C15 Reward

Wang Zeyu and his companions were at a loss as to what level Yang Xiao had achieved. "Even though our Pill Refining Building in Azure Connection City is just a branch, we treat every Pill Refining Master with the same regard. We spare no resources when it comes to nurturing those with talent," Sheh Cheng'an stated with unwavering calm.

"As Pill Refining Masters ascend through the ranks, the Pill Refining Building provides resources commensurate with their level. The higher the rank, the better the resources allocated. This approach is designed to motivate the Pill Refining Masters to strive for excellence and to never slacken in their pursuit of the pill refining art. It's a way of showing our respect for those at the higher echelons of the craft."

After his explanation, Sheh Cheng'an gestured to a Pill Boy at his side, prompting seven Pill Boys to step forward, each carrying a tray laden with various medicinal bottles.

In addition to the bottles, each tray bore a palm-sized token, engraved with a golden cauldron and adorned with a varying number of stars, indicative of the Pill Refining Master's rank.

"All of you have recently passed the examination and are now recognized as Grade One Pill Refining Masters. I'll outline the benefits for different ranks and discuss the resources you'll receive in your first month as a Pill Refining Master."

Sheh Cheng'an surveyed the group before continuing, "A Grade One, Rank Two Pill Refining Master will receive ten Essence Gathering Pills each month. These Grade One pills can help cultivators accelerate their Vital Spirit condensation, thus speeding up their cultivation."

"A Rank Three Pill Refining Master at Grade One can obtain twenty Essence Gathering Pills monthly, while a Rank Four Pill Refining Master is entitled to thirty Qi Gathering Pills. You'll have access to Rank Two pills only once you've attained the status of a Rank Two Pill Refining Master."

As Sheh Cheng'an elaborated, Wang Zeyu, his two friends, a young girl, and Yang Xiao all gazed at the Pill Boy's tray with expressions of bewilderment – it held but a single medicinal bottle.

Noticing their puzzled looks, Sheh Cheng'an quickly clarified, "Haha, there's no need for confusion, my young friends." He chuckled before adding, "Since the pills you crafted during the second round of assessments surpassed Grade One, Rank Three, the resources you're entitled to are, of course, quite different."

Wang Zeyu, my young friend, your assessment results have earned you the title of Grade One Rank Four Pill Refining Master. Each month, you will receive three Qi Refining Pills. These are Grade One Rank Seven pills. While only a few ranks above the previous, the efficacy of these pills is quintuple that of the Essence Gathering Pill. It may appear that you're receiving fewer resources, but the impact of the Qi Refining Pills far surpasses that of the Essence Gathering Pills by several times."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zeyu had an epiphany. He nodded respectfully and accepted the pills from the Pill Boy.

Seeing that he was pleased, Sheh Cheng'an continued, addressing Yang Xiao, "My dear friend Yang Xiao, due to your exceptional performance in both rounds of the exams, securing first place twice, the Pill Refining Building has decided to award you not only ten Qi Refining Pills but also the opportunity to either observe the Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron or choose to learn a pill refining technique inscribed on it."

After Sheh Cheng'an concluded, a Pill Boy presented the pills to Yang Xiao, who respectfully picked up the medicine bottle and the Pill Refining Master token from the tray.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your inaugural reward as Pill Refining Masters. Going forward, your benefits as a Pill Refining Master will be half of this initial reward. You may collect these resources monthly from the Pill Refining Building. However, I must emphasize that you are required to collect them in person. Sending someone else or failing to collect them monthly will be considered a forfeiture of that month's reward," Sheh Cheng'an elaborated, smiling contentedly at the group, clearly satisfied with the outcome of the assessments.

"Now that the assessment is complete and you've received your rewards, you are free to leave the Pill Refining Building for the time being. Of course, if you wish to stay and exchange pill refining experiences with other Pill Refining Masters, you are welcome to do so."

Upon hearing Sheh Cheng'an's announcement, everyone rose to their feet, bowed to him, and made their way downstairs.

Wang Zeyu and his companions were no exception. They deliberately rose slowly and circled around to confront Yang Xiao, fixing him with a meaningful and chilling gaze.

Although Yang Xiao's martial arts realm might have already broken through to the Essence Condensation Stage, Wang Zeyu and his two companions believed that, at most, Yang Xiao had only advanced to the ordinary realm of the Qi Refining Stage in the few days since they had last seen him. To them, who had reached the pinnacle of the Spirit Gathering Stage Great Completion, Yang Xiao's level was hardly a threat; they were confident they could defeat him with a mere flick of the wrist.

Yet, Yang Xiao remained unfazed, offering only a smile as he watched Wang Zeyu and the others depart. His gaze resembled that of someone observing three pigs about to be butchered.

Meanwhile, Sheh Cheng'an gestured invitingly to Yang Xiao. "You can come forward now, Yang Xiao, and take a closer look at the Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron," he said.

Yang Xiao turned his attention away from the metaphorical pigs and rose from his chair, walking over to Sheh Cheng'an.

"Have you decided on your choice, Yang Xiao?" Sheh Cheng'an inquired, noting Yang Xiao's serene demeanor, which suggested that the prospect of such an opportunity didn't particularly excite him. As he spoke, he gestured grandly with his hand.

With a resonant clang, a towering Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron, over ten feet tall and roughly two meters in diameter, materialized before Yang Xiao. The massive medicinal cauldron landed with a thud, sending reverberations through the ground.

"Elder Sheh, I've decided to extract a pill from the Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron," Yang Xiao declared, his voice steady, though his heart was awash with emotions. No one could fathom the complexity of his feelings at that moment.

Upon laying eyes on the Pill Refining Building's Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron, the Essence Vein within him, forged by the Four-dragon Ring, had detected something amiss. It wasn't the genuine Nine-spirit Fire God Cauldron his dear friend had possessed in his past life. Instead, this cauldron merely housed a shard of the original. It was little wonder that Yang Xiao felt an inkling of recognition.

The fragment of the Nine-spirit Fire God Cauldron, no larger than a fingertip, held an essence that Yang Xiao could never forget. It was the very essence he and his friend had once used to subdue the Fire Qilin.

Yang Xiao could now be certain that his dear friend from his past life was likely in grave danger.

With a whoosh, a red pill shot out from the Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron. Yang Xiao reached out and expertly caught it in his hand.

At that very moment, unbeknownst to Sheh Cheng'an, a green shard swiftly slipped from Yang Xiao's hand into his sleeve. This shard was the very reason the Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron harbored the power of the Nine-spirit Fire God Cauldrons—it contained a fragment of the Nine-spirit Fire God Cauldron itself.

"Hehe! Young friend Yang Xiao, you truly possess remarkable talent to be able to extract a pill from the Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron with such ease," Sheh Cheng'an exclaimed, his face alight with astonishment.

"Eh... Elder Sheh, what makes you say that?" Yang Xiao inquired, though he was well aware of the answer.

"The Spirit Fire Golden Cauldron is sentient. Gaining its recognition quickly usually requires considerable effort. Even the gifted individuals at the Pill Refining Building would need some time to retrieve a pill. Yet, you effortlessly produced a pill in the blink of an eye. This clearly shows that you, Yang Xiao, are a once-in-a-generation pill refining prodigy."

Listening to Sheh Cheng'an, who was over sixty years old, heap such praise upon him, Yang Xiao couldn't help but be amused. If he were to reveal the truth, the great elder of the Pill Refining Building might become enraged and even detain him for a thorough investigation.

"Elder Sheh, you flatter me. I was merely fortunate," Yang Xiao demurred, setting aside his musings. He then respectfully addressed Sheh Cheng'an, "Elder Sheh, there is another matter I wish to consult you about."

"Hehe! Speak your mind, Yang Xiao," Sheh Cheng'an responded, stroking his beard. He wasn't particularly concerned about Yang Xiao's queries.

Sheh Cheng'an had encountered many who sought his expertise in pill refining or martial arts training. The inquiries were often quite similar, and for him—a Grade Four Pill Refining Master and a Vital Spirit Stage cultivator—addressing the young man's questions would be effortless.

"Elder Sheh, I'm interested in knowing whether the Pill Refining Building stocks certain medicinal herbs: Spirit Gathering Grass, Blood Refining Flower, and Qilin Blood..."

Sheh Cheng'an, who was leisurely stroking his beard, visibly paled upon hearing the medicinal herbs listed by Yang Xiao. As Yang Xiao continued, Sheh Cheng'an couldn't help but interrupt, "Young friend Yang Xiao, please, wait a moment."

"What's the matter, Elder?" Yang Xiao inquired, puzzled.

Sheh Cheng'an quickly suppressed his cough and took a deep breath, his face reddening as if he had been startled, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, the herbs you've mentioned are exceedingly rare and valuable. Such herbs are very hard to come by..."

After taking another long look at Yang Xiao, as if reassessing him, Sheh Cheng'an gave a wry smile and explained, "These superior herbs require at least a Grade Four Pill Refining Master to utilize them properly. Without the requisite level, even if one were to acquire such herbs, they wouldn't be able to extract their full medicinal potential. Hence, in our modest Pill Refining Building here in Azure Connection City, we don't stock any of these herbs."

"Oh, you don't?" Yang Xiao replied, not overly concerned, and continued, "Then Elder Sheh, where might one acquire these herbs nowadays?"

"The Four-dragon Pavilion," Sheh Cheng'an replied gravely.

"Hmm. To treat my sister's illness, it seems I must visit the Four-dragon Pavilion," Yang Xiao mused to himself.

After parting ways with Sheh Cheng'an, Yang Xiao descended from the third floor of the Pill Refining Building, carefully storing the red pill and the fragment of the Nine-spirit Fire God Cauldron. He began to contemplate his next move.

"The priority remains to enhance my own cultivation level. Otherwise, with my current abilities, even possessing the mystical Four-dragon Ring secret scripture, I doubt I could navigate this world freely."

With this thought, determination shone in Yang Xiao's eyes; he had made his decision.

At that moment, the Pill Refining Building was a hive of activity, bustling with people at its busiest. Many residents and cultivators from Azure Connection City frequented the place, seeking to purchase the essential pills they required.

Upon entering the bustling lobby on the first floor, Yang Xiao found himself amidst a throng of over a hundred people. It took considerable effort for him to make his way to the entrance.

"Apothecary Yang, please take care." As Yang Xiao approached the first-floor exit, several Pill Boys spotted him and immediately bowed deeply, their respect palpable.

"Heh, this body has never been treated with such reverence before," Yang Xiao muttered with a wry smile. He gestured dismissively, signaling to the Pill Boys that their formalities were unnecessary.

Around him, numerous cultivators observed the Pill Boys' deferential behavior towards Yang Xiao, casting various looks in his direction. While some eyes held envy or awe, others flickered with scorn.

Without paying them any mind, Yang Xiao continued on, making his way out the door.