Upon hearing Madam Shen’s words, Zhang Chen was momentarily stunned.

Madam Shen continued, "If ever the Shen Family should fall into hard times, and you see the descendants of the Shen Family wandering the streets, lend a helping hand if you can, to honor the bond of kinship."

Madam Shen waved her hand and said to Zhang Chen, "You may go!"

Zhang Chen bowed respectfully to Madam Shen and then turned and left the room.

Watching Zhang Chen’s departing figure, Madam Shen sighed softly, slowly closing her eyes, seemingly drifting into sleep.

Walking through the brightly lit courtyard of the Shen Family, passing through familiar corridors, Zhang Chen silently sensed the mysterious Qi mechanism beneath the old Shen residence, noticing its fluctuations becoming more turbulent and vigorous.

At this moment, a hurried call came from afar: "Come quick, there are relatives from the Northern Land who have escaped back. Fetch the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill quickly!"

Following the sound, Zhang Chen saw seven or eight figures, their clothes stained with blood and tattered, falling to the ground, carried away in haste by a group of Shen Family guards.

"The great purge!" Zhang Chen murmured to himself, turning his head to walk towards the main gate.

The matters of the Shen Family had little to do with him, as he also sought to enter the Ancient Water God Tomb to seize Creations, he too pursued the interests of the Shen Family.

Halfway there, Zhang Chen saw Wang Xifeng in a gold robe, calmly directing the guards to save people. Zhang Chen merely glanced from afar, then performed an Escape Technique to vanish from the Shen residence.

Returning to his courtyard, the three youngsters were in a room with lights on, reviewing their day’s lessons. Zhang Chen did not disturb them and quietly returned to his own room, lit an oil lamp, turned up the flame, and took out the Pill Formula for the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill for a closer look.

"This Pill Formula is actually made of silver foil, with a mysterious aura circulating on it, it turns out to be the original version of the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill. However, the aura on this silver foil is too weak, insufficient to drop experience points and Skills." After examining it for a while, Zhang Chen expressed regret; if the Pill Formula could drop Skills, it would certainly save him a lot of trouble.

Unfortunately, Zhang Chen’s shortcut was shattered, leaving him to lower his head and carefully contemplate the Pill Formula. The text of the Pill Formula was written in the mysterious era text, from the period before human written language was established, following the Innate Texts. Without Zhang Chen’s extensive reading and knowledge over the years, he wouldn’t have been able to decipher this Pill Formula. After a long while, he revealed a thoughtful expression: "This Pill Formula is indeed marvelous, with two functions. First, to maintain the cohesion of one’s soul. Second, to lock the soul within the body, preventing it from wandering and being harmed by external demons."

"This Pill Formula requires eight major ingredients, along with eighty-one common herbs, hence it is called the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill. The eight treasures refer to the eight major ingredients, each needing to be at least a thousand years old and of premium quality to practice the alchemy." Zhang Chen put away the Pill Formula; he had methods to cultivate herbs and could try to refine the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill.

"My current Alchemy Furnace is an Innate Supreme Treasure, with Sun Charcoal Fire inside, which I use as a Magical Treasure. To use it for refining the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill seems to limit the treasure’s potential. This Alchemy Furnace can be used as a weapon at critical moments, or transform into a defensive Divine Technique, a lifesaving treasure at crucial times. To make the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill, I should just find some ordinary alchemy furnaces."

Thinking of this, Zhang Chen began pondering where to purchase an alchemy furnace the next day.

In this era, alchemy furnaces are not easy to purchase, being large and heavy, requiring significant investment, and besides Daoist Temples, hardly anyone wants to buy an alchemy furnace. Buying one from a smithy is unlikely unless custom-made, but where does Zhang Chen have time for that?

"It seems I can only find a Daoist Temple and find a way to procure an alchemy furnace." Zhang Chen contemplated his plan for the next day.

The next day, Zhang Chen returned to Shangjia Medical Clinic. Seeing Zhang Chen, Chen Chong quickly approached with a smile, bowing respectfully: "Young Master Zhang, do you need to buy any herbs? Or perhaps sell herbs?"

"I need to buy a batch of herb seeds." Zhang Chen said as he took out a list from his sleeve.

Of course, the list contained not only the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill herbs but also some herbs Zhang Chen intentionally mixed in, to prevent the secret formula from being leaked.

"These herb seeds are uncommon, but collecting them isn’t too difficult. Even if our pharmacy doesn’t have them, we can fetch them from other pharmacies for you. Please wait inside while we dispatch someone to handle it." Chen Chong respectfully invited Zhang Chen into the house and then arranged for someone to start the procurement process.

Zhang Chen followed him inside, where Chen Chong offered tea, and said to Zhang Chen: "Please wait here, I will personally handle it for you."

After speaking, Chen Chong hurried off, returning about an hour later, carrying a cloth bag: "Sir, the seeds you requested are arranged, totaling three hundred silver."

"Why so expensive?" Zhang Chen was momentarily stunned.

Chen Chong smiled wryly: "Don’t think it’s too expensive; this is already after I used my face for a discount. Herb seeds can sometimes cost more than herbs themselves, many seeds being as fleeting as a flash of light, easily disappearing into the soil unnoticed. Some can’t even propagate through seeds, depending rather on root divisions."

Upon hearing Chen Chong’s explanation, Zhang Chen acknowledged his words, realizing that the other party was not taking advantage of him. He then took out silver notes from his sleeve, opened the half-bag of seeds, and saw various large and small packages all carefully wrapped in kraft paper, categorized, and labeled.

"Not bad!" Zhang Chen nodded to Chen Chong: "Thank you, Shopkeeper Chen."

Then, the medicine bag in Zhang Chen’s hand kept shrinking until it became the size of a fingernail, and Zhang Chen stuffed it into his sleeve.

This was Zhang Chen’s application of the Celestial Measuring Ruler after mastering it, a utilization of the Power of Space inherent to the ruler, making items bigger or smaller was just a trivial application.

"Young Master Zhang, remarkable skill." Chen Chong expressed a hint of surprise at Zhang Chen’s technique.

"Just a mere trick! Steward Chen, come to my residence for tea when you have time." Zhang Chen invited Chen Chong, then vanished into the crowd.

"Indeed a fascinating person." Steward Chen said in bewilderment as he watched Zhang Chen’s distant figure.

Walking along the street, Zhang Chen commenced summoning Fox Fairy Nannan, and shortly after, a white-clad young girl appeared beside him with an unwilling expression, "Why did you summon me?"

"I want an Alchemy Furnace, go retrieve one and place it in my home," stated Zhang Chen.

"What do you want an Alchemy Furnace for?" Fox Fairy Nannan looked Zhang Chen up and down with curiosity in her eyes, "You wouldn’t possibly know Alchemy, would you?"

"Just go and do it." Zhang Chen replied irritably.

"Finding an Alchemy Furnace won’t be easy, this matter requires some investigation on my part." After speaking, Fox Fairy Nannan vanished from the spot.

Zhang Chen arrived at the academy, where the day was quiet, and he entered the Exquisite Tower to ponder mysteries, noticing Zhang Gaoqiu and Little Princess Chai Wenji standing together.

"I heard that the Shen Family has encountered a major problem, currently all the Shen Family members are trapped inside Jinling City, they are allowed in but not out. While the external branches of the Shen Family have been battered and have fled into Jinling City. The latest news suggests that the docks and ships of the Shen Family across the regions are under attack by mysterious forces. Someone has already laid down the Heaven and Earth Net, making Shen Family akin to moths caught in a spider web, unable to defend against the onslaught. I’m afraid the Shen Family won’t withstand this disaster." Chai Wenji gazed at Zhang Gaoqiu with her eyes, "This is an opportunity for you! You should know what I mean, right?"

"Is the Shen Family truly facing ruin, beyond salvation?" Zhang Gaoqiu was somewhat incredulous, for the Shen Family’s lineage stretched back countless millennia.

"Do you still distrust my intelligence?" Chai Wenji’s voice carried some dissatisfaction.

"How could I, a mere person, dare doubt the Princess, just shocked in my heart, hard to believe for the moment." Zhang Gaoqiu hurriedly explained.

"Show me your sincerity! You know, addressing the trouble before the Shen Family falls versus after, they are worlds apart. If you resolve the issue before their downfall, your reputation remains untouched, and I can duly report to my father and mother. If you deal with it post-collapse, people might condemn you, saying you are opportunistic and faithless, kicking someone when they’re down. My father and mother absolutely won’t allow me to wed someone blemished. The Royal Family cannot suffer such disgrace." Chai Wenji uttered.

Upon hearing Chai Wenji’s words, Zhang Gaoqiu took a deep breath, then extended his hands to hold Chai Wenji’s hands, drawing her into his embrace, "Don’t worry, I will not leave any trouble."

While the two were embracing, Jiang Nan entered from outside, upon seeing them together, he immediately changed color, pondered briefly, and quickly exited the Exquisite Tower, heading toward the classroom where Shen Ling was studying.

Jiang Nan arrived at Shen Ling’s classroom, gestured to Shen Ling inside, and summoned her out.

"Cousin Jiang Nan, why seek me instead of pondering cultivation in the tower?" Shen Ling greeted Jiang Nan after stepping outside.

Jiang Nan pulled Shen Ling into a secluded corner, cast her eyes upon Shen Ling, hesitated not knowing how to speak.

"What do you want to say? Why are you hesitant?" Shen Ling looked at Jiang Nan in surprise.

Jiang Nan heard this and forced a wry smile, "There’s something, I don’t know how to tell you, I... I..."

Seeing Jiang Nan there in hesitation, Shen Ling frowned, "Why are you stammering today? You’re not usually like this!"

"I just wanted to inquire about Shen Qiu’s wellbeing, no other matter." Jiang Nan struggled briefly, finally choosing to conceal the truth.