C3 Myriad Treasures Tavern

Walking in his father's shadow, he was flooded with memories of his deeply cherished family.

In Loongze County, he was among the elite, nearly reaching the Later Period of the Innate Stage.

Jiang Tianhai, a man of unwavering sternness, never looked back.

He inquired, "What's with this poison?"

Jiang Fann responded with composure, "The effects will fade within half an hour; it's harmless to them."

He pressed on, "This medicine incapacitated those below the Innate Stage. Who provided you with such potent concoction?"

Jiang Fann had his response prepared. "An elderly man saved me and accepted me as his disciple. Once he concludes his current affairs, he'll guide me in my cultivation. The medicine was a gift from him!"

"An alchemist? Fortune has smiled upon you, my boy. It's a pity Rongrong... she may not witness your ascent."

With that, they had reached the Second Madam's courtyard.

Jiang Tianhai went on, "I've consulted numerous physicians in recent days, yet Rongrong's condition remains unchanged. I've already dispatched a messenger to Jiang Mansion a few days ago, in hopes of bringing the finest alchemist here. But it will take several more days for their arrival. I hadn't anticipated..."

Jiang Fann interjected with a frown, "What's the point of dwelling on that now?"

He pushed the bedroom door open and entered. A woman lay on the bed, her complexion pallid and her body frail, yet her beauty was breathtaking.

Seeing her, Jiang Fann's heart quivered with emotion. This time, he hadn't missed his chance; he wouldn't have to endure the agony of loss again.

Mo Rong's gaze was scattered, but upon glimpsing Jiang Fann, it sharpened, piercing him with a look that wrenched his heart.

She tried to lift her hand, but it wouldn't budge.

Jiang Fann grasped her hand firmly. "Mother! I'm alright! I've returned."

"Fan... my son! Is it really..."

"Shh, don't talk! I'm here now, and you're going to recover."

Jiang Tianhai stood aside, silently witnessing the scene, at a loss for words.

Jiang Fann grasped her wrist, his brow furrowing in concern.

Glancing to the side, he noticed a half-finished bowl of medicine. The physician stood nearby, head bowed, avoiding Jiang Fann's gaze.

Jiang Fann tasted the medicine, then spat it out onto the ground in disgust. Enraged, he rose to his feet and seized the doctor by the collar.

"Poison? This concoction is laced with over a dozen toxic herbs. Are you trying to kill me?"

The doctor shook his head frantically. "I had no part in this! Please, Young Master, have mercy!"

Jiang Fann's grip tightened, ready to end the charlatan's life, but his father, Jiang Tianhai, intervened.

Jiang Tianhai fixed a stern gaze on the doctor. "My wife was poisoned? This wasn't due to melancholy?"

Sensing the lethal intent, the doctor pleaded, "Master, I beg for your forgiveness! It was against my will... The First Lady took my family hostage; I was only trying to save myself..."

Jiang Fann kicked the doctor to the ground, leaving him at Jiang Tianhai's feet, and stormed out, heading straight for the Jiang Family Medicine Hut.

The doctor scrambled to his feet, bowing profusely.

Jiang Tianhai paused, a realization dawning on him, and hurried after his son, worried about what Jiang Fann might do in his fury.

As they approached the Medicine Hut, they passed the ancestral hall. Jiang Fann glanced over.

Several physicians were attending to Qiao Qianyu and Jiang Zhengloong, while Qiao Qingzhu stood by, her anxiety palpable. Still weak from the effects of the Soul Anchoring medicine, she could only wait.

Upon seeing Jiang Fann, her expression twisted into a grimace. "You have the nerve to show up?"

Jiang Fann observed several elders within the hall, all formidable in strength, with three having reached the Innate Stage. These were the esteemed masters of the Jiang Family.

Without hesitation, he approached them, and before the masters could react, he swiftly apprehended the First Lady.

"You wretched woman, you've poisoned my mother. Give me the antidote now."

Several Jiang Family masters watched Jiang Fann in astonishment. They had not anticipated that he would boldly capture the First Lady right before their eyes.

"Release the First Lady!" one of them demanded.

Jiang Fann paid them no mind, his gaze fixed fiercely on Qiao Qingzhu. "Hand over the antidote!"

Qiao Qingzhu's face twisted into a sinister sneer. "You've destroyed my son's cultivation; that woman must pay with her life. Dream on about curing her. The poison is a blend of over ten different toxins—there's no antidote!"

Everyone around was stunned, their mouths agape. Though they had their suspicions, no one expected her to confess so openly.

"If my mother suffers any harm, your life will be the price," Jiang Fann declared icily.

He then struck her twice across the face, spun around, and dumped her at Jiang Tianhai's feet. "Let's see how you'll deliver justice," he said coldly.

Without lingering, Jiang Fann made a beeline for the Medicine Hut.

At the Jiang Family Medicine Hut, the steward was urging his subordinates to clean when Jiang Fann burst in, startling him.

Upon recognizing Jiang Fann, the steward expressed surprise. "Weren't you already..."

Jiang Fann cut him off. "Save it. I need Bone Piercing Grass, Blood Full Grass, Earth Needle Leaf..."

He rattled off the names of a dozen herbs, including several that were exceptionally rare.

The steward shook his head repeatedly. "Master Jiang Fann, without the Patriarch's permission, we can't just hand out herbs from the Medicine Hut..."

Jiang Fann didn't bother with further discussion. With a swift kick, he sent the steward tumbling and charged into the inner chamber where the herbs were stored.

His nose twitched as he quickly located each herb. By the time the steward scrambled to his feet and tried to intervene, Jiang Fann was already clutching the herbs and heading out.

"Jiang Fann, the audacity you have..."

But before he could finish, Jiang Fann had seized him by the collar and yanked him close. "Where is the Dragon Claw Root?"

The steward was taken aback, clearly not expecting Jiang Fann's assertive demeanor. "Dragon Claw Root is a spirit medicine; it's not something we'd have at the Medicine Hut!"

Undeterred, Jiang Fann pressed on, "Does anyone in the Jiang Family possess Dragon Claw Root?"

"It's unlikely. We have no alchemists here, and any spirit medicine we come across is either sold or offered as tribute. If you're in urgent need, you might try checking at the Myriad Treasures Tavern."

Jiang Fann was well-acquainted with the Myriad Treasures Tavern, a vast trading empire that spanned the entire Leehuo Dynasty, powerful enough to rival nations. He had dealings with them in his past life.

In Loongze County, the Myriad Treasures Tavern stood unaffiliated with any power, an entity so respected that not even the Jiang Family would dare cross it.

Qin Feng swiftly relieved the steward of his Hundred Treasures Bag before releasing him. He then selected a few herbs, ignoring the steward's attempts to intervene, and strode purposefully away. A visit to the Myriad Treasures Tavern was essential.

The Hundred Treasures Bag, with its compact space for storage, proved extremely handy.

Jiang Fann made his way briskly through the bustling market, heading directly for the Myriad Treasures Tavern.

Adorned with lavish decorations, the tavern's grand entrance welcomed visitors from all walks of life, with seldom a hint of trouble.

From the Hundred Treasures Bag, Jiang Fann drew a cloak and wrapped himself tightly. At his current level, he preferred to avoid drawing the attention of the Myriad Treasures Tavern.

The tavern's policy was one of indifference to appearances; they welcomed all patrons, regardless of how oddly they might be dressed. Their focus was solely on profit, not on the identities of their clientele.

A receptionist approached promptly. "Welcome, dear guest, how may we assist you today?"

Jiang Fann, in a hushed tone, requested, "I need a room with a furnace. Also, I'm looking for Dragon Claw Root. Have someone who can make decisions meet me there."

"Right this way, please," the receptionist replied, eager to accommodate. "We'll arrange everything for you as quickly as possible."

Jiang Fann sealed the room and approached the stove, retrieving several herbs from his Hundred Treasures Bag.

He grumbled to himself, "At my current level, refining pills with Qi is out of the question. This common fire is riddled with impurities that could affect the quality, but it doesn't matter—they won't notice the difference!"

With his Spiritual Sense, Jiang Fann manipulated the mundane fire to envelop the herbs. He watched as they spun at varying speeds within the flames, transforming into powder before merging together.

In a mere three minutes, nine blood-red pills materialized at the heart of the fire, clustering into a single group.

The flames were swiftly quelled, retreating into the stove. Jiang Fann swept the pills into his palm, then promptly bottled them and set the container on the table.

Soon after, a knock at the door announced the arrival of a bearded man with a broad grin.

"Is the lord in need of Dragon Claw Root?"

Jiang Fann gave a curt nod, sparing further words.

Despite Jiang Fann's aloof demeanor, the bearded man remained unfazed. "We do indeed have a Dragon Claw Root! With sufficient funds, it's yours for the taking right now!"

Jiang Fann, seated at the table, pushed the bottle of pills forward and spoke in a hushed tone, "I lack the coin, but these should suffice for the Dragon Claw Root. Additionally, I require two Frost Orchids and a Nine-inched Grass."

Bartering with goods, particularly medicinal pills, was commonplace here, their value far more stable than currency.

Alchemists were a rare breed in this world, making medicinal pills exceedingly valuable.

Whether for cultivation or breakthroughs, the assistance of medicinal pills was essential.

These pills were categorized into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, each with nine levels of potency.

Many high-grade formulas had been lost to time, and those still known were jealously guarded by the major powers.

In this remote region, encountering Profound Rank medicinal pills was a rarity, as top-tier alchemists seldom ventured to such locales.

Yet, wherever they roamed, alchemists were accorded great honor—even the least among them commanded respect.

It's precisely for this reason that a popular adage goes: to control an alchemist is to control wealth.

The man with the mustache picked up the medicinal bottle and said, "Hold on for a moment, I'll have someone appraise this and get back to you."

With that, he promptly exited the room. Jiang Fann wasn't concerned about being duped; a business as large as Myriad Treasures Tavern surely maintained a level of trustworthiness.

Soon after, there was another knock at the door. A woman's voice, sultry and alluring, called from the other side, "Hope I'm not interrupting?"

Jiang Fann, in a hushed tone, replied, "Come in!"

As the door swung open, a woman entered, just as captivating as her voice suggested, clad in ornate attire that accentuated her allure.

The woman paused for a moment, taken aback by Jiang Fann's thorough concealment. Holding the pill that the mustachioed man had taken, she seated herself across from Jiang Fann.

She began, "This pill is quite peculiar; our appraiser couldn't determine its exact nature. All we know is that it's a Fifth Grade of the Yellow Rank. Typically, a Fifth Grade Yellow Rank pill wouldn't match the value of a spirit medicine. Though this Dragon Claw Root is merely ordinary, its worth is something you're likely more familiar with than we are."

"The pill may be Yellow Rank Fifth Grade, but its efficacy is on par with a Fourth Grade Primordial Chaos Pill. What then?"

The woman was visibly taken aback, for a pill with such potency was known as a secret concoction, a lost art and closely guarded secret among alchemists, exceedingly scarce. Even rare Yellow Rank recipes were beyond valuation.

"Do you have more of these pills? If so, Myriad Treasures Tavern would be interested in a long-term purchase. We'll make sure the price is satisfactory..."

Jiang Fann raised his hand, cutting her off mid-sentence, "We'll discuss that later. Now, what about the item I requested?"