Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Mysterious Pill King, Do Not Scorn the Poor Youth
Inside the Alchemy Room, the master and disciple sat in silence.
Wei Yanran’s features were as fine as a painting. Her face was elegant, her skin as smooth as polished jade, and her jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist. A pristine white dress made her appear holy and pure, yet her cold and haughty demeanor made people afraid to approach.
Everyone knew that of the four great beauties of Luoyang, Wei Yanran was the most difficult to approach.
But it was precisely this unapproachability that stirred a desire for conquest in many men. What a thrill it would be to make such an Iceberg Beauty one’s partner?
At this moment, however, the Iceberg Beauty’s pretty face was filled with profound shock.
For the first in twenty years, her heart was shaken, as if the world had been turned upside down.
Even when Du Wanqing had accepted her as his Direct Disciple, her heart had never churned as it did now.
"A Supreme Grade Elixir!"
The four words escaped Wei Yanran’s lips, each one heavy.
Elixirs, also known as Treasure Pills, are classified by level: Low Grade, Middle Grade, Upper Grade, and Top Grade.
However, every individual elixir also has a quality distinction.
Supreme Grade is one such quality.
Quality is generally divided into Inferior Grade, Finished Product, Good Grade, High Grade, Treasure, and Supreme Grade.
Inferior Grade Elixirs are often toxic when consumed. The saying, "all medicine is one-third poison," refers to this grade.
Finished Product Elixirs are the most common on the market and are no longer toxic.
Good Grade Elixirs are rarer and twice as expensive. For the same type of elixir, a Good Grade one will have over fifty percent more potency.
The three qualities mentioned above are nothing special, but High Grade marks a major divide.
Someone who can refine an elixir of this quality can be called an Alchemy Master, a respected and revered position.
There are fewer than ten such Alchemy Masters in all of Luoyang City.
As for Treasure Elixirs, they are even rarer. Such elixirs are as lustrous as jade and so crystalline that sunlight can pass straight through them.
The "Treasure" in their name refers to them being actual treasures.
This kind of elixir is incredibly valuable. Once one appears, it might be collected and stored away, just like a precious gem.
In Cyan Cloud Country, no more than ten people can refine such elixirs.
These people are called Alchemy Grandmasters!
Master and Grandmaster. The difference is just one word, but the gap in their status is more than tenfold.
Although Du Wanqing was a famous Alchemy Master in Luoyang, there was still a significant gap between him and the Alchemy Grandmasters renowned throughout Cyan Cloud.
However, the reason he became Luoyang’s number one Alchemy Master was that he could occasionally refine a few elixirs of Treasure quality.
The only drawback was that he could only produce a handful of Treasure Elixirs per year, whereas the requirement to become an Alchemy Grandmaster was at least thirty-six per year.
In other words, one must be able to refine three per month.
Even an Alchemy Grandmaster, with all their power, can only just manage to refine elixirs of Treasure quality.
But a step beyond that is Supreme Grade. If one could refine an elixir of that quality, they would no longer be a "Grandmaster," but a "Pill King"!
The so-called Supreme Grade means a peerless product, a rarity in the world.
In the entire Cyan Cloud Country, only one person could refine such an elixir.
That person was the "Pill King," Lu Changsheng.
At this moment, within Wei Yanran’s beautiful eyes, she could see faint lines covering the entire surface of the Bodhi Pill. These lines were called Pill Patterns.
Pill Patterns were like the meridians in a human body.
Once an elixir developed Pill Patterns, its value would multiply several times over, and its medicinal properties would never diminish, no matter how many years passed.
Unlike ordinary elixirs, whose potency would gradually fade with the passage of time.
The so-called "elixir fragrance" is the aroma of the pill. As the fragrance dissipates, the medicinal properties naturally decrease. Even a Treasure Elixir can only preserve its potency for ten years at most.
But a Supreme Grade Elixir with Pill Patterns has a contained fragrance; even after a hundred years, it would remain completely unchanged.
’Senior Lu Changsheng is known as an alchemy prodigy. He began studying alchemy as a child and possessed astonishing talent. At the age of thirty-four, he became Cyan Cloud Country’s youngest Alchemy Grandmaster in a century. It wasn’t until he was sixty that he refined his first Supreme Grade Elixir, shocking the entire nation of Cyan Cloud.’
’In the twenty years since, Pill King Lu Changsheng has, all told, only managed to refine a total of five Supreme Grade Elixirs.’
’This Bodhi Pill is not one of those five.’
Wei Yanran’s heart pounded with shock, her full chest rising and falling erratically. "Master, whose work is this elixir?"
"Hooo."
Du Wanqing let out a long breath. "I don’t know either. This elixir was delivered by someone not long ago, and they didn’t say much. I never imagined that someone of this caliber existed here in our Luoyang City."
As Du Wanqing spoke, his eyes filled with deep respect.
In his entire life, even his hope of reaching the Grandmaster level was slim.
As for the Supreme Grade level of a Pill King, that was even more unattainable for him.
Yet now, there might be such a mysterious Pill King in Luoyang City. He was naturally ecstatic.
Wei Yanran suppressed her shock. "Master, what could this mysterious Pill King’s intention be in suddenly sending this Bodhi Pill?"
"Look here."
Du Wanqing showed Wei Yanran the back of the Bodhi Pill’s Pill Formula.
A sentence was written on it.
Go to the Liu Family, take Zhao Peng as a Direct Disciple!
"What does this mean?" Wei Yanran was taken aback.
"I suspect this Pill King probably knows Zhao Peng but doesn’t want to show himself, so he’s asking me to help look after him," Du Wanqing guessed.
"So, are you going to do it, Master?" Wei Yanran asked.
Currently, she was Du Wanqing’s only Direct Disciple.
"How could I dare to disobey a Pill King’s command? If I were to offend him, a figure of his stature could have me killed without a burial place with just a single word."
Du Wanqing knew very well that with the influence a supreme figure like a Pill King commanded, countless people would be willing to do his bidding for just a word, even without any reward.
"Besides, this is an opportunity to befriend the mysterious Pill King. If I could receive his guidance, I might be able to step into the ranks of Alchemy Grandmasters within a few years." Du Wanqing’s heart surged with excitement.
Grandmaster—this was the dream of every Alchemist, and he was no exception.
"More importantly, if there’s a chance, it would be best for you to become his disciple and learn alchemy. This is a heavensent opportunity," Du Wanqing said.
"I have already taken you as my master. How could I switch allegiances?" Wei Yanran shook her head, resolute.
"Silly girl, your talent for alchemy is immense, but what I can teach you is limited. Only this Pill King can help you walk a longer path. And if you could become his disciple, it wouldn’t be a betrayal to me. On the contrary, it would be my honor," Du Wanqing said with a smile.
"Alright, enough of this nonsense. You’re coming with me to the Liu Family. I’m going to meet this Zhao Peng," Du Wanqing commanded, acting with his usual swiftness and decision.
"Yes."
How could Wei Yanran not understand? Du Wanqing was going to the Liu Family personally to show sufficient sincerity and satisfy the mysterious Pill King.
Involuntarily, a look of longing flashed through her eyes.
’This is the power of a Pill King.’
Even without showing his face, with just a single message, he could command the number one Alchemy Master of Luoyang to act on his behalf.
...
「The Liu Family.」
「The Rear Courtyard.」
Liu Mi’s arrival heated up the atmosphere.
Everyone’s focus shifted to Liu Mi, leaving the two supposed main attractions, Liu Tang and Liu Yang, somewhat neglected.
However, Liu Yang didn’t mind this at all.
He was enthusiastically entertaining Liu Mi, chatting and laughing animatedly.
In the past, he would have only dared to think about pursuing someone like Liu Mi, lacking the confidence to act. Now, however, he was bold enough to make his move.
After advancing to the Peak of Postnatal, he was now qualified to be a candidate for the Ten Great, and his confidence had soared.
Liu Mi could clearly see the fiery passion in Liu Yang’s eyes. Unfortunately, she had no interest in him. It was a classic case of unrequited love.
「Meanwhile.」
「On the other side.」
Gu Zheng, Ning Jiang, and Zhao Peng walked into the rear courtyard, which was filled with young men and women.
The courtyard was quite large, with men and women gathered together in various groups.
The most distinguished among them were in a pavilion at the very front, their figures only vaguely visible. This was the group that included Liu Yang and Liu Mi.
"Gu Zheng, I’m going to stay with my friend. You go on ahead," Ning Jiang said.
"Alright, I’ll go say hello first." Gu Zheng headed toward the pavilion.
The moment Zhao Peng entered the courtyard, his mind was completely focused on Fang Ying. His gaze swept across the faces in the crowd, and after a few breaths, his body trembled.
"I see Xiaoying."
He looked thrilled and was about to walk over.
Just then, Fang Li and Fang Ying spotted Zhao Peng as well.
"Damn it, what’s this fatty doing here?"
Fang Li’s expression darkened, and she quickly walked over. "Zhao Peng, what are you doing here? Who let you in?"
She was both shocked and furious. Today was Fang Ying and Liu Tang’s engagement day, an incredibly important event. She was terrified that Zhao Peng’s presence would cause a problem.
"I came to take Xiaoying away today." Zhao Peng glanced at Fang Ying, his expression fervent. "Your Fang Family wants to force Xiaoying to marry into the Liu Family for your own benefit. I won’t let you succeed!"
"Take Xiaoying away? You?" Fang Li sneered. "Zhao Peng, take a good look at yourself. What are you? You have no power, no influence, and no background whatsoever. What can you give Xiaoying? If she’s with you, she’ll only suffer."
"I can’t give Xiaoying much right now, but I will definitely make her happy in the future," Zhao Peng said with a determined look.
"The future? How laughable. Zhao Peng, I suggest you face reality. You are simply not worthy of Xiaoying. You can’t change a thing about her marriage to Young Master Liu Tang," Fang Li snorted.
Zhao Peng looked furious, but he knew there was a significant gap between him and Liu Tang.
His only advantage was the affection Fang Ying had for him.
"Status? In your eyes, is status the most important thing when a man and a woman are in love?" Suddenly, Ning Jiang, who had been standing nearby, spoke up, his voice light.
"That’s right. A well-matched social standing is the most important prerequisite. As for ’mutual affection,’ that’s just an illusion."
Fang Li glanced at Ning Jiang, a flash of disdain in her eyes. Although Ning Jiang was handsome, the fact that he was hanging around with Zhao Peng probably meant he was a good-for-nothing as well.
She would never deign to look at someone like that.
"Is that so? Then how do you know that the Zhao Peng before you will be ordinary for his entire life?"
Ning Jiang’s eyes narrowed. "Perhaps in the blink of an eye, the person you look down on will become someone you can only look up to!"
"Him? Not in this lifetime," Fang Li said with a mocking expression.
"Hahaha, for me, nothing is impossible. Today, I’ll make you remember a certain phrase."
Ning Jiang began to laugh, his gaze suddenly turning sharp. Five words, each as heavy as a mountain, slowly left his lips:
"Never underestimate a poor youth!"
