Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 308: Chapter 280: Ye Jiuming, False News

A Fake Pill was another path of advancement for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

In terms of Divine Abilities and techniques, a Fake Pill Cultivator far surpassed someone at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. They could wield thirty to forty percent of a Golden Core True Master’s power and gain two hundred years of life—the equivalent of a second lifetime.

However, not everyone was willing to coalesce a Fake Pill.

Leaving aside the immense cost of external resources, coalescing a Fake Pill also meant that a cultivator’s path had reached its end. Since they had relied on external items for Core Formation, they would be unable to advance their Cultivation Realm for the rest of their lives.

Therefore, for most cultivators, refining a Fake Pill was a choice of last resort, made only when facing certain death.

But the fact that the Ye Family had once produced a Fake Pill Cultivator came as a surprise to Chen Che.

”You suspect Ye Jiuming?”

Xiao Chan glanced at the list and slowly shook his head.

”He’s a Fake Pill Cultivator. His cultivation path is severed, so he has no reason to steal your materials. Besides, I heard he turned traitor on the Ye Family long ago and is now wanted by them.”

”You’re also wanted by my Jinyun Valley, yet you’re sitting here with me. Who’s to say it isn’t just a ruse by the Ye Family?”

Glancing at the startled Xiao Chan, Chen Che tapped his fingers and laid out his speculation.

”A Golden Core cultivator from the Zheng Family disappeared seventy years ago, which happens to coincide with the last time he was seen. That’s too much of a coincidence, in my opinion. If he truly hasn’t severed ties with the Ye Family, then Ye Jiuming has a far stronger motive than any other Evil Cultivator!”

”That’s certainly possible. A mere sliver of suspicion is enough.”

Xiao Chan nodded gravely, his words echoing Meng Changtu’s. ”But the trickiest problem now is that our enemy is in the shadows while we’re out in the open. How do we lure them out?”

Ye Jiuming was wanted not only by the Ye Family but by Jinyun Valley as well.

But as long as he changed his name and hid his cultivation, who could possibly catch him?

”If it really is Ye Jiuming, he’ll be forced to show himself,” Chen Che said, his gaze hardening.

’If it were just some Evil Cultivator or Tribulation Cultivator acting out of simple greed, there would be nothing I could do. After a successful heist, people like that lie low for years, sometimes even decades, before striking again.’

’But the Ye Family is different.’

’After all, other Evil Cultivators are only after Spirit Stones. The Ye Family, however, wants to destroy my future in cultivation. They will stop at nothing to prevent Jinyun Valley from acquiring the remaining materials,’

’and to prevent a second Golden Core cultivator from appearing in Yunzhou!’

”Just let me know if you need me to do anything. By the way, are you refining the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill yourself, or are you going to find a Pill Master in Primordial City? You’re doing it yourself? Good, that’s great...”

Overjoyed, Xiao Chan immediately swiped the ring on his right hand. He took out five brocade boxes, pushed them slowly across the table, and opened them.

”This is...”

Chen Che’s brows rose slightly as he looked.

Inside three of the five boxes lay ginseng that looked as if forged from gold. Each had twelve leaves and radiated waves of Spiritual Qi.

It was Thousand-year-old Rainbow Ling Golden Ginseng, a Tier Four Low Grade spiritual object.

On the market, a single stalk was worth at least two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and at peak times, the price could increase by another twenty to thirty percent.

Even consuming it raw was enough to extend one’s lifespan by a century.

It was an indispensable main ingredient!

The other two brocade boxes each held an object nestled on red silk. They were different colors, shaped like broad beans, and had pitted, uneven surfaces.

These were the Inner Cores of Golden Core Demon Beasts.

Each one was worth between seventy and eighty thousand Spirit Stones. Not only were they a main ingredient for refining the Qingxu Guiyian Pill, but they could also be used for Artifact Refining and Array Formation.

”Those Major Cultivators from the Primordial Sect have quite the fortune. I acquired all this when I wiped out their clans. I hope that once Brother Chen refines the Qingxu Guiyuan Pills, you can spare one for me. As for the remaining materials, I’ll gather them.

If you don’t succeed on the first try, it doesn’t matter. I will continue to support you with resources until you do, Brother Chen.”

Xiao Chan was calm and composed, offering a relaxed smile.

Although he was a Loose Cultivator, he had acquired a great deal from annihilating the Evil Cultivator Alliance and the entire clans of a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators. With these resources, he had reached the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer. After being injured by True Master Duobao, he had already begun preparing for Core Formation.

But because of his identity, he couldn’t go to the Primordial Sect to request a pill like everyone else.

While the Star-Picking Sect was another option, the risks were too great. They were far less trustworthy than Chen Che, with whom he had already worked several times.

”Of course!”

Chen Che agreed without the slightest hesitation.

’With one more person helping gather materials, I can refine the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill that much sooner.’

...

...

And so, Xiao Chan took up temporary residence in Jinyun Valley under the status of a First-class Tributor, using the public alias ’Hermit Fushan’.

At the same time, an order was issued throughout the valley: all Tributors and disciples traveling outside were to be wary of attacks from Evil Cultivators. They were instructed not to leak information about their return journeys and to travel in groups to avoid being caught alone.

After all, Xiao Chan was a figure who gave even the Primordial Sect headaches, so no one found it strange that the valley’s disciples were told to be on high alert.

However, what happened over the next two days left many people surprised and suspicious.

The next day, the auction house announced it had acquired three stalks of Thousand-year-old Rainbow Ling Golden Ginseng.

On the third day, another announcement came: it had acquired two Demon Beast Golden Cores.

At that point, everyone realized that Jinyun Valley had, seemingly overnight, gathered most of the materials for the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill, with only a few ingredients remaining. It was a clear declaration to the outside world: no one could obstruct Chen Che’s path to Core Formation.

The rainy night was quiet, but the Market was as bright as day.

Ye Jiuming sat on the roof of the Drunken Immortal Inn, pouring himself a drink and gazing toward the distant Jinyun Valley with a deep frown. Several Ye Clan members under his command stood beside him, their expressions equally grim.

”Three Thousand-year-old Rainbow Ling Golden Ginsengs and two Demon Beast Golden Cores? How could Jinyun Valley’s luck be this good? To gather such spiritual objects in just two days... Can we really not stop his Core Formation?”

”Ancestor, why the rush? From preparing the alchemy to successfully refining the pill will take several years at least. It won’t be too late to strike when he’s attempting his Core Formation.”

A Ye clansman spoke up.

”What do you know?”

Ye Jiuming sneered, looking at the unconcerned expressions on his clansmen’s faces.

”At this rate, Jinyun Valley will have all the materials in half a year at most. No one knows when he’ll succeed in his alchemy. If we wait until then to make our move, it will be far too late!”

”Huh?”

The men looked up, their faces blank with confusion.

”Jinyun Valley and the Meng Family are extremely close; they may have already formed an alliance. What’s more, Thousand Eyes has promised to protect him during his Core Formation. If he deliberately holds off until Thousand Eyes returns, we’ll have no chance at all.”

Ye Jiuming slowly shook his head. These were matters one could only see from a position of power; his clansmen had not yet reached that level of understanding.

”If that happens, and Meng Changtu, Meng Qianxun, and Chen Che all become Golden Core True Masters, Yunzhou will suddenly have three of them. What chance would our Ye Family have then? Faced with three Golden Core cultivators, even our own Ancestor would have to submit.”

”Then... what do we do?”

The men suddenly understood the gravity of the situation.

Three Golden Core cultivators!

Before, they thought the family was making a mountain out of a molehill, but now, the mere thought sent a shiver down their spines.

But Jinyun Valley wasn’t as easy to deal with as the Meng Family.

The latter was a family, a relatively closed-off group. The cultivators who came and went were known quantities; you only needed to keep an eye on the most powerful ones.

The former, however, was a Sect and the center of a market. Countless cultivators came and went. It was like playing whack-a-mole; you never knew which cultivator might be carrying an Exotic Treasure to sell to Jinyun Valley. Besides, you might be able to stop them once, but you couldn’t stop them forever.

”There are plenty of opportunities.”

Ye Jiuming set down his cup, his eyes narrowing.

”And the good news is that everyone, including Jinyun Valley, thinks Xiao Chan is behind this. Since we can’t stop him from gathering materials, we might as well go for a permanent solution. Once the deed is done, we can frame Xiao Chan and wash our hands of the matter.”

”The three of you, head to Chu State and make arrangements. The rest of you, spread a rumor that True Master Chixia’s Traveling Palace has been discovered in Chu State.”

After a pause, Ye Jiuming gave a cold smirk.

”I refuse to believe a genius Pill Master like him won’t be tempted!”

...

Jinyun Valley remained peaceful.

All that was left was to wait for the right moment. In the blink of an eye, several more days passed.

One day, Chen Che had just finished his daily cultivation. He slowly opened his eyes, took a single step, and instantly appeared before the Locust Tree Forest.

An inconspicuous little golden bird had just landed on a large locust tree.

”Master.”

Seeing Chen Che appear, the Little Chick immediately beat its wings and flew down to him.

”What did you find out?”

Chen Che asked.

As the descendant of a Tier Four Demon Beast, its strength had already reached the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer; it might even achieve Core Formation before he did. Normally, it showed no trace of Demon Qi and was no bigger than a sparrow, but when it released its full power, it could grow to over seventy feet tall.

The only unfortunate thing was that it still hadn’t awakened its Talent Divine Abilities.

Chen Che had asked about it, but the creature itself only had a vague understanding.

”I found the location of the Traveling Palace on the map,” the Little Chick reported, preening its feathers. ”But I couldn’t get close. There are several Golden Core Great Demons guarding the area, including a Mid-stage Golden Core Hundred-Eyed Marsh Dragon. The moment I approached, they were alerted. They seem to be Palace Guardian Demon Beasts.”

’Looks like I won’t be able to go there anytime soon.’

Sighing to himself, Chen Che slowly shook his head.

That was right. Since he knew the location of True Master Chixia’s Traveling Palace, of course he would send something to scout it out.

That was why he had given the map’s location to the Little Chick, which had only just returned today.

”Master, I heard something strange when I passed through Xuzhou,” the Little Chick said, raising its head proudly.

Chen Che knew it was fishing for a reward. Cursing silently, he tossed it a pill. The Little Chick swallowed it in one gulp before continuing, ”A rumor is spreading in Xuzhou. They say someone found True Master Chixia’s Jade Pendant and used it to find his Traveling Palace in Chu State!”

”True Master Chixia’s Traveling Palace? In Chu State?”

Chen Che raised an eyebrow.

He pulled out his Jade Token, a strange expression on his face. ’If True Master Chixia’s real Traveling Palace is in Chu State, then what’s the one in Ze State?’

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he realized what was happening. ’Someone is deliberately spreading false information.’