Chapter 93: The Unrecognized Alchemist

Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Unrecognized Alchemist

The first thing Yi Xiaoyao did after returning to his residence was take a long, hot bath.

After a month of training in the Earth Star Forest, he was covered in the blood of Demon Beasts and his enemies. If he didn’t wash himself clean, he really couldn’t bear to show his face in public.

Before long, Luo Yi, having heard the news from somewhere, rushed over.

Luo Yi’s faintly plaintive voice drifted in before she even stepped through the door.

"Junior Brother, you were gone for a whole month! You didn’t even say goodbye to your Senior Sister before you left. You had me so worried."

"Senior Sister."

Yi Xiaoyao quickly opened the door to greet her, then asked, "What brings you here, Senior Sister?"

Luo Yi glanced up as she walked into the room and smiled. "I came to thank you for the Gold Condensing Pill you had someone deliver to me."

It dawned on Yi Xiaoyao then, and he smiled. "I assume you’ve successfully broken through to the Golden Core Realm by now, Senior Sister?"

Yi Xiaoyao was quite confident about this. After all, the Gold Condensing Pill he had given Luo Yi was a Perfect Elixir, which had a success rate for breakthroughs ten, or even dozens of times, higher than an ordinary elixir.

Unexpectedly, however, Luo Yi made a face and said, "No, I failed again."

"What? You failed again?" Yi Xiaoyao asked, shocked and confused.

Luo Yi sighed. "That’s right. I had already taken three Gold Condensing Pills before this one, and all of them failed."

It was common knowledge when it came to elixirs: the more times one failed a breakthrough, the stronger their body’s resistance became. This made each subsequent attempt with a Gold Condensing Pill even less likely to succeed.

Therefore, this was not good news for Luo Yi.

But this only made Yi Xiaoyao more confused. ’A Perfect Elixir is called "perfect" for a reason—one of its main characteristics is that it produces almost no resistance.’

’If Luo Yi failed her breakthrough even with a Perfect Elixir, doesn’t that mean she’ll never be able to reach the Golden Core Realm?’

Just then, Luo Yi suddenly spoke up. "Oh, right, Junior Brother, the Pill Hall recently acquired a Perfect Elixir with five legendary pill patterns! And it happens to be a Gold Condensing Pill, too!"

"A Five-Stripe Perfect Golden Condensation Pill?"

Yi Xiaoyao’s expression changed, his face turning a little strange.

"Yes! If I could get my hands on that elixir, I’d definitely be able to break through to the Golden Core Realm. But unfortunately, the Pill Hall isn’t selling it, and even if they were, I couldn’t afford it."

Luo Yi’s eyes shone brightly as she spoke, but she ended with a light sigh of immense regret.

At this moment, Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes narrowed. It seemed he was starting to put the pieces together.

’No wonder she failed her breakthrough.’

Yi Xiaoyao murmured this to himself, then grabbed Luo Yi. "Senior Sister, take me to see that Five-Stripe Golden Condensation Pill."

Luo Yi chuckled and joked, "What, is my Junior Brother planning to snatch it for me?"

"Why would I need to snatch it? I think that elixir already belongs to you, Senior Sister."

Yi Xiaoyao said with a faint smile, but his voice carried a hint of ice.

...

Today, the Pill Hall of the Seven Kills Star Hall was more bustling than ever before.

"Did you hear? The Pill Hall got its hands on a legendary Perfect Elixir yesterday, and they’re putting it on display today!"

"Of course I heard! All the Alchemists from the Earth Star Pill Pavilion rushed over to observe the Perfect Elixir as soon as they heard the news."

"Come on, let’s go take a look too."

On the way, Yi Xiaoyao overheard the disciples’ chatter, a cold sneer touching his lips.

’I’m certain now. No matter what happened in between, the fact that the Pill Hall misappropriated my elixir is all but confirmed.’

Because Luo Yi was oblivious, and all the surrounding disciples were rushing to the Pill Hall to join the spectacle, no one suspected that Yi Xiaoyao was going there to cause trouble. They just assumed the two of them were like everyone else, going to see what a legendary Perfect Elixir looked like.

Outside the Pill Hall, a large crowd of disciples had gathered.

Inside the Pill Hall, dozens of middle-aged and elderly Alchemists were circling a single elixir resting in a Treasure Box, letting out gasps of wonder and amazement from time to time.

"Hiss! This Gold Condensing Pill... the Five Pill Patterns are perfectly clear, without a single trace of impurity! It truly is the legendary Perfect Elixir!"

"Not only that, but from its Pill Fragrance, I can tell that the Pill Formula used to refine this is completely different from that of a normal Gold Condensing Pill!"

"To think that I, in my long life, would be fortunate enough to witness a Perfect Elixir with my own eyes!"

The Alchemists were all visibly excited. No one would have guessed they had already been observing this elixir for the better part of the day. In fact, when they first saw it, one of the older ones had nearly fainted from shock.

All of this was enough to show just how staggering the sight of a Perfect Elixir was to an Alchemist—like a master Swordsmith laying eyes on a peerless blade.

Just then, someone asked, "A Perfect Elixir of this quality... I wonder which reclusive master crafted it?"

One of the Pill Hall elders smiled and said, "We borrowed this elixir from a disciple. We have ten days to observe it, and we hope to comprehend some principles of the Alchemy Dao from it to elevate our own skills."

Within the crowd, Yun Qian was hiding in the shadows, her face etched with anxiety as she watched the Alchemy Masters continuously praise the elixir.

Every new, effusive compliment felt like a powerful blow to her heart.

’How could I ever have imagined that the elixir Yi Xiaoyao gave to Luo Yi would be so incredibly valuable?’

’I certainly never expected that lending the elixir to a Pill Hall elder would cause such a massive sensation.’

’At this rate, it’ll be impossible for Yi Xiaoyao not to find out.’

Thinking of this, Yun Qian’s face filled with regret.

Just then, an angry shout erupted from the crowd.

"Hey, kid! Don’t you know the rules? Ordinary disciples aren’t allowed near here! If you disturb the Alchemy Masters’ observation and comprehension, can you bear the responsibility? Scram!"

Several guards maintaining order had blocked the newly arrived Yi Xiaoyao and were berating him.

Immediately after, a Pill Hall elder, hearing the commotion, walked over. He frowned, instantly recognizing Yi Xiaoyao.

"Why is it you again, kid?"

This was the very same Pill Hall elder who had previously refused to teach Yi Xiaoyao Alchemy. He continued to shout at him, "I’ve told you before, you can never become an Alchemist! Why won’t you just give up?"

...