Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

But Pill Masters were simply too rare. They were usually cultivated by major powers from a young age. Recruiting a ’wild’ one was practically impossible, no matter how attractive the offer.

Xu Yang frowned. "Is there no other way? For instance, what if after I learn the formula, I agree to refine a set number of pills for the Zhu Family each month?"

Although he had a decent impression of the Zhu Family, he had no intention of joining them. ’If I really step into the spotlight and reveal my identity, the trouble will be even greater.’

Zhu Bin shook his head. "Every Pill Formula is fundamental to a family’s survival. We would never teach one to an outsider."

’Besides, I don’t even know this man’s name, let alone his identity or background. What if another family is using a Pill Master to try and swindle the Zhu Family out of a Pill Formula? We’d be falling right into a trap.’

’It’s better to offend him than to trade away a Pill Formula.’

"It seems I was being presumptuous."

With the conversation at a dead end, Xu Yang said no more. He rose and took his leave.

’I was thinking too simply. A discarded Pill Formula like the one for the Blood Coagulation Pill was the only kind I could ever hope to buy at an auction. A major family’s secret Pill Formula couldn’t be bought with money; it was the bedrock of their entire clan, arguably more precious than even Secret Martial Arts.’

After returning to his courtyard and changing his clothes, he hurried to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

’Although the Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pills aren’t very useful anymore, they’re better than nothing.’

Zhou Yong fetched the Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pills and said, "Master Xu, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is holding an auction in seven days. Would you be interested in attending?"

Xu Yang stopped in his tracks. "Will any Pill Formulas be up for auction?"

Zhou Yong shook his head. "The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is still collecting items, so there are no Pill Formulas for now. However, there will be plenty of elixirs for the Gang Qi Realm. It will be a larger event than the last one."

Xu Yang nodded. "Save me a spot."

The prospect of elixirs for the Gang Qi Realm piqued his interest.

Between what he had earned from his alchemy sessions and what he had taken from Yun Feng, he now had nearly three thousand taels of silver. He felt confident he could afford an elixir for the Gang Qi Realm at the auction.

"Of course!" Zhou Yong nodded.

Xu Yang then asked, "If I spend a bit more, will I be able to purchase elixirs for the Gang Qi Realm directly from your Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?"

He had already spent nearly three thousand taels at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, so he wasn’t far from the five thousand tael threshold.

Zhou Yong nodded. "That’s right, but it’s not an unlimited supply. Customers who have spent a total of five thousand taels are eligible to purchase one of our pavilion’s Ten-Perfection Rejuvenation Pills per month. Its effects are on par with the Purple Sun Sect’s Guiyuan Pill. We’ll also be auctioning off a few Ten-Perfection Rejuvenation Pills this time."

Xu Yang nodded and turned to leave, but Zhou Yong spoke up. "Master Xu, about that Blood Coagulation Pill formula you won at the auction... have you learned it yet?"

Xu Yang’s heart sank at the question, but his expression didn’t change. He shook his head. "Learned it? Hell no. It was just a waste of my money."

A faint smile touched Zhou Yong’s lips as he respectfully escorted Xu Yang out of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

’So it wasn’t him?’

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had naturally been paying attention to the Zhu Family’s recent use of the Blood Coagulation Pill to seize a significant share of the medicinal herb market in Cyan Yang City.

His first suspect had been Xu Yang.

After all, that particular elixir had been obsolete in Cyan Yang City for a long time. If a local was producing it, the only candidate was Xu Yang, the one who had bought the Blood Coagulation Pill formula.

"Don’t overthink it," Tao Hujin said, appearing behind him. "Refining such a high-quality elixir from a mere Pill Formula? What do you take him for, the Peak Master of the Purple Sun Sect’s Medicine King Peak?"

He had suspected Xu Yang as well but had quickly dismissed the notion, concluding it must be a visiting Pill Master.

’Learning from a single Pill Formula in just a few months? That’s completely impossible.’

’I managed to acquire one of those Blood Coagulation Pills. You’d need decades of alchemy experience to refine a pill of that quality.’

"So you’re really giving up on him? Just for that Pill Formula?" Zhou Yong asked.

Tao Hujin shook his head. "No. He’s one of the Ten Heroes now. He can’t keep a low profile even if he wants to. Just treat him as a regular customer from now on."

...

’That attendant has ulterior motives.’

As he walked out of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Xu Yang’s guard went up.

’I’d never suspected Zhou Yong before, assuming he was just an ordinary attendant. But after he asked whether I had learned the formula for the Blood Coagulation Pill, I knew he was no simple shop boy.’

’A regular attendant would never have been curious about that.’

"Well now... what a coincidence, Junior Brother Xu. You’re not in your Outer Disciple robes. I almost didn’t recognize you."

The voice came while he was deep in thought.

Xu Yang looked up and saw Jin Lei watching him with a wide smile. Next to him stood another Outer Disciple whom Xu Yang didn’t recognize.

"Ah, it’s Senior Brother Jin Lei. Greetings to you both, Senior Brothers."

Xu Yang’s expression remained neutral as he smiled, acting as if he was completely unaware that Jin Lei had once wanted to kill him.

Jin Lei smiled and nodded. "Just coming from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Junior Brother Xu? What did you buy?"

Xu Yang shook his head. "I don’t have the money to shop at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. I didn’t dare take the Qi Replenishing Pills from the Sect to the black market, so I could only sell them here.

Senior Brother Jin, I have other matters to attend to, so if you’ll excuse me."

With that, he made to leave.

But Jin Lei stretched out an arm to block him. "Are you returning to the Sect, Junior Brother Xu? As it happens, we’re heading back too. Why don’t we go together?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I have a few other things to take care of, so I’m not going back to the Sect just yet. You two go on ahead."

Jin Lei sighed. "Very well. I was hoping for a chance to get better acquainted with a Ten Heroes Genius like you. I guess this isn’t the time."

"Senior Brothers, I’ll take my leave." Xu Yang cupped his hands in a brief salute and hurried away.

Jin Lei’s eyes narrowed as he watched Xu Yang leave. Once he was out of sight, Jin Lei turned and strode toward the city gate.

"Brother Jin, weren’t you going to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to secure a spot at the auction? Why the change of plans?" his companion, Fang Yun, asked, looking puzzled.

Jin Lei laughed. "The spot for the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion auction can wait a few days. An opportunity like this to run into Xu Yang is rare."

Realization dawned on Fang Yun’s face. "You’re going to ambush and kill Xu Yang?"

He then frowned. "But Xu Yang is one of the Ten Heroes. If this gets out, the consequences will be dire. Besides, I heard he comes from a common background. There’s no profit in ambushing him, so why bother?"

Jin Lei gave a wry smile. "I let my killing intent slip once before, but he was sharp and managed to get away. Just now, I tested him. He was clearly about to return to the Sect, yet he made excuses about having other errands. He’s obviously on guard against me.

If I don’t eliminate him before he reaches Gang Qi Minor Achievement, he’ll definitely kill me one day.

You don’t have to get involved, Brother Fang, but I ask that you keep this a secret. I will reward you generously afterward."

Ever since Xu Yang made it onto the Ten Heroes List, Jin Lei hadn’t been able to rest easy.

He was a Dragon Ascending Disciple from the previous generation, yet his Cultivation was still at Gang Qi Minor Achievement. If Xu Yang was skilled enough to become one of the Ten Heroes, it was only a matter of time before his Cultivation surpassed his own.

Even though no blows were exchanged that day, they were both smart enough to understand the situation. One had revealed his murderous intent, and the other had sensed it and fled.

On the surface, nothing had happened, but a blood feud had been forged. If he didn’t strike while he still had the power to kill Xu Yang, he would be the one who ended up dead.

Fang Yun was amazed. "He’s that perceptive? You sounded so sincere just now, but he still didn’t fall for it. I actually thought you wanted to escort him back up the mountain."

Jin Lei nodded. "The boy is cautious to a fault."

"If he’s your enemy, then he’s mine as well. However, if there’s any loot, how about we split it fifty-fifty? I’ve never killed one of the Ten Heroes Geniuses before!" A murderous light began to glow in Fang Yun’s eyes.

There weren’t many veteran disciples like them who hadn’t ambushed and killed a fellow sect member before. They had no qualms about it.

Jin Lei said, "If you’re willing to help, Brother Fang, I won’t take a single coin of whatever we get."

With two cultivators at Gang Qi Minor Achievement, their chances of killing Xu Yang would be much higher.

Fang Yun grinned. "You said it, not me. That saber on his back... I reckon it’s worth one or two hundred taels, at least."

...

’That should be about enough time.’

Xu Yang wandered through a few more streets before finally heading toward the city gates.

He knew exactly what Jin Lei was planning, which was why he had given him time to get ahead and prepare an ambush.

As for why he hadn’t left the city with Jin Lei, he didn’t want anyone to connect him to the events that would follow Jin Lei’s death. Besides, if he had actually agreed to accompany him, Jin Lei probably wouldn’t have dared to make a move.

Sure enough, not long after he left the city, two figures in conical hats appeared and began tailing him from a distance.