Time passed, second by second. Inside the Spirit Thought Pill Furnace before Shen Haoran, a rough, uneven elixir was slowly taking shape. It continued to change, and after a short while, it became perfectly round. A faint green medicinal fragrance began to emerge from within the furnace.
"A colored medicinal fragrance!" Hall Master Hong exclaimed upon seeing this. A colored fragrance would only appear for a Fifth Grade High Level elixir, and only when it was refined to Top Grade quality or higher! However, Hall Master Hong wasn't too surprised this time. After the shock of witnessing Sixth Grade Alchemy and the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, a colored fragrance seemed somewhat lackluster in comparison.
Seeing the fragrance appear, Hall Master Hong knew the alchemy process was about to end. He immediately closed his eyes and began to carefully review the details of Shen Haoran's alchemy. Observing Shen Haoran had brought his own alchemy skills a great deal of progress; it was safe to say he had benefited immensely!
However, just as Hall Master Hong closed his eyes, the Communication Token in his Storage Ring began to vibrate. A few messages came through from the Martial Artists outside the Alchemy Room, causing Hall Master Hong's brow to furrow deeply.
"Hall Master Hong, what's wrong?" Lady Ya asked softly, noticing the change in his expression.
At her words, Hall Master Hong gave Lady Ya a deep look and said, "The Bai Family is looking for you. They've come to my Medicine Hall now. I suspect they've already guessed you're here with me!"
Hearing Hall Master Hong's words, Lady Ya's slender brows furrowed. 'The Bai Family really won't let me go. To think they'd come to the Medicine Hall to seize someone... It seems they're determined to get me!'
"Rest assured. You were brought here by Young Friend Shen, which makes you one of my Medicine Hall's people. No one has ever dared to seize a person from my Medicine Hall, and the Bai Family is no exception. Unless Young Friend Shen agrees, no one can take you away!" Hall Master Hong vowed to Lady Ya. With that, he rose and walked outside.
Lady Ya watched Hall Master Hong's back as he left, then glanced at Shen Haoran, who was still engrossed in his alchemy. Her mind raced with thoughts.
Meanwhile, outside the Pill Room, Bai Hong was standing in the Medicine Hall's main hall with his men, facing off against several of the hall's Martial Artists.
"Second Master Bai, you really can't go in. Hall Master Hong is in the middle of alchemy and cannot be disturbed by anyone!" The same plump woman who had received Shen Haoran earlier said to Bai Hong, cupping her fists.
"Then I must trouble you to announce me. Just say that I, Bai, have urgent business with Hall Master Hong and cannot afford a moment's delay!" Bai Hong said, his expression anxious.
"He has already been notified. Second Master Bai should just wait," the plump woman said with a light chuckle.
"Notified? I've been waiting here for half the day! Why hasn't Hall Master Hong come out yet?" Bai Hong's face darkened as he spoke in a low voice.
"Second Master Bai, as you know, alchemy requires a calm and focused mind. Hall Master Hong is surely refining a High Tier elixir, so how could he possibly emerge in less than ten days or half a month? If Second Master Bai is growing impatient, you could always go home and rest first. You can come back to visit after Hall Master Hong has finished," the plump woman said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Hmph!" Hearing the plump woman's words, Bai Hong couldn't help but snort coldly. He wasn't so foolish as to miss that this was just a stalling tactic from the Medicine Hall. However, the more they delayed, the more certain Bai Hong became that Lady Ya was indeed inside the Medicine Hall!
At this thought, a cold glint flashed in Bai Hong's eyes. They had to get Lady Ya. She knew that it was the Bai Family who had slaughtered the members of the Vajra Ape Race. If Lady Ya were to leak this information, the Bai Family would face a pincer attack from both the Vajra Ape Race and the Snow Wolf Race. The Snow Wolf Race alone was already more than the Bai Family could handle. If the Vajra Ape Race was added to the mix, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Bai Hong desperately wanted to charge in right now, but the thought that this was the Medicine Hall forced him to suppress the impulse. Compared to the Vajra Ape Race and the Snow Wolf Race, the Medicine Hall was even more terrifying!
Watching Bai Hong pace restlessly around the room with a grim expression, the plump woman gave a wry smile. She had indeed notified Hall Master Hong long ago, but her orders were to stall Bai Hong. All she could do was block the entrance with her people. Fortunately, Bai Hong didn't dare to act rashly, wary of the Medicine Hall's reputation.
But Bai Hong's patience was limited. As time ticked by, it finally ran out completely. He turned to the plump woman and said coldly, "I'll trouble you to notify him again. If Hall Master Hong still doesn't come out, then I'm afraid I'll have to be impolite!"
"What do you think you're doing? This is the Medicine Hall, not a place for you to run wild!" The plump woman roared in anger when she saw Bai Hong and the Bai Family Army behind him release their auras.
"Hmph. Search! You must find Lady Ya for me!" Bai Hong completely ignored the plump woman's threat and commanded the Bai Family Army behind him.
"Yes, sir!" At Bai Hong's command, the Bai Family Army roared in unison and were about to charge into the Medicine Hall. But before they could make a move, a cold voice drifted out from within.
"Bai Hong, you've got some nerve, daring to force your way into my Medicine Hall. Are you looking down on me, Hong, or are you looking down on the Medicine Hall itself?" From inside, Hall Master Hong questioned him, his face grim.
Seeing Hall Master Hong emerge, Bai Hong waved his hand, signaling the Bai Family Army to fall back. He then stepped forward himself and said calmly, "My apologies, Hall Master Hong. I was forced into this. A traitor has appeared in my family, stolen a Supreme Treasure, and is now hiding in your esteemed hall. I must bring her back, which is why I acted a bit impulsively."
"So you're saying my Medicine Hall is harboring a traitor from your Bai Family?" Hall Master Hong's eyes narrowed as he spoke faintly.
"Haha, Hall Master Hong, you exaggerate. How could I dare imply such a thing? Besides, the Medicine Hall has always acted with integrity. How could it possibly shelter a traitor? I'm merely doing this to shut some people up and stop them from spreading rumors about the Medicine Hall. And I trust that for the sake of the Medicine Hall's reputation, Hall Master Hong will surely cooperate, right? After all, if there's truly no one here, the Medicine Hall has nothing to worry about, does it?" Bai Hong laughed, but his tone was filled with a chilling coldness as he spoke to Hall Master Hong.
Hearing Bai Hong's words, Hall Master Hong's expression grew even darker. 'This Bai Hong... to think he'd dare use the Medicine Hall's reputation to pressure me. The crucial part is that I have to fall for it. The Medicine Hall has a rule against interfering in the disputes of various powers and families. Now, in front of so many people, if I don't let Bai Hong search, it will certainly give others cause for gossip and damage the Medicine Hall's reputation. But if I let him search, Lady Ya will be discovered, and then things will become even harder to explain. This move from Bai Hong is truly ruthless!'
Seeing Hall Master Hong's grim face, Bai Hong couldn't help but sneer. 'This was the method I came up with to deal with the Medicine Hall. They've always valued their reputation more than life itself. Using their reputation to pressure Hall Master Hong has definitely hit him where it hurts!'
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Just as Bai Hong was sneering, the sound of applause rang out, immediately followed by a mocking voice: "Second Master Bai's scheme is truly brilliant. It really lives up to the title of 'old and treacherous'! This humble one is thoroughly impressed, truly impressed!"
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