C12 Mr Yu(1)

"Master Chen, it's been a pleasure working with you!"

Elder Weng's face beamed with a smile as he extended his hand, which Chen Yi lightly grasped in return. Though his expression remained composed, inwardly, he breathed a sigh of relief.

With this transaction complete, he was halfway to unlocking the second level seal of the Blood Holy Bead. The next step was to acquire the blood of seven distinct cultivators.

"When can you assemble all these items?" Chen Yi inquired.

Elder Weng thought for a moment before responding, "Master, the medicinal herbs you requested are readily available from our stock. However, gathering the blood samples listed will likely take at least ten days."

"Understood."

Chen Yi nodded, then requested, "Please prepare a list of the Medicine Pills you need in the meantime."

"Master, I don't have the authority to decide that on my own," Elder Weng explained. "I need to consult with our headquarters for confirmation. May I ask for a couple of days of your patience?"

"Please expedite the process," Chen Yi urged. "However, I need the medicinal herbs from the list immediately!"

"Of course, Master. I'll retrieve them at once. Just give me a moment," Elder Weng assured, standing to leave the room.

Under normal circumstances, it would be unthinkable for anyone to receive their payment before completing the work of refining medicine for them. But Chen Yi was an exception. As a Pharmacist capable of producing Top Quality Rank Three Medicine Pills, Elder Weng was not inclined to sour relations over such a trivial matter, nor was he concerned about Chen Yi absconding with the herbs.

The list was extensive, but the combined value of the herbs didn't come close to a tenth of what Chen Yi had earned from his previous pill creations. Besides, with the prominent Chen family in the picture, where could they possibly flee to?

In mere minutes, Elder Weng returned, presenting a jade-green ring to Chen Yi. "Master, all the herbs from the list are contained within this Space Ring. Please verify their presence. And consider the ring itself a token of our appreciation."

Chen Yi acknowledged with a nod and took the ring.

A Space Ring, crafted from unique materials, harbored a storage space capable of holding numerous items. In the Blue Cloud Realm, any moderately powerful Cultivator would possess one, though they remained a rarity in Wood County City.

Even the most basic Space Ring fetched tens of thousands of gold coins, a price not everyone in Wood County City could afford. Only a select few, like the heads of the Chen and Wang families, would own one.

To Chen Yi, such an item was trivial, but now, reborn into his younger self without one, it was precisely what he needed. Thus, he accepted Elder Weng's gesture without objection.

After infusing a wisp of Spirit energy into the Space Ring and verifying the herbs, Chen Yi stood and announced, "Everything is in order. I must attend to other matters, so I'll take my leave. Once you've decided on the Medicine Pills you require, come find me at the Chen residence."

"Master, allow me the honor of seeing you out," Elder Weng offered, rising to accompany Chen Yi's departure.

Exiting the room, they encountered Chen Shanheng and Nan Yingyue in the VIP area.

"Yi, is everything settled?" Chen Shanheng inquired, glancing at Elder Weng by his son's side.

"Yes," Chen Yi confirmed with a smile. "Father, shall we head out?"

"Let's go," Chen Shanheng agreed, and the trio made their way out of the auction house.

Nan Yingyue, watching them leave, approached Elder Weng with concern. "Elder Weng, is Chen Yi genuinely a Pharmacist? There's no chance we've been duped, is there?"

Elder Weng's gaze turned frosty. "Are you questioning my ability to evaluate Medicine Pills?"

"No, not at all, Elder Weng," Nan Yingyue hastily clarified. "It's just that Chen Yi was alone in the VIP room. It's possible the Medicine Pill wasn't his own work but prepared in advance."

Elder Weng's brow creased as he considered her words. "Take me to the VIP room used for the alchemy."

"Right away," Nan Yingyue responded, leading the way.

She had changed the VIP room for Chen Shanheng and herself earlier due to the overpowering scent of the herbs. Now, she escorted Elder Weng back to the original room.

Despite having experienced the intense fragrance herself, Nan Yingyue harbored doubts. The alchemists she knew were all middle-aged or even elderly, not youthful like Chen Yi. And a single pill that commanded Elder Weng's respect had to be at least Rank Three, which made her skepticism even stronger. How could a mere sixteen-year-old be a Rank Three Pharmacist?

She wasn't alone in her suspicions; Elder Weng shared them. For a sixteen-year-old, even one who had started studying alchemy at three, becoming a Rank Three Pharmacist at such a young age seemed improbable. After all, even in the vast South Wind Empire, the only known example was a member of the royal family.

Who exactly is that individual?

From birth, he was tutored by the Empire's most elite pharmacists, lavishly using all kinds of spirit herbs and materials, which led to his early achievements.

And Chen Yi?

Just the young master of a minor family in a small town, the resources at his disposal were laughably insufficient for the costly craft of alchemy. That he became a Rank Three Pharmacist at sixteen is nothing short of astonishing.

"Elder Weng, we've arrived."

Upon entering the VIP room, the scent of medicinal herbs filled the air, and a Medicine Cauldron stood before them.

Elder Weng squinted his eyes.

A single look was all it took for him to confirm that an alchemical process had recently taken place in this room.

He turned to Nan Yingyue, "Are you certain he was the only one here?"

"Yes," she nodded.

The VIP room had but one door, no other exits, and it was situated on the second floor of the auction house. Not even someone capable of earth evasion could have entered unnoticed.

"Could it be true?"

With Nan Yingyue's affirmation, Elder Weng furrowed his brow.

Alchemy had undoubtedly occurred here. If Chen Yi was indeed alone, then the conclusion was clear.

A sixteen-year-old Rank Three Pharmacist!

Taking a deep breath, Elder Weng declared, "From now on, any dealings with the Chen family, especially with Master Chen, should be met with the utmost courtesy!"

Nan Yingyue's eyes widened in surprise, "Elder Weng, are you saying that kid actually did the refining?"

"If he was the only one present, then there's no doubt about it."

Elder Weng gave her a measured look, "Regardless, in future interactions with the Chen family, and particularly with Master Chen, I expect you to show respect. Put aside your petty vendettas; he's not someone you can afford to provoke!"

With that, he turned and left, leaving a somewhat bewildered Nan Yingyue behind.

Of course, she harbored thoughts of revenge.

She was by no means a magnanimous woman.

Chen Yi's success in pill refinement had been a slap in her face, and she was far from pleased. Subsequently causing her to be reprimanded by Elder Weng only added fuel to her desire for payback.

She had doubted Chen Yi and had brought Elder Weng here hoping to catch him in a lie.

But now, faced with the evidence... Could Chen Yi truly be a Pharmacist?

Nan Yingyue bit her lip, grappling with her reluctance.

...

On the streets, atop the Chen family's carriage.

"Yi, who was that person who sought you out just now?"

Chen Shanheng eyed Chen Yi curiously.

Beside him, Chen Ji looked on with equal interest.

"Just discussing a business deal."

"A deal?" Both Chen Shanheng and Chen Ji were taken aback, "What kind of deal?"

Chen Yi replied, "They want me to refine a batch of Medicine Pills for them."

"Refine a batch of Medicine Pills?"