C15 Senior

Zhuang Xing shrugged nonchalantly. As the Supreme Pill God, it was a privilege for the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to have him offer his Pills for sale. Yet, they seemed to look down on his craftsmanship.

Shortly after, a bald elder hurried out. Everyone recognized him as Chi Xi, a Rank One Pill Refining Master.

"Great Master Chi, what brings you here in person?" Mu Zhu quickly approached to welcome him. Great Master Chi, being a Pill Refining Master, held a revered status within the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

"Where is the esteemed senior?" Chi Xi scanned the hall, seemingly in search of someone.

"Great Master Chi, what are you searching for?" The crowd was perplexed.

"I'm looking for the senior who refined this Pill. Where might he be?" Chi Xi looked around with urgency, while the others grew increasingly baffled. It was just a Qi Gathering Pill, after all. What was so extraordinary about it? Every Pill Refining Master could concoct a Qi Gathering Pill.

"I'm right here." Zhuang Xing caught Chi Xi's skeptical gaze. At just fifteen or sixteen, could he truly have crafted such a Pill?

"Did you refine this Pill?" Chi Xi inquired.

"If not me, then who? You?" Zhuang Xing retorted.

Chi Xi longed to produce a Pill of such caliber, but his skills in alchemy were limited, and he had failed to do so.

Sensing Chi Xi's disbelief, Zhuang Xing produced a small box and handed it to him. Chi Xi eagerly opened the box and was immediately struck with awe. His eyes bulged as he fixated on the Pill inside, as though he had seen a specter.

The onlookers began murmuring among themselves.

"Is it possible that he really did refine this Pill?"

"It's utterly implausible. We haven't even managed to become Pill Refining Masters, so how could Zhuang Xing?"

"I agree it's unlikely. The criteria to become a Pill Refining Master are exceptionally stringent. Only one in a million can achieve true mastery."

Mu Zhu, concerned, inquired, "Great Master Chi, are you alright? Is there an issue with the Pill?"

What she really wanted to do was remind Chi Xi that Zhuang Xing had stolen the Pill from the Zhuang family. If Zhuang Dou discovered his son had taken and sold a family Pill, he would likely be furious enough to spit blood.

Chi Xi's body jolted, and he hastily snapped the box shut. Then, he made a gesture that left everyone around him utterly astonished. He addressed Zhuang Xing, "Senior, please forgive me."

In that moment, everyone's eyes were wide with disbelief.

What had Chi Xi just said?

Their minds were a complete blank.

As a Rank One Pill Refining Master, Chi Xi held an incredibly esteemed status. Even the shopkeeper treated him with the utmost respect. Any request he made was met with eager compliance. Yet now, he was addressing Zhuang Xing as his senior, and that sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Zhuang Xing gave a nod, acknowledging that Chi Xi had some discernment after all.

"Senior, let's continue our conversation in the inner hall," Chi Xi suggested, bowing deeply. His demeanor was one of utmost reverence.

The onlookers were dumbfounded, their thoughts a jumble.

"How can this be possible?"

Jia Anan shook her head forcefully, refusing to believe what she was witnessing. She knew Zhuang Xing's capabilities all too well – his talent was considered the lowest in Cloud Peak City!

Mu Zhu and Xiaojie's eyes were wide open, their minds blank, unable to process the situation.

"Great Master Chi, could there be some mistake? This man is nothing but a waste," Mu Zhu murmured under her breath.

"Be quiet," someone hissed.

Anyone capable of crafting a Top Grade Pill must be at least a Rank Two Pill Refining Master. Such individuals were not to be trifled with by the likes of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. Indeed, Zhuang Xing could simply gesture and countless people would flock to do his bidding. Should he wish to bring down the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, it would take nothing more than a thought.

"There's no need for that. I'm just here to make a purchase," Zhuang Xing replied.

"And what might you be looking to buy?" they asked.

Zhuang Xing gestured toward a tray nearby and said, "Those items right there."

Chi Xi glanced over. The items were indeed valuable, worth at least a hundred thousand taels of silver.

"Those two Pills should suffice," Zhuang Xing stated confidently.

Upon hearing this, the crowd couldn't help but feel a wave of cynicism wash over them. This so-called nobody truly had an inflated sense of self-worth. He actually thought he could trade those two Pills for goods valued at 130,000. Not even a Rank Two Pill could warrant such an exchange.

Mu Zhu and Xiaojie glared at Zhuang Xing with intensity. He was blatantly disregarding the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, thinking he could swap two Pills for treasures worth over a hundred thousand. Was he living in a fantasy?

Chi Xi was ecstatic. He alone understood the true worth of those two pills. A Top Grade Pill typically fetched a market price of seventy to eighty thousand silver, but in times of scarcity, it could soar to a hundred thousand. Moreover, they were often priceless due to their rarity. Two Top Grade Pills could easily command between one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand silver. The transaction was clearly a bargain.

"Alright."

As soon as he spoke, the crowd was taken aback once more. Was this elder not in his right mind? He had just agreed to trade two pills for an item valued at over a hundred thousand silver.

Mu Zhu attempted to intervene. An item worth such an amount had vanished without a trace. Should the shop owner seek to hold someone accountable, she, as the manager, would not be able to shirk responsibility.

"Silence, I know what I'm doing," Chi Xi barked. He clutched the box in his right hand tightly, fearing that Zhuang Xing might change his mind and withhold the pill. This was a Top Grade Pill, the kind of perfect pill that Pill Refining Masters dream of obtaining. He was eager to take it back for research, to uncover the allure of such a pill. If possible, he even aspired to refine it himself.

Zhuang Xing remained quiet. He collected his belongings and promptly turned to leave.

"Senior, go well," Chi Xi called after him respectfully.