Yao Lao's Pill Recipes Were a Real Treasure

One hammer blow followed another. Tang Wulin not only didn't feel tired; instead, he felt a sense of pleasure.

"A genius! This child is simply a genius!" The appraiser standing nearby couldn't help saying it aloud. He was so captivated that he'd even forgotten to score Tang Wulin.

"Clang!"

The hour was up. The final hammer blow landed with a dull thud.

Tang Wulin let out a long breath. His face had taken on a rosy hue, and his hair was damp with sweat.

Tang Wulin walked over to the appraiser. "Hello. I've finished refining it."

"Oh, you're finished!" The appraiser finally came to his senses and went over to inspect the piece of Sinking Silver closely.

"Sinking Silver, refined to a level far beyond Hundred Refinement. It meets the standards for a first-level blacksmith."

Just as the appraiser was about to conclude the assessment, Cen Yue interrupted him.

"I think he can go straight for the second-level blacksmith assessment."

The appraiser pushed up his glasses. "Cen Yue, that doesn't really follow the rules."

"Rules are dead, people are alive. Can't you see that this child's skill far surpasses that of a first-level blacksmith?"

The appraiser fell silent for a moment, then asked Tang Wulin, "Tang Wulin, do you still have the strength to take the second-level blacksmith assessment?"

"What do I need to do for the second-level blacksmith assessment?" Tang Wulin asked.

"Forge any medium-sized part. If it passes, you can become a second-level blacksmith right away."

Tang Wulin nodded. "I can do it."

"Good! You can begin!" The appraiser returned to his former position to watch.

In no time, the Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammer appeared in Tang Wulin's hands again.

Back when he'd worked in Mang Tian's workshop, Tang Wulin had forged plenty of parts, so he was confident about the second-level blacksmith assessment.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

Another lovely series of hammer blows rang through the Forging Room.

About an hour later.

Tang Wulin wiped the sweat from his forehead. A medium-sized part lay in front of him.

"Does this pass?" Tang Wulin asked.

The appraiser walked over to Tang Wulin and picked up the medium-sized part, examining it from every angle.

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect. Hey, Cen Yue, what were you doing at his age? Had you even passed Hundred Refinement?"

"None of your damn business!" Cen Yue walked over and smacked him on the head, then said irritably, "Hurry up and submit the assessment report."

"I know, I know!"

Ten minutes later.

Tang Wulin now held a medal and ten thousand Federal Coins. The medal was the symbol of a second-level blacksmith, awarded by the Blacksmith Association, while the Federal Coins came from the association buying the medium-sized part Tang Wulin had forged.

"Wulin, you can come to the Blacksmith Association for forging jobs from now on. The pay here is pretty good." Cen Yue looked at Tang Wulin as if he were a treasure, a complete change from his earlier attitude.

Tang Wulin bowed deeply to Cen Yue. "Thank you, Grandmaster Cen. But there's one more important thing I came here for today."

"What is it?"

Tang Wulin lowered his head and gripped the hem of his clothes tightly with both hands. "Grandmaster Cen, I wanted to ask if the Blacksmith Association sells the blood of dragon-type Soul Beasts."

"What do you need that stuff for? Isn't your Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass?" Cen Yue asked, puzzled.

"I'm sorry, Grandmaster Cen. I can't tell you why, because I promised someone I wouldn't."

Cen Yue ruffled Tang Wulin's hair, easing his tension a little. "All right. I won't pry, then. The association should have dragon-type Soul Beast blood, but it'll definitely be very expensive. You know how scarce Soul Beasts are these days. Anything related to them has become precious."

"I know, but I really need it."

As he spoke, Tang Wulin took off his backpack and pulled out all the pill recipes Yao Lao had given him.

Tang Wulin handed the recipes to Cen Yue. "Grandmaster Cen, could you tell me how much these recipes are worth?"

Cen Yue took one of the recipes and examined it closely.

"Recovery Pill: mild in nature, specializes in treating all kinds of severe trauma and internal injuries, without damaging one's foundation."

Below that were some of the herbs required for the pill. Most of them didn't specify a particular herb, only the properties it needed to have. But they all had one thing in common: the required herbs were all very old.

The pill recipes Yao Lao had given Tang Wulin had all been carefully revised by him. The herbs in the two worlds were bound to be different, so a month earlier, Yao Lao had told Tang Wulin to buy a copy of the Douluo Continent Herb Compendium. It had cost Tang Wulin several thousand Federal Coins, and he'd been sore about it for quite some time.

Of course, a compendium like that couldn't possibly record the exceptionally rare herbs. Even so, Yao Lao had found some herbs that could substitute for those in his recipes.

Cen Yue's expression grew serious. He picked up several more recipes and read them. Every effect they described was formidable.

"Wulin, where did you get these recipes?"

Tang Wulin thought for a moment before answering, "An elder gave them to me."

"The pills described in these recipes really do have powerful effects, but most of the required herbs are precious, and many of the recipes don't specify exactly which herbs are needed. So these recipes are only half-finished." Cen Yue didn't press Tang Wulin about who this elder was. He simply gave an objective assessment of the recipes in his hands.

Hearing this, Tang Wulin immediately grew anxious. "Then... Grandmaster Cen, how much are these recipes worth? Could they be exchanged for ten drops of dragon-type Soul Beast blood?"

"Hahaha!" Cen Yue suddenly burst out laughing. "Wulin, don't be nervous. When I say these recipes are half-finished, I don't mean they're worthless. Quite the opposite—they're very valuable. If completed, they could be worth far more than any other pills on the market right now. Their value far exceeds that of the ten drops of dragon-type Soul Beast blood you need."

"Really?" Tang Wulin smiled, his joy plain to see. He truly hadn't expected Yao Lao's recipes to be worth so much.

"Of course. If you trust me, I can help you sell these recipes through the Blacksmith Association's channels," Cen Yue said.

Tang Wulin nodded vigorously. "You're my teacher's friend. I trust you, Grandmaster Cen!"

"Good. Wait here for a moment. I'll go to the association's exchange department and get you ten drops of dragon-type Soul Beast blood. I'll cover the cost for now. You can pay me back once the recipes have been sold."

"Thank you, Grandmaster Cen!"

Tang Wulin smiled and bowed to Cen Yue. He was truly happy now, because at last, he wouldn't have to die.

When Cen Yue rode the Soul Guidance Elevator up again, Tang Wulin found a sofa nearby and sat down.