C8 Armored Spirit Liquid

Ye Wenhui had always lived a life of privilege, and even the Ye Family Patriarch treated him with deference. So when a brash young upstart hurled insults at him, Ye Wenhui's face turned beet red. He quickly channeled his Genuine Qi, ready to deliver a punishing blow.

Alchemy was a demanding profession, requiring vast reserves of Genuine Qi and patience. A second-grade alchemist was at a minimum a first-level practitioner in the Genuine Qi Realm. Chen Chu was now facing off against Ye Wenhui.

As Chen Chu debated whether to use his Netherworld Finger technique, a surge of Genuine Qi shot from behind him, clashing with Ye Wenhui's palm strike. The impact sent Ye Wenhui staggering back several steps, his face contorting with embarrassment.

A gray silhouette appeared—it was the Third Elder, back from his duties. Noticing Ye Wenhui's hostile demeanor, he quickly approached with a look of concern. "Oh dear, my apologies, Young Master Ye. This is all a big misunderstanding. Are you hurt?"

Confronted with the Third Elder's earnestness, Ye Wenhui bit back his anger. Considering the bigger picture, he settled for shooting Chen Chu a venomous look before turning back to the alchemy chambers.

As Ye Wenhui crossed the threshold, a chilly voice cut through the air. "I told you to scram. Are you deaf?"

The figure stiffened, visibly struggling to keep his composure in check.

Chen Chu, with his insight and audacity, had clearly recognized Ye Wenhui's malice. Intent on provoking him further, he launched into a tirade. "Hey, beat it! Does the entire Ye Family lack any sense of shame?"

The servants nearby gasped at the boldness of his words. Not even Patriarch Chen Tong would dare to speak so disrespectfully to a second-grade alchemist, especially at a time when the Chen Family needed favors. They had already held a low opinion of the Young Lord, incapacitated for three years, and now their disdain for Chen Chu only deepened.

Chen Chu's remarks left the Third Elder shaking with rage, his body quivering. He could foresee the severe repercussions these words might have for the Chen Family, his face flushing a deep crimson with frustration.

"Excellent, just excellent!"

Ye Wenhui had never experienced such indignity in his life. The brash youth before him had the audacity to insult the entire Ye Family. If it weren't for his inferior strength compared to the Third Elder, he would have torn Chen Chu limb from limb right then and there.

"Chen Fu, the Chen Family must be feeling fortunate. Mark my words, I'll ensure your family pays dearly for that remark."

Ye Wenhui's teeth were practically grinding to dust, which only amused Chen Chu. As Ye Wenhui stormed off, Chen Chu couldn't resist a parting jibe, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Ye Wenhui's fists were clenched so tightly they nearly drew blood, the murderous glare in his eyes needing no embellishment.

"Uncle Chen, I wish you'd have a little faith in me. It's as if 'they're up to no good' is written all over their faces. Can't you see it?"

Chen Fu gave Chen Chu's calm demeanor a long look before shaking his head and letting out a heavy sigh, "What's done is done; there's no changing it now. We're counting on you, Young Master, to pull off a miracle."

Chen Chu approached the wooden stand holding a jade bottle and tipped a dark red pill into his hand, scoffing, "Such crude refining skills. It's a sheer waste of these herbs in his hands."

Ye Wenhui's pill-making process was by the book, yet his mastery over the flame was superficial at best, and he fumbled many finer points. His alchemy was, at most, at a novice level.

The Third Elder shadowed Chen Chu into the alchemy chamber and settled into a corner.

Chen Chu caught Uncle Chen's doubtful look and inwardly sighed. Uncle Chen's methods were painfully conventional; without witnessing firsthand, he was hard to persuade.

Deciding to let it go, Chen Chu advanced towards the towering bronze cauldron. As a Pill Saint, he had encountered many superior cauldrons, so the decrepit metal before him hardly impressed. However, it boasted a time-honored design for pill making, and he quickly got the hang of it.

"Breathing Screen Grass, Earth Sunflower, Dragon Sand Thistle—one of each."

Chen Chu pressed his hands against the fire ports on either side and instantly slipped into the zone for refining. He rattled off several common herbs without hesitation.

The Third Elder, seated beside him, was initially taken aback but quickly rummaged through a wooden basket, finding and passing the herbs to Chen Chu.

Chen Chu tossed three fresh herbs into the bronze cauldron and closed his eyes. A surge of Essence Strength unfurled from his sea of consciousness and swiftly infiltrated the cauldron.

"Stoke the fire."

Without a word, the Third Elder yanked out the fire shield beneath the cauldron, allowing the flames to engulf the interior.

The herbs wilted rapidly under the intense heat, their leaves shriveling as droplets of yellow, murky liquid were distilled, with the residual dregs falling away through the ash outlet.

The medicinal liquid, the size of a thumbprint, bubbled in the fire, its impurities quickly skimmed off. Chen Chu directed the Third Elder to fetch more herbs, their teamwork seamless.

Chen Fu, who was responsible for managing the pill sales, watched the young man casually toss herbs into the cauldron, his astonishment rendering him mute. He was used to seeing alchemists handle their craft with painstaking care, not with the ease and nonchalance of Chen Chu.

"The heavens have not forsaken the Chen Family."

The Third Elder's eyes grew misty with emotion, his heart pounding with excitement.

Just yesterday, Chen Chu had surveyed the marketplace and resolved to concoct a novel pill. His power might not be formidable, but his mind held the recipes for over ten thousand pills.

Most of the pills currently sold by the three major families were for healing, sufficient for mercenaries' needs. Though aware of more potent second-tier pills, the saturated market for healing pills made a sensational debut unlikely.

Refining a Third-Grade Pill was too arduous for his current abilities, precluding mass production.

In contrast, pills that enhanced one's abilities were scarce. The Wind Walk Powder, valued at a hundred gold coins, was now fetching prices equivalent to Second-Grade Pills. Such coveted pills had netted the Jin Family enormous profits, which they had tightly monopolized for the last two years.

"Just a simple First-Grade Pill, yet it's enough to let you experience the allure of a pill's power."

Chen Chu had already selected the perfect pill for his needs. His alchemy speed increased as he deftly maneuvered clusters of herbs into the cauldron, his exceptional control laying them out with precision.

The Armor Bind Spirit Liquid, a superior second-grade pill, rapidly forms a protective layer of keratin on the user's skin, offering a defense even stronger than traditional armor, capable of withstanding blades and bludgeons. The only drawback is a slight decrease in speed.

A typical superior second-grade pill retails for around five hundred gold coins, but the Armor Bind Spirit Liquid costs about two hundred gold coins to produce. Introducing this flagship product to the market, we could topple the Jin Family in just half a month.

When that time comes, the Chen Family will settle scores and grievances. A flash of murderous intent crossed Chen Chu's expression, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.