Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1429 - 904: Refining the Divine Wood Treasure Cauldron
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
In the vicinity of White Cloud Immortal City, within the grand Ten Thousand Treasures Store, Yang Zhenshan, adorned in his Green Pine Magic Robe, took a leisurely stroll.
As he moved through the establishment, shop employees bowed in unison, exclaiming, "Greetings, Guest Elder Yang!"
Yang Zhenshan acknowledged their greetings with a warm smile and a nod.
"Oh, what brings Guest Elder Yang to our store today? Haha~~" A portly man with large ears approached, his voice booming with laughter.
"Manager Lin, it has been some time!" Yang Zhenshan responded cordially.
The man, Lin Zhaoheng, who had assumed the role of store manager at the Ten Thousand Treasures Store the previous year and served under Zhongli Xiayi, was quite familiar to Yang Zhenshan.
"Has Guest Elder Yang come to see Manager Zhongli?" Lin Zhaoheng inquired, gesturing for Yang Zhenshan to follow him upstairs.
"Yes, I have a minor matter to discuss with Manager Zhongli," Yang Zhenshan replied casually.
The pair proceeded to the third floor, reaching the entrance to Zhongli’s private study.
Before they could even knock, the door swung open on its own, and Zhongli Xiayi's voice beckoned from within, "Enter!"
Upon stepping into the study, Yang Zhenshan’s gaze immediately fell upon Zhongli Xiayi, who was dressed in an opulent palace gown.
She wore a magnificent red embroidered gown, featuring a phoenix motif woven with gold thread, a luxurious fox fur collar, and a striking peacock feather cloak draped over her shoulders. Her hair was adorned with a red-gold filigree phoenix hairpin and an elegant jade hairpin. Standing behind her desk, she exuded an air of nobility, her dignified eyes and the gentle sway of her gold and emerald accessories completing the regal image.
For reasons unknown, Zhongli Xiayi's attire rarely resembled that of a typical cultivator; it more often evoked the image of a high-ranking consort from a royal dynasty.
Her clothing was consistently resplendent and majestic.
"Please, have a seat!" Zhongli Xiayi lifted her head, revealing a serene countenance.
Without hesitation, Yang Zhenshan settled himself comfortably at the tea table.
Lin Zhaoheng promptly stepped forward to pour him tea.
Zhongli Xiayi gracefully moved from behind her desk, her movements as fluid as willow branches dancing in the breeze, yet each step carried an undeniable dignity.
"You required my assistance with something?"
"Indeed, I have a small request," Yang Zhenshan stated, extending his hand and placing a delicate porcelain bottle before her.
With a flicker of intrigue, Zhongli Xiayi accepted the porcelain bottle and opened it. The moment her eyes landed on the elixir within, her bright gaze flared with unmistakable excitement.
"A superior demon essence pill!"
Lin Zhaoheng exclaimed, his surprise evident.
"Precisely, this old man just finished refining it; it's still warm!" Yang Zhenshan chuckled softly.
Zhongli Xiayi's eyes sparkled with delight as she regarded Yang Zhenshan.
Over the preceding years, Yang Zhenshan had showcased his alchemy prowess with the demon essence pill. Although he had only supplied one such pill to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, it was unequivocally a genuine demon essence pill.
However, the prior pill he provided was of inferior quality, and now he presented a superior one.
This turn of events was, without a doubt, a most welcome surprise.
The significance of a superior demon essence pill could not be overstated.
It signaled that Yang Zhenshan was merely a single step away from formulating a top-grade demon essence pill, capable of producing one at any given moment.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Store boasted over a dozen second-rank alchemists, all of whom could refine demon essence pills. Yet, only the two seventh-rank alchemist guest elders possessed the skill to create superior demon essence pills.
Within the entirety of White Cloud Immortal City, these two were the sole individuals capable of producing such high-caliber pills.
This firmly established the Ten Thousand Treasures Store's refining standards as the pinnacle in White Cloud Immortal City.
Yang Zhenshan's newfound ability to create superior demon essence pills marked his ascent among the most esteemed alchemists in the city.
While Zhongli Xiayi held Yang Zhenshan in high esteem, she had not anticipated his rapid advancement to refining superior demon essence pills.
"Congratulations, Guest Elder Yang!" Zhongli Xiayi offered, her gaze filled with genuine appreciation.
"Yes, yes, congratulations, Guest Elder Yang! You truly are a master alchemist, congratulations!" Lin Zhaoheng beamed, his round face lighting up like a blooming flower.
"Congratulations to everyone!" Yang Zhenshan responded with a cheerful smile.
Amidst the chorus of congratulations, Zhongli Xiayi held the porcelain bottle, seemingly unwilling to part with it.
"Regarding this demon essence pill!" she remarked, glancing at Yang Zhenshan.
Yang Zhenshan replied with a laugh, "I wish to exchange it for some spiritual materials!"
Zhongli Xiayi's eyes gleamed once more. "Absolutely, you may select any third-rank spiritual material from our vault. I shall cover the contribution points!"
Exceptional demon essence pills were an extreme rarity; the Ten Thousand Treasures Store once employed two skilled alchemists capable of their creation, yet their output was meager. This limitation wasn't a matter of their proficiency, but rather the sheer challenge inherent in concocting a superior demon essence pill. Yang Zhenshan's accomplishment in refining one on this occasion owed a debt to fortune, but predominantly, it was the Golden Crow Eight Trigrams Furnace that proved instrumental. For Zhongli Xiayi, this pill held the potential to aid her in achieving a breakthrough to the late stages of Foundation Establishment. This outcome aligned perfectly with Yang Zhenshan's objective: to exchange a superior demon essence pill for a specific tier-three spiritual material. Combined with his accumulated contribution points over an extended period, he could then acquire another spiritual material. Such a prospect meant he would finally possess all three required tier-three spiritual materials for the refinement of the Divine Wood Treasure Cauldron. "My gratitude for your understanding, Manager Zhongli!" Yang Zhenshan declared, stroking his beard with a smile. "Our needs dovetail, so it's hardly a favor!" Zhongli Xiayi swiftly secured the porcelain bottle within her storage bag, a subtle movement suggesting she had no intention of returning it. Lin Zhaoheng gazed at the vanishing bottle with a profound sense of yearning, his spirit considerably dampened. A superior demon essence pill! He deeply desired such an item himself! ... Following his departure from Zhongli Xiayi, Yang Zhenshan proceeded with ease to the Wanxiang Building, where he procured two Mystic Iron Tokens for entry into the treasure trove. He then presented these tokens at the repository. The aged senior attendant remained in his post, and the unadorned black stone table was precisely as he had previously seen it.