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Chapter 199 Pill Intermediary
Entering the inner courtyard from the vast forest, then turning onto the mountain path on the right, and walking several dozen steps further, this is the path to Xianju Bieyuan.

The road is located in a very open area with no obstructions around it.

Therefore, the scene of the Dan Sect's daughter dressed up and going to Ji You's courtyard early in the morning was clearly seen from an overhead perspective by both the disciples staying in the Five Great Holy Halls and the disciples in the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest who were planning to attain enlightenment.

Knocking on the door, exchanging words, and then being admitted to the hospital—all these actions, demeanor, and expressions were clearly visible.

They all knew that Ji You had been keeping a woman in his courtyard for half a month.

Knowing that Yuan Caiwei, the daughter of the Dan Sect, truly had feelings for Ji You, she went straight to Ji You's courtyard as soon as she arrived at the Heavenly Academy.

They always felt that something was bound to happen in such a lively scene, like someone storming out the door or a fight breaking out in the street...

Some even thought they might see Ji You kneeling on the mountain path, apologizing to Yuan Caiwei and saying that he would immediately send that mortal woman away to express his determination to marry into the Dan Sect.

From last night to this morning, none of the expected events occurred; only the rising wisps of smoke shattered all speculations amidst the warmth of daily life, as if Yuan Caiwei had arrived at the perfect time…

Many of them were actually waiting for an opportunity to host a banquet for the Danzong siblings in order to purchase the necessary pills.

After all, the Heavenly Dao Assembly is about to begin, and at this critical juncture, there are countless people who want to consolidate their realm as soon as possible or break through to the upper realm.

In previous years, they could have achieved this through a longer period of seclusion, but in the current situation, taking elixirs has become the best option.

But nowadays, apart from Ji You, it seems that no one can see the siblings anymore.

"Given the current situation, I really don't know whether I should go or not..."

"It wouldn't hurt to ask, would it?"

"But matters between men and women are far too complicated, and matters between men and women are even more so. They are not things that outsiders can interfere with at will. I think we should send a letter to inquire about the situation. What does Fairy Zhengxin think?"

"Immortal Venerable Yang Shu's consideration is excellent. Shall we try sending a letter first?"

It was no secret that the Dan Sect always prepared backup pills when delivering pills, so Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin actually wanted to obtain pills as well.

However, considering the uncertain situation in Ji You's backyard, the two of them hesitated and dared not make any rash moves.

After much deliberation, they wrote a letter, subtly expressing their desire for the elixir, and then entrusted it to a disciple of the academy to deliver.

In this way, if it works out, that would be wonderful; if it doesn't, there will be no regrets.

At this moment, breakfast in the courtyard had just ended, and Yuan Caiwei and Yan Shuyi were drinking tea in the main room.

The former didn't explicitly say she wanted to steal a man, and the latter was stubborn and unwilling to say she wanted to get married. As a result, their relationship was like that of sisters who didn't know each other's thoughts, full of plasticity.

Yuan Chen was responsible for washing the dishes and roasting sweet potatoes for his two older sisters, making him a true "tool brother."

Ji You, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. He sat on a stool and unfolded the letter that Ban Yangshu had handed him to read.

The Heavenly Dao Society is held every five years, and the rules of the competition are that it is a contest between people of the same realm to defend their title, so those who have entered the higher realm have the highest chance of winning.

Therefore, cultivators planning to participate in the Heavenly Dao Assembly have a much stronger demand for elixirs than ever before.

Ji You then took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket, counted them for a while, and turned to look at Yuan Caiwei and Yuan Chen...

Before long, Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin each received a red medicine box about the size of a fist.

The seal on the medicine box was removed, and the black elixir was placed inside. The patterns on the elixir seemed to move like living things, and as the mysterious light flowed, there seemed to be faint celestial music, which caused the surrounding aura to flow and the air to shimmer.

Ban Yangshu held the medicine box in a daze for a long time, suddenly feeling as if she were in a dream.

"This Qian Yuan Pill is always in high demand but priceless. I'm a little uneasy about getting it so easily."

"Yes, I had prepared a hundred taels, but Junior Brother Ji didn't mention money to us, which made me feel uneasy."

The two exchanged a glance, both puzzled, and then took the pills to Cao Jingsong's courtyard.

Cao Jingsong stared at the medicine boxes in the two men's hands for a long time: "He didn't ask for money?"

Wen Zhengxin nodded: "Does Instructor Cao also find it strange?"

Cao Jingsong scratched his head and thought for a long time before saying, "He was extremely poor from the moment he was admitted to the hospital. He couldn't even afford food, let alone medicine."

"Shouldn't they be asking us for money then?"

"No, what I mean is that he's never bought pills before, so he probably doesn't know how much these pills are worth..."

The case is solved. Wen Zhengxin held his breath instantly, thinking to himself, "So that's how it is."

Ban Yangshu looked at the pill in his hand: "Even if Junior Brother Ji doesn't know, Yuan Caiwei certainly does."

Cao Jingsong hissed, "That's true."

After hearing this, Bai Rulong couldn't help but speak up: "Brother Ji said he wanted it after reading your letter, so Miss Yuan must have given it to him without hesitation. How could she mention money to her sweetheart when she wanted something? I think it's normal that Brother Ji didn't know the price. It's also normal that Instructor Cao didn't understand since he's never had a Daoist partner."

Cao Jingsong was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, "How the hell can this be related to me not having a Daoist partner?"
Ban Yangshu couldn't help but purse her lips: "No matter what, I think we should still give this money, no matter how much or how little."

Wen Zhengxin looked at Ban Yangshu: "Why?"

"Junior Brother Ji will find out how much these pills cost someday. I'm afraid I'll get robbed then..."

"It makes sense."

Bai Rulong touched his mouth, thinking to himself, "Why is it so complicated?"

If Brother Ji wanted to rob you, would he need to give you pills? Impossible!
If his occupational habit kicks in, even entering the door with your left foot first is an excuse.

However, what puzzles him most now is that there is clearly another woman in Brother Ji's courtyard, so why is everything so harmonious?

He was willing to risk being robbed just to learn this lesson thoroughly.

Ban Yangshu and Wen Zhengxin did not linger any longer and returned to the inner courtyard to prepare to refine the Qian Yuan Pill they had obtained.

The news that the two of them had each received a Qian Yuan Pill began to circulate within the inner courtyard through the disciple in charge of delivering the message.

"The Yuan siblings went to Ji You's place for breakfast early this morning, so they couldn't come to the banquet."

"In addition, the spare Qian Yuan Dan should be gone, because just today, Ji You gave one to each of Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu."

Wei Han, the disciple in charge of the academy, hurriedly descended the mountain and arrived at Hongding Tower. He delivered the invitation he had failed to send out that morning to Zhao Yunyue intact.

Before the princess could speak, Liu Junchi's expression changed drastically. He then silently walked to the front of the corridor, leaned against the backrest, and looked gloomy.

[He orchestrated and staged the rumor of marrying into the Dan Sect.]

My companions wanted to cultivate a good relationship with Ji You because of the pills, but I just smiled and remained silent.

Yesterday's words now resound like thunder in his ears.

"The Pill Sect's pill transport routes are divided into two, north and south, so Yuan Caiwei should have at least three spare pills of each type in her possession."

"So that means there should still be one spare Qian Yuan Pill?"

"There should be one more..."

"How about we try sending a letter to Ji You? I heard he loves money the most, so putting some silver notes in it should have an effect."

In his state of utter confusion, Liu Junchi heard the whispers behind him, and his heart stirred slightly.

That's right, Nishan Tianshu Academy is the last stop on the northern route, so there should be one more one.

Liu Junchi then looked at Zhao Yunyue and said, "Junior sister, could you help me find someone to write a letter and take it to Ji You?"

Zhao Yunyue was still in a daze when she heard the voice and looked up: "Senior brother, what did you say?"

"I mean, could you help me find someone to deliver a letter requesting elixir to Ji You?"

"This……"

Before Zhao Yunyue could arrive, news that disappointed Liu Junchi once again came.

Yuan Caiwei did indeed have a third Qian Yuan Pill, but just now, that pill was bought from Ji You by an outsider from the Chen Clan.

That's how opportunities are; they're always reserved for those who are proactive enough.

Upon hearing the result, the crowd sighed, some regretting that they hadn't acted sooner.

What's even more remarkable is Yuan Caiwei's attitude towards Ji You. As the daughter of the Pill Sect and a fifth-grade alchemist, she actually gave all her spare pills to Ji You, as if she was eager to marry him.

What everyone previously thought was Ji You's desperate attempt to curry favor with the Dan Sect was actually quite the opposite.

What's even more frightening is that if you think about it carefully, the daughter of the Dan Sect is so open about her feelings, yet the two of them are still not married. Could it be that Ji You doesn't agree?

In the time that followed, the purchase of the last Qian Yuan Pill did not reduce the number of letters sent to Ji You's courtyard; on the contrary, the number continued to increase.

Because besides Qian Yuan Dan, there are many other elixirs worth buying.

Moreover, it has now been proven that gold and silver can indeed work in Ji You's favor.

So, throughout the rest of the afternoon, news began to circulate that cultivators had purchased spare pills from Ji You. Changbai Pill, Dragon Elephant Pill, Heavenly Harmony Pill, Azure Spirit Pill…

Inside and outside the Heavenly Academy, the east and west sides of Shengjing City instantly became bustling with activity.

Even those who didn't need the pills at the moment couldn't help but send letters, hoping to try their luck.

There's no loss if you can't buy it, but if you can, you'll make a huge profit.

Even the second manager of Qionghua Pavilion couldn't resist writing a letter, wanting to become a middleman for the middlemen.

At this moment, Ji You sat in the courtyard, watching the disciples of the head of the academy constantly running back and forth in his courtyard. With a flick of his fingers, he then sent out one pill after another.

The number of banknotes sent to the hospital kept increasing, piling up on the table...

The inner disciples of the Heavenly Academy were initially quite aloof, but as more and more people obtained pills through his connections, even at prices far below expectations, some of them gradually began to lose their composure.

Some elders were also tempted by the idea.

Because the elders of the Immortal Sect are also divided into ranks, some elders find it difficult to obtain spiritual pills that exceed their grade. There are also some elders who do not need to take pills themselves, but have close relatives or nephews who need them, so they ask their trusted disciples to write letters.

As it turned out, Ji You did indeed have a large number of elixirs.

Countless disciples had obtained the pills through Ji You, and were both surprised and delighted.

But despite their surprise, it didn't stop them from looking down on Ji You.

In their view, Ji You's actions were not much different from being a kept man; he was just taking advantage of women, and there was nothing to be proud of.

Since Liu Junchi couldn't get the Qian Yuan Pill, he settled for a Prajna Pill through someone else. Although it couldn't compare to the Qian Yuan Pill's mystical power and efficacy, it was still better than going into seclusion himself.

In addition, his fellow disciples Yao Chenglin and Peng Peng also bought the necessary pills from Ji You.

However, what puzzled them was that Ji You's pills were really not expensive. Some were on par with the market price in the Pill Sect, while others were far below the market price.

The problem is that although the pills of the Dan Sect have always had a fixed market price, because they are so rare, no one has ever actually been able to buy them at the market price.

Even if you have connections, it still takes two to three times the money to succeed.

"Did they take advantage of Yuan Caiwei's admiration to lower the price and obtain the pills?"

Liu Junchi sneered: "I'm afraid they won't even give you the money, and might just ask Yuan Caiwei for it for free."

Peng Peng and Yao Chenglin were stunned for a moment: "Free? That can't be..."

Liu Junchi turned to look at the two of them: "Didn't the disciple in charge of the academy say earlier that he gave Qian Yuan Pills to two people who were on good terms with him for free? But everyone in Qingyun knows that Ji You is very stingy with money. He couldn't have bought them himself to give to them."

"This...this is just too shameless!"

"It seems that Miss Yuan couldn't refuse him because she was in love with him, but he didn't even consider how he would explain things to her after she returned to the mountain. If it were me..."

If it were me, this wouldn't just be Liu Junchi's thought, but also the thought of many who bought the pills.

If I were the one who had Yuan Caiwei's affections, I would certainly use my status to seek elixirs for myself, but I would never use it to amass wealth and squander a woman's sincere heart.

He Lingxiu was standing outside the main hall of Zizai Hall. Inside the hall were her uncle and several elders, who were drinking tea with the two Danzong Protector Elders who had accompanied them.

Because Ji You was selling elixirs at the Heavenly Academy today, the expressions of the two elders of the Pill Sect were rather unpleasant.

He Lingxiu looked towards the small courtyard and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Acting like this is really a bit of showing off..."

Zuo Qiuyang walked out of the Zizai Hall and looked at his niece: "You mean Ji You?"

"Ah."

Why would you think that?

He Lingxiu raised her eyes: "His relationship with the daughter of the Pill Sect is still not even close, yet he is openly selling pills based on this relationship. Although there is nothing wrong with it, it will inevitably make people look down on him."

Zuo Qiuyang rolled up his sleeves behind his back: "You thought the same thing when he was sent on a mission to the snowy region last time."

He Lingxiu was slightly taken aback, and her brows suddenly furrowed a little.

The night was already quite dark, and the hazy moonlight gradually enveloped the area.

Yuan Caiwei gave Ji You a second treatment, then left his courtyard and headed towards the Zizai Hall with her younger brother Yuan Chen.

When He Lingxiu saw the siblings coming down the mountain, she didn't dwell on her uncle's words any longer and stepped forward to greet them.

"Miss Yuan, Young Master Yuan, it's been a long time."

"I hope you are well, Fairy He."

He Lingxiu smiled and said, "The two elders of the Dan Sect are having tea in the hall. Please come in with me."

"I've had too much to do today and am quite tired, so I won't have any tea. I hope you'll forgive me, Fairy He."

Yuan Caiwei took out a thick stack of silver notes from her bosom, "Please give this to my two uncles, Fairy He."

He Lingxiu took the silver note: "What is this?"

"The money Ji You used to buy pills from our Danzong sect."

"?"

He Lingxiu took the silver note, examined it for a long time, then frowned and fell into thought.

She didn't even know when the Yuan siblings left; all she knew was that the total amount of the silver notes exceeded the market value of the pills sold.

Several of the large-denomination banknotes were printed using banknotes from the money exchange exclusively used by the Heavenly Academy.

These large-denomination banknotes are rare, and they were the kind of banknotes that the Council of State gave Ji You when he was sent to the Snow Region.

In other words, Ji You bought the pills from Yuan Caiwei at market price and then sold them at a low price.

In other words, he lost money to gain publicity, subsidizing many unrelated cultivators.

He Lingxiu was somewhat confused as to why Ji You would do such a thing.

Zuo Qiuyang then looked at He Lingxiu and said, "First, he obtained the Snowfield Demon Stone from the Yunzhou aristocratic family, and then he so blatantly proclaimed that he could directly purchase Danzong elixirs. He did this to impress the cultivators of Fengzhou."

"Fengzhou?"

"Ji You has organized some joint reclamation and harvesting, hoping to use the power of the outside immortal estates to reclaim large areas of Fengzhou land when spring arrives, but those immortal estates may not be willing to listen to him."

"Especially some of the owners of immortal manors, they look down on those who pay taxes and will certainly not cooperate. Ji You's need for cultivators to participate puts him in a passive position. In the end, he will have to bow down to the immortal manors."

"But now that he has obtained the Snowfield Spirit Stones and the Pill Sect's spiritual herbs, everything is different. You think he's after money, but in reality, he has been increasing the efforts for the people of Fengzhou to carry out spring plowing."

Zuo Qiuyang rolled up his sleeves behind his back: "Those immortal manors in Fengzhou will soon find out that Ji You can obtain the top-grade spiritual pills from the Dan Sect."

He Lingxiu raised her eyes: "Just for farming?"

"No, it's so that the children in the family can grow up, and so that people who leave home can come home no matter how late it is. I was always curious about how he could do that, but now it seems like it's not just empty talk."

"By using the Snowfield Demon Stones and the Pill Sect's spiritual herbs as a price, he will allow the foreign immortal estates in Fengzhou to grow stronger. Even if they remain peaceful, it will only be temporary. Isn't Ji You afraid of raising a tiger that will eventually become a threat?"

Zuo Qiuyang looked at the small courtyard on the southwest side under the night: "He naturally wanted to take this kind of risk, and he may have been uneasy, but he still chose to take it one step at a time."

In the courtyard on a winter night, Ji You was getting some fresh air in the cold wind.

Today's treatment involved using Dan Qi to correct the meridians that had become distorted due to the Qi, which caused some pain. A slight breeze could alleviate the pain somewhat.

Yan Shuyi stood outside the door looking at Ji You: "Aren't you afraid of raising a tiger that will eventually become your enemy, using the Snowfield Demon Stone and the Pill Sect's spiritual herbs as a price?"

Ji You turned to look at her: "Back then, Chu He and Lu Qingqiu, including Fang Jincheng, Lu Hanyan, and Puyang Xing now, all took countless pills."

"?"

"What I mean is, no matter how fast they cultivate by taking pills and striking stones, they can only be as fast as Chu He and the others, and Chu He is far slower than me."

"Those immortal cultivators in Fengzhou are all marginal figures from aristocratic families. They haven't seen anything good before. They might think that since they can get pills that they wouldn't normally see, what's wrong with temporarily helping Ji You with some things?"

"Once I am strong enough, not to mention Ji You, the entire Fengzhou will be mine. Then the spring planting will start smoothly. They will work hard for the Snowfield Demon Stone and the Pill Sect's spiritual medicine, jointly reclaiming and cultivating the land."

“When the plowshare of Fengzhou turned over the new soil, there were no more old people’s houses, no more children being exchanged for food, and no more corpses of the starving.”

"In this process, the outside immortal manor gradually grew stronger, but when they turned around, they found that Ji You was even stronger?"

"Then they will suddenly realize that I am the tiger."

Ji You couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, but then the bite mark on his lip started to throb, making him turn his head and stare at Yan Shuyi.

The young appraiser was staring at him blankly for a long time before realizing that his eyes were a little wicked. A hint of vigilance flashed in his eyes, and his sword energy began to rise silently.

(End of this chapter)