Chapter 71: Chapter 71: No Turning Back
Chen Ye looked at Gao Ming with a slight surprise.
This member of the Jade Lizard Association, who had once been instigated by Taoist Zhang to aggressively come and seize Chen Ye to serve as a medicine slave in East Valley, now seemed like a different person.
He stood at the door of Chen Ye’s house, with a nervous smile on his face, his body slightly hunched, and without the arrogance he once had.
Gao Ming, thinking that Chen Ye hadn’t heard him clearly, cautiously repeated:
"Chen... Taoist Friend Chen, the chairman invites you, requesting Taoist Friend Chen to diagnose the Mysterious Ginseng."
Chen Ye understood in his heart.
That night at the Cloud Clothing Pavilion, Luo Heng publicly crippled Kong Hongxuan with ruthless decisiveness, enough to deter the petty villains.
Gao Ming, as a former subordinate of Kong Hongxuan, witnessed the hall master’s miserable state.
Having also seen the unpredictable Geng Metal Qi of Chen Ye, he naturally did not dare to show any disrespect.
"Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng?"
Chen Ye repeated, his gaze sweeping around Shunshui Street.
It was empty and devoid of anyone.
"Precisely!"
Gao Ming nodded and bowed repeatedly,
"The chairman’s Mysterious Ginseng, which Taoist Friend stabilized the vitality of last time, has been showing signs of fluctuation again in recent days. The chairman, recalling your miraculous methods, specially ordered me to invite you over."
Chen Ye rubbed his chin, looking at Gao Ming’s nervous expression.
This old fox Luo Heng, really has his ear to the ground.
The market had just been unsealed, and he immediately sent someone over.
"Master?" Qing Jun peeked out her little head from inside the house, curiously observing Gao Ming at the door.
Seeing him being timid, she couldn’t help but pout.
This villain, coming again to seize Master?
Chen Ye gave his apprentice a comforting glance, then said to Gao Ming: "Lead the way."
"Master, I’m coming with you!"
Zhiwei hurriedly ran out from inside the house, with a note of determination in her voice,
"Zhiwei, can now help Master..."
The little black-furred creature stood in front of Chen Ye.
As if trying to block Gao Ming for him...
But, she was too short.
Even talking to Chen Ye required her to tip her little face upward.
The inky black bangs slipped from her cheeks, revealing a cold, exquisite face.
"Nonsense!" Chen Ye chuckled, "Master is just going to treat a spirit plant; with your meager cultivation, you’d better stay home and wait till Master returns."
"But..." Zhiwei still wanted to argue.
"No buts!" Chen Ye sternly said, "Listen!"
Zhiwei pursed her lips tight, saying nothing further, just silently lowering her head, clenching the corners of her clothes.
The little black-furred creature was clearly hurt.
But Chen Ye was very apprehensive of Luo Heng and wouldn’t dare let his apprentice follow and take risks with him.
Luo Heng, being a cold-blooded turncoat, willing to pay any price for his cultivation, almost obsessively so...
From his decisiveness in crippling Kong Hongxuan, it was evident.
Luo Heng did not care about influence nor the thoughts of his subordinates, only about his Foundation Establishment.
In fact,
The reason Chen Ye didn’t completely heal the Mysterious Ginseng in one go was the fear that Luo Heng would take advantage of the market’s changes to burn bridges directly.
Kill him and retrieve the resources that had been given.
Such a thing was not impossible.
Gao Ming felt as though he’d been pardoned, hurriedly leading the way with an attitude almost deferential.
Along the way, they arrived at the Jade Lizard Association’s premises.
It was not a secretive place, situated in a rather grand mansion on the south side of the market.
The entrance was well-guarded, and seeing Gao Ming lead Chen Ye in, they all greeted him respectfully, clearly having been instructed.
After traversing several courtyards, they reached a more heavily guarded quiet chamber.
Luo Heng had long awaited them here, a genial smile on his face as if the ruthless moment at the Cloud Clothing Pavilion with Kong Hongxuan had never happened.
"Taoist Friend Chen, please take a seat!" Luo Heng rose to greet them, "This Mysterious Ginseng of mine is entirely relying on you!"
In the center of the quiet chamber, a small plot of spiritual soil was enclosed with warm jade fences, planted with that very Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng.
Compared to before, the Mysterious Ginseng’s condition indeed seemed a bit worse.
Withered and listless, its spiritual light was dim,
Chen Ye stepped forward, carefully observing.
He reached out a finger, gently brushing it over the ginseng’s leaves from afar, spiritual light swirling at his fingertips.
With the Perfection-level Cloud Rain Technique and Fostering Technique operating simultaneously, containing the vigorous vitality of Limit Break Evergreen Technique’s spiritual power, like a gentle invisible spring breeze, probing the Mysterious Ginseng’s condition.
Indeed,
The Mysterious Ginseng merely appeared in poor condition; diagnosing it was a piece of cake for Chen Ye.
But Chen Ye feigned a serious look:
"Chairman Luo, the demonic qi in this Mysterious Ginseng has already invaded the essence of the spirit plant, deeply rooted, more troublesome than last time."
Luo Heng inquired anxiously, "Then... in Taoist Friend Chen’s view, is there still hope?"
Chen Ye pondered for a moment, "Saving it, naturally it can be saved. Just that..."
Luo Heng immediately understood, "Taoist Friend, rest assured! As long as we can save this ginseng, no matter what spiritual materials or assistance you need, or any request you have, the entire Jade Lizard Association will fully accommodate!"
The old man agreed swiftly, without the slightest notion of bargaining.
But in Chen Ye’s heart, there was a chill.
No wonder...
Previously, he cleanly offered a Tier One Upper Grade Heart-Protecting Jade.
This old man, he probably already planned to burn bridges!
So, he might as well go for broke!
Chen Ye maintained a calm expression, boldly stating: "Fifty spirit stones, and in addition, I need your association’s help in finding a few things."
Luo Heng’s eyes flashed with keen light and he nodded without hesitation, "Good! As you say, Taoist Friend!"
Seeing Luo Heng agree so readily, Chen Ye no longer restrained and directly stated his needs:
"A good water series cultivation technique, capable of being cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage. Two water series combat spells, one offensive, one defensive, Tier One Upper Grade!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Heng was taken aback.
Although fifty spirit stones were quite a sum, it wasn’t considered unreasonable for treating the Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng.
The Six-leaf Mysterious Ginseng, although only a Tier One Upper Grade spirit plant,
Can be used to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.
Its value exceeds even that of Second Tier spirit plants.
Worthy of being called priceless.
The last appearance was at an auction at Moon Rhinoceros Lake.
At the time, fetching a high price of six hundred spirit stones!
But these subsequent requests were somewhat unexpected.
Techniques and spells, these sorts of things are far harder to acquire than spirit stones, especially designated attributes, top-tier techniques capable of being cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage.
In the quiet chamber, the atmosphere was momentarily stagnant.
Luo Heng studied Chen Ye.
He never thought Chen Ye would need a water series cultivation method, and moreover, explicitly one able to be cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage.
What kind of ploy is this kid concocting?
He remained unperturbed on the surface, pondering for a moment, before stroking his beard with a smile, "Water series cultivation methods are not absent, it’s just that superior techniques capable of being cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage are few and far between."
Luo Heng paused, then with a hint of probing in his tone asked, "However, why does Taoist Friend Chen suddenly need a water series cultivation method? Could it be... for your disciple?"
Chen Ye was not surprised.
Luo Heng had probably been secretly investigating him for some time.
It was impossible to hide that he had two apprentices.
Chen Ye ambiguously replied, "Something like that. My disciple’s aptitude is decent, it’s always good to prepare early."
He didn’t specify which apprentice, nor would he reveal Zhiwei’s innate talent.
Not to mention the Purity Glaze Body, even Zhiwei’s talent comparable to a Two Spiritual Roots.
If exposed, it could attract calamity.
Upon hearing this, Luo Heng’s eyes flickered.
He looked at Chen Ye, speaking meaningfully:
"Taoist Friend Chen truly has deep affection for your disciple... speaking of which, my hopeless underling Kong Hongxuan, what he practiced, by chance, is a water series cultivation method, one passed down from the Lingyin Sect, the orthodox cultivation method ’Frost Splendor Record’. It’s said that when cultivated deeply, its might is extraordinary."