Shen Yue made it back home after taking extra precaution measures. Most matters happened in a way that fit what he needed when he thought it over. However, the factor of the Sacred Family making moves recklessly was not taken into effect.
Stirring the pot between the Sacred Family and the Snow Wind Family was more of a future plan. Not something right now. But Ye Hong was an investment that was good. Just need more grooming and break away from that Snow Wind Indoctrination.
"Actually ran out of spiritual energy in that attack and then evading those guards!" Shen Yue came up from an underground entrance that he made in his room. The tunnel was from almost the other side of the city. It took only a day to make the dirt tunnel and it was not suitable for a regular person to go through. In fact, the lack of air that traveled through made breathing extremely difficult. "Need to make a memo to buy a few more properties to link some more tunnels."
*Thunk!* The door closed as Dian Mu walked in. Spotting his master, the young man didn't know what to think seeing him completely filthy and haggard. By the looks of things, Shen Yue was exhausted.
"Would you like me to draw you a bath?" Dian Mu asked softly.
"Hmm, won't be necessary." Shen Yue mumbled. Speaking was even exhausting. He plopped down on the floor while drinking an elixer to recover his energy. Just enough to help with cultivation he planned on doing in a few minutes. "How goes the studying?"
"I finished the basic materials as well as the first volume of the advance material." Dian Mu passed over the checklist as well as the written tests that were assigned to him. "I think I did pretty good on it."
Shen Yue read everything over silently. His spirit energy restoring at a fast pace once it latched onto the runes on the floor. Slowly different symbols lit up in the room as herbs popped out of his ring as well as the Internal Space.
The original Shen Yue had pretty ice stuff inside after he took a closer look. Stuff that could have helped the former if he knew how to use them. It was a good thing the new Shen Yue did.
"You did good. Defintely a passing grade." Shen Yue marked the incorrect answers and marked why they were wrong. Mostly due to the young man's comprehension it seemed. But that could be fixed with more literacy practice. "Review all the wrong answers over and redo the practice. But you, my young apprentice, can be considered an Entry Level Black smith by the Family's standards. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish."
"Yes!" Dian Mu cheered happily. His running around the room was not a problem considering the news. "I can't wait to start making stuff!" Thinking of the stockpile of metal he acquired for personal use, he couldn't wait to start experimenting. "Just need to pass the Flame Test and I am good to go!"
"Correct." Shen Yue pulled out a book he acquired from the library. It was on fire control for cooking certain demon beast parts for various uses. "This book contains some odd things I think will be helpful. I have not finished it myself but what I browsed through was defintely something."
"Ok." Taking the book, Dian Mu asked a few other questions before it turned into an entire discussion on different techniques. This forced Shen Yue to re-evaluate some things which in turn had him use Astral Sense to mix up ingredients while the runes help with spirit energy recovery.
'Haa, this is training anyway. Can never have to much control.' Sighing mentally, Shen Yue allowed the Flame Vortex Core to spin nonstop. Strength was not improving but understanding increased. Astral Sense moved a few Rune Patterns into a better formation from his subconscious thoughts. 'I really needed the bodies of those cultivators. But no matter.'
.
Yang Xin-
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Sitting in a medicinal bath alone, Yang Xin was facing a dilemma. Ye Hong had given her enough to think about with his voicing about the writer of the letters. The long thin glass she held in her hand was still mysterious to her.
But now she had to think about the letter she received about some formulas from a no name person really. Ye Hoong outed Nie Lie as the writer of that one and that soon things will change regarding some herbs.
"The effects are true.." Yang Xin moved her hand through the water. In the other was the glass that she took her eyes off for just a moment. Hand dropped just enough for it to touch the surface of the water. "..the market is about to take a crazy turn and thanks to Ye Hong the Alchemist Asociation can get ahead and make it better. But why didn't he negotiate better terms for the Snow Wind Family? In fact, he negotiated for himself as well as this Liang Yu person!"
*Bzzt!* The thing glass touched the water surface causing a discharge of pure spirit lighting. The good news it didn't kill Yang Xin. The bad news it caused the medicinal properties in the bath to become richer.
"UGhhh!" Yang Xin gripped the side of the tub tightly. Her other hand hitting against the side as she was suprised. The thin glass sinking deeper into the water increasing the effects even further. "Ahhhhhh!" A warm energy coursed through her body knocking the unprepared woman out cold.
*Boom!* A young attendant rushed into the room to see what was the matter. The sight before her left the young one stunned. But she was smart enough to close the door behind her at least.
"Mistress... are.. you ok?" Yang Xin's feet stuck straight up almost comically. Her freed hand punched through the tub destroying the material easily. Her right hand gripped the thin glass so tight her blood dripped over it. "Where did all the water go?"
The bathtub was devoid of any moisture. In fact, the only thing inside was Yang Xin and dregs that were burnt to a crisp. Slowly seepage left from Yang Xin's pores. Arcs of lightning danced around the surface of her skin.
*Bzzt!* Which each area it passed, more dregs were forced out. The Purification process cultivators go through from time to time was happening now in an unusual fashion.
.
Dark Moon Family Compound-
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Shen Xiu was about to go and check on her reckless nephew. Having been told by Dian Rei that he came in exhausted and that her brother Dian Mu and Shen Yue spent all night talking about a small money plan, she felt like the youngsters needed to be reminded to take care of themselves.
"Maybe nothing will happen this time." Shen Xiu raised her hand to the door tentatively. The fox on her shoulder just covered up instead of looking. "Nothing weird, nothing weird!" Right before she made contact, a presence and voice caused her to stop.
"Mistress!" Dian Rei called out in a hurry. "We have guests at the door!" The young Alchemist was pretty dirty as she herself started making pills first thing when waking up. Which was at the crack of dawn. "It is members of the Divine Family!"
"Ahhh! Ok." Shen Xiu sighed as she turned from the door. It was a good thing considering Shen Yue was doing something very disgusting. But that is for another time. "Let's see what.. actually go back to what you were doing. Your Alchemy is more important."
Dian Rei nodded and took off. Happy to work instead of entertaining guests. The downside of not having many workers in the estate, it was either Shen Xiu, Dian Mu or Dian Rei tending to visitors. Which increased steadily over the last few days.
Out in the main courtyard was Chen Linjian and a few of his lackeys. The guy who received the busted leg was not present of course. Behind them was also an Elder of the Divine Family by the name of Chen Wu.
Chen Wu was the one who slipped the information that allowed Chen Linjian to piece things togethor to want to do the expedition into the ruins. He was also the one that kept most of the family out of the youngsters' affairs.
"Now remember, you are going to need something to help you cultivate. Bad enough that Ye Hong is rising in importance with the Alchemy Association and the youngers at your school." It had not even been a full day and word got around thanks to the spies at work about Ye Hong getting attacked after a meeting with the Alchemy Association. "If this Shen Yue is that good of a rising Alchemist, you will need him at your side."
"I understand Elder, but it not that easy." Linjian looked around at the surroundings and consider to be humble. There were no servants waiting for anyone and in fact, there seemed to only be workers getting the area ready for future plans. "Why he is the West Wall, I have no idea. All the surrounding buildings that were uninhabited have been demolished and it looks like they are getting the foundation ready to build on these lots something peculiar."
"So what do you all want?" Shen Xiu said coming out. From what she received from Shen Yue previously, Chen Linjian would make an appearance most likely in a few weeks maybe. The Elder that accompanied them was not a bother at all to her. "A Peak Gold Rank cultivator to help protect you, are you thinking we are planning an attack against you?"
*Yip!* The fox on her shoulder made a little noise as it sat up. Four luscious tails moved about before settling. Its eyes challenging and almost an exact copy of Shen Xiu's.
"Not at all." Chen Linjian said quickly. "We just have a few herbs and would like to request a few pills be made to help for our future endeavor! Elder Wu is making sure nothing bad happens. Just last night we hear an attack happened not to far from the Alchemy Association!"
Removing a few pouches as well as the lackeys doing the same, they passed them Shen Xiu cautiously. Elder Wu watched for any problems but couldn't see any malicious intent. In fact, Shen Xiu was pretty relaxed.
"I know I am gorgeous but you shouldn't stare." Shen Xiu said with a small smile. The words were said to Elder Wu but she was looking at a few of the lackeys. They couldn't stop staring at her figure. 'This is still quite fun, I don't think I can give it up so easily teasing people. Well in my own home anyway.'
"Ehem!" Elder Wu blushed slightly even though he was not looking her over but actually trying to determine her cultivation. "I was doing nothing of the sort young lady! I was just trying to determine your cultivation rank! It was rude of me." He cupped his fist in a salute. "Please accept my apologies!"
"It is fine." Shen Xiu was crafty and decided it was better to have the Divine Family as an ally for the Dark Moon Family. After all, it wouldn't be much longer until things turn bad with the Dark Guild plans and the Sacred Family plans to unfold. Especially if things fall through with the Snow Wind Family and Winged Dragon Family. She did not care to much in regards to the Alchemy Association. "I am only at the 1st Black Gold Rank."
All present including the old man were dumbfounded. It wasn't to long ago that she was at the Silver Rank and from what rumors suggested that she was at the Gold Rank afterward. Either they had a secret to help them promote quickly or the pills created by Shen Yue were that extraordinary.
"With the ingredients here.. I think our Alchemist can make some good things for you all. Payment can be discussed later." Shen Xiu closed the bags after checking them over. Keeping only one that contained the most destroyed of the herbs but were the oldest. She reached into her storage ring and grabbed a pill bottle. "If you have more herbs like these, due bring them."
*Woosh!* The bottle she tossed to Linjian contained 50 pills. And a stone with Rune markings on it. The Rune markings kept the pills fresh and helped dissipate the volatile energy inside. The pills were re-refined by from the destructive batch Shen Yue made by Dian Rei. It took only one volatile pill to help upgrade Dian Rei's pills.
"Thank you." Chen Linjian had composed himself well enough. He was not a young master of a family for nothing. Seeing an opportunity he asked how else they could pay them. "With matters turning odd in regards to Alchemy for some reason, is there anything else you need? Such as materials for building or more workers?"
Elder Wu smiled internally at the suggestion. He was quite proud of Chen Linjian's suggestion. Surely they would be able to help pay with labor cost in the area. But he was wrong.
"Nope. It is not needed at this time." Shen Xiu shook no as she spoke. But she gave them some good news. "We do need various fabrics. And a few tailors to help. Some armaments and clothing will be sold by us soon."
Slightly interested in the thought of Inscription clothing, underwear clothing, and the various workout clothing Shen Yue suggested they sell soon, Shen Xiu was all over that project. In fact, she wore one of the prototype bras currently. Which did a lot better than the wrap or Chengauem woman used.
As the discussion went into that department more, three other things happened.
The Alchemy Association with a few carts arrived. The Snow Wind Family with a few carts arrived. Letting them inside was easy enough but the carts themselves were carrying foodstuff that was fresh.
*Kaboom!* An explosion in the area of Dian Rei's Alchemy Room went off. A medicinal cloud floated in the area before dissipating.
Shen Xiu knew the girl was fine due to the Protection Rune's in place, but she made a note to take it out of Dian Rei's budget later. The runes protected her more than the building after all.