Chapter 74
Not long after.
Xiao Minghuang arrived at the Offering Hall.
After stating her purpose, a servant led her deep into the hall.
There was a small lake.
In the center of the lake stood a small island, upon which a pavilion was erected.
Xiao Minghuang walked across the winding corridor over the lake and arrived at the base of the pavilion.
The servant went inside to announce her presence. After a while, he came out, approached Xiao Minghuang, bowed deeply, and said apologetically:
“Your Highness, the Seventh Elder says he is in a bad mood and does not wish to receive guests.”
“Perhaps… you could come back another day?” The servant spoke cautiously.
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang slightly furrowed her delicate brows and looked at the ancient-style pavilion, asking softly:
“Did the Seventh Elder say why he is in a bad mood?”
The servant pondered for a moment before hesitantly replying:
“Over the past few days, none of the elixirs the Seventh Elder has attempted to refine have succeeded. All of them were ruined, wasting who knows how many precious herbs. That must be why he’s in such a foul mood.”
Upon hearing this, the corners of Xiao Minghuang’s lips curled slightly, and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes as she said:
“Go and inform him again. Tell him I have a way to ensure he no longer ruins his elixirs.”
“What!”
The servant was startled, finding it hard to believe:
“Your Highness, this is no joking matter. The Seventh Elder has been immersed in the art of alchemy for many years. Even he…”
“I do not wish to repeat myself.”
Xiao Minghuang’s gaze was calm, as still as water.
Under her gaze, the servant snapped out of his daze and dared not utter another word of nonsense. He immediately ran back into the pavilion.
Not long after.
A roar erupted from inside the pavilion.
“A brat still wet behind the ears dares to spout nonsense in front of me? Get out of here and stop disturbing my alchemy!”
Hearing the voice from inside the pavilion, Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly, thinking to herself: The Seventh Elder is so old, yet he speaks so crudely.
But since she needed his help, she had no choice but to remain polite.
“This junior, Ninth Princess Xiao Minghuang, has brought a batch of precious herbs for the Seventh Elder’s alchemy, as per His Majesty’s decree. I request the Seventh Elder to receive them in person!”
The implication was clear: if you don’t see me, you won’t get these herbs.
Xiao Minghuang smiled confidently, sure of her success.
Sure enough.
Not long after.
A deep voice came from inside the pavilion.
“You little girl, with your silver tongue, I am no match for you. Come in!”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang straightened her posture and stepped into the pavilion.
Inside, the first thing that caught her eye was a massive alchemy furnace.
It was entirely black, standing over three zhang tall. It seemed the entire pavilion had been built just to house this furnace.
On a cushion beside the furnace sat an elderly man in gray robes.
Xiao Minghuang smiled and bowed slightly, saying:
“This junior, Ninth Princess Xiao Minghuang, greets the Seventh Elder.”
The gray-robed elder looked arrogant and grumbled:
“Enough with the formalities. Where are the herbs? Hand them over quickly!”
He had ruined three batches of elixirs in the past few days. Although they were only the lowest-grade Qi Mending Pills, his stock of herbs was nearly depleted. If he didn’t get more soon, he would have nothing left to refine.
The greatest joy in his life, and indeed the only joy, was alchemy. Not allowing him to practice alchemy would be more unbearable than killing him.
That’s why, when Xiao Minghuang mentioned that she had brought medicinal ingredients, he so readily let her in.
Unlike the Seventh Elder’s anxiety, Xiao Minghuang was calm and composed, walking leisurely to the front of the alchemy furnace, examining it with great interest.
She turned to the Seventh Elder and smiled:
“Seventh Elder, there’s no need to rush. Since I’ve brought the spiritual herbs, naturally they will be handed over to you. As for when they will be handed over, that naturally depends on…”
“Hmph!”
The Seventh Elder snorted coldly and said:
“You little girl, you have quite a mind, just like your father!”
“Let me be frank, even if I wanted to lend you this alchemy furnace, it would be impossible!”
“Oh? What does the Seventh Elder mean by that?”
The Seventh Elder shifted his gaze to the alchemy furnace and asked:
“Do you know why this alchemy furnace is made so large?”
Xiao Minghuang’s knowledge of alchemy mostly came from Ye Ruoshui, so naturally, she didn’t know how to make an alchemy furnace.
“This junior does not know, please enlighten me, Seventh Elder.”
The Seventh Elder puffed out his chest and said proudly:
“This is naturally my masterpiece!”
“In our Great Xia Kingdom, there are no artifact smiths. If we want an alchemy furnace, we must pay a high price to acquire one.”
“So, I came up with the idea of using the earth as a furnace.”
“Look at this alchemy furnace. It appears to be a furnace, but it is actually a single piece of spiritual metal. Although the quality is not high, it is large enough!”
“By casting the spiritual metal into the shape of a furnace, it becomes a natural alchemy furnace!”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang was slightly surprised. Although she didn’t understand the art of artifact smithing, she knew that it required melting various spiritual metals, materials, and ingredients, combining them into a prototype of a magical tool, then engraving patterns on the prototype, and finally melting and casting it into the shape of the magical tools commonly used.
This process sounds simple, but in practice, it is even more difficult than alchemy!
Even with a detailed guidebook right in front of them, few people could truly master it.
Unorthodox methods place even greater emphasis on innate talent compared to orthodox paths!
Cultivating martial arts and advancing through realms can be achieved through time and effort, or by taking shortcuts with elixirs.
However, unorthodox arts such as alchemy, artifact forging, formation arrays, and talisman weaving are not something one can excel at through mere diligence alone.
Exceptional talent is an absolute necessity!
Seventh Elder, who had no understanding of artifact forging, managed to craft a mid-grade Yellow-tier treasure purely through his ingenious ideas. He was indeed a rare genius!
Xiao Minghuang gathered her thoughts and turned her gaze back to the alchemy furnace. After learning the detailed information about the furnace, her objective had shifted.
Originally, she planned to borrow the furnace and bring it back to her residence to gift it to Ye Ruoshui, then return it to the palace after receiving compensation.
But since it couldn’t be borrowed now, she had no choice but to bring Ye Ruoshui here to refine the pills on-site.
She wasn’t worried that Seventh Elder would pose any threat to Ye Ruoshui.
In fact, if Seventh Elder witnessed Ye Ruoshui’s extraordinary talent in alchemy, he might even beg to take her as his disciple.
At the same time.
Seventh Elder, seeing Xiao Minghuang lost in thought while staring at the furnace, grew increasingly impatient and said irritably:
“Little girl, are you done looking? Hurry up and hand over the spiritual herbs. Once this batch of pills is complete, I’ll give you two. Don’t delay my alchemy!”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang’s eyes sparkled as she smiled and said:
“I’ve heard that Seventh Elder has ruined several batches of pills recently. Is that true?”
At these words, Seventh Elder’s eyes suddenly turned cold, and his previously irritable tone became icy as he asked indifferently:
“What? Are you here to mock me?”
Seeing Seventh Elder’s sudden change in attitude, Xiao Minghuang didn’t beat around the bush. She immediately cupped her hands and said:
“This junior has a maid by her side who has some knowledge of alchemy. I’d like to bring her to Seventh Elder’s side to exchange and discuss alchemy techniques. Would the Elder be willing?”
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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