Zhong Sanyi’s initial ripple of surprise instantly surged into waves. The rumored strongest tonic in bone-related potions from hundreds of years ago? A Grade Ten potion requiring significant quantities of Grade Eleven materials to concoct? The Frozen Earth Potion?
“The Frozen Earth Potion?” Qian Jin stared blankly at the Blood Jade potion bottle in Silos’s hand. Silos shot a disdainful glance at the stunned Qian Jin. What? Stunned into silence, aren't you? This is the Frozen Earth Potion!
It was the Frozen Earth Potion! Qian Jin’s lips were drawn into a bitter curve. A potion like this, held in a Blood Jade vial, actually contained the Frozen Earth Potion—this... this... this... scrap!
Only fools, idiots, simpletons, and brainless wonders! Would use materials meant for Grade Eleven potions to brew a mere Grade Ten potion.
Qian Jin suddenly realized he had worried for nothing. To think this vial held such a potion? Was this just a trick meant to frighten people? Or perhaps Silos possessed so much Blood Jade that he was bored enough to use the finest vials for trash?
Zhong Sanyi turned, raising his aged, somewhat withered palm, and gently patted Qian Jin’s shoulder: “Young man, do not lose heart just because you lost this round. Your foundational work is exquisite. I am willing to take you as my…”
“Wait a moment, Elder.” Qian Jin bowed slightly, regarding Zhong Sanyi with a polite smile: “I haven’t conceded yet.”
“You haven’t conceded?” Zhong Sanyi’s arm, midway through patting Qian Jin’s shoulder, froze stiffly in the air. Noreta even craned his neck curiously, straining to hear if he had misheard. Qian Jin had just given a self-mocking smile; that surely meant surrender! Moreover, this was the Frozen Earth Potion! Even pharmacists from other disciplines had heard of it; there was no way he hadn't heard its name! The critical point was how notorious this potion was!
“Why would I concede?” Qian Jin muttered weakly. Knowing he would face the Frozen Earth Potion, he shouldn't have exerted himself so much earlier. Utilizing eighty percent of his full capability would have been enough to overcome this bottle of Frozen Earth Potion, even considering the Blood Jade vial’s stimulation effect on enhancing potency.
Qian Jin grabbed the ceramic jar—one he could buy for a few copper coins—and lightly weighed it in his hand: “My potion is called the Iron Bone Potion.”
The Iron Bone Potion? Noreta looked doubtfully at Zhong Sanyi. How come he had never heard of such a mediocre-sounding potion?
“As for its efficacy and ingredients, I feel it necessary to explain.” Qian Jin watched Zhong Sanyi’s expression contort, as if a towering wave of shock was about to break across his face: “The tiger bone of the Wolf-Tailed Tiger, the arm bone of the Iron-Arm Bear, and the root of the Steel Saw Grass…”
Silos’s expression grew stranger the more he listened. Theoretically, combining these medicinal materials could indeed result in a potion that strengthened bone density, but the effect probably wouldn't reach the top tier, considering the inherent nature of these herbs…
“What did you say? Say that again!” Zhong Sanyi, clutching his cane, trembled as he took a step toward Qian Jin, nearly pressing his face against Qian Jin’s eyes: “Repeat the process you just used.”
Silos watched Zhong Sanyi, puzzled: “There’s no need to be this agitated, is there? This kind of potion…”
Zhong Sanyi listened intently to Qian Jin’s description, then slowly turned back, a faint smile gracing his lips: “Pure luck, this is pure luck. If someone else had judged this, they would have certainly declared Silos the winner.”
“What do you mean by that?” Silos’s tone was filled with surprise: “Are you suggesting I lost? His potion…”
“Is far superior to yours…” Zhong Sanyi shook his head, not even glancing at Silos, his entire focus fixed on Qian Jin: “The method for making your potion was recently researched and successfully developed by Master Pharmacist Zhu Yao at the Divine Capital Apothecary.”
Silos’s spirit jolted immediately. Zhu Yao? Zhu Yao, one of the three great authorities on bone-related potions, known externally as the Pill Craftsman? The Divine Capital Apothecary! That meant Zhu Yao, one of the five guild leaders of the Alchemist General Union!
Zhong Sanyi’s expression grew heavy, his eyes filled with boundless sympathy as he looked at Silos. This man’s luck was truly abysmal! He possessed the long-lost Frozen Earth Potion, crafted using materials intended for Grade Eleven concoctions, and housed in a Blood Jade vial.
With such a luxurious combination of advantages, losing was almost impossible; he should have been guaranteed victory.
But fate brought him up against this young man, whose creation turned out to be what Zhu Yao called a Transcendent Potion.
Transcendent Potion! It was named so because it utilized herbs whose theoretical medicinal properties hovered around Grade Nine to create a top-tier Grade Ten potion. Zhong Sanyi had learned from a letter sent by Zhu Yao that “this potion is extremely difficult to concoct,” yet the materials were relatively easy to procure, approaching the feasibility of mass production. Furthermore, if its potency could be pushed to its absolute maximum, it could arguably be considered the best Grade Ten potion currently available in the bone discipline!
“Silos,” you’ve lost…” Zhong Sanyi patted Silos’s shoulder: “If you don't believe this result…”
“Of course, I don’t believe this result!” Silos slammed both hands on the table, making the potion jar sitting there bounce repeatedly: “How could I possibly believe this? I have the Blood Jade vial! I have the Frozen Earth Potion! How could I lose? You must simply not understand bone-related potions…”
“If you don’t believe it…” Zhong Sanyi waved his hand: “You can go to the Divine Capital and ask Zhu Yao. If I am wrong, I will give you these two Blood Jade potion vials.”
Two Blood Jade vials, each twice the size of the one Silos held, were drawn from the potion pouch at Zhong Sanyi’s waist.
Qian Jin watched Zhong Sanyi with envy. If he possessed those two Blood Jade vials, a top-grade Grade Ten potion sealed within them could mature for ten to fifteen days, and with gentle refinement of its properties, it might even be pushed into the ranks of Grade Eleven, Master-level medicinal liquids.
Silos stared blankly at the Blood Jade vials in Zhong Sanyi’s hand, surprised that this old man was so generous in supporting Qian Jin.
“Good, good, good!”
Silos turned and bowed slightly toward Pan Hongji: “Patriarch, I need to take temporary leave from the Pan family to go to the Divine Capital Apothecary.”
Pan Hongji looked at Silos with a wry smile. The Pan family’s chief bone-discipline pharmacist was genuinely enraged today; he knew keeping him would be impossible. Compared to the value of this guest, Qian Jin’s value was clearly far greater. So… go if you must.
Zhong Sanyi didn't even spare a glance for the angrily departing Silos, his eyes narrowing into contented crescents. Clasping the two Blood Jade vials in his hand, he said: “Young man, your fundamentals are excellent. Are you interested in potions that focus on internal organs? I happen to have some authority in that area.”
Noreta, whose spirit had just recovered, was struck by severe shock once again. What? Zhong Sanyi? Master Zhong! A true Master Alchemist! Was he intending to take Qian Jin as an apprentice? This boy’s luck truly defied the norm!
Master! Master Alchemist! The difference between a Master Alchemist and a mere Alchemist wasn't just a single word; the gap between them could be described as comparing a towering mountain to a small mound of earth.
Virtually all Master Alchemists in this era had themselves been taught by Master Alchemists. Only a Master Alchemist possessed the experience necessary to cultivate a Master Alchemist disciple. Self-discovery? Noreta shook his head and sighed. Despite years of his own exploration, he remained only a High-Level Alchemist, precisely because his initial master was also only a High-Level Alchemist, leaving him to forge the path ahead entirely on his own, without guidance.
Pan Hongxuan secretly glanced at Pan Hongji’s slightly trembling shoulders and sighed inwardly. This was why he couldn't become the patriarch, and why Pan Hongji could. While he was weighing potential benefits, Pan Hongji chose to form a bond—even a Master Alchemist was interested in Qian Jin enough to offer tutelage!
Qian Jin looked at Zhong Sanyi with deep gratitude. If this Master Alchemist hadn't spoken up, perhaps no one here would have recognized the true value of his work. But judging by Zhong Sanyi’s tone, was this “Zhong Yao” truly that astonishing? Uncle Adams had always referred to it as an introductory-level potion!
“Well?” Zhong Sanyi stared at Qian Jin expectantly. A young talent like this was exceedingly rare. His words had been clear enough; any person with a shred of comprehension should now be kneeling and performing the rites of apprenticeship!
“Organ potions?” Qian Jin chuckled: “That sounds good. I have studied a little about organ potions. It is my good fortune to be able to seek guidance from a Master.”
Zhong Sanyi froze. Seek guidance? Not willing to become an apprentice? Did he perhaps doubt my competence in that field? That was possible! With such solid fundamentals, this boy must have been guided by a specialized instructor, so having a higher standard was normal. Once I demonstrate a few techniques, I’m sure he will consent to be my apprentice.
Noreta looked at Qian Jin with absolute admiration. To remain so composed in the face of a Master Alchemist, speaking of ‘seeking guidance’ rather than ‘apprenticeship’... This person was either incredibly thick-skinned or excessively proud.
Zhong Sanyi supported the table with one hand, pushing up the spectacles perched on his nose with the other, regarding Qian Jin with intense interest: “Young man, tell me. What formulas for organ potions have you studied?”
Which one? Qian Jin’s lips twitched. Any potion concerning an organ deserved serious study! Teacher Adams, while not as fierce as Eulala, was certainly not someone easily fooled.