C19 Showing off Their Limelight!

"What... Elder Xue, what has he done to warrant such a public expression of gratitude?"

Jiaang Zhengshan awoke with a start, his gaze fixed on Elder Xue, voicing his disbelief.

He felt a profound sense of injustice.

Elder Xue had already dissuaded them from punishing Jiaang Lin, but now he was publicly thanking him. Wasn't this indirectly elevating Jiaang Lin's stature and reputation among the Jiaang family's high-level members?

If this were to continue, it would only make it harder for his own son to smoothly succeed as the head of the Jiaang family.

"Without him, I wouldn't have been able to produce the Essence Returning Pill at all!" Elder Xue responded, his face breaking into a smile.

The Essence Returning Pill could be mass-produced and sold on the market in Clear Water Town, competing with the Essence Cultivating Pill from the Qiao family.

Elder Xue was aware that it wasn't just his own doing, nor was it the accidental discovery by a novice apprentice.

Had it not been for Jiaang Lin's suggestion the day before, Elder Xue would have never believed that by simply adding a Heart Condensing Stone to the Essence Returning Liquid, not only would its quality and concentration improve, but it could also be condensed into the Essence Returning Pill!

In Elder Xue's heart, Jiaang Lin's offhand tip was of paramount importance, a veritable treasure.

That's why he had intervened to prevent the Jiaang family's high-level members from disciplining Jiaang Lin and took the opportunity to thank him publicly.

Moreover, Elder Xue hoped that his actions today would make a positive impression on Jiaang Lin, as he might need his expertise in medicine refining in the future.

Even though he wasn't certain of Jiaang Lin's actual knowledge in alchemy,

the incident with the Essence Returning Liquid and the accidental addition of the Heart Condensing Stone, which led to the creation of the Essence Returning Pill, made it clear to Elder Xue that Jiaang Lin might indeed possess some understanding of alchemy and pill refining.

Otherwise, how could the young man have so casually mentioned that combining the Essence Returning Liquid with the Heart Condensing Stone would yield the Essence Returning Pill?

Upon hearing Elder Xue's words, Jiaang Zhengzu, Jiaang Zhengshan, and the entire Jiaang family were once again struck with amazement, speechless and wide-eyed.

Could it be that Elder Xue was expressing gratitude to Jiaang Lin because of the Essence Returning Pill?

But that didn't seem right.

Did Jiaang Lin even know how to refine pills? Was he versed in pharmacology?

He may have improved recently, but it was implausible that he had become so skilled so suddenly, wasn't it?

How could Jiaang Lin possibly be connected to the creation of the Essence Returning Pill?

For a brief moment, everyone in the Jiaang family was racing through these questions in their minds, filled with doubt.

"Elder... Elder Xue, are you sure you're not overestimating Jiaang Lin? The Essence Returning Pill's refinement was a laborious task accomplished by you and the other elders. How could Jiaang Lin be involved?" Jiaang Zhengshan blurted out, his smile tinged with awkwardness.

He couldn't bring himself to believe it was true, or perhaps, he was afraid to believe it.

If the Essence Returning Pill's successful refinement was indeed thanks to Jiaang Lin's assistance...

Then Jiaang Zhengshan knew all too well that his son's standing among the Jiaang family high-level members would be utterly overshadowed by Jiaang Lin!

And so, Jiaang Zhengshan found it difficult to come to terms with this reality, or rather, he was terrified to accept it.

"What? Do you think I'm the type to babble nonsense?" Elder Xue responded, clearly annoyed by Jiaang Zhengshan's skepticism.

"Elder Xue, please, I beg your pardon! I... I didn't mean it in that way."

Witnessing Elder Xue's irritation, Jiaang Zhengshan quickly bowed deeply, scrambling to explain himself to avoid any offense.

Meanwhile, the other high-level members of the Jiaang family were all smiles, gesturing to Elder Xue in hopes of soothing his anger.

They were all aware that Elder Xue wasn't one to make unfounded claims.

Since he had spoken, it was clear that the successful refinement of the Jiaang family's Essence Returning Pills was indeed reliant on Jiaang Lin's assistance!

At that moment, the gazes of the Jiaang family's high-level members swept toward Jiaang Lin, standing in the distance. Their eyes betrayed a mix of complex emotions.

The one they had once dismissed as worthless had grown immensely.

He had achieved the Body Refining Level Seven Peak Stage and had defeated Jiaang Gao with a single move.

Moreover, the Jiaang family's ability to mass-market their Essence Returning Pills, effectively competing with the Qiao family's Essence Cultivating Pills, was largely due to his assistance.

Having such a disciple was indeed a stroke of luck for the family.

Many Jiaang family leaders were now contemplating whether to align themselves with Jiaang Zhengzu and support Jiaang Lin as the successor and next patriarch of the Jiaang family.

Yet, after some thought, they concluded that Jiaang Lin still needed further observation.

They wouldn't rush to appoint Jiaang Lin as the next patriarch, but at the very least, they would no longer regard him as worthless.

"Alright, let's break it up. The banquet will continue!" Jiaang Zhengzu declared loudly.

He was astonished to learn that the successful refinement of the Jiaang family's Essence Returning Pills was thanks to his own son!

Now, he was eager to discover how his son had suddenly become so capable.

Still, any further inquiries would have to wait until after the banquet.

Upon hearing his words, the guests dispersed, returning to their seats. Jiaang Zhengzu, along with Elder Xue and others, resumed their places at the dining table, engaging in lively conversation over food and drink.

Meanwhile, Jiaang Lin sat with Jiaang Xue in a corner of the banquet hall, eating and drinking heartily, unconcerned with appearances.

The Jiaang family disciples in the hall now looked at Jiaang Lin with newfound respect.

Jiaang Lin was not only skilled in martial arts but also in pill refining!

Realizing the potential benefits of befriending him, many disciples approached Jiaang Lin with their wine cups, exchanging pleasantries and seeking to forge a closer bond.

As the saying goes, you shouldn't snub someone who approaches you with a smile.

Even though the Jiaang family disciples had previously looked down on Jiaang Lin, they were now all eagerness and deference. Jiaang Lin couldn't bring himself to give them the cold shoulder. With a casual lift of his wine cup, he acknowledged their overtures and smoothly sent them on their way.

In Jiaang Lin's heart, there were only two people who truly mattered to him: Jiaang Xue and his father.

Regardless of how much the Jiaang family disciples tried to butter him up, Jiaang Lin maintained an air of serene detachment, clearly unbothered by their flattery.

"Damn it! That good-for-nothing has turned his fortunes around!" Jiaang Ren fumed in a corner of the hall, his face contorted with irritation. He couldn't stand seeing the former object of his bullying now becoming the center of attention among the Jiaang family disciples.

Meanwhile, Jiaang Lang remained silent, casting a cold glance at Jiaang Lin, his displeasure evident.

Today, Jiaang Lin had undoubtedly stolen the show.

Eventually, the banquet came to a close.

The Jiaang family disciples left in small, animated groups, buzzing with talk about the impression Jiaang Lin had made on them that evening.

Likewise, the Jiaang family high-level members also dispersed.

Before leaving, Jiaang Zhengzu asked Jiaang Lin to come to the study later.

"Jiaang Lin, could you take a look and see if there's a way to refine this Essence Returning Liquid into a more potent Essence Returning Pill?" Elder Xue asked once the banquet hall had emptied, sidling up to Jiaang Lin with an ingratiating grin.

He then produced a bottle of Essence Returning Liquid he had labored over.

If it were possible to refine the Essence Returning Liquid into an Essence Returning Pill, it would be a powerful remedy capable of rapidly healing injuries for those at the Qi Gathering Stage.

If Elder Xue could learn the refinement technique from Jiaang Lin, and once the Essence Returning Pill hit the market in Clear Water Town, it was sure to be a hit, decisively outperforming the Qiao family's Essence Cultivating Pill.

After all, the Qiao family's Essence Cultivating Pill could only quickly heal the injuries of those at the Body Refining Stage, but it was ineffective for those at the Qi Gathering Stage.

Elder Xue's inquiry to Jiaang Lin was driven by curiosity to determine if the young man truly possessed knowledge in pill refinement and, perhaps, an exceptional talent for the Pill Refining Arts.

If confirmed, Elder Xue knew that learning even a few techniques from Jiaang Lin would be immensely beneficial.

"Elder Xue, before I tell you, could you first let me know if there's any Fire Lotus Grass in the Family Medicine Pavilion?" Jiaang Lin asked, smiling.

"Fire Lotus Grass? That's quite rare. We don't have that in our Medicine Pavilion. However, I've heard it exists in the Extreme Flame Land of Celestial Peak Valley, guarded by powerful Demonic Beasts," Elder Xue responded.

"Thank you for the information, Elder Xue," Jiaang Lin said, bowing with a fist in the palm and preparing to leave.

"Wait—Jiaang Lin, I've told you where to find Fire Lotus Grass. Shouldn't you tell me how to refine Essence Returning Liquid into a pill?" Elder Xue called out, seeing Jiaang Lin walking away, hand in hand with Jiaang Xue.

"It's quite simple. Just add two taels of Gold Thread Grass and one Moon Spring Fruit for an easy refinement," Jiaang Lin's voice floated back to him.

"Also, I've left my notes on the Pill Refining Arts on the table. They will greatly assist you in crafting the Essence Returning Pill!" Jiaang Lin added from a distance.

Upon closer inspection, Elder Xue noticed a series of elegant characters etched into the table's surface. Trusting in the value of the Pill Refining Arts, he eagerly hoisted the table onto his shoulders and hurried back to his Medicine Pavilion to delve into the study.