All-class Gu Immortal

Chapter 247 Three-Hundred-Year-Old Heavenly Spirit Fruit and Wood-Element Spiritual Objects!
"Oh right, I haven't introduced myself to Brother Zhou yet. I am Yao Ze, the eldest son of the fourth branch of the Yao family, and the third son of the Yao family. Xue Wei is my seventeenth sister."

Young Master Yao's smile remained unchanged.

After listening to Yao Ze's explanation, Zhou Qing roughly understood the whole story. Seeing that Yao Ze had lowered his stance, he also followed suit.

"So you are Miss Yao's brother. My apologies for not recognizing you."

"Not at all, not at all. We became friends through a fight. I apologize for any offense I may have caused you, Brother Zhou." Yao Ze's smile grew even warmer, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The letter Zhou Qing delivered to the Yao family was intercepted by the fourth branch of the family. This was because Yao Xuewei had left a letter and run away from home a few months earlier after receiving a letter from the southern border.

The fourth branch of the family discovered that Yao Xuewei had a close relationship with Zhou Qing when they were in southern Xinjiang.

After some investigation, the fourth branch discovered that Zhou Qing had good martial arts talent and could be considered a genius even in Jinyun Prefecture.

Judging solely from his cultivation speed, Zhou Qing has a great chance of surpassing the husband they chose for Yao Xuewei in the future.

However, for a wealthy and influential family like the Yao family, Zhou Qing's offer was not enough to change their minds.

After all, countless geniuses have been stuck at the bottleneck of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, wasting their entire lives without ever getting there.

If the fourth branch of the Yao family had no intention of marrying into the Xie family, then Zhou Qing would certainly be considered a good match. As long as he was outstanding enough, the Yao family did not have any prejudice based on social status.

However, the Xie family patriarch was just one step away from breaking through the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.

On one hand, there was the marriage alliance with the Xie family, establishing a close relationship with a rapidly rising aristocratic family; on the other hand, there was the gamble on the uncertain future of a genius. The fourth branch of the Yao family had no need to hesitate at all.

In particular, the eldest daughter of the Xie family is even more talented and has entered the Divine Capital Martial Academy. Her future achievements will be no less than Zhou Qing's, and more importantly, she has a network of connections.

After Yao Ze's father, Yao Tian, ​​the head of the fourth branch of the family, was seriously injured and bedridden, the fourth branch never recovered.

Yao Ze, the eldest son of the fourth branch of the family and the third young master of the Yao family, is even more mediocre in talent. Now at the age of twenty-eight, he has only just reached the Bone Refining Realm.

As for Yao Xuewei, she was born to Yao Tian after he had a drunken affair with a maid from his fourth wife.

If Yao Xuewei hadn't been exceptionally talented, her name wouldn't have even made it into the family genealogy.

This time, the Yao family and the Xie family are arranging a marriage, and the fourth branch of the family really can't find anyone suitable. Those who are good-looking and have good temperaments lack martial arts talent, and as they get older, they will eventually be disliked by the second young master of the Xie family.

After all, once you cultivate to the Blood Exchange Realm, regardless of your strength, just the significant delay in aging, coupled with your outstanding appearance, strength, and the support of your maternal clan, becoming the matriarch of the Xie family would be no problem.

Unfortunately, the woman in the fourth branch of the family, who had decent martial arts talent, was not particularly beautiful.

Only Yao Xuewei, apart from having a slightly inferior background, is outstanding in all other aspects. She is now a Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke Realm Grand Martial Master who has undergone four blood transfusions.

The Yao family's eldest branch is powerful, possessing two top-tier martial arts masters who have undergone twelve blood transfusions at their peak.

The eldest son of the second wife, Yao Ze's second elder brother, possessed exceptional talent and was deeply loved by the patriarch.

Although the third branch of the family had no sons, the eldest daughter of the third branch married the legitimate son of a prominent family in the neighboring Tianxuan Mansion, and will become the matriarch of a prominent family in the future.

Only the fourth branch of the family has been declining in recent years. If this continues, the fourth branch will become a mere shell in a few years.

The second young master of the Xie family is of noble character and has a good reputation in Jinyun Prefecture. He is a perfect match for her.

Now that the fourth branch of the family has paid a considerable price to reach a marriage agreement with the Xie family, they naturally will not allow anyone to disrupt it.

The news of Yao Xuewei running away from home has been kept secret by the fourth branch of the family, but with Zhou Qing's arrival, it can no longer be kept hidden.

If the other three wives find out, it's not impossible that something bad will happen.

For the Xie family, the marriage alliance with the Yao family is a strategic move between the families and will not be easily changed, but which branch of the family to marry into is not the key point.

If they can sabotage the affairs of the four families and benefit their own family, the other three parties will definitely do it.

Even among blood relatives, there is no affection to speak of when faced with absolute self-interest.

In particular, the open and covert struggles between the second wife and the first wife over the years are nothing more than a competition for the resources to break through the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.

Even for the Yao family, the most prestigious family in Jinyun Prefecture, high-level resources are extremely limited.

Both of the eldest son's peak-level members, who had undergone twelve blood transfusions, had already failed to break through once.

As for the eldest son of the second wife, he has now broken through to the eleventh blood exchange, so naturally he has to consider competing for the resources to break through the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.

In her early years, although Yao Xuewei did not want to be used as a tool for a political marriage, she did not show any extreme resistance. Even when she went to work at the Southern Frontier Demon Suppression Division, it was a decision made after discussing it with the fourth branch of the family.

But now, she has run away from the wedding for Zhou Qing's sake, which has caught the fourth branch of the family completely off guard.

If Zhou Qing causes the fourth branch to offend the Xie family, and then the other three branches to try to arrange a marriage alliance with the Xie family, then it would backfire.

However, the matter was exposed, and the Xie family sent people to inquire about the situation.

At this moment, Zhou Qing arrived in the prefectural city and delivered a visiting card and a letter, which was practically a blatant mockery of the fourth branch of the family to Yao Ze.

So he immediately sent someone to find out where Zhou Qing lived, and then summoned the two instructors from the fourth branch of the family, preparing to teach Zhou Qing a lesson and at the same time show the Xie family his attitude.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Qing's strength was astonishing, and with a single strike, he rendered the two instructors powerless to retaliate.

However, Yao Ze was not afraid, because in this Golden Cloud City, no one dared to challenge the Yao family.

However, the sudden arrival of Xie Feng, the steward of the Xie family, was unexpected by Yao Ze.

The explosive news Xie Feng brought him, in particular, completely stunned Yao Ze.

Zhou Qing was actually a second-tier low-grade alchemist, and he also had a second-tier high-grade alchemist teacher.

In an instant, Zhou Qing's status in Yao Ze's heart had surpassed that of the second young master of the Xie family by a large margin.

In particular, Xie Feng explicitly stated that Yao Ze should give the Xie family face, indicating that the Xie family was preparing to win over Zhou Qing.

A second-tier high-grade alchemist is a guest of honor in any aristocratic family, second only to a grandmaster.

Therefore, in Yao Ze's eyes, Zhou Qing instantly transformed from an annoying troublemaker into a highly sought-after prize.

A 22-year-old Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke Realm Grand Martial Master is excellent, but not enough.

A 22-year-old second-tier low-grade alchemist is excellent, but also slightly lacking.

But if someone possesses both, then they are a prodigy!
"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, that's good." Xie Feng took the initiative to step forward. Yao Ze's attitude was unexpected, and he couldn't help but regret telling Yao Ze the truth earlier.

The main reason is that rumors circulate that Yao Ze, the fourth son of the Yao family, is a spoiled brat with an eccentric personality.

So, fearing that Yao Ze would disrespect him and cause trouble for Zhou Qing, he told Yao Ze about Zhou Qing and Zhou Chaoxian's background.

Unexpectedly, Yao Ze immediately lowered his stance, almost to the point of fawning.

Clearly, he also had the idea of ​​winning over Zhou Qing and his apprentice.

"My master just purchased a batch of medicinal herbs from Xie's Trading Company. Some of these herbs are out of stock and will be delivered in the next few days. That's why I'm here to visit you and explain the situation to you, Brother Zhou."

Seeing that Yao Ze was about to speak, Xie Feng spoke first.

"Please convey to your master that Xie's Trading Company will do its utmost to find the medicinal herbs your master needs! Please be patient, Master."

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Steward Xie." Zhou Qing bowed respectfully.

"I wouldn't dare accept that. Since your esteemed master has agreed to cooperate with the Xie family, Xie's Trading Company will naturally do its utmost," Xie Feng said with a smile.

"Some medicinal herbs require higher levels of authorization, and I must return to Emerald Valley to report to the clan leader. Therefore, I will not trouble Brother Zhou any further and will take my leave now."

"Take care, Steward Xie." Zhou Qing smiled slightly. Xie Feng bowed to Zhou Qing, and seeing that Yao Ze had no intention of leaving, he took the initiative to say, "Third Young Master, please let me speak with you in private. I would like to ask you about some things."

"This..." Yao Ze was taken aback, his eyes shifting slightly before he nodded and said, "Thank you for your help, Manager."

As he spoke, Yao Ze bowed to Zhou Qing.

The two went down to the third floor together.

After the two left, Zhou Qing found the waiter and the shopkeeper to ask for compensation for the damaged furniture and walls, but was told that Yao Ze had already paid three times the market price.

Seeing that there were many onlookers on the street, Zhou Qing apologized to the innkeeper, packed his luggage and left, then changed to another restaurant to stay at.

As night fell, Zhou Qing was leisurely sipping tea at the table when he heard footsteps outside the door, followed by a knock on the door.

"Brother Zhou, my name is Yao Ze. I'm visiting late at night. I wonder if it would be possible to have a chat in person?"

Yao Ze's voice came from outside the door.

Zhou Qing raised an eyebrow, flicked his sleeve, and the door opened.

Yao Ze stood alone outside the door. After entering the room, he bowed deeply to Zhou Qing, bending over at a ninety-degree angle, lowering his posture to the extreme.

"I apologize for any offense I may have caused during the day, Brother Zhou."

"Young Master Yao, you flatter me." Zhou Qing was taken aback, then raised his hand to help him up.

Yao Ze felt a powerful, invisible force lifting his body up, causing him to straighten up uncontrollably, which startled him.

It seems that Zhou Qing showed mercy during the day; otherwise, the two instructors would have suffered more than just minor injuries. I think Zhou Qing is even more important to me now.

"Actually, there were many misunderstandings about what happened during the day. Brother Zhou, please let me explain the whole story in detail."

Yao Ze bowed respectfully.

"Please speak, Young Master Yao," Zhou Qing said, gesturing for Yao Ze to sit down.

"Actually, the story goes back to half a year ago, to Seventeenth Sister..."

After Yao Ze sat down, he explained the situation to Zhou Qing.

"What? You're saying Miss Yao ran away from her wedding? This happened shortly after my letter arrived?" Zhou Qing was taken aback. No wonder Yao Ze attacked him as soon as he arrived today; he had mistaken him for the culprit who abducted Yao Xuewei.

"Indeed, the Xie family now knows about this matter, and another storm is inevitable."

Yao Ze's expression turned serious. He then changed the subject and asked, "Judging from the meaning of Brother Zhou's letter, is your visit here for Seventeenth Sister?"
In fact, the Seventeenth Sister and the Second Young Master of the Xie family had never met before, and the marriage was arranged by the Fourth Branch of the family.

If Brother Zhou and Sister Seventeen are truly in love, I can ask Mother to mediate and, at some cost, dissolve the engagement with the Xie family.

Zhou Qing was speechless for a moment.

"Brother Zhou might think I'm too realistic, but for family members like us, while enjoying the conveniences brought by the family, we have to pay a price."

We have no right to choose our life's most important event; we can only follow the arrangements of our families.

The marriage arranged for the seventeenth sister by the fourth branch of the family was something many older and younger sisters in the clan longed for but could not obtain.

Seeing Zhou Qing remain silent, Yao Ze continued.

"Young Master Yao may have misunderstood. Although Miss Yao and I are old friends, we are not lovers. The main reason for my visit is to repay a great favor Miss Yao did back then, to help her break off her engagement and give her her freedom. In addition, I have come to the city to purchase some rare medicinal herbs for alchemy."

Zhou Qing explained.

"It seems I misunderstood," Yao Ze said, somewhat disappointed.

"If Brother Zhou only wants to help Seventeen Sister break off her engagement, it will probably not be an easy task. The Xie family will not let it go easily."

In Yao Ze's view, if Zhou Qing were to marry Yao Xuewei and join the Yao family, his status as a second-tier low-grade alchemist, coupled with a second-tier high-grade alchemist as his teacher, would be enough to make the Yao family break their contract.

There is no other way.

No matter how you look at it, this incident has been a slap in the face for the Xie family. Unless they pay a sufficient price, the fourth branch of the family doesn't want to offend the Xie family.

"My master can handle the Xie family's problem. He has already agreed to help them refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill, and I believe the Xie family knows what's important," Zhou Qing said solemnly.

"Heavenly Spirit Pill?! Brother Zhou, you mean the Heavenly Spirit Pill?!" Yao Ze's face showed surprise. The Heavenly Spirit Pill is the most difficult to refine among the second-tier pills. He did not expect that Zhou Qing's teacher would have the ability to refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill. It seems that Zhou Qing's teacher is not an ordinary second-tier high-grade alchemist. He has probably already touched the threshold of third-tier alchemy.

Such a person would be treated with utmost respect, even by the elusive and mysterious ancestor of the Yao family.

If the eldest son's family finds out, they will probably take immediate action and try to win him over through various means.

"With your alchemy skills, Master, refining the Heavenly Spirit Pill shouldn't be a problem. What we lack now is just a high-aged Heavenly Spirit Fruit," Zhou Qing said confidently.

"This...this..." Yao Ze's expression suddenly became interesting. His father, Yao Tian, ​​had gone out to compete for spiritual herbs in order to break through to the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top realm in his early years. He was ambushed by the enemy. Although he fought back with all his might, he was seriously injured, which resulted in his meridians being broken and him being bedridden.

Besides strengthening meridians and assisting in the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, the Heavenly Spirit Pill also has a remarkable effect on meridian repair, but only mid-grade or even high-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills can achieve this.

In the entire Golden Cloud Prefecture, no alchemist could guarantee that they could successfully refine a mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pill.

Moreover, even one or two mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills cannot cure the injury of completely severed meridians.

In recent years, the Yao family's fourth branch has declined, partly due to Yao Tian's serious injury and bedridden state, coupled with suppression from the other three branches.

After all, high-level resources are limited; if one less room is allocated, others can get a lot more.

However, his father Yao Tian had a secret known only to Yao Ze: when he was vying for spiritual herbs, he obtained two Heavenly Spirit Fruits and a companion Wood Element Spirit Herb.

Two Heavenly Spirit Fruits, one two hundred years old, the other three hundred years old.

Yao Tian originally offered the two-hundred-year-old Heavenly Spirit Fruit to his family, hoping that the family would find an alchemist to refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill to heal his injuries.

However, the clan leader gave the refined Heavenly Spirit Pill to the eldest son's branch of the family to help him achieve the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top.

From then on, Yao Tian decided to hide the other three-hundred-year-old Heavenly Spirit Fruit and leave it to the next generation.

In recent years, Yao Tian's condition has deteriorated, which is why he told Yao Ze about this and asked him to pass on the Heavenly Spirit Fruit and the Wood Element Spirit Grass.

"Brother Zhou, if I could find a way to get the Heavenly Spirit Fruit from the Xie family, I wonder how many Heavenly Spirit Pills your master refined?" Yao Ze asked after calming himself down.

"A hundred-year-old Heavenly Spirit Fruit can be used to open the furnace four times. With Master's alchemy skills, there must be at least two or three of them."

Zhou Qing pondered for a moment and made a conservative estimate.

"What if it's a Heavenly Spirit Fruit that's two hundred years old?!" Yao Ze asked again.

“Then we can open the furnace eight times, and we’ll produce at least five or six pills,” Zhou Qing replied. The Heavenly Spirit Fruit doubles in size every hundred years.

The more times he refines pills, the higher his success rate will be, because the progress of alchemy can only go forward and never backward. As long as he succeeds once, his proficiency will increase greatly.

"It's not that I don't trust your master, but this matter is of great importance." Yao Ze hesitated. Even though Zhou Qing and Yao Xuewei had a close relationship, he had never personally witnessed the alchemy skills of Zhou Qing and his apprentice, so he dared not reveal his secrets.

"If Young Master Yao can obtain the Heavenly Spirit Fruit, I believe my teacher will be willing to cooperate with you. As for whether your alchemy skills are sufficient, we will find out soon enough."

Zhou Qing said seriously, feeling that Yao Ze seemed to have connections.

Yao Ze fell into deep thought.

(End of this chapter)