Chapter 998: Adding Ingredients

As a mere steward of Mo Yun Pavilion, he lacked the authority to make decisions when hundreds of high-grade spirit stones were involved.

“Go!” Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

If information about the Poison Hall were so easily obtainable, it wouldn't have remained shrouded in mystery for so many years. Therefore, he had already prepared himself to use money to get what he wanted as soon as he arrived. Even if they didn't have precise information, having resided in Jingyuan City for so long, they must have heard some rumors or scattered clues. For anyone else, even such fragmented information would be useless, as they wouldn't be able to discern truth from falsehood. But for Zhang Xuan, any lead was enough; he could unearth the Poison Hall even if it were buried deep underground.

“Yes!” Zhu Xiao quickly left the room, heading straight out. A short while later, he entered a spacious chamber.

“Pavilion Master…” he said, walking in and cupping his fists towards a middle-aged man. This was Hu Yunsheng, the Pavilion Master of Mo Yun Pavilion and a peak Saint Realm 1st Dan expert!

“What is it?” Hu Yunsheng was looking down, flipping through something. Seeing Zhu Xiao enter, he raised his head.

“Reporting to the Pavilion Master, a martial artist just came, wanting to purchase… information about the Poison Hall!” Zhu Xiao reported.

“Information about the Poison Hall?” Hu Yunsheng frowned. “Tell him we don’t have any and send him away!”

“I told him we didn’t, but the other party seems very wealthy. He offered at least 500 high-grade spirit stones for the purchase. I couldn’t make a decision… so I came to report!” Zhu Xiao explained the situation.

“Over 500 high-grade spirit stones?” Hu Yunsheng’s pupils contracted. Even Elder Mi, Elder Zhao, and other esteemed figures from the Master Teacher Academy could only produce a few dozen, or at most a hundred, high-grade spirit stones at a time, highlighting their immense value. Yet, this person offered five hundred in one go… that was more than Mo Yun Pavilion’s annual profit.

“Yes!” Zhu Xiao nodded.

“What kind of person is he?” Hu Yunsheng asked with a frown.

“Around 40 years old, with strength similar to mine, at the peak of the Transcendent Saint realm. His background isn’t clear…” Zhu Xiao said, waiting for instructions.

“Peak Transcendent Saint realm, and he produced 500 high-grade spirit stones at once?” Hu Yunsheng seemed somewhat disbelieving. Even he couldn't produce that much. How could a Transcendent Saint realm practitioner have so much wealth? Could it be someone from a major power or a prominent family?

“I’ll go take a look!” Hu Yunsheng stood up.

“Yes… but Pavilion Master, we truly don’t have information about the Poison Hall. What should we do if he insists on buying?” Zhu Xiao asked.

The Poison Hall was exceedingly secretive; even Mo Yun Pavilion, with its vast network of information, did not know its precise whereabouts. If this wealthy individual insisted on purchasing information they couldn’t provide, it would severely harm their reputation.

“It depends on the situation. If he’s from a prominent family, giving him some of the information we’ve gathered is fine… But if he’s just a nouveau riche type, a fat sheep like that, once he enters Mo Yun Pavilion, he shouldn’t expect to leave…” A glint flashed in Hu Yunsheng’s eyes. Mo Yun Pavilion not only traded treasures but also controlled the entire black market in Jingyuan City. If the man were a scion of a major power, protected by formidable experts, then so be it. Otherwise… for a practitioner at the peak of the Transcendent Saint realm to flaunt so many spirit stones, wasn’t he simply courting death?

While Master Teachers upheld strict rules that few dared to violate, this place was remote and beyond imperial reach, lacking even a Master Teacher Pavilion. Killing one or two individuals here would go completely unnoticed.

“This… to be able to produce so many spirit stones, even if he’s a nouveau riche, he must have powerful backing…” Zhu Xiao was somewhat worried. Wealth required power to protect it. Otherwise, no matter how vast one’s fortune, it would inevitably become someone else’s. The fact that the man could confidently produce such a sum meant he was certainly not simple, even if he lacked a prominent family or major power background. Secretly killing him would likely bring trouble for Mo Yun Pavilion.

“Heh heh, isn’t he inquiring about the Poison Hall? Wouldn’t it be normal for him to be killed by someone from the Poison Hall? As long as it’s done well, who would suspect our Mo Yun Pavilion?” Hu Yunsheng sneered.

“This…” Zhu Xiao was stunned. That’s true. Since the man was inquiring about the Poison Hall, it would be logical for him to anger its members and be poisoned to death. As long as they executed the plan well, no one would suspect Mo Yun Pavilion.

“Alright, go prepare the gourd of fine wine I gave you earlier. When the time comes, act according to the situation!” Without further words, Hu Yunsheng waved his hand.

“Yes!” Zhu Xiao nodded, hurried to another room, and returned shortly thereafter. The two then proceeded, one after the other, towards the quiet room where Zhang Xuan was waiting.

“I hear this friend wants to purchase information about the Poison Hall?” Entering the room, Hu Yunsheng sat down and carefully observed Zhang Xuan. The middle-aged man before him had a robust aura and was indeed at the peak of the Transcendent Saint realm. His appearance was quite unfamiliar; he had never been seen before and was likely not from Jingyuan City. There were only so many peak Transcendent Saint realm experts in Jingyuan City and the dozen surrounding cities. Even if he hadn't met them, he had seen their profiles, and none matched the man before him.

“Indeed!” Zhang Xuan looked at him calmly.

“The Poison Hall is not only secretive but also vengeful. If we disclose their information, we are highly likely to face retaliation… May I know this friend’s name and why you seek the Poison Hall? Would it be convenient to reveal this? It would help us consider things comprehensively.” Hu Yunsheng hesitated before speaking.

“My name is Sun Qiang!” Zhang Xuan said. Zhang Xuan’s real name was quite renowned in the Hongyuan Empire and could be easily traced. However, Sun Qiang, his steward, was unknown, so even if he used that name, the other party would likely assume it was merely a coincidence and not suspect Zhang Xuan himself.

“Sun Qiang? Are you… from the Sun family of Qingyuan City?” Hu Yunsheng was startled and couldn’t help but ask.

“No!” Zhang Xuan shook his head.

“Then… are you a descendant of the Yao Hu Sect Master?” Hu Yunsheng continued to ask.

Zhang Xuan continued to shake his head.

“Then…” Hu Yunsheng consecutively asked about a dozen famous Sun families in the Hongyuan Empire.

“There’s no need to guess,” Zhang Xuan said, waving his hand as he noticed the other party’s persistent questioning. “I am merely a rogue cultivator, unaffiliated with any sect or faction. My interest in the Poison Hall stems from personal matters I need to resolve. It won’t implicate anyone else, so rest assured, I won’t reveal that I obtained the information from you!”

“A rogue cultivator?” Hu Yunsheng smiled. “I see. Since Brother Sun provides such an assurance, I won’t waste any more words. I do have some information about the Poison Hall here, though none of it is detailed… Zhu Xiao, go fetch it for Brother Sun!”

“Yes!” Zhu Xiao nodded and stood up. Before he could leave the room, he heard Hu Yunsheng’s instructions continue: “Don’t rush, first send someone to bring some wine and dishes!” After speaking, he looked at Zhang Xuan: “Brother Sun, don’t rush. These materials will take some time to organize. Why don’t we have a small drink while we wait?”

Zhu Xiao nodded and retreated. Before long, he re-entered with some small dishes and a pot of wine.

“Brother Sun, please!” With a faint smile, Hu Yunsheng filled the wine cup.

Zhang Xuan nodded, picked up his wine cup, and looked at him with a sincere expression: “May I know the Pavilion Master’s name?”

“I forgot to introduce myself… My surname is Hu!” Hu Yunsheng said.

“Hu? I happen to have a friend also surnamed Hu, but she’s as cunning as a fox. Looking at Brother Hu, you seem very sincere!” Zhang Xuan remarked.

“Naturally. You are my guest here, and business is built on trust, so naturally, I must be sincere!” Covering a trace of awkwardness on his face, Hu Yunsheng quickly said.

“True, businessmen should naturally be sincere. Cheers!” After a brief chat, Zhang Xuan raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

“Cheers!” Hu Yunsheng nodded, sipped from his wine cup, and set it down.

“Brother Hu, you only drank this much. Are you looking down on me, Sun?” Seeing him only take a sip, Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows raised.

“Of course not, I just have a lot of matters to attend to, and I’m not good with alcohol, so…” Hu Yunsheng’s mouth twitched, and he quickly explained.

“What do you mean not good with alcohol? You said you were sincere, so drinking should naturally be sincere too. Come, I’ll help you!” With a laugh, Zhang Xuan placed his right hand on the other’s shoulder, picked up the man’s wine cup with his left hand, and brought it to his mouth.

Seeing that this fellow was actually going to feed him wine, Hu Yunsheng was displeased, his face darkening: “No need to trouble Brother Sun, I can do it myself…”

“No trouble at all, we’re all friends, no need to be polite…” With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan’s lips curled up.

“I…” Realizing the other man intended to force the wine into his mouth, Hu Yunsheng circulated his true energy. He tried to break free from the grip and push away the cup, but found his entire body strangely immobilized. The other party’s true energy, like an irresistible shackle, locked his entire body, making him unable to move.

“This…” His pupils contracted, and his back was covered in cold sweat. He had previously dismissed the man as merely a Transcendent Saint realm practitioner, not considering him a threat. But upon sensing this immense power, he instantly realized… this was no ordinary Transcendent Saint realm cultivator. Even he, a peak Saint Realm 1st Dan expert, would be utterly overwhelmed if they clashed! This guy was simply feigning weakness to prey on others. Where did he come from? Most crucially, the other party seemed to have seen through his tainted wine, which was why he was force-feeding it to him…

“Come, drink up, don’t be shy!” As he remained in shock, the wine cup was already at his lips, and without a moment’s hesitation, its contents were poured down his throat.

“Cough, cough, cough!” Hu Yunsheng coughed until tears streamed down his face. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the other man pick up the wine gourd and, without explanation, directly shove it into his mouth.

Gulp, gulp, gulp! Several gulps of wine flowed down his throat, nearly making him pass out. This was highly poisonous wine! Drinking so much at once, even with an antidote, would be unbearable! He never thought he’d outwit others every day only to be outwitted himself!

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp! In the blink of an eye, with his mouth held open by the other man, the entire gourd of wine was poured down his throat. After pouring it all, the other party finally released his grip, smiling as he looked over: “Your own wine tastes quite good, doesn’t it? How’s the flavor?”

“You…” His face alternated between green and white. Hu Yunsheng hastily took out a pill and put it in his mouth, looking at the middle-aged man opposite him, his eyes revealing naked killing intent: “Who exactly are you?”

“I’m Sun Qiang, didn’t I just tell you?” Zhang Xuan smiled and clapped his forehead: “Oh, right, I subtly added some ingredients to your wine just now. It’s a bit strong; I wonder if you’re used to it…”

Before he finished speaking, Hu Yunsheng’s face turned pale, and he felt his whole body stiffen. With a “Whoosh!”, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

“You poisoned me?” Hu Yunsheng’s pupils contracted. “Are you a poison master?”