Exquisite Pavilion, top floor.
“Master, isn’t this eldest young master of the Marquis Estate a cripple? If he knows how to refine pills, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a miserable state.”
The black-clad guard looked with skepticism at the handsome, refined man seated before him.
The elegant man was seated cross-legged on a couch, sipping tea with a calm and collected demeanor. A closer look revealed that his attire was extraordinary, and his aura radiated noble distinction.
His slender, fair fingers grasped an exquisite teacup, his fingertips stroking rhythmically along the rim.
With a meaningful, knowing smile on his masterfully carved handsome face, he chuckled: “As it happens, this prince has been rather idle lately. Why not let him try? What could we possibly lose?”
Everyone knew that the legitimate young master of the Wuyang Marquis Estate had been reduced to a cripple incapable of cultivation, and people everywhere sighed in pity over it.
Yet today, this very trash young master was actually going to refine pills. How difficult was it for an ordinary aristocratic family to cultivate an alchemist?
Not only did it require natural talent for alchemy, but the heritage of the Dao of Alchemy had been severed and lost ten millennia ago. The surviving alchemical arts were essentially monopolized by the Alchemist Guild, to say nothing of the fact that he was supposedly a crippled young master unable to cultivate.
Still, it was entirely possible that Huo Xuanqing had stumbled upon some incredible fortuitous encounter. Xiao Jingyang gazed at that cyan silhouette, his purple eyes filled with intense intrigue.
The location chosen for pill refinement was a quiet little room in the back courtyard. During the pill-refinement process, certain alchemists needed to center their minds and calm their spirits, remaining entirely free from outside interference.
The slightest carelessness would instantly risk a furnace explosion.
Knowing the reasons well, the group consciously waited outside the door while Xuan Qing entered the room alone.
Steward Wang had prepared a medicine cauldron for him the very same compact crimson-red cauldron alongside the few spiritual plants needed to refine the vitality pills.
Ever since subduing the Netherworld Cold Flame in his past life and inheriting Venerable Xuanming’s alchemical scriptures, Xuan Qing had learned that alchemists were not strictly restricted to practitioners with Fire and Wood spiritual roots.
The Ice-Melting Technique was an independent alchemical method created exclusively by Xuanming. Combined with the assistance of the Netherworld Cold Flame, refining a batch of low-grade elixirs was an absolute breeze.
Relying on the memories of pill refinement stored within his past-life consciousness, Xuan Qing summoned his intent, and a cluster of ice-blue flames flickered into existence at his fingertip.
“Go!”
Flicking his finger, the ice-blue flame flew into the cauldron, burning steadily.
Pill refinement comprised three fundamental steps: calcination, extraction, and fusion.
The first step, calcination, required introducing the spiritual herbs into the cauldron in a specific sequence, utilizing the Ice-Melting Technique to strip the medicinal properties away from the plants.
The second step, extraction, involved using the Netherworld Cold Flame to concentrate and refine the stripped medicinal liquid to a higher degree of purity.
The final step, fusion, merged the highly purified spiritual liquids and condensed them into form.
Directing a wisp of spiritual energy, Xuan Qing snatched up a stalk of Blood Scorpion Grass, tossed it into the medicine cauldron, and executed the Ice-Melting Technique.
A stream of ice spiritual energy poured from his palm into the spiritual herb, carrying biting cold as it continuously washed through the plant to extract its medicinal properties.
Under the calcining flames of the anomalous fire, the Blood Scorpion Grass gradually melted into a mass of black-red medicinal liquid.
Next, Xuan Qing successively tossed in the Concentrated Essence Grass and Spirit-Gathering Grass, subjecting them to identical calcination to obtain two additional pools of brown liquid.
Subjected to the burning intensity of the Netherworld Cold Flame, the three separated pools of medicinal liquid steadily sublimated; the black shade faded away as the three liquids merged into one, turning a brilliant crimson-red.
Half an hour later.
Now is the time! Xuan Qing ramped up the fire intensity.
The ghostly blue anomalous fire flickered bizarrely before suddenly expanding rapidly, burning with heightened ferocity.
A faint, crisp sound echoed from within the medicine cauldron, accompanied by the wafting scent of a rich, refreshing fragrance.
Xuan Qing curved the corners of his lips: Pill formation complete!
Withdrawing the anomalous fire, Xuan Qing popped open the pill furnace. Six round, crimson-red medicinal pills lay quietly inside. Scooping them up, he dropped the pills directly into a vial he had prepared in advance.
Stepping out and opening the door, Xuan Qing found that the group outside had waited for less than half an hour.
Steward Wang felt somewhat taken aback how could it be finished so quickly? Could it be that he failed?
“Young Master Huo, this is…?”
“Young Master, don’t be afraid!”
Huo Xuanwu sprang to his feet, staring with guarded, suspicious eyes at Steward Wang and the others, ready to throw himself in front of his young master at a moment’s notice.
Xuan Qing: ?
Steward Wang: ?
Xuan Qing handed the porcelain vial over to Steward Wang. The man’s eyes lit up as he uncorked the stopper, releasing a wave of rich, potent alchemical fragrance into the air.
“It really… it really succeeded!” Steward Wang said with visible excitement. “This vitality pill features a pure color without a single trace of impurity this is definitely a Tier-1 superior-grade pill!”
Even though he wasn’t an alchemist, anyone could tell the quality of a pill at a glance; this product surpassed the ones displayed on their shelves by leaps and bounds.
Steward Wang gazed at Xuan Qing with burning intensity. This eldest young master of the Wuyang Marquis Estate clearly didn’t match the worthless reputation whispered about in the streets. If he counted as a cripple, then everyone else around must be worse than useless.
“Young Master Huo, just as our proprietor promised, these two cauldrons are yours to keep. As for these pills, their superior quality commands our Exquisite Pavilion’s purchase price of thirty spiritual pearls apiece. What do your think?” Steward Wang offered.
Xuan Qing calculated mentally: thirty spiritual pearls per vitality pill, multiplied by six, made one hundred and eighty spiritual pearls translating to a profit of eighteen thousand taels.
Satisfied with the rate, he nodded: “Deal!”
True to their agreement, Steward Wang presented both medicine cauldrons to Xuan Qing and settled the account with one hundred and eighty spiritual pearls.
With an intensely eager expression and a beaming smile, Steward Wang escorted the two of them all the way to the entrance: “Young Master Huo, should you produce any fine elixirs in the future, please give our shop priority consideration! We guarantee you the most favorable rates!”
“Easy to talk about, easy to talk about!” Xuan Qing smiled amiably, before adding quietly, “However, I would appreciate it if Steward Wang could keep my ability to refine pills strictly confidential.”
Comprehending instantly, Steward Wang maintained a solemn expression as he bowed deeply and respectfully: “Young Master Huo, rest assured; this old Wang’s lips are sealed!”
“Then many thanks, Steward Wang!” With that, Xuan Qing turned and strode away.
Watching the receding backs of the two figures, Steward Wang swung around to issue a stern warning to the assistant nearby: “Not a single word of what happened today is to leak out, or you can kiss your skin goodbye!”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Drenched in cold sweat from fright, Zhang San knew he had narrowly avoided a massive blunder today.
A youthful alchemist was bound for boundless greatness in the future, making him someone well worth cultivating ties with. That Wuyang Marquis was truly short-sighted, driving away such talent; once he learned the truth, he would likely regret it to his very bowels.
Never mind him; I need to hurry and report this wonderful news to my master straight away.
Huo Xuanwu remained in a daze, clutching the pouch containing one hundred and eighty spiritual pearls. His footsteps felt light and buoyant, his head swimming as though he were walking through a dream.
His young master had actually managed to refine pills something he had never known in all his years.
With an aggrieved expression, Huo Xuanwu muttered: “Young Master, since when did you learn how to refine pills? I had no idea at all.”
Anticipating the question, Xuan Qing lightly cuffed him over the head: “Why ask so much when there’s money to be made? Don’t pry into things you shouldn’t. Remember, keep this matter strictly between us.”
Glancing left and right nervously, Huo Xuanwu nodded in prompt assurance: “Don’t worry, Young Master, I’ll never breathe a word of it!”
If the young master kept it a secret, he must have a good reason. Obeying orders was enough.
Having transformed from a destitute fox moments ago into a comfortably well-off fox, Xuan Qing’s mood was exceptionally buoyant. Giving a grand wave of his hand:
“Let’s go! Your young master is taking you out for a proper meal!”
Huo Xuanwu’s face lit up with immediate joy: “Young Master, where are we heading?”
“Naturally, wherever the food is most expensive.”
“I know! Yunxi Pavilion!”
“What are you waiting for? Lead the way for your young master.”