The elderly steward could not help feeling relieved. He knew the punishment he had anticipated would no longer fall, and offered praise as well. "Pill Master Lin's fame throughout the Immortal City truly rests on his exceptional mastery of the Pill Dao. This old man is most impressed."
Then he quietly transmitted, "Of the three Pill Masters invited by the Immortal City, Pill Master Lin has made the fastest progress."
"Oh?"
Lin Changheng's gaze sharpened slightly. He understood, but still transmitted back, "The other two seniors possess far greater skills in the Pill Dao. I would not presume to compare myself to them. They must be busy with their pill-making duties and may not have the leisure to devote themselves fully to this as I do."
Clearly, there was no benefit in competing over who was better at this. It was not as though the additional reward would receive some enormous multiplier.
All for a few words of praise from this old man? There was really no need.
The elderly steward froze at those words. His aged eyes studied Pill Master Lin, and he smiled. "Quite right, quite right. I misspoke."
Lin Changheng shook his head, letting it pass, then explained his purpose. "I came to collect some new ingredients."
As he spoke, a Jade Slip he had prepared beforehand shot into the old man's hand.
"Of course, of course."
Lin Changheng had given the old man a shot of enthusiasm, and he was noticeably more proactive as he accepted it with a smile and examined it.
Soon, the smile on his face froze again.
After a moment, he removed the Jade Slip from his forehead and turned to Lin Changheng with a bitter smile.
"Pill Master Lin, this, this-"
Lin Changheng looked puzzled. "Is there some difficulty?"
"Pill Master