Why Does This Medicinal Material Look Familiar To Me?

Orion looked at Yao Qianming with a knowing smile. Yao's face darkened, and after a moment of inner turmoil, he begrudgingly came to a decision.

He had no choice.

Sure, he could die with some dignity, but what about his daughter? If he perished, she'd face a far worse fate—enduring unbearable torment before her own death. Grinding his teeth, Yao Qianming finally relented:

"I can refine an eighth-grade healing elixir for you," he muttered. "But you must guarantee the safety of the people of Yaowang Valley. No more bloodshed! And I'll need the necessary materials—our valley doesn't have enough resources for that level of alchemy."

Orion nodded, a sly grin on his face. "That won't be a problem. I'm not a bloodthirsty man. Cooperate, and no harm will come to your people."

He casually tossed his space ring to Yao Qianming. "Check the resources in here. They should be more than sufficient."

Yao Qianming skeptically grabbed the ring, certain that there wouldn't be nearly enough. Refining an eighth-grade elixir required such expensive and rare materials that even a small fortune would be insufficient. But when he inspected the contents of the ring, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Inside were two massive piles of spirit flowers, herbs, and other rare alchemical ingredients—far more than he could have imagined. Dragon tongue fruit, fluorescent grass, snake lotus seeds—each more valuable than the last. His eyes stopped on a plant that stunned him. "A thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum?" he whispered, shocked. This herb was exceedingly rare, and to his knowledge, Yaowang Valley only possessed one.

But wait...

It dawned on him. That wasn't just any thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum. That was his! The herbs in this space ring were from the treasure house of Yaowang Valley itself!

Yao Qianming's hands clenched in anger as he glared at Orion. When had this happened? How had Orion managed to loot his treasure house right under his nose? His fury simmered, but he quickly suppressed it, knowing full well that resistance was futile.

Orion smirked, flashing his teeth. "What's wrong, Master Yao? Any issues?"

"N-No," Yao Qianming stammered, his fists trembling with frustration. But he knew the truth. His valley had been defeated, their wealth stolen, and there was nothing he could do.

Orion, seeing Yao's despair, continued, "So, how long until I get the elixirs?"

Yao hesitated before answering. "It takes time to refine an eighth-grade elixir. Even if all the elders work together, it will still take five days."

"Five days?" Orion's expression soured. "That's too long! The situation could change, and I can't afford to wait."

Reluctantly, Yao Qianming made a hasty compromise. "Two days. Give me two days, and I'll have the elixirs ready."

After a moment's thought, Orion agreed. "Fine. Two days. But if I don't have them by then, don't expect any mercy."

Yao Qianming nodded, though inwardly, his mind raced with a plan. He had already sent out messages for help through secret channels, summoning powerful allies who owed favors to Yaowang Valley. In two days, they would come to his rescue, and the tide would turn.

Orion, meanwhile, turned to his companion Yu Xiang and asked quietly, "Are there any hidden ancestors in Yaowang Valley?"

Yu Xiang chuckled. "No, my lord. This valley specializes in alchemy, not combat. Their strongest warrior is Yao Qianming himself."

Orion nodded in relief. At least he wouldn't have to worry about some hidden master appearing to avenge the fallen. Satisfied, he returned his attention to the present.

With two days to kill, Orion wasn't one to waste time. He ordered Yuan Zuozong to lead the Dragoon Army in raiding the nearby sects allied with the Great Zhou Dynasty. These sects, deeply rooted in spiritual veins and sacred lands, couldn't simply run away like ordinary soldiers. Their temples were fixed in place, vulnerable to Orion's forces.

Over the next two days, Orion smiled with satisfaction as his luck and power grew. Soon, he would have the elixirs he needed—and the forces of Yaowang Valley would be crushed beneath his feet.