
The construction of the Artifact Refining Palace could be described as spending money like water.
Chu Xinghe's requirement for construction was not to seek the best, but the most expensive!
Wei Deqian, the president of the Daxing Chamber of Commerce, had been following Chu Xinghe around like a grandson these past few days. If Chu Xinghe hadn't refused, he would have wanted to acknowledge Chu Xinghe as his god-grandfather.
What does it mean to pack money in sacks?
Wei Deqian was literally packing money in sacks every day, buying all kinds of materials and items, each one costing astronomical figures.
Initially, the Ouyang family was most concerned about whether there were enough cooks in the Artifact Refining Palace and if they would be well-fed.
But as the construction of the Artifact Refining Palace progressed, the disciples of the Ouyang family were truly dumbfounded.
As a millennium-old family, the Ouyang family disciples, though born in the family's declining era, grew up listening to their elders talk about the family's glorious past.
But could the Ouyang family's most glorious era compare to even a tenth of the luxury of the Artifact Refining Palace?
Not to mention, who else could boast unlimited braised pork!
Chu Xinghe came to the Artifact Refining Palace again today to supervise. As soon as he entered Ouyang Ming's room, he couldn't help but cover his nose.
"Ouyang Ming, did you steal swill again?"
"No! Senior Brother Xinghe, you can't slander me!"
"Nonsense... I can smell it. Someone, find the swill and throw it out!"
At Chu Xinghe's command, disciples rushed into Ouyang Ming's room. Amid Ouyang Ming's hysterical screams, they found the swill bucket hidden in a secret room and took it back to the pigsty.
The Ouyang siblings were good in every way, but they had suffered too many hardships, and this behavior of stealing swill happened frequently.
Others might use a secret room to hide treasures, but the Ouyang family's secret room was specifically for hiding swill buckets. What's the meaning of that?
Since the Ouyang family arrived, the canteen's braised pork had noticeably more lean meat. Upon inquiry, it turned out that the pigs in the pigsty were so hungry they couldn't sleep at night and weren't gaining any weight.
It wasn't that the Grand Sky Sect's canteen couldn't feed them, but that the Ouyang family had this peculiar hobby. Who could you reason with?
However, considering that the Compass of Misfortune was continuously enhancing his cultivation level, Chu Xinghe decided to endure it.
Since the Ouyang family stayed and the construction of the Artifact Refining Palace began, the Compass of Misfortune had been continuously providing him with cultivation.
Although the amount wasn't large, it was sustainable.
The Ouyang family didn't disappoint. As soon as the materials and spirit stones from the sect arrived, Ouyang Ming began studying his Cloud Piercing Hammer Technique.
Once he started researching, the Artifact Refining Palace felt like it was celebrating the New Year.
The sound of furnaces exploding was like bidding farewell to the old year, and the disappearance of spirit stones heralded bankruptcy!
Let's put it this way: with the Ouyang family's furnace explosion rate and spirit stone consumption speed, Chu Xinghe understood why the previous sects divided their belongings.
A million spirit stones a year, the Ouyang family wasn't just talking; they were showing the Grand Sky Sect with actions that they were serious about causing trouble for the sect!
Seeing the Ouyang family's actions, Chu Xinghe was moved to tears.
Look! This is what you call a Lucky Star family!
The Ouyang family is my greatest Lucky Star. With the Ouyang family continuously consuming the sect, my path to becoming a Martial Emperor is secure!
In the future, when I aim for Martial God, the Ouyang family will have contributed greatly.
Walking around the Artifact Refining Palace with Ouyang Ming, they ran into Ouyang Ling and Junior Sister Wan Lin, who were laughing and chatting.
Goodness, it's only been a few days!
Ouyang Ling's flat chest didn't seem so flat anymore!
Could it be?
Wan Lin is truly something!
But is Junior Sister Wan Lin's technique really that effective?
Pfft! Is it about technique being effective?
Junior Sister Wan Lin just loves helping others!
Seeing Senior Brother Xinghe's serious expression, Ouyang Ling thought she and Senior Sister Wan Lin's playfulness had upset him, so she quickly said, "Senior Brother Xinghe, don't worry. I spend very little time playing with Senior Sister Wan Lin and haven't delayed my cultivation!"
What? No delay in cultivation?
"Ahem... Junior Sister Ouyang, you're joking. Your Senior Sister Wan Lin has extraordinary cultivation. You should spend more time learning from her. There's no rush in cultivation."
Still thinking about cultivation! Not a chance!
Go on, follow your Senior Sister Wan Lin, and contribute to her plan of helping others in the Grand Sky Sect.
Just as Chu Xinghe was planning to see what else in the Artifact Refining Palace could consume the sect, Shen Chun came running from afar.
"Junior Brother Xinghe, the Great Elder wants to see you."
"The Great Elder? Alright!"
After instructing Ouyang Ming to keep working hard on... ahem... cultivating, Chu Xinghe followed Senior Brother Shen Chun to the Medicine King Palace.
The Great Elder was still by the Rosefinch Furnace, but today he seemed to be in a bad mood.
"Disciple greets the Great Elder."
"Xinghe, you're here. Sit down."
Sitting across from the Great Elder, Chu Xinghe quickly learned why the Great Elder was in a bad mood.
Old Man Zhao Zhidong from the Jiangbei Zhao family had an accident.
Old Man Zhao Zhidong was a teammate of the Great Elder when they were young, fighting monsters together. Chu Xinghe had heard the Great Elder mention this Old Man Zhao many times.
Back then, when the Great Elder was still entering the path of medicine and not very strong in combat, Old Man Zhao was always the first to charge in.
In the Great Elder's words, he was someone who could wield a watermelon knife from Penglai East Road to Nantianmen, emphasizing his toughness!
Their friendship was deep, and the Great Elder would almost always visit the Zhao family to see Old Man Zhao whenever he went out.
But a few years ago, when Old Man Zhao attempted to break through to Martial Emperor, something went wrong. Although he succeeded, he almost went mad, and his body didn't improve much after the breakthrough.
In recent years, his condition reportedly worsened, and the Great Elder frequently sent various spiritual herbs to Old Man Zhao.
But yesterday, a spirit bird brought news that Old Man Zhao had another mishap, bleeding from his seven orifices and falling unconscious. The Zhao family immediately sought experts from all sides, but none had a solution.
In shock, the Zhao family sent the news to the Grand Sky Sect, seeking help from the Great Elder.
"Xinghe, accompany me on a trip. I examined Old Zhao's condition years ago; his spiritual energy is chaotic, and I can only suppress it with pills, unable to release it. With Old Zhao's current coma, I'm afraid this time he might not make it..."
"Great Elder, there's no need to be sad. Old Man Zhao has been tough all his life; how could he not get through this?"
"Yes... Old Zhao has been tough all his life; he will surely get through it. If there's anyone in this world who can save Old Zhao, it should be you."
Chu Xinghe: "???"
What on earth?
Great Elder, there's no need for such commercial flattery. I didn't say I wouldn't go.
"Xinghe, don't be surprised. Years ago, when I examined Old Zhao's condition, I knew that if there was anyone in the world who could save him, it would be the Medicine Saint reborn. You have the Medicine Saint's inheritance. I thought that in a few years, once you fully comprehend everything, you would have a way to save Old Zhao. But now... your inheritance isn't fully integrated, and saving Old Zhao is as difficult as ascending to heaven..."
The Great Elder's eyes dimmed further as he spoke.
"Great Elder, rest assured, Xinghe will do his utmost!"
"Xinghe, there are no outsiders here. I ask you one thing: if Old Zhao truly cannot be saved, can you help me send him off? He has been tough all his life and would never want to become a monster. We have been close friends, and I can't bring myself to do it. I can only ask you to help him leave with dignity."
Old Man Zhao's body had been breeding evil fire, which had become uncontrollable over the years. If he fell into a coma and the evil fire completely took over, he would lose his mind and become a monster. How could the Great Elder bear to see his close friend become such a creature?
Chu Xinghe was thrilled!
My parents gave me life, but the Great Elder understands me!
The status of Old Man Zhao from the Jiangbei Zhao family was extraordinary, and the Zhao family was a super family, second only to the three great families.
If you talk about saving him, sorry, I just checked the Medicine Saint's inheritance, and with my current situation, I'm truly helpless. But if you talk about sending Old Man Zhao off, Great Elder, rest assured, I'll arrange it perfectly for you.
When Old Man Zhao dies, those who know will say it was the Great Elder who entrusted me to let Old Man Zhao leave with dignity.
But what about those who don't know?
As the inheritor of the Medicine Saint, if my first action after descending the mountain results in the death of such a tough figure as Old Man Zhao, how will the world view the Medicine Saint's inheritance of the Grand Sky Sect?
If I don't become a laughingstock on the spot, it would be unworthy of the Medicine Saint's inheritance.
Moreover, this Old Man Zhao was the Great Elder's good buddy!
Even if it was the Great Elder's own request, watching his good buddy being arranged perfectly by his personal disciple, there's a chance the Great Elder might get angry and punish me, right?
Once Old Man Zhao is sent off, the sect's Medicine Saint inheritance will suffer a blow to its reputation, and who knows, they might even punish me a second time!
Chu Xinghe was moved to tears. As a disciple, he had racked his brains for days, only able to make small troubles at the Artifact Refining Palace to consume the sect.
Trying to get punished was something he had no way of achieving.
Great Elder, you truly understand me!
Great Elder, since you understand me so well, how can I, Chu Xinghe, not give my all!
Although the Medicine Saint's inheritance can't save Old Man Zhao now, sending him off is absolutely no problem.
The Great Elder was also moved, seeing Chu Xinghe's determined expression.
Look... what a good child. Upon hearing my request, this child didn't hesitate. I truly didn't misjudge him.
"Xinghe, go back and pack up. We'll set off for Jiangbei early tomorrow morning."
"Yes!"
Without another word, Chu Xinghe returned to his room, almost unable to resist singing "Good Days" along the way.
"Senior Brother Xinghe seems to be in a great mood..."
"Junior Brother Xinghe, did something good happen to you..."
Several senior and junior brothers on the road noticed Chu Xinghe's happy demeanor and commented.
Goodness... Chu Xinghe was startled and quickly restrained his smile.
Too excited, he forgot they were going to save someone. The person was in critical condition, and the Great Elder was full of sorrow. How could he be so happy!
Quickly put on a sad face, everyone, cry!
In the evening, Senior Brother Feng Fei returned, apparently aware of Old Man Zhao's situation.
"Junior Brother Xinghe, this time, as you accompany the Great Elder to the Zhao family, you must do your utmost. The Great Elder doesn't have many close friends, and Old Man Zhao is someone he cares about deeply. If anything happens to Old Man Zhao, the Great Elder will be devastated. You must not let him down."
Senior Brother Feng spoke earnestly, and Chu Xinghe nodded sincerely.
Rest assured, Senior Brother Feng, I, Chu Xinghe, swear to the heavens that in making the Great Elder disappointed, I will not let him down this time!
Old Man Zhao, right? Rest assured!
Although the Medicine Saint's inheritance can't save you, the Great Elder entrusted me to send you off if necessary, and I will definitely arrange it perfectly for you.
If Yama wants you dead by the fifth watch, Xinghe will make it the third watch!
With me, Chu Xinghe, taking action, even Yama can't save you!
TFTC!
"I swear to the heaven's that if I fail, then I'll bring destruction upon my sect" sounds like an oath he'd happily make, that people would accept as him being even more confident than if he vowed on his own life.