Under Huang Bao’s astonished gaze, Zhang Yan walked to the edge of the ship and likewise cupped his hands in salutation toward the elder, saying, "You flatter me. I am Zhang Yan, merely a humble cultivator, not a great master."
The elder was slightly surprised to see that Zhang Yan was so young, but his expression quickly returned to normal. "Daoist Zhang need not be modest," he replied. "Your Long Yue Pill is odorless, colorless, smooth like a pearl, its properties clearly reaching the realm of ’subtle nature refined like dust, power condensed into one.’ Even after being exposed to sunlight for a hundred days, its potency does not diminish in the slightest. It is truly an exceptional pill, a treasure indeed."
Zhang Yan had sent over this pill, as was customary among Pill Masters, to showcase his accomplishments and cultivation. This was a common etiquette in their circles.
Indeed, this pill was one Zhang Yan himself had refined. However, during its refinement, Zhou Chongju had been the one to regulate the fire control, guiding Zhang Yan step by step with meticulous instruction. The entire process had consumed a generous amount of herbs, and after ruining five or six furnaces of pills, this final batch produced only one pill worthy of being classified as top-grade.
At the time, Zhou Chongju had held the pill in his hand, inspecting it multiple times before handing it to Zhang Yan with a chuckle, remarking that it was indeed impressive enough to deceive others.
The elder cast a discerning glance over Zhang Yan’s face, then said, "This old man also has several pills here and would like to ask Daoist Zhang for his appraisal."
Hearing this, Zhang Yan’s expression became serious. Observing that the elder remained motionless, with his eyelids drooping, he replied, "Very well, since fellow Daoist requests it, I dare not decline."
This was a courteous invitation for a friendly competition between peers, a normal occurrence among those in the same craft. However, judging by the elder’s demeanor, it seemed he didn’t quite believe Zhang Yan had personally refined the pill and wanted to test his skill firsthand.
Nonetheless, since Zhang Yan intended to establish his identity as a Pill Master upon entering the Water Country, he naturally had to uphold this persona determinedly. Secretly, he thought, "This happens to be the perfect opportunity for someone to validate my reputation. This man volunteering for the task couldn’t be more suitable."
Once within the Demon Country, cultivators superior to him in strength were common. Even bearing the identity of a Mingcang Sect envoy would bring limited convenience. But if he simultaneously bore the title of Pill Master, the situation would be entirely different.
The Demon Country severely lacked talent in this field, especially since practitioners of the Power Dao required external medicines for nourishment. The term "medicine" inherently included elixir pills. As a result, Pill Masters held a highly respected status in the Demon Country, often ranked above ordinary demon cultivators. Many Pill Masters dissatisfied with their positions within their sects had come here seeking better opportunities.
However, Pill Masters capable of producing high-grade elixirs were strictly cultivated by their sects, with various secret techniques and mantras never allowed to be leaked. Thus, even the influx of Pill Masters could not rectify the Demon Country’s low standard of pill refinement.
As soon as Zhang Yan consented, the elder gestured dramatically. The helmsman understood and steered the ship closer to Zhang Yan’s vessel.
Huang Bao, being perceptive, immediately took to steering the ship himself, gradually closing the distance between the two vessels. Once they were close, he ordered men to fetch two long ladders to connect the ships’ edges. Covered with planks, they constructed a simple yet functional bridge.
On the opposing ship, a young demon cultivator watched cautiously, silently observing Luo Xiao, who stood nearby. He then leaned toward the elder and whispered, "Elder Ren? Can you discern the origins of this person?"
The elder pondered for a moment before answering, "Now that Lord Ji has convened the Elixir Conference, disciples of great talent and promising brilliance from across the seas and lands have flocked here like fish swimming upriver. However, this person is so young. If that Long Yue Pill truly was refined by him, then he must come from a renowned sect. I believe he likely hails from one of the Sixteen Great Sects of East Splendor Continent."
In this place, Earth Veins and Primordial Magnetism disrupted spiritual mechanisms. Attempting to fly here recklessly would result in one falling from the skies not long after. Zhang Yan was incapable of achieving feats like Luo Xiao and thus could only tread carefully along the makeshift bridge.
Once on the opposing ship, Luo Xiao stepped forward proactively, adopting the posture of a female attendant while standing behind him. The young demon cultivator couldn’t help but twitch at the sight.
Zhang Yan cupped his hands, saying, "May I ask, fellow Daoist, for your esteemed name?"
The elder returned the salute with a composed expression and replied, "This old man is a Qi Cultivator from overseas, Ren Cai." He stepped aside, gesturing courteously, "Please, Daoist, do come inside."
As Zhang Yan stepped into the cabin, his gaze swept briefly across the interior. Though the furnishings were simple, the decor on the racks was peculiar—rows upon rows of sharp, glistening white fangs and teeth. At a glance, they exuded an overwhelming aura of evil and a visceral sense of bloodthirstiness.
Ren Cai noticed Zhang Yan’s interest and explained, "These are from various demons found in the East Sea. Some clan leaders in the Water Country have a particular affection for them, so I brought a few this time. Please, Daoist, have a seat."
The two men took their positions, Zhang Yan as the guest and Ren Cai as the host. Luo Xiao and the young demon cultivator each stood behind their respective sides.
Ren Cai exchanged further pleasantries with Zhang Yan before learning that he hailed from the Mingcang Sect. This revelation made Ren Cai less dismissive of Zhang Yan. Ren Cai promptly returned the Long Yue Pill to Zhang Yan, then pushed forward a brocade box toward him, his eyes fixed intently as he cupped his hands. "May I trouble Daoist Zhang for your guidance?"
Zhang Yan accepted the box and opened it to find three mud-colored pills. Judging by their appearance, they didn’t match any recorded formulas in the Elixir Manual. However, this wasn’t surprising, as Pill Masters often had their own unique recipes. The mystery lay in the remarkable uniformity of these three pills—they were identical in color, fragrance, and shape.
"These three pills are called the Three-Life Elixirs," Ren Cai said. "They were concocted based on a fragment of an ancient recipe, said to extend life. However, there is one flaw. Every time these pills are refined, the entire batch produces three pills, two of which are deadly poisons, leaving only one that can actually prolong life."
Ren Cai straightened slightly as he spoke, "I have spent over thirty years perfecting this method of refinement. While I have gradually found a pattern, even now, I cannot guarantee certainty. It is regrettable, but I trust Daoist Zhang, being of distinguished lineage, might shed some light for this old man?"
Zhang Yan studied the pills carefully and replied, "May I examine them closely?"
Ren Cai raised an arm invitingly, signaling Zhang Yan to inspect them as he pleased. His expression, however, betrayed unmistakable self-confidence.
From Ren Cai’s perspective, Zhang Yan, despite his youth, might have achieved his Long Yue Pill only through exemplary apprenticeship. After all, some great sects guarded their secret recipes closely, enabling students to produce a few outstanding pills merely by following straightforward instructions. Such feats were far from unusual.
Nonetheless, the path of alchemy truly relied on the Three Apertures Skill. This was a solid, irrefutable truth. There was no room for fraud here.
To differentiate among these pills, the discerning ability of the Three Apertures Skill was indispensable. Ren Cai himself had spent thirty years specializing in this craft to perceive the subtle differences. During competitions with peers, none could correctly identify the distinctions between the three pills he presented. They invariably conceded defeat.
And if anyone remained unconvinced, he would consume them on the spot. This decisive move never failed; his opponents always left in disarray. Over the years, Ren Cai had met with unchallenged success.
This time, at the Elixir Conference, he was confident that this pill alone would overshadow numerous competitors.
Zhang Yan looked carefully at the pills. Though he had cultivated to the Second Realm of the Ming Qi Stage and had trained an additional Qi Acupoint through the Inner Aperture Skill, the refinement technique and discerning ability were entirely different matters. Identifying the quality of ordinary pills or refining them might not pose difficulties for him, but distinguishing unusual pills such as these was undoubtedly a challenge.
However, while Zhang Yan lacked the ability to rely on the Three Apertures Skill or the Inner Aperture Skill to discern the pills, he had an alternative method that Ren Cai could never anticipate.
He reached into his sleeve, clasping the piece of Broken Jade, and sank his heart and spirit into it.
With his progression in cultivation, the scenes within the jade had further transformed. Originally, the jade could only reflect the surroundings within five steps, but now it offered a range of up to fifteen steps, perfectly mirroring everything non-living. Beyond this radius, the view was shrouded in indistinct gray.
Shifting his focus inward, he noticed that his avatar was likewise seated before an identical brocade box containing three identical pills aligned neatly within.
He couldn’t help but smile faintly. Although he couldn’t rely on the Three Apertures Skill or Inner Aperture Skill to discern these pills, his avatar could ingest and test them directly.
Without hesitation, he grasped the pill in the center and swallowed it.
As soon as the pill entered his abdomen, it ignited like blazing fire. In mere moments, the toxin was so fierce it burned through his innards and erupted outward, its virulence far beyond expectations.
With a shift in intent, his avatar gradually recovered. He then picked up the second pill and placed it in his mouth.
Upon consuming the second pill, nothing seemed unusual at first, but as time passed, a chilling frost began creeping through every fiber of his being. Hair fell out, followed by eyebrows and all body hair, leaving him bald. His skin then began to crackle and peel like parchment. A light touch of his hand sent flakes scattering.
But that wasn’t all. His flesh decayed like gangrenous waste, chunks falling away in lumps.
Clenching his fist caused his knuckles to burst through the decaying flesh. When he stood to take two steps, his body sagged under the weight, its skin sliding away like soaked garments.
Zhang Yan lost interest in observing further. Though testing substances through his avatar posed no risk, every sensation was vividly felt—every ounce of agony. If not for his hardened nerves, built through vast experience, merely witnessing such horrors might have incapacitated him.
These two pills were undoubtedly toxic without question.
His gaze naturally shifted to the final pill.
Ren Cai noticed Zhang Yan hesitating and couldn’t help but display a faint smirk. Ah, this young novice still lacked solid grounding, daring to boast simply because of a distinguished apprenticeship. He was unaware that the path of alchemy was as boundless as the sea, an endless pursuit. A youth must remember: without steady steps, one cannot traverse a thousand miles. Only firm foundations lead to true achievement in this art.
At that moment, Zhang Yan raised his head and smiled gently at Ren Cai before picking up the last pill.
Ren Cai’s brows furrowed slightly, though his expression remained unchanged. Zhang Yan’s next words, however, made his entire body jolt, nearly leaping from his seat.
"This pill is neither poisonous nor does it extend longevity. Only by consuming all three pills together can their effects be realized."

Comments

Loading...