Chapter 39: Madam, Your Mystic Medicine

Chapter 39: Madam, Your Mystic Medicine

Yu Qianqian plucked the stone grass from the box and held it in her hand. Indeed, not a trace of mystic energy or medicinal essence remained. The once crimson-red Mystic Grass had turned pale white, indistinguishable from an ordinary stone weed.

The Sixth Steward whispered, "When I handed this stone grass to Madam Silver Pool, it was undoubtedly a Fourth-Grade Bloodstone Mystic Grass. I followed her all the way out of the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall and never saw her open the box to swap the herb. However, that young man accompanying her did open the box after leaving the hall. The moment he picked up the Bloodstone Mystic Grass, it changed. That was also when he declared it to be a fake."

Yu Qianqian’s delicate brows furrowed again as she glanced at the young man named "Xiao Li." "Without a doubt, that boy must possess a Special Heart Palace. He used its power to drain the mystic energy and medicinal essence from the Bloodstone Mystic Grass, reducing a Fourth-Grade Mystic Medicine to mere stone weed."

The Sixth Steward asked, "What do we do now? Even if we know Madam Silver Pool is behind this, we can’t touch her. If word spreads that the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall sells fake Mystic Medicine, our reputation will suffer a devastating blow."

Yu Qianqian exhaled deeply and shook her head slightly. This was an inescapable deadlock. Someone had dug a pit for them, and now they had fallen right in. Climbing back out would be nearly impossible.

Ning Xiaochuan spoke up, "Princess Qianqian, may I take a look at this Mystic Medicine?"

Since Madam Silver Pool had already exposed Yu Qianqian’s identity, Ning Xiaochuan naturally couldn’t address her as "Steward Yu" anymore.

Yu Qianqian placed the stone grass back into the box and handed it to Ning Xiaochuan with a bitter smile. "Go ahead. There’s no salvaging this now. The Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall is about to suffer heavy losses."

Ning Xiaochuan took the box and pressed his finger against the stone grass, sensing it with his mind.

Indeed, the herb had been stripped of its mystic energy and medicinal essence, reduced to a mundane stone weed.

However, Ning Xiaochuan keenly detected that not all the medicinal essence had been extracted—a faint trace still lingered.

This indicated that the young man named Xiao Li’s cultivation wasn’t exceptionally high. Otherwise, he would have drained every last drop of the Bloodstone Mystic Grass’s essence.

Since residual medicinal essence remained, there was still hope.

Ning Xiaochuan had spent the past few days refining Blood Toad Wood. Though most of its energy had been absorbed by the demonic sword, traces of Blood Toad Wood Energy still lingered in his blood.

The energy of Blood Toad Wood was similar to that of the Bloodstone Mystic Grass. Ning Xiaochuan could perform a sleight of hand, infusing the stone weed with Blood Toad Wood Energy to restore it to a Fourth-Grade Bloodstone Mystic Grass.

While this step might seem simple, it was far more challenging than secretly draining the herb’s energy undetected. Only someone with a Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace like Ning Xiaochuan could accomplish it.

Placing his hand inside the box, a faint crimson glow emanated from his fingertips as he began channeling Blood Toad Wood Energy into the Mystic Medicine.

Below, Madam Silver Pool smiled sweetly and said, "Qianqian, your Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall sold fake Mystic Medicine. I wonder how you plan to compensate for this? Heh! Never mind, this lady doesn’t care about those few Small Coins, but from now on, I dare not come to the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall to purchase Mystic Medicine again. Let’s go."

The stewards and maidservants of the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall trembled with anger at Madam Silver Pool’s arrogant and haughty demeanor. If looks could kill, she would have died many times over.

"Hold on." Ning Xiaochuan held the box in his hands and walked to the center of the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall’s entrance, standing at the top of the steps.

Madam Silver Pool had already been about to step onto her carriage when she heard Ning Xiaochuan’s words. She paused, turned around, and smiled charmingly, "Young man, do you have something else to say?"

Xiao Li, standing behind Madam Silver Pool, also shot Ning Xiaochuan a disdainful glance.

Yu Qianqian and the Sixth Steward were equally baffled by Ning Xiaochuan’s actions.

Was he going to expose Madam Silver Pool’s scheme? Even if he did, no one would believe him. Instead, it would only tarnish the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall’s reputation as being "petty."

Ning Xiaochuan took out the stone-wrapped herb and held it in his hand, saying, "Actually, this is indeed a Fourth-Grade Bloodstone Mystic Grass. It’s just... Madam Silver Pool’s mastery of Heart Nurturing techniques is too shallow, her skills too lacking, which is why she misjudged it."

Madam Silver Pool glared deeply at the young man standing atop the steps, her teeth grinding in fury. This brat, appearing out of nowhere, actually dared to say her skills were lacking and her mastery shallow!

Let it be known that she was an Intermediate Heart Nurturer, a status far more exalted than any mere Primary Heart Nurturer.

Still wearing a bewitching smile, her long lashes fluttering and lips glistening, Madam Silver Pool replied in a soft, elegant voice, "This humble lady truly failed to recognize this as a Fourth-Grade Bloodstone Mystic Grass. Why don’t you enlighten us all, young man?"

She had met silver-tongued individuals who could argue that a white horse was not a horse.

But she refused to believe anyone in this world could convince others that an ordinary stone-wrapped herb was a Fourth-Grade Bloodstone Mystic Grass.

"Watch closely! This is actually a Stone-Wrapped Mystic Medicine, covered in a layer of stone skin. Only by scraping it off can you see the true form of the Mystic Medicine." Ning Xiaochuan channeled his mystic energy to shatter the stone skin encasing the herb in his hand. Instantly, a dazzling crimson light burst forth, revealing a medicinal plant wreathed in mystic energy.

Bloodstone Mystic Grass!

The sight was so shocking that the entire hall fell into silence, leaving everyone stunned.

Especially those who knew the truth—they were utterly dumbfounded.

Yu Qianqian lightly covered her lips with her fingers, her eyes shining with delight. She couldn’t help but view Ning Xiaochuan in an even higher light.

Ning Xiaochuan seized the moment to counterattack, saying, "The stone layer was intentionally preserved by our Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall to prevent the medicinal energy of the Bloodstone Mystic Grass from dissipating. Ordinary people naturally wouldn’t recognize it, but even a Primary Heart Nurturer should be able to discern the Mystic Medicine beneath the stone layer. Madam, as an Intermediate Heart Nurturer of the Imperial Heart Nurturing Hall, you actually misjudged it and accused our Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall of selling fake medicine. This is an outrageous injustice. At the same time, I can’t help but question the actual skill level of the Heart Nurturers in the Imperial Heart Nurturing Hall. How could an Intermediate Heart Nurturer fail to recognize a Stone-Wrapped Mystic Medicine?"

Madam Silver Pool coldly glared at the handsome young man beside her, instantly frightening him to his knees.

A forced smile appeared on Madam Silver Pool’s beautiful face as she fixed Ning Xiaochuan with a deep gaze. "The Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall actually has such a prodigious talent. How enviable. Might this young master tell me your name?"

Yu Qianqian knew exactly what kind of woman Madam Silver Pool was—a notorious socialite who was exceptionally skilled at manipulating men, especially young men like Ning Xiaochuan, who could easily become playthings in her bed.

Afraid that Ning Xiaochuan might be ensnared by her, Yu Qianqian quickly interjected, "Xiaochuan is currently the foremost genius among the Primary Heart Nurturers of our Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall, a peerless prodigy who will undoubtedly become a core member in the future. Madam, don’t waste your efforts."

Madam Silver Pool’s oval face softened into a gentle smile. "The benefits of our Imperial Heart Nurturing Hall are no worse than those of the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall. Xiaochuan, if you ever wish to seek another path, you may come to Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor to find me at any time. The gates of Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor will always remain open for you."

Her voice was sweet and coquettish, her figure bewitching—she bore no resemblance to a married woman, instead appearing like a peerless enchantress as she gracefully stepped onto her luxurious carriage.

Standing atop the steps, Ning Xiaochuan called out, "Madam, your Mystic Medicine!"

Madam Silver Pool glanced back with a smile. "It’s your Mystic Medicine."

"Clip-clop!"

Eighteen snow-white Mystic Beasts pulled the palace-sized carriage away slowly, forcing pedestrians on the street to hastily clear the path.

Madam Silver Pool naturally knew that Ning Xiaochuan had used some extraordinary method to transform an ordinary stone grass back into the Bloodstone Mystic Grass. However, since she had made the first underhanded move, she couldn’t very well expose him.

She had originally intended to undermine the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall this time, but instead, she found herself humiliated by Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian.

Today had been a massive loss of face, and she was naturally furious.

"How infuriating! Madam, shall I go kill that brat from the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall?" Xiao Li sat beside Madam Silver Pool, his body radiating intense Profound Qi fluctuations, a faint killing intent flickering in his eyes.

Xiao Li possessed an "Abnormal Beast Heart Palace," allowing him to absorb the Profound Qi and medicinal energy from Mystic Medicine without anyone noticing.

However, he was born into lowly circumstances and had only been a minor servant in Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor.

It wasn’t until Madam Silver Pool discovered his "Abnormal Beast Heart Palace" that she began cultivating him with great effort. Xiao Li did not disappoint her—within just three years, he had advanced from the Profound Qi Third Layer to the Divine Body Realm.

After Xiao Li reached the Divine Body Realm, Madam Silver Pool brought him to the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall, intending to exploit his unique Martial Arts Heart Palace to tarnish the hall's reputation.

Thus, today's incident unfolded.

Madam Silver Pool was seething with anger. Her bright eyes glanced at her snow-white, slender fingers before she swung her hand, delivering a slap that sent Xiao Li sprawling to the ground. Half his face swelled red from the blow. "Worthless! I thought your talent could help me suppress the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall, but instead, you’ve made me lose face so utterly today. Get out!"

"Madam, Madam! I’ll go kill that young man who ruined our plans! Please, give me one more chance!" Xiao Li, disheveled and kneeling, clung to Madam Silver Pool’s calf like an abandoned pet begging for its owner’s mercy.

"I said… get out!" Madam Silver Pool’s voice was icy, her beautiful eyes devoid of any warmth.

A multicolored mystic light gathered in her palm, transforming into a massive, radiant handprint that sent Xiao Li flying.

Like a dead dog, Xiao Li tumbled out of Madam Silver Pool’s carriage, landing in a heap on the street, covered in blood and filth, resembling a wretched beggar.

Madam Silver Pool’s carriage sped away, vanishing at the end of the road.