Chapter 74: Group Discounts Available

As night fell, Ye Jiuyao ascended to the top floor. It was as if Hua Mingfeng had known he would come—she had already prepared tea and was reclining in her chair, waiting for his arrival.

“You’re here?”

“I want to ask you to find a few strong, formidable shills. What do you think?”

“Shills?”

“Yes, shills!”

Hua Mingfeng was momentarily speechless. When she looked at Ye Jiuyao, her gaze shifted—not simply one of admiration, but now tinged with something more complex.

“You’re shameless, but for Tongxuan Sect right now, this is the best approach.”

Hua Mingfeng chided him with a half-smile. Ye Jiuyao could only give an awkward laugh, his eyes lingering on her.

“Very well.”

With Hua Mingfeng’s promise, Ye Jiuyao’s spirits soared. He hummed a little tune all the way back to his room. Unfortunately, since the two of them had taken the beds, he had to make do for the night, sitting in meditation and cultivating until dawn.

Outside, a commotion had already started.

“Hey, people from Tongxuan Sect, how do we sign up for this prep class?”

“Where is everyone?”

“Where did all the people go?”

The clamoring grew louder, not a hint of fear on their faces. Each one looked fierce and menacing as they pounded on Ye Jiuyao’s door.

“Coming, coming…”

Ye Jiuyao cheerfully ended his cultivation, rushing to open the door—so fast it was only a hair slower than running for his life.

“Heh heh… Are you here to… register?”

Ye Jiuyao almost blurted out “check in,” but quickly changed course and returned to the topic at hand.

“Is the one teaching us weapon-crafting that fat guy who blows up the furnace the moment he throws it?”

“What about alchemy?”

A cacophony of questions broke out. Ye Jiuyao couldn’t help but admire Zhong Shaoshan and the others’ talent for recruiting. If these people were actors, they’d all be award-winners with every word and gesture. Yet here they were, playing bit parts—such a waste of talent.

“Heh heh… No problem, no problem. In a moment, they’ll demonstrate for you. At Tongxuan Sect, we pride ourselves on honesty and service. Please, everyone, let’s move outside Xuanyuan Inn…”

Ye Jiuyao led the crowd out to the front of the inn, then secretly transmitted a message to the two—now known as Tong Zhatian and Xuan Tianzha.

Tong Zhatian now wore a ring on his hand. But unlike ordinary rings, this one was studded with tiny furnaces all over it. Anyone with discernment could see at a glance how fearsome a weapon it was.

“Gasp! That’s terrifying—he actually wears it on his hand. Isn’t he afraid it’ll explode?”

“Exactly! I heard these things explode the moment they hit anything…”

“Good heavens, such a terrifying object, and he dares to carry it like that. I admire his courage. I’m definitely learning his crafting technique!”

“If I master this, I’ll explode at the peak of the Awakening stage. If one isn’t enough, then a hundred! Let’s see who dares bully me then!”

“That’s right! That’s right…”

For a while, everyone went wild praising Tong Zhatian’s weapon-crafting skills. Xuan Tianzha’s face, however, showed clear displeasure.

“Hmph! A bunch of short-sighted fools!”

Xuan Tianzha’s voice boomed like muffled thunder. Instantly, all eyes turned to him, awaiting his next move.

“Watch my alchemy skills.”

He produced a tiny pill, glowing a sinister crimson, with a ferocious demon’s face etched into its surface.

“This… is the Passion Pill!”

Upon hearing the name, Ye Jiuyao quietly slipped farther away. This man was ruthless—when he snapped, he hardly recognized friend from foe.

Xuan Tianzha gently crushed the pill in his right hand. Before anyone could react, the little pill dissolved into a mist, enveloping more than a hundred people. Though the area wasn’t large, it covered enough.

“Everyone else, back up! Or you’ll be singing ‘Chrysanthemum Terrace’ and writhing on the ground—especially you lady cultivators…”

Still, some ignored Xuan Tianzha’s warning. But three seconds later, they deeply regretted it.

“Ah! It’s so hot…”

“Wha—what’s happening to me…”

All at once, bloodlust filled their eyes, primal desires surfacing. Even the men beside them seemed beautiful in their gaze.

“No, don’t come any closer…”

“Mother, save me…”

“They—they’re going to… ah…”

Those who ignored Xuan Tianzha’s words quickly paid the price. Like starving tigers, the affected mob pounced on the nearest person. Screams like pigs being slaughtered echoed through the air.

“Hmph, that’s what you get for looking down on me!”

“Enough! Break it up!”

Ye Jiuyao saw that things were about to take an unspeakable turn and shouted angrily. Hearing him, Xuan Tianzha crushed another pill, dispersing its powder onto the crowd. The mist entered their bodies, and the red in their eyes faded, their desires vanishing as if nothing had happened.

“Hmph…”

Xuan Tianzha snorted a few more times as the crowd finally came to their senses.

“Ah… What was I just doing…”

“I can’t go on living—I actually… with a man…”

“You… You actually… Boohoo, I’m going to tell my mother and have her propose marriage to you…”

Those who’d fallen prey to the pill looked utterly devastated. Some looked down to see who they were entangled with—if their partners were pleasant enough, it wasn’t so bad, but for many, the situation was simply tragic.

In short, the scene was indescribable, too awful to bear.

Even Ye Jiuyao and Tong Zhatian shuddered. Had they not known in advance, they might have gone silent with terror themselves.

The power of the Passion Pill was truly frightening. They could sense everyone trying to resist with their spiritual energy, but it was useless. The effect seeped directly through the skin and took hold.

This pill… its terror knew no bounds.

Yet some with more sinister intentions saw new possibilities. Their eyes flashed with lecherous light.

“So, everyone, who wants to learn the arts of alchemy and weapon-crafting?”

Ye Jiuyao ignored the despair of the hundred or so affected and stepped forward at just the right time to begin the next phase.

“I—I want to learn…”

“This is incredible!”

“A bomb and a pill—after this, I’ll roam the world at ease!”

“Stop! That’s not a bomb furnace, it’s a bomb! A bomb!!”

Tong Zhatian, hearing “bomb furnace,” immediately protested and hurried to correct them.

“With a bomb and the Passion Pill, the world is mine!”

“With both in hand, the world is mine!”

Somewhere in the crowd, someone shouted this slogan, igniting everyone’s enthusiasm.

“One step at a time, folks. Register first, pay tuition, then start learning. Tongxuan Sect guarantees honesty and fairness for all!”

“Both arts together for 10,000 crystal coins, or 6,000 for one—discounts for groups!”

“Group registration gets you 10% off—just 5,400 per subject! Don’t miss out!”

“Just picture it—throwing a bomb in battle…”

“And when you meet that special someone… ahem, well, that’s another story…”

Most of the men in the crowd burst out laughing at the last line, their expressions those of seasoned rogues.

Ye Jiuyao cheered merrily, and soon enough, the more well-heeled among them stepped forward to register. Watching the crystal cards pile up in his hands, he broke into a wide grin.