Chapter 53: The Pill Auction

With the status of the Prince of the South, one could stride into the imperial palace without hindrance. Yet at this moment, he stood respectfully, requesting an audience. This alone demonstrated just how highly Jun Wushuang was regarded in the Prince of the South’s heart.

Mo Xingyun was startled. He suddenly realized that this time, not only had he stumbled upon fortune, but it seemed as if the goddess of destiny herself had favored him.

“Your humble servant pays respects to Master Jun!” Jiang Hongru approached swiftly, bowing deeply, his manner sincere. “I have already heard what happened at the Royal Martial Academy. To have let you suffer such grievance was my dereliction. Please, Master Jun, forgive me!”

Mo Xingyun’s jaw dropped, his eyes wide with disbelief. Was this truly the foremost prince of the Great Qian Dynasty? If outsiders were to witness this scene, the entire dynasty would be shaken. A mere Jun Wushuang could command such deference from the Prince of the South—this was simply unimaginable!

“You are you, and the Royal Martial Academy is the Royal Martial Academy. I can tell the difference,” Jun Wushuang replied calmly.

“Please put your mind at ease. I have already punished Xu Wuya and the other two. The Royal Martial Academy will not dare oppose you again,” Jiang Hongru quickly explained, sharing the results of the punishments.

Mo Xingyun was once again stunned. He hadn’t expected the Prince of the South to sever Xu Wuya’s arm for Jun Wushuang, expel Zhao Qiming, and confine Nangong Tianxuan for three months.

“In addition, the four great cultivation grounds of the Royal Martial Academy will be fully open to you, Master Jun. You may enter and cultivate there at any time,” Jiang Hongru continued.

Mo Xingyun was now utterly numb. The Royal Martial Academy was established by the Great Qian royal family. It gathered not only geniuses from all regions but also an immense wealth of cultivation resources. The four great cultivation grounds were renowned throughout the realm, coveted by countless individuals. Even the academy’s own students needed contribution points to enter—yet now, they would be completely open to Jun Wushuang. Such generosity was astounding!

“Thank you,” Jun Wushuang said after a pause, expressing his gratitude.

Jiang Hongru’s willingness to do all this clearly showed his sincerity. By rights, Jun Wushuang had once saved Jiang Hongru’s life, but Jiang Hongru had also presented him with the Prince of the South’s command medallion—they were even. Yet, with that medallion, Jiang Hongru had suppressed the Nangong family and resolved the crisis of the Jun clan. For this, Jun Wushuang owed him a debt of gratitude. What had happened this time was, in truth, unrelated to Jiang Hongru, yet he took it upon himself to intervene and even came in person to apologize. The debt Jun Wushuang owed him thus grew even deeper.

“Master Jun, I’ve already prepared a separate residence for you. What do you think?” Jiang Hongru offered again, having long anticipated Jun Wushuang’s arrival. However, Jun Wushuang had gone straight to the Royal Martial Academy upon arriving in the capital, leaving Jiang Hongru without a chance to host him.

“Since I have joined the Azure Cloud Martial Academy, I am now one of its people. I will live here from now on,” Jun Wushuang declined the offer with thanks.

“In that case, I won’t press the matter. As you are new to the capital, you must have some needs. Is there anything this old man can assist with?” Jiang Hongru asked, eager to curry favor.

He had always thought highly of Jun Wushuang. After learning that Jun Wushuang had slain Nangong Lei in open combat and that Lin Mengyao possessed the Sacred Physique, his regard only deepened. Master of both alchemy and martial arts—such a genius was destined to become a true dragon among the heavens. Offering help at this moment was the wisest investment.

“I need some medicinal herbs. I wonder if you can gather them all,” Jun Wushuang said. The Longevity Elixir required not only a high grade but also an extraordinary quantity and quality of ingredients. Jun Wushuang quickly wrote out a list.

Jiang Hongru’s face was one of shock upon reading it. The herbs numbered as many as eight hundred and ten, including nine Dao-grade medicines. Dao medicines were incredibly rare—any single one could fetch a sky-high price. Even though Jiang Hongru controlled the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, he could not produce so many Dao medicines at once.

“Master, the other herbs are manageable, but these nine Dao medicines will be difficult. Even if I search the royal treasury, I can only find six of them. The remaining three cannot be gathered in a short time. However, the great clans each have their own collections. Perhaps among them are the ones you need. I will visit them and see what can be found,” Jiang Hongru said, clearly troubled.

“I already owe the Myriad Treasures Pavilion five million spirit stones from my time in Jiangning City. I don’t wish to be indebted again for this search,” Jun Wushuang shook his head. He was not a greedy person. Jiang Hongru had already done enough for him; to continue making endless requests would sever the bond between them.

“I would like to borrow the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to host an alchemical auction,” Jun Wushuang continued.

An alchemical auction? Jiang Hongru looked puzzled.

“I will refine pills for auction—not for spirit stones, but in exchange for medicinal herbs. In this way, I can gather the ingredients needed for the Longevity Elixir from the great clans. Any surplus can be used to pay back the Myriad Treasures Pavilion,” Jun Wushuang explained.

Jun Wushuang was not only the greatest expert of the Demon Realm but also a peerless master of alchemy. The prescriptions he commanded were as vast as the sea, and his divine-level skills ensured that any pill he created would be coveted by all. Thus, he decided to earn what he needed through his own craft. In this way, he could not only gather the necessary herbs for the Longevity Elixir and repay his debt to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, but perhaps even have enough left over to renovate and restore the dilapidated Azure Cloud Martial Academy.

“Please rest assured, Master Jun. I will do everything in my power to assist you!” Jiang Hongru declared. He had witnessed Jun Wushuang’s detoxification skills but had yet to see his alchemy. He had a feeling that Jun Wushuang’s skills in alchemy would bring him a monumental surprise.

“Then I’ll trouble you with this matter,” Jun Wushuang nodded, entrusting the arrangements to Jiang Hongru with full confidence.

Soon, Jiang Hongru departed to prepare the required medicinal herbs and oversee the arrangements for the auction.

“Jun Wushuang, you truly have opened my eyes,” Mo Xingyun remarked with heartfelt admiration after Jiang Hongru left. He had never seen such a monstrous young man.

“Dean, I will always be a member of the Azure Cloud Martial Academy,” Jun Wushuang replied with a gentle smile.

Mo Xingyun was momentarily taken aback, but then burst out laughing. “I believe the Azure Cloud Martial Academy may just rise again because of you!” His eyes shone with hope. Jun Wushuang, so unfathomable, and Lin Mengyao, bearer of the Ten Thousand Swords Sacred Physique—perhaps the Azure Cloud Martial Academy truly could be restored to glory. If that day ever came, he could die without regret.

The next day, Jiang Hongru personally delivered a vast quantity of medicinal herbs to Jun Wushuang.

“Master Wu, come assist me,” Jun Wushuang called out.

Master Wu was overjoyed and hurried to help, eager for such a rare opportunity to learn firsthand.

Over the following half month, Lin Mengyao trained with Mo Xingyun, while Master Wu assisted Jun Wushuang with alchemy. One after another, exceptional pills were crafted by Jun Wushuang’s hands, each one enough to astonish the world.

Meanwhile, under Jiang Hongru’s management, news of the upcoming alchemical auction spread rapidly throughout the capital. In no time at all, it became the focus of all attention.