Advance the future and become a martial saint on earth!

Chapter 231 Thirty-Six Trades, Medicine Shop Master's Seat! Why not let one of my men take a seat to atone for your sins?

Jiangyin Prefecture, medicine shop.

As dawn broke, servants in the grand mansions were already up early, their footsteps clattering through the alleys and corridors as they went about their duties.

A large family with a single surname in a region often has at least dozens or even hundreds of members, with the main branch and branches located within the 'temple residence'.

Add in the servants, stewards, and so on, and this mansion is like a 'small fortress'.

This day.

The Huang Residence.

Huang Shao, the branch manager of the pharmacy, dressed in brocade and silk, though middle-aged, walked through the long corridor of the pharmacy with his hands behind his back, accompanied by his attendants.

Good morning, Master Huang!

Along the way, whenever we saw a branch manager who was over fifty years old but still well-maintained and in good health, we would see him.

Whether they were servants or members of the Huang family who ran the medicine shop, everyone stopped to greet them.

Huang Shao's response was always a soft "hmm".

This is the status of the 'Branch Master' and the 'Qi Dao Alchemist'.

In the pharmacy that manages and monopolizes most of the elixir business in Jiangyin Prefecture, strength is certainly not to be underestimated, but the level of alchemy skills is often even more difficult to find.

A Qi Refining master can be forced to drink medicine, but there is an insurmountable chasm between a mortal alchemist and a Qi Refining alchemist.

In the entire pharmacy, those who can be ranked as 'Qi Dao Alchemists' can be counted on one hand, so they naturally hold a prestigious position and are treated with great respect wherever they go.

After all, these are all money-making machines.

‘Deng-Deng-Deng’

His shoes clattered on the wooden planks of the corridor. Huang Shao walked along until he reached the pharmacy in the backyard. He pushed open the sealed wooden door with a 'whoosh', and a faint, ethereal scent of medicinal ointment wafted out.
Inside the pharmacy, on the left shelf were displayed various kinds of "Pure Land Bliss Ointment".

On the right, there are several cages, imprisoning several 'drug test subjects'.

Huang Shao walked slowly, his shoes pointing towards an old man nearing the end of his life, his hair disheveled, and he bowed slightly.
"Brother Huang, since you've already left, why did you come back?"

"Although these are all old stories, I feel uncomfortable and hate you so much whenever I see you."

"But it's just right."

"Your return this time has really done me a great favor."

Huang Shao's tone was neither warm nor cold, as if he were reminiscing about the past.

The disheveled old man kept his head down and remained silent.

About twenty or thirty years ago.

Both were servants of the pharmacy, and were placed by the current owner, Huang Ai, next to his own son to be groomed as attendants for the next generation of the family's leader.

At that time, the two of them took everything seriously and wanted to break free from the identity of 'household slaves' and go further, becoming a branch of the pharmacy that could have its own page in the family tree.

There have been precedents for this before.

As long as one can become a 'Qi Dao Alchemist' and make meritorious contributions, it can be achieved.

Thus, the two fought for several years, their rivalry becoming so intense that they were practically at odds, even to the point of bloodshed.

Among them, Huang Yaoshi repeatedly tested medicines for the heir of the Huang family who was ill, thus developing a chronic illness himself.

The young master of the Huang family at the time valued him highly and even intended to bestow upon him a spiritual elixir manual to surpass himself.

but.
It could be said that this medicine was just unlucky.

Back then, the young master of the Huang family was arrogant and domineering. As the only son of a pharmacy owner, he had a capricious temper.

Unfortunately, he ran into Duan Chenzhou, a former true disciple of the Heavenly Blade Sect, who was killed without a word.

In an instant, all the years of flattery they had shown each other came to naught.

Fortunately, Huang Shaowu was highly talented in martial arts and had cultivated a body of immortal skin. He could refine pills and protect the house, making him a "good dog". He was then mentored by Huang Ai, the owner of the medicine shop, and promoted to his side.

Huang Yaoshi suffered from chronic illnesses and his martial arts skills were mediocre. Although he was good at alchemy, he couldn't break through the threshold of 'qi' and thus couldn't reach the true level.

Thus, he was assigned by the guild leader Huang Ai to become the drug testing manager of the 'testing room'.

Nominally, they are in charge, but when it comes to the efficacy of ordinary medicine test subjects, how can they compare to the effectiveness of a 'talented person' who has been immersed in alchemy for decades?

Domestic slaves have no human rights or the right to refuse.

As a result, Huang Yaoshi's health was almost ruined, and his condition worsened. Only the Earth Treasure could completely eliminate the root of his illness.

Overwhelmed by the burden, Huang Yaoshi secretly slipped out of Jiangyin Prefecture. The list of names is still in the pharmacy and has not yet been removed.

original
Both the pharmacy and Huang Shao forgot about it and moved on.

But by sheer coincidence, Huang Shao 'bumped into' it again!

The thought immediately formed in his mind: to capture the old man and take him back, intending to use him as a test subject for a crucial 'Buddhist and Taoist Elixir.' He believed that using him as a test subject would yield excellent results!
Although their guild leader Huang Ai's own son and grandson all fell to the hands of the 'Heavenly Blade True Sect' lineage.

Furthermore, since they were at the height of their power, even during their promotion ceremony, they had to swallow their pride and offer a gift as a gesture of goodwill.

However, Huang Shao, as a confidant of the 'Pharmacy', knew a piece of information.

Now their pharmacy has been connected with a magnificent mansion in the neighboring Xiqi vassal state of Beicang!
Even the head of a powerful family came in person, and together with the behemoth "Mahayana Wuxiang Temple" from the Pure Land among the heretics, they distributed a Buddhist and Taoist elixir through the pharmacy.

After taking this ointment, one can enter a state of 'pure bliss', completely emptying one's mind and soul, and giving rise to a dream that is as real as an 'illusion', from which one cannot extricate oneself.

Now, through the connections of pharmacies, it has been distributed in several prefectures of Jiangyin Prefecture, with excellent results, making it an excellent tool for making money.

I've heard that the Mahayana Wuxiang Temple has opened many Buddhist temples in Daxuan, and has also been continuously launching this 'spiritual ointment' product in other prefectures.

Therefore, although the Heavenly Blade True Sect is currently enjoying great popularity.

However, it had the support of the Qishan Jiang clan and the Mahayana Wuliang Temple.

Even if the Huang family falls, it won't affect these alchemists. They still have powerful backers and won't be directly purged or wiped out by the Heavenly Blade True Sect.

Huang Shao held a tube of 'Pure Land Bliss Ointment' that emitted a faint glow, the toe of his shoe pressed against the slightly drooping, drowsy Huang Yaoshi:
"Old friend."

"I, as your younger brother, ousted you back then to achieve my current status, but that's not enough."

He muttered to himself, popping the tube off the bottle in his hand as he spoke:

"Please help me one more time, try this ointment a few more times, let me see the reaction, and see if there's anything wrong with it."

"Then, relying on the results of this experiment, I'll be able to curry favor with the orthodox 'Mahayana Wuxiang Temple' in Beicangzhou."

"I've finally turned my life around."

Huang Yaoshi's throat was dry, as if it were being cut by a knife.

He looked up at Huang Shao before him, and gave a hoarse laugh, his tone slightly mocking:

"Look at you, after all these years, you're still so ambitious. You've become a Qi Dao alchemist, and it's not enough that you've risen from being a servant. You want to climb up and become the master."

"Such a high status"

"Why is it that when you see your older brother, you're unwilling to let go of his hand?"

Huang Shao's tone was cold:

"Brother, that's just how the world is; everyone wants to be the best."

"You've given up on yourself, thinking your life is nothing special, and you don't want to climb the social ladder online. But others are different."

After hearing this, Huang Yaoshi coughed a few times, shook his head with his hair disheveled, and said:

"You go to such lengths to curry favor with this person and that person, but is there any possibility..."

"You even need to curry favor with an old man like me?"

Looking at Huang Yaoshi's words, which were coming out heavily.

Huang Shao found it amusing:

"Fawning over you?" "You old codger, who do you think you are, the head of the medicine shop? Me, fawning over you?"

His face gradually contorted into a ferocious expression. He gripped Huang Yaoshi's throat, intending to take the larger dose of the elixir in his hand and measure its ingredients and weight.
"You're getting off easy by being asked to test this Buddhist and Taoist elixir. This dosage is enough to make you suffer from 'hysteria' in your dreams!"

"However, this ointment hasn't been properly prepared, and the ingredients inside are still unstable. Using you is a good opportunity to test it out; if luck isn't on your side..."

"Even if my spirit is damaged in the second half of my life, and I live a foolish and confused life, it's still better than suffering while I'm conscious!"

After saying that, he was about to gather his strength and pour it straight in!

However, at this moment—

With a 'bang'!
"You wretched creature, won't you stop?!"

Hearing the familiar shouting voice, Huang Shao turned around in surprise, only to find...
An elderly man, leaning on a cane, with a face full of wrinkles and deep furrows, yet exuding an air of authority, kicked open the pharmacy door with one foot!

And beside him
There was also a gentle-looking young man from a prominent family, who was now indifferent. He was none other than Jiang Nian, the young master of the Qishan Jiang Clan, who was temporarily staying at the pharmacy!

Beside him stood two Pure Land Buddhist monks draped in robes bearing the inscription "Mahayana Wuliang Temple," who watched the scene indifferently, their eyes occasionally glancing at the boy being fawned over by the crowd.

Not long ago.

Huang Ai, who was immersed in the dream of the 'Pure Land of Bliss' and thinking of her beloved children and grandchildren, was suddenly interrupted by a servant and became furious.

But when this pharmacy owner heard that the Daoist disciple of the Heavenly Blade True Sect had actually come to his door to demand an explanation...
Suddenly, he broke out in a cold sweat!
After hearing the whole story, he arrived in a hurry.

Upon seeing Huang Shao in the pharmacy, about to test Huang Yaoshi's medicine, and with the young man's brows already extremely cold, Huang Ai felt even more frustrated.

How come his medicine business is so similar?
Whether it's their own children and grandchildren or their subordinates, they all seem to have lost their minds, insisting on running into the nemesis of the Heavenly Blade True Sect!?

He really doesn't understand.

He followed immediately, before he could say anything more.

Swish!
Suddenly, Ji Xiu, who was standing beside him wearing a long robe draped with the inscription "True Inheritance of the Heavenly Blade," had a blazing light in his eyes, and his double pupils revealed their power!

In an instant, two beams of light, one black and one white, appeared, causing Huang Shao, who had suddenly turned around, to meet them. In less than a breath, his pupils exploded, blood gushed from his mouth and nose, and he let out a scream!
"."

Huang Ai's cane stopped in mid-air.

Jiang Nian, as well as the Buddhist master of the orthodox Mahayana Wuliang Temple in Beicang, also glanced sideways and fell silent upon seeing Ji Xiu display his supernatural powers.

After a while.

Jiang Nian of the Qishan Jiang Clan, who had previously met Jiang Nian at the threshold of the Beicang Marquis's residence, broke the deadlock with a smile:

"Ji Daozi is incredibly powerful."

"What a wonderful 'born with double pupils'! I'm afraid that in three to five years, the name of Daozi will surely appear on the Dragon Infant Stele."

A deep sense of apprehension flashed in the corner of his eyes, as if he hadn't expected that the rumors about the Heavenly Blade True Sect's advancement ceremony were actually true.

Such a pupil technique.
I can handle it myself, but it will probably be extremely difficult.

What level is the young man in front of us? What level is he at?
However, even with the skill level of breaking through Erzang, he had not yet forged the Martial Arts Body!
If he were to cultivate the secrets of the five internal organs
Jiang Nian felt a chill in her heart and dared not think about it further.

"what!!!"

And in the midst of his chaotic thoughts.

A scream erupted from Huang Shao's throat as he covered his eyes. He knelt on the ground, his body hunched over like a shrimp's back, blood spilling from his mouth, unable to utter a complete sentence.
In the very end, all he could do was look towards the gentle young man beside Huang Ai and mumble indistinctly:

"Young Master Jiang, Jiang..."

The tone was not yet fully formed.

Ji Xiu then lifted his leg and stomped on his head!
Immediately, Ji Xiu turned around:
"Brother Jiang, is this matter related to you?"

Jiang Nian's lips twitched slightly, her gaze darting elsewhere, her expression remaining calm as she smiled and said:
"I don't know them, we're not related."

He had previously hinted that he would promote any alchemist in these pharmacies who could improve their formulas and assess their quality, but...
That depends on the situation.

Ji Xiu now has the Heavenly Blade True Sect and the Dragon Elephant True Sect standing behind him.

The former is about to establish the 'Heavenly Blade Mansion', a place that was originally a sacred and spiritual land, located at the 'Earth Dragon Cave' on the border between 'Xiqi' and 'Beicang'.

Once you cross that 'broken mountain' that was once cleaved in two by a single stroke, you will arrive.

The latter is about to move into 'Beicang' and become a colossal entity comparable to the 'Six Clans and Five Orthodox Lineages'.

Although I come from a wealthy family, I should naturally befriend such a valuable person, since things are different now than before.

In contrast.

It's just a 'dog'.

If you've given it up, then you've given it up.

"."

The conversation between Jiang Nian and Ji Xiu also reached Huang Shao's ears, causing him to tremble and his mind to race. In the end, only Huang Yaoshi's words remained.

this moment.

He finally understood the cause and effect.

as predicted!

"Mr. Huang, it's been a long time."

"Look, you never come to me when you have problems, your apprentice has to come in person. Doesn't that make you seem distant?"

As Ji Xiu stepped on his own head, he raised his hand to help Huang Yaoshi up, his tone gentle.

Huang Shao felt as if his heart was being squeezed, and he couldn't help but feel a tightness in his chest.

The brief conversation between the group of people had made him fully aware of their identities.

Ji Xiu!

Daozi of Heavenly Sword, Ji Xiu!
Huang Yaoshi.
How could he possibly know someone like that?!

Before Huang Shao could figure it out, before his head was kicked and smashed open.
All he heard was Ji Xiu turn his head, face Huang Ai, the owner of the medicine shop, and those distinguished figures from the state and wealthy families, and utter only one sentence, word by word!

"Old Huang is my 'alchemy master' in Anning County."

"Today, he suffered such a big setback at the pharmacy, and he has to pay the price both morally and logically."

"Master Huang, Brother Jiang, and these other eminent Pure Land practitioners."

"I wonder if I have crossed the line?"

After these words were spoken, the group looked at each other, especially Jiang Nian and the master from the Mahayana Wuxiang Temple. Remembering the 'cooperation' they wanted to discuss with Ji Xiu, they immediately began to accept the idea.

"It is only right. Huang Yaoshi is a talented individual in our pharmacy. He made outstanding contributions decades ago, and it is only right and proper that he should hold a high position and enjoy his retirement."

Huang Ai swallowed her anger and resentment, and upon hearing this, forced a smile and was about to make a promise.

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Xiu interrupted him with a flick of his sleeve, simultaneously kicking and shattering the head of branch manager Huang Shao.
His double pupils, like the ever-burning flame of a candle, scorched even the seemingly invincible Medicine Master Huang Ai, making his heart feel as if it were sinking into an abyss:

“What the guild leader says is absolutely right.”

"Old Huang has devoted himself to the pharmacy for decades. He deserves a good position."

"I think the position of 'Master of the Medicine Shop' of these nine elders from Jiangyin is quite good."

"It's just that Mr. Huang has been in this position for so many years, it's time to move him to a new position and give him a fresh start."

This statement has just been made!
Not only did the disheveled Huang Yaoshi stumble, but his heart trembled.

Huang Ai's complexion.
It's completely frozen over.

at the same time!

Deep in the East China Sea!
A giant dragon with vertical pupils and black scales overturned the rivers and seas, finally arriving at an underwater dragon palace that looked like crystal and seemed infinitely large!
Its name —

Water Lord's Palace!
(End of this chapter)