155: At that time, we'll do it with both hands.

After listening to Yao Jidao's plan, Jiang Donghua's face immediately showed an expression of admiration, as if he had just realized something profound. He even exaggeratedly clapped his hands and exclaimed,

“Wonderful! The Great Elder is truly far-sighted!”

His eyes sparkled with admiration; he was genuinely impressed by this sinister plan.

However, deep down, his heart was cold.

“What a clever way to kill with a borrowed knife!”

As soon as their group left Myriad Medicine City, they would encounter an accident on the way, be completely wiped out, and leave no trace.

By then, even if Heavenly Serpent City suspected the Yao Family, they wouldn't have any evidence.

After all, the Black-Corner Region was inherently chaotic, and incidents of murder and robbery happened every day. Who would thoroughly investigate the deaths of a few unlucky souls?

Jiang Donghua's gaze subtly swept over the several Yao Family elders, whose faces bore sinister smiles, as if they could already envision their bodies lying dead in the wilderness.

“It seems Myriad Medicine City is even more vicious than Heavenly Serpent City!”

Although Heavenly Serpent City had a notorious reputation, at least it still observed rules on the surface. But this Yao Family didn't even bother with pretenses; they went straight for complete annihilation!

He sneered inwardly, but his face remained respectful, and he even spoke with a hint of gratitude.

“For the Great Elder to treat me with such generosity, this junior is truly overwhelmed with honor!”

He deliberately showed a hint of hesitation, lowering his voice.

“Bai Xiaofeng is the ninth son of Heavenly Serpent City's City Lord, and Qin Wuye… if they were to suddenly disappear, wouldn't it alert Heavenly Serpent City?”

Upon hearing this, a sinister smile appeared on Yao Jidao's gaunt face, and he said hoarsely,

“Don't worry, this old man has his arrangements.”

He patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder, his tone meaningful.

“As long as you cooperate obediently, they will die painlessly.”

Jiang Donghua's heart tightened, but his face still wore a convinced smile, and he nodded heavily.

“This junior understands!”

Yao Jidao's emaciated fingers gently tapped the table, his cloudy old eyes slightly narrowed as he stared at Jiang Donghua, and he chuckled hoarsely,

“Young Friend Jiang, what have you decided?”

Jiang Donghua's face showed a perfectly timed hesitation, which then transformed into a flattered joy. He cupped his hands and said,

“For the Great Elder to value this junior so highly, it is truly this junior's good fortune!”

Upon hearing this, Yao Jidao's lips slowly curled into a sinister arc. His emaciated fingers gently lifted, and several fifth-grade elixir formulas glowing with spiritual light appeared out of thin air, suspended before Jiang Donghua.

“Consider these this old man's greeting gift.”

A flash of surprise flickered in Jiang Donghua's eyes. He quickly reached out to take them, but the moment his fingertips touched the Pill Formulas, a subtle, cold aura quietly permeated his meridians!

“As expected, there's a trick!”

He sneered inwardly, but his face showed no hint of it. Instead, he expressed gratitude, carefully placed the Pill Formulas into his storage ring, and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Great Elder, for your generous gift! This junior will surely do his utmost and not fail your trust!”

Yao Jidao nodded with satisfaction, a triumphant smile appearing on his gaunt face. He said hoarsely,

“Very good, very good. You should go back and prepare for now. Once you leave the city, everything will be arranged.”

Jiang Donghua respectfully agreed and turned to walk towards the stairs.

After Jiang Donghua's figure disappeared around the stairwell, Yao Jidao's emaciated fingers gently lifted, and an invisible barrier instantly enveloped the entire second floor, isolating all sound and external prying.

“Hmph, that kid is quite sensible.”

One of the red-robed elders snorted, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

“He's just a Fourth-Grade Alchemist; is he really worth the Great Elder personally recruiting?”

Yao Jidao's cloudy old eyes narrowed slightly, and he chuckled hoarsely,

“Do you really think this old man is only interested in his alchemy talent?”

The other elders were startled, exchanging glances.

“This child could easily see through Yao Long's methods; his perception is far beyond that of ordinary Alchemists.”

Yao Jidao said slowly.

“Moreover, he faced our pressure without changing his expression. This mental fortitude is not simple.”

“Then what does the Great Elder mean?”

Another elder frowned and asked.

Yao Jidao's emaciated fingers gently tapped the table, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

“Recruitment is recruitment, but what needs to be guarded against, not one bit can be less.”

He paused, then continued,

“In the future, let Yao Mei'er interact with him more. If she can make him willingly stay in the Yao Family, that would naturally be best.”

“Yao Mei'er?”

A hint of understanding flashed in the elders' eyes.

Yao Mei'er, the most skilled in charm arts among the younger generation of the Yao Family, possessed natural captivating beauty, and the Illusory Heart-Confusing Art she cultivated could make people unknowingly fall into infatuation.

If she were to make a move, Jiang Donghua, a young man full of vigor, would likely find it very difficult to resist.

“What if he doesn't fall for that?”

One elder cautiously asked.

Yao Jidao sneered.

“Then we'll start with elixirs.”

“Since he has joined our Yao Family, the elixirs needed for his cultivation in the future will naturally be provided by us.”

He said slowly.

“We only need to mix Heart-Corroding Powder into the elixirs. Over time, by the time he notices, he will already be unable to escape.”

“Heart-Corroding Powder?!”

Upon hearing this, a hint of shock flashed in the elders' eyes.

Heart-Corroding Powder was colorless and odorless. It wouldn't take effect immediately after consumption but would gradually corrode the meridians, eventually turning the person into a puppet, their life and death entirely at the will of the caster.

“The Great Elder is truly far-sighted!”

One elder couldn't help but exclaim.

Yao Jidao smiled faintly, but his eyes held no warmth.

“Remember, no matter what means are used, this person must remain in the Yao Family.”

“Yes!”

The elders responded in unison.

As soon as Jiang Donghua walked down the stairs, the senior sister immediately greeted him, a fawning smile on her face and sparkling eyes, as if hiding some ulterior motive.

“Those two fire spirit pills sold for over three million gold coins!”

Her tone was light, with a hint of seeking credit. Then she lowered her voice and leaned closer.

“What were you doing upstairs just now?”

She blinked, her gaze curious and probing, seemingly trying to dig something out of Jiang Donghua's expression.

Jiang Donghua's expression was normal; he merely smiled faintly and shook his head.

“Nothing, the Great Elder just asked some questions about alchemy.”

The senior sister pouted, clearly not quite believing him, but she didn't ask further.

Just then, Bai Xiaofeng slowly ambled over, playing with a jade slip in his hand, his expression languid, as if indifferent to everything.

“Really nothing?”

He glanced at Jiang Donghua, his tone casual, yet with a subtle hint of scrutiny.

Jiang Donghua remained calm.

“Yes, nothing.”

Bai Xiaofeng's lips curved slightly, a half-smile on his face.

“Alright then, let's go.”

He turned and walked out of the Pill Heart Pavilion, his back confident, as if he had truly just asked casually.

The senior sister looked at Jiang Donghua, then at Bai Xiaofeng's retreating figure. She had a feeling there was some unspoken understanding between the two that she didn't know about, but she was sensible enough not to pry further, simply quickening her pace to follow.

Jiang Donghua walked at the back, his gaze lingering on Bai Xiaofeng's back for a moment, a trace of deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

“Did this guy really just ask casually?”

He mused inwardly, but his face remained impassive as he stepped forward to follow.