I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Zhao Zian resumed his harmless demeanor.

"Just a little trick, nothing to show your respect."

"The hunting grounds are all set up; now, we're just waiting for the prey to come to us."

Su Mei composed herself.

"That's...that's it? What do we do now? Just wait?"

"wait?"

Zhao Zian smiled.

"No, we don't need to do anything."

"We can close the net tomorrow."

"The killer will definitely come back."

......

On the day of the auction.

Wealthy merchants from surrounding counties all came to Jishetang.

"Master Li, you're determined to get your hands on this Qi-Nourishing Pill, aren't you?"

"Not at all, not at all. Compared to you, Boss Chen, what is my meager fortune? I've heard that this elixir can extend one's lifespan by twelve years; who wouldn't be envious!"

Liu Wanshan was in his element.

"Dear bosses, fellow villagers!"

He clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"It is my honor to have you all here today! You must all have heard of the miraculous effects of the Qi-Nourishing Pill! I, Liu Moushan, can guarantee with my life that this is absolutely a celestial elixir, a treasure of the mortal world!"

Outside Jishetang, County Magistrate Zhang Jing stood with his hands behind his back.

He had changed into civilian clothes, but his official demeanor remained.

The constables lined up on both sides of the street, their hands on their waist knives.

"Dr. Zhao...you absolutely have to be reliable..."

He muttered to himself.

This isn't about catching criminals; it's about putting all the city's eggs in one basket.

And he, the county magistrate, was the one carrying the basket.

If the basket overturns, he'll be the first to be smashed to pieces.

……

The backyard of Jishetang.

There was only one table and one chair.

Zhao Zian sat cross-legged on the futon, his eyes closed.

His consciousness swept across the main hall.

A gong sounded, and the hall fell silent.

Su Meilian moved lightly and gracefully, ascending the high platform.

"I am Su Mei. Thank you, esteemed esteemed bosses, for honoring your presence at my Jishetang."

"Today's grand event is entirely thanks to the strong support of Master Liu and the efforts of Lord Zhang in sending people to maintain order. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to both of them."

"Enough with the chit-chat, I'm sure you're all getting impatient."

Su Mei smiled sweetly.

"Before we bring out today's grand finale, the Nourishing Essence Pill, we've prepared a few appetizers to liven things up."

She clapped her hands.

A maid carried in a tray covered with a red cloth.

"The first item up for auction is a 300-year-old wild ginseng! Its roots are intact and its shape is plump; it is a sacred product for nourishing vital energy and prolonging life! Starting bid: one hundred taels of silver!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the audience raised a sign.

"One hundred and ten taels!"

"I'll offer one hundred and thirty taels!"

"One hundred and fifty taels!"

Zhao Zian carefully examined the aura of each person.

The killer was well hidden.

Or rather, he simply didn't care about these appetizers.

The second item in the auction was a bright red Ganoderma lucidum.

The third item is a piece of warm jade that can calm the mind and soothe the nerves.

Zhao Zian's divine sense network detected the noise.

A pure... impatience.

Zhao Zian's divine sense locked onto the past.

The source is... in the shadows of the northwest corner of the lobby.

There was a man standing there.

The man was of medium build and had an average appearance.

If not for being locked in by divine sense, one would almost subconsciously ignore his existence with the naked eye.

found it!

On the high platform, Su Mei's voice rose eight octaves.

"Everyone, I know this isn't what you really want to see!"

With a wave of her hand, two maids brought over a small white jade box.

Su Mei opened the small white jade box.

"Gentlemen, this Qi-Nourishing Pill was crafted by the Divine Physician Zhao, who gathered the finest herbs of heaven and earth and refined them over forty-nine days. For mortals, consuming it can transform them, granting immunity to all diseases and extending their lifespan by twelve years. For martial artists, it offers an even greater chance to break through their limitations and glimpse higher realms!"

Its miraculous effects speak for themselves!

A faint, delicate fragrance drifted out.

Inhaling it through the nose invigorates the spirit and brings an indescribable sense of comfort to every part of the body.

"It smells so good!"

"My goodness, just smelling it makes me feel several years younger!"

"An elixir! It's definitely an elixir!"

The audience erupted in uproar.

Within the network of divine consciousness, the stubborn rock finally moved.

The man in blue in the corner raised his face!

He rushed straight to the high platform.

"The Qi-Nourishing Pill is mine!"

Inside the lobby, no one had yet reacted.

In a flash, a green figure appeared before my eyes and stood before the stage.

Su Mei instinctively took a step back and covered her chest with her hands.

The moment his hand touched the elixir.

An invisible force descended.

The man froze, his body stiff in mid-air.

He tried to struggle, but his muscles felt like they were cast in molten iron, and he couldn't move.

My chest felt as if it were being crushed by a massive boulder.

Breathing suddenly became difficult.

"Gurgle..."

What happened?

What exactly happened?

The backyard gate opened silently.

A slender figure walked out slowly.

Zhao Zian!

"Lord Zhang."

Zhao Zian parted his thin lips slightly.

"Please ask everyone to leave."

Zhang Jing understood, "County constables, listen to my command!"

"Clear the area! All irrelevant personnel, leave immediately! Anyone who dares to linger will be dealt with as disturbing public order!"

The constables received their orders and sprang into action.

Inside the lobby, the guests seemed to awaken from a dream.

This was a grand event spearheaded by Liu Wanshan.

Who dares to cause trouble?

"Hurry, hurry!"

"This Jishetang pharmacy is probably in big trouble!"

"My goodness! Who is that person? How dare he steal the elixir of immortality?"

"They must have been bewitched by the Qi-Nourishing Pill!"

Driven out by the constables, the crowd filed out.

Only a handful of people remained in the lobby.

On the high platform, Su Mei was still shaken.

Liu Wanshan stared intently at the frozen man in blue.

"Master Liu."

Zhao Zian spoke again.

"Please tie him up."

Liu Wanshan didn't ask any further questions and stepped forward.

"good!"

He pulled a spare thick hemp rope from his waist and twirled it with both hands.

The man in blue was immobilized in place by the Four Symbols Locking Spirit, unable to move at all.

He could only watch helplessly as Liu Wanshan tied him up tightly.

The rope dug into his flesh, and the man let out a whimper.

He tried to struggle, but the invisible force still held him firmly in place.

No matter how hard he tried, it was all in vain.

With each tightening of the reins, Liu Wanshan's anger intensified.

His son, Liu Chen, died a violent death.

The culprit might just be this guy who's been frozen in place!

After binding him up, Liu Wanshan gave him a hard shove.

The man fell to his knees with a thud.

He barely managed to lift his head and stare at Zhao Zian.

"What...what did you do to me...?"

Zhao Zian did not answer directly. He stepped forward, stood in front of the man, and bent down.

She stretched out a hand, her fingertips touching the man's cheek.

The feel... was a little strange.

Rough, yet with an unnatural smoothness.

Behind him, Accountant Sun watched with a pounding heart.

"Master..."

"This...this isn't a good idea, is it?"

He thought to himself, "Isn't this blatant humiliation? If you've caught someone, just interrogate them directly. Why are you touching their face?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zian raised an eyebrow.

The next instant, Zhao Zian's fingertip traced the edge of the man's cheek.