Refining a single Ninth-Grade pill took two whole years. With such a long refinement time, if Wen Shuyi had been refining them, she would have definitely known about it.
Wen Shuyi said, “I was already able to refine Ninth-Grade pills before you were even born. I just never told anyone.”
“We're family, so I thought you already knew. Hehe.”
Hearing Wen Shuyi's awkward laugh and explanation, Wen Jingshu became even more speechless.
However, Wen Jingshu could understand why Wen Shuyi hid her true abilities.
While there were still dozens of Eighth-Grade Alchemists, Ninth-Grade Alchemists were truly as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Moreover, the effects of Ninth-Grade pills defied the heavens, and the appearance of each one would trigger a mad scramble among various factions.
If Wen Shuyi had really publicized that she was a Ninth-Grade Alchemist, she would probably find it difficult to even step outside in the future.
First, those seeking pills would line up all the way outside Yundan City.
Second, potential enemies who couldn't bear to see the Pill Sect dominate would do everything they could to assassinate her.
Third, as Wen Shuyi's younger sister, she would be in a thousand times more danger than she was now.
As for why Wen Shuyi dared to casually give a Ninth-Grade pill to Wen Jingshu, it was because their parents were originally Ninth-Grade Alchemists as well.
As their daughter, it was only natural for her to be able to produce a Ninth-Grade pill.
Furthermore, since this auction was being held in Yundan City and the Pill Sect was the host, it was perfectly reasonable for Wen Jingshu to present a Ninth-Grade pill on behalf of the sect.
Wen Jingshu sat leisurely in her palanquin as it made its way toward the Pill Sect's main gate. Along the way, she saw many Pill Sect disciples heading out.
Ying Zhen, riding his cyan luan mount, flew over to her side upon seeing her approach.
Wen Jingshu didn't go out of her way to suppress a true villain like Ying Zhen. Instead, she invited him to ride in the palanquin with her.
Inside the palanquin, Wen Jingshu sat sipping her tea while Zhao Xun and Li Xunzhi stood guard behind her.
Seeing this clear distinction between master and servants, Ying Zhen couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at Zhao Xun and Li Xunzhi.
He usually only interacted with Wen Jingshu within the Pill Sect and had no real concept of what it meant for Wen Shuyi to be an Eighth-Grade Alchemist.
But now, seeing two Mahayana Stage cultivators relegated to standing behind her, his heart skipped a beat.
Mahayana Stage cultivators were standing, while a minor cultivator like him, who hadn't even reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, was sitting?
Why did this feel like it was shaving years off his life?
Ying Zhen sat down beside Wen Jingshu in trepidation. Wen Jingshu raised her hand to pour him a cup of tea.
Perhaps because the two Mahayana Stage cultivators were present, when Ying Zhen saw Wen Jingshu's movement, he hurriedly held up his cup with both hands to make it easier for her to pour.
“Three-thousand-year-old Heart-Enlightening Tea. Have a taste, Senior Brother Ying.”
Hearing Wen Jingshu's words, Ying Zhen almost dropped his teacup.
He had heard of Heart-Enlightening Tea and had even seen it in his father's possession. However, his father only had ten leaves, and they were merely a hundred years old.
His father didn't even dare to brew them, choosing instead to place a single leaf directly in his mouth to savor.
How could he compare to Wen Jingshu, who brewed a massive spoonful at a time, and of the thousand-year-old variety to boot?
Thousand-year-old Heart-Enlightening Tea was not something money could buy.
It was a symbol of status and power!
Knowing it was a rare treasure, Ying Zhen quickly took a sip.
Unfortunately, his mind was too cluttered right now, and he couldn't comprehend anything at all.
However, his greatest strength was his shamelessness. He cheekily poured himself a few more cups and drank them down.
After a few cups of tea, he actually sensed a faint, ephemeral rhythm.
As long as he could grasp this rhythm, even with his mediocre talent, there was hope for him to break through to the Golden Core Stage within three hundred years.
“Junior Sister Wen, thank you!”
Seeing Ying Zhen thank her so solemnly, Wen Jingshu politely replied, “It is merely Senior Brother Ying's own fortune.”
Even though Wen Jingshu said that, Ying Zhen didn't dare take it for granted.
When he looked at Wen Jingshu again, his eyes were much more sincere. He said to her, “You're too polite, Junior Sister Wen. If you ever need Ying Zhen's help in the future, just say the word.”
Wen Jingshu gave a faint response and steered the conversation elsewhere.
The method for dealing with this kind of true villain was very simple: make him clearly realize that she was someone he could not afford to offend.
In the past, the young Wen Jingshu had been too approachable, which led Ying Zhen to underestimate her, and underestimate Wen Shuyi behind her even more.
But now, having consumed the Intelligence Awakening Pill, her intellect was no inferior to any adult's. Moreover, traveling with such a grand entourage, if Ying Zhen had even half a brain, he would know she was not to be trifled with.
As for the fortune she had bestowed upon him...
This Heart-Enlightening Tea was just water she drank to quench her thirst anyway. What was the harm in giving him a taste?
It was better to make friends than enemies. Resolving a potential crisis immediately with a simple gesture was the creed of the Wen family.
In fact, in some ways, a true villain was much easier to deal with than a hypocrite.
Half an hour later, the palanquin arrived gracefully at Yundan City.
Because the Fusheng Auction was opening today, Yundan City was already packed with people.
However, whether they were from the four major sects or high-level cultivators, everyone had to obediently put away their magical artifacts and mounts upon reaching Yundan City and enter on foot.
Except for the high-level cultivators of the Pill Sect.
As Wen Shuyi's younger sister, Wen Jingshu naturally enjoyed this privilege.
The palanquin landed conspicuously at the entrance of the Fusheng Auction House, and two Soul Transformation Stage cultivators immediately came forward to welcome her:
“Greetings, Miss Wen. The Heaven-grade private room has been prepared. Please follow us.”
The young Wen Jingshu had already witnessed many grand spectacles with Wen Shuyi. Just recently, she had even met a real, living immortal. Simply making an appearance in front of everyone now was a minor scene to her.
Indeed, those from great families had a high starting point and broad horizons from childhood, naturally carrying themselves with poise and grace on major occasions.
As a former talisman cultivator, Wen Jingshu lamented for the thousand and first time that being a second-generation cultivator was truly wonderful.
Adhering to the principle of keeping a low profile, Wen Jingshu had put on a veil beforehand.
It was just an ordinary veil; even a Golden Core Stage cultivator could use their spiritual sense to see through to her true face.
Yet, no one present dared to do so.
It wasn't until Wen Jingshu and her entourage entered the auction house that the cultivators queuing outside dared to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Just what is the background of this young fellow Daoist? To have Soul Transformation Stage cultivators personally welcome her... and that palanquin must be at least a Seventh-Grade magical artifact, right?”
“What do Soul Transformation Stage cultivators count for? The two following behind her are the truly terrifying ones!”
Hearing the discussions of others, a Pill Sect disciple put away his envious gaze and said proudly:
“One look and I can tell you're from the outside. That is the younger sister of our Pill Sect's Grand Elder! The sister of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist! Those two Daoist Patriarchs beside her are the Grand Elder's Dao protectors!”
“To tell you the truth, the Grand Elder has two more Daoist Patriarchs of the same cultivation level by her side!”
In the cultivation world, those who reached the Nascent Soul Stage and above received honorific titles. Nascent Soul Stage cultivators were addressed as True Lords, Soul Transformation Stage as True Sovereigns, Void Refinement Stage as Daoist Lords, Body Integration Stage as Daoist Sovereigns, Mahayana Stage as Daoist Patriarchs, and Tribulation Passage Stage as Venerable Ones.
Zhao Xun and Li Xunzhi were precisely at the mid-stage Mahayana Stage.
Hearing the Pill Sect disciple's explanation, the others couldn't help but gasp.
“Hiss... An Eighth-Grade Alchemist? Daoist Patriarchs? Those two are actually Mahayana Stage cultivators? Our sect only has three Daoist Patriarchs in total, and we can only gaze up at them from afar whenever we see them. Yet today, a Daoist Patriarch was right in front of me... The foundation of the Pill Sect is terrifyingly profound!”
“This fellow Daoist of the Pill Sect possesses an extraordinary bearing and broad knowledge. I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you to share the Ding-grade private room with me?”
Although a Ding-grade private room was the lowest-tier room at the Fusheng Auction House, it was still something others would fight for and required a certain identity and status to occupy.
If someone had invited a minor Pill Sect disciple like this before Wen Jingshu's arrival, everyone would have thought that person was out of their mind, kissing up to a mere disciple.
But now, having witnessed Wen Jingshu's grand entrance, they only wished they had the standing to curry favor like that.
Not to mention joining the Pill Sect, even just getting to know someone from the sect, occasionally obtaining some insider information, or hearing about grand spectacles they could never even dream of would be enough to broaden their horizons and give them bragging rights.
Rate on N.U.
