"Chen'er, you are in charge of everything. No matter what you do, I will support you. My bottleneck has loosened, and I need to go back and cultivate," Xiao Changfeng said with a smile. He then left excitedly to return to his room for cultivation.
"Elders, you should also go back and cultivate," Xiao Chen said to Xiao Yuntian and Xiao Yunfeng.
Over the next few days, Xiao Chen and Uncle Zhong researched how to incorporate the medicinal power of the Snow Jade Ginseng into the Tianling Wine, experimenting with the correct proportions.
Snow Jade Ginseng is the main ingredient for refining Snow Jade Elixirs and has healing properties. Therefore, Xiao Chen decided to mix its medicinal power into the Tianling Wine, hoping that the wine would not only enhance cultivation but also have healing effects. This way, the Xiao family could fully monopolize the market, striking at the Wang family's economy.
In the Wang family hall.
"Patriarch, it seems Xiao Chen is not that capable. Apart from becoming slightly stronger, he can't change the Xiao family's current situation. Moreover, in the past few days, the Xiao family's only store has closed, which means they have lost their source of crystals," Wang Kongyuan said, a sinister smile on his face.
"Very good! What kind of storm can a mere Xiao Chen stir up? Hmph! He doesn't know his place!" Wang He snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with a fierce killing intent.
"Father, Xiao Chen injured Wang Yufeng and Wang Cheng on the stage, disgracing our Wang family in Fengyue City. We absolutely cannot let him go easily. Why don't we secretly get rid of him?" Wang Xuan suggested, his eyes filled with murderous intent and resentment.
"Young Master, this is absolutely unacceptable. It would damage our family's reputation!" Elder Wang Kongyuan immediately shook his head in opposition.
"Elder, why not? Are we afraid of Xiao Chen?" Wang Xuan asked, displeased by Wang Kongyuan's opposition.
"Young Master, please calm down and listen to me," Wang Kongyuan said with a bitter smile, shaking his head helplessly. "The arena incident just happened a few days ago. If Xiao Chen suddenly dies, all suspicions will fall on our Wang family. At that time, the people of Fengyue City will say that our family are cowards who could not defeat the Xiao family openly and had to resort to underhanded attacks. Such rumors are very damaging. If the Young Master does not fear such rumors, then I have nothing more to say."
After listening to Wang Kongyuan, Wang He nodded. "Yes, the Elder's words make sense. Xuan'er, do not do anything that would harm our family's reputation. As long as we control the business in Fengyue City, the Xiao family will never recover. There is no need to hurry. Now that the Xiao family's last store has closed, be patient. When they are truly desperate, we will act."
Wang Kongyuan looked at Wang Xuan and said, "Young Master, remember, those who achieve great things cannot be impatient. You must be cautious; impulsiveness will never lead to success."
"Yes, I will heed the Elder's advice," Wang Xuan nodded, his anger dissipating due to Wang Kongyuan's words.
"Our real enemy is not the Xiao family; they are not worthy. The Xiao family's demise is inevitable. Our true enemy is the Yang family. We should find a way to deal with them," said the second elder, Wang Kongshan.
"Exactly! The Yang family is powerful. We cannot confront them directly for now; we must be patient," Wang He agreed, a sinister look flashing in his eyes.
...
Back in the Xiao family, after days of relentless research, Xiao Chen and Uncle Zhong finally determined the right proportion to mix Snow Jade Ginseng into the Tianling Wine. The wine they brewed not only enhanced cultivation but also had healing properties.
After their success, Xiao Chen instructed Uncle Zhong to brew Tianling Wine in large quantities and store it in jade bottles, preparing for sale.
Once the wine was ready, Xiao Chen returned to his room. It had taken nearly five days to finalize the proportions, and he felt a sense of relief.
"The overall strength of the Xiao family is still too weak. I need to refine second-grade pills quickly. The Xianling Pill can help those in the Enlightenment and Fusion stages improve their cultivation. Many disciples are only in the Enlightenment stage, barely stronger than ordinary people. Fortunately, I am prepared," Xiao Chen muttered, taking out his cauldron and herbs from his storage ring.
"Xiao Chen, are you going to refine pills?" the Ancient White Tiger asked telepathically.
Xiao Chen nodded. "Yes, the Xiao family's overall strength is too weak. Most disciples are only in the Enlightenment stage. I hope the Tianling Wine and pills can help them improve."
"Have you forgotten how they treated you before? And you still treat them so well," the Ancient White Tiger said, displeased.
"Forget it. We're all family; they are not enemies. I've thought about it, but for my father's sake, I won't pursue it further. Let bygones be bygones," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile.
"Sigh, you are too kind. But since you've made up your mind, do as you wish," the Ancient White Tiger responded.
"I must help the Xiao family eliminate the Wang family before I can leave Fengyue City for the real Tianyue Continent. Mu Qing said that Tianyue Continent is full of powerful beings. Only there can I meet true experts! I must see it for myself," Xiao Chen thought, already determined.
"According to Master Bahun's pill refining experience, each type of pill corresponds to different herb properties, meaning they require different flame temperatures. If the temperature is too low, the essence cannot be extracted; if too high, the herbs will burn. I encountered this when refining Huiyuan Pills and failed many times," Xiao Chen reflected.
"Whoosh!"
Xiao Chen suddenly curled his hand into a claw, and with a muffled sound, a wisp of black flame ignited in his right hand. This was the Black Flame left to him by Master Bahun.
As soon as the Black Flame appeared, the temperature in the room increased significantly. Though the Black Flame did not emit any dazzling light, it gave a chilling feeling.
"To refine the Xianling Pill, I need Xianling Leaf, Eight Immortals Grass, and Purple Vine Lotus Leaf," Xiao Chen muttered, preparing the herbs.
He quickly placed the Black Flame under the cauldron, circulated the Pill Refining Technique, and activated his soul power. His hand gestures changed, and he gradually added the herbs into the cauldron. Through the crystal layer on the cauldron's surface, he could see the herbs burning inside.
Xiao Chen carefully controlled the strength of the Black Flame. With his previous pill refining experience, he could easily adjust the flame.
Pill refining involves five major steps: controlling the flame, burning the herbs, extracting the essence, forming the pill, and completing the pill. Each step requires great caution; any mistake could lead to failure.
From his first attempt at pill refining, Xiao Chen deeply realized that it was much harder than practicing martial arts. It consumed not only true essence but also soul power and was mentally exhausting. Therefore, pill refining was more tiring than mining or carrying bricks.
While controlling the strength of the Black Flame with his soul power, Xiao Chen kept a close eye on the herbs inside the cauldron. His slightly tanned face was covered in sweat.
After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the herbs began shedding their skins under the Black Flame's burn, and wisps of essence liquid started to appear.
"Indeed! My soul power can refine second-grade pills!" Seeing the herbs shedding their skins and essence liquid appearing, Xiao Chen was overjoyed.
"Extract the essence!" Xiao Chen quickly changed his hand gestures and shouted. Inside the cauldron, the three different-colored essence liquids began to merge.
Xiao Chen knew that at this step, the strength of the Black Flame had to be reduced; otherwise, the essence would easily evaporate. After about half an hour, under the constant burning of the Black Flame, the essence liquid began to turn into a viscous, granular form.
"Great!" Seeing the three essence liquids forming into granules the size of longan fruits, Xiao Chen was overjoyed again. He then increased the strength of the Black Flame with his soul power. At this moment, his face was already pale, and his chest was soaked with sweat.
The Ancient White Tiger, watching from the storage ring, remained silent to avoid distracting Xiao Chen. Pill refining required a quiet environment, and any disturbance could greatly increase the chances of failure, making it an arduous process.
"Form the pill!" After the granules burned for over ten minutes, Xiao Chen quickly channeled his true essence and changed his hand gestures again, according to the Pill Refining Technique, while increasing the Black Flame's strength with his soul power.
"Whoosh!"
With a muffled sound, the Black Flame under the cauldron became violent, as if it wanted to devour the cauldron. The flame was extremely intense.
The temperature in the room kept rising. If the Xiao family disciples were not all cultivating, they would have noticed the high temperature in Xiao Chen's room.
"Hold on! Hold on! It's almost done!" the Ancient White Tiger thought anxiously, its eyes fixed on the cauldron.
After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, as a faint fragrance began to waft from the cauldron, Xiao Chen's pale face revealed a relieved smile.
"What a fragrant scent! Xiao Chen, you've succeeded! The second-grade pill is complete!" the Ancient White Tiger exclaimed excitedly upon smelling the fragrance.
"Indeed!" Xiao Chen was equally thrilled.
"Complete the pill!" Xiao Chen channeled his true essence again, changed his hand gestures, and shouted. The cauldron lid lifted, and a blue-glowing, longan-sized pill hovered above the cauldron.
"Heavens! Xiao Chen, you are a genius at pill refining. You succeeded on your first attempt at refining a second-grade pill! I was worried you might fail," the Ancient White Tiger transmitted excitedly.
Xiao Chen retracted the Black Flame, stood up joyfully, took the pill, and said with a satisfied smile, "Great! I did it! The Xianling Pill is refined! I am now a second-grade alchemist! Haha! Master Bahun's Pill Refining Technique is indeed powerful."