Yang Zhen pulled Elder Yao out the door. The Shameless Cat, perched on Yang Zhen's shoulder, didn't try to escape anymore. It looked down on everyone and acted like it deserved a beating, especially when there were many people around. It was arrogant and domineering, as if it owned a mine.
Where is the little girl? What happened?
The Elder Yao looked indignant, then sighed and said, " Youyue has indeed had a tough time. Since becoming the head of the Long Moon Pavilion, she has even spent her cultivation time handling the affairs of the Long Moon Pavilion."
"Get to the point!" Yang Zhen glared at him.
The Elder Yao glanced at Yang Zhen and said, "Today we went to see Grandmaster Fan Tong, but we didn't expect Grandmaster Ma and Elder Tie to be there as well. They insulted us in every way, and in a fit of anger, Youyue wanted to Pill Evaluation with them!"
" Pill Evaluation?" Yang Zhen was taken aback. "What is Pill Evaluation?"
Elder Yao staggered, glanced at Yang Zhen with a distressed expression, and pounded his chest, saying, "I was just grasping at straws in my desperation. How could I ask you for help with something like this? I'm really... I'm getting senile. No, I have to go and ask Elder Chi for help."
Yang Zhen pulled Elder Yao back and said, "You haven't explained it clearly yet. What is 'Pill Evaluation '?"
The Elder Yao paused for a moment, then said, "The so-called ' Pill Evaluation' refers to judging the quality of Alchemist's elixir by its aroma and medicinal properties. It is an extremely sophisticated method of alchemy, requiring a thorough understanding of various heavenly materials and earthly treasures and precious materials and alchemy ingredients, but it goes beyond that..."
With Elder Yao's explanation, Yang Zhen roughly understood what "Pill Evaluation" meant. It was like an appraiser on the Blue Planet; one didn't necessarily need to know how to refine pills, but one had to have a thorough understanding of the medicinal properties and compatibility of various materials.
If that were all, it wouldn't be difficult; it would simply require some effort. The greatest challenge for Alchemist lies in being able to distinguish the different levels and details achieved by different Alchemist using different refining techniques, so that cultivators can gain the deepest understanding of a pill. Only in this way can cultivators take pills without any worries about side effects.
Yang Zhen suddenly understood, but the Shameless Cat was licking its paws with a disdainful look, occasionally scratching itself with its paws, looking quite pleased with itself.
After the Elder Yao finished speaking, he said to Yang Zhen, "Do you know anything about the Pill Evaluation?"
Yang Zhen nodded, patted Elder Yao on the shoulder, and said, "So that's all there is to it. Then you've come to the right person. I'm actually the most skilled at Pill Evaluation."
The Shameless Cat paused in its paw-licking motion, pursed its lips, and gave Yang Zhen a disdainful look, which Yang Zhen did not notice.
The Elder Yao stared wide-eyed at Yang Zhen with suspicion. "You really can Pill Evaluation?"
Yang Zhen nodded and said seriously, "It was a stormy night..."
"Stop, stop, stop! I don't believe you, you little brat!" Elder Yao shook his head and sighed.
The Shameless Cat shook Yang Zhen's shoulder and said, "Wait, don't stop, keep going, what happened that night?"
Yang Zhen continued, "It was a stormy night. I was alone at the village entrance admiring the moon when suddenly an old man with a white beard fell from mid-air..."
The Shameless Cat pouted. "I love listening to your serious nonsense. Go on, continue?"
Yang Zhen was furious. "I'm not saying anything more!"
"Tsk tsk!"
The Elder Yao could only manage a wry smile.
When the two people and the cat arrived at the Fan Residence, before they even entered, they heard a strange, mocking voice laughing loudly, saying, " Tower Master Hua, let's begin. Unless Elder Yao can persuade Elder Chi to come, you are destined to lose today."
Yang Zhen clicked his tongue in amazement, pushed open the courtyard gate, and said in a strange voice, "Hey buddy, you ran faster than a rabbit just to show off here?"
"Presumptuous!"
A deep, resonant voice rang out. An elderly man with thick eyebrows and large eyes frowned and looked over in the courtyard, his face filled with anger. He shouted, "Who goes there? Why are you so rude?"
Yang Zhen was startled when he entered the courtyard. There was a huge crowd of people; anyone who didn't know better would think it was an informal gathering. Was this old man Fan Tong being so hospitable?
The crowd gathered in the courtyard parted to make way, and the two people and the cat suddenly came into view.
"Yang... Yang Zhen!" Elder Tie exclaimed in shock, then roared in fury, "You ignorant brat, how dare you show your face here! You truly have no regard for your own life! With so many fellow Daoists present today, you have no chance of escape!"
Yang Zhen was startled. He looked around at everyone and asked, "Are all these people your relatives?"
Damn, there are so many people!
Elder Tie's face froze, then he coldly snorted, his expression turning ashen, "Even if you're not an elder..."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Yang Zhen curled his lip and said to the old man with thick eyebrows and big eyes in the middle, "I've only come to visit Mr. Fan because of his reputation. You keep talking about fighting and killing, which is quite disrespectful to Mr. Fan. If you want to fight, then come on, let's go outside and have a real fight. Whoever backs down is a coward!"
The group of people around Elder Tie looked furious, and upon hearing this, they all glared angrily at Yang Zhen.
"How dare you! Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to speak here?"
Yang Zhen exclaimed "Oh!" and looked curiously at the old man speaking next to Elder Tie, asking, "And what are you?"
"I am... you bastard, are you playing me?"
Yang Zhen pursed his lips, walked up to Hua Youyue, and didn't even glance at the others.
Fan Tong's furrowed brows relaxed, and he said in a deep voice, "Since this young friend has come to visit me, you should all remain calm and give me face. We can discuss anything after we leave my residence."
The old man beside Elder Tie chuckled and said, "Since that's the case, let's continue discussing the Pill Evaluation matter. Tower Master Hua, as you said, as long as you defeat my disciple in the Pill Evaluation, I will hand over the Living Spirit Pill and will no longer participate in your affairs or the Donglin Pill Association. What do you say?"
Hua Youyue's expression was somewhat unpleasant. She stared at the disciple beside the old man and said in a deep voice, " Grandmaster Ma, my Long Moon Pavilion has treated you well, why are you targeting Youyue like this?"
Grandmaster Ma smiled and said, "Master Tower Master Hua, you are mistaken. I am devoted to alchemy and will only stand on the side that benefits the development of alchemy."
Yang Zhen suddenly realized that the old man with the mean and sarcastic look was the so-called Grandmaster Ma, the one who was in cahoots with Elder Tie.
At this moment, the young disciple beside Grandmaster Ma stepped forward with a smile and said, " Yan Feng by Master's high regard and has only been accepted as a disciple for three short months. Yet, Tower Master Hua has been involved in Dao of Alchemy for so many years, familiarizing himself with various conventional pills, and yet he doesn't even have this much courage?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped, staring in astonishment at the spirited young man before them.
Aside from the highly respected elders, the only other person present was a young woman Hua Youyue. However, as the master of the Long Moon Pavilion, her status was naturally different, allowing her to sit on equal footing with the grandmasters or Void Refinement Realm experts present.
But now, Grandmaster Ma, who has only been a disciple for three months, is acting so arrogantly, truly showing no regard for the Long Moon Pavilion and Hua Youyue.
A flash of anger crossed Hua Youyue's face. Just as she was about to speak, Yang Zhen stared at Yan Feng and walked up.
"Are you a disciple of Grandmaster Ma?"
"Who are you?"
Yang Zhen waved his hand and said, "A master alchemist and a disciple of Alchemist, two figures who together can make Donglin Island tremble, actually want to compete in Pill Evaluation with a little girl?"
At this point, Yang Zhen leaned close to Yan Feng, their foreheads almost bumping into each other, and pointed at himself, saying, "Are you guys fucking kidding me?"