"I'm afraid I'm sorry, my friend. I do not mean to be indelicate, but trust me when I'm telling you that even if you have my recipe, it is still very hard for you to successfully produce another one."

And that was the truth; the recipes in the Elixir King Scripture required healers with great and impeccable skill to use. Xiao Chen would never have been able to put any of the recipes to use if not for his Divine Sense. Even if he could, the product would only be shoddy and worthless. Moreover, the Elixir King Scripture contained various notes left to him by Gui Xian to help him. Divulging the contents of the tome and the recipes within would be tantamount as a betrayal to Gui Xian's trust.

The man sighed grimly, "So, it is indeed a recipe from that tome, huh..."

Xiao Chen felt himself shuddering. This man had guessed correctly that the recipe had originated from the Elixir King Scripture! "I might not be able to offer you the recipe for the elixir. But I have some other pills that you might be interested in. I'm willing to offer all of them as a token of thanks for the pendant." From within his pocket, Xiao Chen extracted a small jade flask and handed it to the man.

"I see..."

The man murmured as he received the flask. "Very well then. Thank you very much. I'll be taking my leave then." The man muttered and walked towards the door.

Standing demurely beside, Chu Meng smiled thinly as another newcomer came rus.h.i.+ng in. It was a man Xiao Chen recognized as Yang Tianfeng, the one who had contested a bid against Chu Xuan for the Reborning Pill.

"Master Yang, how can I help you?" Xiao Chen asked, having guessed the purpose of his visit.

"Please, there's no need to stand on ceremony." Yang Tianfeng returned with a smile. "My name's Yang Tianfeng, I'm..." He hesitated. Although he needed the Reborning Pill, he could not help feeling embarra.s.sed to beg a man who is as young as his son.

Xiao Chen smiled sardonically, before he took over, saying, "I've heard about the condition of your son, Master Yang. What a pity that his powers are deteriorating. But this is a strange matter, would you be able to tell me more about him?"

"B-but..."

Looking troubled, it took him great difficulty to summon enough courage to speak. "My son, Shaoyu was merely a boy born with ordinary talents when he was young. He was born with only three Spiritual Meridians. But he went on a 3-year pilgrimage when he was 15 and came back, possessing the powers of the Core Forming Realm! n.o.body believed that he could reach such heights, but he did. For the next few years, his progress never stopped. He advanced so close to the Nascent Soul Realm, and it was only then I discovered that he has not three, but nine Spiritual Meridians!"

Yang Tianfeng's hands trembled as he continued on his tale. The tremor indicated his pride as a father and his elation and wonder at the revelation that had never waned, even until today.

Xiao Chen slowly got up, his eyes dazed with equal disbelief. Spiritual Meridians were gifts, they were not skills that could be developed, although one could induce the growth of another Meridian by consuming Nine-flowered Shrub of Jaded Leaves. Unless, Yang Shaoyu was the same as him, where his Spiritual Meridians were forcibly sealed using a very strong enchantment when he was young. But that was highly unlikely.

"Pray continue."

"Shaoyu then dismissed the matter, saying that we had miscounted his Spiritual Meridians. Still, we had believed that it was a blessing then and no one suspected anything wrong, until three years ago, when everything took a downturn. Shaoyu's Spiritual Meridians began to wither like a plant dying from being poisoned..."

Xiao Chen began to feel confused. It was most strange: unlike Earth Spiritual Meridians which might wither, there had never been any precedence where a human's Spiritual Meridian would wilt.

Xiao Chen began pondering, his head nodding as he thought. "But I'm afraid I have to be preparing for the Immortal's Sword a.s.sembly which would be held in just a few months. Moreover, I am tied down by my affairs here, otherwise, I would have liked to visit your son and have a look at his condition." He faced Chu Meng. "Lady Chu Meng. Please present the Reborning Pill to Master Yang. I'd like him to have it."

"You have my deepest thanks, my friend!"

Xiao Chen's hand snuck into his robes and he fished out another flask. "There are a few more elixirs of my own making." He handed it to Yang Tianfeng and said, "Your son might need them more than I do, for they can temporarily stop the Spiritual Meridian's wilting."

"Thank you again, my friend," Yang Tianfeng gasped with delight, "I should compensate you with something..." The medicine and pills might be able to help delay the deterioration of his son's condition, but it was only right that he should offer payment for them all, lest he would dishonor his household.

But Xiao Chen held up a hand and grinned. "Just take the medicine. Consider it a token of friends.h.i.+p from me."

Yang Tianfeng could hardly believe his ears. The medicine that Xiao Chen gave him worth at least two-hundred thousand Spirit Stones yet Xiao Chen demanded absolutely nothing in return. He was lost for words at Xiao Chen's generosity. "I will remember this, my friend. I, Yang Tianfeng, will never forget about the kindness you've shown me on this day. But I have yet to know about your name, I'm afraid."

Xiao Chen cracked a thin smile. "My name is Xiao Chen."

"What! You are the..." His voice faltered. Of all the names he had expected to hear, this was the last.

Xiao Chen continued for him, giggling to himself, "The murderous savage who had taken countless lives? Hahahaha. I pay no heed to what others think of me. Not that I can do anything about it anyway."

"Heavens. To think that I initially believed that the rumors about you were true. Yet you've shown me such generosity and kindness, my friend," Yang Tianfeng gasped, his head shaking.

A steward appeared, bearing the Reborning Pill. Yang Tianfeng took it and bowed again to Xiao Chen, "I'll remember this, my friend. Be sure of it. I shall be at Chuan Province if you need anything. I'd best be leaving now."

Xiao Chen watched him leave, murmuring softly to himself, "The things that one would do for love." Yang Tianfeng's love for his son reminded him of his father and how he had scoured everywhere for medicine for him when he was still very young.

"That said," Chu Meng remarked off-handedly, "Should I address you as Master Lee, or Young Master Xiao?" She was hardly startled when Xiao Chen had revealed his name, prompting the latter to know that she had earlier realized his true ident.i.ty.

"Anything you like, Lady Chu Meng," Xiao Chen chuckled.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Chu Meng giggled.

Another two stewards appeared and presented to Xiao Chen his payment. He stowed away his Spirit Stones and said to her, "So, Lady Chu Meng, I suppose I'll now take my leave for now."

"Very well, Young Master Xiao. I'd look forward to future business opportunities with you again."

Xiao Chen departed and a middle-aged man walked out from a hiding place.

"You've done well, Meng'er. Did you find out from where did he come from?"

Chu Meng shook her head. "Not from the West Continent, that at least I'm sure. He knows nothing about the West."

"A mysterious young man. He must have help. At least an Elixir King. But I did not expect him to be that infamous Xiao Chen."

Chu Meng's gaze wandered to Xiao Chen's cup still filled with tea. He had merely taken a light sip. She smiled and replied, "Yes. I did not realize who he is until he announced himself. He's different; different to what the rumors say about him..."

"What's this?" The middle-aged man asked with a hint of interest in his voice, "My Meng'er is interested in him? But remember my dear niece, the burden of the family that rests upon your shoulders. You have great responsibilities, and you should suffer no distractions, even if he has the help of an Elixir Immortal."

"You jest, Uncle," Chu Meng remarked and giggled as she looked at the window, watching the leaves falling gently from the boughs above.

Xiao Chen walked out of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion to find that the sky was orange above him. The streets were still filled with people; some were joyous and happy to have gotten the items they wished for while some left with dejection and disappointment, walking out of the entrance with empty hands. Horses drawing carriages and wagons trotted to and fro, with people hastily moving out of their way.

The Purple Crystal Pendant hung from the neck of Murong Xian'er, whose fingers never stopped caressing it lovingly. Xiao Chen could only chuckle at her behavior. She had so much curiosity in everything, although the pa.s.sion was hardly blessed by longevity. Xiao Chen peered at his sister, and hoped that she would love it enough to keep the Pendant with her indefinitely.

Coincidentally, Chu Xuan exited the building at the same time and his eyes immediately flared at the sight of the pendant in Xian'er's hands. Despite his best efforts, still, the pendant ended up in Xiao Chen's possession!

Xiao Chen snickered with amus.e.m.e.nt to see Chu Xuan fuming at his efforts being thwarted. Dismissing the matter aside, he was about to leave; he was, after all, hardly a grudging person especially on matters so trivial and inconsequential. But he was stopped by Zhuge Wuwo's voice calling him. "Halt, please! May I know your name, young friend?"

Nonchalantly, Xiao Chen replied, "Xiao Chen. I do not begrudge your prince for his attempts earlier. But I will never wish ill upon others, unless being wished upon." He turned and took Murong Xian'er with him and they blended into the crowd.

Chu Xuan cracked his knuckles as he chafed over Xiao Chen's smug indifference. "SUCH INSOLENCE! I WILL HAVE REVENGE! I WILL!"

"My Prince, it is for the best that you let the matter go. Keep away from him if possible. You must keep in mind that you represent the whole of Xiyue State and everything you do reflects upon the dignity of the State. This is hardly a matter of personal consequence now." Zhuge Wuwo advised. He looked at the disappearing figure of Xiao Chen and his sister and sighed. "If only the Prince has the same fort.i.tude..."