106: Taibai Xuanjin

[Fourth month,]

[In the Pill Refining Room, she had just finished refining a batch of grain dispelling pills and was putting them into a jade bottle.]

[Suddenly, she looked at you coldly and asked, "You've been here for more than two months, haven't you?"]

[You were a little surprised and nodded.]

[She continued, "You've watched me refine grain dispelling pills so many times, can you do it now?"]

[You asked in confusion, "You want me to refine grain dispelling pills?"]

[She nodded, "This kind of ordinary Medicinal Pill takes too much time. I need to Cultivate, so I'll leave it to you from now on."]

[When you heard this, you secretly rejoiced—]

[You had long been looking forward to trying Alchemy yourself!]

[Fifth month,]

[You attempted to refine grain dispelling pills twenty-five times, but all failed.]

[Looking at the charred Medicinal Pills in the furnace, your face was even uglier than theirs.]

["Damn, it looks simple, but why is it so difficult when I actually try it?" You looked depressed.]

[You recalled Zhong Linger's smooth Alchemy technique, which always produced Medium Grade or High Grade Medicinal Pills. Why were you so flustered when it was your turn?]

[Either the proportions were wrong, or the timing of adding the Medicine was off, or the heat fluctuated too much... all sorts of problems emerged endlessly.]

[After Zhong Linger learned of your repeated failures, she rushed into the Pill Refining Room with a dark face and angrily said, "I've seen fool, but I've never seen anyone as fool as you!"]

["Do you know how many Spiritual Plants and spiritual wood you've wasted this month?" Her eyes were practically spitting fire.]

[You also lowered your head helplessly—how could these grain dispelling pills be even harder to refine than realm breaking pills?]

[Moreover, this was clearly the most basic Medicinal Pill, an entry-level Medicinal Pill that every Alchemy novice must refine.]

[But you immediately cheered up and said seriously, "I promise to learn how to refine grain dispelling pills within a month, otherwise I will compensate at the original price!"]

[Zhong Linger sneered, "Heh, you compensate? Can you afford to compensate?"]

[You gritted your teeth and handed over a bag of Spirit Stones: "Here are ten thousand Spirit Stones, consider it compensation."]

[After paying these ten thousand, you still had five hundred and sixty thousand Spirit Stones left.]

[Zhong Linger took the bag and swept it with her Divine Sense, her eyes immediately widened, her face full of disbelief.]

[Ten thousand Spirit Stones was her income for more than ten years!]

[A bottle of grain dispelling pills only cost one Spirit Stone. Taking out ten thousand Spirit Stones made you seem a bit foolish—in fact, you were deliberately showing off your wealth.]

[She accepted the Spirit Stones with a smile, her tone suddenly softened: "I didn't expect you to be so rich?"]

["That's not right," she suddenly looked at you warily, "You're an Innate Martial Artist, where did you get so many Spirit Stones?"]

[You feigned a sad expression: "I originally came from a wealthy family, but unfortunately, my family declined, and I had no one to rely on, so I had to come out to make a living..."]

[You immediately fabricated a tragic and convoluted life story.]

[After listening, she sat on the stone stool with a sorrowful expression and softly said, "Actually, my parents were also killed by evil people... I swear I must avenge them."]

[Your heart stirred, and you deliberately followed up, "Could it be that the person who harmed your parents is the same enemy who harmed my family? Is that why you came..."]

[Before finishing your sentence, you deliberately closed your mouth and looked at her in fear.]

[Zhong Linger stared at you intently, and you felt her Divine Sense repeatedly sweep over your entire body.]

[After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "The enemy who harmed your family... what's their name?"]

[You tentatively said, "It's the Money Gang... My family was harmed by the Money Gang..."]

[Zhong Linger's eyes widened immediately, and she quickly reached out to cover your mouth: "Shh! Don't say another word!"]

["Could it be that your parents also...?" You asked, feigning surprise.]

[She nodded slightly, a hint of killing intent flashing in her eyes.]

[You continued to feign shock: "You infiltrated the Jiang Clan Merchant House, is it also for revenge?"]

[She quickly frowned: "It's not convenient to talk about it in detail here, come with me."]

[With that, she pulled you and quickly walked to her small courtyard.]

[As soon as you entered the courtyard, she led you into the wing room and closed the door.]

[Then she took out a set of Formation Plates and quickly set them up—you recognized it as a Breath Concealment Formation, capable of concealing Qi and blocking the prying of low-level Cultivators.]

[She said with a serious expression, "This Hall Master Jiang He is the Hall Master of the Money Gang. From now on, you must never mention these words to anyone else."]

["So you acknowledged your enemy as your father... for revenge?" You nodded in sudden realization.]

[Her eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, "My parents accidentally obtained a piece of tai bai profound gold, which caught the attention of Immortal Master Yu Long, the leader of the Money Gang. He then murdered them and stole the treasure."]

["I endured humiliation and painstakingly studied Alchemy to infiltrate the Jiang Clan Merchant House and get close to Hall Master Jiang He, so that I could avenge my parents in the future." After saying that, she gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.]

["So that's how it is. It seems our goals are aligned." You said, pretending to empathize.]

[Now you finally understood—]

[No wonder she betrayed you in the seventh simulation; her ultimate goal was to get close to Immortal Master Yu Long.]

[Her unscrupulous methods were all for revenge.]

[In this light, the rumor about "Hall Master Jiang He forcing her parents to death and coercing her into becoming his concubine" was probably also spread by Zhong Linger herself.]

[She wanted to stir up dissatisfaction among some Foundation Establishment Cultivators, using them to overthrow Hall Master Jiang He and replace the Jiang Clan Merchant House.]

[Only by taking down the Jiang Clan first could she further approach Immortal Master Yu Long, the leader of the Money Gang.]

[It's just a pity that you failed in the seventh simulation, and you don't know if she ultimately succeeded.]

[You remembered the tai bai profound gold she mentioned and quickly asked nervously, "tai bai profound gold? You're saying this item is now in Immortal Master Yu Long's hands?"]

[You were all too familiar with this tai bai profound gold—it was the main Material for refining the immortal slaying sword.]

[Zhong Linger nodded solemnly: "That's right, my parents accidentally obtained a piece, which was discovered by someone from the Money Gang, and eventually taken by Immortal Master Yu Long. Fortunately, I wasn't home at the time, otherwise I would have..."]

["tai bai profound gold is so precious, how did your parents get it?" You pressed curiously.]

[She whispered, "They saved someone, and that person gave them a qiankun ring before leaving. This piece of tai bai profound gold was exactly inside."]

[You nodded, indicating understanding.]

[It wasn't surprising that possessing a Heaven And Earth Treasure like tai bai profound gold would attract attention and lead to murder and robbery.]

[tai bai profound gold was extremely famous in the Cultivation world, with a mysterious origin, and was a top-tier Material for refining Magic Treasures.]

[It was normal for such a precious item to bring about a fatal disaster once its existence was revealed.]

[However, tai bai profound gold was extremely rare, and you suspected that Immortal Master Yu Long might have already given it away.]

[Otherwise, with Immortal Master Yu Long's strength, he probably wouldn't be able to hold onto such a treasure.]

[You thought for a moment and felt that you must find out—who ultimately got this piece of tai bai profound gold.]

[Thinking of this, you asked her, "Since that's the case, we are allies. What's your plan?"]

[Zhong Linger looked at you and shook her head helplessly: "Your cultivation is too low, it's better not to get involved."]

["Some things don't entirely depend on strength, but also on brains." You said with a smile.]

[She looked at you in confusion.]

["You can do this... After you come of age, deliberately tempt Hall Master Jiang He to marry you, and at the same time, secretly spread rumors that Hall Master Jiang He forced your parents to death and coerced you into becoming his concubine..."]

["This way, Hall Master Jiang He will definitely incur the resentment of many Cultivators. You just need to pick one or two, entice them with your beauty, and you can make them do things for you..."]

["Once Hall Master Jiang He dies, you can frame someone else, and after taking over the Jiang Clan, you can then find an opportunity to gain Immortal Master Yu Long's trust..."]

[After Zhong Linger finished listening, her eyes lit up, and she happily held your hand, tears in her eyes: "Excellent! This plan is truly brilliant!"]

[You sneered inwardly: Isn't this exactly what you originally did?]