C10 Utilizing Her Power to Avenge a Personal Grudge!

When Zhang Chen arrived at the Spiritual Pill Hall, he found many disciples already queued up in the plaza, waiting to deliver their medicinal herbs.

Most of these disciples were Outer Disciples, working under the tutelage of Inner Disciples in exchange for favors. Typically, those aligned with Inner Disciples might receive a few Blood Nourishing Pills to enhance their physical constitution. However, these Outer Disciples associated with the Spiritual Pill Hall were in a league of their own, far surpassing their peers.

The Spiritual Pill Hall served as the logistical backbone of the Ten-thousand Elephants Palace, tasked with concocting Medicine Pills for the sect's members. It was a coveted position, usually filled by those with significant connections. After all, which Outer Disciple wouldn't jump at such an opportunity?

Zhang Chen scrutinized the hall's disciples and noted their formidable presence; they were unmistakably at the Master Stage. His attention was abruptly drawn to a recognizable silhouette.

Ning Feihong!

It was Ning Feihong, the very disciple who had tried to intimidate Zhang Yuner upon her arrival at the palace. To think he was a disciple of the Spiritual Pill Hall!

"I hope he doesn't recognize me, or this could get complicated," Zhang Chen thought to himself.

Meanwhile, in the rear courtyard of the Spiritual Pill Hall, several middle-aged men with commanding auras were seated, their attention fixed on a striking young man standing at the center of the hall. With his sharp, commanding features and dressed in an exquisite brocade robe, his hair billowing in the breeze, he looked like a deity among mortals.

Despite his youth, his aura was on par with the seated men, and he even seemed to possess an edge over them.

"Ye Suixing, we're not opposed to joining forces to craft a Purple Mansion Opening Pill for you," spoke Tian Zhenhai, the purple-robed Master of the Spiritual Pill Hall, the only one whose presence seemed to overshadow Ye Suixing's. "However, you must understand that the Purple Mansion Opening Pill is a King Level Middle Grade Pill. The ingredients are exceedingly rare, and the process is incredibly taxing on our energy."

"I'll supply the materials," Ye Suixing interjected before Tian Zhenhai could finish. "Once the task is complete, I'll reward each of you with a hundred Energy Gathering Pills for your efforts!" With a dismissive wave of his hand, Ye Suixing cut him off.

"Ye Suixing, what do you take us for? Do you really think you can dismiss us with a mere hundred Energy Gathering Pills?"

"Indeed. Energy Gathering Pills are something I can produce with ease. Offering them as compensation hardly shows any respect for us, let alone for the Master of the Hall!"

The Blood Nourishing Pill is a Middle Grade Common Level pill, greatly beneficial to cultivators below the Diamond Stage; whereas the Energy Gathering Pill is a High Grade Common Level pill, used by cultivators at the Master Stage and above to replenish their Genuine Energy. Precious as they are, they are not nearly sufficient for the Master and the two Vice Masters of the Spiritual Pill Hall.

Upon hearing the Vice Masters' remarks, Tian Zhenhai, the previously silent Master of the Spiritual Pill Hall, finally spoke up. "It appears you've reached the Peak of the Diamond Stage. You're asking us three to join forces in crafting the Purple Mansion Opening Pill, aiming for a complete transformation to ascend to the Purple Mansion Stage, correct?"

Of the four individuals present, Ye Suixing and the other two Vice Masters were merely at the Diamond Stage, while Tian Zhenhai had achieved the Purple Mansion Stage, possessing an immense reserve of pure Genuine Energy. However, a mishap during a pill refinement a few years prior resulted in an explosion that damaged his Purple Mansion, an injury that proved to be irreversible. Despite his position as the Master of the Spiritual Pill Hall, with access to all the resources of the Ten-thousand Elephants Palace, he was unable to heal himself.

Hearing Tian Zhenhai's words, a smile crept onto Ye Suixing's face. "Master Tian, your insight is as sharp as ever. My goal is indeed to leverage the Purple Mansion Opening Pill to make a breakthrough into the Purple Mansion Stage. I am aware of the setback you suffered during that unfortunate pill refinement, which halted your progress. Should I achieve the Purple Mansion Stage, I will have the honor of an audience with the Master. I will then earnestly request that the Master personally intervene to resolve your affliction."

At Ye Suixing's declaration, Tian Zhenhai rose abruptly, his eyes shining with intense focus as he fixed his gaze on Ye Suixing.

"Is that a promise?"

The Master of the Ten-thousand Elephants Palace is said to have transcended the Divine Transformation Stage, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Only during significant events within the Palace does he manifest his will. Not just the Master of the Spiritual Pill Hall, but even the Masters and Elders of the other halls and palaces rarely have the privilege of an audience with him.

If Ye Suixing were to advance to the Purple Mansion Stage, he would be entitled to a personal audience with the Master, as per the millennia-old traditions of the Ten-thousand Elephants Palace. Should Ye Suixing mention his situation, the Master might indeed intervene on his behalf.

Ye Suixing's grin broadened, evidently pleased with Tian Zhenhai's reaction. "Absolutely!"

"Fine! I will craft a Purple Mansion Opening Pill for you. I trust you will keep your promise!" With a decisive thump on the table, Tian Zhenhai committed to his word.

Unaware of the events unfolding in the Spiritual Pill Hall, Zhang Chen could only hope that Ning Feihong wouldn't recognize him and cause trouble.

As if on cue, when Zhang Chen presented his herbs, Ning Feihong, who was inspecting the materials, suddenly looked up at him. "You're a disciple from Cloud Water Peak?"

Zhang Chen's heart skipped a beat, but he managed to nod in confirmation.

A sly smile crept onto Ning Feihong's face upon seeing Zhang Chen's nod.

Both he and Zhang Yuner were at the Peak of the Master Stage, yet Zhang Yuner had been made an Inner Disciple with her own peak to cultivate on, while he was relegated to performing sect duties. The disparity between them would only grow if things remained this way.

"These herbs are subpar. Give him ten Blood Nourishing Pills," Ning Feihong instructed, discarding Zhang Chen's two bags of herbs and addressing the disciple responsible for the Medicine Pills exchange.

"Ten pills?" The exchange disciple blinked in surprise, wondering if he'd misheard. "Senior Brother Ning, Inner Disciples are allotted thirty pills a month for their cultivation. Besides, Zhang Yuner of Cloud Water Peak is a special Inner Disciple under the Yuhua Palace Master's patronage. We can't afford to offend..."

"What's there to fear? The Yuhua Palace may be untouchable, but does that mean the Eldest Senior Brother is fair game?" Ning Feihong retorted with a cold snort.

At those words, the disciple's face showed a clear sign of distress.

Ning Feihong was handpicked by the Eldest Senior Brother to serve in the Spiritual Pill Hall, and even the Master of the hall defers to the Eldest Senior Brother. Moreover, Ning Feihong has reached the Peak of the Master Stage, and with just one more step, he could ascend to the Energy Master Stage and become an Inner Disciple. He wouldn't dare cross him.

The sound of the argument caught the attention of nearby disciples, who turned to look.

"Why is Ning Feihong picking a fight with Cloud Water Peak?"

"You're out of the loop, huh? Both Ning Feihong and Zhang Yuner from Cloud Water Peak are at the Peak of the Master Stage. However, Zhang Yuner was exceptionally promoted to Inner Disciple, while Ning Feihong is still stuck doing menial tasks here. He's probably seething with jealousy towards Zhang Yuner. Now that he's got the chance, of course, he's going to give the disciples of Cloud Water Peak a hard time!"

Zhang Chen had been in the dark about the bad blood between Ning Feihong and Zhang Yuner, but overhearing the side conversations made it all clear to him.

"Senior Brother Ning, the medicinal herbs from our Cloud Water Peak are without issue. Your personal issues with Senior Sister Yuner should remain just that—personal. Exchanging Medicine Pills is a matter of business. You shouldn't let your vendetta affect the distribution of the pills."