Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 169: Chapter 162: If You Don’t Come, I’ll Come Invite You Myself

The Han Family’s Earth Palace has collapsed!

The sound carried for dozens of miles, and overnight, the news spread throughout the neighboring prefectures. After brewing for a morning, it had become a sensation.

...

’If I can just get the other half of the Jade Pendant, I can obtain True Master Chixia’s inheritance. The entire life’s treasure of a Golden Core Great Perfection Cultivator... But where is the other half?’

The Market was a bustling, clamorous hub of activity. Chen Che’s eyes were half-closed as he thought about the half of the Jade Pendant he’d acquired, a slight headache forming.

Yunzhou was enormous.

Between the Mortal World and the Cultivation World, trying to find the other half was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack.

Most importantly, he didn’t have a single clue.

And he couldn’t make a big fuss about it; someone else might be watching.

Just thinking about it made Chen Che’s head ache.

”Did you hear? The Han Family’s Earth Palace collapsed last night! The cave-in spanned dozens of miles. I felt it when I was sleeping last night and thought it was an earthquake!”

”I felt it too! I heard that Earth Palace was hidden in the Mortal World. It must have been hiding some treasure, right? Could it be the work of that Evil Cultivator again?”

”It has to be. The Han Family announced publicly that their treasury was robbed. They lost a batch of Spirit Stones and Magical Artifacts, and five Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators died!”

Cultivators coming and going throughout the clamorous Market were all discussing it.

This was a huge deal.

Besides, it was near the mines, and hundreds of miners saw it with their own eyes. It was impossible to cover up.

Moreover, those miners weren’t necessarily clean themselves. Some might be spies for one family or another, which was why the news spread so quickly.

’The Han Family is trying to suppress the news!’

Chen Che’s eyes narrowed.

It made sense. The death of a Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator was equivalent to losing half of their top-tier fighting strength. If that got out, the Han Family would be put on the defensive and would have to hide it no matter what. If Jinyun Valley found out, they might immediately tear up their agreement and seize the mines for themselves.

’As for whether they would connect it to me... probably not. After all, the Han Family has many enemies, and there was a Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator in that Earth Palace. They would never suspect a mere Qi Refining Cultivator.’

’So Xiao Chan has become the scapegoat...’

The corner of Chen Che’s mouth lifted slightly. He glanced at Xiao Chan, the tofu flower seller, whose smile that morning seemed a bit strained.

Clearly, the Loose Cultivators suspecting him had left him feeling rather helpless.

”Proprietor, please have a look.”

Just then, Zhao Deyou approached respectfully, presenting an elixir with both hands.

”A Spirit Gathering Pill?”

Chen Che took it and gave it a glance, understanding immediately. ”Not bad. Your technique is very refined. This is basically ready to be sold. You’re progressing quickly. Perhaps after a little more time, you can start practicing Tier One High Grade Elixirs.”

”However, your own Cultivation needs to keep up!”

”My Cultivation? Yes, sir!”

Zhao Deyou was slightly taken aback but obediently took the advice to heart.

The more he interacted with Chen Che, the more he realized the profound depth of his knowledge in the Alchemy Dao. If he said his Cultivation needed to keep up, there was definitely a good reason for it!

”Put your Pill Seal on it. From now on, you’ll receive thirty percent of the profits from the elixirs you refine.”

Chen Che placed the elixir back. Amid Zhao Deyou’s profuse thanks, he casually asked,

”By the way, how are those apprentices in the backyard?”

”Aside from my son, the rest have average aptitude. I haven’t seen any with outstanding talent, but there are no slackers. They are all very diligent!”

Zhao Deyou answered honestly, ”After all, if they don’t learn well, they’ll be kicked out.”

Chen Che nodded slightly, finding this perfectly normal.

After all, these apprentices had weak foundations and had only been at the shop for a few months; their knowledge was superficial. Alchemy Skill requires a solid foundation, broad knowledge, and a knack for deep study. Even on Earth Element Star, one would first study pharmacology for a year before starting to learn Alchemy.

As for Zhao Changping, he had grown up around Zhao Deyou and was constantly exposed to the craft, so his foundation was solid.

Of course, if he wanted to refine pills, he would still have to wait a while longer.

With insufficient Cultivation and not enough True Essence, was he supposed to refine pills with firewood?

”Recruit twenty more apprentices.”

He turned his head to look at Ding Fei.

”Huh!?”

Ding Fei was stunned for a moment.

He knew the shop was supporting these apprentices. Not counting food and drink, there was a certain amount of loss from the herbs they handled every day. If they recruited another twenty, the losses would triple.

If these apprentices also started refining pills, the sheer amount of loss could bankrupt the shop.

”We have enough Spirit Stones. Just recruit them!”

Chen Che was naturally aware that training apprentices cost money. He casually tossed over a Storage Pouch.

”If you find some clever ones, it’s fine to go over the number. But the requirements are the same as before: they must have a clean background, and it’s best if we know their history.”

”You got it!”

Ding Fei took the Storage Pouch and opened it curiously. Seeing the glittering Spirit Stones inside, his face immediately broke into a wide smile.

Chen Che nodded slightly.

’Soon, once I step into Foundation Establishment, I’ll have the ability to protect the shop no matter how large it gets. It might seem like I’m supporting the shop now, but once it grows, the shop will be the one supporting me.’

’Because the further one goes in Cultivation, the higher the Realm, the more resources one needs.’

’Killing and robbing brings in wealth quickly, but the risks are just as enormous.’

’You never know when you might get tripped up unexpectedly.’

”Alchemist Chen!”

Dressed in a long, green-robed skirt with hair like a waterfall, Meng Qingxuan came into view as soon as Chen Che looked up. Beside her was an old servant in a gray robe, the very same one who had been by Meng Changtu’s side that day.

”You’re here to...?”

Chen Che’s brow arched slightly.

Judging by her posture, it didn’t seem like she was here for a casual chat over tea, but rather to say goodbye.

That made sense. After all, Meng Qingxuan’s family didn’t live here.

”I’ve come to say farewell. It’s my father’s one-hundredth birthday, so I must return to my clan.”

Meng Qingxuan stepped inside. The gray-robed old servant also looked around curiously.

’He knew his young miss’s temperament better than anyone, yet now she was showing a gentle demeanor.’

”Is that so?”

Chen Che nodded slightly, pondering for a moment.

’Should I prepare a gift too? But we’re not related in any way. If I rashly send a gift and give Meng Changtu the wrong idea, what then?’

”My father has also invited you. He hopes you can attend.”

Meng Qingxuan took out a gilt-edged invitation and placed it gently on the table.

”He said he wants to thank you in person for saving his life at the mines that day...”

’Saving his life?’

Chen Che was a bit stunned and quickly shook his head.

”There’s no need for that. It was a trivial matter, not worth mentioning...”

’There’s no way I’m going to the Meng Family estate. What if they detain me and force me to marry Meng Qingxuan? I’d be completely powerless. Would Ye Jingzhou personally go to the Meng Family to demand my release?’

’Probably not.’

’Who knows when Ye Jingzhou will come out of seclusion? Even if he did, on what grounds would he demand my release?’

”Alchemist Chen, please rest assured. The Meng Family is a large and reputable clan; we would not force someone against their will! Besides, my master also said...”

Meng Qingxuan was about to speak when the gray-robed old servant stepped forward and said expressionlessly,

”If Alchemist Chen does not go, he will come to invite you in person.”

”Er...”

Chen Che was a little taken aback. The image of the melting Inner Armor and the sparks on Han Zaiyin’s chest flashed through his mind. His eye twitched, and he finally gave a reluctant nod.

”It is a gracious invitation that is hard to refuse. In that case, let’s go together. When do we leave?”

”Tomorrow morning!”

”Then I’ll get some things ready!”

...

The Meng Family had a good reputation in Yunzhou, with no bad rumors, and Meng Changtu had given his personal promise.

This was why Chen Che was willing to go.

Before leaving, he picked out a bottle of Leopard Embryo Elixir to present as a birthday gift.

After all, the Pill Formula had originally belonged to the Meng Family.

And as it was the highest-level Pill Formula he was publicly known to possess, it was the most fitting gift he could offer.

In addition, he brought the Pure Jun Sword and the Celestial Secret Umbrella, just in case. He also filled his Storage Pouch with all sorts of elixirs and set off early in the morning with Meng Qingxuan and the gray-robed old servant.

As for his Storage Ring, he did not bring it.

After all, a Storage Ring was, on the surface, a Magical Artifact that only Foundation Establishment cultivators could use, as accessing its internal space required Divine Sense.

Han Zaiyin had been to the Meng Family estate before, so Meng Changtu would definitely recognize it.

He had also asked Li Xiaoshuang for a week’s leave in advance.

Old Li naturally agreed.

He just reminded him that summer break was coming up, so he should remember to go back to school to pick up his assignments.

The Meng Family estate was 2,700 miles from Jinyun Valley.

The three of them set out in the morning and didn’t arrive until dusk.

From a distance, they could see a sprawling complex of mansions. A golden plaque inscribed with the words ’Meng Mansion’ hung above a vermilion-lacquered main gate. The estate was several times larger than the Han Family’s. Although Meng Changtu’s birthday wasn’t until the next day, the entire estate was already adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations.

Inside and out, the mansion was as bright as day, lit by countless inlaid Luminous Beads, a testament to its extravagance.

Guests were already arriving to offer their congratulations.

’What an impressive display...’

Chen Che was secretly amazed.

Evidently, after accumulating power for several hundred years, the Meng Family had also built up a considerable network of connections.

As he presented the gift, a Cultivator immediately announced it in a loud voice.

”Jinyun Valley Tributor, Alchemist Chen, presents a bottle of Tier Two Middle-grade Elixir! Wishing Clan Leader Meng boundless fortune and eternal longevity!”

For a moment, it drew the sideways glances of many guests and even Meng Clan Members.

Then, a young servant led him to a guest room.

The scenario he had imagined—Meng Clan Members finding out his identity and blocking his path or mocking him for trying to climb the social ladder—did not happen.

He met many Cultivators along the way.

All who saw him clasped their hands and said they had long admired him. Whether they truly had, Chen Che didn’t know. In any case, after they announced their names, he would clasp his hands and say the same, even if he’d never heard of them.

You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.

Cultivation wasn’t just about fighting and killing; it also required a grasp of social etiquette.

On the way to the guest room, he had already received quite a few orders. Some were for large batches of Low Tier Elixirs, while others brought Pill Formulas for special custom orders.

For the ones he could take, he accepted a deposit and agreed.

For those he couldn’t, he politely declined, and the other party would just smile and say that goodwill remains even if a deal falls through.

Organizing the new orders, Chen Che mused to himself, ’The orders I’ve taken in just this one day are almost equal to the total amount of elixirs the shop has ever sold!... Killing and robbing might be fast money, but once a legitimate business makes a name for itself, the profits aren’t bad at all.’

In his previous life, a Pill Shop wasn’t comparable to a pharmacy; it was at least a pharmaceutical company, and elixirs were a type of strategic resource.

Of course, his Pill Shop was just on a slightly smaller scale.

”Alchemist Chen...”

Just as Chen Che was pondering, there was a knock on the door. He looked up to see Meng Qingxuan peeking her head in.

She had changed out of her green skirt and into formal attire. A green silk ribbon threaded through her elegant arms and floated behind her. The cool, light makeup and the floral marking between her brows gave her an otherworldly beauty, making her seem untouchable.

”...You’re dressed for...?”

Chen Che was momentarily stunned.

Meng Qingxuan said softly, ”My clan raises many Demon Beasts on the grounds. Are you interested in taking a look around with me? Once all the guests arrive tomorrow, these areas will be completely sealed off!”

Hearing this, Chen Che couldn’t help but feel a little tempted.