhenren could possess Divine Sense had become an iron-clad rule.

The nature of their relationship truly startled Chen Dong. It was a good thing his body was bound, or he would have surely given himself away.

Zhang Jun released the seal on Chen Dong and asked directly, "Can you create the fourth version of Drunken Immortal Brew?"

Having perceived their entire conversation with his Divine Sense, Chen Dong had already decided on a course of action.

"I can! The fifth and sixth versions, too!"

The two men were instantly stunned. If the fifth and sixth versions could be replicated, the wealth they represented would be immeasurable—more than enough to single-handedly prop up a massive sect.

This was like the tobacco and liquor industries of the modern world, promising immense profits, and Drunken Immortal Brew was a substitute for indispensable cultivation pills.

Never mind the Yun Gu Sect Leader they were plotting against—even the two of them found their breath catching and their hearts pounding as they began to reconsider the entire scheme.

But then Chen Dong said, "I have one condition, however. I want to enter Dragon and Phoenix Valley. I can give you the fourth formula right now. As for the fifth and sixth formulas, we'll have to discuss them after I come out of Dragon and Phoenix Valley."

Sect Leader Feng, who had been contemplating the plan, suddenly burst out laughing as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke imaginable.

"Junior, you're merely in the Qi Refining Stage. What gives you the right to negotiate terms with me! For these Drunken Immortal Brew formulas... I take it you've never heard of a Secret Technique called the Soul-Searching Technique, have you!"

Chen Dong gave a faint smile. "Actually, I heard everything you said earlier. I never would have imagined that the Yun Gu Daoist is actually a spy for the Qixia Sect!"

The Spiritual Qi in the hall instantly dissipated as two immense waves of killing intent slammed into Chen Dong. If he had only been able to offer the fourth Drunken Immortal Brew formula, he would already be dead. They already had the first three formulas. While the fourth was valuable, it wasn't enough to make them risk their secret being exposed. But with the fifth and sixth formulas on the table, the two hesitated.

Even without a physical attack, the killing intent they unleashed was terrifyingly potent. Against any other cultivator at the Qi Refining Stage, the two waves of murderous intent alone would have been enough to easily suppress and kill them.

However, Chen Dong was prepared; this was all part of his plan. Announcing he could create the fifth and sixth versions was precisely to prevent them from killing him on the spot. 'Mu Qingzhu was willing to risk everything for a slim chance of survival. Why can't I, Chen Dong, do the same?'

In the hall, Sect Leader Feng hesitated for only two breaths before deciding to act. A crimson glow flashed from his hand as he lunged, his fingers poised like a claw, aiming for Chen Dong's forehead.

Two breaths was a long time. Chen Dong had expected them to hesitate for only a single breath, and this extra moment allowed him to probe some of their underlying principles.

Within that single breath, the Saint's Dao Light Pillar in Chen Dong's sea of consciousness dimmed instantly, every last speck of its inner fluorescence vanishing. Chen Dong's body began to emit a saintly aura, which easily dissolved the two waves of killing intent that had become almost tangible.

"A Saint?" Sect Leader Feng exclaimed, hastily retracting the crimson glow from his hand and pulling back his killing intent.

After the Golden Core Stage, killing even a mortal incurs a sinful burden. To kill a Saint would mean being instantly incinerated by Karmic Fire. The same fate awaited anyone who dared use a Soul-Searching Technique on one.

Chen Dong focused his mind and said, "I am the reincarnation of a Saint. I was born with Divine Sense, which is why I heard everything you said even with my five senses sealed." Chen Dong was undoubtedly walking a tightrope, using the feigned identity of a Saint to keep the two men from daring to attack.

Hearing this, looks of understanding dawned on both their faces. 'No wonder he was able to reach the Extreme Realm.' This also made them even more certain that Chen Dong could, in fact, create the fifth and sixth versions of Drunken Immortal Brew.

"I can swear an oath that I won't breathe a word of your secret. I can also give you the fourth formula for the Drunken Immortal Brew right now. However, I must first be allowed into Dragon and Phoenix Valley. As the Sect Leader of the Qixia Sect, you should have a way to arrange that."

To avoid the Daoist of the Wangyou Sect, Chen Dong could have simply requested to be sent to a different location. But his mindset had shifted. 'Merely hiding and surviving means forever living at the mercy of others. Only by struggling against man and heaven can I escape this fate of being constantly manipulated.' For him now, Dragon and Phoenix Valley was an excellent place to cultivate.