True Martial Academy's end-of-term assessment had ended, and it was now the vacation period, so Wei Yi was in no hurry to return to the academy.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye while he stayed with the clan.
He enjoyed the exceptional treatment afforded to the Wei Clan Young Master while working hard to improve his pill refining.
He did not neglect his martial cultivation either.
He had trained the Thirteen Life-Seizing Swords from LV4 to LV8.
As a middle-grade Profound-tier martial technique, the LV8 Thirteen Life-Seizing Swords already faintly surpassed the power of the max-level LV10 Storm Sword Technique.
Meanwhile, he had fully adapted to and gained proficient control over his recently skyrocketing eighth-stage Martial Master cultivation and silver-rank bloodline power.
With all these combined, Wei Yi's actual combat strength was already no weaker than that of an ordinary low-stage Great Martial Master.
Of course, his greatest progress had been in the Dao of pill refining.
His pill refining subclass stats now read-
Player: Wei Yi Pill refiner rank: third rank Pill refining: LV24 Pill refining success rate: first-rank pills, 100%; second-rank pills, 100%; third-rank pills, 40%
He had to admit that this Pill Refining Subclass System really was ridiculously overpowered.
In just half a month, Wei Yi had gone from a novice who knew nothing about pill refining to a third-rank pill refiner.
Even more absurd were his success rates. His success rate for refining both first- and second-rank pills was 100%, which meant every batch he refined would succeed. Barring any unexpected circumstances, he would essentially never fail.
Even his mother, a fourth-rank pill refiner, could not guarantee that level of performance.
Moreover, his success rate for refining third-rank pills had reached 40%, which more or less surpassed his mother's level as well.
Fortunately, Wei Yi had deliberately kept his abilities hidden, revealing only part of his skill.
Even so, he still shocked quite a few people.
For instance, Wei Ruomei, who had originally been somewhat unconvinced of his abilities, now admired him immensely. She came to him with questions from time to time, as though he were a senior who had studied pill refining for years.
"Big Brother Wei, what pills are you refining?"
Wei Ruomei walked over and asked softly.
"Five Yuan Pills."
Wei Yi answered while watching the heat beneath the pill furnace.
By then, the batch was nearly finished.
"Five Yuan Pills?"
Wei Ruomei looked astonished. "Although Five Yuan Pills are second-rank pills, they're as difficult to refine as third-rank ones. Why does it look so effortless for you, Big Brother Wei?"
"Uh, well, my mental strength is relatively strong."
Wei Yi coughed twice and found an excuse.
As a bona fide third-rank pill refiner, refining second-rank pills was naturally effortless for him.
"Well, Five Yuan Pills are extremely beneficial to a Martial Master's cultivation. If you're stuck at a bottleneck, they can even help you break through. Do you want some?" Wei Yi asked casually.
"You can do that? Aren't you supposed to hand over the pills you refine?" Wei Ruomei's eyes widened.
"I only need to hand over enough to maintain a forty-percent success rate. Anything extra is naturally mine," Wei Yi said nonchalantly.
Wei Ruomei did not know whether to laugh or cry.
But remembering that Wei Yi was the Wei Clan Young Master, she felt somewhat reassured.
Never mind handing over pills at a forty-percent success rate-even if Wei Yi handed over nothing at all, probably no one would dare say anything to him.
"Here, take these."
While Wei Ruomei was lost in thought, Wei Yi had already collected the pills from the furnace. He took out a pill bottle, put three Five Yuan Pills inside, and handed it to her.
"No, no, I can't take them."
Wei Ruomei hastily refused. A single Five Yuan Pill sold for several hundred taels of silver outside, so three were worth over a thousand taels. How could she casually accept such an expensive gift?
"It's fine. I still have plenty. You've been a fifth-stage Martial Master for quite some time, haven't you? These can help you break through."
"No, I still can't accept them."
The two kept pushing the bottle back and forth.
Knock, knock, knock...
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Hurry up and take them. Someone's here." Wei Yi immediately pushed the pill bottle into Wei Ruomei's hands and called out, "Come in."
Soon, a Wei Lineage martial artist entered. Upon seeing Wei Yi, he immediately bowed and reported, "Young Master, the clan head requests your presence."
"All right, understood."
Wei Yi nodded.
After tidying up, he quickly left. Before leaving, he even winked at Wei Ruomei, his meaning obvious.
Wei Ruomei's pretty face flushed slightly as she looked at the pill bottle in her hands.
Wei Yi's handsome face involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
What exactly did he mean by giving me pills?
Under the martial artist's guidance, Wei Yi arrived at the Wei Clan's council hall.
Only after entering did Wei Yi discover that not only was his father present, but the three elders and several other senior clan members were there as well.
Moreover, the atmosphere in the hall was rather strange.
Everyone looked somewhat tense and subdued, yet faintly excited as well.
Wei Yi did not dare speak. At his father's gesture, he found a seat farther down and sat.
Soon, almost all the Wei Clan's senior members had gathered.
"I called everyone here because something major has happened near Jinling. According to reports, abnormal fire has appeared in Hongshan Ridge, between Jinling and Zhongshan," Wei Tianyang began.
"What? Abnormal fire?"
"Is it really abnormal fire?"
"If it's abnormal fire, we certainly can't pass it up."
"Exactly. Since it appeared near our Jinling, it's a gift from Heaven to our Wei Clan."
Everyone soon broke into discussion.
Only then did Wei Yi understand why those people had looked so strange at first.
Abnormal fire was indeed an exciting prospect, but it also meant danger.
Abnormal fire could be used not only to refine pills but also in combat. Gaining control over a type of abnormal fire was equivalent to possessing an enormous fortune-and one that would never depreciate.
Generally speaking, abnormal fire mattered most to pill refiners. If word spread, even fifth- and sixth-rank pill refiners would probably make a move.
It was also highly valuable to ordinary martial artists, especially those who practiced fire-attribute cultivation methods. Gaining control over a type of abnormal fire could completely transform them, remaking their flesh and bones.
In short, abnormal fire represented astonishing value.
"Word of this hasn't spread yet."
"As far as I know, at most, only some factions in Jinling and Zhongshan have received the news."
"Let's decide together whether we should fight for it."
Wei Tianyang spoke slowly.
"My opinion is that we must secure it," the first elder declared before anyone else.
"Exactly. I think the same. The Sun Clan in Zhongshan seems to be preparing to mobilize already. Even if we can't obtain the abnormal fire, we absolutely cannot let them have it," the second elder said coldly as he stepped forward.
"Since the Zhongshan Sun Clan wants to get its fingers on it, what are we waiting for? We have to act. I've wanted to teach those turtle-spawn bastards a lesson for a long time," the third elder declared as well.
Everyone spoke up, and virtually all agreed to take action.
Since the abnormal fire had appeared near their Jinling, were they supposed to stand aside and let someone else have it?
The Wei Clan was, after all, one of the Great Chu Dynasty's ten great clans. As a dominant faction in Jinling, they naturally would not fear anyone else.
"Good. Then it's settled."
"When the time comes, the three elders and I will lead the team personally. We'll also assemble twenty Great Martial Masters and a hundred Martial Masters to move out with us."
"Wei Yi, you'll come along as well."
Turning to Wei Yi, Wei Tianyang gave another instruction.
"Yes, Father."
Father and son met each other's eyes and nodded almost imperceptibly.
Since abnormal fire had appeared so close to them, they had to seize it. Refuse what Heaven bestowed, and suffer its blame instead.