For Li Feng, the Fengyuan Group would henceforth serve as his cash machine. Though the Fengyuan Group raked in money daily, for Li Feng, the resources required for a single day of cultivation amounted to over ten million, and this expenditure increased with each passing day. Add to that the Black Eagle Squadron, and the group’s earnings could not keep pace with his spending.
He was currently holding on thanks to the loan from Citibank, but that loan, aside from what was allocated for Fu Jun’s operations, would only sustain him for two months. After that, he would require the Fengyuan Group to provide vast sums of funds, so he absolutely would not allow anything to happen to the Fengyuan Group.
The earlier incident at the Tianhai Customs, with the opponent lurking in the shadows, had forced Li Feng to proceed with caution. But now that Zheng Haoyuan had emerged into the open, Li Feng was no longer concerned. An enemy in plain sight was always easier to deal with than one hidden in the dark.
Though he did not know who this Zheng Haoyuan was, Li Feng had no worries. Even if he were the king of heaven, anyone daring to target the Fengyuan Group would pay a price.
After chatting with Hu Yuanyuan for a while, Li Feng left the company. He was unaccustomed to staying there; being in the office gave him a sense of constraint.
Upon leaving the company, Li Feng drove straight to the Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy.
Over the past month, all the medicinal materials Li Feng required had been procured from the Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy, and he had grown increasingly satisfied with it. No matter what herbs he needed, the Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy always had them in stock, living up to its reputation as Tianhai City’s premier traditional Chinese medicine shop.
“Old Tu.” Entering the Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy, Li Feng spotted Old Tu dozing at the counter.
“Young friend, you are here.” Old Tu’s eyes gleamed faintly upon seeing Li Feng.
In that instant, Old Tu’s heart filled with shock, for he found he could no longer discern Li Feng’s strength. If the previous Li Feng had been like a fierce tiger, sharp and imposing, now he seemed to have attained a state of returning to simplicity.
How was this possible? Li Feng was so young; how could he reach such a realm? When had Tianhai City gained such an expert?
“Old Tu, have you prepared the medicinal materials I need?” Li Feng asked.
“They have been ready for some time, just waiting for you to collect them.” Old Tu chuckled and produced the pre-prepared herbs.
“As usual, card payment.” Li Feng placed his bank card on the counter.
After swiping the card, Li Feng picked up the herbs and bid farewell to Old Tu. At that moment, Old Tu called out to him: “Young friend, do you happen to need any golden cicada fruit?”
“Golden cicada fruit?” Li Feng’s pupils contracted in shock as he asked.
“Indeed, golden cicada fruit.” Old Tu nodded with a smile.
“I never imagined that your Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy would have golden cicada fruit.” Astonishment filled Li Feng’s eyes. This golden cicada fruit was no ordinary herb; it was a spirit grass level material, far superior to millennium ginseng or Tianshan snow lotus by countless degrees.
Li Feng had not expected the Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy to even know of its existence. Over the past month, he had purchased so many herbs there that he had long suspected the pharmacy’s origins.
However, since there was no conflict between him and the Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy, only a buyer-seller relationship, he had not investigated its background. He had assumed it was merely a powerful pharmacy chain, but now, with golden cicada fruit in the picture, he had to reassess its true nature.
“Our Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy does not have golden cicada fruit, but I know of a place that does. Are you interested, young friend?” Old Tu shook his head.
“Where might one find golden cicada fruit?” Li Feng asked eagerly. The fruit was immensely useful to him; obtaining it would not propel his cultivation to soaring heights, but it would at least elevate it by a full level.
“In the Black Wind Forest of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.” Old Tu replied.
“The Hundred Thousand Mountains, Black Wind Forest?” Li Feng furrowed his brow. The Hundred Thousand Mountains lay in the southern reaches of the Nanling range, with peaks stretching endlessly, countless and uncountable, hence their name. It was one of Hua Xia’s perilous lands.
“Precisely, in the Black Wind Forest of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. If you are interested, young friend, you might go and see.” Old Tu nodded.
“Thank you, Old Tu, for sharing this information.” Li Feng did not know why Old Tu had told him about the golden cicada fruit, but the news was invaluable to him.
“Heh, I simply feel we are fated.” Old Tu smiled, watching Li Feng depart.
“Old Tu thinks highly of this lad?” As Li Feng vanished from the doorway of the Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy, a middle-aged man emerged from inside and asked curiously.
“This Li Feng is a rare talent.” Old Tu stroked his beard and smiled.
“A rare talent? I never thought Old Tu would rate him so highly.” The middle-aged man was stunned, looking at Old Tu in disbelief. He knew Old Tu’s status well; even his own disciples rarely received such praise. What merit did this Li Feng have to earn it?
If he had not heard it with his own ears, he would never have believed Old Tu would evaluate someone so.
“High?” Old Tu shook his head with a laugh. He had witnessed Li Feng’s transformation over the month; his assessment was not high, but rather understated.
“Is it not?”
“Just watch. This young man is no mere pond dweller.” Old Tu gave a faint smile, offering no further explanation. He glanced back at the middle-aged man and asked: “What brings you to Tianhai City at this time?”
“Old Tu, the Nine Dragon Jade has appeared.”
“The Nine Dragon Jade?” Old Tu’s expression shifted, and he said gravely: “Those people have brought out the Nine Dragon Jade. Do they truly intend to find that item?”
“I would say it is likely. Many clans have already sent representatives to Tianhai City. The entire city feels like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.” The middle-aged man’s face grew solemn as he continued: “I hear the Nine Dragon Jade is the prize for this King’s Fist Domination Tournament. It seems they aim to draw more people into the search for that item.”
“Is that all? Hmph, I think they have ulterior motives.” Old Tu snorted coldly.
“Old Tu, this matter could be great or small, but stopping it now is too late.” The middle-aged man glanced at Old Tu and said: “The higher-ups want us to secure the Nine Dragon Jade. If we obtain it, they will not find that item.”
Old Tu shot him a sidelong glance. “Is that also your own intention?”
The middle-aged man gave an embarrassed smile: “Nothing escapes Old Tu. That item is crucial to us as well. Better it falls into our hands than another’s. Old Tu, we need your help this time.”
A gleam flashed in Old Tu’s eyes, and he said calmly: “Who has the higher-ups sent this time?”
The middle-aged man murmured a few names softly. Old Tu’s expression changed again. “I never expected them to commit so heavily, even dispatching those few.”
“It could not be helped. The clans have agreed to leave this to the young ones. Those we can field are only these few.” The middle-aged man smiled and added: “They are currently training in the Hundred Thousand Mountains and will arrive in Tianhai City in two months.”
“Two months? Understood.” Old Tu nodded, a sharp glint blooming in his eyes.
