Years ago, Elder Shun had departed the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance and entrusted Huang'er to Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen deduced that his route of departure must have first taken him to Danqian Palace, then onward to Glazed Glass Royal City, arriving in the Upper Eight Domains as a whole.
And there, in the Upper Eight Domains, he had placed a supreme bounty.
A Great Emperor's Sarira—in exchange for finding the Soul-Calming Wood. At the time, this had caused a massive stir throughout the Upper Eight Domains.
This was something Jiang Chen had originally learned from Pill King Lü Feng, which was how he came to know that Elder Shun had once visited the Upper Eight Domains and set foot in Glazed Glass Royal City.
The bounty of a Great Emperor's Sarira was enough to drive the entire human territory into a frenzy.
Jiang Chen focused his thoughts for a moment, his brow heavy with gravity. "Old Lü, this is no joking matter."
Pill King Lü Feng saw Jiang Chen's serious expression and immediately dropped his usual jovial demeanor. For once, he spoke with genuine earnestness. "Master, I don't have one hundred percent certainty on this either. But based on my assessment, the source of this information should be fairly reliable."
"Tell me the details."
Jiang Chen dared not take this lightly—the Soul-Calming Wood concerned Huang'er's very life, and he naturally gave it his utmost attention.
Pill King Lü Feng said, "Yesterday, a wandering cultivator came to my shop. This man has built quite a name for himself among the wandering cultivator community in Glazed Glass Royal City over the years. He and I have always gotten along well. He's a regular patron of mine, and we can hold a decent conversation…"
Pill King Lü Feng didn't keep anyone in suspense and related the story straight through.
"When he came back this time, he was covered in wounds—very bizarre wounds. He found me right away, dragged me out of my seclusion, and begged me to heal him. But his injuries were extremely strange. I, Old Lü, am considered one of the top healers in Glazed Glass Royal City, yet I was utterly helpless against his wounds. I asked him how he'd gotten them. At first he wouldn't talk, but later—when it seemed he realized he might not make it—he started trying to put his affairs in order, asking me to look after his young son. The price for that favor was telling me a piece of news about the Soul-Calming Wood. He said that, for now, only a handful of wandering cultivators knew about this information…"
"Is he dead yet?" Jiang Chen asked, moved.
"Not yet, but soon. If my calculations are right, he has no more than three days left. He probably knew his injuries couldn't be treated in Glazed Glass Royal City, so he didn't bother seeking out other famous healers. He just plans to wait for the end at my place."
Jiang Chen said urgently, "Take me to see him."
Pill King Lü Feng blinked. "Master, you want to try?"
"I want to find out whether what he says about the Soul-Calming Wood is true or false. If it turns out to be a con, then this man isn't worth saving."
"A con? What would he con me for?" Pill King Lü Feng shook his head. "We've known each other for decades. I understand his character—he's rather aloof, but he's not the type to run his mouth."
"What if he told a small white lie just to get you to agree to look after his son?" Jiang Chen didn't necessarily think the man was a villain, but in matters like these, it was always best to verify.
Since Jiang Chen had said as much, Pill King Lü Feng naturally supported him. The wandering cultivator was, after all, still his friend, and if there was even a sliver of hope, he didn't want to give up.
"Master, then what are we waiting for? Let's go now. I can tell he's at death's door—every moment we delay brings him closer to the gates of death."
Jiang Chen didn't dawdle either. He gave a quick set of instructions to the people at Taiyuan Pavilion, said a word to Huang'er, and then headed out with Pill King Lü Feng.
There was no lead on the Soul-Calming Wood yet, so naturally Jiang Chen hadn't mentioned it to Huang'er in advance. If this turned out to be false, it would be cruel to raise her hopes for nothing.
As a Ninth-Rank Pill King, Pill King Lü Feng had no powerful backers in Glazed Glass Royal City, but he was still a person of considerable standing. His residence was in a prestigious area of the Shennong District.
"Master, this is the first time you've actually come to my place," Pill King Lü Feng said cheerfully.
Jiang Chen waved a hand. "To be safe, don't let your subordinates know too much."
Pill King Lü Feng chuckled. "Relax. When you come to visit, Master, I naturally make sure they keep their distance. They mustn't offend your distinguished presence. These fellows are all die-hard fans of yours—if word got out that you were here, they'd block you in the house and you'd never get out."
Pill King Lü Feng might have seemed jovial and carefree, but he had his methods. The entire Pill King's Manor was managed in impeccable order.
Jiang Chen followed Pill King Lü Feng into the manor and headed straight for the secret chamber.
The wandering cultivator was staying in a hidden room in the backyard. Seeing Pill King Lü Feng arrive with a young Pill King in tow, he was momentarily taken aback.
He had been writing a letter, and upon noticing the unfamiliar visitor, the wandering cultivator quickly tucked it away. He glanced at Pill King Lü Feng. "Brother Lü, who's this? A new disciple you've taken in? Quite the striking young man."
Pill King Lü Feng's face turned green at the words. "Old He, watch your mouth. This is my Master."