There was no denying that Jiang Chen’s list this time was an absolute exorbitant demand. In fact, it was an incredibly large one.
It was an opportunity to extort, and not taking it would be a waste.
It wasn't that Jiang Chen was greedy, but encountering such a chance meant missing it would delay the next opportunity for an unknown amount of time. He had finally leveraged the influence of the three great dojos, and if he didn’t push that advantage to the absolute limit, all his scheming would have been for nothing.
As for a small fry like Lü Wuji, killing him might have provided some satisfaction, but from Jiang Chen’s perspective, killing Lü Wuji was like crushing an ant. In reality, that was far less practical than extracting a hearty ransom.
Yang Zhao returned home and stared at the list, his heart clenching with every glance. Every single item on it was a rare spiritual medicine.
Collecting them all would definitely make him bleed heavily. He did a quick calculation; gathering everything would cost him at least a third of his fortune.
The wealth he’d amassed over years of squeezing the populace, hiding stolen goods, and skimming profits would suddenly be depleted by a third. The mere thought made Yang Zhao’s heart ache fiercely.
“Should I have the Dragon Tooth Guard cover part of it? After all, this concerns their overall interests,” Yang Zhao considered.
But the moment he recalled the Grand Steward’s stern expression, the thought vanished. If he dared make such an unreasonable demand, the Grand Steward would likely dismiss him immediately.
Without the title of Deputy Steward, what was Yang Zhao? Less than a pile of filth.
A pile of filth lying in the street at least avoided being stepped on. If Yang Zhao lost the protective aura of his Dragon Tooth Guard position, his enemies would surely trample him to death.
“Lü Wuji, that useless wretch!” Yang Zhao groaned. Now, it wasn’t just about rescuing his nephew; it concerned the Dragon Tooth Guard’s collaboration with the three great dojos.
If he stepped aside and did nothing, Lü Wuji would undoubtedly die, and the partnership would collapse. Ultimately, the blame would still fall on him.
His position as Deputy Steward would be unsteady.
“Forget it, forget it,” Yang Zhao decided, heart throbbing with pain. “I’ll have to pay. Let that kid Jiang Chen gloat for now. Once the storm passes, I’ll make him cough up every last bit, flesh and bones!”
As a decisive and ruthless figure, Yang Zhao made up his mind and immediately began using all his connections to collect the medicines on the list.
The Tiangui Kingdom was rich in resources, and Jiang Chen’s list was tailored to its reality. The spiritual medicines listed could all be found within its borders.
Time passed, and five days slipped by in a flash.
Jiang Chen watched the rising steam, his gaze fixed.
In this moment, his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil and Wind-listening Ear were pushed to their limits, capturing every detail.
This was the final distillation step. Once the heat was right, the valve would automatically filter, and the finished Nine Hua Jade Dew Wine would flow out slowly.
“Hmm, the fragrance… separating it carefully, nine distinct scents are clear, yet they seem to meld into one. The heat is just about right.”
“Turn off the fire.”
The moment the heat was perfect, he opened the valve. A liquid, like celestial nectar, flowed out slowly, carrying a fragrance impossible to forget.
Spirit Grade Nine Hua Jade Dew Wine — successfully brewed!
Not long after Jiang Chen succeeded, Qiao Baishi, drawing on several past failures, also successfully produced a batch of qualified Evergreen Pills.
The Nine Hua Jade Dew Wine was stored in specially prepared wooden containers. This wine was very particular about its vessel; using the wrong container could affect its quality.
Jiang Chen would naturally make no such mistake.
The yield of Nine Hua Jade Dew Wine was extremely small; the final product was the essence of essences. So despite preparing so much material, he ended up with exactly enough to fill nine pots.
Of course, this amount was already astonishing.
At that moment, Qiao Baishi emerged, drenched in sweat. Having grown accustomed to refining other pills, the unique Evergreen Pill had demanded considerable effort from him.
“Master, your disciple has not failed the mission.”
Among the Evergreen Pills Qiao Baishi had refined, four turned out to be of supreme quality. Most were high-grade, with less than ten percent at mid-grade. Not a single one was low-grade.
“Baishi, your skill in alchemy has improved significantly,” Jiang Chen noted.
Qiao Baishi hurriedly replied, “This is all thanks to your guidance, Master.”
This wasn’t false modesty. Jiang Chen had indeed given him much guidance in alchemy, even overturning his previous understanding. He had opened up new avenues of thought, making Qiao Baishi realize how superficial and laughable his prior knowledge had been.
Once he glimpsed the true path, Qiao Baishi’s skills naturally improved dramatically. He was, after all, a talent worth cultivating.