[Ding, the former Commander of the Jinyiwei, Hong Qingtian, suffered a severe injury in his early years, damaging his Foundation, which affected his Lifespan. He is now on the verge of running out of oil and fading away.
Currently, Hong Qingtian wants to trade the condition of bestowing his entire True Essence via anointing for someone who can find his only daughter, who was lost due to a plot by his enemies years ago.
His only daughter is named Yu Mian, who has currently joined the Qingyue Sect, one of the Six Great Daoist Sects, as an Outer Sect Disciple.
Yu Mian possesses the "Clear Sword Heart Talent" and has unimaginable talent in the Dao of the Sword.]
Lu Zhenghai's heartbeat began to accelerate.
Finally, an awesome piece of intelligence arrived.
If this intelligence is used well, he might take off right here and now.
This piece of intelligence is somewhat similar to the trope where Dongfang Bubai's sister is Yi Lin... many people who transmigrate into the Comprehensive Martial Arts World use this information to control the Cult Master Dongfang.
Trading this information for Hong Qingtian's entire True Essence is a viable plan.
Lu Zhenghai suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked, "Sir, what is Senior Hong's strength?"
"At his Peak, he was a Seventh Layer Grandmaster Realm. In recent years, due to the recurrence of old injuries, his Realm has dropped somewhat. He is currently at the Grandmaster Realm Fourth Layer."
Centurion Song only assumed Hong Qingtian's strength would gradually decline and was unaware that Hong Qingtian was actually nearing the end of his Lifespan.
Lu Zhenghai wondered, if he received the True Essence Anointing, how far could receiving the entire True Essence of a Grandmaster Realm Fourth Layer expert help his Realm advance?
Could it directly allow him to enter the Grandmaster Realm?
However, if he were to receive another person's True Essence, he would definitely need to Refine, Sublimate, and purify it through steps.
He could not absorb all of it.
Otherwise, he risked suffering Qi Deviation.
This requires the use of an essence refining pill, and it must be at least Earth Grade High Rank or even higher.
The function of the essence refining pill is to assist in refining the True Essence within the body, completely filtering out impurities and unsuitable elements.
"One Earth Grade High Rank essence refining pill is worth 200,000 to 300,000 taels of silver!"
Damn it!
Cultivating Martial Arts by Paying Money, this is purely Cultivating Martial Arts by Paying Money.
Lu Changqing still had the 120,000 taels of silver he got from dismantling the golden bed in his pocket, thinking he was quite wealthy.
It turns out he couldn't even afford one pill.
It's all the fault of Princess Mingzhu... If only she had a little conscience and gave him some reward, how could it have come to this?
If others knew Lu Changqing's thoughts, they would probably want to curse him.
You asked for an Earth Grade High Rank or even higher-grade pill right off the bat, how could it not be expensive?
Go look at a Human-Grade pill, its price is only a hundred taels.
In fact, within the Great Yu Dynasty, 99.9% of Martial Artists never have the chance to consume even a single pill in their lifetime.
Like Lu Changqing, who hadn't awakened his past life memories, and those ordinary Jinyiwei Lieutenants and Squad Leaders, they had no idea what a Medicinal Pill tasted like.
To put it bluntly, even a Grandmaster Realm expert usually cannot afford an Earth Grade High Rank or higher-grade pill.
So, it's not that the Medicinal Pills are expensive!
It's that Lu Changqing always targets the absolute top-tier Martial Arts resources, being incredibly greedy...————
Grand Tutors Residence.
Yunyi Tower.
Princess Mingzhu looked Pei Muwan up and down: "Muwan, you actually put on makeup!"
Pei Muwan rarely wore makeup.
"Not only did you put on makeup, but this white long dress is the birthday gift I gave you a year ago. You said at the time that the dress was beautiful but too ornate and you wouldn't wear it. Why are you wearing it today?"
Without giving Pei Muwan a chance to speak, a triumphant smile appeared on Princess Mingzhu's stunningly beautiful and noble face: "A woman adorns herself for the one who adores her. Are you going on a date with Lu Changqing today? Have you sent the invitation for the date?"
"I refuse to answer."
Pei Muwan replied coolly. While she appeared aloof, the tips of her ears were slightly red.
"Muwan, tell me about Lu Changqing. How did he conquer you?"
She was extremely curious.
"Mingzhu, why do you want to know about him?" Pei Muwan suddenly became vigilant: "The book says that if a girl becomes very interested in a man and starts researching him, it's the beginning of falling for him."
"Nonsense!" Princess Mingzhu scolded playfully, raising her slender, delicate fingers to pinch Pei Muwan's waist: "Look at how possessive you are. What's so great about Lu Changqing? He's just a mere Jinyiwei General Banner Commander, and he's known for being greedy and lecherous!"
Hmph... When she was at Puyun Temple, she noticed that Lu Zhenghai not only made exorbitant demands but also kept staring at her face with scorching eyes the entire time.
She knew her face was extremely beautiful, but you already have Mu Wan, are you still that lustful? Hmph...
"Who says Changqing is greedy and lustful?" Pei Muwan frowned slightly, "Mingzhu, you don't understand him. Don't speak carelessly. Greed and lust are just his outward appearance; his heart is melancholic, sentimental, and deeply devoted..."
Princess Mingzhu was instantly silenced. Good heavens, people in Love were frighteningly blind.
Her good best friend, usually, was exceptionally cold and detached, possessing not a shred of worldly charm.
Now that she was in Love, she had become such a Love-Obsessed Fool? Amazing.
Princess Mingzhu sighed directly, "I'm not interested in your man, don't worry! Right now, I just want to know where my cat is. I'm about to send people out to draw up a missing cat poster to stick all over the Imperial City..."
"Then go draw it up!"
Princess Mingzhu shook her head, "I am a princess; every move I make represents the Royal Family. If I make such a huge fuss looking for a mere kitten, the Censors will find an excuse to impeach me."
"Mingzhu, since you established your residence, you've been thinking about too many things. Your status as a princess has not become your reliance, but rather your restraint."
A trace of bitterness flashed across Princess Mingzhu's bright and peerlessly beautiful face:
"Father Emperor intends for me to marry the Holy Son of the Longyuan Sect; he asked for my opinion a while ago."
"I flatly refused."
"Father Emperor is already somewhat displeased, so naturally, I must keep an even lower profile, daring not to anger Father Emperor or give him any reason [to act]."
"Otherwise, with one imperial edict, I would probably be sent off to the Longyuan Sect."
...Pei Muwan fell silent. After a long pause, a hint of complexity and pity mixed with her usually cold voice, "Mingzhu, didn't everyone say your Father Emperor dotes on you?"
"He does dote on me, but only compared to the other non-Direct Lineage princesses. Regarding my marriage, he prioritizes political considerations..." Princess Mingzhu stopped abruptly here, and a smile reappeared on her face, "Let's not talk about unhappy things. Let's continue talking about Lu Zhenghai!"
Just then, the Maidservant Bai Zhi rushed in, "Young Miss, Young Master Xu Tan is at the Grand Tutors Residence entrance. This is his calling card."
Pei Muwan frowned and did not take the card, "Tell him Grandpa is not home, and I will not see him."
Bai Zhi hurriedly left.
Princess Mingzhu teased, "With the Heir of Duke Ning, Yuan Chengye, out there, and now the Heir of Duke of Dingguo, Xu Tan, infatuated with you—oh, right, the Heir of Duke of Jin is also devoted to you. Mu Wan, tell me, how many Dukes are there in our entire Great Yu Dynasty..."
Pei Muwan was practically a Duke's Heir killer.
"You're not much better," Pei Muwan retorted impatiently, "I'm annoyed enough as it is."
"Speaking of which, I heard this Xu Tan suddenly went to Wenhua Academy to study a year ago. Could it be to curry favor with you?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps."
"Hee hee, everyone in the Imperial City knows you are obsessed with the Literary Dao, obsessed with Calligraphy and Painting. So, to align with your interests, this Xu Tan forced himself to go study at Wenhua Academy. Amazing. Looking at it this way, Xu Tan's obsession and devotion to you surpass even Yuan Chengye's."
"You're so annoying."
"Are you worried Xu Tan will cause trouble for Lu Changqing?"
"Xu Tan's strength isn't weak; I heard he is already at the Grandmaster Realm Fifth Layer."
"Not bad."
"He's older, seems to be around thirty-six or thirty-seven."
"Grandmasters have a Lifespan of 180 years. Thirty-six or thirty-seven is still a genuine young man."
Pei Muwan snorted, "Since this Xu Tan is so great, why don't you make him your consort!"
"Get lost!" Princess Mingzhu laughed and cursed.
Not long after, Bai Zhi rushed back again, "Young Miss, Xu Tan said that if you refuse to see him, he will wait right at the Grand Tutors Residence entrance, and he will also deliver a challenge letter to Young Master Lu!"
"Threatening me?" Pei Muwan's peerlessly beautiful face suddenly turned cold. She shouted directly, "Aunt Yun, please go over there and beat Xu Tan away, break one of his legs!"
Did they really think she, Pei Muwan, had a good temper? She just looked gentle and weak.
Even if she had a good temper, she would only reserve it for Changqing.
"Yes!"
In the air, the voice of a middle-aged woman appeared, only the sound was heard, not the person.
Princess Mingzhu: "The Duke of Dingguos Residence is not weak; if you do this..."
Pei Muwan, with a hint of dominance beneath her coldness, said, "It's good that they aren't weak. It serves as a warning to any stray dog who dares to send a challenge letter to Changqing. Does that Xu Tan even qualify?"