Chapter 140: A Plea for Help (Please Subscribe)

Although he had come several times, Lu Qian harbored a deep aversion to such behavior. He consistently refused, citing the cultivation of the Yin Spirit and the unsuitability of cultivating a ferocious nature, at most drinking a bit of blood wine.

Within the great hall, agonized screams echoed relentlessly. The body-refining cultivators did not regard themselves as akin to their prey; they treated the humans before them like pigs and dogs, consuming them without mercy.

These people were no different from demons.

Though Lu Qian himself was ruthless and cold-blooded, his value system remained fundamentally human, and he still maintained certain boundaries in his heart.

These body-refining cultivators had long ceased to think like humans.

Lu Qian felt he was not of the same path as them—they were too cruel, crossing the limits of normal human decency.

His kindness toward himself was only because, for the time being, they shared the same boat.

Such loosely organized interest groups would see all bonds vanish at the first sign of conflict.

“Ah!”

“No!”

“Have mercy, my lord! Immortal, please spare me! I have an old and a young at home... ahhh...” The pleas abruptly ceased.

Instead of recoiling at the victims’ screams, the crowd grew excited.

Apart from ordinary humans, the scene resembled a den of demons.

At the central seat sat Fubo, like the demon lord of this hellish pit.

Suddenly, Fubo’s facial muscles twitched, veins bulging as his figure rapidly swelled.

A rank stench filled the air as he transformed into a He Luo Fish with ten bodies and a fish’s head.

The fish’s maw gaped wide, swallowing the remaining bloodied flesh outright.

“Alright, everyone stop,” Fubo commanded.

At his words, the previously noisy crowd fell silent.

Fubo’s gaze swept over them, a strange murderous intent flickering in his eyes.

“The Lingbo Tower recently lost a ship. I have traced it—it was the work of the Tianhe Association.”

At this declaration, the crowd erupted.

“Again? Do they really think Lingbo Tower is easy to bully?”

“The Tianhe Association has become increasingly arrogant lately.”

After making a brief comment, Lu Qian let the matter drop.

The Tianhe Association was another major power in Blackwater City, quite formidable in its own right.

Every year, they clashed with Lingbo Tower. Today they hijacked one ship, tomorrow Lingbo Tower would raid their secret domain.

Both sides were evenly matched; no decisive battle ever erupted. Lu Qian was used to it.

Moreover, such matters were usually handled by the patrolling and transport officials—Lu Qian could do little to help.

After some discussion, Lu Qian promptly departed.

---

In the Elixir Garden warehouse, Lu Qian strolled leisurely, accompanied by Deputy Steward Yang Xing.

As they walked, he listened to his subordinate’s report.

Along the way, managers and stewards greeted him respectfully.

“Sir, I have already delivered this month’s supplies,” Yang Xing said softly.

Lu Qian nodded absentmindedly; he no longer cared for such petty sums.

A few thousand coins, plus the monthly allotment of elixirs and medicinal herbs.

For an ordinary spirit-nourishing cultivator, this was sufficient for cultivation and daily use.

But Lu Qian was different—cultivating multiple arts simultaneously, along with magical instruments and spells.

Anything handed to others would take years to accumulate; Lu Qian simply took it all at once, consuming resources at a furious pace.

Feigning interest, he cast an envious glance around.

“If I could take all these things away, it would last me quite a while,” he thought, though it was hardly realistic.

If Shen Zeng and the others had not been killed by him, perhaps there would be a chance.

But now, he was unwilling to take that risk.

After his mock patrol, Lu Qian returned to the Canglong Cave Residence, then headed toward Black Mountain.

He used the Earth-Diving Technique to traverse swiftly underground.

Every ten to fifteen days, he came to check on things, refine a few elixirs; his physical body had no need to remain constantly at Canglong Cave.

Suddenly, a splash—

His Yin Spirit transformed into a dragon, bathing in the dark energy clouds atop Black Mountain, exuding an elegant and carefree air.

The Nine Nether Demon Formation unfolded, revealing ten faint dragon-shaped spirit soldiers.

These dragon spirit soldiers were mid-to-late Qi Refinement stage but, bolstered by the Nine Nether Demon Formation, their combat power was formidable.

More precious still, they grew stronger as Lu Qian’s cultivation advanced.

“Too bad there aren’t more spirit soldiers,” Lu Qian mused, gazing at ten blooming Sunflower Demonic Daisies below.

The advantage of these flowers was clear: daily they produced Nine Nether demonic energy, accelerating cultivation and nurturing the spirit soldiers.

If he could plant dozens more, his cultivation speed would increase significantly.

However, the local earth energy could not support more demonic daisies.

“Master! Someone is visiting,” a voice called.

Lu Qian had just settled down when Yaoyue’s voice came from afar.

“Who? Steward Ma and the others? Haven’t they already delivered the supplies?” Lu Qian furrowed his brow.

“No, it’s the person we saved last time,” Yaoyue replied.

The woman before him now wore more elegant clothing; the loose Daoist robe was usually reserved for the inner courtyard.

“I see.”

Lu Qian pondered; several months had passed—why only come now?

---

In the hall, a man carrying a long bow sat nervously, glancing around anxiously.

Seeing Lu Qian approach, the man, Xu Yuan, immediately rose and bowed respectfully, apologizing:

“Greetings, senior. I have been truly overwhelmed lately and have not been able to thank you in time. Please forgive me.”

He then presented a gift box.

“You’re too kind,” Lu Qian said without refusal; the box seemed to contain some minor pills.

The two chatted briefly.

Xu Yuan explained his predicament.

During their last secret realm expedition, the Xu family patriarch perished in the Water Eye Array, and two senior elders in late spirit-nourishing stage were injured.

They had thus been delayed.

Only now did he come to pay his respects.

Seeing Xu Yuan hesitate, Lu Qian smiled and said, “If you have something to say, just speak plainly—no need to beat around the bush.”

“Do you happen to have any Tranquilizing Pills? I’m willing to pay double the material cost and twice the market price,” Xu Yuan said, laying out his request.

The two returning elders—one lightly injured, the other severely—were recuperating in seclusion.

The lightly injured one recently fell into a coma; his Yin Spirit was gravely damaged and unresponsive.

With both pillars of the family incapacitated and enemies looming, the Xu family was on the brink of collapse.

“I don’t have any,” Lu Qian replied.

Xu Yuan’s disappointment was palpable; he was about to take his leave.

“But I can help you refine them,” Lu Qian added, “Though first, answer me this: Tranquilizing Pills are not unknown, but they carry risks, correct?”

“Yes, the only ones who make them are from the Changfeng Hall, who are hostile to us,” Xu Yuan’s eyes brightened momentarily before dimming.

Lu Qian had heard such answers many times—none ever came to fruition.

The Changfeng Hall’s leader was also late spirit-nourishing stage and was taking advantage of the situation to annex the Xu family.

Some alchemists, intimidated by Changfeng’s power, did not want to get entangled in their feud.

“Interesting. I’ll take the job,” Lu Qian said before Xu Yuan could rejoice. “But the price is five times the normal rate.”

“Agreed,” Xu Yuan nodded eagerly; saving the elder was worth any price.

“Bring the materials over now. I’ll start refining immediately,” Lu Qian said, then turned and left without another word.

The Tranquilizing Pill was a high-grade three-orifice elixir, and his current skills were just sufficient—plus, it would be good practice.