Chapter Twenty-Four: Azure Thunder Marrow-Cleansing Flower Happy New Year!

"Why did you bring me to the herbal pharmacy?" Su Ye was quite puzzled. Although he had read many books about medicine, after all, three years ago he had been gravely injured and had spent these years searching for various remedies to recover. Yet he believed that if one truly needed to treat illness or save lives, it was better to seek a real physician; with someone of Ning Shuang's status, inviting one or two alchemists would certainly be possible.

Ning Shuang smiled and said, "You'll know soon enough. Let me show you something truly remarkable."

They stepped into the pharmacy, where many patients waited for consultations. Some busy apothecaries, upon seeing Ning Shuang, nodded and greeted her.

"Sister Shuang, good day!"

"Sister Shuang—you've arrived!"

These apothecaries, bowing and greeting, cast curious glances at Su Ye, quietly wondering about his identity to warrant such reception from Sister Shuang.

They passed through two sections of the pharmacy, winding their way to the backyard. Here, a different scene unfolded: lush trees surrounded them, and a winding path led directly into the forest ahead.

"This pharmacy is part of my family's business. The entire mountain behind us is planted with medicinal herbs; it's one of our family's main sources of income. But recently, a patch of herbs we've cultivated for sixty years is about to die out completely. We've tried countless methods, all to no avail…" Ning Shuang sighed deeply, clearly exhausted in body and spirit.

"Sixty years? What precious plant could it be?" Su Ye knew that even a sixty-year-old ginseng would be valuable.

"Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Flower!" Ning Shuang's voice suddenly rose.

Su Ye's heart gave a jolt; he had certainly heard of this flower. Every martial artist, after unlocking the one hundred and eight acupoints throughout their body, enters the true "Qi Gathering Realm." At that stage, they must cleanse their marrow and bones. The most sought-after, rarely available pill is the Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Pill, refined from this flower!

This was a fortune, capable of elevating a family's status and determining its future. No wonder Ning Shuang was so anxious.

"I've heard the Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Flower cannot be exposed to other energies and requires a martial artist with thunder-based techniques to cultivate it—so you want me to be the gardener?"

Su Ye finally understood; it must have been that night when Ning Shuang discovered his thunder abilities.

Ning Shuang smiled. "You, who once shocked the entire Goat City as a thunder-veined martial artist, have recovered now. Not inviting you would truly be a waste!"

Su Ye nodded thoughtfully. His recovery must have reached the ears of many prominent families.

After crossing a mountain, they arrived in a valley where a special cluster of flower buds appeared. These buds emitted a faint white glow, and within a kilometer radius, not another plant grew—the land seemed to belong solely to them.

Hundreds of meters away, many men and women watched from afar, occasionally shaking their heads and sighing at the patch of flowers.

An elderly master slowly lowered his wooden sword and sighed. "Patriarch, this was our last attempt. We simply don't have enough thunder to nourish them. While they're not yet completely dead, it's best to make plans early."

The Ning family patriarch's face was wracked with sorrow. The Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Flower was their pride and joy. The family's prominence in Goat City was closely tied to their possession of these flowers; if this crop died, their entire clan would suffer grave consequences.

"Perhaps I was too arrogant. Twenty years ago, I should have listened to the family and not taken the risk of cultivating thunder flowers. Alas—harvest them all. If the flowers cannot be used, at least their roots can be ground into powder to offset some losses."

The venerable patriarch, who had weathered countless storms, now found himself forced to concede.

The others were deeply moved, their faces pained. The solution was more brutal than severing a limb—a rocket once destined for the skies was now to be dismantled and sold for scrap.

"Father—"

Ning Shuang called from afar, then led Su Ye forward, smiling. "Father, wait a moment. Do you remember the Su Ye I mentioned a few days ago? I brought him here today—let him try!"

The patriarch, the elderly master, and others instinctively looked at Su Ye, and upon seeing his youthful face, their expressions turned to disappointment.

The patriarch did not ask Su Ye's name. With a glance, he set his face sternly and said, "Enough. Your intentions are appreciated, but I've decided to harvest all the Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Flowers. Please take your guest and leave."

Ning Shuang grew anxious, pulling Su Ye forward and quickly saying, "He is Su Ye! Four years ago, he possessed the thunder vein—he was famous across the city! I searched hard to find him. He can do it. I saw him use thunder techniques by the sea, stronger than anyone in our family."

No sooner had she finished than a young man named Ning Qiu strode out angrily. "Ning Shuang, you truly lack decorum! Do you know where you are? You bring in a random stranger—what if he leaks our secrets?"

He then turned to Su Ye, saying loudly, "Su Ye, is it? I'm not targeting you, but your fame was three or four years ago. You practiced forbidden techniques in the Yu family and destroyed your thunder vein. Now you dare pretend to be a thunder martial artist before us? You don't understand the situation here! Hmph!"

Su Ye was surprised by this reception. He hadn't even spoken, yet he was already the target of everyone's criticism. He replied sternly, "From your tone, you see yourself as a thunder martial artist? No wonder your family's Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Flowers are dying!"

"You brat, you dare speak so boldly here!" Ning Qiu was furious.

The patriarch, already vexed, grew more annoyed at their quarrel and said in a deep voice, "Enough! Ning Shuang, I understand your intention, but we need a true thunder martial artist to nurture the flowers with thunder. If you could bring Yu Zhisha, perhaps there'd be hope. This is no child's play—thunder flowers can backfire at any time. Can he withstand it? Take him back."

Ning Shuang herself was uncertain, but still insisted, "Father, since he's here, let him try! What if he succeeds?"

Ning Qiu snorted coldly and suddenly produced a yellow talisman, folded into a triangle, inscribed with ancient vermilion characters. He shouted, "Let me show you real thunder techniques, then you can leave!"

Whoosh—

Ning Qiu flung the talisman above the Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Flowers and shaped a spell with his fingers. With a loud cry, the talisman ignited in midair.

A clap of thunder sounded, and a bolt of lightning, the width of a finger, shot forth from the talisman.

Boom—

This display drew nods of admiration from the patriarch and others. Ning Qiu had not acted for months, and now he could ignite a thunder talisman. Among his generation, he was truly outstanding.

"Ha, I didn't realize Ning Qiu had reached this level. When did he break through? We didn't notice. Ning Shuang, you must work harder!"

Ning Qiu, seeing the elders' praise, straightened with pride, looking down at Su Ye. "Today, you are privileged to witness the power of a great family. Consider yourself enlightened. Now go home!"

The elderly master added, "Child, do not speak of this place when you leave. And do not attempt to imitate—these thunder talismans are not for someone like you to control."

Su Ye ignored them, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the Azure Thunder Bone-Cleansing Flowers.

When the talisman exploded, the lightning released seemed to serve as nourishment, sinking directly into the flowers. Those dying buds seemed to have their lives extended slightly.

Su Ye's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed. It seemed thunder came in many forms. Clearly, these talismans were of extremely low grade.

Su Ye stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "You are so arrogant. Today I will show you what true thunder is!"