Chapter 1346: A Stroke of Fortune

"Elder Feng, how is it? Did you succeed in refining it?"

The speaker was Han Tian, the head of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Wumeng Royal City. The elder opposite him was Xiao Feng, the chief alchemist of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and a three-star Divine Alchemist.

Xiao Feng shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "I have immersed myself in the Dao of Alchemy for over a hundred thousand years, yet I never imagined I would be unable to refine even a single first-rank mid-grade divine pill!"

Han Tian was greatly shocked and said, "Failed? This... this can't be possible? A mere first-rank mid-grade divine pill, and even you, a peak three-star Divine Alchemist, cannot refine it?"

Half a month ago, Han Tian had received the recipe for the Nourishing Origin Pill transmitted through a secret channel from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Guishan City.

After receiving Yang Rui's message, Han Tian immediately realized the enormous business opportunity.

Thus, he began mobilizing the alchemists of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Wumeng Royal City to refine the Nourishing Origin Pill according to the recipe.

However, he soon discovered that he had been too naive!

Although the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was short on manpower, it still had some two-star Divine Alchemists.

Yet none of these two-star Divine Alchemists could refine the Nourishing Origin Pill.

Astonished, Han Tian then sought out a three-star Divine Alchemist to refine it, but the result was the same!

Finally, with no other choice, Han Tian managed to enlist the three-star Divine Alchemist Xiao Feng.

But to his surprise, even Xiao Feng had failed!

Was the Nourishing Origin Pill really that difficult to refine?

Xiao Feng sighed and said, "This recipe seizes the wonders of heaven and earth. Without a profound understanding of the Dao of Alchemy, it is impossible to refine it. I... still lack some skill."

In truth, he was very close to success, but no matter what, he could not break through the final barrier.

Hearing this, Han Tian felt utterly disheartened.

When he first obtained the recipe for the Nourishing Origin Pill, he thought he had struck gold. But now it seemed like a worthless chicken rib.

If it couldn't be refined, what use was the recipe no matter how powerful?

"I never thought it would be like drawing water with a bamboo basket—all in vain! Alas..." Han Tian said helplessly.

Xiao Feng thought for a moment and said, "Pavilion Master, I have an idea."

Han Tian said listlessly, "Elder Feng, if you have any ideas, feel free to speak."

Xiao Feng said, "I want to go to Guishan City!"

Han Tian was taken aback and quickly shook his head, saying, "Isn't that inappropriate? Elder Feng, your status is noble; how could you condescend to such a mundane place? You want to see that guest alchemist named Ye Yuan, right? If you wish to see him, I can send someone to fetch him here."

To them, a place like Guishan City was not worth their visit.

But Xiao Feng shook his head and said, "Pavilion Master, you are mistaken! The saying goes, 'Those who achieve mastery are teachers.' Since Ye Yuan has already refined the Nourishing Origin Pill, it shows that his understanding of the Dao of Alchemy must be deeper than mine! At least in refining first-rank divine pills, I am inferior to him! Such a person will surely surpass me in the future, and we should give him due respect! If we can win over such a genius for our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, he will surely become a pillar of the pavilion!"

Han Tian thought it over and nodded, saying, "Elder Feng, your words are reasonable. Then... I'll trouble you to make the trip! If possible, be sure to bring him to Wumeng Royal City!"

Xiao Feng said, "Hehe, no trouble at all! I have a feeling that perhaps... this trip will be a stroke of fortune for me."

...

Half a year had passed since the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion launched the Nourishing Origin Pill.

During these six months, the shops of the Wang, Lin, and Lu families had become desolate.

The launch of the Nourishing Origin Pill had dealt them a nearly devastating blow.

The Lin and Lu families fared a bit better, but the Wang family had been living beyond its means these days.

The rift between the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and Ye Yuan that Wang Su had predicted had yet to materialize.

Over these six months, Ye Yuan had been living quite comfortably.

Every day, aside from refining a batch of Nourishing Origin Pills, he cultivated in the Boundary Stele space, comprehending artistic conceptions.

These six months had also delighted Yang Rui.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion could be described as raking in money hand over fist!

Every day, Yang Rui was immersed in shock.

He knew in his heart that the divine spirit stones earned by the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in these six months could almost rival those of a large prefectural city like Mingyang City.

Finally, the Wang family could no longer sit still.

At this moment, Wang Su was in the Guishan City Lord's Mansion.

"Hehe, Brother Wang Su, you look well! I heard that your elder brother Wang Song has broken through to the late stage of the Insightful Void Realm, right?" City Lord Chen Yongnian smiled.

Wang Su smiled and said, "Brother Chen is very well-informed! His breakthrough happened just last year."

Chen Yongnian said with envy, "Wang Song has exceptional talent and the backing of the Wang family. Unlike us poor souls, who are busy with mundane affairs every day!"

Wang Su smiled and said, "Brother Chen is a city lord, holding great power. Others envy you but cannot attain your position!"

Chen Yongnian laughed heartily and said, "Brother Wang Su, you wouldn't come to my humble abode without a reason, would you?"

Wang Su cursed the old fox inwardly, but still smiled on the surface, saying, "Of course. However... Brother Chen need not worry about cultivation matters. As long as the Wang family of Guishan City survives this ordeal, Brother Chen's cultivation will be taken care of by Elder Wang Yuxiang. What do you say... isn't that right?"

Wang Yuxiang, who was standing nearby, quickly said, "Of course! Previously, our Wang family was remiss, and we hope the City Lord will forgive us. This time, our Wang family has prepared a modest gift as an apology."

Wang Yuxiang's heart was bleeding; even if the Wang family survived this ordeal, most of their future income would likely be used for tribute.

One Wang Su, one Wang Xuanfeng, and now Chen Yongnian added to the mix—the expenses were too great.

Cave Abyss Divine Realm martial artists were manageable, but Wang Xuanfeng and Chen Yongnian were both Insightful Void Realm martial artists.

Their consumption placed a heavy burden on the Wang family.

However, compared to the annihilation of the Wang family, this outcome was still acceptable.

All of this was brought about by that brat Ye Yuan.

In Wang Yuxiang's heart, he had long hated Ye Yuan to the bone.

This Chen Yongnian and Wang Su's elder brother Wang Song had been classmates at Wumeng Academy.

Wumeng Academy was an official academy run by Wumeng Royal City.

Most of the students who came out of it became regional lords, managing the various prefectural cities on behalf of Wumeng Royal City.

After the two graduated from Wumeng Academy, one became the city lord of the remote Guishan City, while the other became the deputy city lord of Mingyang City.

Although one was principal and the other deputy, due to the different cities, their statuses naturally differed.

Wang Song, as deputy city lord, held more power and influence than Chen Yongnian as city lord.

Moreover, Wang Song had been the first to break through to the late stage of the Insightful Void Realm, and he would likely be heavily favored by Wumeng Royal City in the future.

As for Chen Yongnian, he was also a cunning old fox.

He had naturally observed the struggle between the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and the Wang family, but he had remained inactive, waiting for the Wang family to come to him.

Now, the Wang family could indeed no longer hold out.

Although he was the city lord, the taxes from the various noble families all had to be turned over, and the city lord's mansion had huge expenses, so what remained for him was naturally not much.

Thus, he used this method to force the Wang family to pay tribute voluntarily.

This would go into his private coffers.

"Hehe, Elder Yuxiang is too polite. You've come to see me this time—is it about the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?" Chen Yongnian finally got down to business.