<h4>Chapter 71 - The Clock Is Ticking </h4>


    Master Fengzi and the four Alchemy Emperors continued running at their speed. But then, a strong aura suddenly enveloped their surroundings which also prevented them from taking another step forward.


    "<i>Step! Step! Step!" </i>A series of light footsteps echoed in the darkness, scaring the five alchemists tremendously.


    They stiffly turned their heads in the direction where the footsteps came from and saw a blonde beauty dressed in a knight’s armor walking slowly towards them.


    Her face could be hardly seen because of theck of light and only her pretty eyes were slightly visible.


    Seeing her, the alchemists suddenly recalled that they still haven’t paid for the wine that Jiu Shen ordered.


    Master Fengzi who was as strong as an 8th-rank Divine realm cultivator was now shaking in dread. "Yo-Young Mi-Miss Theia, we’re not running away from payment... He-Here! Take this. This has two hundred True Crystals inside..." He said in a stuttering voice as he took out a small pouch from his storage ring.


    Theia moved closer to Master Fengzi and she took the small pouch from thetter’s hands. She then inspected it with her spiritual power and saw that there were indeed two hundred True Crystals inside. After that, Theia grabbed eighty True Crystals from the pouch and handed it back to the shivering Master Fengzi.


    "Old man, I don’t take bribes..." She whispered to Master Fengzi before her silhouette vanished from the scene.


    <i>"Whoosh!"</i>


    Master Fengzi held his chest as he panted heavily. "That youngdy-That youngdy... She is even scarier than the de-demons of the Crimson Fiend Continent... Should I be happy... Should I be happy that a strong expert is living here in the Silver Wing Empire or should I grieve instead?" He muttered while catching his breathing.


    "Branch Head Fengzi, I doubt if she would even involve herself in the internal conflict of the empire." Wang Wei said while wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    Master Fengzi who was still taking heavy breaths was stunned. He then nced at Wang Wei and asked him with knitted eyebrows. "What did you just say?"


    Wang Wei sighed and replied in a serious tone. "The empire might face a huge conflict in theing days. The three eldest sons of the emperor are now bing restless. They will surely make a move any time now."


    Master Fengzi frowned when he heard the news. He was too focused in concocting the 8th-grade Invigorating Meridians Pill that he didn’t even know what was happening to the Silver Wing Empire. "If any of the three eldest sons of the emperor wille to our Alchemy Hall to seek for political help, refuse them immediately."


    Wang Wei and the other three Alchemy Emperors were surprised and the former couldn’t help but ask in a perplexed tone. "Branch Head Fengzi, I thought...we are supporting the crown prince this time... Isn’t that what you told us before?"


    Master Fengzi shook his head and nced at the direction of Jiu Shen’s store with aplicated look. "That was before we met Wine Master Jiu..."


    "Branch Head, what do you mean?" Wang Wei stared at Master Fengzi in confusion.


    "What do you think will happen if Wine Master Jiu decides to support one of those princes?" Master Fengzi didn’t answer Wang Wei and instead threw another question at him.


    Wang Wei’s eyes widened as a sh of understanding erased all of his doubts. "That prince would surely... But will Wine Master Jiu really involve himself in this event?"


    Master Fengzi took a nce at Wang Wei and smiled. "We will know soon..."


    * * *


    Inside Jiu Shen’s room.


    "There are still three days left before your next acupuncture. And by then, the four Earth Origin Dragon Tree will also bear their fruits." Jiu Shen said with his back turned against Lu Sn.


    Thetter was delighted when she heard that, but then, she suddenly recalled something. "Master, the fruits... The alchemists might remain silent about it, but some of the customers should have been able to recognize such a treasure."


    Jiu Shen grabbed a chair for himself and satzily on it before he nced at his disciple who now had a worried expression lingering on her face. "You don’t have to be worried. Instead, you might as well ce your worry to whoeveres to make trouble inside the store."


    Lu Sn’s mouth gaped at his words and she couldn’t help but let out a smile.


    <i>"Knock! Knock! Knock!" </i>


    "Come in. It’s open." Jiu Shen said indifferently.


    <i>"Click!" </i>The door emitted a clicking sound as it opened, revealing the face of Theia.


    Lu Sn nced at her warily. Lu Sn was a bit afraid of this woman even though Theia was serving as her master’s store guard.


    "Master..." Theia spoke gently as she handed a small pouch to Jiu Shen. The former’s eyes contained deep affection and respect as she nced at Jiu Shen. It was hard to believe that the tyrant of the Immortal’s Wine would behave so meek and gentle.


    Jiu Shen took the pouch but before he could even nce at its contents, it magically vanished from his hands.


    Of course, it was the system who had taken it...


    Jiu Shen then nced at Theia’s eyes with an emotionless look. "Is there anything else, Theia?"


    "Ah- Nothing else, master." Theia was flustered when she met Jiu Shen’s gaze. She also felt a slight pang in her heart after seeing his cold look.


    With a slightly heavy heart, Theia hastily left the room.


    Lu Sn nced at Theia’s deste figure with pity before she turned to look at her master with a wry smile on her face. ’Only master could evoke Lady Theia’s womanly emotions, but he’s too cold-hearted to ept her feelings...’


    * * *


    Xue Family Estate.


    "Elder Ming, the final transaction with the Fang Imperial Family of the Blue Fang Empire was sessfully aplished. There are no casualties and the ves are now ready to be trained by our people." Sword Three bowed at the man in front of him with reverence.


    Elder Ming smiled and nodded his head. "Good job, Sword Three. You may leave now to take a rest. Tomorrow, make sure that those new batch of ves will be properly trained."


    Sword Three nodded his head and replied in a confident tone. "I will get it done, Elder Ming."


    After Sword Three left, a burst of eerieughter echoed inside the room.


    "Elyk, the clock is ticking. Your reign won’tst for long...<i>Hahaha!" </i>