C49 Invitation

"I lost," the Outer Town Pill Master said with a sense of helplessness, his head hanging low, his voice tinged with reluctance.

Despite the match being a best-of-three contest, Wang Shan had astounded everyone by refining ten top-tier Sea God Pills in a single attempt, boasting a 100% success rate. This feat was a clear testament to Wang Shan's exceptional abilities.

Everyone had regarded the Outer Town Pill Master as formidable, but Wang Shan's brilliance outshone him by far.

Upon hearing the Outer Town Pill Master concede defeat, Qin Meimei couldn't contain her excitement and embraced Wang Shan right in front of her father.

The five girls in the audience finally snapped out of their astonishment, their faces lighting up with surprise and delight. "The Young Master knows how to refine pills!"

After his victory, Ma Niu hosted a grand banquet at the Immortal Wine Restaurant. It was both a gesture of gratitude for Wang Shan's help and a farewell celebration.

"Mr. Wang is actually a student at Lotus Academy! That's an institution reserved for the truly gifted. If you're seeking the history of the Wang family, gaining access to the Lotus Library as an Inner Sect Disciple will surely provide the answers," Ma Niu explained.

Wang Shan found it curious how Ma Niu knew so much about the Lotus Academy. Upon further inquiry, he discovered that Ma Niu was, in fact, a student there. However, Ma Niu hadn't been admitted for his talent but had secured his place through connections and a considerable sum of money. His status at the academy was that of the lowest-tier special recruit, not even ranking as an Outer Sect Disciple.

This revelation only strengthened Wang Shan's resolve to attend Lotus Academy. Once he became an Inner Sect Disciple, his first stop would be the Lotus Library to delve into the annals of the Wang surname.

After the festivities, Wang Shan said his goodbyes to Ma Niu and the others and set off for Lotus Academy. His carriage swiftly departed White Light Town.

Inside the carriage, the five girls gazed at Wang Shan with a mix of curiosity and admiration. He had become an accomplished Pill Refining Master without their knowledge.

Had they not witnessed his skill firsthand that day, they wondered just how long their Young Master would have kept his secret.

"The Pill King of White Light Town pales in comparison to our Young Master. The old master would surely be astounded by this news," Jiaxia mused, gently soothing the slumbering Wangcai as she addressed Wang Shan.

Wang Shan spoke with a sense of resignation, "Please, don't tell my dad. I don't want him worrying about me all the time."

To the older generation, being a Pill Refining Master was seen as an extremely risky job. They believed that a Pill Refining Furnace could explode without warning.

That's precisely why Wang Shan preferred to keep his profession a secret from his father.

They all promptly promised to keep his secret.

Afterward, Wang Shan and his companions continued their journey northward.

Ten days later, they arrived at the border of Cloud Thunder Country.

While dining, Wang Shan and his group overheard a discussion about the presence of Demonic Beasts at the border, making it impassable for the next couple of days.

Just then, two armored soldiers entered the tavern.

"We're Two-star Cultivators, and a large number of Level One Demonic Beasts have appeared at the border of Cloud Thunder Country. We urgently need the assistance of many cultivators tonight. Anyone interested can sign up to join us."

Before he could finish, the other patrons had all but fled the establishment.

One phrase lingered in the air of the now-empty tavern: "Only those with a death wish would confront a Demonic Beast."

Clearly, Demonic Beasts were considered a formidable threat by the common folk.

The two soldiers turned to Wang Shan and said, "You're a One-star Cultivator, aren't you? We'd like to invite you to join us in hunting the Demonic Beast tonight. A handsome reward awaits you upon successful completion."