“This…”
Seeing the scene before him, Qin Yuanshan faltered, his fingers trembling, unable to utter a single word.
At this moment, in the ruined courtyard, two elders, their clothes disheveled and hair in disarray, were covered in blood, looking as if they had just been torn apart by claws.
The two figures half-knelt on the ground, gasping for breath and spitting up blood, their faces pale, a look of terror in their eyes as they stared at Qin Ning.
“Betraying the Qin family is punishable by death!”
Qin Ning stepped forward, one step at a time, his footsteps silent, but his aura was as cold as ice.
“First Elder, Second Elder, in your next lives, you should be loyal to the family.”
Clink, clink…
Two faint metallic clicks rang out as Qin Ning walked past, directly slitting both their throats.
A thudding sound echoed as the two corpses slowly grew cold…
“Big Brother!”
At this moment, Qin Yuanshan rushed to Qin Changsheng’s side, the guards and deacons all stunned.
“Big Brother, this… did you kill them?”
“It wasn’t me!”
Qin Changsheng shook his head with a bitter smile, his gaze flickering towards Qin Ning.
“It was Ning’er!”
What!
These words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, many guards and deacons staring at Qin Ning in shock.
With his own strength, Qin Ning killed the First Elder, Second Elder, Fifth Elder, and six or seven deacons?
How could this be?
Everyone found it hard to believe.
Qin Yuanshan looked at Qin Ning, but he knew the truth in his heart.
Qin Ning had survived a great calamity and had even received the inheritance of the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities; his future was bound to be brilliant.
“Good, good!”
Qin Yuanshan helped Qin Changsheng up, looking at Qin Ning and nodding repeatedly.
Qin Changsheng had now recovered his complexion. He looked at everyone, his voice full of authority.
“Third Elder Qin Fengyun, heed my command!”
“Your subordinate is here!”
“Immediately lead the Qin family’s elite guard squad, apprehend the entire network of traitors connected to the First Elder, Second Elder, and Fifth Elder, and interrogate them thoroughly. Anyone involved in this conspiracy shall be executed without mercy!”
“Yes, sir!”
Qin Changsheng continued: “Fourth Elder Qin Fengshang, lead a group of guards, and from today onwards, guard the Qin family’s safety day and night!”
“As you command!”
“Second Brother!”
“Big Brother, your command!”
Qin Changsheng nodded and said: “This time, the First Elder, Second Elder, and Fifth Elder intended to kill me, and although Qin Ning has beheaded the three of them, the Qin family’s strength has greatly diminished. The Ling, Chu, and Shen families will surely make their move; you must closely supervise the business on the Pill Street.”
“Big Brother, rest assured!”
Qin Changsheng was indeed worthy of being the Qin family patriarch; in just a moment, he had arranged everything for the aftermath.
“Father, are you alright?”
Qin Ning was a little worried at this moment.
“I’m fine, just a minor injury!”
Qin Changsheng shook his head, looking at the mess on the ground with a worried expression.
Qin Ning knew what his father was worried about.
This time, with the execution of three family elders, the family’s strength had been significantly damaged. If the Ling, Chu, and Shen families were to make a move now, the Qin family would undoubtedly suffer severe losses.
“Brother Ning, Brother Ning, Sheng Xinyue of the Sacred Pill Pavilion has arrived with Du Zhe and Du Siyuan, will you meet them?” Qin Xinxin rushed over, panting, and said.
“What is he doing here? I won’t meet him!”
Qin Ning flatly waved his hand in refusal.
“Huh, he said he found what Brother Ning wanted!”
“Oh, what is it?”
“Blaze Spirit Ganoderma!”
Hearing this, a look of relief appeared in Qin Ning’s eyes.
“Tell him to come in and see me!”
“Alright!”
Qin Ning turned his head to look at Qin Changsheng and Qin Yuanshan, smiling, he said: “Father, the worries in your heart might just be resolved!”
Seeing Qin Ning’s smile, Qin Changsheng and Qin Yuanshan both felt puzzled.
What does this mean?
Not long after, several figures appeared outside the small courtyard.
Sheng Xinyue, dressed entirely in white, was a refined young master. Du Zhe and Du Siyuan carefully followed behind him.
“Brother Qin!”
Seeing Qin Ning, Sheng Xinyue immediately greeted him with a bright smile.
Du Zhe, meanwhile, walked towards Qin Changsheng, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, “Clan Head Qin, I sincerely apologize. I am old and have become muddled. Last time, I misdiagnosed the young master; it was my fault. Today, I have come to atone for my mistake!”
“Bring them up!”
Immediately, the followers brought forward several large wooden boxes.
Seeing those large wooden boxes, Qin Changsheng was stunned.
As the Clan Head of the Qin family, how could he not see that these large wooden boxes were extraordinary? They were made from top-grade Purple Cicada wood.
The purpose of Purple Cicada wood was to preserve mortal pills.
Du Zhe immediately cupped his hands and said, “I heard that two alchemists from the Qin family have betrayed you. These boxes contain low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade mortal pills from our Sacred Pill Pavilion, enough to ensure the normal operation of the Qin family’s pill street for a month!”
Upon hearing these words, Qin Changsheng’s eyes nearly popped out.
These boxes of pills were worth at least a million gold taels, an enormous sum of money.
Just to atone for a mistake, he would give away such a fortune so easily?
Qin Changsheng looked at Qin Ning, remaining silent.
“Brother Qin, you must accept these. This is my humble gesture!” Sheng Xinyue said again.
“Where is what I need?”
Qin Ning didn’t answer but asked directly.
“It’s here, it’s here, it’s in here!”
Sheng Xinyue immediately took out a brocade box.
The brocade box was neatly square. Sheng Xinyue opened it, and everyone immediately saw a medicinal herb resembling a spiritual ganoderma.
However, this ganoderma looked different from ordinary ones; a faint flame flickered across its body, and one could feel a wave of heat upon approaching it.
“Flame Ganoderma!”
A slight smile played on Qin Ning’s lips.
Sheng Xinyue breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Qin Ning’s pleased expression.
The poisonous fire within him tormented him day and night, causing him constant agony for less than half a year.
It was truly unbearable to constantly await death.
Qin Ning had a way to cure him, and he had to rely on Qin Ning.
Qin Ning waved his hand, flatly refusing.
“Huh? He said he found what Brother Ning wanted!”
“Oh, what is it?”
“Flame Ganoderma!”
Flame Ganoderma?
Hearing this, Qin Ning’s eyes showed a relaxed expression.
“Tell him to come in and see me!”
“Alright!”
Qin Ning turned his head to look at Qin Changsheng and Qin Yuanshan, smiling, he said: “Father, the worries in your heart might just be resolved!”
Seeing Qin Ning’s smile, Qin Changsheng and Qin Yuanshan both felt puzzled.
What does this mean?
Not long after, several figures appeared outside the small courtyard.
Sheng Xinyue, dressed entirely in white, was a refined young master. Du Zhe and Du Siyuan carefully followed behind him.
“Brother Qin!”
Seeing Qin Ning, Sheng Xinyue immediately greeted him with a bright smile.
Du Zhe walked towards Qin Changsheng, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Clan Head Qin, I am truly sorry. I am old and have become muddled. Last time, I misdiagnosed the young master; it was my fault. Today, I have come to make amends!"
"Bring them up here!"
Immediately, the people following behind him carried several large wooden boxes forward.
Seeing those large wooden boxes, Qin Changsheng was stunned.
He was the Clan Head of the Qin family; how could he not see that these large wooden boxes were no ordinary items? They were made from top-grade Purple Cicada wood.
The purpose of Purple Cicada wood was to preserve mortal pills.
Du Zhe immediately cupped his hands and said, "I heard that two of the Qin family's alchemists have betrayed them. These boxes all contain low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade mortal pills stored by our Sacred Pill Pavilion, enough to ensure the normal operation of the Qin family's pill street for one month!"
When Qin Changsheng heard these words, his eyes nearly popped out.
These boxes of pills were worth at least a million taels of gold, an incredibly huge sum of money.
Just to atone for a mistake, he would give them away so easily?
Qin Changsheng looked at Qin Ning, remaining silent.
"Brother Qin, you must accept them; this is a token of my sincerity!" Sheng Xinyui said again.
"Where is what I need?" Qin Ning didn't answer, but asked directly.
"It's here, it's here, it's in here!"
Sheng Xinyui immediately took out a brocade box.
The brocade box was perfectly square. Sheng Xinyui opened it, and in everyone's eyes, a medicinal herb resembling a spiritual mushroom immediately appeared.
However, that spiritual mushroom looked different from ordinary ones; it bore a faint flame all over its body, and when one got close, they could feel a wave of heat on their face.
"Flame Spirit Mushroom!"
The corner of Qin Ning's mouth curved slightly.
Sheng Xinyui breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Qin Ning was pleased.
The poison fire within him tormented him day and night; in less than half a year, it had caused him constant pain.
It was truly agonizing to constantly await death.
Qin Ning had a way to cure him; he had to rely on Qin Ning.
"You've gone to a lot of trouble. Once you find the Nine-petaled Spirit Azure Flower, I will be able to begin refining the Nine Spirit Azure Pill for you, curing the poison fire within your body!"
"I'm troubling you too much, Brother Qin!"
Sheng Xinyui smiled and let out a breath at this moment.
As the ninth young master of the Imperial Capital's Sacred Pill Pavilion, he still had great prospects and a future awaiting him; he did not want to die.
Qin Ning turned his head to look at Qin Changsheng: "Father, I need some time to refine pills. Perhaps, by the time I succeed, it will be enough to resolve our Qin family's difficulties!"
Leaving such a remark, Qin Ning turned and left.
Sheng Xinyui immediately followed.
"Brother Qin, Brother Qin..."
Sheng Xinyui looked at Qin Ning and said, "I know your pill refining technique is definitely superb. I have a presumptuous request."
"You want to watch me refine pills?"
"Uh... that, this..." Sheng Xinyui was awkward, his intention seen through by Qin Ning.
Every alchemist had their own path, so allowing others to watch while refining pills was a taboo, but he was truly very curious.
Qin Ning was only about his age, yet the last time they met, he knew there was a problem in Sheng Xinyui's body with just a glance. He must definitely be a grandmaster.
He really wanted to know what Qin Ning's pill refining technique was like.
"You can help me!"
"Huh?" Sheng Xinyui was stunned.
"Help? How can I help?"