Shortly after, four people successively entered from outside the great hall.
Xu Chuan wasn't surprised to see Master He, but seeing Zhou Sen, he immediately showed a surprised expression.
Zhou Sen was the same.
Delighted in his heart, he immediately passed Master He and the others to reach Xu Chuan, smiling broadly, "Fellow Daoist Sansu, I never imagined that after years of separation, we would meet again."
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, we meet again."
Everyone looked at the two of them in surprise. Master He just felt Xu Chuan looked somewhat familiar.
Butler Gu's eyes flashed, suddenly bursting with brilliance, "Master Zhou, could this person be the guest elder of your Zhou family you mentioned before?"
"Precisely. Let me introduce him to everyone. Daoist Sansu, his pill Dao level is above this old man's."
Master He's eyes brightened as he suddenly remembered that Xu Chuan was the rogue cultivator who had come to Treasure Pavilion over two months ago to sell pills.
"Master He, I trust you've been well."
"This old man admires Fellow Daoist Zhou's pill Dao level. He says you're above him, which must certainly be true. For me to call you 'master' would be mocking me, wouldn't it?"
"Fellow Daoist He." Xu Chuan smiled faintly and clasped his fists.
Now Zhou Sen and Butler Gu were also surprised. Butler Gu said, "Master He, you also know Fellow Daoist Sansu?"
Master He stroked his white beard, "Two months ago, Fellow Daoist Sansu came to Treasure Pavilion to sell pills. This old man was the one who authenticated them."
With him saying this, Butler Gu remembered.
Some time ago, Treasure Pavilion had indeed received two pills that aided late Qi Refining stage breakthrough. Although they were low-grade, their efficacy was comparable to superior-grade Barrier Breaking Pills.
Butler Gu's eyes flashed, "Master Sansu, although you're an acquaintance of Master Zhou, this time our prince's manor is openly recruiting pill masters. All who come must pass the assessment of Master Zhou, Master He, and the other four."
"As it should be." Xu Chuan nodded slightly.
The four people's assessment covered difficult points in pill refining or the medicinal properties of some rare spirit medicines.
This first round eliminated one person.
The second round was on-site pill refining of the common Qi Recovery Pill. Butler Gu had already had people prepare the materials.
"This round will be judged by the quantity and quality of pills produced." After Master He announced this loudly, he then declared the start of pill refining.
Xu Chuan was the fastest. While deliberately restraining himself, he produced seven pills: one low-grade, five middle-grade, and one superior-grade.
If he refined simple pills like Qi Recovery Pills with full effort, he could produce two superior-grade and six middle-grade pills.
Shortly after, the other two also finished refining pills. However, they only produced four or five pills, the highest being middle-grade Qi Recovery Pills. Thus, Xu Chuan won that sole qualification without suspense.
Master He stroked his beard and nodded, "Fellow Daoist Sansu' pill Dao is indeed profound. One batch produced a superior-grade pill. Even this old man can only rely on luck."
"Fellow Daoist He, you flatter me too much. This poor Daoist just had good luck."
Xu Chuan remained calm regardless of praise or criticism, then asked, "Now can you tell this poor Daoist what pill needs to be refined for the princess consort?"
Butler Gu stepped forward and handed the pill formula to Xu Chuan.
"Jade Sprout Pill?!"
Seeing the pill formula's name, Xu Chuan also showed a surprised expression.
"That's right, it's the Jade Sprout Pill. To cure the princess consort's injuries requires at least a middle-grade Jade Sprout Pill."
Xu Chuan's divine sense swept over it, and he immediately understood the Jade Sprout Pill's materials, a full fifteen types, including several second-grade spirit medicines.
"Well then, Master Sansu, are you confident?"
Xu Chuan's brow furrowed, "How many sets of Jade Sprout Pill materials has the prince's manor currently collected?"
"Previously there were twenty sets total, but Master He and the others consumed eight sets."
Twelve sets, second-grade middle-grade pills. Xu Chuan didn't dare claim absolute certainty, but then he thought of something and said, "With twelve sets, this humble one can give it a try, but..."
"What other requirements do you have? Master Sansu, please speak freely." Butler Gu said.
"Previously, I've never refined second-grade pills. I wonder if the prince's manor has second-grade pill formulas on record that I could refine a few batches of to familiarize myself?"
"This..."
Hearing that Xu Chuan had never refined second-grade pills, Butler Gu's face immediately showed worry.
Zhou Sen said, "Butler Gu, Fellow Daoist Sansu is a rogue cultivator. Most rogue cultivators rarely even encounter first-grade pill formulas, let alone second-grade ones.
However, this old man can guarantee Fellow Daoist Sansu' pill Dao attainment. If he says he can try, he must have some confidence in his heart."
"Since Master Zhou vouches for him, then Gu will retrieve the second-grade pill formulas. I wonder what requirements Master Sansu has?" Butler Gu immediately made the decision.
"Naturally, the more complete the better. Refining several different types can deepen this poor Daoist's grasp of second-grade spirit herbs' medicinal properties."
Butler Gu nodded. Although pill formulas were precious, how could they compare to the princess consort's life?
Moreover, even if the other party intended to memorize the pill formulas, second-grade spirit medicines weren't common items. For Qi Refining rogue cultivators, gathering even one set would be extremely difficult.
They were also rarely seen in the marketplace.
Only because Prince Yong was at Foundation Establishment realm and had recruited two or three pill refining masters like Master He did the manor regularly stock such spirit herbs.
In less than a cup of tea's time, Butler Gu arranged for a pill refining room and delivered five pill formulas along with four sets of materials for each formula to the pill room.
Xu Chuan studied the second-grade pill formulas in the pill room while Zhou Sen and the others tried to find ways to stabilize the princess consort's injuries.
From the simplest detoxification-type second-grade pill formula to healing types, then recovery types, there was also one formula for advancing Foundation Establishment spiritual power, called True Essence Pill.
Second-order pills were considerably more difficult than first-grade pills.
However, Xu Chuan's pill Dao attainment was extremely high. With just one batch, he grasped sixty to seventy percent of the medicinal property changes in the materials. Usually, by the second or even third batch, he could refine one low-grade pill.
The fourth batch produced two low-grade pills.
Among the five pill formulas, the most difficult was the True Essence Pill. With four sets of materials, Xu Chuan only managed to luckily refine one low-grade True Essence Pill.
This showed that second-grade pills were indeed several times more difficult than first-grade pills.
Thereafter, Xu Chuan meditated for two hours to regulate his breathing then he began studying the Jade Sprout Pill's materials, even consuming them orally to understand each spirit herb's medicinal properties.
Fortunately, with the [Divine Farmer's Hundred Herbs] fate talent, he had great resistance to all types of spirit herbs and wouldn't taste himself into problems.
One day and night later.
Xu Chuan formally began refining the Jade Sprout Pill. Before refining, he specifically instructed the guards at the door not to let anyone disturb him.
The Jade Sprout Pill was an ancient healing pill. Besides detoxifying hundreds of poisons, it had an effect that ordinary detoxification pills lacked, it could detoxify the divine soul.
Xu Chuan guessed that Prince Yong's consort must have been poisoned by some demon beast that damaged the divine soul.
Otherwise, there would be no need for this pill.
The first batch of Jade Sprout Pill failed.
Xu Chuan reviewed the pill refining process, reflected, then opened the furnace to refine again.
The second batch failed.
Learning from experience, he refined again.
Failed!
Failed!
Failed!
On the sixth batch, Xu Chuan finally refined one low-grade Jade Sprout Pill.
This pill's body was round and smooth with restrained luster. Its color was as warm and moist as yellow jade, with a circle of pale white patterns at the upper, middle, and lower parts of its surface.
The pill fragrance overflowed.
Smelling it, one felt all the body's pores opening, as if the disease roots accumulated for long in the five viscera and six bowels were instantly eliminated.
Xu Chuan didn't let the pill's medicinal properties continue to dissipate. He immediately stored it in a white jade porcelain bottle.
The seventh batch failed.
The eighth batch produced two low-grade Jade Sprout Pills.
The ninth batch failed.
Turning his head to look, he discovered that the remaining Jade Sprout Pill materials were already scarce. Xu Chuan's expression gradually became solemn.
He began studying each material's medicinal properties from the beginning and recalled the medicinal property changes in successful versus failed Jade Sprout Pills. He realized that failing to refine the Jade Sprout Pill wasn't a problem with grasping medicinal properties.
Rather, it was the sequence of combining medicinal liquids.
Pill refining emphasized sovereign, minister, assistant, and courier. Different sequences would trigger different medicinal property changes.
Either rejection, or fusion, or medicinal properties offsetting each other, leading to ultimately weakened medicinal properties.
"Only refining low-grade pills means the medicinal properties were weakened."
Xu Chuan couldn't use complete materials to trial-and-error. He could only guess based on his own conjectures, consuming two or three types orally to judge whether medicinal properties fused or offset each other.
Half a day later.
Xu Chuan finished regulating his breathing and began refining pills again.
The tenth batch finally produced one middle-grade Jade Sprout Pill and one low-grade Jade Sprout Pill.
At this, Xu Chuan finally let out a long breath.
"Ancient pills are truly difficult to refine."
Just as Xu Chuan was preparing to concentrate on refining the eleventh batch, Prince Yong returned from the imperial city piloting a flying magical artifact.
Beside him followed a white-haired elder. Although his temples were frosted, his face was like an infant's. His spine was straight as a green pine brushing clouds. Between his flowing robes was hidden the rhythm of pine winds and crane calls, as if a transcendent immortal had occasionally descended to the mortal world.
"Your Highness, you've returned. This is...?" Butler Gu immediately came forward.
He saw that Prince Yong's stature exceeded eight chi, wearing a crimson python robe blazing like dawn breaking. Golden thread coiled dragon patterns flowed with his steps, as if flames surged darkly.
His head wore a purple-gold crown with a red jade hairpin thrust through it. Below his broad forehead, sword-like brows slanted into his temples. His eye color was as deep as a cold pond reflecting fire. His beard and whiskers were like halberds yet trimmed extremely neatly.
His entire body exuded a domineering aura.
"This is Chief Yun Zhongzi of the Dan Hall. How is the princess consort?"
"Master He, Master Zhou, and others have temporarily suppressed the symptoms, but according to them, at most two more days before it won't work. Currently, a pill refining master called Sansu is refining the Jade Sprout Pill."
Upon hearing this, Prince Yong's expression changed dramatically. He rebuked, "Nonsense! Is the Jade Sprout Pill something just anyone can refine? Its materials are rare and precious. If they're all wasted, a hundred deaths couldn't atone!"
"Why haven't you stopped the pill refining immediately?!"
"Yes, yes, yes." Butler Gu responded repeatedly.
"Wait. This old man has also never refined the Jade Sprout Pill. At least five or six sets are needed to possibly refine a middle-grade pill."
Butler Gu's face turned ashen.
Yun Zhongzi was the Dan Hall's chief, mid-Foundation Establishment, immersed in the pill Dao for over a hundred years. Even he said at least five or six sets were needed. Could that Daoist Sansu succeed with only twelve sets?
It's over!
Ruined by Zhou Sen!
Butler Gu had never imagined that his prince would bring Chief Yun Zhongzi of the Dan Hall back so quickly.
If only he had waited two more days.
His only hope now was that Xu Chuan would find the Jade Sprout Pill too difficult to refine and not dare to try rashly, leaving five or six sets of materials.
Butler Gu hurried to the pill room entrance. Seeing the pill room door tightly closed with restrictions activated, he couldn't force his way in either. The person inside needed to lift them.
Fortunately, sound could pass through the restriction.
"Master Sansu, our prince has already brought the Dan Hall chief back. Please stop refining pills immediately and leave the materials for Chief Yun Zhongzi to refine."
Xu Chuan was in the midst of pill refining. Hearing this, his brow furrowed slightly but then he continued to concentrate on refining.
The required middle-grade Jade Sprout Pill had already been successfully refined. No matter their countless complaints, he could break through them.