Chapter 95: Looting

"Dragon Pill?" Xiao Tiannan was startled, then tentatively asked, "Do you mean... a dragon's profound core?"

"Precisely," Yun Che nodded, adopting a profound demeanor. He slowly explained, "Profound veins are one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity by the heavens. They grant humans power that transcends physical limits. However, the existence of profound veins must adhere to the rules of heaven and earth and the laws of nature. Whether in a genius or an ordinary person, their growth and strengthening must be gradual, without violating basic rules and order, otherwise it would be an act against the Heavenly Dao."

"However, if profound veins are destroyed, they are no longer complete profound veins, and one could say... they are no longer bound by the fundamental rules required for their growth. There's a saying: 'Break to rebuild.' My grandson Luocheng's profound veins are now shattered, almost crippled, fulfilling the 'break' condition. If we can acquire a dragon's profound core, I will have a way to directly infuse its power into the damaged profound veins. After repairing the profound veins, Luocheng's profound veins can be 'rebuilt' from an extremely high starting point! Among all profound beast cores, only a dragon's power is most similar to human profound energy and most compatible with human profound veins. Therefore, to achieve this 'break to rebuild,' only a dragon pill can accomplish it, and the higher the grade of the dragon pill, the better."

Of course, Yun Che's words were pure nonsense. Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Luocheng felt as if they were listening to a fantastical tale. Yet, these words came from the 'Saintly Hand of the Evil Heart,' so they found it perfectly normal that they couldn't fully comprehend them, feeling only that they were unfathomably profound and incredibly powerful. Subsequently, Xiao Tiannan's face fell. "There is such an astonishing secret art in this world... But alas, dragons are the lords of all beasts. Even the lowest-grade adult dragon is at the Sky Profound Beast level. A Sky Profound Pill is incredibly rare; even the main sect has very few, let alone a dragon pill. Luocheng's encounter with you, Senior, is a heaven-sent blessing, but this dragon pill is truly nowhere to be found."

"Hehehehe!" Yun Che chuckled indifferently. "Nowhere to be found? No, right now, there's a place where one can be found. And it's a King Profound Dragon Pill!"

"Wha...what?! A King Profound Dragon Pill?!" Xiao Tiannan cried out in astonishment. What did 'King Profound Pill' even mean? It was something the main sect barely dared to dream of! For their small branch sect, it was a legendary divine artifact. A King Profound Dragon Pill, moreover, could be refined into the mythical 'King God Pill,' allowing a peak Sky Profound Realm expert to easily break through bottlenecks and smoothly enter the King Profound Realm!

"Where can it be found? If it can be bought anywhere, I will buy it even if it means losing everything!" Xiao Tiannan exclaimed excitedly. Although these words came directly from the Saintly Hand of the Evil Heart, Xiao Tiannan still found it hard to believe. How could such a divine object, capable of shaking the entire Azure Cloud Continent, appear in this small New Moon City? If it truly existed, New Moon City would have surely become a focal point of power and intrigue long ago.

"Four days ago, when I passed by the Black Moon Merchant Guild's branch in New Moon City, I detected a faint scent of a dragon pill, and its grade was as high as King Profound. In my lifetime, I've encountered at least eighty thousand, if not a hundred thousand, high-grade profound pills. That was indeed a King Profound Dragon Pill. Even I was somewhat disbelieving at the time and repeatedly confirmed it outside the entrance." Yun Che observed Xiao Tiannan's astonished expression. "It is indeed a bit unusual for a King Profound Dragon Pill to appear in small New Moon City. However, since it's from the Black Moon Merchant Guild, it's understandable. This King Profound Dragon Pill likely came from their main headquarters, as for its destination, that's uncertain."

Xiao Tiannan was stunned for a moment, his heart pounding. Xiao Luocheng's eyes were wide with excitement as he exclaimed, "Father, Grandpa is the greatest divine doctor in the world; he can't be wrong! You must find a way to get that King Profound Dragon Pill for me. My entire life, and the future of our branch sect, all depend on Grandpa and this King Profound Dragon Pill!"

The news that the Black Moon Merchant Guild actually had a King Profound Dragon Pill astonished Xiao Tiannan, leaving him no room to doubt Yun Che's words. He twitched his lips, saying bitterly, "Since Senior recognized it, it must be correct. But a divine object like the King Profound Dragon Pill is simply not something a small place like New Moon City is meant to possess. Perhaps the Black Moon Merchant Guild's main headquarters is preparing to sell it to some powerful figure, and it's merely temporarily stored in New Moon City. I am but the sect master of a small branch of the Xiao Sect. Even if I knew the Black Moon Merchant Guild had a King Profound Dragon Pill, they wouldn't possibly sell it to me. And even if they were willing... we couldn't afford a single King Profound Dragon Pill anyway."

"I naturally thought of that," Yun Che said. He began rummaging through his pockets, searching for a long time before pulling out a shimmering purple profound currency card—the very one given to him by a clerk during his first visit to the Black Moon Merchant Guild. He placed it directly into Xiao Tiannan's hand, saying nonchalantly, "About thirty years ago, the current head of the Black Moon Merchant Guild was ambushed by enemies. He was severely wounded after a bitter struggle and almost died, but I saved him. He gave me this profound currency card, claiming that with it, I could purchase anything I wished at the lowest price in all Black Moon Merchant Guild branches across the continent. It's been thirty years, and I've never used this card, but I've always carried it with me, just in case. Since it was given by the guild head, it should be useful, right?"

Xiao Tiannan had initially seen it as just an ordinary purple-gold card. But upon hearing Yun Che's explanation of its origin, his hands trembled, and he was so excited he nearly dropped the card. The head of the Black Moon Merchant Guild was the undisputed mercantile overlord of the Sky Profound Continent, a super-figure with immense wealth and power! A purple-gold card personally given by him, coupled with Yun Che's words... the value of this purple-gold card was simply no less than that King Profound Dragon Pill!

"Senior, if this was given by the head of the Black Moon Merchant Guild, then this purple-gold card is truly too valuable... For Luocheng, Senior is willing to take it out. This great kindness, I truly do not know how to repay it," Xiao Tiannan said, holding the purple-gold card with emotion.

Yun Che chuckled, a hint of melancholy in his expression. "Luocheng is my grandson. As his grandfather, shouldn't I do all this...? *Sigh*, it's also a way to make up for my regrets from back then, through Luocheng."

"Luocheng, hurry and thank Grandpa!" Xiao Tiannan urged loudly.

Xiao Luocheng immediately struggled to get up and gave Yun Che a deep kowtow, so emotional that he was on the verge of tears. "Grandpa's great kindness and virtue, Luocheng will remember it for life... In the future, Luocheng will definitely be filial to Grandpa; otherwise, I shall be struck by lightning, condemned by heaven and earth."

Yun Che's lips twitched, and he smiled with "satisfaction." He patted Xiao Luocheng's shoulder, grinning, "Good, good, truly Grandpa's good grandson. Grandpa asks for nothing else from you; just hearing you call me 'Grandpa' a few times each day brings comfort to my heart... Sect Master Xiao, without further ado, take this profound currency card and personally go to the Black Moon Merchant Guild now. I am a hundred percent certain there's a King Profound Dragon Pill there. As for how to obtain it, that will depend on your skill. Also, it would be best to bring Xiao Baicao along; he should be able to identify whether it's a King Profound Dragon Pill."

"Alright, I will call Elder Baicao and go to the Black Moon Merchant Guild immediately!"

Without Yun Che needing to remind him, Xiao Tiannan already knew that he had to go himself, and the more discreetly, the better. If word got out that there was a King Profound Dragon Pill in New Moon City, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Soon, Xiao Tiannan called for Xiao Baicao. As they were about to leave, Yun Che stopped them, saying, "The distance from here to the Black Moon Merchant Guild is not short. Moreover, the matter of the King Profound Dragon Pill is extremely significant; even if you can eventually buy it, it will undoubtedly take a lot of time. During this period, I will need to go to the treasure vault to retrieve medicine periodically, depending on Luocheng's condition. So, you should leave a key to the treasure vault with someone trustworthy."

"About that..." Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Baicao exchanged glances. Xiao Baicao then deftly produced the treasure vault key and said, "Senior, there are only two treasure vault keys in the sect. They have always been kept by me and the Sect Master, never reaching a third person's hands, nor have we ever dared to entrust them to anyone else. Currently, it seems the only person worthy of receiving this key is you, Senior. You may use this key to enter and exit the treasure vault at any time when you need medicinal ingredients, precious jade, or profound crystals."

Yun Che's eyes widened, and he sharply waved his hand, displeased. "Nonsense! How can the sect's treasure vault key be casually handed to an outsider! Both of you are nearly fifty years old; how can you still be so careless!"

Xiao Tiannan chuckled, "Of course, this treasure vault key cannot be casually handed to others. However, although we have only known Senior for a few days, Baicao and I greatly admire your unparalleled medical skills and noble character. We couldn't feel more at ease entrusting it to you, Senior. Apart from you, we wouldn't dare give it to anyone else. And while we are away, Luocheng's injuries could change at any moment, and we would then have to trouble you, Senior. If treatment is delayed due to inability to access the treasure vault for medicine in time... Therefore, Senior, please accept this key."

Yun Che still wore a troubled expression, but after a long while, he sighed softly and took the key from Xiao Baicao's hand. "Very well. Both of you should try to go and return as quickly as possible. For that King Profound Dragon Pill, bring as much money as you can carry; even bringing all your family's assets wouldn't be excessive."

Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Baicao departed, filled with excitement. A quarter of an hour after they left, Yun Che entered the Pill Hall, and following the path he had already memorized, he walked straight to the treasure vault with his head held high.

He passed through layers of guards without any obstruction. Not only did the guards not stop him, but they also respectfully saluted him when they saw him. Arriving at the treasure vault door, he took out the key, unlocked three stone doors in succession, and stepped into the treasure vault filled with cold air.

Gazing at the dazzling array of medicines, jade, crystals, and artifacts... Yun Che stood at the treasure vault entrance, his lips slowly curling into a smile...

After so many days of painstaking performance, it was finally time for the harvest.

The accumulation of a sect over a thousand years—what an immense fortune that must be! If it all vanished overnight, half the sect would likely collapse...

Too bad for you, who told you to provoke a jinx like me!!

If I hadn't had my trump card, it wouldn't be Xiao Luocheng whose profound veins were crippled, but me... I might even be dead by now!

Betraying trust and coming to New Moon Profound Palace to settle scores with me? Heh... Well then, let's settle the score properly now! Your thousand years of accumulation, this young master will consider it compensation for emotional distress... and accept it!!

Yun Che quickly walked to the rows of black wooden medicine cabinets, placed his hand on a cabinet, and with a slight exertion of power, absorbed stacks of medicinal ingredients along with the cabinets into the Sky Poison Pearl. The Sky Poison Pearl's absorption and storage capabilities were far superior to ordinary spatial rings. Even though these cabinets were relatively large, it took him no effort at all. In less than thirty minutes, thousands of sets of medicine cabinets had completely vanished. Next were rows of cold jade ice cabinets...

This treasure vault was large, but the Sky Poison Pearl contained infinite space. Even if this treasure vault were a hundred times larger, Yun Che could absorb it all into the Sky Poison Pearl given enough time.