The First Venerable of All Paths

"Manager Xiao, can you give me a hint? Who is this person you're introducing me to?"

Inside the carriage, Fang Xuan, now disguised again, sat opposite Xiao Jinyu.

The carriage was filled with a unique, pleasant fragrance.

Xiao Jinyu from across the street.

Fang Xuan remained completely unresponsive, his expression calm, and slowly began to speak.

Xiao Jinyu had previously told him that she was going to take him to meet someone, but she was unwilling to reveal anything else.

Fang Xuan's biggest worry right now is that the Ming family will discover his whereabouts.

Although Xiao Jinyu seemed to have no ill intentions towards him, he always felt that this woman was hiding something from him.

Fang Xuan outwardly trusted Xiao Jinyu, but in reality, he remained vigilant throughout.

"Didn't you want that century-old heart-protecting leaf?"

Xiao Jinyu chuckled and said, "I'm taking you to see the owner of the Hundred-Year-Old Heart-Protecting Leaf now."

"It's just a medicinal herb, why make it so mysterious?"

Looking at Xiao Jinyu, who was also concealing her identity, Fang Xuan asked, feigning nonchalance, "Could it be that that person's identity is somewhat special?"

I guess so.

Xiao Jinyu didn't say much. Noticing that the carriage had slowed down, she said, "We've arrived. Let's get off."

As she spoke, she lifted the curtain and went downstairs.

Fang Xuan closed his eyes and examined the area with his divine sense. Finding nothing unusual and no ambush, he got up and followed.

The carriage stopped in a quiet alley with no sidewalk.

Xiao Jinyu was at the entrance of a small courtyard, gently knocking on the gate.

"Creak!"

The door opened, and Xiao Jinyu exchanged a few words with the person who opened it before nodding to Fang Xuan, signaling him to come over.

Fang Xuan glanced at the old man at the door, his eyes narrowed, and his internal energy began to circulate uncontrollably.

The spirit is issuing a warning!

This old man is clearly a master of unfathomable skill!

"Come in."

The old man glanced at Fang Xuan, then turned and walked into the courtyard.

Only then did Fang Xuan notice that the old man was hunched over and had a limp in one leg.

Fang Xuan glanced at Xiao Jinyu first, and the latter chuckled and entered the courtyard first, with Fang Xuan following closely behind.

The yard wasn't big, but it was kept very clean and tidy.

At this moment, in the pavilion in the courtyard, a young man was boiling water to make tea.

"Young Master, the person has arrived."

The lame old man walked up to the young man and said something softly.

The young man nodded, put down his teacup, and looked up at Fang Xuan and the other man.

Fang Xuan was somewhat surprised when he saw what the other person looked like.

Unexpectedly, the person he was dealing with was He Yun.

If it is He Yun, why did Xiao Jinyu say that the other party's identity is special?

"I am currently embroiled in trouble and unable to greet you in person. Please forgive me, Steward Xiao."

He Yun stood up and gave a slight bow to the two of them.

Clearly, He Yun did not recognize Fang Xuan and only regarded him as Xiao Jinyu's attendant and guard.

Of course, this was something the two of them had agreed upon beforehand, in order to avoid any trouble.

"It's alright."

Xiao Jinyu's tone was calm, without the slightest fluctuation.

"Please sit down."

He Yun gestured, inviting Xiao Jinyu to sit down.

Fang Xuan stood behind Xiao Jinyu, arms crossed, his eyes sharply scanning the surroundings.

More attention, however, fell on the old man behind He Yun.

This is consistent with his identity as a bodyguard.

"Manager Xiao, please have some tea."

He Yun poured Xiao Jinyu a cup of tea and gestured for her to taste it.

"Young Master He, you're too kind."

Xiao Jinyu picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

"He Family's Qingxin Tea truly lives up to its reputation."

Xiao Jinyu put down her teacup, looked around with a smile, and nodded in satisfaction.

"This place is quite elegant and unique. Young Master He often brews tea and drinks wine here, which is quite interesting."

Faced with Xiao Jinyu's praise, He Yun gave a wry smile.

"Steward Xiao, please stop teasing me."

He Yun looked bitter and sighed, "Others may not know, but Steward Xiao certainly does, and he knows where my He family is in now."

Xiao Jinyu simply smiled without saying a word, and did not respond to He Yun's words.

After chatting for a while, He Yun finally couldn't hold back and said, "Manager Xiao asked to meet me, saying he wants to buy my 500-year-old Heart-Protecting Leaf. I wonder if it's true or not?"

I guess so.

Xiao Jinyu glanced at Fang Xuan subtly and chuckled, "I wonder if Young Master He brought the medicinal herbs?"

"That's natural."

He Yun tapped the table and slowly said, "However, as Steward Xiao also knows, the Heart-Protecting Leaf only has medicinal value after a hundred years. But this Heart-Protecting Leaf of my He family is five hundred years old. Its value is incomparable to ordinary spiritual herbs."

"It's actually a 500-year-old heart-protecting leaf, truly extremely rare."

Xiao Jinyu was also somewhat surprised.

"However, even the most precious things have a price."

Xiao Jinyu said, "So, please name your price, Young Master He."

"I have only one condition."

He Yun immediately said, "As long as Tianbao Tower helps my He family overcome this difficulty, I, He Yun, will offer this Heart-Protecting Leaf with both hands."

As they spoke, He Yun opened a box beside him and pushed it toward Xiao Jinyu.

Inside the box lay a purple five-leaf clover.

Each leaf has intricate and mysterious patterns, which at first glance resemble a beating heart.

It is indeed a heart-protecting leaf.

The heart-protecting leaf takes a hundred years to grow a single leaf.

This heart-protecting leaf plant has a full five leaves, which means it is five hundred years old.

The value of this five-hundred-year-old Heart-Protecting Leaf alone far exceeds that of a third-grade elixir.

Using it as the main ingredient in the Nourishing Spirit Elixir would definitely be able to repair Li Xintong's sea of ​​consciousness.

Fang Xuan suppressed his excitement and showed no sign of anything unusual.

Although the transaction was with He Yun, he still waited for Xiao Jinyu to speak with him first.

Xiao Jinyu didn't look at the box, but said calmly, "Young Master He Yun, you should know that Tianbao Tower never interferes in the mundane affairs of aristocratic families. That's the rule."

"Besides, everyone knows that the He and Ming families are now sworn enemies; who would dare to interfere?"

Xiao Jinyu said meaningfully, "Now that the Ming family has decided to swallow up the He family and prepare to become the only dominant family, there is nothing my Tianbao Tower can do about it."

Fang Xuan suddenly realized.

It turns out that the Ming family is targeting the He family and even intends to annex them.

That's why He Yuncai said earlier that he hoped Tianbaolou would help the He family overcome their difficulties.

This matter has become complicated.

"Didn't Manager Xiao just say that everything has a price?"

He Yun seemed to have been prepared, and said, "As long as Steward Xiao is willing to help, in addition to these five-hundred-year-old Heart-Protecting Leaves, my He family is also willing to offer 30% of our family fortune as a reward."

"Feel sorry."

Xiao Jinyu refused without hesitation.

"The rules of my Tianbao Pavilion cannot be broken."

Xiao Jinyu's tone was firm, which made He Yun sigh.

"If that's the case, then I can only apologize."

He Yun said, "To be honest, before receiving Steward Xiao's message, my He family had already decided to use some of our family's treasures to hire experts to help my He family overcome this difficulty."

"This includes this heart-protecting leaf."

As He Yun spoke, he closed the box and put it away.

At this moment, Xiao Jinyu's expression changed, and he took the initiative to speak: "I wonder what level of expert the He family plans to hire with this Heart-Protecting Leaf. Perhaps I can think of a way for Young Master He."

"really?"

He Yun's face lit up with joy, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "This Heart-Protecting Leaf is priceless. How about we go to the Half-Step Divine Intent Realm?"

"Do you think the half-step divine realm is as common as cabbage?"

Xiao Jinyu rolled her eyes and said, "How about this, I have someone in mind. If Young Master He is satisfied, then this Heart-Protecting Leaf will be mine?"

"Oh?"

He Yun looked curious and said, "Since Steward Xiao personally introduced him, his abilities must be extraordinary. When would you be able to introduce me to him?"

"Far away, yet right before my eyes."

Xiao Jinyu smiled calmly.

"he?"

He Yun glanced at Fang Xuan, frowned, and said, "Manager Xiao, you're not joking with me, are you? He's only at the Qi Gathering Realm, how..."

"Young Master He, you can't say that."

Xiao Jinyu said, "As the saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover. Although my guard is only at the Qi Gathering Realm, his combat strength is stronger than that of an ordinary Yuan Condensation Realm cultivator."

"really?"

He Yun looked at Fang Xuan with some surprise, clearly not believing Xiao Jinyu's words.

"Whether it's true or false, you'll know once you try."

Xiao Jinyu remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.

"Da Niu, go ahead and let Young Master He see your strength."

Upon hearing this address, Fang Xuan's lips twitched, but he still said, "Please enlighten me, Young Master He."

"Since that's the case..."

Before He Yun could finish speaking, the lame old man behind him said, "Young Master, let this old servant do it."

"Alright."

He Yun said, "However, Uncle Yuan, be mindful of your limits and stop when you've gone too far."

"This old servant understands."

The hunchbacked, lame old man walked into the courtyard, a smile that looked more like a grimace than a cry on his wrinkled face.

"Attack me with all your might."

The old man said, "As long as you can make me move even half a step, I can decide on the hiring."

"How about we try a different approach?"

Fang Xuan smiled calmly and said, "If I can withstand three moves from you, senior, how about you give me that Heart-Protecting Leaf?"

"Although I don't know where you get your confidence from, that Heart-Protecting Leaf can only be used as payment for the job."

The old man shook his head and said, "So, you should still make a move."

"Okay then."

Fang Xuan said, "Since you have such an interest, senior, then I apologize for any offense I may have caused."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Xuan took a step forward.

"Buzzing!"

Array patterns surged out from beneath Fang Xuan's feet, instantly enveloping the old man.

The array patterns intertwined, forming a powerful array.

"A formation?"

He Yun frowned, seemingly somewhat surprised.

The old man inside the formation looked surprised.

But he said nothing, only looking with interest at the array patterns at his feet.

"Senior, it's my turn to begin."

Fang Xuan suddenly had a formation plate in his hand, and he poured his Yuan energy into it.

"Charge!"

Light swirled on the array plate.

The array patterns burst forth with dazzling light, eventually coalescing into two giant water and fire pythons that charged toward the old man.

The aura of the two giant pythons was comparable to that of a martial artist at the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm, and their imposing presence was astonishing.

"A trivial skill."

The old man chuckled and lightly stomped his foot on the ground.

"break!"

The ground shook, and the two giant pythons exploded on the spot.

However, the next moment, the array patterns reappeared, far more complex than before.

The giant python transformed into a ferocious dragon and crashed into the old man.

This time, the dragon's aura was comparable to that of a martial artist at the Condensation Realm.

The old man's expression changed for the first time.

Is the power of the formation getting stronger?