Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 240: Check for deficiencies and fill in the gaps
Song Xian pondered for a long moment. "This is an extremely serious incident. Everyone, please share your opinions! How should we deal with this formula leak crisis? This is a major event that could shake the very foundation of the sect. If Yuxiang Dan floods the market, it will have a significant impact on our Yuxiang Dan sales, and thus, the sect's financial revenue."

Zhong Wenyuan continued, "Qin Feng is now missing. If nothing unexpected happens, he must have been murdered. We can start from here to find the real culprit and identify the mastermind behind this."

"On the other hand, we must also closely monitor the situation of Yuxiangdan in Bianxi City. If anyone is found selling Yuxiangdan illegally, they will be arrested."

"From now on, I intend to establish a team to arrest anyone who has leaked the Yuxiangdan formula."

Zhang Ningyuan said, "We don't really need to worry too much about independent cultivators. Even if they refine the Jade Fragrance Pill, few people will buy it. After all, our reputation is already well-known. Most of the people who buy this stuff are wealthy cultivators. It's unlikely that they will go to a street vendor and spend so many spirit stones on a pill of unknown origin."

"Our main target should be organized forces and sects, such as the Yuyuan Sect. They've long wanted to get their hands on the Yuxiang Pill. Now that the formula has been leaked, will they take this opportunity to launch a Yuxiang Pill and compete with us? This is what we need to focus on."

Qi Xiaobai said, "I think the most important thing is to cut off the source and prevent information leaks. Although they have obtained the formula now, they don't know the most important ingredient. They can't refine the Yuxiang Pill with this formula alone. But if the ingredient is leaked, it will be difficult to contain it."

After the three of them finished speaking, everyone fell silent and the hall fell into silence.

Song Xian said seriously, "The leak of the Yuxiangdan formula is a major crisis for our sect. We must nip this in the bud. We must not allow Yuxiangdan to flood the market on a large scale."

"I have decided to form a thirty-member inspection team, with Senior Brother Ning Yuan in charge, to investigate the leak of the Jade Fragrance Pill."

"Also, the investigation into Qin Feng's disappearance cannot be dropped. Senior Brother Wenyuan will be responsible for this matter."

"From now on, all personnel of the Alchemy Hall are not allowed to enter or leave Puqing Peak without permission, to avoid being targeted."

"Everyone else, please disperse! Senior Brother Wenyuan, Junior Brother Qi, please stay for a while."

Everyone got up and left.

"The main ingredient of Panlongxiang is still unknown to the outside world, but we can't be careless. Junior Brother Qi is right, we should start from the source." After everyone left, Song Xian pondered.

"I intend to send people to lurk in the Panlong Incense collection area. If we discover any Qin cultivators aggressively purchasing Panlong Incense there, they're definitely after the Jade Fragrance Pill. We can then take preemptive action. I'd like Junior Sister Carissa to lead a few trustworthy disciples."

Zhong Wenyuan responded, "Okay, I'll select someone to go with Junior Sister Carissa."

"No need for anyone else. Carissa and I can go together. Right now, the Jade Fragrance Pill is causing a stir. If someone among the accompanying people leaks the information about the Panlong Incense, it will be even more troublesome."

"How about this! I'll let Senior Brother Zixiang go with you. If anything happens, he can help you."

After the three of them had made their plan, Song Xian returned to his residence and summoned Huang Ye.

He is in charge of the sect's intelligence team.

"Is there any news from the Ding family?"

"From what I've learned, Ding Wenxiang didn't leave the Ding family mansion the night Qin Feng was murdered. Only Ding Yuan is missing and hasn't returned yet. There's currently no evidence that the Ding family is the one who killed Qin Feng."

"Where did Ding Yuan go?"

"We don't know yet."

"What do you think about this?"

Huang Ye pondered for a moment and said, "Of course the Ding family is the most suspicious. However, from what I know about Ding Wenxiang, he is a relatively stable person and doesn't seem like someone who would do something that would harm others and not benefit himself."

"Although the Ding family will be the biggest victim of the relocation of the market, not to mention that the matter has not yet been completed, even if it is a foregone conclusion, what benefit will he gain from publishing the formula of the Jade Fragrance Pill? Can it actually prevent the relocation of the market?"

"If he does this, he will not only fail to stop the migration of the market, but will also completely offend our sect and become a mortal enemy. This is not like his style."

After hearing this, Song Xian also fell into deep thought.

He originally thought that the Ding family was most likely responsible, but after listening to Huang Ye's analysis, he felt that there was some truth to it.

But if it wasn’t the Ding family, who could it be?
"Who do you think did it?"

"It's hard to say. There are many forces in Bianxia Town that are wary of our sect, but they probably don't have the guts to do such a thing. The Yuyuan Sect is also unlikely. They spread the Jade Fragrance Pill formula in Fengyuan Town's market, clearly knowing that they have a feud with our sect. It seems they're telling the Yuyuan Sect, 'I've got the Jade Fragrance Pill formula for you, you can start competing with the Hunyuan Sect.'"

"You must continue to keep an eye on this matter and find out who is behind it." Song Xian ordered.

Since joining Hunyuan Sect, Huang Ye has not only been responsible for intelligence affairs, but also served as his personal adviser, giving him advice.

.........

The sky was clear. In Fengyuan Town, in the alchemy hall, an old man with white hair and beard sat in front of the alchemy furnace, concentrating on refining the elixir.

After an unknown amount of time, the old man slapped the furnace and a black pill slipped out from inside.

Behind him stood several cultivators, led by none other than Wang Xuan, the head of the Yuyuan Sect.

"How is it? Was it successful?" Wang Xuan asked hurriedly when he saw the pill sliding out of the furnace.

Since he got the formula of Yuxiang Pill, he ordered the disciples of the Alchemy Hall to speed up the research and development.

He had been coveting the Yuxiang Pill for a long time. He saw at first glance that this thing had great profits and great prospects, so he wanted to get involved.

But due to Wen Yiren's intervention, he did not succeed, and this matter has now become a regret in his heart.

In particular, the Yuxiangdan became more and more popular, not only in Bianxi City, but also in the entire Xijiang County.

The originally small and insignificant Hunyuan Sect, with the huge profits from the Yuxiang Pill, grew stronger and stronger, even annexing the Tianshan Sect and becoming a powerful force in Bianxi City.

This made him even more jealous, and he would occasionally wonder what the sect would be like now if he had been able to seize the Yuxiangdan industry.

No matter how envious and jealous he was, he had lost the opportunity to get his hands on the Yuxiang Pill.

Unexpectedly, just a few days ago, the formula of Yuxiangdan appeared out of thin air and covered the streets of the market.

Soon, disciples of the Hunyuan Sect came to investigate the matter, which seemed to further confirm the authenticity of the recipe.

Whether it was due to internal strife within the Hunyuan Sect or some other reason, the formula was already in his hands, and he naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip away, immediately ordering his men to develop it. This wasn't something he had stolen by trickery, and even if Wen Yiren stepped in, there was no reason for the Yuyuan Sect not to refine their own elixir.

He had already thought about it. After the Yuxiang Pill was refined, he would change its name to Yuyuan Pill.

The Jade Fragrance Pill sells for ten spirit stones, so he can sell it for five, right? He's not afraid of not being able to grab this market share.

However, even though everything was ready and all the medicinal herbs in the recipe had been purchased, there was no progress for several days and the refining process failed repeatedly.

The old man picked up the pill and gently squeezed it, and the pill immediately turned into a pile of foam: "It's not the refining method, there's something wrong with this pill recipe."

"The recipe is fake? Is there something wrong with the elixir or the dosage?"

The old man pondered and said, "It shouldn't be a measurement problem. I suspect there's something wrong with the elixir itself. The finished Jade Fragrance Pill itself has a strong fragrance, but the pill made according to this recipe doesn't have that fragrance. If it was a measurement problem, this wouldn't be the case."

"I heard that there is a century-old miracle medicine in the Yuxiang Pill, but this medicine is not included in the recipe. Could this be the problem?" A person behind Wang Xuan pondered.

"What's this century-old miraculous medicine? It's just a joke. I've sold countless Jade Fragrance Pills so far. How can I have so many century-old miraculous medicines for him to refine?"

Wang Xuan still did not give up: "Alchemy Hall will continue to research and try to deduce which elixir is wrong."

As soon as he finished speaking, the stone door suddenly opened and a disciple of Yuyuan Sect walked in quickly: "Master, a large number of Hunyuan Sect disciples have been spotted outside the mountain gate."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this and looked at each other.

The Hunyuan Sect is gathering a large number of disciples at this time, most likely to come to demand punishment.

This is because the formula of Yuxiangdan appeared in the market town of Fengyuan Town, which is the territory of Yuyuan Sect, and they had conflicts with Hunyuan Sect before.

It is natural for the Hunyuan Sect to suspect that they were responsible for this incident.

"How many people are here?" Wang Xuan's face was solemn, and he was shocked and angry in his heart.

Back then, the Hunyuan Sect was just a remote and weak force that did not dare to resist even when he humiliated and ravaged it. Now it dares to bring troops to demand an explanation, which clearly shows that it does not take the Yuyuan Sect seriously.

"I don't know, maybe dozens of people! The mountain gate formation has been activated."

"Follow me." Wang Xuan walked out with a serious face.

Outside the mountain gate of Yuyuan Sect, Song Xian led a group of disciples of the sect on the Canglan Bird and came closer. They saw several rays of light shooting up into the sky from the mountain not far away, and golden auspicious clouds rising, which obviously indicated that the formation restriction had been activated.

Song Xian did not enter their territory. He led everyone to jump off the back of the Canglan Bird and line up in formation to wait on the spot. Of course, he did not come here to start a war with the Yuyuan Sect.

These disciples were all selected members of the inspection team. They came to Fengyuan Town to investigate the leak of the Yuxiangdan formula, and by the way, to intimidate the Yuyuan Sect and give them a warning.

Not long after, a disciple from the Yuyuan Sect came out to greet them. He glanced at Song Xian and the others and bowed politely, "I wonder what brings you fellow Daoists to our sect?"

"Please report to Master Wang, I am Song Xian, and I have an important matter to discuss with you." Song Xian said.

Because he was not wearing the Taoist robes of the Hunyuan Sect's headmaster, the Yuyuan Sect disciple did not recognize him. When he heard him give his name, he was also surprised.

"So it's Master Song who has come to visit. Master Song, please wait a moment while I deliver my message."

The disciple said this and turned back to the mountain gate. Not long after, an old man with slightly white hair and beard and a hunched figure came out from the formation. He bowed to Song Xian from a distance of several dozen feet and said, "I am an old man. I am here to greet Master Song by order of our sect's headmaster."

"Master, let me bring my people in with you!" Zhang Ningyuan whispered beside him.

"No need. You just wait here." Song Xian waved his hand and went straight into the formation. Unless Yuyuanzong was crazy, it was impossible for him to attack him in public.

"Does Sect Leader Song always bring so many people with him every time he goes out?" Chen Shi glanced at the people from Hunyuan Sect outside.

"Now is a time of turmoil, so we must be cautious in everything we do."

Several Yuyuan Sect disciples led him to the meeting hall, where Wang Xuan was already seated.

"Master Wang, it's been a long time since we last met. I'm sorry for bothering you." Song Xian bowed his head and saluted.

"Master Song is so impressive! He brought so many people to block the gate of our sect. Is he going to call our sect to account?" Wang Xuan responded expressionlessly, obviously very dissatisfied with Song Xian's behavior.

At this point, he also realized that Song Xian's coming with so many people was itself a deterrent and warning.

If the news gets out, outsiders will definitely think that the Hunyuan Sect is going to attack the Yuyuan Sect.

Even the Yuyuan Sect was under siege by the Hunyuan Sect, let alone the others. Naturally, they did not dare to openly covet the Yuxiang Pill.

"The paper scroll with the formula of Yuxiangdan written on it is widely circulated in the market of Fengyuan Town. Sect Leader Wang must know about this. I came here to ask one question: was this done by your sect?" Song Xian looked at him without showing any weakness.

"Of course not." Wang Xuan didn't want to cause any misunderstanding or conflict with Hunyuan Sect because of this matter, so he denied it immediately.

"Okay, I believe what Sect Leader Wang said. However, the formula for our sect's elixir was leaked in Fengyuan Town Market, so I brought my disciples here to investigate. Since this is your sect's territory, I came here to say hello to avoid any misunderstandings. I think your sect won't stop us from investigating this matter!"

"I also want to ask Sect Leader Song, is this Jade Fragrance Pill formula real?"

"Of course it's true, otherwise why would our sect mobilize so many troops? To be honest, before this formula appeared in the market, one of our sect's alchemists disappeared and his whereabouts remain unknown. I suspect he is in grave danger. The Jade Fragrance Pill formula was most likely obtained from him after the murderer captured him."

"As far as I know, the formula for the Jade Fragrance Pill has spread throughout Bianxi City. Not only does everyone have a copy, but anyone interested in finding out about it would certainly have no trouble obtaining it. If someone were to refine the Jade Fragrance Pill and sell it, how would your sect respond?"

When Song Xian heard him asking about the Yuxiang Pill in a roundabout way, he knew that the Yuyuan Sect must have been secretly refining it. He presumably thought that the main ingredient in the pill recipe, Panlongxiang, had been replaced with Elkxiang, and that the recipe had never been successful, so he wanted to know whether the recipe was real or not.

"No matter who it is, anyone who steals our sect's Yuxiang Pill and sells it in the market will be an enemy of our sect. We will have no choice but to fight each other." Song Xian's eyes were firm and his voice was loud, looking at Wang Xuan with burning eyes.

This was the real purpose of his visit, to clearly inform Yuyuan Sect of his attitude and issue a warning to them.

If the Yuyuan Sect insists on taking the Yuxiang Pill, the final result will be the same regardless of whether they are the mastermind behind it or not.

(End of this chapter)