Chapter 214 - 110: Zhu Li: What’s so inappropriate about the three of us being together?

Chapter 214: Chapter 110: Zhu Li: What’s so inappropriate about the three of us being together?

When Xiang Yunzhan emerged from the Practice Room, the anger on his face had completely vanished.

Of course it had!

He’d just gotten an Imperial Extreme Pill for free. How could he possibly have the nerve to stay angry?

The pill was a controlled substance within the Zhao Clan. Based on its effects alone, a single Low-Grade Imperial Extreme Pill was worth at least thirty merit points in the Merit Library. It was immensely beneficial for Zhao Clan disciples who cultivated the Imperial Extreme True Qi.

But because the Imperial Family had a shortage of top-tier Alchemists, every pill used was one less in existence. As a result, the merit point price for an Imperial Extreme Pill was inflated by fifty percent.

A single Low-Grade Imperial Extreme Pill cost forty-five merit points.

In the early stages of the mansion competition, practically no mansion could afford such a price. But by the time the early stage was over, everyone had already surpassed the Physical Body Realm, missing the window to use the Imperial Extreme Pill to enhance their physical bodies.

Thus, the disciples of the Zhao Clan could only gaze at the pills and sigh. Even if they were drooling with envy, they had no choice but to exchange their merit points for other resources.

Rumor had it that during the Gongdan Conference, the Emperor awarded two Low-Grade Imperial Extreme Pills to two Princes. In their hearts, everyone from the Imperial Clan Court was against it. However, because the Wine Alchemy technique was of such monumental importance to the nation, it was deemed worth the two pills, so no one voiced their opposition.

Afterward, however, the Imperial Clan Court approached the Emperor. They argued that while Zhao Ci’s performance was worthy of a Middle-Grade Imperial Extreme Pill, Zhao Yong’s contribution didn’t even measure up to a Low-Grade one. But the Emperor brushed them off with various excuses.

The Imperial Clan Court could do nothing about it. After all, the Imperial Extreme Pills had come from the Emperor’s private treasury, and he held the final say.

This just went to show how precious the Imperial Extreme Pills were!

It was only natural that the Imperial Clan Court strictly regulated them.

Unless a Zhao Clan disciple performed a great service or was ruthless enough to shortchange their own Mansion Officials to exchange merit points, there was no other way to obtain one.

For Zhao Ci to be willing to give him this pill... it was truly...

SLAP!

Xiang Yunzhan slapped himself across the face.

’Did I really just question him?’

’I’m such an idiot!’

"Uncle, what are you doing...?"

Zhao Ci was startled.

Xiang Yunzhan gave his nephew a complicated look, then waved his hand dismissively while grumbling, "The feng shui in your Tenth Prince’s Mansion is terrible. How are there still mosquitoes in the middle of autumn!"

Zhao Ci was speechless.

Xiang Yunzhan waved his hand again and quickly departed. The pill had to be transferred in secret.

As for Zhao Qian, he trusted him completely. The King Lie of old had been his comrade-in-arms, and his only goal was to retake the Northern Domain and restore the Great Yu.

If he didn’t trust him, he never would have let his own daughter follow him.

He was certain that Zhao Qian also wanted this pill and wouldn’t dare leak the news.

All he had to do was take Zhao Qian into seclusion and wait for him to fully absorb the Imperial Extreme Pill’s properties before they emerged. It just so happened the boy was due for his first bone-forging session anyway.

But this favor... it was a huge one. Although the pill wasn’t being given directly to Xiang Zeren, as long as Zhao Qian could rise to power, the benefits Xiang Zeren would receive would be substantial—perhaps even greater than the value of the pill itself.

’Still, this nephew of mine seems a hundred times more cunning than I imagined.’

’I need to find a chance to meet secretly with Old Kan again!’

"Aah!"

Zhao Ci stretched, having finally passed on the hot potato.

’From a purely monetary perspective, this deal was undoubtedly a loss.’

’But you can’t look at it that way. After all, it’s top-tier contraband. Being able to use it as a favor isn’t bad. I hear that when those overseas grey-market operations want to launder money, they have to take a fifty percent cut.’

’Even though it was officially under Xiang Zeren’s name, the favor would inevitably fall to me.’

’That sly fox Zhao Qian wanted me to owe *him* a favor.’

’By giving him this Imperial Extreme Pill, I’ve completely turned the tables and made him owe me one instead.’

’As for Zhao Qian’s character, he’s already been vetted by Xiang Yunzhan.’

’This ninth uncle of mine might not be a complicated man himself, but with Mr. Kan standing behind him, things are never simple.’

"I’ll worry about that later..."

Zhao Ci shook his head. He knew there was likely a much larger picture at play, but he had no desire to understand it. At least, not for the time being.

’Once you get involved in some things, it’s hard not to get sucked in.’

’I have no personal investment, no strength, and not the right mindset.’

’I’m already walking on eggshells trying to manage things between Old Deng and Gu Xiangzhu. If I add a third "buff" to the mix, my behavior will eventually become abnormal and I’ll get caught.’

’I’m in my novice phase. I should act like it.’

’Level up.’

’Grind for some insights.’

’Enjoy the perks.’

’Yeah, that’s the life.’

He adjusted his mood and returned to Kan Luotang’s sickroom.

Before he even opened the door, he could hear Zhu Li’s cheerful laughter from inside.

"Luotang, let me tell you, I was so fierce during the Martial Arts Competition a few days ago! I even took on all those hard-to-handle opponents you wouldn’t dare touch today, one by one."

"Out of fifteen of them, I only lost four matches."

"My boss might have won all his matches, but that’s just because people were afraid of getting worn down by a persistent pest like him, so they mostly surrendered strategically."

"The Tenth Prince’s perfect record is just for show. If you want to see a real warrior, you have to look at me, the Chief Mansion Official."

"What are you laughing at? You don’t believe me, do you?"

CREAK...

The door opened.

Zhu Li’s voice stopped abruptly, and she calmly changed the subject.

Kan Luotang looked toward Zhao Ci at the door, a refreshing smile gracing her lips.

Seeing this, Feng Kucha quickly stood up. "Lao Mo! We need to get back to cultivating, or we’ll just be holding everyone back. I think the other five are training out back. Let’s go!"

"Okay!"

Yang Mo agreed quietly and also stood up.

Feng Kucha took a couple of steps, then looked back and asked, "Zhu Li, aren’t you coming?"

"Why would I leave?"