Chapter 4942 — The Earth-Solidifying Pill
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"In truth, it is no wonder Master Lin has not heard of it. The Earth-Solidifying Pill is indeed exceedingly rare—after all, in ordinary circumstances it is quite useless, and even the merchant guilds of the Xuan-rank seas do not stock it. Had I not been injured this time, I would never have paid it any mind either," Zhuang Yifan said with an understanding nod.
"Hmm? Chairman Zhuang is injured?" Wei Zhao was startled again.
"Indeed. To be frank with you, I am an expert of the Earth-Opening Stage—and of its late phase," Zhuang Yifan admitted.
Wei Zhao's eyelid twitched faintly at this. Though he had long suspected as much, hearing it confirmed from the man's own lips was still somewhat staggering. Who would have thought this one was actually an expert of the late Earth-Opening Stage!
But if his strength was so formidable, how had he come to be injured? Could there be someone even mightier than he in these Yellow-rank seas?
Seeing the doubt all over Wei Zhao's face, Zhuang Yifan shook his head with a bitter smile. "My injury did not come from fighting anyone. I was impatient and forcibly attempted to break through to the peak of the late phase, and the attempt failed and backlashed upon me. Though outwardly no wound shows, it has in fact undermined the very foundation of my strength, leaving my power unstable. That is why I need an Earth-Solidifying Pill—a pill made specifically for consolidating the strength of the Earth-Opening Stage."
"I see," Wei Zhao said, nodding in sudden understanding. Then he asked, "So Chairman Zhuang went out of his way to invite Zang Zili here precisely for this? Is that woman also a Xuan-rank first-grade alchemist?"
"Indeed. She is the only Xuan-rank alchemist known throughout the Yellow-rank seas, and even she advanced only recently. Under normal circumstances, no Xuan-rank alchemist is to be found here at all—they are all in the Xuan-rank seas," Zhuang Yifan confirmed.
"Fine, then let me see the materials and the pill formula. I will give it a try—there should be no problem," Wei Zhao said at once.
"Good. The formula is on my person; the materials are at the Alliance branch. I will fetch them now." Zhuang Yifan nodded, then with a flicker of movement vanished from before Wei Zhao. In less than a moment he reappeared as if out of thin air, a medium-sized wooden chest now in his hands, filled with all manner of precious spirit herbs.
Wei Zhao clicked his tongue in secret admiration. As befitted a great figure of the late Earth-Opening Stage—that speed was simply unmatched.
"This is the formula for the Earth-Solidifying Pill. As for the materials, I have gathered three sets. Do you suppose it can be done?" Zhuang Yifan asked, gazing at Wei Zhao with eager eyes.
Small wonder he was so anxious—the matter had been gnawing at him bitterly. This was not like pills used to break through to a new realm, where a little sooner or later made no great difference. But in Zhuang Yifan's present condition, if it dragged on too long, disaster was very likely to follow—perhaps even the tragedy of his strength declining.
And even if he could steady his realm again afterward, he would surely be broken beyond recovery, never to advance another inch, his whole life finished.
"Let me have a look first," Wei Zhao said, making no grand promises. Taking the formula, he began studying it on the spot. This was the first time he had ever examined a Xuan-rank first-grade pill in detail, and what essential difference lay between Xuan-rank and Yellow-rank pills would directly determine whether he could refine a Xuan-rank pill at all.