Just as they stepped into the pill room, the two Martial Saints following behind the middle-aged man suddenly tensed. Their hair stood on end, and one of them called out, "Master Danyang, be careful! All those bronze-masked figures are Martial Saints!"
Master Danyang was startled at the warning. He instinctively glanced over the thirty bronze-masked figures, his eyes showing a hint of caution. Still, he kept his composure and instead looked at Leon Huang, asking politely, "So this young man is the one challenging Elder Chen?"
"That's me," Leon Huang replied with a nod.
"May I ask your name, young man?" Master Danyang asked courteously.
"Leon Huang."
"Leon Huang?" Master Danyang felt the name was familiar. Suddenly, he realized what it signified, and his expression grew solemn. "Are you the formation master Leon Huang who trapped and killed over two hundred thousand Strongarm Bull Devils and ten Devil Saint experts at the Blood River Battlefield?"
"It's just a minor reputation, not worth mentioning," Leon Huang replied modestly.
"You're far too modest, Mr. Huang. Killing that many Bull Devils saved countless human lives—a tremendous service to our race."
"You're too kind," Leon Huang said calmly.
"I didn't expect Mr. Huang to be not only a formation master, but also skilled in alchemy. All right, I won't interrupt your match with Elder Chen. But after the contest, we must share a few drinks together!"
Hearing this, Leon Huang was briefly taken aback, then gave a faintly amused smile, thinking to himself, 'If you knew my real reason for coming to Suncrest Sect, would you still want to share drinks with me?'
"Young Master Huang, if you need anything else, just say the word!" Elder Chen spoke up again. Although he was devoted to alchemy, he had heard of Leon Huang's reputation, so his attitude was much more courteous.
"No need," Leon Huang replied.
With that, Leon Huang reached out and grabbed a batch of Spirit Medicines for refining the Black Tortoise Pill. Instantly, a wave of azure radiance enveloped the herbs, melting them at astonishing speed and releasing wisps of black smoke.
Those black smoke wisps were impurities and toxic components within the Spirit Medicines.
"What an incredible pill-refining technique!"
Watching Leon Huang refine pills, Elder Chen's eyes went wide with shock, filled with burning excitement.
Soon, all the Spirit Medicines had melted, and the medicinal liquids began to fuse. In just a few breaths, a milky-white pill exuding an enticing fragrance appeared.
"Here, see if this is a Black Tortoise Pill!"
Leon Huang casually tossed the freshly refined Black Tortoise Pill to Elder Chen.
Elder Chen had devoted himself to pill-refining for over a century, so his experience and discernment were extremely sharp. Even without looking, just by smelling the pill's aroma, he knew the Black Tortoise Pill was successfully made.
Still, he carefully inspected the pill, marveling repeatedly as he did. After a long moment, he finally spoke: "This is indeed a Black Tortoise Pill, and its quality is superb—it's a top-grade pill among its class. I concede!"
At that moment, Leon Huang spoke up, "This Black Tortoise Pill can add three to five years of lifespan, but you can only take up to three. After three pills, your body develops resistance and further doses become ineffective. I have another pill—the Longevity Pill—which adds ten years per dose and only develops resistance after five pills!"
"Is that true?"
Elder Chen asked excitedly.
"Why would I lie to you?" Leon Huang said, taking out a pill bottle from his Storage Ring and tossing a Longevity Pill to Elder Chen. "See for yourself."
When it comes to longevity, cultivators are the true experts.
Not only does a cultivator's true qi nourish the body, but most of their pills also have the effect of extending lifespan.
Even the Longevity Pill Leon Huang produced was considered utterly ordinary among cultivators, designed specifically for use by mortals.
Elder Chen had his own methods for verifying the Longevity Pill's effects. After testing, he came to an exciting conclusion: this pill really could extend life by ten years.
"Well, Elder Chen?" Master Danyang asked excitedly.
Suncrest Sect had quite a few old monsters whose lifespans were nearly exhausted. They relied on various pills to keep going, and each one was a priceless asset to the sect. That's why Suncrest had long researched lifespan-extending pills.
"Sect Master, this Longevity Pill really does add ten years of life!" Elder Chen said with absolute certainty.
Hearing Elder Chen's confirmation, Master Danyang was overjoyed. His gaze burned with anticipation as he looked at Leon Huang. "Young Master Huang, could you sell us some Longevity Pills? Name your price—anything you want!"
Leon Huang shook his head. "I don't need silver."
"Then what about pills? We can trade Profound Pills and Breakthrough Pills!" Master Danyang pressed on; both types were extremely precious and indispensable to any martial artist.
"I'm an alchemist myself. I can refine them," Leon Huang replied, shaking his head again.
After being refused again and again, Master Danyang grew a bit frustrated. He racked his brain for a way to persuade Leon Huang, but could only say, "Young Master Huang, just name your condition. As long as Suncrest Sect can do it, we won't hesitate!"
"I have only one condition. If you agree, I'll provide you with a hundred Longevity Pills every year—free of charge!"
"A hundred Longevity Pills!"
Master Danyang and Elder Chen's breathing grew rapid. After all, Suncrest Sect had over thirty old monsters on the verge of death. If Leon Huang provided a hundred Longevity Pills each year, those old monsters could live at least fifty more years.
But they also knew that for Leon Huang to offer such a deal, his condition couldn't be simple. Master Danyang's expression grew serious as he asked, "May I ask what your condition is, Young Master Huang? Please, do tell!"
"I want Suncrest Sect to submit to the South Domain Martial Alliance," Leon Huang said calmly.
Master Danyang's expression changed abruptly. After a long silence, he shook his head. "Young Master Huang, that's asking too much. Could you offer another condition?"
Leon Huang replied, "I have only one condition. But I understand Suncrest Sect isn't skilled in combat. If you join the South Domain Martial Alliance, I promise you won't be assigned any battle tasks—just stick to your expertise. Of course, if you refuse, I'll uproot Suncrest Sect, leaving no one alive. After all, you can refine pills, but so can I—and my pill-refining skills far surpass yours!"
As soon as Leon Huang finished speaking, the thirty Martial Saints behind him unleashed their auras, shaking the entire pill-refining chamber. For a moment, the two Martial Saints, Master Danyang, and Elder Chen all turned pale from the overwhelming pressure.
"It's not impossible for Suncrest Sect to join the South Domain Martial Alliance!" Elder Chen managed to say, "But I have a condition too!"
"Speak!"
With a wave of Leon Huang's hand, the thirty Martial Saints withdrew their auras.
"I want to acknowledge you as my master and learn pill-refining from you!" Elder Chen said, looking at Leon Huang.
Leon Huang was stunned, then laughed. He hadn't expected Elder Chen to make such a request. After a moment's thought, he said, "You won't be able to learn my pill-refining technique itself, but I can guide you in medicinal theory and share some pill recipes."
Leon Huang's pill-refining skill came from the Divine Pill Condensation Technique. When he obtained it, the system had infused him with vast medicinal knowledge and countless pill recipes. In fact, the entire Suncrest Sect's pill repertoire couldn't compare to what he alone had mastered.
"This old man pays his respects to Master!"
Though he couldn't learn the miraculous pill-refining technique, Elder Chen was still overjoyed. Fearing Leon Huang might change his mind, he immediately knelt and kowtowed.