Chapter 26: The Killing Power of Huanyan Pill

"What?" Liu Qinmin and Zhang Yuxiu looked over in unison, both astonished. "It really moved!"

Zhu Jianshen also looked on in surprise. The previously motionless seed was now swaying as it swelled.

"This..." He was both shocked and secretly angered. A beauty was almost within his grasp, and yet this seed reacted! His mood at that moment was like being suddenly interrupted during the height of passion. This annoyed him immensely, and he scoffed, "Moving doesn't mean anything. It only shows that the fake Qi cultivation fluid contains a tiny bit of spiritual energy."

However, no sooner had he spoken, the seed, swollen to its extreme, cracked open and sprouted. A vibrant green sprout rapidly grew! One inch, two inches, three inches!

Chen Siling's face suddenly radiated intense delight. She exclaimed excitedly, "Mom! Three inches! It's three inches! It's real top-grade Qi cultivation fluid! He didn't lie to us!"

Zhu Jianshen found it unbelievable. "How is that possible? How could there be a second Grade-2 Soul Master within the Qingyun Sect's territory? Could it be that his top-grade Qi cultivation fluid was obtained from the Qingyun Sect through the black market?" He pondered it repeatedly; this was the only explanation!

But just then, Chen Siling covered her mouth and gasped again, "Wait! It's still growing!"

Everyone stared intently, and indeed, the sprout continued to slowly grow taller until it reached a height of three and a half inches before gradually stopping. Chen Siling excitedly clenched her fists and said, "Three and a half inches! Doesn't that mean the top-grade Qi cultivation fluid refined by this senior in our family is even better quality than what the Qingyun Sect's Soul Masters refine?"

At her words, Zhang Yuxiu was also shocked. "Shen'er, didn't you say that the Chen family's Soul Master was fake? Why is it that the top-grade Qi cultivation fluid he refined is not only real but also more potent than the Qingyun Sect's?"

This question left Zhu Jianshen speechless. He looked toward the private chamber where the never-before-met Grade-2 Soul Master was, no longer daring to show any disrespect. Only awe remained. However, his confident dismissal of the matter now seemed to have backfired on him. He muttered unwillingly, "Even if he is a Grade-2 Soul Master, it doesn't necessarily mean he's stronger than our Qingyun Sect's. Our Qingyun Sect's senior Soul Master is a seasoned veteran with countless battles under his belt. This senior before us might have just happened to refine a top-grade Qi cultivation fluid that is slightly better in quality."

Regarding this, even Chen Siling, who was full of reverence for Jiang Fan, thought it was reasonable. The Qingyun Sect's senior Soul Master was a renowned and respected figure. He had refined countless spiritual elixirs in his lifetime. In contrast, Jiang Fan was still young, and a single bottle of Qi cultivation fluid was far from enough to prove he surpassed the Qingyun Sect's senior Soul Master.

But just at this moment, from within the sealed private chamber, a muffled sound suddenly emanated. Streaks of light red mist drifted out, spreading into the air and instantly filling the backyard with a refreshing, pleasant medicinal fragrance.

Just a single whiff caused Zhang Yuxiu and Liu Qinmin, the two middle-aged women, to reveal looks of rapture. "What is this? It's somewhat similar to beauty-enhancing pills, but the medicinal fragrance is much more superior!" As noble ladies of Solitary Boat City, they had always used expensive beauty pills. Therefore, they immediately recognized the type of medicinal fragrance. However, the high-grade beauty treasures they were accustomed to suddenly seemed quite inferior in the presence of this fragrance.

Zhu Jianshen showed a bewildered expression. "A senior Soul Master from the Qingyun Sect once said that the higher the grade of a pill, the richer the medicinal fragrance upon its completion. Miss Chen, what kind of medicine is this senior refining?"

Chen Siling was also stunned. She stared unblinkingly at the private chamber, saying in a voice she herself could hardly believe, "He said he was going to refine a Rejuvenation Pill."

Zhu Jianshen had never heard of this pill. Zhang Yuxiu gasped in shock, "The legendary Rejuvenation Pill, capable of turning white hair black and restoring youthful skin?" Liu Qinmin, filled with surprise, trembled, "Siling, don't just speak carelessly. This is a Grade-3 spiritual elixir; no one in the world can refine it." Such a legendary elixir held an irresistible allure for women, especially those of advanced age. No one could resist it!

Chen Siling said, "The senior took the Forget-Me-Not Beans and said he would refine a Rejuvenation Pill, and that he would give me one as payment for the materials. I just don't know if this is a Rejuvenation Pill right now."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qinmin excitedly gripped Chen Siling's shoulders. "He really said he'd give you one? Good, good, good! My good daughter! You've given your mother an enormous surprise! Handing the family business over to you to manage was the most correct decision I've ever made in my life."

Chen Siling's eye twitched slightly. When her father was gravely ill and the clansmen recommended Chen Siling to take over the family business, her mother was the first to object. She felt Chen Siling was too young and that she, as the matriarch, should manage the family affairs. But she usually had no contact with the family business, so the clansmen insisted Chen Siling take charge, fearing she couldn't handle it. A rift had formed between the mother and daughter as a result. Now, with a Rejuvenation Pill, her attitude immediately did a 180-degree turn.

Zhang Yuxiu, however, grew anxious. The thought of others possessing such a divine item as the Rejuvenation Pill while she did not was more agonizing than death itself! "Siling, my good girl, please ask for one for Auntie too. I'm willing to pay any price!"

Chen Siling immediately shook her head. "How could a senior Soul Master of such eminence be asked for things so casually? I can only ask him on your behalf if he is willing to sell one to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuxiu was overjoyed and quickly took off her expensive jade bracelet, stuffing it into Chen Siling's hand. "My good girl, Auntie is counting on you. As long as you're willing to intercede, regardless of the outcome, this jade bracelet is yours."

Chen Siling was startled. This bracelet was worth tens of thousands of taels of silver! She quickly waved her hand. "No, no, I can't accept it, it's too valuable..."

*Creak—*

Just then, the stone door of the private chamber opened. Amidst the light red mist, Jiang Fan looked at the three rose-red Rejuvenation Pills in his palm. The best of them was a top-grade Rejuvenation Pill. The other two were low-grade Rejuvenation Pills.

He planned to use the top-grade Rejuvenation Pill as one of the betrothal gifts. As for the remaining two, he had promised one to Chen Siling. The other one could be sold, but he didn't know how much it was worth.

Thinking this, he put away one top-grade and one low-grade Rejuvenation Pill, placed the last Rejuvenation Pill into a jade bottle, and walked out of the private chamber. Only then did he notice that besides Chen Siling, there were three other people in the courtyard. One of them was Zhu Jianshen, the Qingyun Sect disciple who had competed with him for the betrothal gift yesterday.

"Senior, how did your refining go?" Chen Siling cautiously asked.

Jiang Fan smiled and tossed her the jade bottle in his hand. "This is yours." Chen Siling took it and, even through the jade bottle, could feel the extraordinary quality of the pill.

"Rejuvenation Pill!" Liu Qinmin excitedly snatched it, examining it closely. "That's right! I've seen the drawing of the Rejuvenation Pill your grandfather once made countless times, and it's exactly the same! Daughter, can you give it to mother?"

Chen Siling was speechless. She had no doubt that if she dared to refuse, Liu Qinmin would immediately sever their mother-daughter ties. "You'd best ask the senior," Chen Siling, however, didn't dare to decide on her own.

Jiang Fan said nonchalantly, "Since the pill is yours, you may decide what to do with it." With that, he started to leave.

Zhang Yuxiu quickly bowed, respectfully asking, "Senior, do you have any extra Rejuvenation Pills?" Chen Siling also quickly spoke up, "Senior, this is Mrs. Zhu, and her son is a disciple of the Qingyun Sect. Could you perhaps part with one and sell her a Rejuvenation Pill?"

Zhu Jianshen's mother? Jiang Fan gave a meaningful smile and continued to walk away.

With a fervent, almost worshipful gaze, Zhu Jianshen blocked Jiang Fan's path and knelt down with a thud. "Zhu Jianshen, a disciple of the Qingyun Sect, offers his respects to Senior!"