Jian Bei was stunned, "This item is extremely precious, passed down through generations of my clan!"
The Peacock King also lost his patience and said sternly, "The Peacock Dynasty commissioned the Returning Spring Sect to assist you. While the Xichuan Sword Clan is indeed a thorn in our side, you are clearly trying to use us to kill someone. You are still trying to track down Jian Nanfeng's family, with the sole purpose of seizing that so-called clan treasure!"
"Confess truthfully, what is the use of this item! Otherwise, from now on, you will no longer receive the assistance of the Peacock Dynasty and the Returning Spring Sect, and you will lose all your current status and wealth!"
Jian Bei's face gradually turned pale. Looking at the bright gaze of Zen Master Long Yue, he knew he could not hide it from him, nor did he want to endure his "evil arts." So, he confessed honestly.
"Back then, grandfather entrusted the clan treasure to my father, and I happened to be arriving for some business and overheard their conversation outside..."
"Our Sword Clan is an ancient tribe that has been passed down for thousands of years. The so-called clan treasure is a supreme treasure that our ancestors guarded by order of the Yellow Emperor..."
"Who is the Yellow Emperor?" The Peacock King asked with confusion, looking at Zen Master Long Yue.
Zen Master Long Yue explained, "Your Majesty, Emperor Xuanyuan Shi, known as the Yellow Emperor, is the foremost among the legendary 'Five Emperors' of that land. He is revered by the people of that land as the 'First Ancestor of Humanity'..."
The Peacock King stared at Jian Bei again.
Jian Bei gritted his teeth and sighed, "Back then, a renowned Daoist claimed to have refined an 'elixir of immortality' and presented it to the Yellow Emperor..."
"Does such a thing truly exist??" The Peacock King and Zen Master Long Yue's pupils contracted sharply!
Jian Bei chuckled dryly, "The Daoist presented all the elixirs of immortality, five portions in total. This Daoist was indeed famous for his mastery of alchemy. The Yellow Emperor also heard that the Daoist had not yet consumed this medicine, so naturally, he was unwilling to monopolize it and bestowed one portion upon the Daoist. Unexpectedly, as soon as the Daoist's hand touched the medicine, it flowed into his body through his fingers..."
"Several officials were present at the time and witnessed it with their own eyes. The Daoist, who had been white-haired and bearded, miraculously rejuvenated within an hour to appear eighteen years old. Immediately thereafter, his body began to bleed and he died violently!!"
"The officials witnessed the miraculous rejuvenation. They were still unable to resist the temptation, believing that the Daoist's physical condition was weak and he could not withstand the elixir of immortality. They were certain they could. Thus, they all begged the Yellow Emperor to bestow the medicine. In the end, three officials, one elder and two middle-aged men, consumed the elixir of immortality and successively bled and died!"
"The Daoist Chi Songzi discovered the anomaly: the three people who took the medicine had physiques different from ordinary people, but there were also significant differences among their physiques. The elder who had the best physique in his youth was actually the first to take the medicine and the last to die... The Yellow Emperor seemed to have an epiphany and publicly announced that he possessed the last portion of the elixir of immortality, to be consumed in the future. No one raised any objections..."
"But in reality, the Yellow Emperor knew his own old and frail body and did not wish to waste this item. He ordered his divine craftsmen to seal it with silver dragon gold and entrusted it to the custody of his most loyal and obscure guard, instructing him: 'If a sage of unprecedented caliber appears in the future, and when he is unexpectedly critically ill and beyond help, deliver this item to him, allowing him to choose whether to make the final attempt'... That guard was precisely our ancestor of the Sword Clan!"
The Peacock King and Zen Master Long Yue's eyes gleamed, their breathing becoming somewhat rapid.
Jian Bei sighed, "After the Yellow Emperor passed away, the officials only thought that he also failed to consume the elixir of immortality. This matter was kept secret. This elixir of immortality subsequently disappeared from public knowledge, and no one believed it could grant eternal life anymore... Later, our clan spent a thousand years crafting a special mechanism to store this so-called elixir of immortality, passing it down from generation to generation. This way, even if this item fell into the hands of outsiders, ordinary people would not be able to open it!"
The Peacock King smiled at Jian Bei, "How do you find my physique? Can I withstand the elixir of immortality?"
Jian Bei trembled, "Your Majesty, this item is extremely dangerous..."
"You just want to find it and consume it yourself!" Zen Master Long Yue sneered, his gaze sharp, his heart racing.
He was old, but his physique in his youth was beyond that of ordinary people...
No one could resist the temptation of "rejuvenation"!
Even with the risk of a violent death, could one not wait until despair due to aging to try? Perhaps it would truly work?
Zen Master Long Yue believed that Jian Bei harbored the same thought!
"The Xichuan Sword Clan, as an ancient family passed down for thousands of years, this matter is not entirely impossible," the Peacock King murmured to himself. "Is it possible that Jian Nanfeng has this elixir of immortality?"
Jian Bei replied, "Your Majesty! I have already sent people to inquire. Jian Nanfeng and his wife have clearly aged. They could not have consumed the elixir of immortality. Even if the clan treasure is with him, without the reminders from my father and grandfather, he may not know how to open the final mechanism of the clan treasure!"
The Peacock King stared at Jian Bei and smiled, "The legend of this elixir of immortality is too illusory. However, it must be retrieved and kept for me. When I am critically ill and old, and have no other recourse, I will attempt it. Do you understand?"
Jian Bei could only nod, "Originally, I was also planning to find it and present it to Your Majesty as a surprise..."
Laughter erupted from the Peacock King in the secret chamber.
Liang Mansion, in Liang Xiao's courtyard.
After Mu Xueqin, along with Hua Xiong and his wife, conducted their routine check-up on Liang Xiao, she smiled, "He's perfectly healthy!"
Having been enlightened by Yue Lian, Liang Xiao had also come to terms with things and nodded with a smile.
Mu Xueqin then pinched Jian Qinwan's cheek, her eyes full of affection, "Look at my precious daughter, she seems to have become younger after getting married!"
"Mother, I'm only nineteen, I'm naturally young~" Jian Qinwan pouted.
Mu Xueqin explained, "No, dear. When Mother first came to Liang Mansion, I thought your appearance had become more mature than before. But recently, you look almost like you did when I sent you off from Tianshan!"
"No way~" Jian Qinwan snuggled into Mu Xueqin's arms, acting spoiled.
"Who knows you better than Mother? You have indeed become younger!" Mu Xueqin feigned displeasure.
Zhen Mi, who had been silent all along, spoke, "Sister Qinwan has been nourished by love, and her mindset has become younger..."
Jian Qinwan's face instantly flushed red. She pulled away from Mu Xueqin's embrace and pinched Zhen Mi's cheek, "Mi'er, what are you talking about!"
Yue Lian, still enduring the pain of her first night, glanced shyly at Liang Xiao and said weakly, "Now that you mention it, Young Master also seems to have become a little younger, about the same as last year?"
"Mmm mmm mmm, Brother Xiao has also been nourished by love," Zhen Mi, enduring Jian Qinwan's pinching, forced out the words.
Liang Xiao's old face turned red, and he pouted, "Little children should study hard. If you continue to be so mischievous, I'll marry you off when you turn fourteen!"
According to the laws of the Great Gan Kingdom, women were to be married by fourteen and would be subject to a head tax if not betrothed by fifteen.
"Okay, okay~" Zhen Mi, instead of being frightened, was extremely excited.
"Oh my, this little girl is truly fearless..." Liang Xiao was at a loss.
He estimated that in a few more years, he would truly be unable to reason with this little girl.
Xiao Qing, Jian Qinwan, and Mu Xueqin looked at the excited Zhen Mi, then at the helpless Liang Xiao, with strange expressions.
It seemed Mi'er had hidden it very well, and this fellow hadn't noticed?
Christie hid behind Luo Qingxue, her face red, not daring to speak.
At the same time, the Great Gan Daily opened in the capital.