Identifying Pills by Their Scent

A brief silence fell over the shop after Tang Yan named his price.

Everyone looked at Tang Yan. This brat had acted outrageously frivolous from the start. Who knew which family's spoiled heir had come to make trouble at the Wonderful Elixir Workshop? But the Wonderful Elixir Workshop held an exalted position and possessed extraordinary strength. This wastrel had probably kicked an iron plate.

Three thousand taels of silver... When those words left Tang Yan's mouth, Ge Ming thought he was hearing things.

The feeling of a cat being toyed with by a mouse rose within him, and Ge Ming nearly exploded. He slammed the table and roared, "Brat, what do you take the Wonderful Elixir Workshop for? How dare you run wild here!"

"Master Ge, what do you mean?" Tang Yan looked at Ge Ming in alarm. "Don't scare me. You ask a sky-high price, and I bargain it back down to earth. How is that running wild in your shop?"

"Do you think three thousand taels of silver can buy second-tier pills? Such a low price insults the pills sold by the Wonderful Elixir Workshop. If you don't give this old man a reasonable explanation today, young master, I'm afraid you won't find it so easy to walk out that door!"

Hearing Ge Ming's heavily veiled threat, Tang Yan smiled derisively. "Master Ge, these pills came from the same furnace batch, didn't they?"

"I already said they were all refined just a short while ago."

"What I mean is that this furnace batch yielded only these three usable pills!" Tang Yan said calmly.

Master Ge, who had been seething with anger, felt his pupils contract at Tang Yan's words. Disbelief filled his heart.

The place where he refined pills was completely sealed off, and he had been alone. How could this young man know? Thinking back over everything, his only interactions with the young man had been a few brief exchanges-and the young man sniffing the mouth of the bottle.

Could he have discovered, just by sniffing the bottle, that Ge Ming had ruined an entire batch and saved only three pills?

Forcing down that absurd thought, Ge Ming feigned composure. "Isn't it perfectly normal for one Pill Cauldron batch to yield three second-tier, middle-grade pills? Do you think second-tier, middle-grade pills are sugar beans you can make whenever you please?"

"The pills' fragrance is too strong, with a faint burnt odor mixed in. Clearly, during the final step of forming the pills, you withdrew the flame a moment too late. There are two choices at that point. The first is to continue forming the pills, but there's a ninety-nine percent chance of ruining them. The other is to sacrifice some of the ingredients to create a protective barrier around the forming pills. That reduces the yield, and uneven heating also affects their potency. Master Ge chose the second option."

"Master Ge is widely reputed to be a second-tier, high-grade alchemist-a truly exalted standing. If I bought pills like these for a hundred thousand taels of silver, I imagine someone as kindhearted as Master Ge would feel uneasy. That might even become an inner demon hindering your future progress in alchemy. So I might as well offer a low price!" Tang Yan spoke smoothly, backing every word with reason.

Everyone around them felt as though they had fallen into a dream, unsure what was true. Had this brat deduced all that from scent alone?

Meanwhile, towering waves were already crashing through Ge Ming's heart. There was only one reason: the young man's deductions had not been wrong in the slightest!

Seeing Tang Yan's brimming confidence, Ge Ming had a thought and probed, "I'm already a second-tier, high-grade alchemist. How could I make a mistake controlling the flames while refining middle-grade pills?"

"Normally, refining middle-grade pills would certainly be child's play for Master Ge. There are only two possible reasons for the failure. First, Master Ge wasn't in good physical condition and couldn't maintain his concentration throughout the process. Second, there was a problem with the furnace."

"But Master Ge seems to be in good condition now, so I suspect the furnace was the problem. You recently switched to a new furnace, didn't you?" Having said that, Tang Yan fell silent.

At that moment, Ge Ming's eyes went blank. A casual follow-up question, and this youth had guessed correctly again? He was certain no one could have spied on him while he refined pills.

Moreover, he had only changed Pill Cauldrons the previous evening. Even the shop assistants knew nothing about it.

This youth had such a meticulous mind. How had someone so capable ended up with a destroyed dantian? Wait, a destroyed dantian-could this youth be seeking a pill to restore it?

In his experience, a pill capable of restoring a destroyed dantian would have to be at least sixth tier. Besides, such pills were relatively obscure and extremely difficult to refine. Their value could probably rival that of seventh-tier pills.

The entire Wonderful Elixir Workshop probably didn't have a single sixth-tier alchemist, did it?

This young master's wish was destined to come to nothing.

No wonder he had sensed no fluctuations of true qi from the young man.

"Young friend, your keen eyes see like a blazing torch. I am impressed. I'll give you these three pills free of charge. Consider it the start of a friendly bond." Ge Ming sighed and handed the porcelain bottle back to Tang Yan.

The people around them stared at the porcelain bottle, their eyes burning with desire. This youth had obtained three second-tier, middle-grade pills for free with just a few simple remarks?

"Then you have my thanks, Elder Ge." Tang Yan cupped his hands in thanks and happily tucked the porcelain bottle into his robe.

"Young friend, I imagine you've come looking for a pill to restore your dantian. I'm truly sorry, but I'm afraid that will be very difficult to find," Ge Ming said with a wry smile.

Tang Yan paused at those words, then smiled. "Elder Ge, I've come for something else this time. I'd like to discuss a business transaction."

"Oh?" Ge Ming gave Tang Yan a puzzled look. This lad is no ordinary youth. Surely this won't be a small transaction. He extended a hand. "Please, let's talk in the inner room."

Leaving Xiao Cui to wait outside, Tang Yan followed Ge Ming farther into the building.

When they reached an inner room, an attendant poured tea and brought it over. Ge Ming asked with a smile, "I still don't know your name, young brother."

"My name is Tang Yan."

Ge Ming paused. Tang Yan? Isn't that the Tang Family's notorious wastrel? Then he reconsidered. There are so many people in this world. Surely plenty share the same name? He must be a young master from another family. He smiled. "What sort of business would you like to discuss with me, young brother Tang?"

"I'd like to borrow a pill furnace," Tang Yan stated his purpose directly.

"Borrow a pill furnace? How would that work?" Ge Ming grew increasingly curious.

"I'd borrow it for four hours. I can refine the pills here inside the Wonderful Elixir Workshop, so there's no need to move the furnace. I need to refine one batch of pills. I hope you'll accommodate me, Elder Ge."

After considering for a long while, Ge Ming finally said, "Refining pills requires soul power, perception, and true qi to sustain it. With your dantian destroyed, I'm afraid even a furnace won't help."

"You don't need to worry about that. The pills I'm refining aren't high-tier, and they don't place such great demands on the person refining them."

"Four hours..." Ge Ming rested his chin on his hand and thought for a while before deciding. "I can agree to that. But since this is a business transaction, what does the Wonderful Elixir Workshop stand to gain?"

Tang Yan quickly weighed his options. This time, he intended to refine First Tier Middle Grade First Spirit Pills. Their effects were gentler than those of Qi-Gathering Pills, making them easier to absorb. Among first-tier pills, there was probably nothing better suited to Origin Tier martial artists.

But what could he offer as payment? First Spirit Pills? If he brought out pills like those, would the Wonderful Elixir Workshop covet his Pill Formula?

He abruptly raised his head and noticed a faint red gleam in Ge Ming's eyes. Tang Yan frowned. He was extremely familiar with that red gleam, and an idea immediately came to him. "I'll pay you after I've finished refining. If you aren't satisfied with my payment then, Elder Ge, you can keep all the pills I refine."