C5 Pill Refining Master

"I am a Pill Refining Master," Tang Yuan declared, settling himself in front of Menng Ya with a relaxed air.

Menng Ya's brow furrowed slightly. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Holy Mountain Town, she had never heard of Tang Yuan being a Pill Refining Master, which soured her expression.

"Young Master Tang, I have extended you courtesy out of respect for your father, but isn't it tiresome for you to keep resorting to such low tactics to gain my attention?" Menng Ya rose to her feet and flung the door open. "I must ask you to leave."

Taken aback, Tang Yuan touched his nose in an embarrassed gesture, realizing he had been mistaken for a suitor.

His eyes scanned the room, eventually resting on a flowerpot that held a purple plant. "This is the Purple Leaf Orchid, a rare sight even in the Sword Dynasty and a crucial ingredient for refining Spirit Pills. Its cultivation requires exacting conditions, yet this one has thrived for thirteen years. Clearly, the Treasure Pavilion must employ a highly skilled Pill Refining Master," Tang Yuan remarked, pointing to the orchid.

Menng Ya was momentarily speechless. The only person in Holy Mountain Town capable of crafting Spirit Pills was a Grade Three Pill Master from the Treasure Pavilion, who alone recognized the Purple Leaf Orchid. Yet, Tang Yuan had identified it at a glance, even accurately noting its age.

"Miss Menng Ya, I'm correct, am I not?" Tang Yuan asked with a gentle smile.

"Young Master Tang, your discernment is impressive. It appears I have indeed misjudged you," Menng Ya said with a smile, gracefully rising to offer a bow. "So, Young Master Tang, you're a Pill Refining Master? May I inquire about your level?"

"I have no rank," Tang Yuan replied with a smile. "I only decided to start refining pills today."

Tang Yuan's honesty was evident; indeed, his interest in pill refining had only sparked upon his arrival at the Treasure Pavilion, largely due to the financial straits of the Tang family's young master.

"Young Master Tang, do you find amusement in repeatedly mocking me?" Menng Ya's face clouded over once more. She herself couldn't fathom why Tang Yuan had managed to provoke her ire repeatedly that day.

"If you don't believe me, Miss Menng Ya, you can gather some ingredients, and I'll prove it to you," Tang Yuan said, listing over ten types of herbs.

"Are these the ingredients for the Spirit Sea Pill?" Menng Ya was taken aback. The Spirit Sea Pill could enhance a cultivator's chances of advancing to the Spirit Sea Stage. Despite being a first-grade pill, it was one of the top three in terms of difficulty, making it the gateway pill for aspiring second-grade Pill Refining Masters.

Tang Yuan claimed he had no rank, yet he was intent on refining a Spirit Sea Pill from the outset. What was he planning? Did he really have that much confidence?

"If the refinement is successful, half of the auction proceeds from the Spirit Sea Pill will go to the Treasure Pavilion. If it fails, the cost of the ingredients will still be covered," Tang Yuan added.

Menng Ya gave Tang Yuan a piercing look before slowly rising to her feet a few minutes later. She needed to personally retrieve the materials from the Treasure Pavilion.

For some reason, as Menng Ya observed Tang Yuan's demeanor, a voice inside her seemed to assure her that she could trust his words. Consequently, she found herself heading to the Treasure Pavilion as if by fate.

"What a coincidence, Miss Menng Ya," a young man said, beaming as he selected materials inside the Treasure Pavilion upon her arrival.

"It's Young Master Wang Bao," Menng Ya returned the smile and offered a polite bow. Wang Bao was a Pill Refining Master at the Treasure Pavilion, known for his prodigious talent. At just twenty years old, he had already achieved the status of a first-grade Pill Refining Master, holding a prestigious position within the organization.

"There's no need for such formality, Miss Menng Ya," Wang Bao said, his gaze lingering on her face before he snapped back to reality, extending a hand to assist her.

"I planned to pick up some materials to practice refining Spirit Sea Pills today. It's fortunate to have run into you," Wang Bao said with a charming smile that could captivate many.

"Congratulations, Young Master Wang. It seems you're on the verge of becoming a second-grade Pill Refining Master," Menng Ya said with a slight smile, gracefully sidestepping his outstretched hand.

A flicker of pride passed through Wang Bao's eyes, but he maintained a humble smile as he spoke, "It's merely good fortune, all thanks to my teacher's excellent instruction. What brings Miss Menng Ya to the Treasure Pavilion today?"

"I need to pick up a few materials," Menng Ya replied, then made her way to the service counter and listed the items she required.

Wang Bao's brow furrowed as he listened to the materials Menng Ya requested; they were precisely what was needed to concoct the Spirit Sea Pill!

"Why does Miss Menng Ya need the materials for the Spirit Sea Pill? Is my teacher planning to refine it?" Wang Bao inquired, knowing that only his teacher in the Treasure Pavilion had the skill to craft such a pill.

"Young Master Tang of the Tang family, Tang Yuan, wants these materials to refine the Spirit Sea Pill," Menng Ya explained, seeing no reason to conceal the information since tracing the materials' destination would be straightforward.

"Tang Yuan? That failure?" Wang Bao's gaze brimmed with contempt. "He knows how to refine pills?"

The news of Tang Yuan's defeat had spread like wildfire across Holy Mountain Town in just a few days, transforming him from a prodigy to a pariah.

"We'll see," Menng Ya responded noncommittally, gathering the materials and preparing to leave.

"Miss Menng Ya, I'm also interested in refining this pill. May I join you and learn?" Wang Bao asked, following her lead.

Left with little choice, Menng Ya nodded in agreement, and together they approached Tang Yuan, who looked on in surprise.

"And who might this be?" Tang Yuan inquired, eyeing Wang Bao.

"This is..."

"Young Master Tang, perhaps I should introduce myself after you've successfully refined the pill," Wang Bao interjected with a smile.

Tang Yuan paused, then chuckled, turning his attention to the two sets of materials on the table. He briefly reviewed the method for refining the Spirit Sea Pill, a rudimentary concoction, and then began the process with one set of materials.

In his previous life, Lin Chu had seldom needed to refine pills himself, and Tang Yuan had no use for such basic remedies.

Tang Yuan's initial attempts were clumsy, and he struggled to manage the flame properly, resulting in the rapid waste of the first batch of materials.

"Young Master Tang, is this your idea of barbecuing?" Wang Bao sneered. "Even I wouldn't boast about succeeding in refining a Spirit Sea Pill with just two sets of ingredients. Where do you find such bravery?"

"Would you just be quiet?!" Tang Yuan shot Wang Bao a frosty look.

"Very well!" Wang Bao was taken aback by the boldness of the retort. His gaze turned icy. If Tang Yuan failed to produce the Spirit Sea Pill, he wouldn't be leaving the Treasure Pavilion so easily.

Tang Yuan paid Wang Bao no mind; the man was nothing more than an irritating fly. The priority was to finish the pill refining.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Tang Yuan ignited the Pill Furnace's flame, and a stream of Spiritual Force gently flowed into it.

He began adding the ingredients, his initially awkward movements growing steadily more skilled. Before long, a rich medicinal scent wafted from the Pill Furnace.

"This can't be!" Wang Bao's face twitched in disbelief.

But then, with a low shout from Tang Yuan, the Pill Furnace opened, revealing a jade-green pill in his palm, shimmering with a subtle luminescence.

"Not too shabby," Tang Yuan acknowledged, nodding. His Spiritual Force was still lacking, making his control over the flame somewhat feeble.

Menng Ya stared at Tang Yuan, dumbfounded. Hearing his modest words left her speechless. As an auctioneer, she had an excellent eye for quality, and she could tell that this pill was of exceptional caliber, perhaps even surpassing what the chief Pill Refining Master at the Treasure Pavilion could achieve.

"It must be a fluke. However, Tang Yuan, you've earned the right to know my name. Listen well, it's..." Wang Bao began with a scoff, though deep down, he likely knew the truth.

"What do I care about your name?" Tang Yuan cut him off coldly, then turned his back, dismissing Wang Bao entirely as he handed the pill to Menng Ya.

"Keep half of the auction proceeds in gold coins for the Treasure Pavilion. Exchange the rest for equivalent medicinal herbs. I'll return for them tomorrow."

With that, Tang Yuan departed, leaving behind a stunned Menng Ya and a scowling Wang Bao.