Chapter 20: The Monk Becomes an Apprentice!
Facial Refinement Pill!
Upon hearing these three words, Cao Mengchen felt as if struck by lightning, his body trembling violently.
"The Facial Refinement Pill is a three-star pill with an extremely high difficulty in its preparation. In the entire Dragon Kingdom, only a few immortals from the Medicine King Valley and the head of the Shennong Workshop headquarters could possibly have refined it!"
"How could you have possibly crafted it?!" Cao Mengchen looked at Duan Lingxiao in disbelief.
"Facts speak louder than words, Chief Cao. I am here alive and well; how could this be a fabrication?" Xiao Mengxue smiled as she spoke.
Cao Mengchen was momentarily speechless.
It was well known throughout the city that Xiao Mengxue had been disfigured by acid, but now she was completely transformed, radiant and renewed.
The stark reality was right before his eyes—undeniable proof.
"Mr. Ling, are you... a three-star alchemist?" Cao Mengchen asked with a trembling voice.
"Well, maybe," Duan Lingxiao replied with a shake of his head.
He had inherited everything from the Fifth Villain Master, including the Medicine King's classic texts.
However, he did not know precisely which level his alchemy skills corresponded to.
But three-star alchemists certainly existed.
"Can you refine a pill on the spot?" Cao Mengchen quickly suppressed his shock and cautiously inquired.
"Alright," Duan Lingxiao agreed.
He knew that although Cao Mengchen was somewhat convinced, without seeing it firsthand, it would be hard for him to fully believe.
He needed the Shennong Workshop as a source of herbal supplies.
The first step was to win over Cao Mengchen.
Duan Lingxiao then took out an induction cooker.
He tossed in the remaining herbs needed to refine the Facial Refinement Pill.
"These herbs are just right to make a Qi and Blood Pill," he said casually.
His hands were busy as he began the refining process.
Cao Mengchen, upon seeing the refining tool, was dumbfounded.
An induction cooker?
This wasn’t alchemy—it looked more like cooking!
"Looks like I’m getting old, even harboring such expectations," Cao Mengchen muttered with a disappointed smile, his hopes instantly dashed.
He had never seen anyone use an induction cooker for alchemy; at the very least, there should be a decent-quality alchemy furnace, right?
Even to deceive someone, you wouldn’t use such a crude and ignorant method!
He shook his head, prepared to leave under some pretext.
Suddenly, a rich fragrance wafted through the air.
"Such a wonderful aroma!"
"The medicinal power is so strong!"
Cao Mengchen was stunned, his gaze fixed on the induction cooker.
"Done!"
Duan Lingxiao lifted the lid to reveal a pot of herbs completely refined into essence.
A milky white pill sat at the bottom.
Plump and lustrous like jade, it exuded a strong medicinal fragrance.
"Chief Cao, please pick it up and take a look!" Duan Lingxiao smiled.
"Alright, I shall first examine the precious pill refined by Mr. Ling!" Cao Mengchen said politely, then eagerly took the pill to inspect it.
"It truly is a Qi and Blood Pill!"
"A two-star pill of exceptional quality!"
After a moment, Cao Mengchen exclaimed in amazement.
His eyes seemed fixed onto the Qi and Blood Pill, staring so intently his pupils seemed vacant.
A two-star pill was already exceedingly rare.
Moreover, this one was of top-tier quality!
Pill quality was divided into ordinary, superior, and top-tier.
Most pills were ordinary, and some incomplete ones didn’t even meet that standard.
Superior quality was already rare.
Once produced, it would attract fierce competition at major auctions.
Top-tier quality was as rare as giant pandas in the market.
Yet today, he had witnessed one.
The key was, this top-tier pill had been refined using an induction cooker.
Cao Mengchen pinched his thigh hard—it hurt!
This was no illusion!
"Chief Cao, what do you think?" Duan Lingxiao asked with a faint smile.
"Impressive!" Cao Mengchen’s eyes burned with eagerness.
In the next instant, he knelt down.
"Mr. Ling, please accept me as your disciple!"
Cao Mengchen’s greatest lifelong desire was to improve in alchemy and achieve success.
But with his talent, he was destined to remain a one-star alchemist.
In Duan Lingxiao, he saw hope.
Xiao Mengxue was shocked by this scene.
She never expected Cao Mengchen to want to become his disciple after just a glance at the pill he refined.
If outsiders saw this, their pupils might tremble in astonishment.
Many powerful and wealthy families in Jiangnan City vied to flatter Cao Mengchen, just to obtain a top-grade pill.
Yet now, this great figure was like a schoolboy before a teacher in front of Duan Lingxiao, showing utmost respect, sincere and heartfelt.
"Brother Lingxiao is amazing!" Xiao Mengxue admired him with wide eyes, sincerely happy for him.
Not far away, Lin Zhennan, coughing up blood on the ground, froze as he saw this scene.
"He... he really is an alchemist! A three-star alchemist!" Fear filled Lin Zhennan’s eyes.
Offending a martial artist might still be salvageable—after all, the Dragon Kingdom had many martial arts families and sects.
One martial artist alone wouldn’t cause a great disturbance.
But if the opponent was an alchemist, especially a three-star one, the implications were very different.
Three-star alchemists were coveted and sought after by countless forces throughout the Dragon Kingdom, let alone Jiangnan City.
At that moment, Lin Zhennan was filled with deep regret.
If he had known Duan Lingxiao’s true abilities, no matter the hatred over his son’s death, he would have shamelessly tried to ingratiate himself with this great master.
Overcome by his internal turmoil and anger, Lin Zhennan suddenly lost consciousness.
Of course, no one paid him any attention.
"Your talent is too poor. You are not yet qualified to be my disciple," Duan Lingxiao said calmly, shaking his head in refusal.
Upon hearing this, Cao Mengchen was visibly disappointed, his face flushed with embarrassment and unease.
Yet he knew Duan Lingxiao was right.
Compared to him, his talent was truly abysmal.
At his age, he was little better than a stray dog.
"I am willing to stay by your side as your alchemy apprentice, attending to all the trivial tasks involved. You only need to guide me occasionally," Cao Mengchen pleaded.
"Agreed," Duan Lingxiao nodded in consent.
Cao Mengchen was overjoyed.
Duan Lingxiao added him on WeChat and then sent a message.
"These are the herbs I need. Prepare them and deliver them to me immediately."
"Also, this Qi and Blood Pill is yours. If you work diligently, you will not be treated unfairly in the future!"
"Yes, sir!" Cao Mengchen responded respectfully, nodding excitedly before turning to leave.
Before leaving, he called a cargo service to drag away the unconscious Lin Zhennan like a dead pig.
As for Lin Zhennan’s fate?
Duan Lingxiao need not worry. As Cao Mengchen’s apprentice, how could he keep someone who was disrespectful and hateful towards him?
...
Duan Lingxiao turned his head to see Xiao Mengxue staring at him with wide, beautiful eyes and gently rubbed her small head.
"Really, what are you daydreaming about, staring like that?"
"I’m thinking that Brother Lingxiao seems even stronger than five years ago!" Xiao Mengxue blinked, her eyes as if trying to see through him.
"Because during these five years, Brother Lingxiao never slackened. He always wanted to get out of prison early to find you," Duan Lingxiao smiled.
This was the truth, straight from the heart.
Hearing this, Xiao Mengxue’s eyes suddenly reddened, moistening as she dashed into Duan Lingxiao’s arms, crying softly.
Her smooth back, like a swan’s neck, rose and fell with her sobs.
"Don’t cry, don’t cry. What’s wrong, Mengxue?" Duan Lingxiao gently patted her shoulder and asked softly.
"I’m fine, Brother Lingxiao. I just thought about how much hardship you must have endured these five years, and it made me sad," she said, her voice mournful and sincere.
Duan Lingxiao’s gaze was filled with tenderness, his heart warm.
The five years of imprisonment didn’t seem so terrible after all.
Moreover, compared to Xiao Mengxue’s painful experiences over the same period, he didn’t feel his suffering was much.
This little girl was still so considerate and gentle.
Though he had suffered, he was still more willing to care for those around him.
"It’s alright. After five years of hardship, perhaps there will be no more suffering in the future. Overall, it’s worth it," Duan Lingxiao comforted her.
Just then, he suddenly felt a swell of overwhelming softness pressing against his chest.
Looking down, he took in Xiao Mengxue’s full, enticing curves.
"This little girl... has really grown up!"