Zuo Qiang, stunned, pointed at the pill formula and said, "Dad, this is the formula for the Third-Grade Pill, the Purple Jade Pill! You're just letting him look at it...?"
"Shut up!" Zuo Yu suddenly roared.
Zuo Qiang glanced at Zuo Yu and was immediately frightened into silence, not daring to speak again.
Wen Qingye looked at Zuo Qiang, then turned to Zuo Yu and said, "If this pill formula is that precious, then I shouldn't look at it. I might not be able to find any problems with it anyway."
"It's not precious, not at all! Young Master Wen, please, take a look," Zuo Yu quickly waved his hands, then shot a glare at Zuo Qiang. "This child is just ignorant. Please don't mind him."
Seeing that Zuo Yu was so insistent, Wen Qingye simply nodded and said, "Alright, then. I suppose I can take a look."
Zuo Qiang, standing to the side, was filled with resentment for Wen Qingye. 'Hmph, I'd like to see if you really have the skills. How dare you say you'll just 'take a look'! If you can't find anything, I'll make sure to laugh my head off at you.'
Wen Qingye took the pill formula from Zuo Yu, glanced at it, and then handed it back.
Just as Wen Qingye was about to speak, Zuo Qiang sneered, "What's wrong? Can't figure it out? I knew it. You're just an outcast from the Wen Family. What would you know about pill formulas? Dad, he's tricked you!"
Wen Qingye looked at Zuo Qiang's smug face and found it somewhat amusing. But he couldn't be bothered to argue with him; he had the mentality of a child.
Zuo Yu's lips parted, but he said nothing, just looking at Wen Qingye.
Wen Qingye smiled. "This pill formula is indeed quite good, but to refine a top-quality Purple Jade Pill, it's missing one ingredient."
Zuo Yu's face lit up with excitement. "Young Master Wen, which ingredient is it missing?"
Zuo Qiang's face was full of disdain. 'Keep pretending. I'd like to see how long you can keep this act up.'
"Look at this pill. The Cloud Leaf is of the yin attribute. If you add it first..."
The more Zuo Yu listened to Wen Qingye's explanation, the more excited he became. At this point, even Zuo Qiang, who was standing beside them, turned his head to listen intently.
Wen Qingye concluded, "Therefore, the Purple Jade Pill refined using this formula has too strong of a yin nature."
Zuo Yu asked, "Then what if I remove the Cloud Leaf?"
Wen Qingye immediately shook his head. "No. The Cloud Leaf has a mellowing effect. If you remove it, you won't be able to refine the pill at all."
Zuo Qiang also spoke up, asking, "Then what about adding some Nine Yellow Grass? Nine Yellow Grass is of the yang attribute."
Wen Qingye shook his head again. "That won't work either. The yang nature of Nine Yellow Grass is too potent. If you add it, it will damage the medicinal properties of the pill."
Finally, Zuo Yu looked at Wen Qingye with a grateful expression and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master Wen. Your skill in the Alchemy Dao is truly unparalleled. I am deeply impressed. If there's anything you need, Master Wen, please just say the word. I will do everything in my power to help."
Zuo Yu was now certain that Wen Qingye's abilities were definitely at a master's level. Otherwise, how could he be so proficient in medicinal theory?
"As it happens, I need to buy a suitable weapon and some medicinal herbs, but I don't have any extra Primordial Stones on me..." Wen Qingye didn't stand on ceremony. 'With my status, the bit of knowledge I shared with this father and son duo was more than enough to buy them both outright.'
"A trivial matter! Leave it all to me." Zuo Yu said to Zuo Qiang, "Zuo Qiang, take Master Wen to the Weapon Pavilion, and then come back to our Jishi Hall. Make sure to help Young Master Wen pick out a good weapon, understand?"
Having heard Wen Qingye's explanation, Zuo Qiang was now also visibly excited. He had cast aside his initial prejudice and was filled with admiration for Wen Qingye. He immediately patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Dad. I'll make sure it's done right."
After speaking, Zuo Yu hurriedly rushed back to refine the Purple Jade Pill.
Zuo Qiang quickly said with great respect, "Master Wen, after you."
At this moment, Zuo Qiang's respect for Wen Qingye was absolute. Based on the skill Wen Qingye had just displayed, Zuo Qiang was convinced that he was truly a master.
Zuo Qiang soon led Wen Qingye to the Weapon Pavilion. There were very few people inside at this time, with only a shopkeeper standing there.
The Shopkeeper clearly knew Zuo Qiang and quickly said, "Well, if it isn't Zuo Qiang! Please, come in."
Zuo Qiang nodded, then made a welcoming gesture towards Wen Qingye. Wen Qingye inclined his head and walked inside.
The Shopkeeper was a little puzzled. 'Zuo Qiang is Master Zuo's only son, and a fairly talented Pill Master himself. Why is he being so respectful to the young man before me? Who is this youth? And he looks so familiar...'
The Shopkeeper didn't recognize Wen Qingye, but Wen Qingye recognized him. He had come to this Weapon Pavilion to buy a few things before, but that was a long time ago.
Zuo Qiang looked at Wen Qingye and said, "Master Wen, what kind of weapon are you looking for?"
Wen Qingye said slowly, "Just get me a high-quality sword."
"Do you have any high-quality swords here?" Zuo Qiang said, glancing at the weapons hanging in the Weapon Pavilion. "These are all First- and Second-Grade swords. Don't you have anything better?"
"Yes, of course we do! They're just in the warehouse," the Shopkeeper said quickly. However, he then looked at Zuo Qiang with some difficulty. "It's just that I'll need someone to help me carry them. There are quite a few, and while they don't rust, they are quite heavy."
Zuo Qiang nodded and said to Wen Qingye, "Master Wen, please wait here for a moment. The Shopkeeper and I will go get the swords."
Wen Qingye nodded, and the two of them headed into the back room.
The Shopkeeper asked doubtfully, "Master Zuo Qiang, who is that person? He seems like a big shot."
Zuo Qiang nodded. "He's definitely an extraordinary person. My father says he's at least a Third-Grade Alchemist."
"A Third-Grade Alchemist this young?" the Shopkeeper said in shock. 'A Third-Grade Alchemist at his age? What will his future hold?'
Wen Qingye was looking at the weapons hanging on the wall when a few clear voices came from the entrance.
"Yuerou, hurry up! I saw Zuo Qiang go into this Weapon Pavilion just now."
"I know, slow down!"
Just then, two young women walked in through the doorway. They were both around seventeen or eighteen, about the same age as Wen Qingye. Both were good-looking, but the one dressed in purple was especially, truly beautiful. Her bright eyes sparkled, she had a small, exquisite nose, crescent-moon eyebrows, and a delicate, oval face. What stood out most was a fragile aura that seemed to emanate from within.
When Wen Qingye saw the woman in purple, his heart began to pound erratically.
The woman in red saw Wen Qingye and said in surprise, "Wen Qingye, what are you doing here?"
As Wen Qingye looked at them, memories flooded his mind. The woman in red was a disciple of the Liu Family, one of Phoenix City's Four Great Families; her name was Liu Ling. The woman in purple beside her was from the Gao Family, another of the great families, and her name was Gao Yuerou.
In terms of relations, Wen Qingye was technically Liu Ling's older cousin. Wen Qingye's mother, from the Liu Clan, was from the Liu Family of Phoenix City, so they had played together as children. And since Gao Yuerou and Liu Ling had been close since they were young, Wen Qingye was also very familiar with Gao Yuerou.
Wen Qingye smiled and said, "I'm here to buy a weapon."
Gao Yuerou saw Wen Qingye, and her eyes showed a hint of panic and embarrassment.
Liu Ling put her hands on her hips, looked Wen Qingye up and down, and said, "You didn't come here specifically looking for our Yuerou again, did you?"
Wen Qingye thought for a moment and understood why Liu Ling would say that. The former Wen Qingye had been infatuated with Gao Yuerou, always looking for opportunities to corner her or finding all sorts of ways to pester her.
As a result, Gao Yuerou had been driven to her wit's end by Wen Qingye and always deliberately avoided him. That was why she looked so flustered upon seeing him just now.
Seeing Wen Qingye remain silent, Liu Ling glared at him and said, "Let me tell you something, you have a wife now. Besides, our Yuerou is here to see Zuo Qiang. Do you know who Zuo Qiang is? He's only eighteen, and he's already a First-Grade Alchemist! His future is that of a Pill Master, you know? Don't you go ruining our Yuerou's prospects!"
A blush crept onto Gao Yuerou's face. She quickly tugged on Liu Ling's hand and said, "Little Ling, don't talk nonsense! I'm here to see Zuo Qiang about something."