Chapter 30: Who Among Those Raised in Mount Shu Isn’t as Cunning as a Fox?

Sima Changfeng was furious, itching to strangle this meddlesome fool. Yet reason ultimately prevailed, suppressing his urge to drag Shangguan Yun down with him. With a troubled expression, he said, "Just as Brother Shangguan said, I kept these two pills merely to avoid discord among us. I never intended to conceal them forever. Now that Master Yang has come in person, we must give him this courtesy and set aside one pill. But as for the remaining one, how are the thirteen of us to divide it?"

Everyone frowned, though a couple of them cast suspicious glances at Sima Changfeng and Shangguan Yun. Without waiting for the others to puzzle it out, Sima Changfeng answered his own question, "In my view, this pill should remain at headquarters for now and not be distributed. When one among us reaches the peak of the mid Nascent Soul stage, it shall be given to help them ascend to the late stage. What do you all think?"

"This fellow is both cunning and stingy," Shangguan Yun secretly complained. He and Sima had the most Mixed Origin Pills; in the short run, it might not matter, but in time, they'd surely outpace the others. His own background was far from clean—if he broke through to the peak first, it would be awkward to ask for the pill.

Calculating thus, Shangguan realized that aside from the pill reserved for Master Yang, "No, with this man's stinginess and craftiness, he'll try to wring even that one from me. I’d better leave first." His thoughts raced, and decision made, he rose, saying, "Brother Sima's suggestion is most reasonable, and I have no objection. My newly taken concubine awaits me at home! If there is nothing else, forgive my rudeness, but I must take my leave. Farewell, gentlemen."

He strode toward the door.

Unfortunately for him, Sima Changfeng was even more shrewd and instantly guessed his intent. He hurried after Shangguan, seized his sleeve, and said, "Not so fast, Brother Shangguan. This matter isn’t so simple. We might part with one pill for Master Yang, but there are fewer for other friends. And besides, before long, Master Cao from Taiyi Sect will hear of this, and then what? I suggest we all stay at headquarters for the next few days and show a united front. Otherwise, endless trouble awaits."

Shangguan Yun struggled in vain, muttering, "My concubine has waited so long for me. If I don’t return soon, she’ll run off with someone else!"

Sima Changfeng ignored his nonsense, forcibly seating him before continuing, "If my guess is right, today or tomorrow, Master Cao’s letter will arrive from Taiyi Sect. The other three Masters won’t be far behind. Only united can we safeguard the remaining pill. Otherwise, not only will we lose the pills, but the Four Seas Merchant Guild may face disaster."

The Four Seas Merchant Guild possessed a Heaven-piercing spiritual treasure—not an ordinary one, but brought out from the Sea Eye Immortal Mansion by Yu Guo himself, refined by beings beyond the Divine Transformation realm. Even though it was badly damaged, it was far superior to ordinary spiritual treasures. Even late-stage cultivators had to tread carefully. Of course, they only feared it somewhat; it could never kill a great cultivator. Moreover, each use diminished its power, and the cost in spiritual energy was immense—a Nascent Soul cultivator could use it only once at the cost of all their energy. So unless absolutely necessary, it was never lightly employed.

After a moment’s consideration, everyone nodded in agreement, though someone asked, "What about Elder Chen?"

Sima Changfeng shook his head. "If every little thing required Elder Chen to step in, what would be the point of us?" Yet inwardly, he thought, "These old fossils have no sense. Elder Chen is not so easy to approach. If we go to him now and he thinks we’re using him as a shield, I can’t bear his wrath."

He recalled the news received half a month ago: the bodies of Liuyun Daoist’s group had been found in the mountains, all flesh stripped away, leaving only a human skin floating in the water…

He dared not dwell on it. Every time he did, he remembered poor Nangong, who had lost his entire family because of a wayward son.

Such matters should be handled personally; best not to disturb that unfathomable elder.

After some further discussion—naturally with probing questions about whether Sima had hidden more pills—the third-generation president, though not highly cultivated, was so crafty that he revealed not the slightest flaw.

Chen Yang stood outside the hall, listening with amusement. The Mixed Origin Pill itself was not made from rare ingredients, just some suitable herbs he’d chosen at random. Its medicinal effect was quite ordinary; its true efficacy came from the mixed origin power born of his blending Daoist and demonic energies. Simple as it sounded, no one else could make it, even if Chen Yang taught them step by step. The reason: even on Mount Shu, the Mixed Origin Pill was unique to the Five Terraces. Only three people could make it—those skilled in blending Daoist and demonic methods: the Mixed Origin Patriarch, Lady Xu Feiniang, and Chen Yang himself.

Even the more powerful Mokha Venerable, Sikong Zhan, lacked the understanding to refine this pill.

The true Mixed Origin Pill, once made, could help the primordial spirit refine impurities and increase cultivation power—a superior elixir. The Mixed Origin Patriarch had once forged a batch in the early Ming dynasty, using over a thousand spiritual herbs and thirty-six years of toil, yielding fewer than a hundred pills.

This low-grade version was a pale shadow of the real thing; its effects were a thousand times weaker, like heaven and earth apart.

He had originally wanted to ask Sima Changfeng about the copper essence and iron mother needed for sword forging, but having witnessed this drama, he was in no hurry. He had plenty of Mixed Origin Pills—he’d made them in case he saw something at the Treasure Blossom Conference he wanted, so he wouldn’t have to resort to violence and sully his reputation as a demon lord.

Though the conference was now over and he hadn’t gathered all the materials required, he’d obtained enough for the main part of the sword.

But listening for a while, Chen Yang realized the leak regarding the Mixed Origin Pill was not so simple. And coincidentally, he had just finished refining and arrived here, only to find everyone discussing this very matter.

Such subtle warnings, barely perceptible, might be overlooked by others. But anyone who survived Mount Shu was as cunning as a devil. Without the pressure of the heavenly way to cloud hearts, no scheme could catch a Mount Shu veteran off guard.

The warning was too obvious.

"This isn’t a random leak, nor is it aimed at the Four Seas Merchant Guild. It’s aimed at me."

A figure flashed through his mind.

Chen Yang sneered and turned to leave.