In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Page 235

"you wanna die!"

"All right!"

Zhang Xiaoshan stopped the two arguing with a shout. The mistake had already been made, and he had no loss to make anyway.

He was the one who benefited the most, so naturally he couldn't ignore it.

"Eastern Sect... Eastern, Fei Fei's scheme ultimately benefited me. For my sake, let's leave it at that!"

"That's it? You don't want to take responsibility?"

"If you want to marry me, I dare to marry you!"

Hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's boastful words, Dongfang Bubai's cheeks flushed red, and he rolled his eyes, saying:

"Dream on! I'll just pretend I was bitten by a dog this time!"

"What if you get bitten by a dog? But what if the dog tries to bite you a second time?"

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's shamelessness, Dongfang Bubai's eyes widened in anger.

But then a figure was already close in front of him. Undoubtedly, the mistake had been made, and Zhang Xiaoshan had unlocked the lock in his heart, releasing the little devil within him.

Several years passed, and it was already evening when Zhang Xiaoshan returned to the new mansion.

Zhang Xiaoshan felt somewhat helpless about Bai Feifei.

Just like in the original story, once he goes crazy, he will never consider the consequences.

If he hadn't found out the reason, Dongfang Bubai might have fought him to the death. The victim and the direct victim are completely different concepts.

If Zhang Xiaoshan harbors evil intentions, Dongfang Bubai will absolutely not compromise.

Moreover, Dongfang Bubai, who originally planned to leave Lin'an Prefecture in three days, became so engrossed in the experience that he delayed his journey north to Hengshan for a full month.

Chapter 292 The Net of Zhao Gao and the Crimson Dragon Turtle

"A thousand-year-old ginseng! A nine-leaf golden orchid! A heavenly heart-shaped he shou wu!"

Inside the study, Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the three treasures sent by Miao Jiang.

Needless to say, ginseng is an extremely precious tonic, but it is too common among the rare and precious medicinal materials that have been around for thousands of years.

This old ginseng weighs eighteen taels, which is only one tael more than the largest ginseng in the Zhang family's collection.

Even if you take it, it will only increase your merit by a hundred years at most. It's better to keep it to make pills.

The true function of ginseng is to replenish qi, and its effect in making elixirs far surpasses that of direct ingestion.

The Nine-Leaf Golden Orchid is also a treasure for enhancing one's abilities.

Legend has it that one leaf can increase one's cultivation by thirty years, and nine leaves can increase it by three hundred years. It also has the effect of cleansing the marrow and transforming the body, making one immune to all poisons.

Tianxin Shouwu is a type of Shouwu that takes a thousand years to transform into human form and ten thousand years to grow a heart (pearl), which is the essence of Shouwu.

This Heavenly Heart Pearl has the power to bring the dead back to life.

A dying person, as long as they have a breath left, can be cured in a short time by taking this medicine.

Even if someone is pierced through the heart by a sword, as long as it takes no more than half an hour and the blood has not yet congealed, they can still be saved!

This is the origin of the concept of the Heavenly Heart.

Each mysterious pearl is equivalent to a life, and it has the effect of enhancing one's abilities and cleansing one's marrow, making it far more valuable than a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng.

Apart from the ancient ginseng which can only be used for making medicine, the other two are absolutely divine medicines.

Exchanging three useless sets of bronze armor for three divine herbs would be a huge profit, but unfortunately, it didn't include the body-refining medicine that Zhang Xiaoshan wanted.

Clearly, Zhang Xiaoshan needs this medicinal herb, and the Miao region also needs it.

"Pity!"

I placed the nine-leaf golden orchid in the flower garden and instructed Hongxiao and Jiangxue to take good care of it.

To avoid being harmed by the nine-tailed fox, Zhang Xiaoshan built a glass dome as a greenhouse.

···

"Young master, a group of guests have arrived outside. They claim to be from the Luo Wang organization and have come to keep their appointment!"

"Please come in!"

Zhang Xiaoshan nodded, and Jiang Xue then walked to the balcony and nodded to Hongxiao below.

Net!

This was an assassin group of the Later Zhou Empire, similar to the Eastern Depot, but even more mysterious.

After all, the Eastern Depot was completely beyond the control of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family, and it also gave rise to the Western Depot, and the Grand Inner Depot, which was even above the two depots, wielding immense power in the court.

The Net was completely under Qin Shi Huang's control; as long as Qin Shi Huang was alive, the Net would not dare to cause trouble.

Similarly, alongside the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) are the Black Ice Platform and the Shadow Guard.

Inside the study!

When Zhao Gao entered, he saw Zhang Xiaoshan standing up to greet him.

Standing nine feet tall, he was no less than those peerless warriors, yet he possessed the elegant and refined air of a scholar from Jiangnan, and was also cultured and gentle.

But anyone who truly sees him as just an ordinary rich kid would be sorely mistaken.

Similarly, Zhang Xiaoshan also sized up Zhao Gao, who was extremely effeminate, yet without the slightest hint of femininity.

Wearing a black cloak, the most popular style in the Later Zhou Dynasty, she exudes solemnity, dignity, and nobility.

Behind them stood six swordsmen, the legendary Six Sword Slaves, each a master of unparalleled skill, with their leader, Zhen Gang, being a master of unparalleled skill.

It should be noted that swordsmen prioritize offense. The Six Sword Slaves were already renowned first-rate swordsmen, and now, with the peerless divine weapons corresponding to their names, each of them can stand up to a master at the pinnacle of skill.

"Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office of the Later Zhou Dynasty, greets Young Master Zhang!"

"Lord Zhao, you are too kind. I am but a commoner, how could I possibly accept such a generous gift from you!"

Zhang Xiaoshan quickly returned the greeting, and the two exchanged a smile.

Zhao Gao did not underestimate Zhang Xiaoshan in the slightest. According to their investigation, this young master Zhang was a true scholar of unparalleled learning.

If it were just that, it would be fine; his martial arts skills and knowledge are both top-notch.

Xibaqing, Beiwanjia, Nanzhangjia!

The true cornerstone of the Zhang family is the person standing before us; otherwise, the Zhang family would have been nothing more than a small, insignificant household in the past.

And now, it holds a pivotal position even throughout the entire Kyushu region.

"Son!"

At this moment, Liu Sheng Piaoxu walked in, placing two cups of ambergris tea and a teapot beside Zhang Xiaoshan.

"Lord Zhao, this tea is one of the finest forms of hospitality the Zhang family can offer. Please!"

"please!"

The aroma of tea filled the air, and Zhao Gao was also a tea connoisseur.

As the tea permeated his heart and soul, leaving a sweet aftertaste, a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

Such fine tea is a rare and exquisite product; he had never heard of it before.

"Young Master Zhang, is this tea famous?"

"Ambergris tea is made from the tender buds of the dragon blood vine. This should be the only batch."

Besides what my father still has, and the half-pound of tea my son gave to the Grand Secretary last time, there shouldn't be an ounce or two left of loose tea.

"There are about three coins left!"

Upon hearing Liu Sheng Piaoxu's reply, Zhao Gao couldn't help but show a look of regret.

He didn't doubt Zhang Xiaoshan's words. Zhang Xiaoshan said that he didn't have it here, but it seemed to be the stock from Zhang Yuan's place, or half a catty from the Inner Minister Tong Guan.

"If Lord Zhao is willing, I can ask my father to spare some."

Although my father enjoys drinking tea, he has plenty of famous teas available, including this particular Ambergris tea.

"Isn't this a bit like taking something that belongs to someone else?"

There are many famous teas in the world, not just this ambergris tea.

Last time, my son brought back a century-old tea brick from Southeast Asia. Father has recently taken a liking to Pu'er tea; besides its health benefits, its century-old aroma surpasses even that of ambergris tea.

"profound?"

The two men enjoyed tea and discussed philosophy, completely forgetting their original purpose.

It wasn't until the last rays of the setting sun shone into the study that the two got down to business, with the subordinate confirming the authenticity of the meteorite.

Zhang Xiaoshan also used the Dragon Ball as evidence, saying that the wonder of meteorite copper could not be greater than this.

As for Zhao Gao, after witnessing the wonders of the Dragon Ball, besides his greed, he was also aware of his own strength.

The Zhang family is not something he can touch.

The Blood Droplets alone would be enough to give them a hard time, not to mention that Zhang Xiaoshan had many other hidden tricks up his sleeve.

In contrast, seven Dragon Balls remain unaccounted for.

Besides the three golden Buddha statues, at least four others are missing, seemingly lost to the sea.

The Golden-Faced Buddha is incredibly mysterious, appearing only briefly and never quite. His last appearance was at the Stone Dragon Dojo, where he subdued Stone Dragon and made it one of the three families on Ghost Street, while also holding the Rakshasa woman, who was supported by the Zhang family, hostage.

Even Zhao Gao did not suspect that Zhang Xiaoshan was the Golden-Faced Buddha.

After all, when the Golden-Faced Buddha debuted, Zhang Xiaoshan was only fourteen or fifteen years old, a mere teenager.

In addition, the Golden-Faced Buddha cultivates the Heavenly Crippled Divine Skill, and his martial arts are extremely yin and evil, and domineering and unparalleled; while Zhang Xiaoshan started out with hard skills, and later comprehended the Tao with the Taoist Pure Yang Limitless Skill, creating his own Pure Yang Finger, and following the Taoist path.

Furthermore, the Golden-Faced Buddha and Zhang Xiaoshan appeared together several times, each displaying their unique skills.

"How does Young Master Zhang intend to make the exchange?"

"What is Qin Shi Huang's asking price? After all, this is about what Qin Shi Huang can offer, not what I, Zhang, want."

"Of course! Of course... Someone, bring the things up!"

Zhao Gao took out a box and had someone bring it over. When he opened it, he found a red tortoise that was no bigger than the palm of his hand.

What's even more hilarious is that the turtle's head and limbs are all firmly fixed to the surrounding area with silkworm silk, like the prelude to being torn apart by five horses.

"… Crimson Dragon Turtle!"

With a gasp, Zhang Xiaoshan's eyes were filled with disbelief.

The Crimson Dragon Turtle, with the dragon symbolizing ten thousand years.

Chi Xuan is reddish-black; it turns red when it comes out of the water and black when it goes into the water. It is a rare ancient tortoise that is thousands of years old.

Zhang Xiaoshan knew about this turtle because it was recorded in the book "Strange Things of China" left by the Ghost Doctor, a strange creature that appeared in the West Kunlun volcano.

The most valuable part of the Crimson Dragon Turtle is its blood, which is extremely yang and can cure all poisons in the world.

A thousand years ago, a legendary figure in the martial arts world had a fortuitous opportunity, which caused his power to surge and transform him.

Legend has it that he also possessed a supreme treasure—the Tortoise Shell Mystic Weapon—made from this tortoise shell, which he used to dominate the martial arts world.

"Young master is indeed knowledgeable, to know about the Crimson Dragon Turtle."

What is your opinion, young master?

"Of course you can, but I don't understand why Your Majesty doesn't consume the blood and energy of the Crimson Dragon Turtle to undergo a complete transformation?"

Since Young Master Zhang is curious, Zhao Gao will speak frankly.

The blood of the Crimson Dragon Turtle is too potent; His Majesty is unwell, and consuming too much of it would be counterproductive.

Moreover, His Majesty greatly admires Young Master Zhang, which can be considered a reward for him.

Is the Emperor Qin unwell?

But thinking about it, it makes sense. The blood of the Crimson Dragon Turtle is not only extremely potent, but also extremely yang in nature.

Let alone those with physical disabilities, even an ordinary, strong man like Li Zhao could not withstand the excruciating pain of that raging fire, which was even more potent than the effects of the dragon's saliva fruit.

But for Zhang Xiaoshan, it was undoubtedly the best thing to advance to the Nine Cauldrons Realm.