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It is time to return to Shennong Valley. Xu Feng said, "Elder, are you looking for the treasure map of the Craftsman God?"
"A treasure map?" Nong Ban replied in surprise. "A treasure map is merely a figment of imagination. Even if it truly exists, it would lead to an ominous place. We at Shennong Valley do not lack the desire for the Craftsman God's Dao Artifact, but we do not hold much hope."
Nong Ban was not actually seeking the treasure map, which caused Xu Feng to suppress his thoughts about returning the fragment.
Nong Ban continued, "The Craftsman God entered the Dao through tools and subdued others with Refining Tools. Our Nong Hui Zushi is also a talented creator; why wouldn’t we want to use pills to dominate the world? The ancestor has been honored as the Herbal Ancestor, and no one has yet matched his accomplishments in Dan Dao."
After a pause, Nong Ban added, "Throughout history, every Valley Master of Shennong Valley has passed down a saying: whoever can uncover the secret of Nong Hui Zushi can be promoted to Valley Master without following the usual criteria. I do not wish to become this Valley Master; rather, I hope to catch a glimpse of the ancestor's Alchemy path."
This perspective is easily understood from a modern viewpoint. Nong Ban is a pure professional; the greatest joy in his life comes from breakthroughs in Dan Dao rather than leading others.
Xu Feng looked closely at the painting of the Herbal Ancestor on the wall. This slender woman had once captivated two god-level men—one was the foremost swordsman, and the other was the top Refiner. She herself was regarded as the foremost Herbal Ancestor.
Xu Feng had seen this woman countless times on the Continuation Bottle. The image on the Continuation Bottle was painted by Zuo Qiumingjian himself, focusing on different aspects compared to this painting of Shennong Valley. Zuo Qiumingjian had an in-depth understanding of Nong Hui; although he wrote little, he captured her charm perfectly. The painting of Shennong Valley was more conventional, embodying both spirit and form, making it quite an excellent piece.
Xu Feng asked, "Do you know who painted this portrait of Nong Hui?"
Nong Ban replied, "This was painted by a mortal artist from the common folk. Although he is just a mortal, his painting skills are astonishing. For this painting, the Valley Master even made an exception and allowed him to meet Nong Hui Zushi twice."
"What is this artist's name?" Xu Feng looked at the signature on the painting, which was crooked and difficult to read.
Nong Ban said, "No matter how skilled a mortal artist may be, he is still just a mortal; how could he leave his name on an ancestor's portrait? This signature was written by Nong Hui Zushi himself. According to those familiar with Nong Hui's handwriting, it was elegant in his earlier years but became wild and unrestrained later in life. If one had not seen his earlier script, they would hardly recognize these two characters."
Evil arises from within. Nong Hui was entangled between two men, harboring countless sorrows with no one to confide in, which subtly revealed itself in her writing.
Xu Feng could not see how these two characters resembled "Nong Hui." He chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "So this is a work by Senior Nong Hui! How foolish of me not to recognize it; I thought it resembled a Broken Heart Chrysanthemum."
Nong Hui's writing was intricate and sprawling; at first glance, it did indeed resemble a Broken Heart Chrysanthemum. Ruanxin Ju is a highly toxic herb used solely for poison-making in Alchemy; its potency is fierce and can seal one's throat upon contact with blood.
Nong Ban also smiled and said, "This is all due to the nature of our ancestor; you cannot be blamed. If it were someone else..."
Suddenly, Nong Ban's smile froze, as if someone had pressed "pause." Next to him, Nongyi also looked stunned.
Xu Feng saw that the two had turned into wooden figures and was puzzled about what had happened. Looking at Nong Ban's expression, it seemed he was thinking rapidly about something.
"Broken Heart Chrysanthemum, Broken Heart Chrysanthemum, Broken Heart Chrysanthemum..."
Nong Ban kept muttering some alchemical incantations that Xu Feng could not understand, each followed by the words "Broken Heart Chrysanthemum." His eyes grew brighter and more frenzied.
"Outside the heartbroken person, the chrysanthemum blooms, Transcending Tribulation flies!"
After reciting this line, Nong Ban fell to the ground, kneeling in front of Nong Hui's portrait, and began to cry loudly. Nongyi also knelt down beside him, his face filled with ecstatic joy.
After crying for a while, Nong Ban slowly got up and turned to Xu Feng, bowing deeply. Xu Feng was so startled that he quickly jumped back and returned the gesture.
"Great Elder, you flatter me; how could Xu Feng dare to accept such honor?"
When the Great Elder of Shennong Valley bows to you, do you want to shorten your life?
Tears streamed down Nong Ban's face as he said, "Xu Feng, you do not know; your words just now have unlocked a secret that has remained unsolved in Shennong Valley for thousands of years. If I do not thank you, how can I repay the good intentions of Nong Hui Zushi?"
Hearing this, Xu Feng guessed a few things. Just moments ago, when Nong Ban and Nongyi heard "Broken Heart Chrysanthemum," they suddenly lost their composure and kept repeating the phrase. Clearly, "Broken Heart Chrysanthemum" must be closely related to Shennong Valley's secret and could very well be the key to unlocking Nong Hui's mystery.
Xu Feng replied, "Great Elder is too kind; I merely stumbled upon it by chance."
Nong Ban said to Nongyi, "Go inform the Valley Master; I will meet him shortly."
Nongyi turned and left. His alchemical skills were second only to Nong Ban's. After hearing "Broken Heart Chrysanthemum," he also felt enlightened and understood its mysteries.
Back in the Storage Room, Nong Ban selected five bottles of pills and handed them to Xu Feng, saying, "These are the Great Achievement Pills of the Five Elements. They are used by the cultivators of Divine Separation Peak, and there is an eighty to ninety percent chance they will help you advance to the Great Perfection Stage. Take them back with you."
Xu Feng was taken aback and quickly replied, "Elder, how can this be? Such important pills are very difficult for you to refine."
Nong Ban responded, "It used to be difficult, but it will be much easier in the future. Take these pills back now and quickly enhance the strength of your subordinates. Within ten years, I will help you refine a batch of pills to assist you in advancing to the Late Stage of Great Achievement."
Xu Feng's mouth dropped open in shock; he was left speechless by Nong Ban's words.
Easier in the future? A single batch of pills could lead to advancement to the Late Stage of Great Achievement?
This sounded somewhat absurd. Could Shennong Valley really produce miraculous pills overnight?
Nong Ban led Xu Feng out of Herb Valley and said, "You should leave now. I need to meet with the Valley Master to discuss something important. Come back here in ten years, and I will prepare the advancement pills for you."
Seeing Nong Ban's urgency, Xu Feng felt it inappropriate to linger any longer and took his leave.
With five bottles of Great Achievement Pills in hand, each containing four pills, Xu Feng's heart raced. A total of twenty Great Achievement Pills could potentially elevate twenty individuals to the Great Perfection Stage. Many sects spend their entire lives seeking just one Great Achievement Pill, only to die with regrets. Now Xu Feng held twenty of them, and they were all of different attributes.
These five bottles of Great Achievement Pills might very well be the entire stock of Shennong Valley, and they had been given away so freely to Xu Feng.
He never expected such good fortune on this trip—not only did he acquire a Dao Artifact from Golden Stone Workshop, but he also received a large supply of pills from Nong Ban. Ah, when luck is on your side, there’s no stopping it.
He returned smoothly without any obstacles and arrived back at Bailu Mountain.
Once home, Xu Feng called Gao Jingsong and instructed him to gather all the Divine Separation Late Stage cultivators from Koukou Group. After a thorough selection process, they would choose the strongest, most experienced, and most loyal twenty individuals—four from each attribute.
Xu Feng opened the secret chamber in the forbidden area and brought the twenty individuals inside, including Gao Jingsong and Han Lei.
Looking at the confused crowd, Xu Feng said, "Brothers, you are the elite of Koukou Group—chosen from among many. From now on, you will cultivate here. Do not come out to see me until you advance to the Great Perfection Stage!"
"What! Great Perfection Stage?"
Everyone was shocked. The Great Perfection Stage was not something that could be easily attained; these individuals had been stuck at their peak for hundreds of years, and seclusion could no longer solve their problems. Unless they had the Great Achievement Pill to assist them, it would be difficult to break through.
"Deputy Group Leader Gao!"
"Subordinate is here."
Xu Feng asked, "Did you select these disciples yourself?"
"Yes, Subordinate personally chose them!"
"Do you trust them?"
"Subordinate guarantees with my life!"
"Good!"
Xu Feng took out five bottles of Great Achievement Pills and handed them to Gao Jingsong, exclaiming, "Here are twenty Great Achievement Pills. Distribute four pills each to them now, and help them advance to the Great Perfection Stage!"
Twenty Great Achievement Pills!
Everyone present was stunned. The Great Achievement Pill was something that money couldn't buy; the Group Leader had managed to produce twenty pills all at once!
Damn it, this is a fortune! I chose the right person!
Gao Jingsong held the five bottles of Great Achievement Pills, feeling so emotional that he wanted to cry.
Xu Feng continued, "Deputy Group Leader Gao, now that the pills are in your hands, you can give them to whoever you want. I will not interfere."
The twenty selected disciples all focused their attention on Gao Jingsong.
Xu Feng had already paved the way for Gao Jingsong. These twenty individuals were personally chosen by Gao Jingsong, and as long as they advanced to the Great Perfection Stage, they would undoubtedly become his trusted subordinates. With these twenty people, Gao Jingsong would truly have control over the Koukou Group.
Gao Jingsong steadied his mind and swept his sharp gaze across the faces of the twenty individuals, saying, "Loyal to the Group Leader, honor is my life."
The twenty responded in unison, "Loyal to the Group Leader."
Gao Jingsong had always emphasized management and was the acting Group Leader of Koukou Group, already possessing a high level of prestige. The disciples all knew that the next Group Leader would surely be Gao Jingsong.
"Wu Jiangnan, Li Cunzai, Mosley..."
Gao Jingsong began calling names, separating the twenty individuals according to their Five Element Attributes before taking out pills and distributing them one by one.
"Loyal to the Group Leader, honor is my life." With each pill given, the disciples solemnly recited this phrase.
After distributing all the pills, the twenty were taken out of the secret chamber and each assigned a simple cave on the mountainside outside the forbidden area to begin their seclusion and break through to the Great Perfection Stage.
Once he had arranged for the disciples, Xu Feng left Gao Jingsong alone in the secret chamber and handed him two Water-Attribute Great Achievement Pills sent first by Nong Ban, as well as the Low-Grade Dao Artifact Spirit Serpent Sword refined by Yan Lu.
"Focus on your cultivation; we will wait for you."
Xu Feng exited the secret chamber, leaving behind a resolute-looking Gao Jingsong.
Once outside the forbidden area, everyone was still immersed in the impact of Xu Feng's twenty Great Achievement Pills. Xu Feng said, "During this time, we will stay at Bailu Mountain to guard our disciples. Lin Fangxin, you will temporarily handle matters within the group."
Now that Yi Jiuzhou and Gao Jingsong were both in seclusion, Lin Fangxin was the only Vice Leader. Since Xu Feng usually did not concern himself with group affairs, the responsibility for management naturally fell to Lin Fangxin.
In the days that followed, Koukou Group continued as usual, with outsiders completely unaware that twenty Separation of Spirit experts were currently striving to break through to the Great Perfection Stage.
Xu Feng wandered around the Liuxiang Kingdom, which was his territory. He hadn't returned in hundreds of years, and many places felt unfamiliar. With the Wings of the Strange Dragon, he could fly back to Bailu Mountain in an instant, unafraid of any dangers.
The various sects in the Liuxiang Kingdom welcomed him as if he were the God of Wealth, eager for Xu Feng to visit their respective sects.
Having returned after such a long time, Xu Feng was willing to offer guidance on cultivation, frequently visiting the New Moon Sect and Wuhua Island.
After Qiu Wuling of the New Moon Sect advanced to the Great Perfection Stage, he became reclusive and handed over all matters to the new sect leader, He Jingying.
Within the New Moon Sect, Xu Feng could no longer find Guo Manman, who had once made significant progress. After inquiring, he learned that she had perished while attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage.
At Wuhua Island, the strongest figure was no longer Hua Wanduo but rather Hua Du, who had risen through the ranks. For hundreds of years, Hua Du had been suppressed by Xu Feng and had lost much of his sharpness. He had become much more reserved and was no longer the brash individual he once was; he no longer harbored any desire to challenge Xu Feng.
Xu Feng resembled a lion surveying its territory, finally beginning to exude a hint of the Lord of Fragrance's aura.
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