Fairy, return my flying sword to me

Chapter 222 So, where can I buy this elixir?
"Jian Xu? What brings you here?" The Foreign Affairs Elder was somewhat surprised that Jian Xu had suddenly come to his door. "I heard you've been out on missions lately, why are you back all of a sudden?"

Jian Xu smiled slightly, "It was just some miscellaneous business of contacting various sects. I came back as soon as I finished. I didn't even know the sects were so lively until I got back."

"Hey!" The Foreign Affairs Elder waved his hand. "It's nothing more than a sparring match between disciples. However, Jianxu, your disciple has really made a name for himself this time, actually challenging the top disciples of five sword lineages at the same time. Moreover, I heard that they fought back and forth quite well, which is quite impressive."

"I came here precisely for this disciple..." Jian Xu smiled and said, "I wonder if you've recently purchased any pills from outside? Especially the Five Elements Spirit Pill? Or perhaps they came from the Zheng Yang Sect?"

"Purchase? Five Elements Elixir?" The Foreign Affairs Elder pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There was indeed a batch of pills recently, but none of them were Five Elements Elixir. They were all pills for restoring Qi and healing injuries. As for the Zheng Yang Sect... we don't have their medicine, but their people have come by."

"Huh? They sent people?"

"Yes," the Foreign Affairs Elder shook his head and sighed, "I just saw them. They sent two elders; they seem to be taking it quite seriously."

"What brings them here?"

"Hey! Don't even mention it!" The Foreign Affairs Elder waved his hand and said, "The demands they've made are getting more and more outrageous! This time they're even asking for entry slots to our Sword Ruins Secret Realm. We don't even have enough slots for everyone in our sect, how could outsiders possibly get them?"

"Sword Ruins Secret Realm?" Sword Void paused, "Isn't this a secret realm only used by sword cultivators? Is this the sword cultivator elder in their sect trying to break through his cultivation level?"

"Elder?" the Foreign Affairs Officer sneered. "If they are elders, that would be good! Maybe I really should give them face and discuss it with them."

After all, those who can make their way through the Sword Ruins Secret Realm may have limitless achievements in swordsmanship in the future, and they may even have the opportunity to join or cooperate with the Pure Yang Sword Sect in the future.

"But they're actually begging for help from a disciple who's only at the Foundation Establishment stage! Isn't that just ridiculous? What can someone at the Foundation Establishment stage do? He'll probably be scared out of the secret realm by the sword spirits as soon as he enters, right? Isn't that a complete waste?"

Allowing someone like this to enter the secret realm alongside the sect's chosen prodigies is an insult to the other talented sword cultivators who entered the secret realm in the same batch!

"Oh?" Jian Xu raised an eyebrow, a figure instinctively popping into his mind. "What's that disciple's name?"

"His name was..." the Foreign Affairs Elder recalled, "I don't remember what it was called, it was something like... something like Linjian?"

"The forest?!" Jian Xu was shocked. "Is he the one who wants to enter the secret realm?"

Seeing Jianxu's expression, the Foreign Affairs Elder asked curiously, "Jianxu, do you know him?"

Jianxu muttered to himself, "If he really wants to enter the secret realm, then it might not be entirely unfounded."

Hearing his self-talk, the old man in charge of foreign affairs was dumbfounded. "Jianxu, are you serious?"

For a Foundation Establishment stage disciple, entering the Sword Ruins Secret Realm is practically a freebie, isn't it?

"Where are they?" Jian Xu suddenly came to his senses and stared at the Foreign Affairs Elder as he asked.

“I rejected them not long ago… but it seems they don’t intend to leave.” The Foreign Affairs Elder thought for a moment and said, “They might be in the reception hall down the mountain. Speaking of which, it seems your disciple has a good relationship with them and would like to speak up for them.”

"disciple?"

"Xiao Jian."

"As expected!" Jian Xu nodded, his eyes fixed on the Foreign Affairs Elder.

Even the other person seemed a little embarrassed, asking, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"There's something I need your help with..."

"what's up?"

"Regarding the quota for the Sword Ruins Secret Realm... is there any room for negotiation?"

"What?!" The Foreign Affairs Elder's eyes widened. "Are you crazy too? Is this a joke?"

“He’s not joking.” Jianxu looked at him seriously. “Perhaps… he’ll give us a surprise?”

"Surprise?" The Foreign Affairs Elder rolled his eyes. "The legend of the fastest escape from the secret realm? Then he wins."

However, seeing the serious expression on Jian Xu's face, the Foreign Affairs Elder couldn't help but become serious as well, "Are you serious?"

Jian Xu nodded, "We can give it a try."

“Alright!” The Foreign Affairs Elder took a deep breath and then said seriously, “Since you’ve said so, I can’t refuse you. I’ll go and contact them again to see what happens… Let me make it clear beforehand, this secret realm spot is the most precious treasure of our Pure Yang Sword Sect. They can’t possibly take it without paying any price. I need to hear their conditions first before deciding whether to give them a chance.”

"Don't worry, I know that. We'll handle things officially. If their conditions don't meet the requirements, you don't need to worry about me."

"Alright! Then I'll go and meet them again!" The Foreign Affairs Elder flicked his sleeves, stood up, and left.

Facing the setting sun, I murmured to myself, "I wonder if they've left yet... But if they're so insincere, then it's just a missed opportunity."

With that, he mounted his sword and flew straight down the mountain.

……

In a side hall of the reception room, two elders performed a folk dance in front of Lin Jian and Chun Xue.

After several hours of walking back and forth, the fine bluestone floor tiles were even stained with a layer of dark, shiny glaze.

Chunxue leaned back in the recliner, rubbing her temples delicately. Looking at the two people walking back and forth in front of her, she felt dizzy. "They've been walking around all afternoon. Do they have springs in their feet?"

"Do you think what that kid said is reliable?" Chuan Gong asked with a worried look on his face.

If Xiaojianzi's first request to him is going to fail so miserably, then what place will she have in his heart in the future?

Not to mention that even if the original intention of this trip is not to succeed in the end, he still wants Lin Jian to see the sect's dedication and efforts for his sake.

But before they could even get to the bargaining stage, they were dismissed with just a few words.

If they don't persist, Lin Jian might think they're just going through the motions.

"I don't know..." The Scripture Elder also had the same worried look on his face. "Logically speaking, if there really was a result after so long, they would have come over by now, right?"

Those truly capable disciples could easily get things done by using their connections to pass on a message, given the efficiency of cultivation sects.
But there's still no news. Does that mean that the connection with that Chunyang Sword Sect disciple isn't working either?
Can't get people to listen?

Then what's the point of talking about hammers?
Stay? That would be humiliating.

Leave? I'm not willing to give up.

What should I do?
A soft cough drew their attention.

"Still here?" A figure strolled over, speaking in a casual tone.

Upon seeing the transmission of skills and the scriptures, his face lit up with joy. "Elder Zhou! You're back?!"

"Didn't my disciples tell me that another important visitor had arrived down the mountain? That's why I came down to check." The Elder of External Affairs looked around. "But why don't I see any other visitors? Could it be that brat is playing a trick on me?!"

He pretended to turn and leave, saying, "I'll teach him a lesson when I get back!"

The two exchanged a glance, both wondering—'It seems that kid succeeded!'

'Isn't this giving us a chance?'

"Hey, hey, hey! Elder, wait a minute, elder, wait a minute!" Chuan Gong quickly stepped aside, his face beaming with smiles. "Elder Zhou, since you're already here, why not hear about our conditions? They're sure to satisfy your sect!"

"Oh?" The foreign affairs officer paused for a moment, then looked at him with a smile. "Didn't I hear your conditions just now?"

"The elders are busy, we haven't had a chance to talk to them yet," Chuan Gong explained with a smile.

The Foreign Affairs Elder flicked his sleeves, leaned back in his seat, and said, “Well... since we’re already here, let’s hear what you have to say.”

"Thank you, Elder Zhou!" Chuan Gong quickly stated the bottom line conditions he had prepared beforehand, leaving only a little room for adjustment regarding the share.

Now that things have come to this, they dare not continue with their haggling tactics.

At first, the other party didn't even bother to listen, clearly indicating that the value of the secret realm slots was even greater than they had anticipated.

Now that they've finally managed to get a chance to let the other party hear their terms, they certainly don't dare continue with their old tricks of asking for exorbitant prices and then haggling over the money.

After speaking clearly and quickly, Chuan Gong looked at the other party expectantly, "Elder Zhou, our Zheng Yang Sect has made our intentions clear. I wonder if your sect..."

"Hmm..." The Foreign Affairs Elder responded noncommittally, then stood up and said, "Such a big matter, I need to go back and think it over. You all wait here, and I will inform you when I make a decision."

"Thank you, Elder Zhou!" Chuan Gong hurriedly pulled Lin Jianmeng beside him and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Elder Zhou!"

"How pathetic..." Watching Elder Zhou leave, Chunxue touched the back of Lin Jian's head as he sat back down in the corner, her face full of heartache. "It's just a spot in the secret realm, what's with all the arrogance? Little Jian, you just wait! When the opportunity comes, I'll definitely get revenge for you!"

"Exactly! Fortune changes every thirty years, so never underestimate a young man's potential!"

……

Jian Xu was waiting outside the reception room.

Upon seeing the foreign affairs elder emerge, he immediately went to greet him, asking, "How was it? Are their conditions acceptable?"

The Foreign Affairs Elder sighed, "I have to admit, their preparations were indeed very thorough!"

Even from the perspective of their own sect, the conditions offered were quite generous. "They were even willing to release the exclusive resources of their Zhengyang Sect's secret realm, which was already shaking their very foundation..."

"So Elder Zhou is..."

"But to be honest, I have another concern..."

"Oh? Is there anything else?"

"When it comes to the quota for the secret realm, we can't just ignore the disciples, can we?" The elder in charge of external affairs gave a wry smile. "The Sword Ruins Secret Realm opens every three months, and each time the ten quotas are awarded through competition among the sect's disciples. I heard that this time the quota will be determined by the results of the Five Veins Sword Selection. If we sell one now, one disciple will be squeezed out..."

He really faces resistance when it comes to doing things that would harm the real interests of his own sect's disciples.

In fact, if the other party's conditions hadn't been so attractive, he would have rejected them on the spot.

He would rather the other party's offer be modest, so that he could refuse without any burden.

The current situation is the real problem.

Faced with this concern raised by the elder in charge of foreign affairs, Jianxu didn't have a good solution either. "This..."

As the two hesitated, they heard a huge commotion coming from the mountain behind them.

That was where countless disciples were gathered, and the Foreign Affairs Elder's concern was precisely with these disciples.

The two exchanged a glance and instinctively took to their swords, flying swiftly to the sky above the bustling martial arts arena.

"Did he win? Did he lose?" Jianxu was curious about the outcome of the duel between his disciple and the eldest disciple of their Longevity Sword Clan.

However, such questions are clearly not the main theme of this training ground.

Three wins and two losses.

But that's not the point.

The key point is that Xiao Jian, the disciple who initiated this duel and challenged the top disciples of all five sword lineages, has now revealed the reason for his rapid improvement in strength in this highly anticipated setting.

"The Five Elements Golden Spirit Pill! This is the secret to my current strength!" Xiao Jian exclaimed confidently, his entire body radiating sword intent.

"My achievements today are entirely due to the blessing of the elixir."

"Golden Elixir! Give me some!"

"Since taking this pill, my internal energy has become more solid, and my intuition has become more acute."

"Sword moves that I couldn't understand before are now easy to understand, and techniques that were once obscure can now be used smoothly and effortlessly!"

"It's not that I, Xiao, am particularly talented; it's just that this pill is incredibly effective!"

One stone stirs up a thousand waves, and the spectators on the platform are abuzz with discussion.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Just state your own strength. Or are you trying to hide your true abilities now so you can shine in the Five Meridians Sword Selection?"

"Exactly! It's just the Golden Spirit Pill, right? It's like everyone's taken one before! We all eat the Five Elements Spirit Pills like they're food, and we've never heard of anyone experiencing this kind of transformation after taking one!"

The five senior disciples who had retreated to the sidelines gathered together and whispered to each other, "He fought against us for several rounds, and his sword intent is still full of power. He is truly extraordinary!"

"Perhaps it really is because of the elixir he mentioned."

Willpower is also a resource that can be consumed; no one can maintain the highest fighting spirit forever.

It's truly unbelievable that Xiao Jian, who usually keeps a low profile, would make such a high-profile move today, even managing to fight on par with the top disciples of the five major sects.

Without external support, they wouldn't easily accept it.

"It's different!" On the stage, Xiao Jian, who was being questioned, casually waved his hand and unleashed a sword aura that pierced the sky, startling everyone with surprise and doubt.

"How can your ordinary pills compare to my elixir?! This is the King of Pills! The King of Kings! One pill is better than ten thousand!"

"Most importantly, it works quickly, is potent, and has no side effects whatsoever! It is truly a blessing for us sword cultivators!"

"Well said! So, where can one buy such a potent elixir?"

(End of this chapter)