Meng Bo had initially come to cause trouble, but now he felt ashamed. Shen Xiang's earlier gesture had made him deeply grateful, and he decided that even if he won, he wouldn't accept Shen Xiang's Gold Spirit Fruit.
Normally, a batch of *Qi Strengthening Pills* would yield three pills, but skilled alchemists could produce four. After opening the lid of his **Xuan Yang Cauldron**, Meng Bo revealed four slightly yellow, translucent pills slowly floating upward.
"Four *Qi Strengthening Pills*—truly worthy of a Pill King!" one of the nearby alchemists couldn't help but praise. "Judging by the color and fragrance, the quality must be top-notch!"
Now it was Shen Xiang's turn. When he opened the lid of his cauldron and gently blew away the mist, everyone was left stunned, their faces filled with shock.
Inside were five flawless, crystal-clear pills with a faint white glow. These were *Qi Strengthening Pills* with no impurities, and their fragrance was overwhelmingly potent.
Not only were there five pills, but they were also of supreme quality, far surpassing Meng Bo's work!
Meng Bo sighed deeply. His eyes, now filled with respect, fixed on Shen Xiang. Before, he had thought Shen Xiang was like Yao Tianhua—an arrogant youth with some talent—but now, seeing Shen Xiang's pills far exceed his own, he was completely convinced.
"I've lost," Meng Bo admitted. At this moment, he no longer carried the arrogance of a Pill King. He seemed much older, visibly shaken by his loss.
"Meng Lao, I imagine you don't often make *Qi Strengthening Pills*, do you? Despite being rusty, you were still able to craft such high-quality pills, which I greatly admire. How about we call it a tie? I didn't win, and you didn't lose," Shen Xiang said with a warm smile. After all, Meng Bo was the most skilled alchemist in the Southern Martial Kingdom, and forming a connection would be beneficial.
Meng Bo shook his head, then handed the glowing **Xuan Yang Cauldron** to Shen Xiang. "A loss is a loss. This cauldron is yours. Over the years, I've come to rely on it too much, neglecting the basics. It should belong to someone more worthy."
Both Shen Xiang and Meng Bo's actions garnered the admiration of the other alchemists, giving them a newfound respect for both men.
Shen Xiang shrugged and said, "Meng Lao, how about you join the *Pill King Pavilion* as the chief alchemist? The cauldron will still be yours, and you can also receive the Gold Spirit Fruit!"
Everyone was shocked—Shen Xiang was trying to recruit Meng Bo into the *Pill King Pavilion*!
Shen Lüzong's eyes lit up, and he quickly chimed in, "The *Pill King Pavilion* would only truly live up to its name with Meng Lao as its pillar!"
Meng Bo pondered for a moment, then replied, "Alright, but you must still keep the cauldron. With your solid foundation, this cauldron will help you achieve even more remarkable results."
To everyone's surprise, Meng Bo agreed. The other alchemists present were left feeling conflicted—having such a formidable Pill King here meant their chances of joining the *Pill King Pavilion* had diminished significantly.
At this moment, an elderly man spoke up, "Pavilion Master Shen, I do not seek a position as an alchemist here. I would be content to work as a mere servant, with no need for compensation."
Upon hearing this, other elderly men followed suit, expressing their willingness to stay without pay. Being near a Pill King was an opportunity to learn invaluable skills.
Shen Xiang scratched his head and said with a smile, "I'll leave this decision to Meng Lao."
Meng Bo frowned as he looked at the group of elderly men before nodding. "Alright, you can all stay."
Soon after, Shen Lüzong and Meng Bo selected two skilled alchemists from the group, rewarding them with Gold Spirit Fruit as compensation.
With Meng Bo joining, Shen Xiang felt a great sense of relief. At least now, he wouldn't have to personally handle the tedious task of alchemy.
"Great Uncle, you'll be the Pavilion Master. You have years of experience managing the *Spirit Pill Pavilion*, and Meng Lao and the others can focus on alchemy," Shen Xiang said. Although Meng Bo was a Pill King, he had been secluded in alchemy for many years and lacked management experience.
Neither Meng Bo nor the others had any objections. Shen Lüzong also agreed. Now, the *Pill King Pavilion* had four excellent alchemists and over ten ordinary ones—becoming one of the top forces in the realm of alchemy, second only to the *Yao Family* and *Pill Fragrance Paradise*.
That night, Shen Xiang sat together with a group of elderly alchemists, discussing alchemy techniques. Having learned advanced alchemy from Su Meiyao, Shen Xiang shared his insights, blending them with his personal experiences. His advice left the alchemists in awe, earning him even more respect for his profound understanding at such a young age.
"Meng Lao, I apologize for my actions this morning. The Yao Family once gave me medicinal ingredients, so I owed them a favor, but from now on, I'm cutting all ties with them," Meng Bo said apologetically.
Shen Xiang laughed, "Let's not dwell on the past. The Yao Family already harbors deep resentment towards me, especially after the humiliation I caused them. But thanks to them, I now have a remarkable cauldron and an excellent alchemist. I should be thanking them instead!"
"Well, now the burden falls on all of you. With the *King City Martial Arts Tournament* approaching, I need to prepare. I must secure first place and claim that *True Qi Pill*."
Shen Xiang's eyes gleamed with confidence, startling those around him. In their admiration of his alchemical prowess, they had momentarily forgotten that Shen Xiang was also an exceptional martial artist!
His strength had allowed him to defeat a *Yao Family* elder of the seventh level of the *Mortal Martial Realm* without sustaining any injuries. His talent was simply monstrous!
"I'm off to train now. Rest well, everyone!" Shen Xiang said, leaving the room in a hurry.
---
In a forest outside the *King City*, Shen Xiang gazed at the glowing **Xuan Yang Cauldron**, his heart racing with excitement. The moment he touched the cauldron, he knew it was extraordinary.
At that moment, Su Meiyao and Bai Youyou, the two peerless beauties, emerged from the ring and approached the cauldron.
"Fire Dragon Blood Jade!" Bai Youyou instinctively took a few steps back. The usually cold and indifferent beauty seemed visibly unsettled by the cauldron.
Su Meiyao's eyes sparkled as she knelt beside the cauldron, gently stroking it as if caressing a precious treasure.
Bai Youyou cautiously approached but kept her eyes fixed on the cauldron. Her noble, purple gown-clad body trembled slightly, as if facing a deadly foe.
"Indeed, it's *Fire Dragon Blood Jade*. Who would've thought you'd get your hands on such a treasure! That half-baked Pill King will regret this deeply," Su Meiyao's face lit up with a seductive smile, making her look even more alluring.
Shen Xiang quickly stored the cauldron, although he didn't fully understand the significance of *Fire Dragon Blood Jade*. Seeing Bai Youyou's fear, he felt a bit guilty. "Sister Youyou, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were afraid of it."
Bai Youyou's expression softened. In a gentle voice, she said, "It's not your fault." Her tone was so soft and soothing that Shen Xiang was momentarily stunned. A strange warmth filled his heart, giving him a sense of inexplicable comfort.
Seeing the change in Shen Xiang's expression, Bai Youyou quickly reverted to her cold demeanor. "The *Fire Dragon Blood Jade* has an extreme yang nature that conflicts with my extreme yin constitution and the demonic arts I practice."