Chapter 97

Xia Ye agreed and sent someone to notify Gu Ming.

About fifteen minutes later, in the president’s office, Chu Ning finally saw Gu Ming.

With an uneasy heart, Gu Ming stepped forward and greeted respectfully, “Master.”

Chu Ning lifted her head and looked at Gu Ming.

“Sit.” She said.

The original host’s so-called older brother had never bullied her in the past, but he also never helped her. Thus, he wasn’t on her list for revenge.

Gu Ming glanced up at Chu Ning.

“Thank you, Master.” He responded and took a seat at the side.

“I called you here to ask about your plans in the Pill Sect.” Chu Ning quickly got to the point.

“I heard you’re planning to take the junior alchemist assessment today. If you pass, you’ll be able to purchase junior cultivation techniques. Did Chu Xin agree to cover the costs for you?”

Hearing Chu Ning call their mother by her full name, Gu Ming instantly understood her stance.

“She agreed and even said she would continue to fund my expenses in the Pill Sect.”

Chu Ning wasn’t surprised and continued asking, “Is it because of me?”

Gu Ming looked at her.

“Yes.”

“She wants me to persuade you to return to the Chu family.”

Chu Ning scoffed.

“So, what do you plan to do?”

“I plan to play along and get the junior cultivation techniques first.” Gu Ming answered honestly.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Chu Ning’s eyes.

“That’s all it takes for her to try convincing me to return to the Chu family?”

“I know Master will not return to the Chu family, and I… I will not do anything that displeases Master.”

A hint of amusement appeared in Chu Ning’s gaze.

“Oh? Then aren’t you afraid Chu Xin will cut off your support?”

“I am afraid. But I am even more afraid of Master expelling me from the Pill Sect.”

“I want to become an alchemist and serve Master and the Pill Sect!”

Leaving the Pill Sect would mean he could never advance in alchemy. To his mother, he would also lose all value once that happened.

He wasn’t stupid—he knew how to choose.

Chu Ning nodded in satisfaction.

“Serve me? Then what if I ask you to help me deal with Chu Xin?” She asked.

This so-called brother of hers was actually more clever than she had expected.

Smart and adaptable—he could be a useful chess piece.

Gu Ming hesitated for a moment.

Then, he suddenly stood up, bowed deeply to Chu Ning, and said, “I will do my best.”

Chu Ning withdrew her gaze from him.

“The Chu family really is full of cold-blooded people.” She commented.

A ripple flickered in Gu Ming’s eyes, but he remained silent.

“Although you say you want to serve me, I can’t fully trust you yet.” Chu Ning continued.

With that, she produced a small bottle of pills.

“Unless you are willing to take this pill.”

“This pill is called the Eclipse Pill. It’s highly toxic. Once consumed, it will flare up once a month.”

“During an attack, the pain will be unbearable—worse than death.”

“But as long as you take the antidote on time every month, you will remain completely normal.”

“If you truly want to serve me and become a core disciple of the Pill Sect, take one.” With that, she placed a pill on the desk in front of her.

Then, she leaned back and watched Gu Ming.

Hesitation flickered in Gu Ming’s eyes.

He had never heard of this poison pill before.

But he knew that Master wouldn’t lie to him.

With all the secret pills in the Pill Sect, one more poison pill wasn’t surprising.

Besides, Chu Lan and his father’s deaths were likely caused by Master’s poison.

The powerful pills in her hands went far beyond what he knew.

Chu Ning waited for a moment. Seeing that he remained motionless, she was slightly disappointed and was about to retrieve the pill.

But at that moment, Gu Ming suddenly moved.

He stepped forward swiftly, picked up the pill, and swallowed it without hesitation.

“From now on, whatever Master commands, I will do.” After consuming the pill, Gu Ming bowed deeply once again.

Chu Ning finally revealed a satisfied expression.

“Very good.”

“Starting today, all pill permissions and cultivation techniques in the Pill Sect are free for you.”

“From now on, you answer only to me.”

Excitement flashed in Gu Ming’s eyes.

“Thank you, Master!”

Chu Ning quickly assigned tasks to him.

Although the Chu family was a first-rate clan, it had deep foundations. Taking it down wouldn’t be easy.

As they talked, Gu Ming even offered some useful suggestions, making Chu Ning appreciate him more and more.

By the end of their discussion, Chu Ning felt that choosing Gu Ming to help her destroy the Chu family was indeed the right decision.

“Alright, let’s proceed according to plan.”

“Report any updates to me immediately.” Chu Ning instructed.

“Yes.”

Gu Ming responded but didn’t leave. Instead, he seemed to hesitate as if he wanted to ask something.

“If you have something to ask, just ask.” Chu Ning said.

“Master, does the Pill Sect really have cultivation techniques that can elevate a beastman’s spiritual power to double S-rank?” Gu Ming asked.

“Yes.” Chu Ning replied without hesitation.

Joy flashed in Gu Ming’s eyes.

“Then—”

“Of course, not just anyone can obtain high-level or divine cultivation techniques—not even with money. Unless… they are absolutely trustworthy.”

“The Pill Sect can accept money to train some intermediate alchemists, but it will never help outsiders become high-level alchemists. No amount of money will change that.”

Of course, the Pill Sect would never admit this to the public.

After all, even with the aid of Essence-Nurturing Pills and Jade Dew Pills, cultivation was a slow process.

Even with top-tier talent, reaching the Golden Core peak without advancement pills would take decades.

And by then, she would have already advanced to the Nascent Soul or even Soul Formation stage.

Once the Pill Sect had enough power to protect itself, who could force her to reveal her techniques?

A knowing expression flashed in Gu Ming’s eyes—so it was just as he had expected.

“So only by consuming the Eclipse Pill can one become Master’s most trusted person?” Gu Ming asked again.

“Of course.” Chu Ning replied.

The Pill Sect used poison pills to control its disciples because, in this world, sects were more like corporations—they were just business entities, not families.

She had to be cautious.

Of course, she wouldn’t waste the Eclipse Pill on just any promising alchemist.

After all, the Eclipse Pill was rare, and she only had a limited supply.

It would serve as both a shackle and an opportunity.

An opportunity to receive her full support and rise to the top ranks of the Pill Sect.

A hint of understanding flickered in Gu Ming’s eyes.

“I have no more questions.”

Chu Ning nodded and dismissed him.

Not long after Gu Ming left, Xia Ye arrived.

“Wife, good news!” The usually calm Xia Ye actually looked a little excited this time.

“What good news?” Chu Ning asked with a smile.

“We’ve found a lead on the Phoenix Tree!” Xia Ye grabbed her hand.

One of the key ingredients for refining the advancement pill was Phoenix Tree sap.

Because they lacked this ingredient, his wife hadn’t been able to refine the advancement pill.

She had long reached the peak of A-rank spiritual power.

But she hadn’t used the advancement pill to break into S-rank yet.

The reason was simple—she only had one advancement pill left.

And she was saving that pill for when she needed to advance from B-rank to A-rank in a life-threatening situation.

But now, they had a lead on the Phoenix Tree!