From slave trader to the Immortal Lord of Ten Thousand Laws

portrait....

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingyue's cheeks flushed slightly, but her beautiful almond-shaped eyes darted away as she said:

"Immortal Master, matters of marriage are not to be taken lightly."

"Without the consent of parents, the words of a matchmaker, and the formalities of the Four Books and Six Rites, how can one lightly speak of marriage?"

"Haha, that's easy to handle."

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest stroked his beard and smiled, "If I can cure your father, wouldn't it be a natural progression to fulfill your parents' wishes?"

"..."

Xu Qingyue was stunned for a moment, and was speechless.

The portrait was originally meant to appease the old Taoist priest, but unexpectedly... it has now turned around and silenced her.

But if he really could cure my father's illness...

But it's also very good.

only...

Am I really going to get married? Marry that... Jiang She.

Xu Qingyue remained silent for several breaths, about to speak, when a furious shout suddenly rang out in the courtyard:

"No! I will not agree!"

She glanced to the side and saw that the person speaking was Li Langjun, who had just gotten up from the ground.

Li Nian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"Miss, if I may be so bold... this is absolutely inappropriate!"

"Oh? Is there something wrong?"

The old Taoist priest squinted and asked in return, showing little displeasure on his face.

Li Nian, however, acted as if he hadn't seen it, and said in a deep voice:

"Since ancient times, high-ranking families have always valued matching social status in marriage. Miss Xu is the daughter of the Xu family, with an unparalleled noble status. Even if she were to marry, she should choose a son-in-law who would live with her in the family and be welcomed into the mansion in a grand manner."

After he finished speaking, his gaze fell heavily on Xu Qingyue's face.

Xu Qingyue's expression remained normal.

The old Taoist priest, however, did not get angry but laughed.

He stroked his silver beard lightly, his beetle-like eyes narrowed slightly, and carefully examined the white-clad man before him from head to toe, before laughing:

"Alas!"

"You young man, you're quite thoughtful."

The old Taoist priest was only hoping that this matter could be accomplished as soon as possible, because in his opinion, whether Xu Qingyue married or not, once she drank a cup of nuptial wine, she would be someone's wife sooner or later.

For now, all I can say is:

"Miss Xu, since you say your father has been seriously ill for a long time, why don't you let me see him as soon as possible?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingyue was immediately moved. She gracefully lifted her skirt, gave a slight bow, and said softly:

"In that case... Immortal Master, please follow me."

Upon hearing her words, Li Nian was immediately stunned.

He had long admired Xu Qingyue and had his own thoughts. Right now, he only wanted to use the matter of "taking a son-in-law" to appease the old Taoist priest for a while so that the young lady could not get married.

Unexpectedly... the other party's composure was so profound that he inadvertently made a fool of himself by going along with his words.

"But I was too impatient!"

Li Nian felt remorseful, realizing that he had made a mistake in a moment of confusion.

...

"Tap tap tap—"

The group walked through the corridor to a quiet courtyard.

As soon as they pushed open the door, they saw the room filled with the smell of medicine. They then asked a maid to move the screen and saw an old man on the bed with his eyes closed, his body emaciated, and his breath barely audible.

"This is my father."

Xu Qingyue bowed gently and said with a worried voice, "I want the immortal to know that my father has been bedridden for many years, and we have searched for medicines everywhere but to no avail. Recently... he has been unable to eat or drink anything."

As she finished speaking, her eyes welled up with tears, but she held them back and didn't cry out.

The old Taoist priest stepped forward to examine it closely.

The person on the couch did not react.

He leaned down and sat on the edge of the couch, placing three fingers on Master Xu's wrist and concentrating on taking his pulse.

a long time...

The old Taoist priest finished taking her pulse.

He opened his eyes, frowned, and sighed deeply, saying, "This is no ordinary illness; it is a case of evil qi invading the lungs and internal organs, with the insidious poison penetrating to the bone marrow. Ordinary medicines can only prolong the illness for a few days."

Xu Qingyue's face turned pale instantly: "What does the Immortal Master mean...?"

"It is necessary to use 'Six-petaled Paris polyphylla' flower and one 'Bodhi fruit' together as medicine to eradicate the root cause. However, both of these items are rare in the world, and I do not have them on me."

After the old Taoist priest finished speaking, Xu Qingyue's pretty face froze for a moment, then a bright light appeared in her eyes, and she said softly:

"Immortal Master... I do have some of these two herbs in my family's storeroom. Years ago, my ancestor was a merchant in Yunnan and Guizhou when he happened to obtain six leaves of Paris polyphylla. By chance, he also acquired a box of Bodhi seeds. Both of these items are sealed in jade boxes and placed in a dark room. If they can prolong my father's life, I will immediately have someone fetch them."

Upon hearing this, Qiao'er, who was standing to the side, froze for a moment. She took half a step forward and said timidly:

"Miss... have you forgotten? You... have already bestowed these Paris polyphylla flowers and Bodhi fruits upon Young Master Jiang..."

Was it bestowed upon Jiang She?

Xu Qingyue was slightly taken aback.

After a long while, he murmured, "Yes, that is indeed the case; it was my oversight."

Before she could finish speaking, a hint of regret appeared on her brows, but the old Taoist priest stroked his long beard and shook his head, saying:

"That's wrong."

"The 'Six-Leaf Paris' and 'Bodhi Fruit' that I mentioned are not ordinary things. Ordinary Paris has seven leaves and one flower, and Bodhi fruit often lacks spiritual light. These two must grow in places where spiritual veins converge, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon for more than a hundred years, with leaves opening to six petals and fruit containing a faint radiance, before they can be called spiritual medicines. Even if there are a hundred ordinary plants, they cannot cure this disease in the slightest."

"this...."

Xu Qingyue was taken aback.

Hearing this, she felt only a faint hope.

Seeing Xu Qingyue's dim eyes, the old Taoist priest pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up and said:

"That's not difficult."

"Although these two items are rare, I know where to find them. If I go today, I will surely be able to gather them within ten days to a month. However..."

He paused, glancing around the courtyard walls, his expression growing serious. But his mind was only on the wandering cultivator Qiao'er had mentioned, still on his way. So he feigned mystery and said:

"Miss's fate is unusual, making her susceptible to the covetousness of evil spirits."

"Recently, ghostly disturbances have occurred in the house again. I fear that some rogue cultivators and sorcerers may come upon hearing the news. Before I leave, I will set up a spell in the young lady's residence. After this spell is activated, I hope that the young lady will stay in the courtyard for the time being to rest and recuperate, so that no evildoers may find any trace of her."

Xu Qingyue nodded: "I hope the immortal master will grant my request."

Seeing that Xu Qingyue agreed, the old Taoist priest said no more. He did not move, but simply flicked his sleeve, and seven copper coins slid out from his sleeve. Then he flicked his fingers and sent the copper coins into the ground in the shape of the Big Dipper. Instantly, there was a "bang", and the courtyard was covered in a white fog.

Xu Qingyue gazed at the mist and gracefully bowed:

"Qingyue will follow the immortal's instructions and will not leave the courtyard. She only hopes that the immortal will return soon to save her father from his long-term illness."

The old Taoist priest smiled.

This fog array was meant to prevent wild cultivators from "stealing" his base; now that it's set up, he can go there with peace of mind.

...

"Bang!"

A fist the size of a vinegar basin slammed into the wooden dummy.

The wooden stake broke, and wood chips flew everywhere.

Li Nian maintained his punching stance, veins bulging on his forehead, eyes bloodshot, panting heavily as he angrily said:

"My beloved? When did Miss acquire a beloved? How could I not know?! I guard her courtyard day and night; I have never missed a single detail of her every smile and frown!"

"But when did she find someone she loved and hide it from me? How could she treat me like this? How could she treat me like this!"

Seeing her so infatuated, the followers behind her exchanged glances, none of them daring to speak loudly.

A slightly older man stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and cautiously advised:

"Brother Li, please calm down... This matter is indeed strange. Miss has always been a recluse with a deep mind. She has never shown any signs of having a 'beloved' before. Even we, as the guards in Miss's courtyard, who are on duty day and night, have not been able to find the slightest clue."

"Yes, Brother Li."

Another follower chimed in, "You know Miss's temperament, Brother Li. She is extremely meticulous in her actions. If Miss really has someone she likes and intends to hide it, I'm afraid... even her maid, Qiao'er, might not know the whole story."

"How could we outsiders possibly know?"

"outsider?"

Li Nian suddenly turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping fiercely over the crowd, and said in an angry voice:

"You are outsiders, so what about me!"

My Li family has served the Xu family for three generations, and my father was even the head guard. I grew up with her since childhood, and I know every blade of grass and every tree in her courtyard like the back of my hand. If she intends to hide something, does she mean to hide it from me as well?!

"Who...is this person I love?!"

His words caused a moment of silence in the courtyard.

Only Li Nian's heavy breathing and the rustling of leaves falling in the wind remained, softly echoing in the distance.

Suddenly, a young guard standing at the edge of the crowd, usually quite clever, seemed to remember something. He abruptly raised his head and hesitated before speaking:

"Li... Brother Li, hearing you say that reminds me of something, but I don't know if I should say it..."

Li Nian's gaze was like lightning, suddenly fixing on his face:

"speak!"

The young guard swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "Yes...it was a few days ago. One afternoon, I happened to be on duty guarding the second courtyard gate when I saw Miss Qiao'er hurriedly coming out of the third courtyard. She was carrying a scroll wrapped in brocade and was taking it to the shop."

"At the time, I didn't think much of it, assuming it was just some ordinary calligraphy and paintings bestowed by Miss. But now, thinking back, Qiao'er personally delivered them, and in such a furtive manner... that painting... could it be a depiction of Miss's beloved?!"

boom--!

The wooden stake snapped in two with a single punch from Li Nian. His fist was torn and bleeding, but he remained oblivious, gritting his teeth and snarling:

"Investigate! Investigate it now!"

"Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground and search every inch of the capital, I will uncover that person's name and background completely!"

His henchmen trembled at his crazed appearance, hurriedly bowing their heads, clasping their hands in greeting, and repeatedly responding:

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Brother Li, please calm down. We will investigate immediately and make sure we get to the bottom of this."

One of the bolder henchmen, glancing at Li Nian's flushed face, swallowed hard and asked tremblingly, "Brother Li... if... if we find that person... what should we do with him?"

The moment these words were spoken, the courtyard fell silent.

Li Nian raised his head and wiped his neck with his hand:

"kill!"

A cold, piercing word was squeezed out from between his teeth, devoid of any human warmth.

He smiled sinisterly:

"Once we find this person, we don't care who he is, just kill him! With the Xu family behind you, are you afraid you can't kill someone?"

After he finished speaking, he chuckled sinisterly for a while. To him, competing with him for Xu Qingyue was already a death sentence.

...

The Xu family mansion.

Inside the room with the back seat.

Jiang She closed his eyes slightly, but his thoughts were still focused on Qiao'er's eyes. He saw the fog array was dense and white all around, completely enveloping the three courtyards.

He frowned slightly, thinking to himself:

"This old Taoist priest has quite a few tricks up his sleeve! Not only does he know how to summon some wild shrines and spirits, but he also understands some array formations. Needless to say, he has already condensed five streams of magical power, so his strength is naturally far superior to mine."

Jiang She opened his eyes, his gaze burning with intensity, as if he could pierce through the walls and see into the misty courtyard.

But in his heart he thought to himself:

"Xu Qingyue is someone I've set my sights on; how can I let her get away when she's already caught? That old scoundrel, he can't be allowed to live!"

Thinking it over, he no longer hesitated, but focused his attention on the panel to see the line of small characters:

"Today you have encountered the rogue Taoist priest Liu Tuo. You can spend 10,000 coins to control this mountain hermit."

Jiang She looked at the panel, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"purchase!"

Before he finished speaking, the water surface before him blurred as if rippled by the wind. Only when the shimmering light subsided did he see clearly.

You can scan it with your eyes.

However, the surrounding area was not a deep mountain forest or a place where medicinal herbs grow, but rather a cluster of low-lying village houses and thatched huts.

Underfoot was a dirt path, and ahead lay a small village, with only about twenty or thirty houses.

The village was built beside a shallow stream, and as dusk fell, the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard.

Ok?

Upon seeing this, Jiang She felt a chill run down his spine and thought to himself:

"That old Taoist priest...didn't he go looking for elixirs?"

...

"Ha! What miraculous elixir are you looking for!"

The old Taoist priest stood alone at the village entrance, a solitary figure beneath a tree. His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, swept over the few young figures running through the village. He grinned, a sinister sneer spreading across his face:

"Hehehe! Although this village is small and not very populous, it has a few pairs of young boys and girls with pure hearts and innocent blood, making them excellent 'medicines'."

"Let's take it first to refine medicine for my precious disciple. As for Lord Liu's offerings, I'll find a county town to make up for it after I finish refining this batch of pills."

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and headed into the depths of the village. His steps seemed slow, but each step covered several feet.

After walking a few steps, we arrived at the village's threshing ground.

Several children were playing and chasing each other, completely unaware of the impending disaster.

"Come."

The old Taoist priest flicked his finger, and three gray talismans flew out from his sleeve. The talismans spontaneously combusted without fire, turning into three seemingly invisible ropes of smoke that "whoosh" wrapped around the ankles of three boys and girls who looked to be about seven or eight years old.

"ah--!"

The child screamed and fell to the ground, his cries instantly alerting the entire village.

"What kind of person?!"

"Let go of my child!"

Hearing the noise, seven or eight strong men rushed out of the thatched hut, hoes in hand and clubs in hand.

The leader, a middle-aged hunter with a dark face, saw that the old Taoist priest resembled a child and his eyes widened in fury. He thought of his own child who had been abducted before he was even a month old, and he swung his wood-chopping knife at him.

The old Taoist priest didn't even lift his eyelids, but simply flicked his sleeve and said, "Noisy."

"Bang!"

An invisible force, like a gentle breeze, struck the hunter's chest like a raging wave crashing against the shore.

The hunter's body shuddered violently, his chest caved in like a pit, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. With a "bang," he crashed into half of an earthen wall, spitting out blood. It was clear that he was not going to survive.

"Blackie!"

The villagers were both shocked and furious, roaring as they swarmed forward.

Hoes, machetes, and sticks rained down on him. The old Taoist priest merely chuckled, his figure leaving a trail of afterimages as he ghost-like weaved through the crowd.

He formed his five fingers into claws, grabbing and pulling.

With a snap, the wrist of one man wielding a hoe broke in the opposite direction; with a flick of his wrist, the chest of another young man wielding a stick caved in, his ribs shattered, and he collapsed to the ground, spitting blood and foam.

"Overestimating one's abilities."

The old Taoist priest's voice was icy cold. Wherever he went, villagers were either killed or injured, and in an instant, the dirt road was covered in blood.

The remaining villagers were so terrified that they dared not take another step forward.

The old Taoist priest, however, did not let them go, killing them one by one with a single palm strike.

Immediately, his gaze returned to the three children who were bound by smoke ropes, pale with fright, and too afraid to even cry out.

He pulled a yellowed animal skin pouch from his sleeve, and the opening of the pouch opened on its own, pointing it at the three children.

"receive."

An irresistible suction force emanated from the bag, and the three children shrank rapidly, turning into three streaks of light that were instantly sucked into the bag.

The animal skin bag tightened on its own and was gathered into the old Taoist priest's palm.

He dusted off his Taoist robe, ignoring the severed limbs and remains scattered on the ground, and grinned maliciously:

"The 'spiritual medicine' is sufficient. Let's return to our cave and start the furnace. Once this batch of 'human pills' is refined, the Xu family's furnace... hehehe, will never escape my grasp again!"