Chapter 374 - 203: A Grand Gift

After returning to the Sect, Jiang Che once again immersed himself in his cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, the ten-day period was up.

Jiang Che disguised himself again, putting on that unremarkable Human Skin Mask, and went to Yu Lin Lane.

This time, when the old man at the entrance to the lane saw him, he actually stood up from his recliner for the first time ever.

With a respectful expression, he made a welcoming gesture toward Jiang Che.

Jiang Che’s heart skipped a beat. ’My identity might have been exposed,’ he guessed.

However, he figured the Four Seas Tower wouldn’t harm him, so he stepped into the small courtyard.

A servant in gray robes immediately came forward to lead the way.

He followed the servant through the familiar courtyards.

Only this time, he wasn’t led to the dim secret chamber.

Instead, he was guided to a secluded, exceptionally tranquil and elegant courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with the swaying shadows of bamboo and the gurgling of a stream. A small pavilion stood over the water, creating the atmosphere of a transcendent master’s retreat.

"Please have a seat, sir. Our Master Zhao will be here shortly."

The servant respectfully poured Jiang Che a pot of fragrant tea before bowing and taking his leave.

"Master Zhao?"

Jiang Che lifted his teacup and gently blew on the leaves floating on the surface, a ripple of unease stirring in his heart.

He knew that the Four Seas Tower was an organization that spanned the entire Great Chu Dynasty, with a strict hierarchy.

Anyone addressed as "Hall Master" had to be at least the head of a regional branch. Their status was esteemed and in no way comparable to the receptionist who had previously hidden in the shadows.

For them to be this formal, could it be...

’Have they really found some astonishing clue?’

He didn’t have to wait long.

Accompanied by the sound of steady footsteps, a middle-aged man of about forty or fifty, dressed in the blue robes of a scholar with a refined face, walked slowly into the pavilion.

He wore a warm smile and cupped his hands in a salute to Jiang Che, his manner neither servile nor overbearing.

Jiang Che rose, about to return the gesture.

Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man’s very next words took him by surprise.

"Chief Jiang, it’s been a while."

’They really recognized me?’ Jiang Che was taken aback.

But then he remembered that the Four Seas Tower was the very organization that created the Hidden Dragon List.

It was only natural for them to be well-informed.

Besides...

That familiar, raspy voice...

It was the same receptionist from before!

’He’s the Hall Master?’

Jiang Che found it a bit strange.

’Is the Four Seas Tower so short-staffed that the Hall Master has to personally handle frontline business...’

’Or is the receptionist position so important that it requires a Hall Master?’

’Or perhaps...’

’He’s called a Hall Master, but maybe it’s like a "lobby manager" from my past life.’

’They call him a manager, but it doesn’t really mean much...’

Although many thoughts raced through his mind, Jiang Che didn’t let it show for long.

He removed the mask from his face, revealing his true appearance, and then bowed.

"So it was Master Zhao in person. My apologies for my earlier disrespect. May I ask why the Hall Master has invited me here?"

Master Zhao looked at Jiang Che with eyes full of admiration and said with a smile:

"Chief Jiang, you are a dragon among men. It is the Four Seas Tower’s honor to associate with a peerless talent of this generation such as yourself. I hope you will forgive my presumptuousness in inviting you here today."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, a tacit understanding between them.

Then, Jiang Che asked, "By the way, Hall Master, about the True Essence Pill..."

"SIGH..."

Hearing this, the smile on Master Zhao’s face faded slightly. He sighed, a look of regret appearing.

"To be honest, Chief Jiang, the Four Seas Tower has truly exhausted all its resources on this matter. The final result of our investigation... will likely disappoint you."

"We’ve confirmed that the elixir recipe for the True Essence Pill was lost long ago. All existing pills are relics from ancient times, and each one can be considered a one-of-a-kind treasure. Currently, in all of Cangzhou Prefecture, the only one is indeed the one in the hands of the Demon Extermination Alliance."

Jiang Che’s heart sank once more.

’So... it’s still the same result, huh?’

However, Master Zhao’s tone suddenly shifted, and a smile returned to his face.

"However..."

"Although we couldn’t find a True Essence Pill, we did find another lead!"

"It is said that several hundred years ago, a Loose Cultivator True Master who was skilled in the Alchemy Dao attempted to replicate the ’True Essence Pill.’ Although he failed, he managed to refine a substitute elixir! Its effects are slightly inferior, but it can also forcibly enhance one’s Divine Thought and assist in breaking through the bottleneck to the True Master Realm!"

Jiang Che’s eyes lit up instantly!

"Do you have any leads on this elixir?"

"Of course!" Master Zhao smiled smugly. "Not only did the Four Seas Tower find a lead..."

As he spoke, he carefully took out an exquisite Jade Box from his robes.

"We also... found one of the elixirs!"

He slowly opened the Jade Box.

A strange, refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire pavilion!

Inside the Jade Box lay a single elixir pill, the size of a longan, quietly emanating a three-colored halo!

Jiang Che’s heart leaped with joy as he looked at the elixir pill.

But he quickly calmed himself and looked at Master Zhao, saying solemnly:

"This pill is far too precious. A mere 100,000 taels of gold is nowhere near enough. Name your price, Hall Master. No matter the amount, I, Jiang Che... will accept it!"

Master Zhao smiled and pushed the Jade Box toward him.

"Chief Jiang jests." His voice was filled with sincerity. "This pill is a humble gift from the Four Seas Tower to you. As for the 50,000 tael deposit from before, we will also return it in full."

"This... How can I accept this?" Jiang Che was stunned.

"Chief Jiang is a hidden dragon of this generation, destined to soar through the nine heavens. Your future is limitless." Master Zhao stood up and clasped his fists solemnly at Jiang Che. "To have earned your trust is already an honor for the Four Seas Tower. This humble gift is merely a small token of our sincerity. I hope you... will not refuse it!"

"What we at the Four Seas Tower want is not a mere 100,000 taels of gold."

"But... your friendship!"

Jiang Che looked at his sincere eyes and fell silent for a moment.

He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

For the Four Seas Tower to invest in him so heavily, regardless of cost, their ambitions must be great.

However, unlike those Noble Family Members, he had no family to back him up. He had to handle many things himself, which was rather inconvenient.

He truly did need a powerful and mysterious ally like this.

He thought for a moment and finally gave a slow nod.

"Very well. I, Jiang Che... will remember this gesture, Hall Master!"

Seeing that Jiang Che had finally agreed, Master Zhao’s face lit up with elation!

He hurriedly bowed again. "Thank you, Chief Jiang!"

Then, he took out another item from his robes: an exquisite token made of pure gold, engraved with the two words "Four Seas," and handed it over.

"Chief Jiang, this is your exclusive contact token. In the future, if you go to any Four Seas contact point in Great Chu and present this token, we will provide you with the highest level of service!"

"Furthermore, we will assign one of our most capable agents to be at your disposal at all times. If you have any needs—be it for intelligence, resources, or manpower—you can give him your direct orders."

Jiang Che accepted the token and asked, "And what do I need to do in return?"

Master Zhao shook his head and smiled. "For now... you don’t need to do anything. We only hope that in the future, if the Four Seas Tower encounters a problem we cannot solve, you might... be willing to lend a hand!"

"No problem!"

Jiang Che nodded. It was only natural to help others after accepting their gifts.

After carefully putting away the token and the Jade Box containing the elixir, Jiang Che bid farewell to Master Zhao with a cupped-fist salute and left the quiet courtyard.

...

After returning to the Cangyun Sect, Jiang Che did not take the elixir pill immediately.

Although he was filled with a burning desire to break through.

But his reason told him that he still needed to be cautious.

The Four Seas Tower had shown immense goodwill and sincerity, so logically, they would never tamper with the elixir pill.

But...

’You can’t know what’s in a person’s heart. One must never let their guard down!’

Jiang Che thought to himself.

What if this elixir pill contained some hidden backdoor or latent danger?

If he were to take it rashly, it would be no different from placing his life in someone else’s hands!

As for how to appraise this elixir pill...

A name immediately appeared in his mind.

Ye Lianzhen!

As a master of Medical and Poisonous Elixirs, who in all of Cangzhou Prefecture was more qualified to appraise it than her?

Afterward, Jiang Che carefully placed the Jade Box in his robes, left the Chief Disciple’s courtyard, and headed straight for Yanluo Courtyard.

...

Yanluo Courtyard was as tranquil and elegant as ever.

The air was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance that calmed the spirit.

Jiang Che’s arrival immediately caught the attention of the disciples in the courtyard.

"It’s Chief Jiang!"

"Why is Chief Jiang visiting our courtyard?"

A group of female disciples from Yanluo Courtyard stopped what they were doing and bowed to Jiang Che.

Their eyes were filled with admiration and curiosity.

Jiang Che gave the crowd a calm nod and walked straight to the door of Ye Lianzhen’s private chamber.

"Dean Ye, the disciple Jiang Che requests an audience."

"Come in."

Inside the private chamber, Ye Lianzhen was sitting before a Purple Copper Pill Furnace, her expression focused as she controlled the heat of the furnace fire.

When she saw Jiang Che enter, a gentle smile touched her lips. She casually extinguished the furnace fire and motioned for him to sit.

"What is it? Have you run into some trouble again?"

Ye Lianzhen teased with a smile.

"Dean Ye, what are you saying?" Jiang Che chuckled. "Can’t a disciple come and visit his elder even if there’s no trouble?"

His slightly playful words seemed to catch Ye Lianzhen off guard for a moment before she chuckled and shook her head.

"You little rascal, your mouth gets sweeter and sweeter. Out with it, what is it really? I don’t believe for a second you came all this way just to see this old woman."

Though she said that, the smile in her eyes was clearly much more genuine.

"Hehe... Nothing gets past Dean Ye!"

Jiang Che scratched his head. He stopped beating around the bush, his expression turning serious as he took the Jade Box from his robes and pushed it in front of Ye Lianzhen.

"This disciple did come here to ask for a favor. I would like to ask Dean Ye to help me appraise an elixir pill."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, a flicker of curiosity flashed in Ye Lianzhen’s eyes.

She took the Jade Box and immediately felt a refreshing coolness upon her touch.

When she slowly opened the lid and saw the elixir pill inside, wreathed in a three-colored halo,

her eyes, usually as calm as still water, widened abruptly!

"This elixir pill..."

Her voice was laced with astonishment. "Where did you get this?"