Despite the constant interruptions, Elder Wu still managed to complete his pill refinement. However, his face was contorted with fury!
"These spirit medicines must be processed in this manner! Otherwise, you can't control their transformations!" Elder Wu roared. "I'll ask you this—do you even know how to refine pills?"
Qin Yang snorted coldly, casually gathering various spirit medicines and beginning his refinement process.
He produced a pill even faster than Elder Wu.
As the pill formed, a dense mist immediately filled the air. A single breath would make one's pores open wide.
It felt as if one's body had been awakened, craving to wildly absorb the surrounding spiritual energy.
Elder Wu fell silent, his gaze toward Qin Yang having changed. As a fourth-order pill refiner, he could only guarantee a hundred percent success rate when refining second-order pills. Yet this brat...
As for his earlier plan to learn by stealth, Elder Wu felt bitter. Such techniques couldn't be mastered through mere observation...
Undeterred, Elder Wu proceeded to refine Breath Recovery Pills and Mind Concentration Pills.
Copy Breath Recovery Pill formula. Automatically upgraded to perfect formula!
Copy Mind Concentration Pill formula. Automatically upgraded to perfect formula!
These two formulas simply added extra spirit medicines, yet the resulting pills remained of supreme quality!
"I... yield." Elder Wu bowed his hands in concession.
Jin Wanshan stood to the side, utterly dumbfounded. What kind of damned pill-refining prodigy is this? he thought. How could he make a fourth-order pill refiner concede so completely in a competition?
"Where, where? Just a trifling skill, nothing worth mentioning!" Qin Yang replied with a modest smile.
Elder Wu was so frustrated he felt like coughing up blood. "This is no trifling skill! Even across the entire Pill Refining Guild, no one can match your methods, young man!"
The change in address was noticeable.
"Nothing so extreme!" Qin Yang shook his head repeatedly.
"Yes!" Elder Wu, Jin Wanshan, and the others all shouted in unison.
Qin Yang smiled awkwardly. Any further humility might have provoked their anger!
Elder Wu spoke up, "Since that's the case, I'll admit defeat. Name your terms."
Qin Yang thought for a moment. "I can't think of any terms right now, but I do need those pills, spirit medicines, and pill furnace you mentioned."
Elder Wu responded generously, immediately giving Qin Yang a high-grade yellow-tier pill furnace and materials for ten sets each of second-order Face-Preserving Pills, Breath Recovery Pills, Mind Concentration Pills, and Gathering Qi Pills.
Having taken so much from them and embarrassed the old man, Qin Yang felt a twinge of guilt. "Um, if you need help refining these pills to premium quality, feel free to ask. I'll be in Wanshan City for the next few weeks."
"Many thanks," Elder Wu said politely.
In the realm of learning, there is no hierarchy; those who reach understanding become teachers. Those unfamiliar with Qin Yang might mistake him for a fool spouting nonsense. But those who know him recognize his true greatness—a man destined for limitless prospects!
Rubbing his hands, Elder Wu hesitated before saying, "To be honest... I have many questions right now..."
"Oh? Ask away," Qin Yang nodded.
The two then began discussing pill refining techniques. At first glance, it might seem Elder Wu was teaching the younger man. But upon closer listening, one would realize Elder Wu was doing all the asking, while Qin Yang provided all the answers.
Qin Yang was actually teaching a grandmaster of pill refining!
Two hours later, Elder Wu left deeply enlightened, while Qin Yang's throat was parched from explaining.
Elder Wu rushed off to seclude himself in meditation for pill refining, casting Jin Wanshan a meaningful glance as he departed.
Jin Wanshan understood immediately. With such talent, how could he not try to recruit Qin Yang?
"We've already refined three types of pills," Jin Wanshan began. "That means we've obtained the formulas for the Wanshan Chamber of Commerce. More importantly, we've learned the techniques and precautions... You can name your price. The Wanshan Chamber of Commerce never leaves its friends in debt!"
Qin Yang shrugged with a smile. "Since we're friends now, isn't talking about money bad for our relationship?"
Jin Wanshan's heart swelled with joy, only to freeze in shock moments later.
"Five thousand low-grade spirit stones."
"What? Are you robbing me?" Jin Wanshan screeched. "You just said money ruins relationships..."
Earlier, he'd gone on a wild shopping spree for clothes and jewelry—every piece a magical artifact! Though impractical, they weren't cheap by any means.
Besides, he hadn't extorted anyone. With his explanation, Elder Wu would soon be able to refine these four top-grade pills.
"Family matters require clear accounts. I know you're not short on funds!" Qin Yang looked at Jin Wanshan as if seeing a golden mountain.
Jin Wanshan snorted. "Two thousand low-grade spirit stones—no more! These three pills may sell well, but they're not all top-grade. Besides, you didn't even modify some of the formulas..."
"Deal!" Qin Yang nodded immediately.
"Huh?" Jin Wanshan's mouth dropped open. He suddenly slapped his forehead—damn, he'd been tricked! He should've bargained harder.
Reluctantly, he produced the spirit stones and handed them over to Lou Mengyu.
Lou Mengyu's heart swelled with delight. She never imagined Qin Yang could be so shrewd! But then something occurred to her, and her expression gradually darkened.
Qin Yang, oblivious to her change in mood, patted Jin Wanshan's shoulder. "Since the deal went so smoothly, why don't you treat us to a meal?"
"You've already bled me dry, and now you want me to treat you to dinner? You fucking..." Jin Wanshan glanced at Lou Mengyu, then abruptly changed his tone. "Fine."
By the time they finished, evening had settled in. The night enveloping Wanshan City created a distinct atmosphere.
Two hours later, Qin Yang and his companions, now sated from food and drink, resumed their stroll.
On the brightly lit avenue, Qin Yang picked at his teeth with a toothpick, casting sidelong glances at Jin Wanshan.
That damned fatso had been whispering incessantly to Lou Mengyu during the meal - none of it good, judging by her frequent glances his way, her expression a tapestry of conflicting emotions.
Dragging Jin Wanshan aside, Qin Yang cut straight to the chase. "I'd advise you to abandon any delusions. Lou Mengyu is mine."
With the truth laid bare, Jin Wanshan discarded all pretense. "Even as a dan refining prodigy, you're still unworthy of her."
He puffed out his chest with pride. "But I'm different! My Jin family stands equal to the Eight Divine Clans! While our ancestral foundations may not match theirs, our influence across the continent is no less significant."
Qin Yang shrugged. "So what? She's already mine."
Already mine!
Already mine...
The words echoed incessantly in Jin Wanshan's mind, striking him like lightning.
"You've... gone this far?" Jin Wanshan murmured, dazed.
"Mm-hmm!" Qin Yang shrugged, wearing an expression of helpless resignation. "Can't be helped. It's fate."
Jin Wanshan drew a deep breath. "You'd best keep quiet," he warned. "Otherwise, you'll die a horrible death!"
Qin Yang remained unconcerned. The more enemies he had, the better - he could copy their techniques and martial arts to enhance his strength, saving him the trouble of scheming. He couldn't strike first, so he'd have to find ways to make others attack him. What a pain!
"Huh? Fight Union? What kind of union is that?" Qin Yang paused, noticing a particularly bustling area.
Jin Wanshan seethed with resentment. He'd pursued Lou Mengyu relentlessly, only to be rejected countless times. How could this flower end up with Qin Yang, this lump of cow dung?
Seeing the Fight Union, Jin Wanshan chuckled. "If you want to be worthy of Lou Mengyu, this might be the way to prove it."
"What do you mean?" Qin Yang's curiosity was piqued.
Jin Wanshan's voice turned mysterious. "If you possess overwhelming strength, you can overcome any obstacle. This place will test your mettle. Didn't you claim to return an opponent's own methods against them? Why not give it a try?"
"Fine, I'll go. Who's afraid of who?" Qin Yang's interest was thoroughly engaged.