Chapter 575: Breaking Open the Jade Slip

“Five hundred taels of gold… can get the Consecrated Elder of the Pill Division… to teach me alchemy??” Zhang Xiaohua’s mouth fell open; he simply could not believe it.

Zou Shuming smiled and said, “Exactly. As long as you bring out those five hundred taels’ worth of gold leaves, your wish will naturally come true.”

“But…” Zhang Xiaohua hesitated for a moment and said, “Wasn’t it said that according to the rules of our Tuodan Hall, disciples of the Herb Division cannot come into contact with the pill rooms? How could someone possibly teach me alchemy?”

When Zou Shuming heard this, he said disdainfully, “Rules are made by people. Since ancient times, there has been the saying, ‘The law does not punish the great officials.’ These rules may restrain you and me, but they cannot restrain others.”

“Others?” Zhang Xiaohua said curiously. “Who are these others? Wu Dalang?”

Knowing that he had let something slip, Zou Shuming quickly said, “Don’t ask who it is. Just tell me whether you agree or not.”

Stroking his chin, Zhang Xiaohua said, “But… how did you know that I wanted to learn alchemy? And that I wanted to study alchemy under the Consecrated Elder?”

Somewhat irritated, Zou Shuming said, “Didn’t I already say it? This is all Wu Dalang’s instructions. I… sigh, to tell you the truth, your Herb Division’s Boss Chen has been on Tianmu Peak for decades, and never once has he asked Wu Dalang to borrow a pill room. Yet the moment you arrive, he repeatedly goes looking for Wu Dalang, wanting to borrow a pill room, and even indirectly inquires about the Consecrated Elders and alchemy. On top of that, you’ve collected quite a few medicinal herbs. How could our Dalang not know that you’re trying to learn alchemy?”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded and said, “Boss Chen is indeed a bit too impatient. I was merely curious about our Tuodan Hall’s alchemy and wanted to learn a little about it. He…”

Halfway through, he suddenly changed his words. “Could it be that Wu Dalang can get the Consecrated Elder to teach me alchemy?”

“Dalang can’t, but…” Having been careless, Zou Shuming immediately took the bait and blurted it out, but then instantly realized his mistake and said, “A wise man doesn’t speak in riddles. Junior Brother Ren, stop probing. I truly don’t know anything at all. You only need to tell me whether it’s possible or not.”

Seeing that he could not draw out even the slightest bit of information, Zhang Xiaohua shook his head and said, “Then Wu Dalang will have to be disappointed. Where would this little brother get five hundred taels’ worth of gold leaves? Having two hundred taels would already be pretty good. As for the five hundred taels I mentioned to Senior Brother Cheng, I was only extorting him. Senior Brother Zou, where do you expect me to get another three hundred taels’ worth of gold leaves? I don’t even have pills of equivalent value—only the medicinal herbs in the little house halfway up the mountain.”

“What? You don’t have five hundred taels?” Zou Shuming looked at Zhang Xiaohua in disbelief.

Zhang Xiaohua gave a bitter smile and said, “Those gold leaves were merely a gift from Spring Rebirth Valley. Do you really think I’m some important figure that they would hand me five hundred taels of gold all at once? Having two hundred taels is already the result of my burning a great deal of incense.”

“This…” Zou Shuming sucked in a cold breath and looked rather troubled. After thinking for a moment, he said, “How about this, Junior Brother Ren? Since I’m acting as the messenger, I’ll see it through to the end. If… you hand these two hundred taels of gold to Dalang and let him arrange for an offering to teach you alchemy, what do you think?”

Why would I need one of your Consecrated Elders to teach me alchemy? I only wanted Boss Chen to find me a place for alchemy and never once thought about studying under the Consecrated Elders. Besides, I’ve already found a pill room and even obtained a miraculous pill furnace. Why would I continue wasting words with you? Zhang Xiaohua thought to himself.

Then he cupped his hands and said, “Senior Brother Zou, please convey my thanks to Wu Dalang for his kindness. However, this little brother knows his own aptitude. Even in Spring Rebirth Valley, I failed to learn any alchemy, much less the immortal-like alchemy of the offerings of our Tuodan Hall. I dare not harbor such extravagant hopes. It is enough for me to simply cultivate medicinal herbs well.”

“Hmm?” Zou Shuming had clearly not expected Zhang Xiaohua to refuse and pressed further, “Junior Brother Ren, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You… have truly decided? Don’t regret it in the future!”

“I’ve decided.” Zhang Xiaohua nodded and said, “Since childhood, this little brother has never had any grand ambitions. I only hope to farm a little and practice martial arts. That would already be the best kind of life.”

“Very well. Since Junior Brother Ren has made his choice, I’ll return and report to Dalang.”

Zou Shuming sighed, turned around, and departed using Qinggong.

In the distance, Bai Huan was hiding behind a tree and secretly watching. Once Zou Shuming had left, he quickly stepped forward and asked, “Junior Brother Ren, what did Senior Brother Zou want with you?”

Zhang Xiaohua looked at Bai Huan with a half-smile and said, “Nothing much. He simply saw how outstanding my martial arts are, and Wu Dalang of the Pill Division wanted to recruit me over there.”

“Recruit you over there?” Bai Huan did not understand for a moment.

“He wants me to become a disciple of the Pill Division,” Zhang Xiaohua said irritably.

“Tch~” Bai Huan curled his lips in disdain. “How is that possible? Although Wu Dalang is the head of the Pill Division on Tianmu Peak, he doesn’t have any authority to transfer you from the Herb Division to the Pill Division. Only the two Hall Masters of our Tuodan Hall can do something like that. Stop teasing me!”

“The two Hall Masters?” Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback, then immediately understood something. Snorting through his nose, he said, “Those two Hall Masters certainly have quite the appetite, and their hands reach pretty far too!”

“Appetite?” Bai Huan was puzzled. “How could our Hall Master and Vice Hall Master Xu possibly take an interest in a minor figure like you? Come on, Senior Brother, tell me—what exactly did Senior Brother Zou want with you?”

“Sigh, what else could it be? It’s about the next wager…”

“Eh? The next wager… what about it?” Bai Huan’s eyes immediately lit up.

“There’s still no set date for the next wager. Senior Brother Zou merely wanted to ask that if I happen to face him then, I show him some mercy.”

“Pfft~” Bai Huan could not help but laugh out loud. “Junior Brother Ren, you’re really amusing. Senior Brother Zou is the foremost of the Ten Vajras, and he needs you to show mercy? Come on, don’t tell such a low-level lie.”

“Forget it. Look, I tell you the truth and you don’t believe it, so why bother listening at all?”

Somewhat displeased, Zhang Xiaohua turned and left.

“Junior Brother Ren…” Bai Huan raised a hand, wanting to stop Zhang Xiaohua, but then he thought to himself, Aiya, Boss Chen only told me to keep an eye on him. Whatever he says, I just need to relay it. Why make him unhappy? The gains from future wagers will still depend on him.

Afterward, Bai Huan did not follow Zhang Xiaohua and instead went by himself to a medicinal field to weed and water it.

Seeing that Bai Huan did not shamelessly continue questioning him, Zhang Xiaohua felt relieved. He did not want everyone to know that he wanted to learn alchemy and study it under the offerings of the Pill Division. Thus, he walked into the cave and then escaped into the pill room.

Now then, after Zou Shuming returned to the mountainside, he relayed Zhang Xiaohua’s words to Wu Zhouxu.

“What? He actually isn’t willing?” Wu Zhouxu was also somewhat surprised, but immediately let out a cold snort and said, “These days, being a good person is truly difficult. If I hadn’t heard from you that this Ren Xiaoyao can live alone in that cave and diligently cultivate his inner energy, making me think he might be a promising talent, I wouldn’t even bother finding a Consecrated Elder to teach him alchemy. He’s merely an ordinary disciple of the Herb Division; others could crush him with a casual gesture…”

At this point, he abruptly stopped and said to Zou Shuming with a smile, “Very well, Junior Brother Zou, you’ve worked hard. As long as the message was delivered, it’s fine whether he’s willing or not. It’s not as though I truly care about his gold leaves. Oh, right, keep a closer eye on this Ren Xiaoyao from now on. If anything happens, report it as quickly as possible.”

“Understood, Dalang. This little brother will definitely keep a close watch on him. Actually, he spends most of his time in the cave, so it’s impossible to see clearly what he’s doing.”

“Hmph, I know that cave. I occasionally went there in the past. It’s only a tiny cave just big enough to hold a person. Other than tempering his inner energy, could he possibly be refining pills in there? Let him stay in the cave if he wants. Just keep an eye on his movements whenever he comes out.”

Zou Shuming bowed and withdrew, then continued with his surveillance.

Wu Zhouxu sat in his chair, his brows slightly furrowed. Young people are still too young. They can’t distinguish what is important from what is urgent and don’t understand the pros and cons. I already had Zou Shuming make things so clear—could it be that you still don’t understand my hint? Someone asked me to hint to you that you should send over the gold leaves, and I even added the condition of letting you learn alchemy. That can already be considered doing everything possible for you. Yet you don’t appreciate it. Then I have nothing more to say. Fine, in any case, you’re only a disciple of the Herb Division. I merely passed along the message as it was given to me; the rest is none of my concern.

Having thought this through, he called out, “Mo San’er…”

A disciple answered and entered, bowing respectfully.

Wu Zhouxu walked up to him and quietly gave a few instructions before saying, “That’s the situation. Go report it to Vice Hall Master Xu. Ren Xiaoyao is a member of the Herb Division, so I could only convey the old man’s intentions to him. Ren Xiaoyao actually dares not to put me in his eyes, and I have no particularly good solution either. Please ask the old man to decide what should be done.”

The disciple listened carefully, then turned and left the hall.

Behind him, Wu Zhouxu still shook his head slightly… Leaving aside the fact that Wu Zhouxu of the Pill Division had set his sights on Zhang Xiaohua’s gold leaves, at this moment, inside the pill room on Tianmu Peak, Zhang Xiaohua was holding that emerald-green jade slip and considering a method to break its restriction.

This jade slip was different from a magical artifact and did not need to be refined. Moreover, the first thing Zhang Xiaohua had ever come into contact with had been precisely this kind of jade slip used to record cultivation techniques, so he was already quite familiar with them. However, this jade slip was different from the others. The restriction on it was extremely ingenious, actually capable of isolating Zhang Xiaohua’s Divine Sense, making it comparable to the restriction on Refining the World of Artifacts. Of course, it was precisely because he had suffered greatly while breaking the restriction on Refining the World of Artifacts, nearly damaging the Pill Heart within his Niwan Palace, that Zhang Xiaohua was being exceptionally cautious this time.

Zhang Xiaohua released his Divine Sense and carefully examined the restriction. He then reviewed once more the restrictions he had learned before, as well as the methods in Refining the World of Artifacts regarding the breaking of jade-slip restrictions. Only then did he toss his hand, causing the jade slip to float in the air. Afterward, he formed an incantation with his left hand and sent the seal into the jade slip.

Sure enough, after trying several methods, the restriction on the jade slip actually began to loosen, completely unlike before, when there had not been the slightest response. Therefore, Zhang Xiaohua did not delay. Both hands continuously formed seal gestures, and he sent all the remaining seals into the jade slip. Before long, he had completely broken the restriction, and he did not encounter any situation where his Divine Sense was absorbed.

Looking at the emerald-green jade slip floating in the air, as verdant and fresh as bamboo after the rain, Zhang Xiaohua unhesitatingly immersed his Divine Sense into it. When he saw the contents inside the jade slip, he could not help but beam with joy!