C5 Knocked out on the Spot!

Lin Tian's gaze chilled upon hearing the words, yet he remained silent.

He had no interest in entangling himself in the matter; his only desire was to make his purchase and depart swiftly.

But to Ye Feng, Lin Tian's disregard was a blatant insult. He couldn't fathom Lin Tian's audacity to ignore him and said icily, "Lin Tian, after all these years of cultivation, you're still nothing more than a Martial Apprentice Level Three, without even an awakened Spirit Body. What business do you have here at the Pill Tower? Is this a place for trash like you?"

Lin Tian's patience had worn thin. "That's none of your concern," he retorted frostily.

Ye Feng was taken aback, his complexion turning a ghastly shade of green.

Having spent his time leisurely in the city, Ye Feng was oblivious to Lin Tian's recent activities within the sect. Assuming Lin Tian was still the coward he once knew, Ye Feng was unable to stomach the boldness of his retort. He bellowed, "Lin Tian! Have you lost your mind? How dare you speak to me that way! Who do you think you are? Nothing but trash, orphaned and worthless! Do you really think I won't kill you right here and now?"

"Really?" Lin Tian let out a cold laugh, fixing his gaze on Ye Feng. "Well, I'm looking forward to it. Come on, Senior Brother Ye, try to kill me. If you've got the skill, my life is yours for the taking."

Ye Feng was dumbstruck once more, seemingly at a loss for words.

But his confusion quickly gave way to laughter. "Haha! Fine! Fine! Lin Tian, you must be out of your mind, seeking death like this! But it suits me just fine. I'll show mercy by ending your life here, sparing you the daily humiliation and torment of living!"

With that declaration, Ye Feng unleashed a ferocious aura, whipping up a tempest within the hall.

Unfazed, Lin Tian sneered and craned his neck. "Well then, Senior Brother Ye, please proceed. I'm eager to see what you can do."

The sudden prospect of a brawl caused a stir among the onlookers in the hall, disbelief written on their faces that a fight would dare break out in the Pill Tower.

"Cough, cough... Gentlemen, this is the Pill Tower Chamber of Commerce. We do not permit altercations between guests on these premises. If you insist on combat, I must ask you to take it outside. Should anyone dare to engage in violence within the Pill Tower, they would be defying our authority, and we would be forced to execute them on the spot. So please, consider your actions carefully," interjected Huang Xin, standing before Lin Tian, at this pivotal moment. Ye Feng's body tensed, and then, retracting his menacing aura, he hissed, "Hmph, Lin Tian, quite the schemer, aren't you? Trying to get me to make a move here so the Pill Tower's enforcers will handle me, is that it? But I won't give you the satisfaction. Once we're outside, rest assured, I'll find the opportunity to finish you off!"

Lin Tian scoffed, dismissing Ye Feng with a turn of his head. He addressed Huang Xin, "Miss Huang, since we're out of the previous herbs, let me list some other ones for you to consider..."

Rapidly, Lin Tian reeled off over a dozen names of medicinal herbs. Ye Feng, listening intently at his side, couldn't help but erupt into boisterous laughter after hearing the list. "Lin Tian, have you lost your mind? Asking for such an extensive list of herbs? Do you even have the funds for that? Especially for the Absolute Cold Grass! Do you have any idea how much that costs?"

Lin Tian's gaze turned icy. He was sorely tempted to silence Ye Feng with a slap, but at the mention of Absolute Cold Grass, his eyes flickered with interest. "Oh? You're familiar with Absolute Cold Grass?"

"Hehe, of course," Ye Feng sneered, a smug look on his face. "Because I own one."

With that, he reached into his robe and produced a white jade porcelain bottle. As he lifted the lid, a white grass leaf peeked out, releasing a wisp of chilling air.

Lin Tian felt a surge of emotion, but Ye Feng just sneered, "See? This is the Absolute Cold Grass! The Lin family paid a fortune to a rogue cultivator for it, specifically for my cultivation. We shelled out a full eight thousand taels of gold for this piece! Eight thousand! Do you really think you can match that, Lin Tian?"

The onlookers in the Pill Tower's main hall watched with covetous eyes, well aware that Ye Feng wasn't exaggerating. The Absolute Cold Grass typically fetched around ten thousand taels of gold, and it was so rare that it was practically priceless. The Lin family must have used some extraordinary means to acquire it for eight thousand taels—any other merchant would start the bidding at ten thousand.

"I've been in the city these past days for two reasons," Ye Feng continued with a cold laugh. "First, the medicinal potency of the Absolute Cold Grass has sufficiently nourished my Ice Spirit Body—I've nearly exhausted it. Second, I'm awaiting the return of Pill Tower's Great Alchemist, Zhao Danhua. I plan to have Great Master Zhao use my Absolute Cold Grass to craft a Cold Heart Pill for me. Once I take that pill, I'll break through to the Martial Cultivator Stage and ascend as an Inner Sect disciple. Then, Lin Tian, how will you stand a chance against me? I could crush you with a mere flick of my finger!"

Ye Feng's face was a picture of smug triumph, as if he had already secured his place as an Inner Sect disciple.

Lin Tian remained silent, his gaze shifting subtly. His mind was preoccupied with finding a way to eliminate Ye Feng and claim the Absolute Cold Grass for himself.

"Great Master Zhao Danhua has arrived!"

"Greetings, Great Master Zhao!"

A chorus of voices erupted, and the crowd parted like a sea, revealing a path to an elder clad in purple. Their faces were etched with reverence as they bowed.

"Great Master Zhao is a Common Level Middle Rank pharmacist, which means the pills he crafts are at least of that quality! Such pills are beneficial to those at the Martial Cultivator Stage. I'm not asking for much—just for Great Master Zhao to craft a Common Level Middle Rank pill for me. I'm willing to pay whatever it costs!"

"Give it up. Great Master Zhao isn't interested in money. His passion lies in the art of pill crafting. Haven't you heard? If you want his services, you need to offer herbs of significant value. Great Master Zhao might even craft it for free if the materials are worthy. But if they're not, no amount of gold, not even 100,000 taels, would persuade him to do the work."

The middle-aged man who had spoken before was rendered speechless by this revelation, while the others looked on with unabashed admiration. To them, this was the mark of a true alchemy master—one who valued the quality of ingredients over wealth.

Lin Tian's eyes sparkled with intrigue as he observed the token hanging from Great Master Zhao's waist. It was a simple wooden piece, yet finely crafted with intricate patterns resembling flames and the character 'Core' at its center—a distinctive emblem of the Pharmacist Association. Having had numerous dealings with the Association, Lin Tian knew the authenticity of the token was beyond question.

Taking another glance at Zhao Danhua, Lin Tian's eyes brightened with curiosity.

"Interesting," he mused silently, withdrawing his gaze as Zhao Danhua stepped into the center of the gathering, turning his attention to Huang Xin.

"Greetings, Great Master Zhao!"

Huang Xin promptly bowed to Zhao Danhua.

Zhao Danhua acknowledged her with a nod and spoke in a measured tone, "Huang Xin, since you know the Pill Tower best, accompany me to gather some medicinal herbs... Hmm?"

He was interrupted mid-sentence by a sudden lift of his eyebrows, his attention drawn to the porcelain bottle in Ye Feng's palm.

"Absolute Cold Grass?"

"Indeed, it is Absolute Cold Grass! Great Master Zhao, I am Ye Feng, a disciple of the Celestial Dragon Sect and the Ye family. I have been waiting here for you for half a month, hoping to request your expertise in using this Absolute Cold Grass to craft a Cold Heart Pill for me."

Ye Feng bowed deeply, his eyes brimming with reverence.

"A Cold Heart Pill?" Zhao Danhua's gaze flickered with interest. "A single Absolute Cold Grass could yield several Cold Heart Pills. How many do you require?"

"Just one will suffice," Ye Feng replied promptly. "The Ye family will provide all the necessary additional ingredients for the Cold Heart Pill. Once you, Great Master Zhao, successfully refine it, the leftover Absolute Cold Grass and other materials will be yours to keep."

Zhao Danhua fell into contemplation.

After a moment, his face broke into a smile. "Absolute Cold Grass is indeed a rare and valuable herb. For the sake of this herb, I shall agree to your request."

Overcome with joy, Ye Feng quickly stepped forward to hand over the porcelain bottle containing the Absolute Cold Grass to Zhao Danhua, along with more than a dozen other bottles. "Great Master Zhao, here are all the ingredients required for the Cold Heart Pill. We've prepared at least five sets of each."

With a sweep of his sleeves, Zhao Danhua collected them all and nodded his approval. "You are quite generous. Rest assured, I will refine it with great care."

"Many thanks, Great Master Zhao!"

Ye Feng bowed again, expressing his gratitude. At that moment, Liu Muer approached and offered her respects, "Liu Muer from the Prime Minister Mansion, at your service, Great Master Zhao."

"Oh? Liu Muer?" Zhao Danhua mused for a brief second, then his smile returned. "Ah, now I recall. Your father mentioned you to me recently. You wish to study the art of pill refining under my tutelage, correct?"

"Yes, indeed. To study the Pill Refining Dao with Great Master Zhao has been my lifelong aspiration."

"Heh, the stuff of dreams? People yearn for all sorts of things—some wish to conquer the heavens and the earth, others to stand unrivaled. But the number who actually achieve their desires is exceedingly small. So spare me the talk. If you're serious about learning the art of pill refining from me, you'll have to pass my test. I need to see if you've got the aptitude and the resilience to endure hardship. Fall short in either, and I won't teach you a thing. Got it?"

"Understood! Master, rest assured, Muer is fully committed!"

Liu Muer declared with conviction.

"Really? Well then, follow me."

Zhao Danhua nodded, gesturing casually with his hand. Liu Muer moved to his side, with Ye Feng promptly trailing behind.

"Huang Xin, attend to your tasks. I won't be needing your assistance with herb gathering for the time being."

"As you wish, Great Master Zhao."

Huang Xin bowed respectfully, and Zhao Danhua led Ye Feng and Liu Muer away.

Onlookers gazed at Ye Feng and Liu Muer with envy—one had the chance to craft pills with Zhao Danhua, and the other to learn the Pill Refining Dao from him. They were incredibly fortunate.

Unlike the rest, Lin Tian didn't just watch. As Zhao Danhua and his companions departed, he stepped forward to follow.

Exiting the Pill Tower and onto the street, Lin Tian quickly caught up with the trio. As they entered an alley, Zhao Danhua abruptly halted and turned to face the pursuing Lin Tian.

Ye Feng and Liu Muer noticed Lin Tian as well, their gazes turning icy. Ye Feng hissed with venom, "Lin Tian! You foolhardy wretch! How dare you tail Great Master Zhao..."

Whoosh!

Before he could finish, Lin Tian was suddenly upon Ye Feng, delivering a resounding slap to his face!

Smack!

The slap echoed, sending Ye Feng tumbling to the ground, his left cheek swelling as teeth and blood spilled out!

Lin Tian, with a cruel smirk, kicked Ye Feng again, sending him crashing against the alley's wall with a thud. Ye Feng's agonized screams filled the air, yet Lin Tian's foot found Ye Feng's face once more!

Ye Feng's face contorted in agony as his body spasmed with pain, and he swiftly lost consciousness.

Zhao Danhua watched the scene unfold with an unwavering gaze, remaining silent. Liu Muer, on the other hand, paled and blurted out, "Lin Tian! You..."

"What about me? Now it's your turn to take a rest!" Lin Tian sneered menacingly. With a swift motion, he reached out and seized Liu Muer's long hair, then brutally smashed her head against the wall.

Bang!

Blood gushed from Liu Muer's head as her eyes rolled back, and she too succumbed to unconsciousness.