Eight-Foot Madam

Inside the Moon Wolf Tribe Settlement, Su Bai followed the Silver-Armored Guard through one heavy stone gate after another.

The interior of the compound shares the same rugged style as the exterior, but appears even more magnificent and ancient.

The massive stone pillars are carved with wolf-shaped totems howling towards the sky, and the walls are inlaid with a strange jade that emits a soft Moonlight Essence, so that the entire passage is shrouded in a Clear and Cold and hazy halo even in the daytime.

The air was filled with a faint, mixed scent of stone, a Clear and Cold fragrance, and... the oppressive Life Qi unique to Great Demon.

The guards led Su Bai to a relatively isolated stone chamber located on the edge of the complex, which seemed to be a place specifically for receiving or testing outsiders with skills.

The stone chamber was quite spacious, about three zhang square and more than two zhang high, making it appear somewhat empty.

Aside from a rough stone table and a few stone benches in the center, the most striking things were the items piled up against the wall.

Those were piles of Spirit Medicine Ingredients.

Some were packed in rough wooden boxes, some were wrapped directly in some kind of large leaves or animal hides, and some were simply piled up haphazardly on the stone surface.

There are many kinds, including some valuable first-tier and even a few Second-tier Spirit Medicine herbs.

A rough estimate puts its total value at no less than ten thousand Spirit Stone.

What pained Su Bai, a novice in Dao of Alchemy, was that many of the medicinal herbs were in extremely poor condition.

Some medicinal herbs that needed to be air-dried were exposed to the sun and became dry and cracked, while others that needed to be sealed in Jade Box to maintain their fresh medicinal properties had withered and rotted, emitting a faint musty smell.

Clearly, the Moon Wolf Tribe may not have had difficulty obtaining these spirit medicine, but they were utterly incompetent in properly storing them and waiting for qualified Alchemist to transform them into Pill, wasting their precious resources.

"Alchemist, please wait here."

"Later, the mistress will come to see you in person." The Silver-Armored Guard led the way finished speaking in a calm tone, then turned and left without giving Su Bai another glance. The heavy stone door was not closed, seemingly unconcerned that Su Bai would have any ulterior motives in front of this pile of "waste".

Su Bai watched the guards leave, feeling somewhat relieved.

The first step, infiltrating the Moon Wolf Tribe Settlement, can be considered a success.

The next step is to establish a firm foothold under this new identity, while secretly figuring out Crown Prince Xiao Yue's movements and patterns, and looking for that fleeting opportunity to assassinate him.

He walked slowly to the pile of spirit medicine, bent down to examine them carefully, and the more he looked, the more he shook his head.

This reveals the extent of the Demon Cultivator ' careless attitude towards the spiritual treasures of heaven and earth.

This also indirectly confirms why they have a demand for Human Race Alchemist.

Just as they were pondering, the light at the entrance to the stone chamber dimmed slightly, and a powerful aura, far stronger than the previous guards and carrying a unique majesty and a faint, cool fragrance, wafted in.

Su Bai turned around and saw an exceptionally tall woman leading two female cultivators of the Moon Wolf Tribe, who were clearly dressed as maids, into the stone chamber.

Upon seeing this woman, four words instantly popped into Su Bai's mind—"Eight-Foot Madam".

This is not a joke, but a direct, comprehensive impression of height and presence.

This woman is definitely over two meters tall, but her proportions are surprisingly harmonious and perfect, and she doesn't look clumsy at all.

She wore Wide-Sleeved Robe, predominantly Moon-white with dark silver Wolf Pattern embroidered on it. The robe had high slits at the hem, revealing glimpses of her long, straight, and powerful legs as she walked.

Apart from a pair of fluffy pointed ears peeking out from her Silver Hair, and a pair of narrow eyes with a strange silver-gray hue and slightly upturned corners, her facial features and figure were no different from those of a human woman, and even more alluring and dazzling.

It possesses a unique charm that combines wild power with a cool and elegant demeanor.

Clearly, this was a Great Demon cultivator whose cultivation had reached at least the Condensing Origin Stage (the Foundation Establishment Realm) and who was capable of almost complete human form.

The energy systems of Demon Cultivator and Human Race Cultivator are vastly different. Demon Power is more restrained and violent, making it difficult for Su Bai to accurately determine their specific cultivation level without actively probing them with his Divine Sense.

However, the subtle sense of oppression it brought was far beyond what ordinary early-stage Core Formation could experience.

"I am the current matriarch of the Night Moon Demon Wolf Tribe. You may address me as Matriarch."

When Lady Chi spoke, her voice had a clear, metallic quality; her tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Her silver-gray eyes fell on Su Bai, calm and unwavering, as if she were examining a tool.

Su Bai cupped his hands in greeting, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant. "Greetings, Madam."

He deliberately omitted the words "mistress" and only referred to her as "Madam," which showed respect and also made it clear that Guest Elder of the Human Race and not of his own race, thus retaining a proper sense of pride befitting Alchemist.

He felt a slight regret, as the [Immortal Talent Reflection] ability had not yet recovered. Otherwise, he could have tried to glimpse the Talent of this Great Demon cultivator, and wondered if that ability would also apply to the Demon Race.

Eight-Foot Madam didn't seem to care about Su Bai's little scheme. Perhaps in her opinion, it was normal for Human Race Alchemist with real skills to have a temper, as long as it didn't affect his work.

Her gaze swept over the messy pile of spirit medicine in the stone chamber, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes. She then looked back at Su Bai and cut to the chase. "Refine a batch of your specialty Spirit Pills and show me."

Her tone was calm, but her next words carried an unmistakable chill. "If I'm not satisfied, you know the consequences."

This is not a discussion, but a notification.

Su Bai was speechless inside, but maintained a calm demeanor on the surface. "I understand, right..."

The words felt too compliant to say, and changing them at the last minute sounded a bit abrupt.

What do you mean by 'I understand now'?

Eight-Foot Madam Chi frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with Su Bai's reaction. She took a half step forward, looking down at Su Bai. The pressure from her superior Demon Cultivator was slightly released, and the temperature in the stone chamber Buddhist Capital drop a few degrees.

"I'm not joking with you. You'd better show me your true skills. You know, my Night Moon Wolf Tribe has a quota of kills within the city each year that can go unpunished."

The threat in the words was laid bare.

Su Bai said no more.

Arguing with a powerful Demon Race who knows nothing about Dao of Alchemy and only cares about results is pointless.

He turned around and walked directly towards the pile of spirit medicine, his movements swift and decisive.

He first took out his Alchemy Furnace, which was of decent quality, from his Storage Bag and placed it in the open space in the center of the stone chamber.

Then, returning to the pile of spirit medicine, he subtly moved his Divine Sense and swiftly selected a complete set of materials for the Essence Replenishing Pill from among the herbs that were still in good condition or barely usable.

He even performed a simple secondary treatment on the medicinal herbs in front of Eight-Foot Madam, removing obviously necrotic parts or using subtle Spiritual Power to stimulate their residual medicinal properties. His technique was skillful and his movements were fluid, revealing his solid basic skills.

After making all the preparations, Su Bai sat cross-legged in front of the Pill Furnace, his expression instantly becoming extremely focused.

With a soft "poof," the fire ignited, steady yet lively.

The Eight-Foot Madam stood there, arms crossed, looking down at him quietly.

She knew nothing about the alchemy process, but that didn't stop her from using her silver-gray eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts, to keep a close eye on Su Bai's every move and every change in expression.

Often, the difference between a true expert and a charlatan lies in their focus, the details of their technique, and the subtle aura they project when dealing with Alchemy Fire herbs.

Many people who tried to get away with it in the past were exposed under her watchful gaze.

However, Su Bai was completely unaware of this—or rather, he simply didn't care.

At this moment, all he could see were the Pill Furnace and the medicinal herbs.

Controlling the fire, adding the medicine, dissolving the liquid, fusing, condensing the elixir... every step flows smoothly, with a unique sense of rhythm.

Under his precise control, the Alchemy Fire sometimes blazed like the sun, and sometimes simmered like spring, perfectly blending the properties of various medicinal herbs.

As Eight-Foot Madam watched, the initial scrutiny and indifference in her eyes were gradually replaced by a faint hint of surprise.

This Human Race Cultivator seems to... actually have something special about him.

At least this focus and composure, and the effortless ease with which he manipulated the flames, were qualities that the mediocre people she had met before lacked.

An hour passed in a quiet yet slightly tense atmosphere.

When the Pill Furnace emitted a soft "hum" and a rich, pure medicinal fragrance wafted from the gaps in the furnace lid, Eight-Foot Madam's nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly.

Su Bai finished his practice, exhaled a breath of stale air, and waved his hand to open the furnace lid.

In an instant, an even richer fragrance of elixirs filled the entire stone chamber, even suppressing the musty smell of the pile of spirit medicine.

At the bottom of the furnace, a hundred perfectly round, plump, uniformly pale yellow pills with a faint, shimmering Essence Replenishing Pill on their surfaces were gently rolling, radiating an alluring Spiritual Qi.

Su Bai used his Object Manipulation Technique to gather the hundred Essence Replenishing Pill, suspending them in the air to form a neat array, and slowly presented them to Eight-Foot Madam.

Please take a look, Madam.

His voice remained calm, yet it carried an air of self-assured confidence.

Eight-Foot Madam looked at the Essence Replenishing Pill, a noticeable fluctuation finally flashed in her silver-gray eyes.

She stretched out her slender fingers, picked up a pill, and held it to her nose to inhale its aroma. The rich, pure medicinal fragrance gave her a slight boost of energy.

Without hesitation, she put the Essence Replenishing Pill into her mouth.

The Pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, and a pure, gentle, and easily absorbed medicinal power quickly spread out.

For someone of her level, the medicinal power of the Essence Replenishing Pill was negligible, but the few impurities and the mild and pure nature of the Pill surprised her.

It was of a much higher quality than any of the Alchemist made by the Moon Wolf Tribe's worshippers that she had seen or consumed before!

She didn't even need to consciously circulate her internal energy; the medicinal effects dissolved and were absorbed naturally. When she opened her eyes, the way she looked at Su Bai was different.

"Good, you passed."

Eight-Foot Madam's tone softened slightly, no longer carrying that cold, threatening undertone.

She collected all the remaining Pill floating in front of her into a Jade Bottle that she had prepared beforehand, her movements natural, as if these things had always belonged to her.

"What other Spirit Pills can you refine?" she asked, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

Su Bai raced.

Isn't this a perfect opportunity to practice openly and legitimately and obtain free materials?

The Moon Wolf Tribe clearly has no shortage of low-grade spirit medicine. Although they were not stored properly, if I can take this opportunity to try refining higher-grade Pill, or even prepare for refining Foundation Establishment Realm Pill in the future, the cost of trial and error will be greatly reduced.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "I can also refine Tier 1 Middle-grade Yellow Dragon Pill, but the quality of the finished pills is not as stable as this Essence Replenishing Pill yet. However, with a few more batches of practice, I should be able to improve it."

"Furthermore..." He paused, deliberately revealing a hint of ambition, "I'd also like to try making First-Tier Superior-Grade Golden Marrow Pill, but I lack enough materials to practice with."

"If you, Madam, could provide the necessary medicinal materials for me to practice refining a few times—not too many, within a hundred—I should be confident in mastering the method."

Seemingly still not satisfied, he added, "Or, if Madam provides other Spirit Pills Pill Formula, as long as the grade is comparable, I can attempt to refine them. I... am a diligent and inquisitive Alchemist."

"Diligent in learning and eager to ask questions?"

Upon hearing this, Eight-Foot Madam was slightly taken aback, then a smile, seemingly knowing, curved her lips into a knowing one.

"What a fine 'diligent and inquisitive' excuse! To describe finding a place where you can practice your skills with plenty of free spirit medicine in such a grand and dignified way—truly Human Race Cultivator who's soft all over except for his thick skin." She bluntly exposed Su Bai's little scheme.

Su Bai remained unfazed, even shrugging as if in helplessness. "If Madam is unwilling, then I will pretend I never said anything."

"I can simply continue refining these Essence Replenishing Pill."

"I just wonder, if I only refine Essence Replenishing Pill, how many Spirit Stone stones would you be willing to pay me each month?" He threw the question back at me, implying that if the pay was too low, he might not be willing to stay long-term.

Eight-Foot Madam gave Su Bai a deep look, her gaze seemingly trying to see right through him.

A moment later, she suppressed her mockery and regained her majesty as mistress of the house.

"Alright, no need for these tricks anymore."

She waved her hand, directly setting the rules, "Since you also have a need to practice and improve, then it's settled like this: I don't care what kind of Pill you refine, you must refine Pill for our clan for a full six hours every day in this Alchemy Room. You must guarantee a certain quantity and basic quality of pills. For example, these Essence Replenishing Pill, no less than... five hundred pills per day."

"I will have someone provide the Spirit Medicine Ingredients you need for practice, but all the Pill you refine must be handed over to my clan."

"Apart from this, the clan will not pay you any additional Spirit Stone as a reward."

The conditions she offered seemed harsh: six hours of intensive alchemy every day, a fixed output, all Pill would be collected, and no wages would be paid.

But in reality, this was exactly what Su Bai wanted.

He obtained a stable, free, and considerable amount of practice materials, which he could use to complete all the Pill he refined. But what was truly important was the rapid improvement in his alchemy skills during this process, as well as the excellent position he could obtain by infiltrating the Moon Wolf Tribe to get close to his target.

The reward of Spirit Stone was actually insignificant.

Su Bai made almost no hesitation, and his face even showed a perfectly timed complex expression that said, "Although it's a bit of a loss, I'll endure it to improve my skills."

He immediately replied, "Deal."

His quick agreement caused Eight-Foot Madam to pause slightly, a hint of suspicion flashing in her silver-gray eyes.

Did I set my standards too leniently, making this Human Race kid feel like he got a good deal?

But the words had already been spoken, and as the Moon Wolf Tribe Matriarch, she naturally had no reason to go back on her word on the spot.

She secretly resolved that she would have Hong Gu keep a close eye on him in the future, lest he slack off and waste the clan's precious medicinal herbs.

"Very well, this will be your place for alchemy from now on."

The Eight-Foot Madam pointed to the stone chamber, "If you need any spirit medicine herbs or require any supplies, you can discuss it with my maid, Hong Gu."

She turned to one of the Moon Wolf Tribe female cultivators behind her, who had been standing with her head bowed and whose aura was at the late stage of the Spirit Gathering Stage, and said, "Hong Gu, you stay here and be responsible for looking after... and assisting this Human Race Alchemist with her daily needs. Report to me immediately for any matters."

"Yes, Mistress," the female cultivator named Hong Gu replied respectfully.

Eight-Foot Madam said no more, took the bottle of freshly made Upper Grade Essence Replenishing Pill, turned and left, her steps elegant and swift, disappearing in the corridor outside the stone chamber in the blink of an eye.