Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Xu Shangao's Counterattack?

Xu Shangao asked, “Fang, just tell me what you want.”

Fang Lin smirked and pointed at the pitch-dark pill furnace.

Xu Shangao didn’t understand at first, but he quickly caught on. His eyes widened in surprise, “You mean you want to refine pills?”

“Yes, I’d like to borrow your pill furnace to refine some pills.” Fang Lin nodded.

Xu Shangao looked at Fang Lin strangely, “You really know how to refine pills?”

Inside, Fang Lin was almost exasperated. I am a Pill Sovereign, and you’re asking me such a question?

But on second thought, it was indeed surprising for a mere Pill Apprentice to want to refine pills.

“Don’t worry, pill refining is my forte.” Fang Lin reassured, thumping his chest.

Xu Shangao frowned, “But you’re just an apprentice, how could you know pill refining?”

With a smile, Fang Lin said confidently, “Didn’t I tell you? I’m a genius. What’s so hard about this simple task of pill refining?”

“···”

Xu Shangao was so annoyed he wanted to throw Fang Lin out. How dare you say that pill refining is easy? He himself gets frantic just trying to make a Heart Cleansing Pill. If pill refining is so easy, what would be difficult for you then?

Grudgingly, Xu Shangao said, “Fang, it’s not that I don’t want to lend you the furnace, but pill refining is serious business. Also, the Pill Sect has rules, Pill Apprentices are not allowed to refine pills. If it’s out of curiosity that you want to refine pills, I can’t agree to that.”

Fang Lin was speechless. Excuse me, didn’t I just help you out big time? Why are you suddenly so righteous?

“Rules are dead, but people are living. I’m not refining pills out of curiosity. To tell you the truth, my pill refining experience surpasses yours by far. Do you want me to show you?” Fang Lin retorted disdainfully.

Xu Shangao hesitated. He had always been an honest man and was not quite ready to agree with Fang Lin.

Seeing this, Fang Lin sneered, “In that case, if you lend me the furnace to refine pills, I’ll give you one of the pills I create.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Shangao asked, “What kind of pill do you want to make? If it’s possible, why don’t I help you refine it?”

Fang Lin gave Xu Shangao a derisive look.

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to refine it.” Fang Lin said.

Xu Shangao snorted, “I don’t believe it. What kind of pill do you want to make?”

Fang Lin smirked, “I want to make the Pulse Opening Pill. Can you do it?”

Xu Shangao was taken aback, “What’s a Pulse Opening Pill?”

Fang Lin smirked, “You don’t even know what a Pulse Opening Pill is and you want to help me refine pills? Just drop it, I’ll refine it myself.”

Xu Shangao felt a little embarrassed. He had assumed he could help Fang Lin refine a pill as a formal disciple, but he had never even heard of the pill Fang Lin wanted to make.

Seeing Xu Shangao’s reaction, Fang Lin grinned, “The Pulse Opening Pill is a superior pill. If you don’t know about it, it must be because you haven’t come across its formula.”

Fang Lin paused before adding, “I am making the Pulse Opening Pill to open my thirty-six blocked meridians. Once the pill is ready, I will give you two so you can benefit as well.”

“Really?” Xu Shangao was tempted. Apparently, the Pulse Opening Pill had such benefits. If it really could be made, then it would be ok to lend the furnace to Fang Lin.

Fang Lin snorted, “Of course it’s true. Considering the guidance I just provided you, do you think that was achievable by just anyone?”

Considering it, Xu Shangao found it to be true. If it hadn’t been for Fang Lin’s guidance on the sequence of herb deployment, he might not have been able to produce the Heart Cleansing Pill.

Still, Xu Shangao was worried, “But you said the Pulse Opening Pill is a superior one. Can you really make it?”

Pills below the first rank are collectively called inferior, and the inferior is divided into three grades: superior, medium, and inferior.

The Pulse Opening Pill is superior. Although it falls into the inferior category, it is close to the level of a first-rank pill.

Xu Shangao knew he could manage an inferior pill, but a medium one would be hard. As for a superior one, Xu Shangao had never successfully made one.

How could anyone believe that Fang Lin, a mere Pill Apprentice, would be so confident about refining a superior pill right from the get-go?

However, Xu Shangao had a certain level of belief in him.

“Absolutely no problem. Plus, I reckon half of your thirty-six meridians are still blocked. With the Pulse Opening Pill, you can open more meridians, greatly increasing your training speed. It’s all benefits, just lend me the furnace without worrying.” Fang Lin said.

Finally, Xu Shangao no longer hesitated, biting his lip, “Alright, remember, you promised me. If you really manage to make the Pulse Opening Pill, I’ll get two.”

Fang Lin laughed, “No problem, I won’t forget.”

“When will you start then?” Xu Shangao asked.

Fang Lin walked up to the pill furnace, patted it and said, “Let’s start now, I’ve got nothing better to do anyway.”

“Then I’ll watch from here,” said Xu Shangao.

Fang Lin gave him a glance and said, “You go ahead and do your own stuff, I’m not used to having someone around when I’m refining pills.”

“But what if something went wrong with you, I can lend a hand, no?” Xu Shangao argued.

Fang Lin gave him an exasperated look, “Just relax, and wait to enjoy the benefits.”

“Alright, I’ll go deliver the Heart Cleansing Pills to the elder, you be careful not to damage my Pill Furnace.” Xu Shangao left with a backward glance for every three steps he took, reminding Fang, who promptly pushed him out of the yard.

Once Xu Shangao had left, Fang Lin began working on refining the Pulse Opening Pills.

The ingredients required for the Pulse Opening Pills were numerous. Fortunately, all the necessary herbs were available in Xu Shangao’s little herb garden, sparing Fang Lin a lot of effort.

With the ingredients prepared, Fang Lin entered the Pill Refining Room and closed the door.

Gazing at the dark Pill Furnace, Fang Lin put away his usual playful demeanor, his face filled with mixed feelings.

There was a time when he used top-tier pill furnaces. Now, he was working with an ordinary furnace, which was so plain that he could hardly remember when was the last time he used such a thing.

“Ah well, it’s better than nothing.” Fang Lin sighed internally. With a pat on the Pill Furnace, flames started burning within.

Pill refining required fire. The more skilled the Pill Refiner, the more formidable the fire they used.

Fortunately, the Pulse Opening Pill was a low-grade pill, and could be made with regular flame.

The flames quickly heated up the Pill Furnace. Fang Lin was composed, with an exceptionally calm gaze.

He had refined pills countless times in his previous life, but this was his first in this life.

Though he had yet to start, Fang Lin had already rehearsed the entire pill refining process in his mind countless times.

It was a form of experience; he’d thought it all through even before starting.

While Fang Lin was refining the Pulse Opening Pills, Xu Shangao, who had his own agenda, arrived at the Pill Forest Academy, ready to submit the Heart Cleansing Pill to the elder for evaluation.

The Pill Forest Academy was where all official disciples learned the Alchemy Technique, and was a vital location in the Pill Sect, overseen by three elders each day.

At that moment, some official disciples had already arrived at the academy and were submitting their Heart Cleansing Pills to the elder for evaluation.

“Huh? Isn’t that Xu? Why is he here in the academy at this time?” a tall official disciple spotted Xu Shangao and intentionally raised his voice.

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Xu Shangao. Some were surprised, some disdained him, others simply didn’t care.

The elder looked at Xu Shangao and frowned, asking, “Why are you running around instead of refining pills? We’re only a few days away from the end of the month, are you refining your Heart Cleansing Pill or not?”

Several official disciples chuckled, showing that Xu Shangao’s status among them was indeed not that high.

Xu Shangao didn’t say a word, holding his breath as he walked straight up to the elder.

The tall youth observed Xu Shangao ignoring him. Feeling slighted, he stared at Xu Shangao with a gloomy look. However, he didn’t dare lose his temper with the elder present.

“Disciple Xu Shangao, has refined five Heart Cleansing Pills, kindly verify them.” Holding the jade bottle with both hands, he faced the elder and spoke.

Everyone, especially those who had looked down on Xu Shangao earlier, was surprised and found this hard to believe.

“What? Did I hear wrong? Xu Shangao actually refined the Heart Cleansing Pill?”

“That’s impossible. I know his skills best. The Heart Cleansing Pill is not something he can make.”

“Let’s see and then talk. If he’s bluffing, the elder will be the first to punish him.”

···

The disciples talked amongst themselves, Xu Shangao’s complexion worsened but he remained silent.

The elder looked at Xu Shangao, a slight frown appeared on his face. He did not believe it either. He took the jade bottle from Xu Shangao, clearly not expecting much.

After all, he was well acquainted with Xu Shangao’s skills. The process of refining the Heart Cleansing Pill required attention to the order of introducing the medicinal herbs, a crucial step that’s hard to fathom without proper guidance. It would be impossible for a low-rank disciple like Xu Shangao to figure it out on his own.

“Elder, please verify.” Seeing that the elder hadn’t made a move, Xu Shangao spoke up again.

“Humph! I will of course look at it. But if you’re bluffing in front of me, don’t blame me for punishing you.” The elder coldly retorted.

Xu Shangao clenched his fist. It felt terrible to be looked down upon.

The elder opened the bottle, and out came five round, light green pills.

A flash of surprise flickered behind the elder’s eyes, he placed the pills close to his nose to sniff them. The surprise in his eyes deepened.

The other disciples present were astonished to see genuine Heart Cleansing Pills.

“Did Xu Shangao actually figure it out? He really did manage to refine the Heart Cleansing Pill?” Lots of disciples echoed similar sentiments in their minds.

“They’ve reached the mid-grade level!” The elder suddenly exclaimed in surprise.