Song Baiyu had not planned to visit the Li family immediately, after all, his current strength was limited, and going to the Li family would be like a sheep entering a tiger's den, fraught with danger. However, after accepting Li Cun's favor, Song Baiyu felt embarrassed to refuse the Li family's invitation again.

  Li's ancestors and grandchildren are upright and honest in their dealings, they should not harm themselves, if they were really hypocrites, wouldn't they have a way to save their own lives?

  All the way, Song Baiyu calculated various possibilities he might face. Under Li Cun's guidance, he soon arrived at Jinsha Villa Garden in the western suburbs of Shacheng.

  As he walked to the front door of the only five-story villa in the villa garden, an old man with white hair and beard was already standing at the door to greet Song Baiyu. This old man was the one that Song Baiyu had met before in the black market transaction activities, whom Li Cun called "Taigong".

  "Little friend, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for a long time!" The old man walked three steps in two strides to stand before Song Baiyu, grasped his hands and said excitedly.

  "The elder's kindness is overwhelming, the younger generation is terrified." Song Baiyu couldn't understand why the old man's attitude towards him had changed so suddenly. In the black market, this old man was still lukewarm to himself, how did he suddenly treat himself as a honored guest?

  Not to mention Song Baiyu being unable to understand, even Li Cun Tie by his side was stunned. What's wrong with the old master today? In the past, when meeting with central leaders, he had never seen him so excited. Could it be that this young man surnamed Song has a remarkable background? Li Cun Tie thought to himself, but in his heart, he was secretly rejoicing that he had invited Song Baiyu back, otherwise, who knows how the old master would have punished him?

  "Li Cun Tie, tell the villa to prepare some good food and wine. Just say we have a distinguished guest today. I'll take this young friend to the study to discuss something first." The old man didn't explain anything to Song Bo Yu, but instead loudly called out to Li Cun Tie before pulling Song Bo Yu towards the inside of the villa.

  "This old guy wouldn't be thinking of taking my Di Nan Cao, would he?" Song Baiyu thought to himself with some malice, but seeing the old man's fawning expression, he hid his suspicions well.

  "Little friend, are you a disciple of which great master or the son of a noble family in the cultivation world? Can you tell an old man?" The elder asked politely after entering the study.

  "Master of All Medicines!" When the old man mentioned a few words about the Xiuzhen world, Song Baiyu's eyes flashed with a hint of nostalgia, and he spoke softly.

  "What's the 'Wàn Yào Zōng'?" The old man muttered to himself a few times, but he really couldn't recall any sect by that name in the Cultivation Realm. He shook his head involuntarily, perhaps it was just that he knew too little.

  The old man was just a secular master of a Xiuzhen world family and did not count as a person in the Xiuzhen realm in the strict sense.

  In the mortal world, the Xiuzhen aristocratic families are only marginal supporting characters in the path of Xiuzhen. They can exist and continue to this day mainly because those detached from the world Xiuzhen sects need someone to provide them with various worldly products.

  "Old Li Chenmu, today I bought water dragon bone and other medicinal herbs on the black market. It wasn't until afterwards that I found out they were consigned by you for auction, so I took the liberty of inviting you here. Please don't mind." The old man politely bowed to Song Boyu, explaining the situation.

  Actually, Li Chenmu's words were not entirely truthful. After seeing Song Baiyu purchase the Dī Nán Cǎo, he only wanted to get to know Song Baiyu and see if he could conveniently buy the Dī Nán Cǎo from him. However, after learning that Song Baiyu was not only able to sell a large quantity of full-aged medicinal herbs but also possibly came from the Xīu Zhēn Jiè, his attitude towards Song Baiyu became more cautious and no longer as casual as before.

  After hearing Li Chenmu's explanation, Song Boyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. And Li Chenmu's attitude towards himself changed from being casual to respectful, which made Song Boyu secretly feel lucky.

  "If I had answered that I was a lone wolf just now, I reckon the other party would have treated me with a completely different attitude. Song Baiyu didn't believe that those ordinary herbs would make a cultivator far superior to himself be so polite."

  "Little friend, this time down the mountain, I don't know if it's to gain experience or to handle affairs for the Mountain Gate, how long will you stay in the mortal world?" Li Chenmu asked as he respectfully poured a cup of tea for Song Baiyu.

  "This time I came to the mortal world for tempering, and my stay is not fixed." Song Baiyu replied in a low voice, "Senior invited me to come to the mansion, I'm afraid it's not just because of the Full Age Herb matter?"

  Song Baiyu was not a nagging person, previously intimidated by Li Chenmu's strength, hiding his doubts in his heart and not daring to express them. Now seeing Li Chenmu being intimidated by his own identity, with a greatly changed attitude towards him, he didn't want to continue playing Tai Chi with Li Chenmu anymore.

  "Alas, our Li family is in a difficult situation..." Upon hearing Song Baiyu's words, Li Chenmu let out a sigh and recounted his own experiences.

  The Li family, although a noble cultivator clan, had not been in contact with the cultivation world for two hundred years. The reason was simple: the sect master of the Extreme Dan Sect had closed off the mountain two hundred years ago due to an unexpected event, and as the representative of the Extreme Dan Sect in the mortal realm, the Li family could no longer receive their assistance.

  "... Two hundred years have passed, and the elixir that Ji Dan Men bestowed upon our Li family has been used up. The techniques passed down by Ji Dan Men are also incomplete, so although the Li family appears strong on the surface, it's actually just a paper tiger. Who knows how many people are secretly plotting against us? Perhaps the day I pass away will be the day of the Li family's downfall."

  Song Baiyu fell silent, as a cultivator from a dependent family of the Cultivation world. Their identity was extremely embarrassing - on one hand, they could appear in the secular world with great strength and enjoy wealth and glory; on the other hand, they were not recognized by the Cultivation world, and were even discarded like trash. Once they were abandoned by the sects of the Cultivation world, it would mean the arrival of their doomsday.

  The Li family is now clearly facing this predicament, the Extreme Dan Men had severed ties with them before sealing off the mountain, nominally they were still a cultivation world noble family but in reality they were just barely holding on, at any time they could be annexed by another cultivation world noble family.

  "If I'm not mistaken, this is only the second time we've met, doesn't senior know about the taboo of speaking too deeply with shallow relationships?" Half a beat later, Song Baiyu asked cautiously.

  Li Chenmu burst out laughing, "Today, this old man and young friend meet like old times, and this old man's words are almost known to everyone on the street, how can it be considered a shallow conversation?"

  Song Baiyu curled his lip, almost writing the words "I don't believe it" on his face, but he was clever enough not to expose the old man's lie.

  Li Chenmu's old face turned red, he picked up his teacup and took a sip, then lightly coughed twice, looking at Song Baiyu with eager anticipation, and asked sincerely: "The Li family has had no contact with the Cultivation Realm for two hundred years, I wonder if young friend can tell me about the recent situation in the Cultivation Realm, and let this old man broaden his horizons?"

  Song Baiyu rolled his eyes and said in his heart, "I want to know more about the cultivation world than you do", but he knew that asking this question would likely cause trouble. He composed himself and said, "This junior has been quietly cultivating and doesn't know much about the cultivation world, I'm afraid I'll disappoint senior."

  Li Chenmu's face flashed with a hint of loss upon hearing this, and he inadvertently praised: "No wonder your cultivation is so refined."

  "Flattering words from a senior!" Song Baiyu responded humbly, but in his heart, he was even more skeptical of the old man's words. He himself was only at the initial stage of practicing Qi, yet this old man was praising him for having refined cultivation, who knew what kind of intention he had.

  Seeing Song Baiyu speaking with confidence and composure, Li Chenmu felt a sense of being at a loss for words, like facing a hedgehog. He couldn't help but feel anxious in his heart. In fact, what Li Chenmu had said to Song Baiyu earlier was not something that everyone knew, some of the content was a secret that the Li family had kept for 200 years. It's just that as soon as he spoke, Song Baiyu picked up on it and pointed out the flaws in his words, leaving Li Chenmu feeling embarrassed and hence speaking in such a way.

  He picked up the fragrant tea cup, took a light sip, and inadvertently discovered that on the desk in the study was scattered an ancient book. On the page currently turned to, there was a picture of Dicranopteris dichotoma. Song Boyu's heart skipped a beat, his gaze immediately drifting elsewhere.

  "What does little friend think of this tea?" Li Chenmu clearly saw Song Baiyu's small action, but didn't point it out, and instead asked in a soft voice.

  "The buds and leaves are first unfolded, flat and smooth. The taste is sweet, fresh, mellow and harmonious, the fragrance is elegant, refined and refreshing, good tea!" Song Baiyu replied casually.

  Li Chenmu was surprised to see Song Boyu being able to fully express the subtleties of this tea, knowing that even provincial-level high officials would find it difficult to get their hands on such a limited-supply top-grade tea. The Li family had managed to obtain these limited-supply tea leaves only because they had produced many imperial physicians over the centuries.

  "Little friend is indeed good eyesight, have you ever drunk this tea before?" Li Chenmu asked in surprise.

  "Uh, I almost drink it every day. Just tasting tea has taken several months."

  "No wonder my little friend is so meticulous in his words and actions, it turns out that the disciples of your esteemed school are so strict." Upon hearing Song Baiyu's words, Li Chenmu was solemn in his heart, thinking that Song Baiyu's tea ceremony skills were learned from Wan Yao Gate, but he didn't know that Song Baiyu's tea ceremony skills were actually passed down through his family.

  Song Baiyu knew that the old man had misunderstood him again, but he didn't bother to correct him. He found it boring talking to this old man and didn't know when it would end. He naturally just responded to what was said and wouldn't bring up a topic on his own initiative.

  "I see that young friend is buying medicinal materials in the black market today, but he seems to be quite unfamiliar with the underground black market. Although the Li family's power has declined over the past two hundred years, they still have a well-established business network all over the world and can participate in many trading markets that ordinary people cannot access. If young friend needs anything, feel free to tell old me, maybe I can be of some help."

  When Song Baiyu heard Li Chenmu's words, he was greatly moved. He had a large quantity of medicinal materials and pills that needed to be sold, and he also needed to purchase some medicinal materials for himself. He was worried about not having the right channels for this, but Li Chenmu's words made him feel like someone was delivering pillows in his sleep.

  "Senior is so kind, junior really can't bear it." Li Chenmu's words changed Song Baiyu's attitude towards him. After being shocked and moved, Song Baiyu bowed deeply to Li Chenmu.

  "It's just a small favor, no need to be so polite. If Little Friend is willing to act as a matchmaker for the Li family and Wan Medicine Gate, then the Li family will offer all of its accumulated wealth over the past 200 years with both hands." Seeing that Song Baiyu had finally been caught off guard, Li Chenmu was overjoyed in his heart, and he said with a joking tone what was truly on his mind when talking to Song Baiyu.