Mortal Alchemy

But Chen Ping didn't move.

After a while, a woman's voice echoed within the palace: "Tiger, why kill him when a servant wants to offer treasure? Just see him once."

"Tiger has been sent here to oversee the miners, and his situation is already not good. If it is indeed a treasure that can help Tiger, we sisters will serve Tiger day and night, and won't delay this little time."

"Alright, listen to the beauty. Then I won't kill him. Let him roll in to see me," Zhao Hu's voice, suppressing anger, sounded.

A moment later, the palace door opened, and behind it stood a woman with flushed skin and a seductive appearance, her voice indifferent:

"Come in."

Chen Ping didn't immediately get up, but maintained a bowing posture with his hands clasped:

"Thank you, sir."

Only then did Chen Ping dare to walk into the palace.

Inside the palace, the lights were bright, and the tall Zhao Hu sat on a jade chair.

A chilling killing intent was hidden.

But Chen Ping was not afraid at all.

Zhao Hu's majestic and dangerous voice sounded: "You… what treasure do you want to offer to me?"

Chen Ping took out the second-order coral yang stone from his bosom:

"Tiger, please see, this is a second-order coral yang stone, worth twenty spirit stones per pound."

Zhao Hu's expression was indifferent, without fluctuation: "Only one piece of second-order coral yang stone can't save your life."

Chen Ping paused, and said, "This subordinate knows, what this subordinate discovered is an entire vein of coral yang stone…"

At this, Zhao Hu's expression changed, and his breathing became a little rapid:

"What did you say? An entire vein of coral yang stone?"

"That's right," Chen Ping said, "Not only that, but this subordinate can also help Tiger discover other rare mineral veins."

Many islands have spiritual veins that can be mined for spirit stones or used as dojos, but this has nothing to do with Qi Refining cultivators, as those are the rights of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Oh?" A sharp light flashed in Zhao Hu's eyes, even more dangerous:

"Do you know what you're saying? The consequences of fooling me will be worse than death!"

Chen Ping's expression remained unchanged, and he said, "This subordinate's ancestors were cultivators, and the skill of searching for mineral veins has been passed down."

"There are three stewards on the island. This subordinate came specifically to rely on Tiger, how could I deceive Tiger?"

Zhao Hu was as anxious as a monkey inside, as a vein of coral yang stone was enough for him to make a fortune.

But on the surface, he pretended to be calm, and said:

"Oh? Then what do you want?"

Only then did Chen Ping dare to raise his head, face Zhao Hu's gaze directly, and even dared to glance at the maid under his crotch:

"This subordinate wants to live a decent life, and also wants to enjoy fine wine and beautiful women like Tiger!"

As the voice fell, the palace fell into a brief, dead silence.

After a moment.

"Hahahaha!" Zhao Hu's arrogant and dangerous laughter sounded: "Boy, you're very good! Very much to my liking. If you really have such ability, what is it to me to satisfy your conditions?"

"But if you deceive me, hehe…"

Chen Ping's expression was calm: "Please, Tiger, come with this subordinate to verify the second-order coral yang stone vein first."

"Humph!" A sharp light flashed in Zhao Hu's eyes: "You lead the way, and I'll follow right away."

"Yes, Tiger!" Chen Ping turned around, retreated from the palace with difficulty, and walked out.

Behind him, the two maids were helping Zhao Hu put on his clothes.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhao Hu walked out of the palace, his legs slightly weak.

Chen Ping took in the details with a sidelong glance:

"Not someone who can achieve great things, but, in this place, he is the most suitable for me."

After walking for a while, Zhao Hu, with his arms around the two maids, followed Chen Ping into the mine.

Chen Ping took down the disguised stone, revealing the small coral yang stone inside.

Greed immediately appeared in Zhao Hu's eyes. From his expression, one could tell that he had made a fortune!

This Zhao Hu was strong on the outside but weak on the inside. To put it bluntly, he was just a Qi Refining cultivator. A second-order ore falling from the sky was quite valuable, enough for him to live a life of luxury.

"Crack—"

Zhao Hu immediately took action, breaking Chen Ping's bracelet and ankle shackles, laughed, and patted Chen Ping's dirty shoulder:

"Good boy! From today on, you'll follow me, and I won't mistreat you!"

After patting, one of the maids took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped Zhao Hu's hand.

Chen Ping immediately knelt down on one knee: "Thank you, Tiger."

"Hmm," Zhao Hu nodded slowly:

"Get up. Go back and change your clothes and have a meal with me first, take a rest, and then I'll transfer manpower to you. You'll be responsible for mining this coral yang stone."

Coral yang stone, twenty spirit stones per pound. If it was ten pounds, it would be two hundred spirit stones, which was no small amount for a Qi Refining cultivator.

If there were a hundred pounds of coral yang stone, that would be two thousand spirit stones! For an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator, that would be an astronomical figure!

Zhao Hu had Chen Ping fill in these disguised stones again, and then he pasted a few first-order talismans here. If anyone touched this place, it would explode.

Then, Zhao Hu took Chen Ping back to his palace, gave him a set of clothes, and told him to go to the pool in the back to take a bath.

Chen Ping was alone in the pool washing, and before long, one of the maids who had served Zhao Hu walked in:

"Young Master Chen, let me serve you in your bath."

Chen Ping immediately pretended to be frightened and apprehensive: "Sister-in-law, I can wash myself."

"A beauty like you can only be worthy of serving Tiger."

"How can I, a mere mortal, let sister-in-law serve me?"

This maid had a problem, and it was also Zhao Hu testing him.

The maid giggled: "Giggle, Young Master Chen has a sweet tongue. Then wash yourself, I'll go prepare food for you."

After the maid retreated, she came to Zhao Hu and truthfully relayed Chen Ping's words to Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu narrowed his eyes:

"It seems that this kid is indeed not bad, then let's keep him for now."

A life-and-death crisis was easily resolved by Chen Ping.

"Go prepare food, I'll accompany Brother Chen for a few drinks later, and replenish him, and later, I'll favor you sisters."

"Yes, Tiger."

After Chen Ping washed up, he put on a brand new set of clothes, feeling quite emotional.

It had been more than two years since he was seriously injured, and this was the first time he had put on new clothes.

Finally, there was some substantial progress.

Perhaps life in this Sea God Sect would be better than his days on Azure Sea Island.

"Tiger," Chen Ping came to Zhao Hu and cupped his fists.

"I didn't expect Brother Chen to be so handsome, no wonder you're my brother," Zhao Hu laughed:

"Sit down and eat, have a few drinks with me."

Chen Ping sat down at the table, began to eat and drink, Zhao Hu asked him many questions, testing his identity and so on, all of which Chen Ping handled smoothly, making Zhao Hu even more at ease.

It had also been a long time since Chen Ping had eaten and drank so comfortably. After eating and drinking his fill, he fell asleep.

He wasn't afraid of what Zhao Hu would do to him.

When Chen Ping woke up, Zhao Hu had already selected twenty people to secretly mine the coral yang stone.

Chen Ping's life began to improve.

Next, he should proceed step by step, consolidate his position, and look for opportunities to go to Shattered Star Bazaar.