In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

After Yang Kang gave the order, the banquet officially began.

Zhang Xiaoshan then separated a high-quality lamb leg into individual pieces and placed them on one side.

Seeing the snow fox devour its food, everyone looked on with curiosity. They had witnessed the fox's speed firsthand; a mere white blur had disfigured Master Lingzhi.

"Young Master Zhang, may I ask if this is a nine-tailed spirit fox from Changbai Mountain?"

The old monster Liang Ziweng looked at the nine-tailed spirit fox with excitement in his heart.

He had previously killed a senior extraordinary person and obtained more than ten medicine prescriptions from him.

One of these techniques is the practice of replenishing yang through yin cultivation, but that was a secret Taoist art, which he turned into an evil and unorthodox method.

The Nine-Tailed Fox also has records of the art of treating snake poison.

If he had cultivated a nine-tailed spirit fox instead of a viper twenty years ago, he could have consumed the nine-tailed spirit fox's blood long ago, and the medicinal effects would have been even better, perhaps even allowing him to 'ascend to immortality'.

After all, vipers are just ordinary snakes, not even as good as the Bosphorus viper;

However, the nine-tailed spirit fox is a rare species, belonging to the spirit beast level, and is extremely rare in the Nine Provinces. Even without deliberate cultivation, its blood has a miraculous effect in healing internal injuries.

"That's right. I spent some time in Changbai Mountain a while ago, and it took a lot of effort to catch this rare snow fox."

"Congratulations, Young Master Zhang! This snow fox is no ordinary white fox, but a nine-tailed spirit fox. It's hard to find another one like it in the entire land!"

Liang Ziweng's compliments made everyone somewhat envious.

Its unique existence makes its value immeasurable by money.

Especially the fox's skill; even Liang Ziweng, who was the best at light-footed martial arts, couldn't match it.

"Senior is the Ginseng Immortal. I have heard that the Ginseng Immortal once obtained some fragments of alchemy manuals. I have a senior who also likes these things."

"I wonder if the venerable ginseng immortal would be so kind as to part with it? This junior is willing to exchange it for a cup of wine!"

Can a cup of wine be exchanged for the incomplete alchemical text of the Ginseng Immortal?

It sounded surreal. Just when everyone thought Zhang Xiaoshan was about to use his power to forcefully take what he wanted, they saw him pour a cup of light green wine from his wine bag, and suddenly a purple snake gall bladder, like a grape, appeared.

"This wine is made primarily from snake gall bladders. I wonder if the Ginseng Immortal has ever heard of the Bodhi Snake Melody?"

"Pusic snake?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Ziweng suddenly stood up and exclaimed in surprise.

Ouyang Ke looked puzzled. Even though White Camel Mountain raised countless snakes, he had never heard of the Bodhi Snake.

But Liang Ziweng is different; his fragmentary alchemical texts contain a section introducing the Bodhi-curved snake.

It can be said that the best method of treating snakebites is the Bodhi snake.

Because of the special nature of the gallbladder of the Bosqu snake, which is cultivated with medicine, if the conversion rate of viper blood is less than 10%, then the gallbladder of the Bosqu snake can achieve at least 30% of the effect.

A difference of three times is quite significant.

"Young Master Zhang, have you ever seen the Bodhi Serpent?"

“Immortal Ginseng, you’ll know once you taste this cup of wine. If you’re willing to part with it, I’ll tell you where the Bodhi-curved Serpent appears.”

"Thank you for your kindness, young master!"

Liang Ziweng agreed without hesitation. After drinking the viper's blood in a while, he would go find the Bodhi snake, and twenty years later he would live a long and healthy life.

"You may inspect the goods first, Immortal Ginseng. I will ask for an answer before I leave!"

"Alright, young master, please wait a moment!"

The ginseng immortal picked up his wine cup, and without even saying goodbye to Yang Kang, he turned and left.

At this moment, the old monster Ginseng only had this snake gall in his eyes.

When everyone came to their senses, they all realized that this Bodhi Serpent was no ordinary snake. Even the old monster Ginseng Immortal was so crazy about it; it was undoubtedly a precious snake.

However, since the item was in Zhang Xiaoshan's possession, they didn't dare to forcibly take it.

Bang!

Just then, the sound of fighting came from outside the door.

Zhang Xiaoshan knew that Iron-Foot Immortal had barged in.

Yang Kang humiliated his opponent with ten taels of gold; it would be strange if Wang Chuyi let this "disgrace to the sect" go.

Chapter Forty: A Pearl Covered in Dust, Taking Advantage of a Crisis

"You all step back!"

Judging from Wang Chuyi's fight his way in, he is quite strong.

At this moment, Yang Kang realized that the other party was not just freeloading, but a genuine Taoist master.

"This junior, Zhang Xiaoshan from Lin'an Prefecture, greets the Daoist Master!"

Zhang Xiaoshan cupped his hands in greeting, his eyes clear and his expression natural.

Wang Chuyi had naturally met Zhang Xiaoshan before. He knew that Zhang Xiaoshan was no ordinary person when Zhang Xiaoshan gave him the 'Minor Rejuvenation Pill'.

"Supreme Celestial Venerable, it turns out to be Young Master Zhang. I never expected to meet you here. This old Taoist has been impolite."

Wang Chuyi glanced at Zhang Xiaoshan, but didn't seem to mind much.

Zhang Xiaoshan came to find someone, not because he was invited by Wanyan Honglie.

Moreover, without concrete evidence, Wang Chuyi dared not make any rash judgments about the Zhang family's reputation.

"You're too kind, Daoist Master. I was just there by chance!"

Zhang Xiaoshan smiled calmly and then made no further move to intervene.

It's best to stick to the plot from now on. Liang Ziweng is a disgrace to the martial arts world, and his use of the snake medicine is also a major scourge.

As for himself, he wouldn't even look at a mere snake.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan's purpose in trading the incomplete alchemy manual was to cultivate medicinal snakes, not for himself, but for the Zhang family's descendants.

Fortuitous encounters are rare, and rare and precious treasures are even rarer.

The skillful use of medicinal snakes is key to a family's continued existence; as long as a single master emerges in each generation, they can suppress the stagnation for a time.

With Wang Chuyi's arrival, Yang Kang naturally could not admit that he was a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect.

He was a prince of the Jin Dynasty, and it was one thing for him to learn skills from Qiu Chuji, but he didn't consider himself a disciple of the Quanzhen School.

Faced with this predicament, the masters Lingzhi Shangren launched a sneak attack with his Poison Sand Palm, severely injuring Wang Chuyi.

Wang Chuyi is not Zhang Xiaoshan. He can resist the poison for a period of time with his internal energy, but he must be detoxified within three days, otherwise even a god could not save him.

···

"A true gem has been hidden in the dust!"

Back at the department store, Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the incomplete alchemical text he had acquired from Liang Ziweng.

The method of treating snakebites involves feeding them with precious Chinese herbs, which can take ten years to mature, or at least three years. The best snake to use is the Bosphorus snake, whose gall bladder is like a golden elixir, believed to have the effect of cleansing the marrow and transforming the body.

The principle of Yin and Yang is to harmonize Yin and Yang through the primordial Yin energy of women, thereby creating themselves.

This is the Taoist Yin-Yang Great Way, the art of dual cultivation, but unfortunately Liang Ziweng mistakenly thought it was an evil practice of sexual enhancement.

The art of immortality, the secret to longevity for emperors, involves refining elixirs with lead and mercury, aided by feng shui. However, whether it actually grants immortality is unknown. Zhang Xiaoshan knows that consuming too much lead, mercury, and cinnabar will certainly lead to a terrible death.

Each prescription is of considerable value and has its own unique uses.

For Liang Ziweng, the above conditions were either extremely difficult or required an enormous amount of resources.

He spent twenty years just feeding the medicinal snakes.

Even though Liang Ziweng had many disciples, it would still take a very long time to collect all the numerous precious medicinal herbs mentioned above.

But for the Zhang family, many things are not difficult, as long as they spend enough money.

Like medicinal snakes, they can be raised in as little as three years; elixirs and spiritual medicines can be refined in eight or nine...

Zhang Xiaoshan carefully collected the dozen or so prescriptions.

Zhang Xiaoshan planned to hire the Ghost Doctor after returning home. These were all good things, but they also required a master of medicine to prepare them.

Otherwise, a single mistake could result in the waste of resources amounting to tens of thousands of taels of gold.

But the results were enormous; the medicinal snake alone became the source of a continuous stream of experts for the Zhang family.

Especially for his younger generation, Zhang Xiaoshan doesn't need to worry about the situation of a tiger father and a dog son.

At the same time, Zhang Xiaoshan took out a porcelain vase from his backpack, inside which were scarlet pills, the Ghost Heart Pills that the Ghost Doctor had given him.

The Later Jin, also known as the Great Jin, was not just about Wanyan Honglie; it also included the Later Jin's top martial artist, Ao Bai!

A martial artist who has mastered the pinnacle of martial arts, and the number one war god of the Jin Kingdom.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan's target was not the other party; he wanted to take direct action against Ao Bai, but that would definitely affect the Zhang family's business in the Jin Kingdom.

After all, Ao Bai was the number one war god of the Jin Dynasty, and he was in charge of the army.

Once the Jin dynasty takes action against Ao Bai, it will be impossible for them to remain indifferent.

By then, the ginseng, snow frog, and sable fur of the Jin Kingdom will be completely worthless.

Zhang Xiaoshan's target was another one: a martial arts master from the Jin Kingdom, a shaman priest hidden in the snowy plains.

The shaman priest was equivalent to the Grand Preceptor of the Jin Dynasty.

Zhang Xiaoshan attacked him because he knew the other was a master of external martial arts and one of the main forces of the Great Jin Kingdom.

Compared to Ao Bai, who was stationed in the army, the shaman was undoubtedly easier to subdue.

The shaman was a martial arts master in the Jin Kingdom, not part of the system, and therefore did not need to worry about the Jin Kingdom taking over the Zhang family's business after his death.

Even when they discover it, it's already too late!

To create puppets, one must never use experts from the Central Plains, not because of Zhang Xiaoshan's saintly wisdom, but because they are easily rejected.

Using experts from other races is a matter of national righteousness, while using experts from the Central Plains is inhumane.

As for why we're only taking action now?

This is also because Zhang Xiaoshan is about to leave, so there's no need to worry about the consequences after the shaman's death.

"Uncle Song, I may have to leave. Thank you for taking care of me during this time."

"Young Master, have you found the person?"

Manager Song looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in surprise. Zhang Xiaoshan had come looking for someone, but he seemed not to have seen anyone.

"Already arrived."

Congratulations, young master!

Zhang Xiaoshan looked outside, knowing that Guo Jing would inevitably have to steal the medicine to save Wang Chuyi.

Following Guo Jing was Huang Rong's guidance.

At the same time, Zhang Xiaoshan also made arrangements for Mei Chaofeng.

Such a blind master may have many enemies, but by making the best use of his abilities, he is still a top-notch expert.

Mei Chaofeng, in particular, has been immersed in the Nine Yin White Bone Claw for many years. Once she opens up her joints, she will surely make rapid progress.

After leaving the department store, Zhang Xiaoshan did not go to the snowfield immediately.

The snowfield is in the far north of the Jin Kingdom, and a round trip would take more than a few days. He didn't have the energy to do that yet.

Moreover, after Zhang Xiaoshan succeeded, he could not return by the same route. He had to travel from Goguryeo and Silla to Japan, and then make his way back to the Central Plains.

This way, the Jurchens won't suspect anything.

···

Inside the Prince Zhao's residence!

The night was undoubtedly much livelier, especially as Wanyan Honglie invited six top masters (including the Three-Headed Dragon Hou Tonghai) to discuss important matters.

As for Zhang Xiaoshan, he was a Han Chinese from the Central Plains, and his ancestral home was Lin'an Prefecture.

Wanyan Honglie could not let Zhang Xiaoshan know about this, even though Zhang Xiaoshan was very skilled in martial arts.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan was not going to be polite to Wanyan Honglie. Or rather, this area was full of high-ranking officials and nobles. Anyway, Guo Jing and Huang Rong were there to take the blame, so Zhang Xiaoshan was dressed in the dark with an empty sack on his back.