After hearing this, Chen Fengxiao shook his head and said: “What little brother said isn’t wrong. I remember when I was young and out in the world, jade was extremely precious, not inferior to gold at all. But little brother has only seen one side and not the other. Generally, things are valued because they are rare. Within the Incense Spreading Sect, jade is so abundant that it’s no different from ordinary stones—who would care about it? Even if it’s regarded as a treasure outside, in our eyes it’s just rubble.”

“Abundant beyond measure?” Zhang Xiaohua was startled and asked, “How does our Incense Spreading Sect have so much jade?”

“Well…” Chen Fengxiao pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, “Our Incense Spreading Sect has a place called the Shuyu Hall, which specifically mines jade from Jiuhua Peak. It’s said that over these thousands of years, they haven’t excavated much, yet there’s still more jade than can ever be used. So tell me, in our eyes, can jade compare to gold leaves?”

“Oh, so that’s how it is.” Zhang Xiaohua suddenly understood. Presumably, beneath Jiuhua Peak, there was a jade vein, which could continuously supply jade for the Incense Spreading Sect’s use. No matter how precious something is, once there’s too much of it, it loses its value and can only be used to make bottles.

“Oh, right, Boss Chen, about Elder Feng last night…”

Zhang Xiaohua told Chen Fengxiao about Elder Feng’s visit the previous night.

Chen Fengxiao nodded. “Mm, Bai Huan already reported this to me last night.”

“Oh? It was already deep into the night, and he…”

Chen Fengxiao chuckled. “He heard that I had taken it and was afraid that bringing Elder Feng over would offend me, so he hurried to ask for instructions. Did you think he was that diligent?”

Qiu Weicheng also smiled and said: “After Boss Chen learned of this, he immediately had me spread the word about you obtaining the Jade Restoration Pill. Don’t worry, Junior Brother Ren, no one will disturb you anymore.”

Zhang Xiaohua said gratefully, “Boss truly considers things thoroughly.”

Chen Fengxiao looked at the rising morning sun and said, “Little brother, it’s time to eat breakfast. Come, don’t have someone bring it over—eat with me.”

“Bring food?” Zhang Xiaohua rubbed his nose, feeling a bit wry. Indeed, he had been staying here for two days and had forgotten about eating altogether. He had long since entered the state of fasting and no longer thought about food. Bai Huan assumed Chen Fengxiao had arranged it, while Chen Fengxiao thought Bai Huan had arranged it, so no one had actually delivered any meals.

Zhang Xiaohua followed Chen Fengxiao and Qiu Weicheng to where they ate. It was an exquisite small hall. Around a huge table already sat the Six Arhats and several other stewards of the Herb Division, quietly waiting for Boss Chen to arrive. When they saw Zhang Xiaohua behind Chen Fengxiao, their eyes all lit up, and they stood.

Entering the small hall, Chen Fengxiao and Qiu Weicheng each took their seats. After Zhang Xiaohua saluted everyone, he casually found a place to sit. Just as he sat down, Liu Quan, beside him leaned over and said in a low voice: “Little brother, I was just about to look for you, but before the wager match, if it’s not something urgent, we can’t disturb you, so I…”

Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback and asked, “Senior Brother Liu, what is it?”

Liu Quan glanced around, then lowered his voice. “Junior Brother Ren, that… could you give me one ‘Small Bone-Consolidating Pill’? Don’t worry, I won’t take it for nothing—I’ll trade you herbs!”

He then forced a smile. “I know this isn’t quite appropriate, but this ‘Small Bone-Consolidating Pill’ is useful to me. Since yesterday, you could let Boss exchange herbs for pills, then give me some face as well—what do you think?”

Zhang Xiaohua inwardly laughed, though his face showed great difficulty. “Senior Brother Liu is really putting me in a tough spot. These pills can only be refined by the Elders of the Pill Division, and all of them must be handed in. I only have one bottle of ‘Small Bone-Consolidating Pills’ on hand—once they’re used up, they’re gone. Herbs may be good, but they’re not pills after all. Difficult, haha, truly difficult.”

Liu Quan frowned. “Little brother, your martial arts are strong, you might not even need these ‘Small Bone-Consolidating Pills’. Besides, you could trade with Boss, so why can’t you trade with me? This is the first time your senior brother has asked—won’t you consider it carefully?”

Zhang Xiaohua still suppressed his laughter and only asked, “Then can’t Senior Brother exchange other pills with me instead?”

“Pills? If I had pills, why would I trade with you? The pills of our Herb Division have long been lost to the Pill Division, and the Pill Division’s pills are all concentrated in the hands of the Ten Vajras. Where do you expect me to get pills from?”

Zhang Xiaohua understood and also lowered his voice. “Alright then, since this is Senior Brother Liu’s first request, I can’t let you lose face. However, Senior Brother, listen carefully—this matter must absolutely not be told to others, otherwise…”

Liu Quan cut him off in a low voice. “Do you think I don’t understand such things? I won’t tell anyone, don’t worry.”

After speaking, he cautiously glanced around.

While the others chatted with Chen Fengxiao, they had long since pricked up their ears. Though the conversation here was in low voices, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t believe they hadn’t heard it. Moreover, judging by Liu Quan’s manner, although he said he wouldn’t, who knew whether he might tell others the moment he turned his head?

Sure enough, after Zhang Xiaohua and the others finished breakfast and had just stepped out of the small hall, Si Huinan furtively pulled Zhang Xiaohua aside. He also wanted to trade herbs for pills, but what he wanted was a “Blood-Coagulation Pill”. Zhang Xiaohua sighed, extremely helpless. Under Si Huinan’s repeated persuasion, he finally had no choice but to agree to his request, exchanging one forty-year-old “Lingmu Fruit” for a single “Blood-Coagulation Pill.” And this “Lingmu Fruit” was precisely another main ingredient for refining the “Bone-Consolidating Pill.”

Naturally, Zhang Xiaohua once again gave repeated warnings, telling Si Huinan not to spread word of him trading pills. As for whether Si Huinan would speak or not, that would depend on his character! Or rather, on Zhang Xiaohua’s own luck!

As for the wager arena, Zhang Xiaohua had already been there yesterday, so this time he didn’t need anyone to lead him. When he carried his bundle into the grounds, the place was already packed with disciples sitting in dense rows—there were actually thirty percent more people than yesterday!

Zhang Xiaohua was startled. Walking over to Qiu Weicheng and asking, he then learned that after hearing about the amusing events of yesterday’s wager between the Herb Division and the Pill Division, as well as the certainty that he, the current hot figure, would take the stage today, many disciples who normally paid little attention to such wagers had also become interested and came early in the morning to grab seats.

Zhang Xiaohua was speechless—people’s curiosity really was strong.

Not long after, Chen Fengxiao and Wu Zhouxu accompanied the five Elders into the arena. Elder Lei placed the sealed box onto the table. The two of them each took out a key from their robes, unlocked it, and only then returned to their respective sides.

Elder Lei looked at the crowd and said with a smile: “Yesterday, Chen Fengxiao of the Herb Division gave us quite a surprise. I wonder whether today Wu Zhouxu of the Pill Division can recover from yesterday’s disadvantage? Disciples of the Herb Division and the Pill Division, place your bets!”

However, when Elder Lei spoke of placing bets, he clearly lacked confidence. Everyone knew that yesterday, in order to seize the initiative and win the fifty taels of gold, the Pill Division had not only brought out the Jade Restoration Pill, but had even sent out their absolute main forces—the First Vajra, Second Vajra, Third Vajra, and Fourth Vajra. Although they did secure two victories, their opponents had only been the Fifth Arhat and Sixth Arhat, so the wins were hardly honorable.

Today, however, the Pill Division only had the Fifth through Eighth Vajras, plus the Tenth Vajra—five in total—while the Herb Division still had the Second Arhat, Third Arhat, and Zhang Xiaohua, this mysterious participant whose strength remained unknown.

The Third Arhat’s martial skill was roughly equal to that of the Sixth Vajra, just a bit weaker than the Fifth Vajra. With just those two Arhats facing five Vajras, they already had better than even odds. And since Zhang Xiaohua had beaten the Tenth Vajra, Cheng Shi, so badly the day before yesterday that his teeth were knocked out, his martial skill should be about on par with the Third Arhat. Thus, the Pill Division’s prospects today looked grim.

Fortunately for them, Chen Fengxiao’s arrangements had a slight flaw—this morning, Zhang Xiaohua was actually scheduled to fight three times alone. This had never happened before since the wager fights of Tianmu Peak began, and it was likely the Pill Division’s only chance to even the score!

The disciples below, hearing the call to place bets, found themselves in quite a dilemma. In the first match, nine times out of ten, it would be that mysterious Herb Division disciple stepping up. If he encountered the Fifth or Sixth Vajra, there might still be a chance to gamble—but if he ran into the Tenth Vajra, the Eighth Vajra, or others…

Before long, the betting was completed. Elder Lei smiled as he took out a brocade pouch and loudly announced, “Sixth match, representing the Herb Division: Ren Xiaoyao.”

“Alright~!” The Herb Division disciples’ morale surged as they raised their arms and cheered.

Zhang Xiaohua stood up, waved to the disciples behind him, and slowly walked into the arena. He neither showed off nor spoke, simply standing there quietly.

Elder Lei was also slightly surprised and thought to himself, “This kid is quite composed.”

Then he took out another brocade pouch. After opening it and glancing at the slip of paper inside, a strange smile appeared on his face. Immediately suppressing his amusement, he called out, “Sixth match, representing the Pill Division: Cheng Shi~”

“Huh?” Not only were the Pill Division disciples startled, but even the Herb Division cried out in surprise. Why had Zhang Xiaohua become famous? Wasn’t it because he had taught Cheng Shi a harsh lesson? He had knocked out his teeth and even accepted pill compensation from him worth fifty taels of gold. Now that the two were facing each other again, would it be enemies meeting with blazing hatred, or once bitten by a snake, fearing the well rope for ten years?

The crowd grew excited, though many were secretly groaning—they had bet on the Pill Division to win!

Hearing his name called, Cheng Shi stood up. Ever since he had seen yesterday that Zhang Xiaohua hadn’t fought a single match but was scheduled to fight three today—and that he himself would be in the first match—he had already known there was a high chance he would face Zhang Xiaohua. Thus, he was not surprised at all. With full confidence, he rose, picked up a staff as tall as his eyebrows, and entered the arena.

Although weapons were not forbidden in the wager fights of Tianmu Peak, these were still internal matches within Tuodan Hall, and injuries or crippling outcomes were undesirable. Thus, everyone wisely refrained from bringing weapons. Cheng Shi’s weapon was precisely this eyebrow-level staff, and bringing it out now was considered appropriate.

Holding the staff, Cheng Shi performed a flourish and called out, “Junior Brother Ren, we meet again.”

“Yes, to once again experience Senior Brother Cheng’s skills—I am most honored.”

“We’ve already tested fists and kicks. Today, I’d like to seek guidance from Junior Brother Ren in the use of weapons. I hope you won’t be stingy with your instruction.” Cheng Shi said, narrowing his eyes.

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head. “I’m afraid I’ll disappoint Senior Brother. I don’t understand weapons, so I’ll respond empty-handed.”

At this, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar.