Chapter 224 - 103: There Are No Free Elixir Pills, Just What’s Needed for a Pressing Crisis?

Xie Jianjia nodded gently. "I’m counting on you, Brother Xiao Teng."

Xiao Teng then shared some information he had gathered over the past two days and outlined his plan to safely escort her to the Sword Sect. After that, he took the white porcelain bottle and departed.

Xie Jianjia watched his back disappear down the long corridor before slowly retracting her gaze. A strange glint appeared in her eyes, but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a cold calm.

Right now, her cultivation and strength were what mattered most.

She had remained hidden for so many years. If the Immortal Suppression Bureau truly crippled her, her identity would inevitably be exposed. This would arouse suspicion, and she might even be mistaken for a Demon, facing a fate of utter annihilation, body and soul.

After all, she was not the real Xie Jianjia. The real Xie Jianjia had died at the age of seven.

Jiang Lan, in his plot to obtain her Immortal Phoenix True Blood, had—by a strange twist of fate—produced a Rejuvenating Turtle Breath Pill. It was the perfect solution to her most urgent problem.

Her only worry now was whether the Rejuvenating Turtle Breath Pill was real or fake, and whether Jiang Lan had tampered with it.

...

After leaving the Immortal Suppression Bureau, Xiao Teng immediately returned to Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion to find his father, Xiao He. He asked about the Rejuvenating Turtle Breath Pill and told him what had happened in the Immortal Suppression Bureau’s prison.

Although Xiao He was the noble Prince Zhenbei, he had no knowledge of Elixir Pills and the like, so he was completely baffled.

But seeing how anxious Xiao Teng was, he decided to personally make a trip to the Observatory Platform to find the National Master, Ge Qixing.

Ge Qixing was worldly and wise and could naturally distinguish its authenticity. He would never harm Xiao Teng—he was the Prince’s own son, after all.

"Teng’Er, rest assured. I will go find someone to verify its authenticity now..."

After taking the bottle, Xiao He called for his attendants to prepare a carriage and headed for the Observatory Platform where the National Master resided.

Although Xiao Teng was anxious, there was nothing he could do but force himself to calm down. He secretly prayed that the pill was real and that Jiang Lan hadn’t tampered with it in any way.

’As long as I help the Xie Family through this crisis, Jian Jia will think more highly of me...’

’In the prison, she said it herself—that I’m the only one for her in this life...’

’But that vile fiend Jiang Lan is utterly despicable. Once I’m powerful enough and no longer fear the Prime Minister’s Mansion, I’ll grind his bones to dust. It’s the only way to quell the hatred in my heart.’

As he recalled everything that had happened in the prison today, especially Jiang Lan’s words, waves of inexplicable rage surged within Xiao Teng.

He didn’t know why, but it seemed he and Jiang Lan were destined to clash.

The very sight of the man made his stomach turn.

The intuition from his Pupil of Truth even told him to stay as far away from that guy as possible.

’Even if he received the inheritance from that Purple Mist True Monarch, he’s only just begun to cultivate. I’ve been at the Fifth Realm, the Soul Palace Realm, for years. Why would I care about his pathetic level of strength?’

’It’s a shame the Prime Minister’s Mansion has his back, making him untouchable.’

’Once the Prime Minister’s Mansion falls, that guy will be a fish on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered. Countless people in the Imperial Capital, Jingyang City, can’t stand the sight of him.’

’Father is right. The treacherous Prime Minister is throwing the court into chaos. Only by pledging loyalty to Your Majesty and bringing him down can our Great Xia be rid of this foul atmosphere and see clear skies again.’

Returning to his courtyard, Xiao Teng’s heart was churning with frustration. He had a maid bring him a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone, spreading them out on the stone table.

As his calligraphy flowed like dragons and snakes across the page, a grand ambition to serve the country, the people, and the court faintly manifested within him.

POP...

The next moment, his Spirit Platform became clear and bright. A dull, crisp sound suddenly echoed from within his body as if some kind of bottleneck had naturally broken.

Joy was evident on Xiao Teng’s face. He clenched his fist. "I’ve actually broken through to the Mid-stage Soul Palace Realm..."

At that moment, however, he failed to notice a faint light flickering between his brows. It resembled a tiny, star-shaped pattern that quickly faded from sight.

「Meanwhile.」

In the eastern part of Jingyang City, deep within a splendid hall amidst a magnificent complex of buildings, a figure was reclining on a soft couch.

’The Star Bead just glowed...’

A light veil covered her face, and a wide, deep-purple long dress concealed her exquisite, curvaceous figure. Her snow-white, delicate skin sparked the imagination, and her charming gaze held a watery shimmer, as if it could steal one’s very Divine Soul.

In her hand, she held a fist-sized, crystal-clear jade bead.

Within it flickered mottled specks of faint light, resembling a river of stars, incomparably brilliant.

Seeing the strange phenomenon within the jade bead, the figure sat up straight. A strange glint flickered in her charming eyes as she began to ponder.

’The Palace Master conspired with outsiders to steal the Divine Maiden Palace’s supreme treasure, the Shaking Light Immortal Jade. Its whereabouts remain unknown to this day.’

’Master guessed it might be somewhere in Jingyang City and sent me to find it with the Star Bead...’

’It suddenly glowed just now. Could the Shaking Light Immortal Jade have revealed its aura?’

If any member of the younger generation were here, they would have instantly recognized this woman as the True Disciple of the Divine Maiden Palace, Fairy Miaoyin.

She had not participated in the struggle for the Purple Mist True Monarch’s inheritance.

That day in Anyang City, she had merely joined the crowd for the excitement. After drinking tea at the brewing gathering, she left directly for the Imperial Capital, Jingyang City.

After lying low in Jingyang City for many days, she had finally found a clue regarding the Shaking Light Immortal Jade.

Unfortunately, the Star Bead had only flickered for a moment before the light faded.