C9 The Shame of Pill Stealing!

Draco was well aware of the strife between the two families. As a swarm of Calderon family members emerged, their superior strength evident, his face took on a grave expression.

Lloyd had no interest in prolonging the verbal sparring. The situation was crystal clear. They were four, utterly spent, standing no chance against Elowen and his entourage.

It was painfully obvious that Elowen's group had been in ambush, waiting until the eleventh hour to loose their arrow and claim the spoils.

"What is it you want?" Lloyd inquired bluntly.

Elowen's smile was smug. "The Fire Bull's demise was by my hand, so its Inner Core is rightfully mine. You've exerted some effort, so I'll generously leave you the hide."

Josh's eyes flashed with fury, on the brink of a heated rebuttal.

They had fought tooth and nail to slay the Fire Bull, and now they were to be fobbed off with mere scraps of hide? The injustice burned.

"Care to test your mettle against me?" Elowen sneered contemptuously. "Do you truly believe you're a match for me, at your middling Monolith Stage?"

Josh seethed with rage.

Lloyd shot him a glance and shook his head, signaling to drop the matter.

Draco and his sister also recognized their inferior strength and resigned themselves to patience.

With a triumphant gesture, Elowen signaled his kin. They descended upon the bull, slicing it open to extract the Inner Core.

The Barbarian Bull's core was a size larger than that of the elite Fire Bull. By market standards, it was worth a small fortune—two to three hundred taels at least. Yet now, it rested in Elowen's grasp.

Throughout, Elowen stood aloof, hands clasped behind him, his disdain for Lloyd and the others undisguised.

Once the Calderon family had harvested the Fire Bull's horns and a portion of its armor, they departed with a swagger.

Magnus paused a few steps away, turned, and jeered, "Lloyd, the entrance ceremony will be our next rendezvous. Pray you don't cross paths with me, or I'll make sure to give you a lesson you won't forget!"

With a boisterous laugh, he strode off to rejoin his group.

After Elowen and his group had disappeared into the distance, Josh slammed his foot down in frustration and exclaimed, "Elowen really takes things too far!"

Draco's voice was steady and reassuring as he said, "Josh, there's no need for anger. If we dedicate ourselves to rigorous training, we'll have our chance at revenge."

Lloyd remained composed, yet a glint of murderous intent flickered in his eyes. Once the premier alchemist of the Vruthurenth Empire, he now found himself bested by mere novices. The inner core, though only worth a few hundred taels, represented a personal affront to him. He yearned for retribution but was acutely aware that his current level of cultivation left him powerless. And such indignities could recur at any moment. To rise above, he knew he'd have to train with relentless resolve.

The four then made their way back home.

By the time they reached the county at dusk, they headed directly to Haynes Apothecary, a business owned by Josh's family, located in the eastern part of town. Leveraging the family's name, they sold the Barbarian Beast skins at a premium, netting them a tidy sum that left Draco and his sister elated.

After a brief stay and Lloyd collecting some medicinal herbs, they made their way back to the Martial Academy.

Upon their return, they turned in the heads of the elite Fire Bulls and were rewarded with forty taels of silver each, along with forty glory points apiece. The ten taels were a handsome sum, and together with the additional fifty to sixty taels from other materials and a stash of Barbarian Beast Inner Cores, their haul was substantial.

Having said their goodbyes to Draco and his sister, Josh divided the Inner Cores, handing half to Lloyd—eight in total.

"I've sustained some injuries," Lloyd mentioned. "For the next half-month, I won't be able to refine any pills, so I need to visit the Temple of Alchemy and seek an Alchemist's assistance."

"I'll go with you," offered Josh, ready to support his friend.

"No need. You've had a tough time hunting that Barbarian Beast. Take some time to heal up properly," Lloyd advised.

With that, they went their separate ways. Lloyd made his way to the north gate of the Martial Academy, beyond which lay the Temple of Alchemy, separated only by a wall. Adjacent to the gate was a notice board area, where various notes were densely plastered, offering services for pill refinement, buying specific medicinal herbs, and selling spiritual treasures, among other things.

Lloyd browsed the notices as he walked and spotted a note tucked in the corner of a board. It read: "Specializing in the refinement of high-difficulty yellow level pills. I guarantee top grade results. Prices negotiable."

A smile crossed Lloyd's face at the bold claim. Such confidence reminded him of his own youthful assurance. Whoever penned this must be a third-grade yellow level Alchemist, he thought.

If this alchemist truly had the skills they claimed, Lloyd was open to the possibility of collaboration.

He entered the Temple of Alchemy and, following the address on the note, arrived at a secluded courtyard to the north. The residential area was filled with standalone homes, each radiating a sense of nobility and grandeur.

The fact that this individual resided in their own courtyard, rather than a cramped space shared with a dozen others, led Lloyd to surmise they were likely from a prominent family.

A wooden plaque hung at the corner of the entrance, bearing the name of the occupant: Sofia.

The Percy, Cole, and Haynes families were among the most influential in Millbourne. It appeared this woman was a member of the Percy family.

The door was unlocked, and with a gentle push, Lloyd stepped inside.

He found himself in a tranquil courtyard, flanked by an array of meticulously pruned potted plants. A set of wind chimes dangled from the eaves, tinkling melodiously in the breeze.

As Lloyd took in the serene beauty of the courtyard, the sound of footsteps approached from the corridor. Shortly after, an attractive young woman appeared.

At just fifteen, the girl possessed delicate features, with fine eyebrows and eyes that sparkled like stars. Dressed in a skirt, her beauty was undeniable.

Lloyd hadn't expected Sofia to be so young, yet so stunning.

Indeed, Sofia's beauty could rival even that of the imperial concubines. A few more years, and she would undoubtedly captivate the nation. Her allure was only enhanced by her demeanor, which was sure to mesmerize many men.

While Lloyd wasn't immune to the charms of beautiful women, his true passion lay in the pursuit of Alchemy.

He certainly appreciated her beauty, but it was her talent that truly piqued his interest.

For someone her age to achieve the third grade at the yellow level was no small feat.

Talent was essential in Alchemy, more so than in martial arts. Starting at five years old, even with considerable talent, it would take years to reach the yellow level's first grade.

In martial arts, reaching the Early Period of the Qi Condensation Stage could take just a year. But for an Alchemist to progress from the first to the second grade of the yellow level required much more time; reaching the third grade by one's thirties was the norm.

Lloyd observed Sofia in silence, but she found his gaze quite impolite.

Coming from a distinguished family, she was unaccustomed to such bold scrutiny from any man.

With a slight frown, she inquired, "Have you come seeking elixirs?"

Lloyd withdrew his gaze leisurely and replied with a smile, "Miss, may I ask your level in Alchemy?"

"The third grade of the yellow level," Sofia answered coolly, a touch of pride curling her lips.

"At such a young age, your talent is truly remarkable," Lloyd commented softly.

Yet to Sofia, his compliment sounded grating.

She would have welcomed such praise from an elder, but coming from a peer, it seemed presumptuous.

Maintaining her composure, she didn't show her irritation and simply asked, "What kind of elixir are you looking to refine?"

Lloyd offered a slight smile and responded, "Stellar Pill."

Sofia gave a gentle nod. "I can assist with the refinement of the Stellar Pill, but you'll need to supply the medicinal ingredients. I assure you, out of one batch, there will be four pills, with at least one being of top grade."

"You're confident of producing four pills per batch, with a top grade Stellar Pill among them? Are you truly capable of that?" Lloyd asked, his curiosity piqued.

He was acutely aware of the challenges involved in crafting the Stellar Pill. Typically, for a yellow level Alchemist of the third grade, producing two to three pills per batch was considered standard. The claim from this young lady that she could produce four pills in a single batch, including a top grade one, was unexpected and intriguing. It even stirred the thought of taking her on as his apprentice.

Lloyd had a penchant for acquiring treasures and nurturing talent. Judging by this girl's aptitude, she was certainly on par with his other disciples.

Yet, his current focus on advancing his own cultivation left him little time to mentor a new disciple. Maybe he could offer some guidance on the side to see if the young lady had the aptitude to learn.

"If I don't successfully refine the pill, we can draft a contract, and I'll refund your money," Sofia stated coolly, her tone laced with pride and self-assurance.

"What technique do you employ for pill refinement?" Lloyd inquired further.

"The Seven Stars Incantation," Sofia answered.

Lloyd nodded in understanding, recognizing the complexity of the Seven Stars Incantation. If she practiced this method, it was a testament to her considerable talent. He pressed on, "Can you produce a supreme grade Stellar Pill?"

Sofia's face showed a flicker of annoyance. Accustomed to respect for her noble status and the privilege of assisting her with pill refinement, she wasn't used to being questioned so thoroughly. And now, this man was not only probing but also requesting a supreme grade pill—a display of audacious ignorance.

With a touch of irritation, she retorted, "No yellow level alchemist in the entire academy can produce a supreme grade Stellar Pill. You'd have to seek out a profound level alchemist for that, and be prepared to pay a hefty fee. Even then, there's no guarantee they can deliver a supreme grade pill."

Lloyd offered a faint smile, picking up on her irritation.

For an average Martial Apprentice, acquiring a cauldron of top-grade Stellar Pills was a stroke of immense luck. Lloyd's insistence on the supreme grade was admittedly a bit nitpicky. Yet, his relentless pursuit of perfection was the very thing that drove his progress.

Unconcerned about possibly upsetting Sofia, he pressed on, "I have one more condition."

Sofia, maintaining her composure, inquired, "What's the condition?"

"I need to be present during the pill refinement," Lloyd stated.

Sofia didn't object. They negotiated the price and formalized the agreement in writing. Lloyd verified the medicinal ingredients and their proportions before following Sofia into an adjacent room.

As Sofia began the alchemical process, she deftly manipulated her hand, causing the flames beneath the furnace to split into three distinct streams.

Lloyd observed in silence, his presence unobtrusive.

The minutes ticked by swiftly, and the initial phase of pill refinement was nearing its completion.