Chapter 2556 — Ask Wei Zhao
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Then wait until you've finished casting it and we'll talk." Han Jingyi was no fool. The distinction among first-rank, second-rank, and third-rank cauldrons had long since been learned from Wei Zhao's materials: first- and second-rank cauldrons could be made by any third-rank alchemist, needing only alchemical fire to finish, with no casting process at all.
The third-rank cauldron, however, was a different matter entirely—only a tool-caster could forge one, and in this age tool-casters had long since vanished from the world. In theory, then, a third-rank cauldron could never be cast anew; every third-rank cauldron in existence was a legacy handed down from the past.
As for cauldrons in general, first- and second-rank ones could indeed be damaged—being the work of alchemists with no forging involved, it was only natural they lacked sturdiness. But a third-rank cauldron was essentially indestructible; so long as one did not refine some heaven-defying pill, using a third-rank cauldron to refine fourth-rank pills would leave it entirely unharmed.
As for You Panhu's talk about the next batch not being cast yet—that was pure nonsense. But Han Jingyi did not call him out; she had no wish to let You Panhu see just how much she understood of the alchemical arts.
"That... well, that would take a long time!" You Panhu said hurriedly. "How about this: I don't have a third-rank cauldron on me, but I do have some of the materials used to cast one. What if I give you a set of materials, and you have Wei Zhao do the casting?"
"Oh..." Han Jingyi nodded and said, "And it's free?"
"Naturally not. All you have to do is make me a copy of the materials Wei Zhao gave you," You Panhu said.
"That won't do. Forget it, then," Han Jingyi said flatly.
"..." You Panhu was on the verge of tears. All that talk for nothing—one sentence from Han Jingyi and everything was back to square one. "Then what will it take for you to copy it for me? Just say it plainly!"
"Whatever other good things you have, just say them plainly," Han Jingyi tossed the question right back at him.
"...This..." You Panhu hesitated a moment, then said, "Fine, I'll be honest with you. I can give you one second-rank cauldron, one set of casting materials for a third-rank cauldron, and some materials for third-rank pills as well. How about that? Is that enough?"
"Is that all?" Han Jingyi asked.
"Yes—isn't that enough?" Having laid all his cards on the table at once, You Panhu felt rather deflated.
"I don't know. When Brother Wei Zhao comes back, I'll ask him for you," Han Jingyi said.
"What? I still have to ask Wei Zhao?" Han Jingyi's words struck You Panhu like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving him scorched outside and raw within. So all his talking had been for nothing—he had thought he could sweet-talk Han Jingyi, and in the end she still meant to consult Wei Zhao!
"That's right. These materials belong to Brother Wei Zhao. If you want to copy them, naturally you have to ask Brother Wei Zhao," Han Jingyi said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"But the materials are in your hands right now, aren't they? Copy them for me on the sly, and then all these fine things are yours. Think how good a deal that is—if I were you, I'd agree," You Panhu said. He did not want Han Jingyi to go asking Wei Zhao; he wanted to go around him. Otherwise, if Wei Zhao heard of it and tossed out another demand for Qi-Gathering Pills, where on earth was You Panhu supposed to find them?
"That won't do. Jingjing doesn't deceive people," Han Jingyi said with a shake of her head.
Stubborn as a mule! You Panhu cursed inwardly, though he dared not say a word of it aloud. He only said, "All right then. When Wei Zhao comes back, ask him and see whether these things will do!"