Chen Jiuyang's mind raced with countless thoughts. He said in a deep voice, "What do you want?"
If this old man truly intended to kill them, Chen Jiuyang would have no chance to resist. His family would die without a sound, and this old man had entered Qingzhu Mountain without the Qingzhu Immortal alerting him.
The old man chuckled, "Little friend, you don't need to be so nervous. My True Demon Sect is not like those hypocritical individuals who claim to be righteous sects. As long as you have strength, you deserve to enjoy the best life, to have beautiful wives and concubines, a harem of wives and concubines."
"However, you, a mere Xuan Realm cultivator, are the tribulation of our Saintess, and you are also considered a potential Dao companion favored by the Saintess. Once the news spread, countless eyes would be on you. If you hadn't been so lucky, and had repeatedly protected the Saintess before her soul awakened, earning her some favor, you would have died long ago."
"I have been following you for a day and discovered that your medical skills are extraordinary, and you possess many tricks. You don't seem like a small farmer from the countryside. Have you received any inheritance?"
Chen Jiuyang replied, "That's right."
"May I know what inheritance you received and who your master is?" the old man asked.
Chen Jiuyang frowned. This was an attempt to probe his background. He thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid I cannot reveal that. Do you want me to treat your injuries?"
"Not entirely," the old man said, leaning on his cane as he slowly walked up to him, his voice hoarse. "But we can make a deal."
"What kind of deal?" Chen Jiuyang asked.
"Today, I saw you bestow Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills upon your subordinates," the old man said. "Such things are beneficial to us martial artists. As long as you regularly provide me with a batch of Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills, I can turn a blind eye."
"The previous Saintess is the mother of the current Saintess. My True Demon Sect's emergence has not gone smoothly, and the previous Saintess was severely injured. She was forced to marry such a commoner as Qiu Hongtu and gave birth to the current Saintess. I watched both Saintesses grow up. The Saintess has called me 'Crippled Grandpa' since she was young."
"That's why she entrusted me with the important task of monitoring you, which also serves as protecting you. I will report your situation and information to the Saintess regularly."
"You are a smart person, you should be able to understand the implications."
Chen Jiuyang's heart sank. This was a blatant threat. If he refused, he would die. Fortunately, his information was well-hidden, and this old man didn't know that he was the one who refined the Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills.
He could also use this opportunity to set up a trap. He said in a deep voice, "Senior Crippled, the Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills were bestowed upon me by my master for cultivation. I don't have many. You said a batch regularly, but what is the quantity you require?"
The old man said, "Once a month, I want a thousand Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills!"
"Impossible!" Chen Jiuyang exclaimed, his face changing drastically. "Even if my master can refine Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills, he can only give me less than a hundred per month. Senior, how can I possibly produce them!"
"Oh? Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills are refined by your master, Xu Han Guang?" The old man's eyes flickered. "Then two hundred pills a month!"
"Fifty pills!" Chen Jiuyang gritted his teeth. "Senior, I still need to cultivate. If I give them all to you, how can I increase my cultivation?"
The old man sneered, "One hundred and fifty pills. If it's any less, I'll report it directly to the Saintess. We dare not touch Xu Han Guang because of his identity as Feng Han Hou, but if the news is reported to the Saintess, what do you think she will do to you?"
Chen Jiuyang's face turned pale. He gritted his teeth and said, "I understand. One hundred and fifty pills... I will give them to you!"
Chen Jiuyang pondered inwardly. How dare someone threaten him, Chen Jiuyang! Even if you are Qiu Yihan's subordinate, you will die.
He sneered inwardly. Fortunately, he was the one who refined the Pure Yang Qi Replenishing Pills. When he refined them next time, he would add something to them, causing this old fellow to die without knowing why. Then, let's see how you threaten me.
"You're wise enough, hehehe. Then I'll see you next time." The crippled old man let out two sinister laughs and retreated into the darkness. Chen Jiuyang expanded his divine soul but couldn't detect the man's presence.
It seemed that the gap in cultivation was too large, and the divine soul was not omnipotent.
"Oh, right, let me tell you something. You are the Saintess's tribulation, and the news that she intends to choose you as her Dao companion has already been released. From now on, many geniuses and elites from various sects in the martial world will come to challenge you. I will not interfere in battles between those of the same level. You are on your own."
"I'm telling you this news because your master, Xu Han Guang, can refine Qi Replenishing Pills."
The crippled old man's voice echoed from the darkness.
Chen Jiuyang's heart sank, casting an invisible shadow over him.
After the crippled old man left, Chen Jiuyang entered Qingzhu Mountain alone to find the Qingzhu Immortal. He discovered that the place where his medicine cauldron was originally located had been flattened, and the medicinal herbs were also gone.
Chen Jiuyang spread his divine soul, "Qingzhu Immortal, where are you?"
A voice came from beneath the ground, "Master, I am here."
Chen Jiuyang turned his head and saw a bamboo leaf emerge from the ground, emitting a crystal-clear green light.
Immediately, a hole appeared in the ground. Chen Jiuyang thought for a moment and jumped into the hole.
Inside the hole, the Qingzhu Immortal's true form was rooted in a cool, misty spring. His medicine cauldron and medicinal herbs were also there.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Qingzhu Immortal, why did you hide here?"
The Qingzhu Immortal replied, "When Master returned home this afternoon, I sensed a person with very terrifying cultivation. I was worried about being discovered by him, so I quickly took Master's belongings and burrowed underground. As long as I burrow underground, that person cannot find me."
"Terrifying cultivation?" Chen Jiuyang asked, "How does it compare to my master?"
The Qingzhu Immortal replied, "Much more powerful than Master."
Chen Jiuyang was shocked. That crippled old man was more powerful than Feng Han Hou? Wouldn't that make him a half-step Heavenly Realm expert?
Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath. Perhaps it would be a good thing to befriend the crippled old man?
This True Demon Sect seemed to have considerable power. Even the servant who took care of Qiu Yihan was a half-step Heavenly Realm expert, and it seemed the True Demon Sect had not fully emerged, otherwise, they wouldn't have allowed Qiu Yihan to wander the mortal world and cultivate her techniques.
Chen Jiuyang said, "You did well. If you had been discovered, the consequences would have been unpredictable."
Chen Jiuyang suddenly felt a jolt of surprise when he thought of this. He had commissioned the construction of a temple for the Qingzhu Immortal and had people worship him.
He wondered if the crippled old man had discovered this.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "Did that terrifying person enter Qingzhu Mountain?"
"Yes," the Qingzhu Immortal replied. "That terrifying old man stayed in Qingzhu Mountain for a long time, seemingly looking for me. I was so scared that I didn't dare to inform Master."
Chen Jiuyang's expression darkened. This crippled old man must have first discovered the Qingzhu Immortal's temple, then entered Qingzhu Mountain to search for the Qingzhu Immortal, and only after failing to find him did he reveal himself to Chen Jiuyang.
It seemed danger was approaching, and he had to get rid of this crippled old man.
The reason he built a new house and settled in Qingzhu Mountain was because the Qingzhu Immortal was there to protect his family. This was also Chen Jiuyang's last resort to protect his family.