"Oh? Brother Tang, could it be that you brought no gift? Why are you sitting there without moving?" Liu Wuhui felt immensely pleased as he watched Tang Ling's gloomy expression. Naturally, he knew that the gift Tang Ling had brought paled beside those of their three great families.
The old masters of the Qin Family and the Wu Family also watched Tang Ling with mocking expressions, waiting for the Tang Family to make fools of themselves.
The City Lord and the other perceptive guests had also guessed that this presentation of gifts was a move by the other three great families against the Tang Family. They inwardly sighed; this time, the Tang Family was certain to swallow this bitter loss.
Tang Yan sneered inwardly. I knew you would have some scheme up your sleeves. He stood, cleared his throat softly, and smiled. "Time truly favors Madam Lin alone. Madam Lin looks like she could be my older sister. I am Tang Yan, and I wish Madam Lin everlasting youth and ever-growing beauty."
Holy shit! Everyone around him silently cursed his shamelessness upon hearing his words. How had he managed to utter something so utterly brazen?
The muscles in Tang Ling's face twitched several times as well. I'm already worried that our gift is too modest, and now you've come out to embarrass me!
But Madam Lin immediately laughed softly at Tang Yan's words and chided him, "What a glib tongue you have. Time is merciless. No one can stop their beauty from fading, and I am no exception."
"There is no need to keep urging the Tang Family to present a gift. Their gift arrived three days ago. I would like to sincerely thank them for the pill they gave me, which removed the scars on my face." Madam Lin bowed in thanks to Old Master Tang, and the entire gathering erupted in astonishment.
News of Madam Lin's disfigurement had long since spread quietly throughout the city; it was no secret. Seeing her unblemished face today, everyone had been curious, but her status had kept them from daring to ask. None had expected that a pill from the Tang Family had cured her.
The people of Cloud City also knew how deeply the City Lord cherished his wife. The City Lord's Residence now owed the Tang Family an enormous favor. At this news, the expressions of the other great families grew even gloomier.
"Since I just wished Madam Lin everlasting youth, naturally, I should lend that wish some credibility. Our Tang Family presents a Youth-Preserving Pill. After taking it, your appearance will remain unchanged for twenty years, and even after those twenty years, its youth-preserving effects will linger for several more years.
"Although it is only upper-grade second tier, its pill formula is exceptionally precious. Even ten thousand gold could scarcely buy a single pill. Since today happens to be Madam Lin's birthday, we have brought it as a gift for her!" With that, Tang Yan took the pill from inside his robes and personally brought it forward.
It could keep her appearance unchanged for twenty years, with effects against aging that lasted even longer. At Tang Yan's explanation, excitement flashed in Madam Lin's eyes.
Since ancient times, what woman had not wished to remain forever young? Beautiful women, especially, adored anything that preserved their beauty.
As Tang Yan approached, Madam Lin lost her composure for once and actually took two steps forward, her eagerness plain to see.
"This pill was obtained through a thousand hardships, and I have confirmed its effects. It truly can preserve your youth for twenty years without any side effects, so please take it without worry, Madam." Tang Yan smiled. "If you still have doubts, you may have someone examine it later. If even half a word I have said is false, our Tang Family will willingly accept punishment."
"Madam Lin, might you let me examine that pill?" A clear voice rang out. Everyone turned to see that the speaker was Wu Xuan, the chief alchemist of the Wonderful Elixir Workshop.
The other families did not believe that the Tang Family could obtain such a heaven-defying pill either. If Wu Xuan could expose it as a fraud now, the Tang Family would not merely fail to steal the limelight; they would lose all face and face suppression by the City Lord's Residence.
The Scarless Pill Tang Yan had previously given Madam Lin had successfully removed the scars on her face. With that success paving the way, and given the occasion, Madam Lin naturally did not believe Tang Yan would offer a fake pill. She smiled and said, "There is no need to appraise it. I trust Young Master Tang."
"Please do not misunderstand, Madam Lin. I am simply devoted to the art of alchemy. I have heard of Youth-Preserving Pills but have never seen one. Today, I happen to be basking in your good fortune, so I hope you will grant this small request of mine," Wu Xuan said sincerely.
"When it comes to pills, it would still be best to have Miss Wu Xuan appraise it," Liu Wuhui said from the side.
"Madam Lin, since Miss Wu Xuan is here, please let her take a look." Tang Yan knew that having someone from the Wonderful Elixir Workshop vouch for the pill would surely put Madam Lin more at ease. In any case, he knew the effects of the pill he had refined. He might as well be open about it and earn more goodwill from the City Lord's Residence.
"Very well." After a brief hesitation, Madam Lin handed over the porcelain vial.
Wu Xuan accepted it carefully, removed the stopper, and held it beneath her nose for a gentle sniff. Her brows knitted tightly together.
Seeing Wu Xuan's expression, no one knew what she had discovered. They all held their breath, afraid of disturbing her appraisal.
Wu Xuan then sent a wisp of spiritual sense into the porcelain vial, carefully sensing the aura emanating from the pill. Only after a long while did she shake her head.
Liu Wuhui, who stood nearby, raised his brows when he saw her shake her head. Could it be a fake? Suppressing his excitement, he feigned calm and asked, "Have you discovered anything unusual, Miss Wu Xuan?"
"Despite analyzing it carefully, I cannot identify even a single medicinal ingredient within it," Wu Xuan said with a sigh.
"In other words, even you cannot determine whether it is genuine, Miss Wu Xuan?" Old Master Qin asked from the side.
"So it is a fake pill! Tang Yan, you have some nerve, daring to commit fraud at the City Lord's Residence!" The head of the Qian Family seized the opportunity to leap out and take revenge.
Madam Lin was somewhat taken aback. Was it really a fake?
Wu Xuan explained, "You go too far, Family Head Qian. My inability to distinguish its ingredients merely reflects my insufficient skill. It does not mean the pill is fake.
"Look at how perfectly smooth and round the pill is. Not a trace of medicinal potency leaks out. Whoever refined this pill must be a master of alchemy.
"Judging by its fragrance, the aura it gives off does indeed provide powerful support to a person's vitality. I am highly confident that there is nothing wrong with this pill.
"Although I have practiced alchemy for years, I still cannot identify its ingredients because the person who refined it truly fused all the medicinal ingredients together, leaving the entire pill with a single fragrance. That is why its ingredients cannot be distinguished."
After a pause, Wu Xuan continued, "This alchemist's technique has reached the point where the furnace fire burns pure blue-perhaps even the very pinnacle of perfection. I freely admit my inferiority! This alchemist is probably at least fourth tier."
What? A Fourth-Tier Alchemist! Everyone exchanged looks upon hearing this. Could the Fourth-Tier Alchemists in the entire Fragrance-Hearing Kingdom even fill the fingers of one hand? What kind of dog-shit luck had the Tang Family stumbled into to find such a heaven-defying pill?
The people from the Wonderful Elixir Workshop were even more deeply shaken by Wu Xuan's words.
Refining all the medicinal ingredients in a pill into a single fragrance required more than countless rounds of practice. It also demanded formidable spiritual power and exceptional talent.
"To see such a pill in this lifetime is truly a tremendous blessing. Even I am a little jealous of Madam Lin now," Wu Xuan joked.
At Wu Xuan's words, Madam Lin finally felt completely reassured. She carefully tucked the porcelain vial inside her robes and smiled at Tang Yan. "The Tang Family has been most thoughtful. I will certainly visit another day to offer my thanks."
Before you continue