"Really?" Yang Kai raised his eyebrows. He had thought he would need to change his plans, but who would have thought that Gao Xinpeng would agree in the blink of an eye? It was a pleasant surprise.
Gao Xinpeng chuckled: "It's just a friendly exchange, not a competition, so there's no harm. I'm rather interested in your pill refining technique."
He was a straightforward man who said what he meant. Had it not been for his interest in Yang Kai's pill refining technique, he likely would never have agreed to something like this. With his standing as a Heaven Pill Master, it was virtually impossible for any Earth Pill Master to surpass him in alchemy.
Miao Hong hesitated: "Brother Gao, is this really appropriate?"
Gao Xinpeng smiled faintly: "What, does the City Lord fear I'll bully someone below me?"
Miao Hong quickly waved his hands: "Brother Gao, you know that's not what I meant. It's just... never mind. Since Brother Gao has already agreed, I won't say any more. I just hope you both keep it friendly and don't let it affect your relationship!"
"Of course." Gao Xinpeng turned to look at Yang Kai. "Since you want to exchange pointers with me, you may set the terms. What pill shall we refine?"
"The Ten-Turn Heartless Pill!" Yang Kai answered immediately.
Gao Xinpeng was slightly taken aback. "The Ten-Turn Heartless Pill? Young brother, are you certain you want to refine the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill?"
Yang Kai said: "I'm currently at the peak of Earth Grade, and I need a Ten-Turn Heartless Pill to advance to Heaven Grade. So once the pill is completed, it won't go to waste."
Gao Xinpeng said: "Young brother, are you not aware that the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill cannot be refined by anyone below Heaven Grade?"
"Why is that?" Yang Kai frowned.
Gao Xinpeng explained: "The spiritual power within an Earth Grade warrior's body is insufficient to support the refinement of a Ten-Turn Heartless Pill. Only a Heaven Grade cultivator can manage it." Seeing Yang Kai's clueless expression, Gao Xinpeng couldn't help but doubt whether those Blood Vitality Pills and Turtle Breath Pills had actually been refined by him.
Yang Kai had never heard of this before either. Although the Divine Weapon World had granted him certain memories and an identity to operate in this world, it hadn't provided much common knowledge about pill refining.
But upon closer thought, in this world, warriors needed a Ten-Turn Heartless Pill to advance from Earth Grade to Heaven Grade, yet the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill itself could only be refined by a Heaven Grade cultivator. If that were the case, then where had the first Ten-Turn Heartless Pill come from? It was the same unanswerable question as which came first, the chicken or the egg.
"If you want to refine the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill, you won't have the slightest advantage. You should pick something else," Gao Xinpeng suggested.
Yang Kai slowly shook his head. "I'm confident I can refine it."
Setting aside the fact that the spiritual power stored within his body far surpassed that of an ordinary Earth Grade cultivator, his own attainment in the way of pill refining was more than sufficient to allow him to find solutions to whatever problems arose.
What mattered most right now was obtaining the recipe for the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill!
Seeing him so insistent, a hint of impatience showed on Gao Xinpeng's face. Yang Kai's behavior felt like nothing short of obstinate pestering. No matter how good his temper was, he was still a Heaven Pill Master of lofty standing, and no one had ever been this brazen in front of him before.
His voice grew slightly colder as he spoke: "Since you insist, then we'll refine the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill." He did not deny that Yang Kai was extraordinarily talented. He had heard from Miao Hong that Yang Kai was only seventeen or eighteen years old, yet already stood at the peak of Earth Grade and was an Earth Pill Master. Such a person was outstanding even across the entire Divine Weapon World.
Perhaps such exceptional talent had given him an arrogant belief that he stood above all others. A few setbacks on the path of growth might not be a bad thing for someone like him. Secretly resolving to take the edge off Yang Kai's pride during the upcoming pill refinement, he would make him understand that there was always someone better.
Seeing that the two had reached an agreement, Miao Hong laughed heartily: "How fortunate I am to one day witness two pill masters exchanging their skills! What medicinal ingredients do you both need? I'll send someone to procure them right away!"
Yang Kai immediately perked up his ears.
How was he supposed to know what medicinal ingredients were needed for the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill? Everything now rested on Gao Xinpeng. He had been running around Tianwu City precisely for this moment. While a complete pill recipe not only contained the required ingredients but also the refinement steps, techniques, and heat control, knowing the ingredients first would at least give him a starting point to work out the recipe.
Gao Xinpeng smiled faintly: "There's no need to trouble the City Lord with this. I'll have someone procure the ingredients myself."
Saying this, he turned and gave instructions to the two Heaven Grade guards behind him, and the female Heaven Grade guard immediately stepped out.
Yang Kai nearly coughed up blood!
He had long known that obtaining the recipe for the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill would not be easy, but the scene before him still left him utterly frustrated.
No wonder they said the recipe for the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill was the closely guarded secret of every great pill master. Gao Xinpeng's actions were clearly meant to prevent anyone from learning what ingredients he needed.
But with him being so guarded, where was Yang Kai supposed to find the ingredients needed for the recipe?
Miao Hong turned to look at Yang Kai. Yang Kai forced a smile: "Thank you for your concern, City Lord. I'll prepare my own ingredients as well."
"Very well!" Miao Hong dropped the matter. "It's getting late, and you both need to make preparations for the pill refinement. Let's do it tomorrow. Once you're both ready, I'll open the pill chamber and let you exchange pointers to your heart's content."