C9 A Feverish Market

The pill refining chamber was enveloped in silence, the temperature gradually climbing. The Third Elder's gaze was fixed, unblinking, on the large mass of pill essence swirling slowly within the cauldron. Despite his limited knowledge, he could discern there were at least ten portions present.

Chen Fu had never encountered anyone like Chen Chu, capable of crafting ten batches of pills in a single attempt. He tried to hide his astonishment, but the profound shock in his eyes gave him away. He knew that an alchemist skilled enough to refine multiple pills at once must be ranked at least one tier above the grade of the pills they were working on.

The pills Chen Chu was currently refining required over a dozen herbs, the procedure incredibly intricate, certainly no less than a superior second-tier concoction. The mere thought that the young man before him might be a third-tier alchemist sent shivers down his legs.

Suddenly, Chen Chu's eyes snapped open, his Essence Strength erupting from the cauldron like a tempestuous tide. In tandem, the essence within the cauldron swiftly divided into ten equal parts and burst forth. The Third Elder, with quick reflexes, snatched up ten jade bottles and deftly captured the essence, sealing the pills with meticulous care. He then muttered with a hint of resignation, "Next time, for such precious items, it's best to extract them through the medicine spout, to be safe."

Having grown more adept with the cauldron after completing the first batch, Chen Chu offered a knowing smile. "Pills extracted through the spout lack a soul," he said with ease.

The Third Elder couldn't help but chuckle, his gaze softening considerably as he looked at Chen Chu. With a talent like him in the Chen Family, Ye Wenhui paled in comparison.

Chen Chu's alchemical prowess was extraordinary, yet refining a hundred bottles of medicinal solution stretched from the break of dawn until two in the afternoon.

As the appointed time with the mercenaries approached, Chen Chu exhaled deeply, massaging his aching shoulders. He reminisced about how he had once endured seven straight days and nights of continuous refining in the mountains without fatigue, yet now, this body was nearly at its limit after less than a day.

Upon noticing Chen Chu pausing, the Third Elder offered a warm smile. "Young Master, you've exerted yourself. Allow me to handle the rest. I assure you, I'll sell these pills for their utmost value."

Chen Chu had complete confidence in the Third Elder's abilities, yet he couldn't help but smile and say, "Come on, Uncle Chen, let's go together. I'm eager to see the fruits of my labor firsthand."

Without further objection, the Third Elder promptly arranged for a carriage to make haste toward the bustling market.

By 2:30 PM, the Chen Family's market was teeming with activity. A throng of mercenaries tasked with procurement had already packed the area around the medicine stall to capacity, and a number of warriors had gathered to spectate, some with less than honorable intentions.

"I've heard the Chen Family's releasing a new medicine today. Why isn't it on sale yet? Don't tell me they've been leading us on," one voice grumbled in frustration.

"Come on, you actually believe what that kid said? As far as I'm concerned, it's just another stalling tactic by the Chen Family," another scoffed.

"We need an explanation now, or we'll tear this place apart. I've been taking their Origin Returning Pills for days and nothing's changed," a disgruntled customer threatened.

The buzz of conversation grew as the anticipation in the air peaked. Meanwhile, the proprietor of the medicine stall was cowering in a corner, too apprehensive to show his face.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the chatter: "The Chen Family has arrived!" The crowd turned to see a familiar young man striding confidently through the escort of Chen Family warriors.

Seeing Chen Chu approach, the medicine stall owner rushed to greet him as if he were a lifeline. The crowd parted on the crowded street, making way for Chen Chu and the Third Elder to approach the counter. They opened a finely crafted wooden box to reveal a hundred small jade bottles, each emitting a rich, enticing scent that captivated the mercenaries below.

Amidst the eager stares, the Third Elder calmly picked up a bottle and announced, "Introducing the Chen Family's latest creation: Armor Binding Spirit Liquid, a top-tier, second-grade pill. It forms a protective keratin layer over the skin, significantly enhancing one's defense for a full hour. The price is 500 gold coins."

A hush fell over the crowd, but it was swiftly shattered by an outburst, "Damn it, the Chen Family's trying to swindle us again with their overpriced, fancy pills. Only a fool would part with 500 gold coins for this. I'm not falling for their tricks."

The man hurled an insult before storming out, his companions following suit as if on cue. This prompted a wave of panic among the others. In a frenzy, they brandished their clubs and surged toward the stage.

Chen Chu strode to the wooden box, snatched up a vial of elixir, and bellowed, "You don't believe me? Watch me drink it!"

When dealing with these battle-hardened mercenaries, only hard evidence would suffice. Chen Chu threw back his head and downed the contents of the vial in one gulp.

No sooner had his words faded than, without waiting for any rebuttal, a layer of gray keratin swiftly encased his skin. It spread over his entire body in mere moments, halting just short of his face.

With the crowd watching in horror, Chen Chu yanked a broadsword from a nearby Chen Family guard and slashed it across his chest.

The incident unfolded in the blink of an eye. The Third Elder couldn't react in time. The blade struck the keratin layer with a resounding clang, sending sparks flying. The heavy broadsword, forged from black iron and weighing 30 kilograms, vibrated with the impact, leaving only a white mark on Chen Chu's chest.

The mercenaries below fell silent, stunned. A barrage of curses erupted as the magnitude of Chen Chu's demonstration sank in. It took several seconds before anyone could respond.

The swords carried by the Chen Family's warriors might not be legendary weapons, but they met the standard of most mercenary groups. If elite fighters from one group ingested this pill during combat, it would devastate their adversaries.

"Holy shit, that's incredible! Give me five—I won't fear the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group ever again!"

"Move it, I need two for those damn Red Ring Bees."

The scene below erupted into chaos as the mercenaries clamored for the elixir. Seizing the moment, Chen Chu roared, "Origin Returning Pills from the Chen Family can be used as 250 gold coins each—exchange now, pay later!"

The mercenary groups that had previously scoffed at the Origin Returning Pill suddenly found themselves gasping for air, clutching the pills in their hands as if they were precious gems. In a fierce scramble for purchasing rights, these groups even started buying up the pills known to cause diarrhea.

In no time at all, 100 bottles of spirit liquid were snapped up in under 20 minutes, leaving the successful buyers ecstatically shouting, eager to summon their comrades and venture into the demon's lair.

Those less fortunate, with a tinge of regret, finally departed after Chen Chu's repeated assurances, all the while vowing to stake out the place early the next morning.

Meanwhile, in the marketplace, a pair of watchful eyes lingered on the thinning crowd before swiftly departing to deliver their report.