"Young master, what's going on here?" Xu Qingxue asked quickly.
"This so-called Nine-Turn Marrow-Washing Pill is nothing more than an ordinary Marrow-Washing Pill," Yang Cheng said. "The glow it gives off is only because gold tiger bone powder was applied to its surface. Licorice naturally absorbs gold tiger bone powder. Once it's gone, the pill loses its glow."
Xu Qingxue and Protector He froze.
They never expected that a pill that looked so extraordinary was actually just an ordinary Marrow-Washing Pill.
"This young master, I sincerely apologize. Before, I was blind to your insight." Protector He bowed respectfully. "Thanks to you, otherwise Divine Medicine Valley would have become the laughingstock of the world."
Yang Cheng said calmly, "If you want to apologize, an apology gift is necessary."
Protector He was stunned.
By then, Yang Cheng had already walked up to a stand.
On it rested a small white flower.
"Dragon Nightshade?" Xu Qingxue recognized it immediately.
"This isn't Dragon Nightshade, but Ghostface Flower," Yang Cheng said. "Look closely and you'll see tiny black spots in its petals. Use spiritual sense, and you'll find each spot shaped like a ghost's face."
Xu Qingxue and Protector He both probed with spiritual sense, and sure enough, it was as he said.
"I won't hide it—this is a fine treasure," Yang Cheng continued. "With this, I can refine a true supreme pill."
He looked at Protector He. "I'll take this. You can name a price, or you can offer it as my apology gift."
"There's no need to think. Of course it's an apology gift," Protector He said quickly. "You are the young mistress's honored guest. I'm only her servant. With her here, how could I dare set a price? You accepting my apology is already more mercy than I deserve."
"Seeing your attitude, I can rest assured letting Qingxue be your Valley Master's disciple."
Yang Cheng couldn't help but smile.
He had to admit, Protector He was a decent person. By this, the Valley Master likely wouldn't be bad either.
"Alright. Nothing else here is worth mentioning. Let's go out." Yang Cheng said.
In the auction hall, nearly every seat was taken.
At the main seat sat a thin, elderly man.
"And this is?" he asked, eyeing Yang Cheng with suspicion.
"Elder Qiu, this is Young Master Chen." Protector He quickly explained what had just happened in the inner hall.
Elder Qiu looked a little surprised but not overly impressed. "Since he's Young Mistress Xu's honored guest, let him sit."
After all, he hadn't seen Yang Cheng's display with his own eyes, so he didn't take it too seriously.
By then, the auction had officially begun.
Though hosted by Divine Medicine Valley, other factions were involved too.
So not all items were pills from the Valley.
One pill after another was brought out, sparking fierce bidding.
After more than ten rounds, a red-covered item was carried in.
When the red cloth was lifted, the entire hall went silent.
Underneath was a transparent box.
Inside was a five-colored pill.
Its surface was covered in fine pill patterns, and it gave off rippling pill clouds. Even someone ignorant of alchemy could tell this pill was extraordinary.
"What pill is that?"
"Looks a bit like a Bone-Regenerating Blood-Forming Pill, but not quite. Whatever it is, the quality is high."
Gasps echoed around the room.
"Interesting."
Even Yang Cheng's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.
"Young master, what do you think of this pill?" Xu Qingxue asked respectfully.
Elder Qiu looked on indifferently, thinking Xu Qingxue was still too young, putting so much stock in the opinion of a mere brat.
Not far away, a portly middle-aged man sneered. "Xu clan girl, this pill came from an ancient ruin. You're asking this little kid—he's younger than you. What could he possibly know?"
Yang Cheng only shook his head and stayed silent.
The pill was indeed ancient.
Unfortunately, its pill patterns were flawed—not from the passage of time, but from being poorly refined in the first place.
Clearly, not all ancient pills were good pills.
But others didn't see that.
Once they learned it was an ancient pill, they were all excited.
Yang Cheng's silence was taken as submission by the portly man.
He ignored Yang Cheng and turned to a gray-robed elder. "Master Fan, I'll need you to judge this."
"It's Master Fan!"
"Master Fan is Chanzhou's number one alchemist."
Many of Chanzhou's nobles looked on with admiration.
Master Fan stepped up to the five-colored pill, examining it closely from every angle.
The portly man grinned. "Master Fan is unrivaled in Chanzhou. No pill can escape his discerning eye."
"Brother Zheng speaks the truth," many of the nobles agreed.
The portly man was Zheng Sanhe, the wealthiest man in Chanzhou.
"Not to belittle our Chanzhou," said a hook-nosed man, "but our alchemy world lags far behind Heavenly Heart Island. Master Fan's skills are decent, but compared to Elder Zhang, they're nothing."
This man was none other than Fang Wunian's father, Fang Muxian.
His words made the nobles' expressions turn dark.
Zheng Sanhe's face hardened. "Fang Muxian, it's one thing for you to be at odds with Master Fan, but now you're siding with outsiders to disparage Chanzhou's alchemy world? Isn't that going too far?"
"Heh, it's just the truth that Chanzhou and even Great Zhou's alchemy arts can't compare to Heavenly Heart Island. How is that disparaging?" Fang Muxian smiled. "One must admit one's shortcomings in order to improve."
Then he looked at Master Fan. "Master Fan, have you determined this pill's origin?"
Master Fan frowned. "My skills fall short. I can't determine its exact origin, only that it's from the Great Wilderness Empire era. Since you've spoken so highly of Elder Zhang, I too would like to hear his esteemed opinion."
Zhang Shifan's hair was white as frost, his bearing extraordinary.
His tone was calm. "At least you've got a bit of self-awareness."
Those words were the same as saying Master Fan's alchemy was lacking.
Master Fan's face darkened. He sneered. "So, Elder Zhang, it seems you really do know the origin of this pill?"
His alchemy had already reached Minor Achievement, and he prided himself on being well-versed in pill arts.
Yet even he was baffled by this five-colored pill.
He refused to believe Zhang Shifan was truly that much better than him.
Zhang Shifan remained composed.
He stepped up to the five-colored pill and slowly closed his eyes.
After a moment, a hazy, illusory eye appeared above his head.
Master Fan's expression changed drastically. "The Eye of Alchemy? Only someone who's reached Great Achievement in pill arts can manifest the Eye of Alchemy!"
"What? The Eye of Alchemy!"
"Impossible—Elder Zhang has actually achieved Great Achievement in alchemy."
"The Eye of Alchemy can identify herbs and discern pills. They say it can even reveal a pill's true essence."
The crowd was shaken.
"Observe!"
Zhang Shifan suddenly opened his eyes.
At the same time, the illusory eye above looked directly at the five-colored pill.
In an instant, the pill began to tremble faintly.
Rays of five-colored light burst out, spreading in all directions.
"Pill Radiance!"
"This is a true supreme pill!"
The nobles around were ecstatic.
Even Elder Qiu's gaze was locked onto the pill.
For an alchemist, the lure of a supreme pill outweighed all wealth and beauty.
Zheng Sanhe could no longer remain calm. His eyes burned with desire.
Zhang Shifan smiled modestly and dispelled the Eye of Alchemy.
The pill returned to normal.
"Hahaha, worthy of Elder Zhang indeed!"
Fang Muxian laughed loudly. "Master Fan, what do you say now?"
Master Fan's face was helpless. "I concede defeat. Elder Zhang's skill is truly far above mine."
At that moment, a thought seemed to strike Elder Qiu, and his expression darkened.
Though both he and Zhang Shifan were from Divine Medicine Valley, he knew better than outsiders what this meant.
With Zhang Shifan's alchemy so high, once the Valley broke into Great Zhou's alchemy market, Zhang Shifan would likely dominate.
That wouldn't be good for either him or the Valley Master.
"By the way, Elder Zhang, what pill is this?" Fang Muxian asked.
"The Five-Colored Great Rejuvenation Pill," Zhang Shifan replied.
"Hiss…"
"The Five-Colored Great Rejuvenation Pill?"
"Its effects far surpass the Bone-Regenerating Blood-Forming Pill. It can save lives in critical moments."
The hall erupted with commotion.
Fang Muxian said, "Everyone, this pill was excavated by my Fang clan. If you have no doubts about Elder Zhang's judgment, then let's begin the bidding."
"300 top-grade spirit stones!"
Someone immediately shouted.
"500!"
"1,000!"
"I bid 3,000 top-grade spirit stones…"
The price climbed rapidly.
"Wait, no need to rush," Zhang Shifan interrupted. "Elder Qiu hasn't spoken yet. Why so anxious?"
Faces around the room turned subtle.
Zhang Shifan and Elder Qiu were both from Divine Medicine Valley. By rights, they should be on the same side.
But Zhang Shifan's words made it plain to the nobles of Chanzhou that they weren't.
Elder Qiu's face grew dark.
"Why doesn't Elder Qiu say something?" Zhang Shifan smiled.
Fang Muxian chuckled. "Since Elder Qiu won't speak, why not let this little young master try? Didn't Miss Xu show him such respect earlier?"
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
The "little young master" he pointed to was Yang Cheng.
But Yang Cheng was only ten years old. How could a child like him know anything about alchemy?
"What's so funny?" Fang Muxian pressed. "Age doesn't determine ability. Heroes often emerge young. Maybe this boy really is an alchemy master."
"Presumptuous!" Xu Qingxue snapped.
Yang Cheng raised a hand, signaling her to stay silent.
He looked at Fang Muxian. "You really want me to step up?"
Ding!
[Host has encountered Zhang Shifan again. He once mocked the host, saying even Zuo Qiuming's toe was beyond him.]
[Task: Publicly humiliate Zhang Shifan, making him lose all face, to avenge the past insult.]
[Reward: Strange Flame · Earthfiend Spirit Fire.]
Yang Cheng froze for a moment, then chuckled.
'Even the system doesn't want to let Zhang Shifan and Fang Muxian off.'
Fang Muxian smirked. "Of course. Miss Xu has made waves in Chanzhou these past two years. I trust her judgment."
He was clearly using this as a chance to suppress the Xu clan.
As for Zhang Shifan, he didn't even glance at Yang Cheng.
What was a mere child worth to him?
"Fine, as you wish."
Yang Cheng smiled.
He rose and walked toward the auction platform, speaking slowly. "This Five-Colored Great Rejuvenation Pill was made from Ice Marrow, Scarlet Sun Ganoderma, Greenwood Heart, Flowing Gold Sand, and Netherflower. Its composition aligns with the Dao of Five Elements, corresponding to the body's five organs…"
"Hm?"
Zhang Shifan finally turned to look at him in surprise.
Neither Master Fan nor Elder Qiu had seen through the pill.
Yet this boy could name so much detail.
The hall buzzed with astonishment.
"Unfortunately…"
Yang Cheng suddenly shook his head.