With a superior-grade Ten-Turn Heartless Pill in hand,
After that, Yang Kai asked about the amber-colored liquid Gao Xinpeng had added at the final stage of pill refinement. Gao Xinpeng merely said it was his own little secret formula, developed through personal research, that could slightly improve the success rate of pill formation. Whether it was included or not had little bearing on the refinement of the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill.
In truth, this sort of thing was quite common. Even though everyone worked from the same pill recipe, each person's understanding of it was different, which meant many alchemists had their own small tricks. It was just that this was Yang Kai's first time interacting with another alchemist in the Divine Weapon World, so he found it somewhat novel.
"With Junior Brother's talent, if you work hard in the future, you might even be able to improve the recipe for the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill. When that time comes, your name will surely go down in history for all eternity!"
Yang Kai blushed. "Senior Brother flatters me."
Gao Xinpeng shook his head. "I genuinely have high expectations for you. Successfully refining a Heaven Grade pill with Earth Stage cultivation—at least as far as I know, you're the first. Alright, enough small talk. Let's head out. I need to return to the Xuan Dan Sect as soon as possible to report today's events."
If Yang Kai were merely an alchemist of ordinary talent, it wouldn't matter much. But the key was that Yang Kai's talent was truly extraordinary. Someone like him might become the next master of the Medicine King Cauldron within a hundred years—and that was a matter of great consequence for the Xuan Dan Sect's glory over the coming century, so naturally it couldn't be taken lightly.
The two pushed open the door and stepped out, chatting happily. Miao Hong, who had been standing guard outside, hurried forward. Seeing their cheerful demeanor, he was taken aback.
Gao Xinpeng offered a brief explanation, and Miao Hong was greatly shocked. The way he looked at Yang Kai turned solemn.
He had originally been considering recruiting Yang Kai into Tianwu City, but it now seemed that hope was gone. The man had established ties with the Xuan Dan Sect and was on speaking terms with Gao Xinpeng as fellow disciples—how could Tianwu City possibly compare?
Miao Hong had prepared a banquet: partly to welcome Gao Xinpeng, partly to thank both him and Yang Kai for their help. But Gao Xinpeng was anxious to return to the Xuan Dan Sect to report on Yang Kai's matter, so he politely declined.
Miao Hong didn't press the matter. Together with Yang Kai, he escorted Gao Xinpeng out of Tianwu City.
Only when the lavishly decorated carriage disappeared from view did Yang Kai turn and cup his fists. "City Lord, I must take my leave as well. I've imposed on you greatly these past days!"
"Alchemy Master Yang is too modest. I, Miao Hong, owe you a life-saving debt. Should there ever be anything you need from me, please don't hesitate to command it. I, Miao Hong, and all of Tianwu City will not refuse!" Having learned of Yang Kai's connection with the Xuan Dan Sect, he now recognized the young man's terrifying potential, and these words were spoken with absolute conviction.
He then changed the subject. "Alchemy Master Yang, won't you stay a few more days?"
Yang Kai shook his head with a smile. "No. I'll return to my sect first. But perhaps we'll meet again before long."
Miao Hong's face brightened. "Then I shall await good news." As he spoke, he clapped his hands.
Immediately, two carriages rolled out from behind. Though not as lavish as Gao Xinpeng's, they were certainly impressive—and they seemed to be loaded with something heavy, for the bodies sat noticeably low.
"What's this?" Yang Kai eyed the carriages with suspicion.
"One hundred thousand red jade, a small token of my sincerity. Please don't refuse, Alchemy Master Yang!"
At these words, Yang Kai's expression barely changed—but Du Youyou and Shi Minghui, standing behind him, had their eyes lighting up instantly!
One hundred thousand red jade! That was worth one million black jade, or ten million white jade! This was a truly substantial gift.
Though the Xuling Sword Sect now possessed a black jade mine that produced at least ten to twenty thousand pieces of black jade per month, accumulating one hundred thousand red jade would take a minimum of seven or eight years.
Miao Hong's generosity left Du Youyou and Shi Minghui stunned.
Miao Hong smiled. "Alchemy Master Yang will soon be advancing to the Heaven Stage. At that level of cultivation, it's best to use red jade for practice. Black jade simply isn't efficient enough."
Yang Kai cupped his fists. "The City Lord's generosity is truly appreciated. Then I, Yang Kai, shall accept with thanks."
He currently needed enormous quantities of resources for his cultivation, and since Miao Hong was proactively showing goodwill, there was no reason to refuse.
Two full carriages of red jade—this was a truly considerable sum. Miao Hong also arranged for a Tianwu City escort to accompany them. After several days of travel, Yang Kai's group finally returned to the Xuling Sword Sect.
The escort delivered the supplies and departed immediately. But the whole commotion had given Su Changfa and the others quite a fright—they had assumed someone had come looking for trouble again.
After hearing Du Youyou and Shi Minghui's explanation, Su Changfa's jaw dropped wide. It took him a long moment before he shook his head with a mixture of pride and melancholy. "Getting old, getting old…"
Back at the Xuling Sword Sect, Yang Kai first told Su Changfa and the others about what had transpired in Tianwu City. During the conversation, he vaguely alluded to having been taught alchemy by an eccentric expert in his childhood.
There was no avoiding it. Gao Xinpeng would surely visit the Xuling Sword Sect at some point, and Su Changfa and the others would learn the truth then. Better to tell them himself so they had time to process it rather than hear it from someone else's lips.
Sure enough, after hearing the story, Su Changfa and the others were stunned.
Gu Kangning frowned. "When you were six or seven, weren't you spending all your time trying to peek at Senior Aunt Hongxiu bathing? When did you ever have time to learn alchemy from anyone?"