Entering the Path of Immortality, Mastering a Hundred Arts: Chapter Ten: Voluntary Exposure

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

All three thousand batches of materials for the Spirit-Enhancing Pills had been completely refined.

During this period, Li Feng’s alchemy skills improved noticeably.

His success rate rose from the previous 40% to 55%.

Where it once took about three sets of materials to successfully refine one batch, he now managed to produce one batch per two sets of materials.

Moreover, the quantity of pills was substantial, yielding two more pills than before.

Due to the large stock, selling all at once posed a considerable risk. Li Feng divided them into over a dozen portions, distributing them to various market stalls, black markets, and pill shops, eventually earning more than eighteen thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Afterward, he repeatedly visited the Spirit Plant Hall, purchasing spirit materials in bulk each time.

The shopkeeper was already quite familiar with him.

...

On a sunny afternoon, after a disguise transformation, Hong Ling came to Spirit Plant Hall as usual to check the accounts.

When she saw that the book’s income had increased severalfold compared to last month, she was somewhat surprised.

“Uncle Fu, were there many large transactions this month?”

“Yes, a major patron came to our Spirit Plant Hall. He’s an alchemist.”

“From which sect?”

Usually, alchemists would join a faction with considerable background.

“He looks like a lone cultivator, at Qi Refining Stage Six. He goes by the name Shan Zhang, but who knows if that’s true? Every time he buys spirit materials, it’s never less than a thousand sets!”

Uncle Fu’s tone was full of admiration for the alchemist.

Hong Ling pondered and asked, “Can you tell what level of alchemist he is?”

“I didn’t dare pry. He mostly buys materials for Spirit-Enhancing Pills. At worst, he’s a first-rank superior pill master.”

“How old is he?”

Uncle Fu shook his head with a smile. “That I don’t know. He wraps himself up tightly and shows signs of disguise. But I remember his storage pouch was embroidered with the Tianhe Sect emblem.”

Hong Ling couldn’t help but think of the recent fierce conflict between the two sects.

It was said that a disciple from the Blood Cloud Sect killed someone from the Tianhe Sect, shattering the century-old fragile balance.

Now, wanted posters from the Tianhe Sect were plastered all over Anhe City, signaling a ruthless vendetta.

She wondered if this alchemist patron was connected to the Tianhe Sect.

Speaking of which, when the Tianqi Kingdom was destroyed years ago, the Tianhe Sect had intervened, taking advantage and plundering.

That grudge Hong Ling had never forgotten.

---

Uncle Fu seemed to have an idea and asked excitedly, “Your Highness, have you found the Li Mu Fruit? Do you need an alchemist to refine pills to restore the spiritual root?”

Hong Ling sighed.

“After all, it’s a third-rank spirit plant, not so easy to find.”

Uncle Fu’s expression darkened.

“If only the old ancestor were still alive. With his abilities, he could have cultivated a third-rank Li Mu Fruit in twenty years.”

Hong Ling smiled bitterly; such words were meaningless now.

Back then, the Tianqi royal family suffered heavy casualties in that catastrophe.

Only she and her mother struggled to hold the Tianqi lineage together.

She was the most promising to inherit the ancestor’s legacy within the clan, but her spiritual root was damaged, preventing the continuation of the heritage.

If the Li Mu Fruit wasn’t found before she turned thirty, the legacy would be lost forever, and the Tianqi clan would have no hope of restoration.

Seeing that it was getting late, Hong Ling returned to the Biyan Hall.

Just as she entered, Cuicui came bounding over, eager to share what she held in her hands.

“Sister Hong, this sachet is so beautiful.”

Hong Ling looked closely; her eyes trembled. She grabbed Cuicui’s wrist and lowered her voice gravely.

“Where did you get this?”

“It’s not... picked up.”

Cuicui had never seen Sister Hong so serious and was momentarily at a loss.

The sachet was exquisitely made, with a three-dimensional character for “Crane” on the front and a vivid embroidery of an immortal crane on the back.

Hong Ling glanced around to ensure they were safe, then pulled Cuicui into her room.

“Tell me honestly, how did you get this?”

“Brother Zhang San asked me to help clean his room. I saw it under his pillow, really liked it, so... I took it.”

Cuicui’s voice grew quieter; she sensed trouble.

“Sister Hong, is it valuable? I thought it was just a sachet, so I slipped some silver coins under Brother Zhang San’s pillow. Should I give more?”

Hong Ling looked at the innocent girl and was secretly relieved.

If she had been a step later than Zhang San, Cuicui might have already met a grim fate.

“Where is Zhang San now?”

“Madam Jin arrived not long ago. Brother Zhang San is inside attending to her. I was planning to tell him after the bell rang.”

Cuicui grew more fearful, tears streaming down her face.

She often helped Brother Zhang San clean his room and took small trinkets before.

Zhang San never said anything, but who would have thought this time it would be so serious?

“Sister Hong... I was wrong!”

---

“You’re not wrong. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known there’s someone hiding so deeply in the shop.”

“Shan Zhang, Zhang San—quite the names.”

Hong Ling recalled Uncle Fu’s words and confirmed that Li Feng was that first-rank superior alchemist.

Ever since Zhang San came to apply at the shop, she had her suspicions, but never imagined he was an alchemist.

Why then did he disguise himself as a blind man and hide inside Biyan Hall?

Hong Ling couldn’t figure this out.

“Cuicui, quickly put the sachet back where you found it. Don’t let Zhang San know, and don’t tell anyone about this. Actually, I’ll come upstairs with you.”

Hong Ling was meticulous. After careful thought, she decided not to alert Zhang San for now.

She needed time to uncover Zhang San’s true identity. Otherwise, having a cultivator lurking in the shop was too dangerous.

The two tiptoed upstairs and returned the storage pouch to its place.

After confirming with Cuicui that the pouch’s spot was secure, Hong Ling breathed a long sigh of relief.

They thought they were safe, but from the moment the door opened, Li Feng had already sensed something.

With this move, half of the plan was complete.

Next, it depended on whether Hong Ling would connect the dots to the Tianhe Sect’s bounty notice.

Li Feng intended to personally hand her the leverage.

Only then could she consider recruiting him with peace of mind, instead of constantly suspecting him.

From that day forward, Hong Ling grew busier, often absent from the shop.

Li Feng seized the chance during her investigation to sneak into the Tianhe Sect branch stationed in Anhe City, killing several Qi Refining cultivators and framing the Blood Cloud Sect.

The entire city was thrown into turmoil.

Less than two days after the Tianhe Sect cultivators were killed, Hong Ling could no longer contain herself and knocked on Li Feng’s door late at night.

The moment the door opened, several Qi Refining Stage Eight cultivators lurking in the shadows locked onto her presence, ready to defend their master if needed.

Li Feng’s mind was clear as a mirror, feigning ignorance of his identity being exposed.

“Sister Hong, what brings you here so late?”

“I want to have a heart-to-heart talk, is that alright?”

Hong Ling’s eyes shone brightly, concealing deep meaning.

“Sister Hong cares for me, and that warms my heart. Please, come in.”

Li Feng invited her inside.