C11 Discussion!

"This... This is incredible!"

In an opulent room, a white-haired elder's hands trembled as he clutched a vial of Medicine Pill.

"Elder Weng, what's wrong?"

Nan Yingyue, standing before the desk, looked on with a hint of uncertainty.

The elder looked up and inquired, "Where did this Medicine Pill come from?"

"Is there an issue with it?" Nan Yingyue asked.

"I'm asking you where you obtained it!" The elder's voice rose sharply, startling Nan Yingyue. His stern face made her inwardly curse Chen Yi – there had to be something amiss with the Medicine Pill. She berated herself for believing that such a youth could produce a Medicine Pill.

"Elder Weng, here's what happened..."

She quickly relayed the events, not daring to omit a detail.

Upon hearing her account, the elder appeared astonished. "You mean to say... this Medicine Pill was crafted on the spot by the Chen family's young master?"

"Um... Yes," Nan Yingyue confirmed, though with some hesitation. The elder's reaction wasn't as severe as she feared. Given his temperament, he would have already been up in arms if the pill were flawed. His current demeanor suggested otherwise... Yet, if it were a standard Medicine Pill, surely his reaction would be different?

While she was mulling this over, the elder urgently exclaimed, "Quickly, take me to this Chen family's young master... No, to Master Chen!"

"Ah?" Nan Yingyue was bewildered.

Master Chen?

Elder Weng had just referred to Chen Yi as Master Chen. This was...

"What are you waiting for? Lead the way!"

Jolted by the elder's command, she responded, "Right away... Of course!"

Though still perplexed, Nan Yingyue hastened to guide him.

In the VIP corridor outside.

Nan Yingyue introduced the elder to Chen Yi and his companions.

"Elder Weng, this is Young Master Chen!"

She pointed to Chen Yi, addressing the elder.

Elder Weng's eyes widened with surprise at the sight of Chen Yi. Despite knowing he was but sixteen or seventeen, the reality was still astounding.

Could such a youth truly refine a Top Quality Rank Three Medicine Pill?

"I am Weng Yun, honored to meet you, Master Chen!"

Despite his surprise, Elder Weng greeted Chen Yi with a bow, his face etched with respect.

"Master Chen!?" Chen Shanheng and Chen Ji exchanged stunned glances.

They might not know Elder Weng, but Nan Yingyue's deference was telling. Her position at the South Wind Auction was significant, and only a high-ranking official from the South Wind Auction's Wood County City branch could command such respect – a status surpassing even the heads of the Chen and Wang families.

After all, the South Wind Auction had direct ties to the royal family. Holding a high position in a branch meant significant connections to the Imperial Capital.

And now, this esteemed individual was addressing Chen Yi as a master?

Even if Chen Yi had indeed crafted a Medicine Pill, surely a mere Rank One wouldn't warrant such treatment. Could it be that he had created a Rank Two Medicine Pill?

Chen Shanheng and Chen Ji pondered this, taken aback.

"Hmm."

Chen Yi acknowledged Elder Weng with a slight nod, unfazed.

His arrival was expected. The Rank Three Medicine Pill he had refined was, without doubt, among the finest in Wood County City. After all, the city's most skilled Pharmacist, Master Ye Ting, was also of Rank Three.

"Does this pill's value suffice to cover the auctioned items' cost?"

Chen Yi asked, turning his gaze from Nan Yingyue to Elder Weng.

"Most certainly!" Elder Weng agreed quickly, shooting a stern look at Nan Yingyue, "The value of this pill fully compensates for all the items Master Chen previously bid on. Yingyue, return the card Master Chen gave you earlier!"

"Understood..." Nan Yingyue, feeling slightly aggrieved by Elder Weng's glare, reluctantly handed back the gold coin card to Chen Ji.

"This..."

Chen Shanheng and Chen Ji were taken aback as they accepted the gold coin card.

One Medicine Pill, offsetting the full value of their auctioned items?

That amounted to over one and a half million gold coins! Could there be some mistake?

"Master Chen, may I have a word in private?" Elder Weng asked, looking at Chen Yi with a glimmer of hope.

"Yes."

Chen Yi agreed with a nod. He didn't need any further explanation; he had intended to draw the attention of the South Wind Auction's upper echelons with his display of alchemy.

Turning to Chen Shanheng, he said, "Father, I'll return shortly."

"Alright," Chen Shanheng acknowledged with a nod.

He was unsure of Elder Weng's intentions for speaking with Chen Yi, but given the current circumstances, it seemed unlikely to be anything troubling.

"Aren't you going to welcome Master Chen's family yet?"

Elder Weng's joy at Chen Yi's acceptance was tempered by a stern glance at Nan Yingyue.

"I understand, Elder Weng..."

Nan Yingyue's sense of injustice grew, but she dared not protest, casting a resentful look at Chen Yi.

Chen Yi, unfazed, followed Elder Weng deeper into the auction house, and they soon reached a sumptuous room.

"Please have a seat, Master," Elder Weng offered as they entered. He was about to prepare tea when he asked, "Which type of tea would Master prefer?"

"There's no need," Chen Yi dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Let's get straight to business."

"Very well," Elder Weng agreed with a nod.

He had invited Chen Yi to gauge his capabilities. The Rank Three Medicine Pill, regardless of its grade, was undeniably top quality—a rarity throughout the South Wind Empire.

In the Blue Cloud Realm, Medicine Pills were classified by both grade and quality, with the latter being a crucial factor in determining a pill's effectiveness. Quality ranged from low to medium, high, top, and perfect. Pills with less than sixty percent effectiveness were low grade, sixty to seventy percent were medium, seventy to eighty percent were high, and above ninety percent were top grade. Only those with a full one hundred percent effectiveness were deemed perfect.

Chen Yi's Rank Three Medicine Pill may not have been perfect, but it was unquestionably top grade—a feat even a Rank Four Pharmacist would struggle to achieve.

Elder Weng, a Rank Two Pharmacist himself, knew well the challenge of producing a Top Quality Medicine Pill and was eager to ascertain Chen Yi's alchemical prowess. Could this young man possibly be a Rank Four Pharmacist?

As Elder Weng pondered, Chen Yi inquired, "You're the one in charge here, correct?"

Elder Weng was momentarily taken aback by the sudden question but quickly confirmed, "Yes, Master. I am indeed responsible for the Wood County City branch."

"Good," Chen Yi nodded, cutting to the chase. "I've come to discuss a matter with your establishment."

"A matter?" Elder Weng echoed, puzzled. "What would Master like to discuss?"

Chen Yi gestured to the medicine bottle he held and said calmly, "This type of Medicine Pill—is it something your company is interested in?"

"Absolutely!" Elder Weng responded without hesitation.

Such top-grade Medicine Pills were highly sought after. A Rank Three Medicine Pill of Top Quality could fetch up to a million gold coins. Elder Weng's previous offer to offset the Chen family's auction items was a strategic move to curry favor with Chen Yi, hoping to secure more pills.

Top-grade Medicine Pills like these could command astronomical prices at the South Wind Auction's capital headquarters, as higher quality meant fewer side effects.

Medicine is inherently toxic, and all Medicine Pills carry some side effects, typically minor. For the elite, the goal is to consume pills with the least possible side effects. Top Quality Pills have negligible side effects, making them highly desirable. If such a pill, Rank Three or higher, were to be auctioned in the Imperial Capital, selling for over 1.5 million gold coins wouldn't be out of the question.

Chen Yi had hit the nail on the head with his proposal.

"I'm willing to refine three more of these Medicine Pills for your auction house, provided you supply the materials. In exchange..." Chen Yi continued, handing over a pre-prepared list, "I'll need your company to gather the items listed here as my compensation."

Elder Weng accepted the list and read aloud, "Blood from seven cultivators with unique constitutions! One hundred drops of Seventh Grade Spirit Beast Blood! A thousand drops of Eighth Grade Spirit Beast Blood!"

He gasped, looking up at Chen Yi with astonishment, "Master, your demands are quite..."

Before he could finish, Chen Yi cut in, "Of the three Medicine Pills I've mentioned, you may choose any within Rank Three."

"Choose any within Rank Three?" Elder Weng's eyes widened. "Are you certain, Master?"

"Yes," Chen Yi affirmed. "But if it's a less common pill, you'll need to provide the recipe and at least three sets of ingredients. For other pills, two sets will suffice."

"That's entirely acceptable," Elder Weng agreed, the deal set in motion.

Elder Weng agreed without hesitation.

"For any Pharmacist to concoct medicine, you'd need to prepare at least three sets of ingredients. The failure rate isn't exactly low, after all. A Pharmacist who can ensure a fifty percent success rate is already quite remarkable. So, having two sets of ingredients is the bare minimum.

However, for someone like Chen Yi, a top-tier Pharmacist from the Holy Heaven Realm, this wasn't a concern.

He could effortlessly achieve a 100% success rate on a Rank Three Medicine Pill, even blindfolded. His request for additional herbs was simply for extra compensation. At this stage, he was in dire need of medicinal herbs. The list he provided included various herbs in addition to blood.

Elder Weng looked troubled. "Master Chen, I can manage to acquire a thousand drops of Eighth Grade blood. But the blood from cultivators with seven special constitutions and Seventh Grade Spirit Beast blood might be a bit more challenging."

Chen Yi thought for a moment before responding, "We can omit the blood from the seven special constitution cultivators."

He hadn't expected the South Wind Auction to be able to collect everything needed to unlock the second level of the Blood Holy Bead's seal. His primary concern was securing a hundred drops of Seventh Grade Spirit Beast Blood and a thousand drops of Eighth Grade Spirit Beast Blood.

Elder Weng was still worried. "But a hundred drops of Seventh Grade Spirit Beast blood..."

Chen Yi replied calmly, "I can refine an additional Medicine Pill for you."

Securing Seventh Grade Spirit Beast blood in places like the Blue Cloud Realm or the South Wind Empire was indeed tricky. But with the South Wind Auction's capabilities, if they leveraged their network, it wasn't impossible. The current hesitation was likely just part of the negotiation process.

"Done!"

Sure enough, upon hearing Chen Yi's offer, Elder Weng quickly nodded, eager to seal the deal before Chen Yi could change his mind.