Xu Shangao wished he could scream at the top of his lungs. At this moment he stood tall and straight, his heart brimming with excitement.
The other formal disciples present, especially the tall youth, each had their expressions changed and incredulously looked at Xu Shangao.
"He actually refined a Heart Cleansing Pill of medium quality, how is this possible?" This was the thought shared by all the formal disciples present.
The elder suspiciously glanced at Xu Shangao, then at the pill in his hand, doubting that this Heart Cleansing Pill was refined by Xu Shangao.
After all, he knew Xu Shangao's capability. Even if he had luckily made a Heart Cleansing Pill, it would only be of low quality and it could not possibly be of medium quality.
Even, many higher ranked formal disciples were unable to refine a medium quality Heart Cleansing Pill, so how could Xu Shangao, ranked at the bottom, do it?
"Elder, this pill couldn't have been refined by Xu Shangao. He must have asked someone else to do it. Please see through it, Elder!" The tall youth suddenly spoke up.
Xu Shangao became furious upon hearing this. He yelled, "I'm the one who made this Heart Cleansing Pill. This is slander!"
The tall youth gave a cold laugh, "Everyone knows that you, Xu Shangao, can only refine low quality pills. This Heart Cleansing Pill is of medium quality, and you dare to say you made it. What a joke!"
Xu Shangao's face reddened, his breath quickened, and he stared fiercely at the tall youth.
The tall youth, however, showed no fear and looked at Xu Shangao with disdain.
"Xu Shangao, tell the truth. Did you ask someone else to refine this pill?" The elder questioned, he too not believing that Xu Shangao could have refined a medium quality Heart Cleansing Pill.
Xu Shangao was taken aback at this, he glanced around and found doubt on everyone's faces.
Xu Shangao felt sorrowful. He was belittled among the formal disciples. It was clear that he had made the pill but no one believed him.
"Elder, to prove that I refined this pill myself, I am willing to refine it again in front of everyone. If I fail, I am willing to accept any punishment!" Xu Shangao's voice rang out powerfully, determination in his eyes.
The elder and the crowd were taken aback. Xu Shangao was actually willing to refine a pill in public. This was like pushing himself into a corner.
The tall youth immediately said, "Elder, since Junior Brother Xu wishes to prove his innocence, let him have his way."
Xu Shangao whirled to face him and shot the tall youth a furious look, "If I succeed, you have to kneel and apologize to me!"
"What?" The tall youth did not expect Xu Shangao to involve him and he became hesitant.
Xu Shangao sneered, "What? Are you afraid?"
The tall youth scoffed, "Afraid of a low-ranking disciple? Fine! If you manage to refine a medium quality Heart Cleansing Pill, I'll kneel and apologize to you. But if you fail, you will kneel before me and bark like a dog!"
"Deal!" Xu Shangao said coldly.
The tall youth laughed coldly, as though he could already imagine Xu Shangao kneeling before him and barking like a dog. He was very excited at the prospect.
Neither the elder and the crowd didn't stop them. Instead, they turned to Xu Shangao and said, "There are ready-made furnaces and medicinal herbs. We can start now. But remember, you're the one who is doing this."
Without any hesitation, Xu Shangao responded, "I understand."
The elder nodded and led the crowd to a Pill Refining Room.
"Go in." The elder pointed to the Pill Refining Room and told Xu Shangao.
"If you feel regret, kneel before me now, and save yourself from barking like a dog." the tall youth sneered.
Xu Shangao snorted, ignoring the tall youth's sarcasm, and stepped directly into the Pill Refining Room.
The elder followed him, while the other formal disciples waited outside the room.
After all, pill refining was a serious matter. Having too many people could easily distract the pill refiner.
Four hours later, the elder emerged from the Pill Refining Room, with a jade bottle in his hand, his face expressionless.
Following him, Xu Shangao came out, his face showing signs of exhaustion, but his eyes sparkled with joy.
Seeing this, the crowd was stunned, especially the tall youth who felt even more uneasy.
"Impossible! He is just a low-ranking disciple, and a trash one at that. There's no way he could produce a medium quality pill. Absolutely not!" The youth kept telling himself this, yet Xu Shangao's joyful expression made him even more anxious.
Everyone's eyes were on the elder, waiting for him to announce the result.
The elder looked around at everyone, and then his gaze landed on the tall youth. He sighed lightly, "He succeeded."
Three simple words, but they struck like a thunderbolt in a drought, stunning all the formal disciples present.
The elder didn't say more, he took out the Heart Cleansing Pills that Xu Shangao had just made. Just like the ones before, they were all of medium quality.
Witnessing this, the tall youth's face turned deathly pale, sweat beading on his forehead.
The others pitied the tall youth, feeling secretly relieved in their hearts. Fortunately, they had not placed a bet with Xu Shangao; otherwise, their dignity would be greatly lost.
Although Xu Shangao was exhausted at this moment, he was extremely happy in his heart. The resentment he had held in for a long time was finally dispelled today.
"Lin Xu, I won. Won't you kneel down?" Xu Shangao suddenly roared loudly.
The tall youth named Lin Xu had an extremely rigid expression. Hearing Xu Shangao's roar and seeing everyone else distancing themselves from him, he felt sorrowful and knelt down on the spot in front of Xu Shangao.
"I was wrong!" After quickly uttering these words, Lin Xu hastily stood up and ran away without caring about anything else.
Xu Shangao showed a smile. Lin Xu had always looked down upon him, but today he knelt in front of him to apologize. Although this created animosity between them, Xu Shangao didn't care; after all, he had vented his frustration and was in a cheerful mood.
When Xu Shangao returned to his residence, he saw Fang Lin leisurely lying on a bamboo chair.
Seeing this, Xu Shangao was speechless. Weren't you supposed to refine the Pulse Opening Pill? How come you were napping in the courtyard?
"Fang, Fang." Xu Shangao called out twice, but was unable to wake up Fang Lin. Upon taking a closer look, he discovered that Fang Lin was sleeping heavily, and his face was a bit pale.
Xu Shangao was worried and fetched a blanket from inside the house to cover Fang Lin.
When he got to the pill furnace, Xu Shangao touched it. It was still warm, indicating that Fang Lin had indeed used it.
"Alas, Fang's realm is still not sufficient. Using the pill furnace is draining. I guess he must be exhausted," Xu Shangao thought to himself.
It wasn't until the evening that Fang Lin finally woke up, looking much better.
"Fang, you finally woke up. If you hadn't woken up, I would have had to use pills to save you." Xu Shangao breathed a sigh of relief.
Fang Lin looked at the sky, which was about to get dark, turned to Xu Shangao, grinned, and drew two round, golden pills from his pocket.
"Xu, here are the Pulse Opening Pills I promised you. Take them when you're free," Fang Lin said.
Xu Shangao was stunned as he took the two pills. Upon taking a closer look, he found that the quality of these two pills was exceptional: they were round and full, colorful, aromatic. Although Xu Shangao couldn't determine the quality of the Pulse Opening Pills due to his skill level, he thought they must be of at least medium quality, possibly even superior.
Thinking of this, Xu Shangao was shocked and looked at Fang Lin as if he were a monster.
"Did you refine these?" Xu Shangao asked a very silly question.
Fang Lin blinked and laughed, "Of course I refined them. Don't you believe me?"
Xu Shangao was incredulous. You're just a Pill Apprentice, but the pills you produce are of such high quality. If anyone else had done this, they'd be even more shocked.
However, Xu Shangao had already witnessed Fang Lin's miraculous abilities. Without Fang Lin's guidance, Xu Shangao might still be unable to refine the Heart Cleansing Pill. So even though he was surprised, he didn't lose his composure.
"Fang, I doubt you are some alchemy prodigy who is intentionally hiding amongst the Pill Apprentices," Xu Shangao said somewhat helplessly.
Fang Lin looked surprised: "Did you notice that?"
"..."
Fang Lin successfully refined the Pulse Opening Pills, a total of six. He gave two to Xu Shangao and kept the remaining four for himself.
Given Fang Lin's blocked meridians, these four Pulse Opening Pills would be enough to clear his obstructed meridians.
Xu Shangao also told Fang Lin about his daytime bet with Lin Xu, his tone full of pride.
"Xu, it seems we are in the same boat. I am not liked by the other Pill Apprentices, and you are also looked down upon by the official disciples. We really are toiling together," Fang Lin sighed.
"With your talent, Fang, you will surely stand out one day. As for me, I'm hopeless," Xu Shangao said.
Fang Lin patted his shoulder and said, "That's not necessarily true. Many people are late bloomers. I think you are one of them."
Xu Shangao gave a bitter smile, "Don't comfort me."
At night, Fang Lin and Xu Shangao took the Pulse Opening Pills as if by agreement.
However, the conditions of the two after taking the pills were different. The next morning, Xu Shangao had cleared several blocked meridians in his body. All thirty-six major meridians were smooth, and he felt as if he had been sublimated.
But Fang Lin spent three days in seclusion, digesting the medicinal power of the Pulse Opening Pills and gradually clearing his blocked meridians.
On the fourth day, Fang Lin finally came out. His blocked meridians had been cleared, and surprisingly, one of the seventy-two minor meridians had been unblocked.
There are thirty-six major meridians, seventy-two minor meridians, and numerous microcosmic branches in the human body.
Of these, the seventy-two minor meridians are completely blocked, and only eighteen of the thirty-six major meridians are open.
The most important thing in the early stage of practicing martial arts is to clear these blocked meridians, starting from the thirty-six major meridians and gradually opening the seventy-two minor meridians.