Chapter 49: You Dare Call Yourself a Pill King?
…
Two days later.
Su Qingyu appeared in Li Changsheng's cave residence.
"Fellow Daoist Li, I need to visit the Medicine Pavilion. It might take a few months before I return. If you need anything, you can contact Lühe. She'll be staying in the clan during this time."
Su Qingyu looked at Li Changsheng as she spoke.
"Medicine Pavilion?"
Li Changsheng was puzzled. According to the simulation results, tomorrow was the day he was supposed to help Su Qingyu refine pills. Why was she leaving today, and for several months?
"Fellow Daoist Li, as you know, I purchased a Mystic Water Grass at the auction. However, the Su family doesn't have a fourth-tier alchemist, so I can only go to the Medicine Pavilion to request Pill King Song Xuan's help." Su Qingyu explained:
"Song Xuan is from the Medicine King Sect, a fourth-tier alchemist. Because of his strained relationship with the sect's higher-ups, he chose to live in seclusion in the Nan Zhao Kingdom."
"Actually… I can also refine the Emerald Water Pill. There's no need to bother Song Xuan." Li Changsheng looked at Su Qingyu and spoke calmly.
"You're an alchemist too?"
Su Qingyu's small mouth opened slightly, her eyes filled with astonishment.
She was a genius herself, having reached the early-stage Golden Core at the age of 22. Yet, Li Changsheng was a year younger than her, with a higher cultivation level and enough time to master alchemy as well?
Could such an all-around prodigy truly exist?
"I have some knowledge of alchemy. Refining the Emerald Water Pill won't be a problem." Li Changsheng smiled faintly.
"However, I already made arrangements with Pill King Song before heading to the Qi Kingdom. I'm afraid I can't entrust the Emerald Water Pill to you, Fellow Daoist." Su Qingyu said apologetically.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Li Changsheng's alchemical skills, but the Su family had many connections with Pill King Song Xuan. Some pills the Su family couldn't refine were often entrusted to him.
"No problem."
Li Changsheng shook his head, "I'll accompany you there."
Although he didn't know why events had unfolded this way, the simulator had never been wrong. Since the simulator hadn't failed him, there must be an issue at the Medicine Pavilion.
Su Qingyu was likely making a wasted trip!
"Alright."
Though Su Qingyu didn't understand why Li Changsheng wanted to accompany her, she didn't refuse.
…
This time, Su Qingyu didn't bring any guards, and the two of them set off for the Medicine Pavilion alone.
The Medicine Pavilion was located within the Nan Zhao Kingdom, not far from the Su family.
It only took them half a day to arrive.
In Li Changsheng's imagination, the Medicine Pavilion was the secluded abode of a reclusive master, embodying the spirit of "a mountain doesn't need to be tall; its presence alone makes it sacred."
But the sight before him shattered that illusion.
The Medicine Pavilion covered a vast area, with palaces connected one after another. Countless disciples in uniform hurried about, their eyes filled with arrogance.
A long line stretched outside the Medicine Pavilion's entrance, consisting of both cultivators and wealthy mortals.
"Does Pill King treat mortals as well?"
Li Changsheng was puzzled.
Cultivators usually resided in spiritual veins and rarely appeared in the mortal world.
Pill King Song Xuan was indeed interesting. Not only had he built his Medicine Pavilion in the mortal realm, but he'd also made it so lavish.
"The Medicine Pavilion contains a medium-sized spiritual vein. Pill King usually resides within it." Su Qingyu shook her head, "It's just that Pill King enjoys such things, so his disciples built the outer pavilion in this manner."
"Let's go."
Su Qingyu revealed her identity, and the Medicine Pavilion disciples didn't dare to delay, immediately escorting the two into the depths of the spiritual vein.
Li Changsheng and Su Qingyu followed the disciple to a palace entirely constructed from spiritual materials.
"Master, Miss Su has arrived!"
The disciple bowed and called out toward the palace.
"Enter."
A cold voice came from inside the palace.
"Please."
Li Changsheng and Su Qingyu followed the disciple into the palace, where they saw an elderly man in luxurious robes sitting across from Su Zhengdao, the third elder of the Su family.
The elderly man was none other than Song Xuan.
The two men seemed oblivious to their presence, continuing their conversation without acknowledging Li Changsheng or Su Qingyu.
"Su Qingyu greets Senior Pill King."
Su Qingyu frowned slightly and spoke softly.
"Hmm!"
Song Xuan grunted through his nose as a response.
"Senior, as we previously agreed, I'd like to request your help in refining a batch of Emerald Water Pills." Su Qingyu said gently.
"Miss Su." Song Xuan stood up, glanced at her, and spoke indifferently, "It's not that I'm unwilling to refine pills for you. It's just that Fellow Daoist Zhengdao recently asked me to refine several batches of Spirit Nourishing Pills. I really don't have time to refine pills for you now."
"Why don't you come back in a few years?"
Su Qingyu's brows furrowed but quickly smoothed out as she said calmly,
"Since Senior is occupied, I'll find someone else to help me with the refinement."
"Farewell."
With that, Su Qingyu prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
Song Xuan stood up, "Who else in the Nan Zhao Kingdom can refine the Emerald Water Pill besides me?"
"Even within the Medicine King Sect, there are only five or six who can refine fourth-tier pills. Should I spell out the relationship between your Su family and the Medicine King Sect?"
"Miss Su, I'm not deliberately making things difficult for you. It's just that this brat beside you severely injured Fellow Daoist Zhengdao's grandson, and you've been shielding him. This isn't good!"
"If you cripple this brat's cultivation, I'll agree to refine the Emerald Water Pills for you. Otherwise, you'll never obtain the Emerald Water Pills in this lifetime!"
"Ha!" Su Zhengdao also let out a cold laugh, staring at Li Changsheng with a frosty gaze.
It was as if he was saying, "This is the consequence of offending me!"
Just as Su Qingyu was about to speak, Li Changsheng stepped forward, blocking her path. He looked at Song Xuan with a faint smile and said indifferently,
"Are you trying to help him settle a score?"
Song Xuan frowned slightly. Although he was only at the early-stage Golden Core, his status as a fourth-tier alchemist had earned him respect from everyone for many years. This was the first time in decades someone dared to look at him with such an expression!
"So what if I am?"
Song Xuan said coldly, "Brat, do you believe that even if I kill you, the Su family won't dare to offend me, Pill King Song Xuan, for your sake?"
"Song Xuan, are you threatening my Su family?" Su Qingyu's temper flared as she spoke coldly.
Song Xuan frowned slightly. He hadn't expected Su Qingyu to choose to offend him for the sake of a Golden Core guest.
Li Changsheng smiled faintly, stepped forward, and looked down at Song Xuan, saying,
"A mere fourth-tier alchemist dares to call himself a Pill King? Who gave you the courage?"
"Mere?" Song Xuan was infuriated. He turned to Su Qingyu and said coldly, "Since your Su family looks down on this mere fourth-tier alchemist, don't come to me for any fourth-tier pills in the future!"
"Let this brat refine them for you!"
At that moment, Su Zhengdao, who had been sitting at the table, also spoke up.
"Brother Song, this brat has been disrespectful to you. How can you let him leave so easily?"
Song Xuan pondered for a moment upon hearing this and said,
"Right. This is my Medicine Pavilion. If I let him off so lightly after he dared to speak to me like this, where would my face be?"
"Today, out of respect for Miss Su, I'll spare his life!"
"Guards, cripple this brat's cultivation!"