Chapter 528: Chapter 528: The Gift from the Crown Prince’s Mansion

In the front hall of the mansion, a young man dressed in splendid robes was sipping tea, a dash of bravery lighting up his features.

“Hehe, I was busy refining pills and neglected the distinguished guest from the Crown Prince’s Manor.” Gong Sun Mo quickly approached, seeing it was a young man added to his confusion, but he still offered a good-humored greeting.

Seeing Gongsun Mo, the young man in fine clothes stood up and bowed respectfully, “I am Liu Yu, paying my respects to Elder Gong Sun Mo.”

“There’s no need for formalities, I’m just curious about what brings you, dear nephew Liu Yu, to the Gongsun Mansion?” Gong Sun Mo asked.

Liu Yu barely smiled, “I am here to offer a gift to Elder Gongsun on behalf of the Crown Prince.”

Interest sparked in Gongsun Mo’s eyes, “Without reason or cause, why would the Crown Prince send a gift to me?”

Liu Yu replied with a laugh, “Why not see the gift first before we get into that?”

With that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a Jade Slip.

“Please accept it, sir.” Liu Yu respectfully presented the Jade Slip.

Gongsun Mo didn’t hesitate to receive and examine the Jade Slip.

As he inspected it, surprise colored Gongsun Mo’s face.

The Jade Slip documented an ancient pill-refining technique, known to have been lost generations ago. It was unimaginably valuable to any Pill Refiner, so valuable that they wouldn’t trade it for an entire city.

Even with Gongsun Mo’s extensive experience and knowledge, the magnitude of the gift left him stunned. As a Pill Refiner, he was instantly fascinated by the lost ancient art of pill refinement.

However, Gongsun Mo was not blinded by the grand gift. Crown Prince Zhou Yishui must have had intentions beyond mere gift-giving for sending him this ancient alchemy technique.

“Are you satisfied with the gift, Elder Gongsun?” Liu Yu, a man capable of expertly reading social cues, saw the fascination blossom on Gongsun Mo’s face. He knew Gongsun Mo was enticed by the ancient refinement technique.

Gongsun Mo nodded, looked at Liu Yu, and asked, “Why exactly has the Crown Prince sent me this gift?”

Honestly, Liu Yu confessed, “The Crown Prince wishes to borrow a volume from the Heavenly Star Scrolls.”

Upon hearing these words, Gongsun Mo’s expression immediately shifted. He hadn’t expected Crown Prince Zhou Yishui to make such an outrageous request.

The Gongsun Family had the generational heirloom, the Heavenly Star Scrolls, which recorded many powerful Martial Arts Divine Powers and a few rare secret techniques.

Originally, there were seven volumes of the Heavenly Star Scrolls. But due to a period of family upheaval, two volumes were lost, leaving only five volumes.

Even for members of the Gongsun family, not everyone was entitled to view the Heavenly Star Scrolls. Talents like Gongsun Xiao and Gongsun Long only viewed one volume each.

As for outsiders, it was utterly impossible. Yet Zhou Yishui traded an Ancient Alchemical Technique in the hopes of borrowing one volume from the Heavenly Star Scrolls. This demand tested the limits of the Gongsun family.

“Go and tell the Crown Prince that there is no room for discussion on this matter.” Gongsun Mo retorted angrily, throwing the Jade Slip back at Liu Yu.

Seeming to have anticipated Gongsun Mo’s reaction, Liu Yu responded with a playful grin, “Dear Elder, please, do not let your anger get the better of you. The Crown Prince said this is only the first gift. If the Gongsun family allows him to read the Heavenly Star Scroll, there will be other gifts.”

Saying that, Liu Yu pulled out a Nine Palace Bag.

Looking into the Nine Palace Bag, Gongsun Mo’s eyes went wide again. There were three millennial ancient medicinal herbs inside, radiating an incredibly strong aura, clearly aged at least two thousand years.

Three ancient herbs, each at least two thousand years old was indeed a lavish gift. This caused Gongsun Mo to sigh in admiration. Truly, the Crown Prince’s Manor was profound, not hesitating to give away millennium-old medicinal herbs as gifts.

Three 2,000-year-old ancient herbs with an ancient alchemical technique made it harder for Gongsun Mo to maintain his composure.

These two gifts sent by Zhou Yishui were indeed very targeted. Gongsun Mo, as a Pill Refiner, found it extremely difficult to resist alchemical techniques, ancient herbs, and pill formulas.

It would probably be the same for any other Pill Refiner as well.

However, Gongsun Mo still rejected the offers. Although he craved for these items dearly, the Heavenly Star Scrolls were of vital importance to the Gongsun family. They could not be shared with outsiders easily, and the Gongsun family matters were beyond his capacity. Even if he agreed, the other high-ranking family members wouldn’t.

“Take it back, it really is impossible.” Gongsun Mo said.

Showcasing not a hint of disappointment, Liu Yu did not take back the items but left the Jade Slip and Nine Palace Bag on the table.

“Elder Gongsun, there’s no need to reject so hastily. Perhaps in a few days, you’ll change your mind.” Liu Yu leaving him with a meaningful remark, saluted Gongsun Mo again, and then prepared to leave the front hall.

“Oh yes, I heard that Gongsun Xiao from your esteemed mansion is quite intimate with Fang Lin?” Before he left the front hall, Liu Yu suddenly added.

Turning around, Gongsun Mo frowned, “So, what of it?”

A small smile played on Liu Yu’s face, “Elder might want to advise Gongsun Xiao to keep his distance from Fang Lin. The Crown Prince does not think highly of him.”

After his last word, Liu Yu took his leave.

Gongsun Mo looked at the Jade Slip and the Nine Palace Bag on the table, his brow furrowing deeper. From Liu Yu’s words, he realized Crown Prince Zhou Yishui had an intense obsession for the Heavenly Star Scrolls of his family, and he was likely to try other methods.

The last sentence Liu Yu had dropped was a warning for the Gongsun family, to keep a distance from Fang Lin and avoid bringing disaster upon themselves.

“Humph! Quite an overbearing Crown Prince!” Gongsun Mo remarked. Although he felt a little discontent towards Crown Prince Zhou Yishui, he also felt helpless. Being the Crown Prince of the Great Xuan, Zhou Yishui had the right to be domineering.

The Gongsun family was indeed one of the first-rate families in Xuan Country, but many times, they had to bow down to the royal family.

After Liu Yu left, Gongsun Xiao led Fang Lin into the front hall and told him about Liu Yu’s intentions. Upon hearing it, Gongsun Xiao expressed his displeasure.

“This is outrageous, they are trying to dip their fingers into the Heavenly Star Scrolls of our Gongsun family. Do they think our Gongsun family is so easy to bully?” Gongsun Xiao spoke indignantly.

Fang Lin listened quietly on the side, as an outsider, he held no qualification to comment.

Gongsun Mo appeared worried, “I fear Zhou Yishui will not give up so easily. I wonder how he will maneuver next.”

“Shall I pay a visit to the Crown Prince’s Manor and dissuade him?” Gongsun Xiao suggested.

Gongsun Mo shook his head, “That won’t work. Zhou Yishui is a man of action. Once he sets his mind onto something, he will not change it. Your attempts at persuasion will only be wasted.”

Seeing how perturbed the two men were, Fang Lin realized he should not overstay, and thus took his leave.

After Gongsun Xiao saw Fang Lin out of the mansion, Fang Lin returned to the Pill Alliance alone.

On his way back to the Pill Alliance, Fang Lin noticed something wrong. Why did it feel like someone was stealthily keeping an eye on him?