We're practicing all martial arts, so why did you switch to easy mode?

"Not much, fifty thousand Pure Yuan Pills per person!"

Xu Qian slowly extended his palm, swaying it slightly, and smiled without showing his teeth.

"What?!" Fang Rou was immediately shocked upon hearing the number. "How could there be so much!"

Last time, the payment wasn't made by individuals, but by a unified payment. The total amount of Pure Yuan Pills paid over the past month was less than 10,000. However, in the blink of an eye, the amount has increased fivefold, and everyone's amount has increased fivefold.

Such a huge increase is something Fang Rou would never be able to afford, let alone pay for.

The Pure Yuan Pills she has now might be enough to cover her expenses for this month, but what about next month, and the month after that?

Once she opened her mouth, it would be incredibly difficult to lower it later, and she also couldn't accept this increase.

Seeing Xu Qian's confident and domineering attitude, Fang Rou was annoyed, but also pondered how they had offended the Yuan Gang.

Xu Qian ignored Fang Rou's strange behavior and didn't even offer an explanation. Instead, he simply replied, "These are new regulations. If you can abide by them, then abide by them. If you can't, then you'll have no choice but to move out of Ziyang City!"

"It wasn't this much last month, why has it increased so much this month? You're clearly targeting us!"

Fang Rou remained silent, while a disciple of the Xuan Yin Sect questioned her sharply.

"Moreover, the fees paid by the Dragon Elephant Sect next door are still the same as before, so why has it increased fivefold for us?"

The Dragon Elephant Sect and the Profound Yin Sect had a good relationship, but unfortunately, the Dragon Elephant Sect also declined.

Both factions were fellow sufferers, so they traveled together to the Ziyang Sect to settle down.

Therefore, they usually had contact with each other, and they were unaware of the fee increase from the disciples of the Dragon Elephant Sect.

Xu Qian's words were clearly aimed at them!

Upon learning of this, some people were furious and spoke out about it.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Xu Qian did not become angry or embarrassed at having his secret exposed. Instead, he sneered and said, "That's right, I'm targeting you. Don't forget, this is the Ziyang Sect, and we are from the Yuan Gang. You are just outsiders!"

"How exactly did we offend you?" Fang Rou asked in a deep voice.

There was a reason for this; she didn't know why Xu Qian was targeting their Xuan Yin Sect specifically.

After arriving at the Ziyang Sect, the Xuan Yin Sect treated people kindly and rarely caused trouble. Even when disputes arose, they would always back down.

Moreover, Xu Qian was a member of the Yuan Gang, so there was even less possibility that they would become enemies with him.

The only explanation is that Xu Qian coveted the female disciples under his tutelage, but judging from his frail physique, he must have no shortage of women in his daily life.

"Sect Leader Fang, I'll say it again: if your Xuan Yin Sect still wants to settle in the Zi Yang Sect, you either have to pay the full amount of pills, or..." Xu Qian chuckled and then transmitted his voice to Fang Rou.

"Life-extending herb!" Fang Rou's heart trembled upon hearing this; she finally understood Xu Qian's purpose.

The Life-Extending Grass was a miraculous herb they had recently obtained, which had the effect of prolonging life.

It was something she went through great lengths to find to prolong Hongming's life.

Ten years have passed, and Hong Ming's lifespan is nearing its end. To think that he can extend his life by breaking through his cultivation level is nothing short of a pipe dream.

That's why she went to great lengths to find out about the life-extending herb, and later spent a huge amount of money to get the information.

So he took matters into his own hands and seized the life-extending herb.

Logically speaking, no one else should know this news besides her.

After all, things are different now than before. All kinds of resources are occupied by the Heavenly Demons. The price of a cheap pill that used to be cheap is now soaring, making it a target of everyone's scramble. The same is true for the Life-Extending Grass that can extend lifespan.

She absolutely dared not leak the news, otherwise she would surely invite trouble.

Unexpectedly, Xu Qian somehow learned of this news, which is why he rushed here today.

The so-called rent increase was just an excuse; his real goal was this life-saving herb!
Thinking of this, Fang Rou's sharp gaze swept over her fellow disciples in the courtyard, her eyes filled with anger.

Xu Qian arrived just in time, so much so that she hadn't even had a chance to deal with the life-extending herb.

Hong Ming's body was weak and she needed to recuperate for a period of time before she could take the medicine, so the life-extending herb was still on her body.

A glance swept over them, and all the sisters looked calm, though many wore expressions of bewilderment.

Clearly, they might not know about the life-extending herb.

This is also why Xu Qian only transmitted his voice to Fang Rou.

"Well, what's your decision?" Xu Qian didn't have the patience to wait any longer, so he took the initiative to ask.

Upon hearing this, Fang Rou's mood immediately became heavy.

Hong Shi's condition was already precarious. If she gave the life-extending herb to Xu Qian, even if he could hold on for a while, she couldn't guarantee that she would find other longevity pills during that time.

In the market, a single pill that can extend life by five years has been sold for as much as 500,000 Pure Yuan Pills. The entire Xuan Yin Sect doesn't even have that many Pure Yuan Pills combined, so they simply can't afford it.

However, seeking information from other sources and then going to pick the fruit herself is fraught with danger, and even she cannot guarantee that she will be able to pick it again.

However, if we don't give it to Xu Qian, it will definitely implicate the entire Xuan Yin Sect.

If they are driven out of Ziyang City and have nowhere to stay, Hong Shi's condition will worsen, and he may not be able to hold on until he takes the life-extending herb.

After weighing the pros and cons, Fang Rou sighed softly. She was clearly stronger than Xu Qian, but what good was being stronger?

Ultimately, compromise is necessary.

Facing the colossal Yuan Gang, which is no less powerful than the Ziyang Sect, the strength of the Divine Power Realm is simply insufficient.

She was powerless to resist this injustice, nor did she dare to resist it.

"I can give you the Life-Extending Grass." Fang Rou had no choice but to accept reality. She transmitted her voice to Xu Qian and stated her conditions, "But if I give you the Life-Extending Grass, you cannot charge us any fees within a year!"

The price of the Life-Sustaining Grass on the market far exceeds 500,000 Pure Yuan Pills. At this price, it might only last for two or three months if Xu Qian had 50,000 Pure Yuan Pills per person, but at the original price it would be enough to last for a year.

Seeing that Fang Rou agreed, Xu Qian smiled. After thinking for a moment, he said, "One year is not enough. If you provide another 100,000 Pure Yuan Pills, I will agree!"

Anyway, he'll only be staying in the neighborhood for a few months at most, after which this place will no longer be under his jurisdiction.

Even if he agrees to Fang Rou's request, wouldn't they still seek revenge on him afterward?

Fang Rou gave Xu Qian a deep look and nodded, saying, "Okay, but you have to sign a written agreement!"

"What?" Xu Qian raised an eyebrow, his face showing displeasure, as if he was annoyed at being seen through.

Fang Rou chuckled lightly, "After all, words are not enough, please forgive me."

Xu Qian's expression changed, but he finally nodded and said, "Okay!"

This time, he didn't try any tricks. He knew Fang Rou was no simple woman, so there was no need for him to scheme.

After signing and sealing the document, Fang Rou handed the life-extending herb to Xu Qian, who then examined it and left with it.

"Senior sister, what exactly happened?" a fellow disciple asked curiously as she approached.

They only saw Fang Rou and Xu Qian make a deal, but they didn't know what the deal was about.

Moreover, this whole thing seemed strange, as if Xu Qian was deliberately targeting them.

Fang Rou shook her head: "It's nothing."

After saying that, she turned and left, heading towards the courtyard where Hong Ming was.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard Hongming coughing incessantly. "Fang Rou, you're back."

Now, Hong Ming has a full head of white hair, a pale face, and a thin body. He sits in a wheelchair, but Fang Rou is still vaguely recognizable.

Serving her was Qin Xue's son, Hong Chen, who appeared to be a middle-aged man.

Upon seeing Fang Rou, Hong Chen nodded to her.

Fang Rou approached Hong Ming and said softly, "Master, stretch out your hand, let me take your pulse."

This is something Fang Rou does for Hong Ming every day, in order to prevent Hong Ming's health from deteriorating.

Hong Ming obediently stretched out his hand, looked at Fang Rou whose eyebrows were still furrowed, and sighed, "Life and death are predestined, wealth and honor are determined by fate. I have lived most of my life, witnessed the rise and fall of the Great Qian Dynasty, and seen many sights that ordinary people cannot see. I have lived enough. You don't need to worry about me."

“Master, it is only right for your disciple to work hard for you. Please don’t say such discouraging things. Haven’t you been thinking about Junior Brother Su all this time? If I don’t persevere, I’m afraid he will blame me when he comes back.”

Fang Rou ignored Hong Ming's dejection and instead comforted him.

Sure enough, when Su Chen was mentioned, Hong Ming's cloudy eyes lit up with a little light.

"Sigh, I wonder where Su Chen has been all these years!" Hong Ming sighed.

Fang Rou remained silent.

After talking with Hong Ming for a while, she left the courtyard.

"Master's health has improved considerably thanks to the nourishment he's received recently. He should be able to extend his lifespan in about ten days to two weeks. However, I don't have any life-extending herbs right now, unless I find other longevity-extending elixirs within the next two weeks."

Fang Rou's eyes flickered, and a sense of urgency rose in her heart.

Finding a longevity elixir within half a month is extremely difficult.

Finding longevity-extending herbs or similar medicines requires information channels, while purchasing longevity-extending pills requires a large quantity of Pure Yuan Pills.

Neither the former nor the latter could have been accomplished by her alone.

But it's not impossible.

Fang Rou came to the street alone, walked through the streets and alleys, and came to a secluded street.

There was a pharmacy in the middle of the street, its doors wide open, but there weren't many customers.

"Sect Master Fang." Upon entering the pharmacy, the apprentices inside immediately came to greet him.

Fang Rou nodded gently and asked, "Is Qingyou here?"

"Yes, Sect Leader Fang. The manager is on the second floor."

The medicine apprentice was already familiar with Fang Rou, so he gave her a reminder. Fang Rou thanked him and then went upstairs.

Knowing Fang Rou was coming from the footsteps outside the bamboo grove, Zhu Qingyou stood up to greet her.

With a creak, the door opened, and Fang Rou walked in as if she knew the place well.

"Fang Rou, are you in such a hurry to see me because you have something important to say?" Zhu Qingyou, who had originally wanted to tease Fang Rou, changed the subject when she saw Fang Rou's worried expression. She pulled Fang Rou to sit down and asked with concern.

Fang Rou told Zhu Qingyou what had happened earlier.

"Xu Qian took your life-saving herb, how did they know?"

Zhu Qingyou asked, puzzled. She had only told Fang Rou about this and had never told anyone else. Logically, no one should know.

Fang Rou shook her head; she didn't know either.

But now is not the time to pursue that. Fang Rou immediately asked, "Sister, do you need any other longevity-promoting herbs?"

Bamboo smiled bitterly, its fragrance lingering.

Now, there are no other longevity herbs left; they have all been picked clean by other martial artists.

Unless you escape outside the Ancient Wilderness Mountains, or dive deeper into them.

But the former faces the Heavenly Demon, while the latter faces the Demon.

The Heavenly Demon needs no introduction; his terrifying power is far beyond what Fang Rou could possibly handle.

As for demons, the demons deep in the Desolate Ancient Mountains are places that even Martial Immortals dare not venture into; to go deep into them is tantamount to courting death.

"Little sister, if all else fails, I'll try to find out where to buy the Longevity Pill for you."

Finding the longevity herb is impossible; we can only buy it.

"That's all we can do," Fang Rou said, knowing the difficulties involved.

Although the Longevity Pill was expensive, she was determined to buy it no matter what.

"By the way, a group of alchemists from Tiandan City have recently settled in Ziyang City. They might be carrying longevity pills. Wait a moment, I'll go ask them for you." Zhu Qingyou suddenly remembered something, quickly got up, hurriedly said a few words to Fang Rou, and then turned to leave.

Seeing this, Fang Rou had no choice but to sit down and wait for news.

Not long after, Zhu Qingyou returned, her face beaming with joy: "Sister Fang Rou, I've found out."

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Rou's face lit up with joy. She quickly grabbed Zhu Qingyou's hand and asked anxiously, "Where?"

Zhu Qingyou chuckled and pulled Fang Rou inside, whispering, "These days, the alchemists in Dan City are indeed all wealthy. Many of them have longevity pills on them. However, we know this, and so do others. As soon as they entered the city, a large number of people went to look for them. So we must hurry, otherwise the longevity pills will be snatched up by others."

“I’ve heard of a master alchemist named Zhao Shen. He might have the longevity pill you need. Let’s go find him now.”

As Zhu Qingyou spoke, she noticed the hesitation on Fang Rou's face, so she added, "You don't need to worry about the money."

"Okay!" Fang Rou knew that Zhu Qingyou herself was not wealthy, but she was willing to do this much for her. Hesitating any longer would only waste the opportunity.

What she needs to do now is not to let the other party down, and as for this kindness, she will keep it in her heart.

The two went out together and headed to Zhao Shen's address, following the address Zhu Qingyou had inquired about.

But as soon as they arrived at the door, they found a steady stream of visitors, each carrying a gift.

That's not the point. The point is that many of these forces are major powers within Ziyang City.

Although it cannot compare to the Yuan Gang, it is still above average and cannot be matched by the Xuan Yin Sect.

With so many people around, their plan to go in was effectively blocked, since the other party might not choose to sell them the pills.

Moreover, the two of them were empty-handed, and probably didn't even have the chance to step through the threshold.

Let's check out another one!

Zhu Qingyou learned more than just this information; there were other alchemists as well.

If this place didn't work out, the two of them rushed off to the next one.

But the situation remains the same.

I looked at seven or eight places, but they were all packed with people, and I couldn't get a turn at all.

"Let's go to one last place, but we can only try our luck here. Their alchemist is too low-level and may not be able to refine the longevity pill."

Zhu Qingyou did not give up and offered suggestions.

"This alchemist is named Miao Qian; she lives not far from this street. Let's go." (End of Chapter)