Chapter 280: First-Grade Gang Force... Perhaps I Have It Too

Zhang Su left the Martial Arts Hall and quickly made his way to Wanxiang Hall.

Wanxiang Hall was a three-story pavilion on the western slope of Mixed Element Peak, built entirely from massive, greenish-white stones.

Copper bells hung from the pavilion’s upturned eaves, chiming crisply whenever the mountain wind blew past.

Zhang Su glanced up at the lintel, where two large words read ‘Wanxiang Hall,’ and stepped inside.

The interior of Wanxiang Hall was spacious. The first floor was a great hall lined with several long counters. Behind them stood Stewards dressed in gray robes.

Wooden Tokens hung above the counters, listing the names and prices of various goods.

The great hall was bustling with people coming and going, including Named Disciples in gray robes and Official Disciples in green or blue robes.

Zhang Su walked up to a counter.

“What do you want to exchange for?”

the Steward behind the counter asked.

“I’d like to see about some Elixirs.”

Zhang Su said.

The Steward looked Zhang Su up and down, his gaze settling on the gray robe he wore.

“A Named Disciple?”

“Yes.”

“Named Disciples can’t trade for Elixirs. You can only get basic cultivation supplies.”

The Steward shook his head.

Zhang Su fell silent.

He stood at the counter, his gaze sweeping across the Wooden Tokens hanging above.

The Tokens listed all sorts of goods. Under the Elixirs section, one read, “Exchange limited to Official Disciples and above.”

Zhang Su then looked at the prices for basic supplies. They were all exorbitant, and their effects weren’t even guaranteed to be good.

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Su decided not to trade for anything for the time being.

Not only were these basic cultivation supplies expensive, but their effects were also mediocre. They weren’t worth spending so much silver.

‘Almost all of the Upper Sect’s Elixirs are refined on Danwu Peak, and Lu Danxi is on Danwu Peak…’

An idea took shape in his mind.

He turned and left Wanxiang Hall, following the bluestone path back to Courtyard Eight.

The sky had already darkened. He would wait until tomorrow to go to Danwu Peak and find Lu Danxi.

「The next day.」

Zhang Su woke up bright and early.

He got dressed and pushed open his door.

A hint of coolness was in the air. Zhang Su took a deep breath and felt himself instantly invigorated.

Just as Zhang Su was about to leave, the door to the room opposite him opened.

Luo Feng stepped out.

Zhang Su was about to greet him, but the words caught in his throat.

He saw that Luo Feng’s face was swollen like a pig’s head.

“Senior Brother Luo, good morning.”

Zhang Su greeted him anyway.

Luo Feng looked up, and upon seeing Zhang Su, he managed to force a smile.

But the moment he smiled, it pulled at the wounds on his face, making him grimace and suck in a sharp breath.

“Morning, Junior Brother Zhang.”

Luo Feng’s voice was muffled and slurred; his lips were so swollen that he spoke with a slight lisp.

Zhang Su looked at Luo Feng’s face, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Senior Brother Luo, what happened to you…?”

Luo Feng waved his hand, his smile looking more painful than a grimace. “I’m fine, just accidentally took a tumble…”

‘Took a tumble?’

Zhang Su fell silent.

‘Could a simple fall make your face look like that?’

But he didn’t press the issue.

Since Luo Feng was unwilling to talk about it, he wasn’t going to pry.

He had only known Luo Feng for a few days; their relationship wasn’t deep enough for him to start prying into the other’s private affairs.

“Take care, Senior Brother Luo.”

Zhang Su cupped his fist in a salute and left the courtyard.

He followed the bluestone path off Mixed Element Peak, asking for directions to Danwu Peak as he went.

The Nine Peaks of the Upper Haojin Sect were not far from one another.

Zhang Su soon saw the Mountain Gate of Danwu Peak.

Danwu Peak was different from Mixed Element Peak. Its Mountain Gate was far more magnificent. The name “Danwu Peak” was carved in large characters on the lintel, and the stone pillars on either side were adorned with exquisite carvings of Medicine Cauldrons.

Even before he entered the Mountain Gate, he could smell a faint, invigorating medicinal aroma that refreshed the spirit.

As Zhang Su entered Danwu Peak, he immediately noticed how crowded it was.

Inside the Mountain Gate was a wide plaza, and it was completely packed with a sea of people.

These people wore robes of all colors; there were even a few Direct Disciples in purple robes among them.

After observing for a moment, Zhang Su realized they were from the other eight peaks of the Haojin Upper Sect.

They had all come here for one purpose: to obtain elixirs.

Named Disciples weren’t even qualified to purchase the Elixirs sold in Wanxiang Hall. And while Official Disciples could, the prices were so high that many of them couldn’t afford them either.

So what were they to do?

Come to Danwu Peak, of course.

Some people knew disciples from Danwu Peak and could buy Elixirs or Medicine Pills from them privately, which was certainly much cheaper than buying from Wanxiang Hall.

Then there was another type of person: those who came to be Medicine Testers.

Zhang Su saw a Wooden Token propped up in a corner of the plaza, upon which were written three large words: “Medicine Tester Recruitment.”

A long line of disciples from various peaks had formed beneath the Wooden Token, including both Named and Official Disciples.

Danwu Peak often refined new Elixirs, and these new formulas needed to be tested by Martial Artists to verify their effects and check for side effects.

This was, of course, a risky endeavor.

Who knew what kind of accidents might occur after taking these Elixirs?

But despite the danger, disciples still volunteered to be Medicine Testers.

The reason was simple: the compensation was high, and they could also receive free Elixirs.

Zhang Su glanced at the long line and couldn’t help but shake his head before looking away.

He crossed the plaza and headed toward the inner courtyard of Danwu Peak.

Just as he reached the entrance, two Danwu Peak disciples blocked his way.

Both disciples were wearing gray robes, identifying them as Named Disciples.

One was a tall, thin disciple with refined features. The other was shorter, with a round, honest-looking face.

“Are you here to be a Medicine Tester?”

The tall, thin disciple looked Zhang Su up and down, his gaze settling on the gray robe he wore.