In the VIP room, exotic flowers and rare herbs exuded waves of fresh fragrance.
"My humble name is Li Ruoyun. I am the vice pavilion master of this Xuanji Pavilion, as well as an apothecary."
The young woman invited Lin Fan inside and personally brewed tea.
"To become the vice pavilion master of Xuanji Pavilion at such a young age, you are no ordinary person."
Lin Fan spoke in a low tone, slowly savoring the tea.
Every movement of his exuded the imposing demeanor of a great figure.
Li Ruoyun's expression remained unchanged, but her heart was already surging with ripples.
The person before her had an extraordinary background.
"Is the senior looking to refine top-grade Qi Refining Liquid?"
She tentatively asked, as she was an apothecary herself.
Currently, Xuanji Pavilion only possessed low-grade and mid-grade Qi Refining Liquid.
The quantity of mid-grade was extremely scarce because this branch of Xuanji Pavilion lacked a grand apothecary.
Apothecaries were divided into regular apothecaries, senior apothecaries, grand apothecaries, and grandmaster grand apothecaries.
As for top-grade, that could only be refined by a truly genuine grand apothecary.
Could it be that the mysterious person before her was a grand apothecary?
"I do have the medicinal herbs, but the quantities are not large, and they are all rare items. Does the senior have absolute confidence? If they are wasted, this humble one will not be able to answer for it."
Li Ruoyun was well-informed and gradually calmed down.
Whether he was truly a grand apothecary would depend on the result.
"Take me to the alchemy room. No one is allowed to disturb us, not even you."
Lin Fan stood up immediately.
Inside the alchemy room.
"If this person is a fraud, capture him on the spot."
Outside the door, Li Ruoyun secretly transmitted her voice to the guards.
She had just been recommended as the vice pavilion master of Xuanji Pavilion; if she capsawed here, her future prospects would be grim.
Lin Fan arrived before the furnace, inside of which was the "Earth Vein Luminous Stone," carrying astonishing energy of its own, specifically used for forging weapons and refining medicine.
The alchemy furnace was a zhang high, a round furnace with six handles, crafted entirely from meteoric iron.
As he closed his eyes, Lin Fan's consciousness slowly entered the depths of a white chaos.
An ancient stone tower sat quietly in the void before his eyes. Lin Fan could not describe its mystery with language.
Inside the tower, a small cauldron emitted a faint divine glow.
Lin Fan began to resonate with the "Little Golden Man" within the cauldron.
Within the medicine body of the little figure, every single medicinal pill bore a spiritual imprint of alchemy, and countless heavenly treasures and rare herbs were detailed with absolute preciousness.
"Any genius actually relies on consuming exotic medicines and precious pills to forge a superb spiritual body."
Coming from an imperial clan, Lin Fan understood the status of an apothecary better than anyone else.
Earlier, his spiritual resonance with the "Little Golden Man" was, on one hand, to find the cultivation method for the Five-Derivation Yin-Yang Grand Medicine, and on the other hand, to master alchemy techniques.
Sure enough, he found the spiritual imprint related to Qi Refining Liquid.
Qi Refining Liquid was the most common and foundational precious medicine in the vast universe, and its basic ingredients were easy to match, which was why Lin Fan decided to refine this medicine first.
Gradually, amidst the imprint of the Qi Refining Liquid, Lin Fan saw a black-robed elder performing tedious alchemy before the medicine furnace.
The entire process was exceptionally clear, as if he were experiencing it in person.
"Could this be one of the... Great Emperor ancestors in the history of the Lin Family?"
Lin Fan pondered inwardly.
Ever since his consciousness flew out of the mysterious stone tower, he had been wondering if the stone tower was an heirloom of the ancient Lin Family, which was why it resided deep within his brain?
Leaving the ancient tower, Lin Fan began to pull the bellows, slowly feeding the medicinal herbs in order.
"Xi'er, with this Xuanji Token, you will be an honored guest wherever you go in the Imperial City."
In the grand hall.
Chen Tiange and Su Xi were strolling side by side, looking like a pair of immortals descended from the heavens.
One possessed outstanding talent, while the other had transcendent beauty—truly a match made in heaven.
Many people cast envious glances their way.
Su Xi retrieved the Xuanji Token, treating it as a precious treasure.
Had it not been for Chen Tiange, she might never have had the opportunity to touch such a thing in her entire life.
Therefore, the moment she heard the news, she rushed over from the Su Family at once.
Chen Tiange smiled and said, "If you and I pass the immortal sect trials hand in hand, it will surely become a legendary romance of our time."
"Congratulations, Brother Chen, on awakening the Heaven-grade Spiritual Roots! You truly are the heaven-chosen true dragon!"
Su Xi acted clinging and dependent.
"Why are you still treating me like an outsider?"
Chen Tiange beamed with confidence.
"Sister."
As coincidence would have it, Su Xiaoqing happened to walk by.
Su Xi blinked her eyes, not wanting to pay her any mind.
Then, changing her mind with a sudden thought, she waved her hand to signal Su Xiaoqing to approach.
"Lin Fan beat up Xu Zhan; we will settle this account slowly."
"Since Lin Fan has consumed the hundred-year Tai sui, you must marry into the Yang Family. The Yang Family is already making arrangements for this matter."
"You getting a divorce from Lin Fan makes you a widow—that is a fact. Wanting to marry into a wealthy family in this lifetime is out of the question."
"Your sister is doing this for your own good. The Yang Family has abundant assets, so you should properly thank me, your matchmaker."
By this point, Su Xi already treated Su Xiaoqing as an outsider.
"Second Sister, you are going too far."
These words were like sharp blades, scraping Su Xiaoqing's bones one by one.
"You are second-hand goods now. Have you ever seen any second-hand goods that retain any value?"
Su Xi acted loftily, no longer needing to hide the disdainful expression in the depths of her heart:
"You ungrateful little widow, if I hadn't pulled strings for you, would you ever be able to marry into a wealthy family?"
Boom!
At that very moment, a shockwave echoed from the depths, and a refreshing fragrance that invigorated everyone's body and mind permeated the air.
"Top-grade Qi Refining Liquid!"
"I never expected a grand apothecary to visit our Lingyin City. We must befriend such a person."
Chen Tiange, the city lord's son, was exceptionally excited. With his eyes glowing, he took Su Xi's hand and strode over.
"Top-grade..."
Li Ruoyun was petrified.
As Lin Fan walked out of the alchemy room, she could tell at a glance that it was undoubtedly top-grade.
The people all around cast respectful gazes toward Lin Fan.
Such a grand apothecary held a status vastly superior even to the city lord.
"This portion is for you."
Lin Fan handed a medicine bottle to Li Ruoyun.
"What is the senior's name?"
Li Ruoyun's attitude underwent a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree transformation, and she wanted to invite Lin Fan to work for Xuanji Pavilion.
Lin Fan thought for a moment and uttered a single word: "Ning."
"Could you introduce this Senior Ning to us?"
Escorted by Li Ruoyun, Lin Fan appeared in the grand hall, and everyone rushed over to curry favor.
Chen Tiange and Su Xi stood at the very front, beginning to look up at this grand apothecary senior, though unfortunately, they could not make out his facial features.
Su Xiaoqing was in the crowd. She paid no attention to any grand apothecary; instead, she walked directly toward Li Ruoyun.
"This junior, Chen Tiange, has awakened Heaven-grade Spiritual Roots and hereby invites Senior Ning to the City Lord's Mansion for a chat."
Chen Tiange cupped his fists.
Su Xi did not even dare to breathe heavily, fearing that she might offend the grand apothecary and ruin Chen Tiange's prospects.
"No need."
Lin Fan completely refused to give Chen Tiange any face, especially upon seeing Su Xi.
"Silly girl."
He noticed on the side that Su Xiaoqing and Li Ruoyun were actually close friends.
Hearing the content of their conversation, a warm current welled up in Lin Fan's heart.
Su Xiaoqing had actually come to borrow money, trying to find a way to repay the Yang Family.
At this time, Chen Tiange refused to give up:
"Senior, I have quite a few rare medicinal herbs over at my place."
Yet the next scene left him dumbfounded.
Su Xiaoqing offered a polite customary greeting and gift to Lin Fan. Never did she expect that Lin Fan would actually reach out and, amidst the gasps of everyone present, help her up.
"Why!?"
Su Xi's eyes spewed fire; she was practically bursting with rage.
Even Li Ruoyun could not understand why she, a vice pavilion master, could not receive such polite treatment from the grand apothecary, yet Su Xiaoqing—on what grounds?
And Lin Fan's next sentence was simply like a sudden thunderclap in a clear sky.
"I see that this young lady has quite a talent for alchemy. Pavilion Master Li, I want to see this young lady next time."
Lin Fan announced publicly.
Su Xiaoqing, who had originally been so humble, was the center of attention at this moment, especially with so many men casting adoring gazes at her.
"Why her?!"
"On what grounds is it her?!"
Su Xi stamped her feet in frustration.