Jiang Chen’s room in the Jiang Family estate.

WHOOSH!

Jiang Chen slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

A quick check confirmed his injuries had fully healed.

The healing effects of his Golden Healing Pill were exceptionally potent.

It could mend ordinary wounds with incredible speed.

But he still found himself frowning.

’Who on earth wants me dead?’

He sank into thought.

After a long while, Jiang Chen pulled his mind back to the present.

In truth, he had a good guess. It had to be the Ximen Family. He had poisoned Ximen Jianren to death; how could Patriarch Ximen Gong possibly let that slide?

The Ximen Family didn’t dare to start an all-out war with the Jiang Family, not yet.

So, they had resorted to assassinating him.

But Jiang Chen’s life was not so easily taken.

Three Warriors at the Fifth Heaven and one Martial Master at the First Heaven had all been slain by his hand.

’I still need to be more careful.’

For now, Jiang Chen pushed those thoughts aside.

The auction was still three days away, so he was in no rush.

He immersed himself once more in his alchemy.

Occasionally, he would go out to guide Jiang Xuan and Jiang Ling.

He no longer needed to worry about Jiang Xuan and Jiang Ling. Both were working hard and progressing rapidly.

They could essentially maintain the Jiang Family’s elixir business on their own.

And given enough time, the two were certain to become fine Alchemists.

At the Ximen Family estate, Ximen Gong was still waiting for news from Ximen Fu.

But no news ever came.

It was the same the next day.

In that moment, Ximen Gong understood. They weren’t coming back.

"Damn it, what the hell happened?"

he angrily demanded of the men he had sent to investigate.

"Patriarch, we’ve searched all of Hanwu City but found no trace of them."

"We only found that a fierce battle took place in a small grove to the east, but a fire burned away all the evidence."

"However, we did find a charred thigh bone at the scene."

"Also, Jiang Chen of the Jiang Family is still alive."

The scout reported everything he had found.

He then presented the thigh bone from the grove to Ximen Gong.

"What can I tell from a single thigh bone?"

"Damn it! Take it away and throw it out!"

Ximen Gong roared in frustration. His men had vanished without a trace; he was in no mood to inspect a bone.

"Useless fools!"

Seething with rage, Ximen Gong slammed his hand on his chair, utterly fuming.

After driving the clansman out,

Chen Ran spoke up. "Patriarch, I fear the worst for them."

"Perhaps we all underestimated that Jiang Chen."

Ximen Gong retorted, displeased. "He’s just a mere brat at the Warrior Third Heaven. What could he possibly do?"

"The man I sent, Ximen Fu, was a master at the Martial Master First Heaven, and he had three clansmen at the Warrior Fifth Heaven with him."

"With so many people, you expect me to believe they couldn’t kill one Jiang Chen?"

After his men had investigated again, he was surprised to learn that Jiang Chen’s cultivation had reached the Warrior Third Heaven.

But he still refused to believe that Ximen Fu and the others were truly dead.

Ling Xuan also spoke up.

"Patriarch, there’s something strange about this matter."

"But the fact remains that our men are not coming back, while Jiang Chen is alive and well."

"This shows that Jiang Chen is not to be trifled with."

In truth, there was something else he left unsaid.

Ximen Gong himself had tried to kill Jiang Chen before and failed. Ximen Fu’s cultivation was lower than Ximen Gong’s, so it wasn’t all that surprising that he couldn’t kill Jiang Chen either.

But he didn’t dare say it out loud for fear of bruising Ximen Gong’s ego.

Ximen Gong’s face was ashen. The Ximen Family had lost yet another expert.

He sat on his chair, seething with hatred.

"Keep an eye on that brat. Kill him the moment you get a chance."

He would never give up on killing Jiang Chen.

The memory of Jiang Chen personally handing him the Golden Healing Pill, which he then fed to his son, causing his son to die from poison... just thinking about it sent a chill down his spine.

After making the arrangements, Ling Xuan said, "Patriarch, the Treasure Elephant Pavilion auction is in two days. They’ve already sent an invitation."

"I hear there will be precious treasures this time, including a Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill to be auctioned on-site."

SWOOSH!

Ximen Gong shot up from his chair.

He stared at Ling Xuan, his face a mask of astonishment.

"You’re saying a Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill is up for auction?"

"Is that true?"

His breathing grew heavy.

The Foundation Strengthening Pill was, at minimum, a Second Grade elixir.

It could even provide a significant boost to his Martial Master Cultivation.

And this one was Purple Gold Quality! He thrilled at the very thought.

Ling Xuan’s eyes also burned with feverish excitement.

"That’s right. The news came directly from the Treasure Elephant Pavilion. It’s confirmed."

Ximen Gong took a sharp breath.

"A Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill... This time, the Ximen Family must win it, no matter the cost."

"As long as I get that Foundation Strengthening Pill, I can break through to the Martial King Realm in one fell swoop! Whether it’s the Bai Family or the Jiang Family, I’ll show them my true power!"

"In Hanwu City, there will only be the Ximen Family."

His eyes were filled with the desire to unify Hanwu City under his rule.

Indeed, the news of the Foundation Strengthening Pill sent shockwaves through Hanwu City, causing a massive stir.

The news of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion auctioning the Foundation Strengthening Pill spread throughout Hanwu City almost overnight, even reaching ancient cities beyond its borders.

Countless factions were drawn out by the announcement.

Inside the Jiang Family’s main hall.

Everyone’s breathing was heavy with anticipation.

Finally, Jiang Men was the first to speak.

"Brother, Hanwu City is in an uproar. Rumor has it that a Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill is up for auction."

"That Foundation Strengthening Pill is the absolute best choice for raising one’s cultivation."

"We must win it at the auction."

Even Jiang Men’s eyes were filled with longing.

If he could obtain a Foundation Strengthening Pill, his own cultivation would see a substantial increase.

The very thought made his blood boil with excitement.

The others voiced their agreement one by one, all of them clearly stunned by the news of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion’s auction.

The Foundation Strengthening Pill could raise one’s cultivation, regardless of whether they had Warrior Cultivation or Martial Master Cultivation.

And this one was a Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill, which was even more incredible.

Sitting in the Patriarch’s seat, Jiang Han couldn’t hide the fervent gleam in his eyes.

His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "You’re right. We must win this Foundation Strengthening Pill."

He too craved the pill. If he could obtain even one, his cultivation would improve dramatically. It might even be possible for him to break through to the Martial King Cultivation.

Everyone knew what the appearance of this Foundation Strengthening Pill meant.

It meant a surge in cultivation.

In the world of Martial Cultivators, the strong were revered. Powerful cultivation was everything.

Who didn’t yearn for a higher cultivation realm?

Only a fool wouldn’t.

Faced with the allure of the Foundation Strengthening Pill, no Martial Cultivator below a Martial King could possibly resist the temptation.

"The Jiang Family must obtain the Foundation Strengthening Pill, at any cost!"

Everyone in the Jiang Family was in unanimous agreement. They were all in.