27: Chapter 27 Another Arranged Marriage

[Jin Xiao City, a massive city on the border of Tianfeng Kingdom.]

[The city walls towered high, and the concentration of spiritual energy in the air was noticeably a step higher.]

[Cultivators were as common as dogs on the streets; the Qi Induction Realm was no longer rare, and occasionally, one could even sense the aura of the Condensing True Essence realm flickering past.]

[Chu Sheng.]

[Now he had to go by Qin Shou; he wanted to slap himself twice for coming up with such a name.]

[Standing outside the city gate, travel-worn and dusty, he felt a myriad of emotions.]

["The petty troubles in Qingshi Town, compared to this place, are just loaches fighting in a fish pond."]

[He clenched his fists.]

["Once my alchemy reaches great success and my cultivation is fully restored... I will definitely return in triumph! I'll shove Elder Zhou's snake-hearted face into a pill furnace and refine it!"]

[The first order of business was to establish a foothold. He found a secluded inn to stay at and began inquiring about the situation in the city.]

[The powers in Jin Xiao City were intertwined, with several famous families.]

[The Wu family, who managed trading firms, appeared harmonious on the surface but were calculating within.]

[And... the Liu family, which was declining day by day and struggling to hold on.]

[There were many rumors about the Liu family recently.]

["That Condensing True Essence ancestor of the Liu family, I heard is nearly three hundred years old. Their lifespan is nearing its end, and they've been relying on pills to keep going all these years, staying in seclusion and not coming out, like a living fossil."]

["The younger generation of the Liu family is disappointing; the highest is Liu Chengqian at Qi Guiding Rank 8. The other disciples either have mediocre talent or their minds aren't on cultivation."]

["I heard that the foolish eldest grandson of the Chen family has taken a fancy to the Liu family's eldest miss, Liu Qingyan?"]

["Hehe, if the Liu family has any sense, they should quickly send her over for a marriage alliance, climb onto the big tree of the Chen family, and maybe they can catch a breath."]

["A dowry? I think they're sending the whole Liu family over! The way the Chen family eats..."]

[Liu Qingyan? Isn't it Liu Qingmei?]

[Chu Sheng listened silently, feeling a complex mix of emotions...]

[Could it be a pseudonym or...]

If it was her, then her family's situation was precarious.

Chu Sheng rubbed his chin.

The Liu family's situation was a classic script of an old family in decline.

The Condensing True Essence ancestor was their pillar of support; once the pillar fell, the small fry would have to run.

The Chen family wanted to take advantage of the chaos, and the Wu family was probably waiting for an opportunity too.

The Liu family was now a piece of fat meat that everyone wanted a bite of.

[He needed to acquire resources quickly; the best way was naturally to return to his old profession: alchemy.]

[This trade was a rigid necessity everywhere and would always have a market.]

[The largest pill establishment in Jin Xiao City was the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, which had a deep background. Chu Sheng didn't go directly there; he chose to apply as a guest alchemist at the Huichun Hall.]

[The manager of the pill hall was an old alchemist at Qi Induction Rank 6 who could refine Rank 1 high-grade pills; he was quite satisfied.]

["Alchemist Qin, your techniques are experienced. Are you willing to be hired as a guest alchemist for this hall? You must complete a set quota of pills each month; the materials will be provided by the hall, the finished products will be split 30/70, and you will be paid an additional twenty spirit stones per month."]

[Chu Sheng readily agreed.]

[After being assigned a quiet courtyard in the back of the pill hall, Chu Sheng settled down and attempted to refine higher-tier pills.]

[The level of alchemists in Jin Xiao City was significantly higher than in Qingshi Town.]

[The Rank 1 high-grade alchemist status Chu Sheng displayed, while still respected, was not a rarity.]

[Only a Rank 2 alchemist could be considered a true figure of importance, but Chu Sheng deliberately maintained a mid-level Rank 1 high-grade standard, slowly accumulating fame and wealth.]

Chu Sheng nodded.

This strategy was correct; making a fortune in silence was the right way.

Being too high-profile made it easy to be targeted; the last time at Qinglan Sect was a lesson.

[The peaceful days didn't last long.]

[A month later, the pill hall manager led a pale-faced young nobleman to Chu Sheng.]

[The young nobleman walked with a flourish, but there was a scent of medicine in the wind.]

["Alchemist Qin, this is Young Master Liu Chengqian of the Liu Mansion."]

[Liu Chengqian?]

[The number one person of the Liu family's younger generation, Qi Guiding Rank 8, but it was said that his foundation was damaged and he took medicine year-round.]

[Chu Sheng's heart stirred, but his face remained calm.]

[Liu Chengqian looked Chu Sheng over a few times. "Alchemist Qin? This young master needs a batch of Profound Yin Foundation-Nurturing Pills, Rank 1 high-grade. Can you refine them?"]

Profound Yin Foundation-Nurturing Pills, a difficult item among Rank 1 high-grade pills.

[Chu Sheng pondered for a moment: "I can try. But I need to see the medicinal materials first, and I cannot guarantee the success rate."]

["The materials are naturally top-tier." Liu Chengqian waved his hand, and the servant behind him brought up a jade box.]

[Ten days later, Chu Sheng handed over six Profound Yin Foundation-Nurturing Pills.]

[After inspecting them, Liu Chengqian said, "Not bad."]

[A few days later, Liu Chengqian visited privately again, this time accompanied by a young girl wearing a veil and with a slender figure.]

["This is my younger sister, Liu Qingxue."]

["Qingxue has been weak since childhood and suffers from a cold ailment in her meridians. I wonder if you could refine a batch of Scarlet Yang Pulse-Warming Pills tailored for my sister? The grade of this pill is close to Rank 1 peak-grade."]

[Liu Qingxue? Not Liu Qingyan?]

[Chu Sheng was slightly surprised, but his expression remained normal.]

["Your sister's ailment is likely difficult to cure with ordinary Warm Yang Pills; perhaps a higher-tier Snow-Melting Pill is needed."]

[Chu Sheng deliberated, "However, the Blazing Yang Snow-Melting Pill is already Rank 2 low-grade, and the main ingredient, the Blazing Yang Fruit, is hard to find..."]

[Liu Chengqian said in a deep voice: "Alchemist Qin truly has extraordinary insight. The Blazing Yang Fruit... my Liu family might still have one in storage. It's just that a Rank 2 alchemist..."]

[Chu Sheng understood.]

["I have only dabbled in Rank 2 pills; my success rate is extremely low, so I dare not boast."]

[Seeing that Chu Sheng hadn't flatly refused, Liu Chengqian's eyes lit up. "As long as Alchemist Qin is willing to take action, regardless of success or failure, the Liu family will have a generous reward! Furthermore..."]

["I heard that Alchemist Qin is not yet married? Although my Liu family has declined, there are still several sisters in the clan with good character and appearance..."]

[Chu Sheng: "..."]

Good heavens, not enough pills, so use a marriage alliance to make up for it?

Is the Liu family panicking and grasping at straws, or... did they see my identity as a potential stock?

Could the effect of the "Many Children, Many Blessings" trait be faintly emitting the aura of a high-quality stallion even through the disguise?

Does this trait perhaps come with a passive aura?

[Hearing this, Liu Qingxue turned slightly, revealing a section of her white jade-like neck.]

Seeing this, Chu Sheng burst out laughing.

Marriage alliance! Another marriage alliance!

The Liu family's move is truly tried and tested.

But then again, the name Liu Qingxue sounds a bit gentler than Liu Qingyan?

I wonder what she looks like under the veil.

[Chu Sheng coughed dryly, "Young Master Liu, this matter... needs to be discussed at length. The urgent matter is to treat the Second Miss's body."]

[Liu Chengqian didn't force it, leaving behind some medicinal materials and agreeing to return in half a month.]

The Liu family... the Condensing True Essence ancestor is decaying, there is no successor, and they are surrounded by powerful enemies.

A marriage alliance with the Chen family is drinking poison to quench thirst; seeking external help like me is also a helpless move.

Blazing Yang Snow-Melting Pill...

If I can refine it, I can not only truly establish a foothold in the Jin Xiao City alchemist circle.

But also build a closer connection with the Liu family.

This Liu family line might be very promising.

"As for the marriage alliance..."

Chu Sheng remembered the gentleness of Lady Liu in the simulation and shook his head.

"Let's just wait and see. The priority is to restore my strength and refine this pill! With this Blazing Yang Fruit, plus the bonus of Strong Luck, I might actually succeed."

He took a deep breath and cast aside distracting thoughts.

Qin Shou, oh Qin Shou, you came up with a great name.

But then again, if I really married into the Liu family, would the "Many Children, Many Blessings" trait be triggered again?

This wouldn't be a loss.

He continued reading.