Chapter 265: The Mansion of the Great Medicine King

Unlike Tianxuan King City, this city was built entirely of red rock, blending into the Red Lotus Mountain Range, giving it an ancient feel. It was also much smaller, comparable to the Beast Hall.

"Red Lotus City is even older than Tianwu King City, said to have been built no less than three thousand years ago. It's the largest medicinal herb trading center among the twelve kingdoms around Tianwu! However, due to the influence of the Poison Hall, no one wants to stay long. Over the years, it has declined, even less than some third-tier cities."

Miss Mo Yu explained.

She was a princess of the Tianwu Kingdom and knew Red Lotus City well as a city of the kingdom.

"If we enter the city, the Skyhowl Beast and the Green Eagle Beast would be too conspicuous, likely causing unnecessary trouble. It's best we go in on foot."

Although Red Lotus City was just a border town of the Tianwu Kingdom, due to the trade of medicinal herbs and poisons, many kingdom experts came here. The Green Eagle Beast and Skyhowl Beast were huge; entering the city would immediately draw everyone's attention.

In terms of strength, almost no one could surpass the half-step Zun of the Skyhowl Beast, but if there were hidden poison masters inside who attacked with poison, it would be very dangerous.

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan responded, had the Skyhowl Beast land, instructed the two beasts not to fly far, and then walked toward Red Lotus City with Mo Yu.

The ancient city, with its antique buildings, felt like walking through history on the streets.

Though the city was not large, there were many people. The long streets were lined with medicinal herb stalls, rows upon rows, piles upon piles, all selling herbs rarely seen on the market.

"Rehmannia, Wandering Cicada, Five-Poison Silkworm Silk..."

Glancing casually, Zhang Xuan recognized many and frowned.

Many of these herbs were highly toxic. Although some were used in alchemy, they were rarely used. This was the first time he had seen them sold in such large quantities.

"There must be poison masters here!"

Only poison masters would buy such things in bulk; ordinary alchemists or physicians wouldn't stockpile so much.

"There are poison masters, but if they don't openly prepare poisons, you can't recognize them!" Mo Yu said.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Unlike master teachers, poison masters weren't closely tied to strength. Sometimes, a seemingly powerless child or an old woman who could fall at any moment could concoct poisons that even Zongshi couldn't withstand.

Thus, a strong person buying herbs might not be a poison master, while an unremarkable, frail woman might just be a villain who had poisoned countless people.

"If you really want to find a poison master, you could trade herbs here and wait three to five years. You might happen to meet one," Mo Yu said. "Many people with deep grudges and no way to improve their strength wait here, looking for an opportunity to become a disciple. But very few succeed."

"Three to five years?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

If he had to wait that long, he might as well kill the poison master directly.

Although the Library of Heaven's Path could reveal others' professions, it required them to use martial techniques or be knocked out... If he did that here, the ensuing trouble would certainly be greater.

He might even be mistaken for a madman and thrown out.

"Let's find the Great Medicine King first!" Thinking this, Zhang Xuan spoke.

"Yes, finding the Great Medicine King is the best approach. But have you considered? Everyone knows the Great Medicine King must know about the Poison Hall and poison masters, yet why do they prefer to sell herbs here instead of seeking him out?"

Mo Yu looked at him.

"This..."

"The Great Medicine King is not so easy to meet!" Mo Yu shook her head.

"We won't know without trying."

Zhang Xuan knew it wouldn't be easy, but since he had come, how would he know the other wouldn't see him without trying?

"Alright! Let me warn you: the Great Medicine King is not to be trifled with. Although your strength is considerable, keep a low profile here, or you might die without knowing how!" Mo Yu cautioned.

"Don't worry, I'm not reckless!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Then follow me!" Seeing his agreement, Mo Yu led the way.

She seemed to have been to Red Lotus City before and knew the roads well. After about half an hour, a large mansion appeared before them.

With red bricks and green tiles, green trees and flowing water, the mansion had a somewhat modern style, clashing with the ancient city. Several guards stood proudly at the entrance, exuding impressive auras.

"Tongxuan realm?"

Zhang Xuan's expression tightened as he looked.

The guards at the door were all Tongxuan realm initial stage experts.

Such people in Tianxuan Kingdom would be high officials who could shake the region with a stomp, but here they were just gate guards.

"This is the Great Medicine King's residence!" Mo Yu transmitted.

He had guessed as much without her saying. Just as he was about to speak, a young nobleman with two attendants strode up to the gate and presented a visiting card.

"I am Yu Qing, prince of the Baili second-rank kingdom. I have come to seek an audience with the Great Medicine King."

The Baili second-rank kingdom was a realm like the Beiwu Kingdom, much larger than the Tianxuan Kingdom.

"Sorry, our master has instructed that he is not receiving guests," the guard said, blocking the way with a blank expression.

"How dare you! Our prince, a noble of a second-rank kingdom, wishes to see your master, and you dare to stop us?" an attendant behind the young man shouted, stepping forward. "Move aside!"

"In Red Lotus City, our master calls the shots. Whether it's a prince of a second-rank kingdom or the king himself, if he says no, you won't see him! Get lost now, or don't blame us for being rude."

The guard narrowed his eyes, flicked his hand, and drew his weapon.

"You're asking for death!"

Hearing this, the attendant flew into a rage and charged forward, grabbing at the air. The wind howled and snapped.

"Tongxuan realm intermediate stage?"

This attendant was actually a Tongxuan realm intermediate stage expert, no wonder he was so arrogant.

Whoosh!

With Tongxuan realm intermediate stage, he had a tremendous force of 200 ding. Before his palm even reached the guards, the air pressure emitted sharp whistles.

"You want to force your way into the Great Medicine King's mansion?"

The speaking guard stepped back.

"What if I do?"

Prince Yu Qing's attendant snorted coldly, his palm force not diminishing but increasing.

"Then... die!"

Seeing the force growing stronger, the guards simultaneously snorted and flicked their hands.

Splash!

A cloud of white mist shot out.

"You..."

Before Yu Qing's attendant could react, the white mist hit his face. His whole body convulsed, then he foamed at the mouth, fell to the ground, rolled his eyes, and died on the spot.

"What?"

Seeing this, Yu Qing and the remaining attendant's faces changed simultaneously as they backed away.

This attendant was stronger than both of them, yet he died instantly without even a chance to speak. The poison was too vicious.

"Get lost!"

After killing the attendant, the guard waved his hand.

This time, Yu Qing and his attendant dared not say another word; they turned and left with the body.

"This..."

It took some time to describe, but it happened in just a few breaths. Watching this, Zhang Xuan's expression turned grave.

Facing a prince of a second-rank kingdom, they directly poisoned his attendant to death, without giving any face...

Even he hadn't expected that.

No wonder Mo Yu was so cautious. This Great Medicine King was indeed ruthless.

Hesitating, he couldn't help but ask, "If we present a visiting card, can we get in?"

Mo Yu, after all, was a princess of the Tianwu Kingdom; her face should be much greater than that of a prince from a second-rank kingdom.

"No!" Knowing his thoughts, Mo Yu shook her head. "Although Red Lotus City is nominally a city of the Tianwu Kingdom, it's actually a lawless zone. I'm just a princess; even if a prince came, it wouldn't work. Didn't you see? A prince had his subordinate killed on the spot and didn't dare say a word."

"Then... can we sneak in?"

"Sneak in? Even more impossible! The Great Medicine King can hold Red Lotus City and be the strongest; he must have special means. If anyone could sneak in, his mansion would have been raided long ago."

Mo Yu said.

"That's true..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

To establish himself in this chaotic Red Lotus City and become the biggest power, if anyone could sneak into his mansion, the Great Medicine King would have died a hundred and eighty times over.

"Another one looking for death!"

"Is the Great Medicine King's mansion so easy to enter?"

"Legend says only three kinds of people can enter: first, Medicine Kings; second, poison masters; third, those with an invitation! Otherwise, it's best not to linger here, or you might die without knowing why!"

"Indeed!"

...

Seeing even a prince of a second-rank kingdom return in defeat, low voices arose around them.

"Invitation? Old sir, can one enter with an invitation?"

Hearing this, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, and he walked over to the speaker, handing over a gold note.

"Yes!"

Taking the gold note, the old man's eyes brightened, and he nodded.

"How does one obtain an invitation?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"I don't know either..."

The old man shook his head, then suddenly remembered something: "Oh, right! There's another kind of person who can enter without an invitation."

"Oh?" Zhang Xuan and Mo Yu both looked at him.

"The Great Medicine King is old and has been unwell lately. These days, he's inviting physicians to treat him. As long as one is a formal physician and holds a physician's badge, one can enter without an invitation." The old man said.

"Physician?" Zhang Xuan looked over. "Is there a Physician Guild here?"

Physicians also had their own organization: the Physician Guild.

Because Tianxuan Kingdom was insignificant, it had no such guild. If there was one here, he could take the exam.

"There's no Physician Guild here, just physicians passing through to buy herbs." The old man pointed ahead. "Look, that one should be one."

Hearing this, Zhang Xuan looked and saw a middle-aged man approaching.

"I am Nie Yuan, a two-star physician from Beichen Kingdom, invited to see the Great Medicine King."

Saying this, he took out a badge and handed it over.

"So it's Physician Nie Yuan. This way, please!"

After checking the badge, the guard quickly bowed and cleared the way.

"Thank you!" Physician Nie Yuan said nothing more and walked in.