Haaaah.

Jiang Chen slowly exhaled.

He collected the last batch of Elixirs.

After a grueling night, Jiang Chen had refined a total of ninety Golden Healing Pills. Some were of Silver Quality, but most were of Gold Quality.

Due to a few mistakes, he had to settle for a lower quality with only two of the batches.

Ninety Golden Healing Pills.

They would sell for an absolute fortune.

Looking at his masterpiece—the ninety Golden Healing Pills before him—the gold and silver light they radiated was almost blinding.

’It’s getting light out.’

Jiang Chen glanced outside. Dawn was just breaking.

He hadn’t slept the entire night, but Jiang Chen was already accustomed to such intense concentration.

After stowing away the Golden Healing Pills, Jiang Chen stood up.

He stretched, his entire body stiff and sore.

He gave a wry smile. ’This all-or-nothing approach is really going to be the death of me.’

’But I love this feeling.’

He immediately began circulating the Nine Heavens Spirit-Seizing Technique, and Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi flooded madly into his body.

Instantly, Jiang Chen was bursting with energy.

His mind was completely unaffected by the all-nighter. Now that the Golden Healing Pills were ready, it was time to set his plan in motion.

"Morning, Big Bro."

Jiang Zuo had arrived early. ’Have to admit, the guy’s pretty efficient.’

Jiang Chen was satisfied with Jiang Zuo’s performance.

’Still, I can’t fully trust him yet. Once I’m sure he’s reliable, I could teach him a thing or two. It would definitely be enough to make him a pillar of the Jiang Family.’

Of course, he was in no hurry to change Jiang Zuo.

He nodded.

He beckoned Jiang Zuo over.

He instructed, "Your task for today is to spread a rumor in Hanwu City. This information must reach the Ximen Family, and only the Ximen Family."

Jiang Zuo nodded.

"Big Bro, you haven’t told me what the rumor is."

His spirits immediately lifted. Though he didn’t know what his big brother was planning, Jiang Zuo sensed it had to be a move against the Ximen Family.

He didn’t dare to press for details.

Jiang Chen said gravely, "Just say that there’s a mysterious expert on East City Black Wind Ridge who possesses Golden Healing Pills."

"And remember one more thing: this expert only appears at midnight. If the Ximen Family wants to cure Ximen Jianren, they’ll definitely show up."

Jiang Zuo’s jaw dropped in astonishment.

He was clearly shocked by what Jiang Chen had just told him.

"Big Bro, I heard Golden Healing Pills are incredibly precious. I’ve never heard of anyone in Hanwu City having them!"

He was filled with doubt.

But Jiang Chen just patted him on the head. "Just do as I say."

"And remember, under no circumstances can you let the Ximen Family know we’re the ones spreading this."

"Also, make sure no one else learns about this. Only the Ximen Family."

Despite Jiang Chen’s repeated, stern warnings, Jiang Zuo still didn’t understand the reason behind it all.

However, he knew that since it involved Golden Healing Pills, it had to be about Ximen Jianren.

He nodded earnestly.

"Big Bro, I understand."

"Leave it to me. I’ll make sure it’s handled perfectly."

Then, after receiving Jiang Chen’s final reminders, Jiang Zuo left the Jiang Family estate.

As he left the Jiang Family estate, Jiang Zuo’s mind was still reeling with questions.

’East City Black Wind Ridge... The woods there are dense, and sure, there are Demon Beasts, but I’ve never heard anything about a mysterious expert.’

’How did Big Bro know about this? And about the Golden Healing Pills, too.’

’Huh? He couldn’t possibly be kind enough to actually help the Ximen Family find Golden Healing Pills, could he?’

Jiang Zuo knew countless people were trying to find Golden Healing Pills to trade with the Ximen Family for their reward of one hundred thousand Yuan Crystals.

After all, that was a hundred thousand Yuan Crystals. Who wouldn’t be tempted?

Even Jiang Zuo found the sum incredibly tempting.

The problem was, Golden Healing Pills simply didn’t exist in Hanwu City. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

So, even though many people coveted the reward, all they could do was stare at the Ximen Family’s high bounty and sigh in helpless frustration.

So he was truly surprised to learn from Jiang Chen that there was a lead on Golden Healing Pills.

After a moment’s thought, he decided not to overthink it.

’Since Big Bro said so, I’ll just do it.’

Once outside, he slightly altered his appearance and put on a simple mask.

He gathered a few companions and approached the Ximen Family’s residence.

The Ximen Family compound was massive.

It covered a vast area and was currently surrounded by Ximen Family guards patrolling back and forth. The security was so tight, not even a fly could get in.

The atmosphere was incredibly tense.

He cleared his throat.

In a voice just loud enough to be overheard, he said to his companions, "Did you guys hear? A mysterious expert recently appeared on East City Black Wind Ridge."

One of his companions immediately feigned surprise. "A mysterious expert? How come I haven’t heard anything about it?"

Another companion said dismissively, "What would you know? We only just found out about this ourselves."

"I hear that mysterious expert has the legendary healing Holy Medicine, the Golden Healing Pill."

"They say the mysterious figure usually appears around midnight."

"Tsk, tsk. Golden Healing Pills..."

Just then, Jiang Zuo shot a furtive glance toward the Ximen Family compound.

Then he suddenly gasped.

"Oh, right! Isn’t the Ximen Family offering a hundred-thousand-crystal reward for a Golden Healing Pill to treat their young master?"

"Dammit, you guys and your big mouths! You let it slip! Quick, shut up before anyone else hears! We have to keep this a secret!"

"That hundred thousand Yuan Crystals from the Ximen Family has to be ours!"

The other companions quickly chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, stop talking! Let’s go! If you say this right at the Ximen Family’s gate, they’ll hear for sure! If they beat us to it, there goes our hundred thousand Yuan Crystals!"

"Tonight, we’re going to East City Black Wind Ridge. We’ll meet that mysterious expert at midnight and get a Golden Healing Pill!"

And with that, Jiang Zuo and his companions hurried away.

"Hm?"

The Ximen Family guards had sharp ears and had heard every word Jiang Zuo and his group said.

They were instantly overjoyed.

’Those idiots. Talking that loudly, how could we not hear them?’

’But I wonder if it’s true... that there’s a mysterious person with Golden Healing Pills on East City Black Wind Ridge.’

Immediately, a guard captain ran into the family compound to report the news.

After all, the Golden Healing Pill concerned the entire future of their young master; they couldn’t afford to be careless.

Currently, the Ximen Family Patriarch was injured and in seclusion to recuperate.

The young master, Ximen Jianren, was bedridden, his limbs crippled and unable to move.

Therefore, all of the Ximen Family’s affairs, large and small, had been temporarily entrusted to Master Chen, the Alchemist they had hired.

This Master Chen held a very high status within the Ximen Family.

"Good news! Good news!"

The messenger began shouting the moment he entered.

His cries immediately drew everyone’s attention.

As the one in charge of the Ximen Family, Master Chen was naturally the first to be alerted.

He asked, displeased, "What’s all this shouting about?"

The messenger recounted what he had overheard outside about the Golden Healing Pills.

"Master Chen, that’s the gist of it."

"They said there’s a mysterious expert on East City Black Wind Ridge who has Golden Healing Pills, and that he usually appears at midnight."

Master Chen frowned, but his expression soon turned to one of delight.

"Good. I understand. Go back outside and keep watch. Pay close attention and gather any more information you can."

"I am going to discuss this with the Patriarch."