Chapter 3345 — A Bargain

Torr Riyue looked Kang Jingming and Xiao Yi up and down, his eyes like torches, making Kang Jingming somewhat uneasy. Just then, Torr Riyue suddenly spoke: "From what I know, the leader of this generation of the Five Luminaries Sect was Patriarch Xuantian. How has it become Patriarch Xuanchen?"

Though the Paoli clan dwelled in a foreign land, that did not mean they paid no heed to the cultivation sects of the Central Plains. Those sects might find it no easy task to pry into the affairs of the Paoli clan—after all, the Paoli were a closed family—but if the Paoli wished to investigate those sects, it was not so difficult, for those sects did not exactly hide themselves away.

"This... Patriarch Xuantian... has, for certain other reasons, left the Five Luminaries Sect. Our sect's acting leadership is now held by my father-in-law, Patriarch Xuanchen," Kang Jingming said vaguely.

"Ah, Patriarch Xuanchen. I know of him too." Torr Riyue had only asked in passing; old and shrewd as he was, one listen to Kang Jingming's tone told him there was likely discord within the Five Luminaries Sect. But that was their internal affair, and Torr Riyue had no wish to meddle. "Do the two of you carry any token of proof?"

"We do. Here is a letter written in my father-in-law Patriarch Xuanchen's own hand to your noble clan. Please review it, Elder Patriarch!" Kang Jingming saw at a glance that Torr Riyue was the man who spoke for the Paoli clan, and so presented the letter he carried straight to him.

Torr Tu did not let Kang Jingming approach Torr Riyue, but took the letter from his hand and passed it on to Torr Riyue.

Torr Riyue opened the letter. When he saw upon it the secret code phrases shared between the Five Luminaries Sect and the Paoli clan, he was at last certain of Kang Jingming and Xiao Yi's identities. The letter said nothing of substance, only some greetings, and at the end came to the point: that Kang Jingming and Xiao Yi had a matter to discuss with the Paoli clan.

"So you are indeed friends of the Five Luminaries Sect. Be seated!" Torr Riyue nodded and gestured with his hand.

Torr Tu hurriedly brought over two chairs for Kang Jingming and Xiao Yi, and once they were seated, took his place standing to one side once more. It seemed the Paoli clan's house rules were strict indeed—even a fighter of Torr Tu's caliber, at the peak of the late Heaven rank and of great consummation, had no seat before his elders.

"Thank you!" Kang Jingming and Xiao Yi said hastily.

"You two have come from far away. What business brings you?" Torr Riyue asked after setting the letter down.

"Elder Patriarch, we have come here in the hope of reaching an agreement with the Paoli clan," Kang Jingming said.

"What sort of agreement? Tell me in detail." Torr Riyue asked blandly. Until he was clear whether the matter would benefit the Paoli clan, he would not lightly commit himself.

"It is like this. In a few days, a cultivator—also from our Central Plains—may come here seeking to buy your clan's white energy stones. I hope your clan will refuse the trade!" Kang Jingming did not beat around the bush, but stated his purpose outright.

"Oh? And why is that?" Torr Riyue had not expected Kang Jingming to make such a request. He did not rush to commit himself, but merely countered with a question.

"The precise reasons I will not elaborate on. We are sworn enemies! Of course, in return, we can offer certain benefits—cultivation resources, rare treasures, and the like." Here Kang Jingming shifted tack and went on: "Naturally, if your clan could help slay this man, we could offer even greater benefits—for instance, refining some scarce pills your clan requires, specially for you! I trust the Elder Patriarch knows of the Five Luminaries Sect's skill in alchemy."

"Oh?" What truly interested Torr Riyue was precisely the pills! He knew his own affairs best: while cultivating, he had suffered a deviation and forcibly assailed the Heavenly Dao without the proper method, whereupon all his meridians were severed and he became a cripple. If only he could obtain a top-grade fourth-tier Great Return Pill, he could be restored.

Nothing was more agonizing for a cultivator than this—and he was moreover the clan chief of the Paoli. Though his strength was gone, neither his son nor the elders showed him the slightest disrespect; yet the more they honored him, the worse he felt. What right had a good-for-nothing with no strength to others' respect?

So for all these years his one thought had been to find a way to recover as swiftly as possible, and thus not miss the coming Cloud-Tier Island plan. He regretted it now—had he not been so impatient to assail the Heavenly Dao, this would never have befallen him.

Kang Jingming's arrival let him glimpse a thread of hope. Slim though it was, it was at least worth a try! Besides, even had Kang Jingming said nothing, Torr Riyue could never trade the white energy stones to anyone again.

The stock of white energy stones was already running low; the Paoli clan needed to keep them for their own use, and it was simply impossible to trade them away to others.

As for killing Kang Jingming's sworn enemy—that would depend on Kang Jingming's sincerity and on how difficult the deed proved.

"What tier of pills can you refine?" Torr Riyue asked, betraying nothing. "And besides, is not the finest alchemist of your Five Luminaries Sect Patriarch Xuantian? Is he not the Pill God of this age? It would seem there must be some conflict within your sect. Can you still get him to refine pills for you?"

"Patriarch Xuantian is a thing of the past—best not speak of him!" Kang Jingming clearly did not wish to say much about the white-haired old man, and went on: "Elder Patriarch, you may not be aware—the finest alchemist in our Five Luminaries Sect now is my second uncle-master, Patriarch Xuanzhen. He refines third-tier pills with effortless skill, and is currently in seclusion, striving to reach a higher rank of alchemist. Fourth-tier pills are but a matter of days!"

"Fourth-tier... a matter of days?" A faint light kindled in Torr Riyue's eyes. If they truly could refine fourth-tier pills, then his injuries might well be cured! At this thought, Torr Riyue said: "If you can refine a top-grade fourth-tier Great Return Pill for me, then we may consider granting your request!"

Torr Riyue's words stirred the other Paoli clansmen present to excitement as well. Indeed, if a top-grade fourth-tier Great Return Pill could truly be had, then this bargain was worth striking even at greater difficulty.

"This... at present I cannot guarantee it to you. I can only say that once my second uncle-master succeeds in breaking through to fourth-tier alchemist, he will refine it for you first of all, Elder Patriarch!" Kang Jingming said. "As for the abilities of my second uncle-master, Patriarch Xuanzhen, the Elder Patriarch need only make inquiries to learn of them. He is the finest alchemist in the Central Plains cultivation world today! If he cannot do it, no one can!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian and cast