Improving the True Qi Pill

— This, this...

Old Tang stammered. He had actually just wanted to show off a bit in front of the other party, and incidentally make him beg for some guidance. He had finally gotten him to believe, but who would have thought that Chang Fei, of all people, would show up right at this moment. Now, all his secrets had been laid bare.

— What on earth is going on? Old Tang, weren't you talking so grandly just now? Why did you shut up as soon as Chang Fei walked in?

Luo Jin curled his lips into a smile. — Fine, if you won't say, I'll just ask Chang Fei. Chang Fei, what is this matter you just mentioned?

— That...

Chang Fei scratched his head. He thought to himself that no wonder Old Tang had been winking at him earlier. But he had been too overjoyed and simply hadn't thought much of it.

— Hmm? — Luo Jin said in dissatisfaction, — What, is this some secret that cannot be told to me?

— Old Luo, you're overthinking it. I didn't mean that, it's just... — Chang Fei smiled bitterly, glancing at Old Tang.

— Alright, alright. — Old Tang sat down on a chair in frustration and said, — This pill formula was given to headquarters by a young brother. I've been researching it for the past two days and finally achieved some results. I wanted to show off a bit in front of you, but this kid had to ruin it. You really... — He looked like he was disappointed in him.

— Old Tang, I didn't know. — Chang Fei felt very wronged. Before coming, he had specifically made two phone calls, but no one answered. The young brother Chen was still waiting on the other side; he couldn't keep him waiting forever. Moreover, this was the improved version of the True Qi Pill formula! Delaying even a second felt like a crime.

— A young brother gave it to headquarters? — Hearing this, Old Luo couldn't help but gape. — You mean, this pill formula was improved by a young brother?

— Yes. — Old Tang looked at the astonished Old Luo and said, — I know you don't believe it, but it's the truth. When you watched me refine pills just now, didn't you see many mistakes in my process?

— This... — Old Luo blushed, looking toward the cauldron not far away.

— Previously, when I saw that young brother refine the Qi-Blood Pill, I had the same thought as you. But the result...

— What was the result? — Old Luo couldn't help but ask.

— The result was ten Qi-Blood Pills. Nine of them were of extreme-grade, and one was a Heaven-grade Qi-Blood Pill.

— What! Heaven-grade! — Old Luo stared wide-eyed, freezing on the spot. He had originally thought that the Qi-Blood Pill was of high-grade, since Old Tang had just refined a batch like that. He hadn't expected it to be Heaven-grade! Up until now, no alchemist in the entire Martial Dao Association had ever refined a Heaven-grade Qi-Blood Pill!

— You don't believe me? — Old Tang chin-gestured toward Chang Fei. — You can ask him. He was also present at the scene at that time.

Like a wooden puppet, Old Luo slowly turned to look at Chang Fei.

— Indeed, Old Luo. — Chang Fei nodded seriously. — Young brother Chen did indeed refine a Heaven-grade Qi-Blood Pill. Old Tang and I both witnessed it with our own eyes; there can be no mistake.

— Heaven-grade... — Old Luo muttered. Instantly, he remembered something and hurriedly looked at Old Tang. — Old Tang, you are too selfish! You kept such a good thing to yourself and practiced here alone?

— Cough, cough. — Old Tang blushed, looking away guiltily. — Didn't I... didn't I want to test it out for you first?

— Nonsense! — Old Luo scolded bluntly. — I can see clearly that you wanted to learn it first to show off in front of me. Humph, we've known each other for so many years, do you think I don't know your mind? Chang Fei, you must have the improved pill formula, right? Send it to my inbox as soon as you get back—no, send it right now! — He grabbed Chang Fei's hand and urged.

— Alright, alright, alright. — Chang Fei quickly pacified him, — Old Luo, there's no rush...

— How is there no rush? — Old Luo glared. — If such an important matter isn't urgent, then what is? Hmm?

— No, Old Luo, let me finish first. — Chang Fei was caught between laughter and tears.

— Indeed! — Old Tang leaped up from his chair. — Chang Fei, did I hear you correctly when you came in? Did you say that kid offered another new pill formula?

— What? Another new pill formula? — Hearing this, Old Luo became even more anxious. — What pill formula is it this time? Could it be the Heaven-grade Qi-Blood Pill?

— Heaven-grade Qi-Blood Pill? — Old Tang's breathing also became heavy. For the art of alchemy, refining a pill of this quality was a supreme glory! The martial artists in the association would also benefit immensely. Moreover, they could hold their heads high in front of those alchemists from other sub-districts.

— It's not that. — Chang Fei shook his head and smiled. — But compared to it, this is only better, not worse.

— What on earth is it? Kid, speak up! — The two old men shouted in unison.

— It's the True Qi Pill, the improved version of the True Qi Pill formula. — Chang Fei quickly replied.

— What, the True Qi Pill!

— The True Qi Pill formula!

The two old men looked at each other, shock filling their eyes. Old Tang reacted first and asked hurriedly, — What is the effect of the improved formula?

— Young brother Chen said that with the improved formula, the probability of refining a high-grade True Qi Pill can reach eighty to ninety percent.

After Chang Fei finished speaking, he took a deep breath. Unsurprisingly, the spacious refining room fell into absolute silence. The two old men's heads were buzzing. With the association's formula, refining three True Qi Pills in one cauldron was already a blessing; usually, they only got two, and with bad luck, only one. Yet, this improved formula could raise the high-grade probability to eighty to ninety percent? This was practically tripling or quadrupling the yield! Was this even possible?

— Chang Fei, did he call you? — Old Tang snapped out of it and asked.

— Yes. — Chang Fei nodded. — Young brother Chen contacted me actively. At first, I thought he had changed his mind and wanted to come to headquarters, but the first thing he asked was if we wanted the improved True Qi Pill formula, and if we did, he could sell it to us cheaply.

— This kid is truly money-minded! — Old Tang scolded affectionately, then immediately urged, — Quick, connect the call. I want to see if what he said this time is true.

— Yes, yes, hurry up. — Old Luo also urged.

Chang Fei was just as expectant. He immediately made a video call to Chen Fan. In less than three minutes, the call was connected. Unlike last time, Chen Fan was alone on his side, while the headquarters had an additional person.

— So young! — Seeing Chen Fan, Old Luo cried out in surprise. He had thought that the "young brother" in Old Tang's mouth was at least in his late twenties or thirties. But the young man before him looked barely twenty. Was the extreme-grade Qi-Blood Pill formula really created by him?

— Young brother Chen, let me introduce you. This is Old Luo, also an alchemist at headquarters. Old Luo, this is the one who provided us with the formula, young brother Chen Fan. — Chang Fei introduced.

— Greetings, Old Luo. — Chen Fan nodded in greeting.

— Hmm, greetings, young brother Chen. — Old Luo suppressed his surprise and asked, — You've improved the True Qi Pill formula this time?

— Yes. — Chen Fan said as he placed the prepared medicinal herbs into the cauldron. — I bought the association's formula to practice over the past two days and found many areas that could be improved. Although the process was slightly arduous, the result is quite decent. The improved formula not only raises the success rate to eighty to ninety percent, but the probability of refining high-grade pills is also around the same.

— !!!

The three people on the other side gasped in unison. Not only was the high-grade rate so high, but even the overall success rate had increased? This far exceeded their expectations. The most shocked was Old Luo. He had heard Chen Fan say that he had only obtained the formula for two or three days. This meant that in just that short time, he had not only memorized the formula but also found its flaws and improved it. This was simply heaven-defying!

— Alright, young brother Chen, please show us. — Chang Fei said, suppressing his excitement.

Chen Fan nodded and pressed the start button. A ninety percent high-grade rate was naturally not his limit, but he didn't want to be too conspicuous. He couldn't just produce an extreme-grade True Qi Pill right after obtaining the formula for a few days. Moreover, progressing step-by-step would make it easier for the alchemists at headquarters to accept. If he gave them the extreme-grade formula right away, they would be like high school students trying to solve calculus, only left scratching their heads.

Of course, he also had some selfish motives. The extreme-grade True Qi Pill formula was ten times more valuable than the Qi-Blood Pill; selling it outright to headquarters would be a waste. But since he was currently lacking a large amount of medicinal herbs, selling this first-level improved version was the most reasonable choice. On one hand, it was to exchange for what he needed, and on the other hand, it was to contribute to strengthening humanity.

On the other side of the screen, seeing Chen Fan's proficient operations, Old Luo's heart was like fifteen buckets of water, rising and falling in unease. Could this young man really achieve what he had claimed?