The Path to Immortality: Starting with an Analysis of Basic Concepts

Tap tap…

A strange fragrance filled the hall, and faint footsteps came from behind the screen. Then, the chief steward of the Prince's mansion was seen supporting a man in a python robe, thin as a rake, with dull, yellow eyes. An elderly man with mottled age spots on his skin walked out slowly.

I met the old man.

Whether it was the eldest son Qin Chuan, the second son Qin Hou, or the state officials, the retainers, or the governors of the nine prefectures, their eyes all changed, and a thought arose in their minds.

"Father…"

"The old prince probably doesn't have much time left..."

In Zhu Yu's perception, this "old prince" had become a leaky box, unable to even contain his vital energy. The strange fragrance that permeated the palace was due to the leakage of his vital energy.

This situation put his mind at ease.

Thoughts raced through everyone's minds. As the old man sat down, they all bowed in greeting.

"Your son greets his father."

"Your Highness, I have come to pay my respects."

The old man's withered, cloudy pupils swept over the crowd, his face trembled, and his mouth opened slightly before his frail, aged voice rang out.

No need for formalities.

"Thank you, Father King." "Thank you, Your Highness."

Everyone straightened up one after another.

At this moment, the eldest son, Qin Chuan, stepped forward and, under everyone's gaze, took out a jade box from his sleeve, saying:

"Not long ago, I had the good fortune to meet the wandering 'Medical Sage,' who specially obtained a calming and longevity-enhancing pill for my father."

May my father enjoy boundless happiness and longevity.

As he spoke, he reached out and opened the jade box. Amidst the fragrance of herbs and trees, a pill the size of a longan, as if meticulously carved from jade, leaped into everyone's eyes.

"Is this really the legendary 'Medical Sage' Zhang Zhongjiu's 'Longevity Pill,' said to cure all diseases with a mere sniff and extend lifespan by sixty years with a single pill?..."

Upon seeing the pills in the box, everyone in the palace was immediately agitated, including Qin Ying and the others.

Breaking through to the "Golden Body Realm" can extend one's lifespan, but due to different cultivation methods, most can only extend their lifespan by about two 60 years.

A single "Tranquilizing and Longevity Pill" can extend one's lifespan by sixty years. Who wouldn't want to live longer? Who wouldn't be tempted by such a pill?

Zhu Yu analyzed the medicinal fragrance with his "Eye of True Sight." Upon learning the result, his gaze fell on the filial face, and a strange smile flashed in his eyes.

The "An Shen Yang Shou Dan" (安神养寿丹) has the effect of prolonging life.

However, in addition to its life-extending effects, it also contains a toxin deep within, and it is not an ordinary toxin, but a special toxin derived from "divine words".

"What a filial son..."

A playful smile appeared in Zhu Yu's eyes. He secretly gathered his thoughts and transmitted the information to the second young master, Qin Hou, whose brows were furrowed.

"Let things get chaotic..."

Upon receiving the news, Qin Hou was stunned. He was initially incredulous, but then his face lit up with elation. Seeing that the head steward had finished examining the pills and was about to serve his father the pills, he hurriedly stopped him, regardless of who had told him the news.

"Wait!..."

As he spoke, he stepped forward, snatched the pill box from the head steward in astonishment, and then, amidst the strange looks of the others, pointed at Qin Chuan and shouted:

"You, Qin Chuan, actually tried to poison your father."

These words were spoken.

Everyone was stunned for a moment. When they came to their senses, they all gasped and looked at Qin Chuan, whose face was gloomy, with disbelief.

Are you crazy?

Patricide? …

Regardless of whether he was born into royalty, even if he were from an ordinary family, committing patricide would be a capital offense.

At this time.

A young man with a fair complexion, purple eyebrows, and white eyes stepped forward, his face anxious. "Second brother, have you misunderstood? How could eldest brother do such a rebellious thing?..."

"Whether it's true or false, we'll find out soon enough."

As he spoke, he slapped his forehead, waved to the servants standing at the door, and gave the order:

"Quickly, go and fetch 'Dr. Luo'..."

But just then, an old voice rang out.

"Alright, you're all grown up now. Stop making such a fuss and you'll make a fool of yourself."

Qin Hou felt a weight on his shoulders and turned around uncontrollably, facing his father's aged face. When he met those cloudy eyes, he felt a sudden panic in his heart.

When he came to his senses, he found that the pill box in his hand had fallen into his father's hand, and the "Tranquilizing and Longevity Pill" had already fallen into his mouth. He chewed it twice and swallowed it.

"Mmm, it tastes just as good as ever. Mr. Zhang's skills haven't diminished at all..."

The old prince smacked his lips, tossed the jade box to Qin Chuan, waved for Qin Hou and Qin Yu to leave, glanced at the crowd below with his cloudy eyes, and stood up with the help of the head steward, his aged voice carrying out his words.

"I don't have many years left to live, and I want to live a few more days in peace. From now on, I'll hand over Yongzhou to you all. You don't need to ask me anything; you can discuss and decide for yourselves..."

After saying this, he disappeared behind the screen.

The palace fell silent for a moment.

"Oh…"

Qin Chuan stared intently at the screen for a few moments, then suddenly laughed. He glanced at the stunned Qin Hou and Qin Yu, and without saying a word, he flicked his sleeves and left the palace.

After the protagonist left, the others lost interest in lingering. They glanced at the screen, then turned and left.

As soon as Zhu Yu stepped out of the palace, Qin Hou's voice came from behind him.

"Uncle, please wait a moment."

Turning around, he saw Qin Hou, whose expression was slightly unpleasant, quickly walk over, soften his expression, and invite him:

"Now is the perfect time, Uncle, do you have some free time to continue?"

"it is good."

Zhu Yu did not refuse and nodded in agreement.

Seeing that he agreed, Qin Hou's face lit up with joy. After leaving the palace grounds and finding no one around, he suddenly said:

"Was that my uncle who just sent me a telepathic message?"

Zhu Yu did not deny it.

Qin Hou's expression changed, and he stopped abruptly, asking solemnly, "That pill, is it truly poisonous?"

Instead of answering, Zhu Yu asked, "Do you know what Qin Chuan's 'divine words' mean?" Without Qin Hou needing to ask, he continued, "Its name is 'Drinking poison to quench thirst,' and its effects are related to poison, even more mysterious."

"On the day it manifested its 'divine words,' it tested me on..."

"Drinking poison to quench thirst..."

Qin Hou's eyes lit up with understanding, but then he frowned, puzzled. If his uncle's words were true, why would his father swallow the poison pill?

After much thought, he could only blame it on his father not wanting Qin Chuan, the eldest son, to be branded as a patricide.

Thinking this, his expression grew even uglier. As if he had made up his mind, he took a deep breath and said, "Uncle, rest assured, your nephew will avenge you."

"Oh?"

Zhu Yu looked him over with interest and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Qin Hou's eyes flashed with ruthlessness, "Of course, it's to kill!..." After saying that, he bowed deeply to Zhu Yu, "I beg my uncle for your help."

Zhu Yu remained expressionless and calmly asked, "In Yongzhou Prefecture?"

"Of course not."

Qin Hou quickly shook his head. The prefecture was crowded and chaotic, and his father had managed it for many years. It was unrealistic to kill Qin Chuan here. He didn't want to end up getting himself killed instead.

He paused, then said somewhat mysteriously:

"I wonder if my uncle has heard that a foreign demon has been born in Yanzhou..."