The Unmarked Pill was a second-tier low-grade elixir. These kinds of pills couldn’t aid cultivation and were notoriously complex to refine, so very few alchemists were willing to make them. Because of its rarity and the difficulty in crafting it, very few people were familiar with it.
In his previous life, someone had paid an exorbitant price to have Tang Yan craft this pill, which was how he had come to remember its recipe. Little did he know, that knowledge would prove invaluable today.
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CITY LORD’S MANSION
A tall, muscular middle-aged man stood by the window, gazing eastward as he spoke with a deep voice, “That kid from the Tang family, so his dantian is intact after all. According to the latest intel, his cultivation is already at the 8th level of Yuan stage.”
“Quite unexpected. It seems that Winter Snow was deceived by the Tang family last time,” replied a woman, sitting gracefully in a chair with her face still veiled by a light silk, even though there were no outsiders in the room.
“The matter between the City Lord’s mansion and the Tang family seemed to have been settled, but the result wasn’t made public. People still believe that the City Lord’s mansion let it slide. Now, it seems someone is looking to stir up trouble with this,” she continued.
“Although the Tang kid once tried to harm Winter Snow, he didn’t even touch her. Moreover, after he wrote that poem, Winter Snow, representing our City Lord’s mansion, declared the matter resolved. Even if rumors spread, does the City Lord’s mansion really want to go back on its word and cause more trouble with the Tang family?” The man, City Lord Lin Xiao, frowned deeply.
“Should we just make the previous resolution public?” the City Lord’s wife suggested.
“That’s not wise. We resolved the dispute with just a poem. Publicly revealing it might affect Winter Snow’s reputation. Let’s wait a bit. If the rumors get too intense, we can exert some pressure on the Tang family.” Lin Xiao’s gaze deepened. “And the Liu family has been getting a bit too arrogant lately.”
Just then, a servant entered the room and reported, “Young Master Tang is here to see the City Lord.”
“Tang Yan?” Lin Xiao and his wife exchanged looks, both sensing the same confusion. “Did he come alone?”
“Indeed, he did.”
“What’s this kid up to now?” Lin Xiao thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Let him wait in the front hall.”
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When Lin Xiao arrived in the main hall, he found Tang Yan sitting leisurely, sipping tea in an exaggerated posture with one leg casually draped over the armrest.
Lin Xiao was taken aback. Everyone who visited the City Lord’s mansion always behaved respectfully, so who was this impudent fellow?
Before he could act, Tang Yan noticed him and quickly put down his tea. “Ah, City Lord, I just arrived at the mansion and felt so comfortable, almost like home. I wasn’t paying attention and forgot my manners. Please don’t mind.”
Lin Xiao was taken aback by Tang Yan’s words. What kind of audacity does it take to speak like that?
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Still, Lin Xiao didn’t address the matter directly. Instead, he coldly asked, “I heard that your cultivation has reached the 8th level of Yuan stage?”
“Oh, haha, yes, City Lord, your eyes are indeed sharp, you noticed it…” Tang Yan responded with a smile.
“Outrageous! Last time, when Winter Snow visited your Tang family, you lied through your teeth, claiming your dantian was destroyed! Do you think my City Lord’s mansion can be fooled so easily?” Lin Xiao’s eyes went wide with fury, his enormous aura bursting out, overwhelming the room with pressure.
Tang Yan was immediately engulfed by a heavy sense of danger. His heart raced, and the intensity of Lin Xiao’s aura made him wonder: Is the City Lord a Sky Stage expert?
Having been a ninth-level alchemist in his previous life, Tang Yan had faced countless powerful people and was hardly intimidated by pressure. He calmly explained, “City Lord, the Tang family didn’t deceive Winter Snow. My dantian was indeed destroyed, and the top physicians in Yun City can vouch for that. It was only because of my master’s kindness that I was able to recover and regain my cultivation.”
Master? Lin Xiao’s eyes narrowed. He had investigated the Tang family’s claim, and the top physicians had indeed confirmed that Tang Yan’s dantian had been shattered and could not be used for cultivation. But if this kid truly had a master, how could his dantian heal, and how did he instantly reach the 8th level of Yuan stage?
Who could possibly possess the power to reconstruct a destroyed dantian?
“Oh? Who is your master? Could you introduce them to me?” Lin Xiao asked, trying to maintain a neutral tone.
“My master is a humble person, uninterested in fame, with no name to speak of. He prefers to live in seclusion and travel the world. He doesn’t allow me to reveal his identity. But when I next see him, I’ll ask if he would be willing to meet you,” Tang Yan answered seriously.
After hearing Tang Yan’s explanation, Lin Xiao was left in deep thought. If Tang Yan truly had such a powerful master, anyone who considered troubling the Tang family would have to think carefully.
Did Tang Yan come here to threaten the City Lord’s mansion and warn them not to make trouble for the Tang family? Lin Xiao’s eyes flashed with cold light. If that was the case, the Tang family had miscalculated.
“So, what brings you here today?” Lin Xiao asked with a serious tone.
“To give a gift,” Tang Yan replied, his voice casual as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“A gift?” Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow. In all his years, this was the first time someone had so confidently come to deliver a gift.
“Well, then please leave. It’s not a holiday, and we certainly don’t need any gifts,” Lin Xiao waved his hand, preparing to dismiss him.
“This is a gift from my master—a No-Trace Pill. Although it’s a second-tier low-grade pill, it’s very rare. The recipe for it is little known, and the refining process is quite complicated, so the success rate is very low.” Tang Yan sighed. “Since you don’t need it, I’ll just leave.”
A second-tier low-grade pill? Lin Xiao scoffed inwardly. Though second-tier low-grade pills were rare in Yun City, they weren’t particularly valuable in the grand scheme of things. While he’d never heard of a No-Trace Pill, he assumed it wasn’t anything special.
At that moment, Lin Xiao realized what Tang Yan was really after: using the pill to gain a favor, so that if rumors spread, the City Lord’s mansion wouldn’t get involved with the Tang family.
Although Lin Xiao never intended to escalate matters further, he was starting to feel the pressure. A second-tier low-grade pill wasn’t something to sway the City Lord’s mansion, but it still had value.
Just as Lin Xiao was preparing to walk away, Tang Yan mumbled as he turned to leave: “My master mentioned that the No-Trace Pill can remove any scar without a trace, and it can even improve beauty. I wonder if that’s true. Since you don’t need it, I’ll just consume it myself when I have the chance.”
Lin Xiao, whose hearing was as sharp as ever, caught every word clearly. He froze.
His wife, Winter Snow, had a scar on her face that had plagued her for years, and no doctor had been able to help. Every time she looked in the mirror, she would force a smile, but Lin Xiao could see the sorrow in her eyes.
The No-Trace Pill, which could remove scars without a trace? Why hadn’t Tang Yan mentioned this earlier?
Suddenly, Lin Xiao couldn’t contain himself anymore. He bellowed, “Young Master Tang, wait!”