Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Master, I really don't know the spell to conceal spiritual aura."

Jin Xu earnestly said.

The pot-bellied monk felt that the man before him was insulting his intelligence.

If it were someone else, he would have definitely become angry.

But if it were a little Taoist monk.

Well, think about yesterday's Golden Thunderbolt.

Forget it, the Buddhist scriptures say, "Anger leads to misfortune."

"Amitabha, since Master Jin is reluctant to trade, I will not insist. After all, the relatives of the pill creator are here, and you can surely ask her for the pills."

The monk intoned a Buddhist chant towards the little Taoist and then looked at Yu Yaoer on the side.

Jin Xu, having heard the monk's words, felt quite helpless.

How could this monk not listen to him? He truly did not know any spell to conceal spiritual aura!

The little Taoist felt wronged...

"But this monk just said that the pill creator's relative is here?"

Jin Xu followed the other's gaze toward Little Fish Demon.

Yu Yaoer, who was fiddling with a jade token and noticed everyone looking at her, blankly raised her head and blinked her clear big eyes.

"Little Fish, can your grandma concoct this Three Elements Rejuvenation Pill?"

The little Taoist asked, slightly uncertain.

"Yes, not just grandma, I can craft it too, sir." Then she curiously asked the pot-bellied monk, "Master, have you met my grandma?"

"Hehe, the pill in the hands of this old monk was concocted by your grandma."

The monk responded with a smile, clearly recognizing Yu Yaoer since he mentioned that earlier.

Hearing this, the little Taoist finally remembered that his magical servant also had the reputation of a talented Shui Clan pill concoctress.

However, thinking of Yu Yaoer's self-proclaimed title of "Number One Chef of the Shui Clan", Jin Xu still felt uncertain and wanted to confirm again. Otherwise, if Xu Qian was not cured, let alone if he might end up growing a few extra eyes and ears.

"Little Fish, are you sure you can concoct this pill?"

"Rest assured, sir!"

Little Fish Demon confidently promised, patting Little White's shoulder.

"However, sir, the issue now is the ingredients needed for this pill."

Yu Yaoer shifted the topic, bringing up another problem.

On hearing about the ingredients issue, Xia Xuanmin instinctively thought of mentioning the plethora of spiritual medicines in the Great Xia National Treasury. But he thought it over and cautiously kept silent.

Today, anything he said seemed to backfire, so he decided to listen further.

Then.

Xia Yunzhao spoke up, "Sister Yaoer, if you lack any ingredients, just mention their names. The treasury of Great Xia is abundant, and we should be able to help. Right, Grandpa?"

Perhaps fearing her persuasion was not enough, the Seventh Princess notably mentioned her grandfather.

"Hehe."

The founding Emperor of Great Xia chuckled dryly and did not join the conversation.

"I just contacted my grandma through the jade token, and she said that in our Shui Clan we currently only have two of the three main ingredients required for the Three Elements Rejuvenation Pill. We are missing one, which is the sap of the Che Liang Wood." She paused, then turned to Xia Xuanmin, "Grandpa Xia, do you have this herb in the treasury?"

Internally, Emperor Min thought, "You should be asking her! Zhaoer was the one who spoke—why ask me?"

But he reluctantly admitted aloud.

"This spiritual medicine, our Great Xia National Treasury indeed does not possess it. If I remember correctly, that item is exclusive to the secret realm controlled by the Qingmu Academy, right? The realm will open in September, and by then, Zhaoer can negotiate on your behalf using the long-standing relationship between our two families to perhaps exchange for some."

As for why Xia Xuanmin did not mention going to negotiate personally, it was naturally because by that time, he might no longer be present.

After learning that his magical servant could concoct the Three Elements Rejuvenation Pill, the little Taoist had some more negotiations with the pot-bellied monk. But the monk was adamant, fixated on Jin Xu's non-existent spell to conceal spiritual aura.

Therefore, the negotiations ultimately ended in failure.

Fortunately, it was already the 24th of July. After waiting for a little over a month, the Qingmu Academy's secret realm would open. However, Xu Qian might have to suffer a bit in the meantime.

The group continued chatting casually in the small courtyard, and the pot-bellied monk left first.

Soon after, Xia Xuanmin and Xia Yunzhao also took their leave.

The 1st of August was Xia Yunzhao's coronation day, so the two of them had plenty of matters to attend to.

After this casual chat in the courtyard, the previous image of Emperor Min in Jin Xu's mind as powerful and extremely charismatic gained additional layers of kindness and awkwardness.

...

Night.

Shangjing City, outskirts.

A brightly lit, heavily guarded exquisite villa was situated here.

This was currently the residence of Prince Chun, who had moved here yesterday afternoon with the high-level monks and officials from his mansion. The event was sudden and he hardly had time to react, moving instinctively away from Shangjing to this location, and also arranged some formations around the villa overnight.

Inside the study of the villa.

Having just finished discussing with his subordinates, Prince Chun sat alone on a traditional chair, lifting his hand to massage his temples before taking a deep sigh.

"Sigh~"

Xia Huangchun couldn't figure out where that little Taoist monk had come from.

While Prince Mu had been winning over people in the army of Great Xia for years, Prince Chun had chosen to win over high-ranking monks among the night watchmen.

So, the Golden Thunderbolt in Shangjing City was released by a Taoist brought by Xia Yunzhao, which he was aware of.

To be honest, when he was in Prince Chun Mansion at that time, he was truly terrified.

That powerful fluctuation of Spiritual Power and the direction in which the thunderbolt struck were the sources of his fear.

At that moment, Xia Huangchun even thought the next Golden Thunderbolt would hit his mansion, which was why he promptly moved out of Shangjing City.

However, even now, residing in a different cottage, he still felt no safety whatsoever.

Just now in his study, he was discussing with a trusted subordinate whether to abandon their plan and choose to surrender.

But he was persuaded by a single line from his subordinate.

The subordinate said, "Prince, the official announcement of Prince Mu's death by Great Xia stated it was because he violated the laws of Great Xia. Think about it, Prince, in these two hundred years, we have not been short on actions that disregarded the laws of Great Xia. To say nothing of the distant past, even this very cottage we reside in was snatched from a Cultivation Family fifty years ago!"

Prince Chun thought about it and realized it was true.

If he surrendered, his niece could easily find an excuse to control him, so he temporarily dismissed the idea.

However, now a new idea emerged in his mind.

"How about running away!"

Even an ant clings to life, let alone him, a cultivator in the Divinity Transformation Realm.

The Nine Provinces Realm was vast; he thought it would be better to hide somewhere than to stay in Shangjing City, living in fear and risking his life.

However, being asked to make a decision immediately, he felt somewhat reluctant. After all, the experience of being a leisurely Divinity Transformer and a Prince of Great Xia in the Divinity Transformation Realm was worlds apart. Besides, he was reluctant to give up the Dragon Energy of Great Xia, a valuable asset that could enhance combat power and aid in cultivation.

During Xia Huangchun's distracted musings, suddenly a pitch-black eye flashed across his study.

"Who?"

Prince Chun, already on edge, instantly noticed the anomaly and was about to signal his subordinate cultivators.

"Your Highness need not panic; it's me."

The black eyes appeared directly in front of Xia Huangchun.

It was the black pupils of Ye Wuyang, the Four Elders of the Demon Sect.

Upon recognizing the "eyes," Prince Chun scoffed disrespectfully, "Yo, I thought that little Taoist scared you off. How come you dare show up now?"

Yesterday, when he learned of Xia Yunzhao's ascension, he had contacted this collaborator who gave no response. Afterward, when Prince Mu met his fate and the Golden Thunderbolt suppressed Shangjing City, he contacted this collaborator again to no avail.

For a day and a half, there was no communication, which is why he was now unreservedly blunt.

"You jest, Your Highness.

Our Sect is profound; a mere little Taoist is nothing to fear. However, that little Taoist is indeed powerful, so yesterday I specially invited our Demon Sect's Great Elder here.

To ensure our cooperation is flawless."

Ye Wuyang, unperturbed by Prince Chun's ridicule, politely explained.

Hearing this, Xia Huangchun pondered.

"If the Demon Sect has indeed requested their Great Elder's involvement as this person says, perhaps that little Taoist could indeed be subdued. But then, would Great Xia still be mine afterward?"

Seeing Prince Chun silent, the pitch-black eyes spoke again.

"Your Highness need not worry, our Sect has no interest in the throne of Great Xia. However, now that we need to engage the Great Elder, we need to adjust our deal. We want two-thirds of Great Xia's Dragon Energy!"

"Impossible."

Xia Huangchun instinctively rejected the proposal. He had previously agreed to give them a third of the national destiny because he had calculated it. With his strength, when the time came to incorporate the aid of Dragon Energy, he would also need to reduce the range of Great Xia's influence.

Giving away one-third of the national destiny was just right.

Now that they were asking for two-thirds upfront, his reign over Great Xia would likely turn into a second-rate power.

"Half at most."

Seeing Prince Chun start to negotiate, the pupils of the black eyes flickered, then spoke as if it were a difficult concession to make.

"Two-thirds, this is the order of the Great Elder, I cannot change it on my own."

"Only half, anything more and I'm out."

Ye Wuyang appeared troubled, "Since Your Highness insists, I need to discuss this with the Great Elder. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Xia Huangchun said softly, "Tell your Great Elder that half is my bottom line. If he offers lower, you can find someone else to cooperate with."

Seeing the other party taking the bait, the black eyes wasted no more words and merely stated the need to consult with the Great Elder and would return the next day before taking their leave.

...

In a normal residence in Shangjing City,

the black pupil emerged on the wall.

Next to it, the Three Elder of the Demon Sect, who was successfully persuaded by Ye Wuyang not to flee, was diligently absorbing the Buddha's light on his lower abdomen.

Seeing the return, he spoke, "How did it go? Did you reach an agreement?"

The pitch-black eyes said moodily, "Fishing requires giving and taking. I'll make another trip tomorrow, and it should be almost sorted."

Upon hearing this, Yan Meishan made no outward comment, focusing intently on absorbing the Buddha's light on his abdomen.

...

In the study.

Xia Huangchun constantly felt there was something strange about this person from the Demon Sect. He was about to get up and gather his trusted subordinates for further discussion.

When out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly realized there was someone next to him!

Upon closer look,

it was Xia Xuanmin!!!