"Oh? Brother Tang, are you not bringing a gift? Why are you just sitting there?" Liu Wuhui looked at Tang Laozi's somber expression and couldn't help but feel a sense of smug satisfaction. He knew that the gift Tang family had brought was far inferior to the gifts from the other three major families.

The elders from the Qin and Wu families also wore mocking expressions as they looked at Tang Laozi, eagerly waiting to see Tang family’s embarrassing moment.

The City Lord and other astute individuals had quickly pieced together that the extravagant gifts from the other three families were an attempt to undermine the Tang family. Everyone in the hall could sense that the Tang family was about to suffer a setback.

Tang Yan, however, remained composed. He had already anticipated their scheme. He stood up, cleared his throat lightly, and smiled, “Time truly favors Lady Lin, she looks just like my sister. I, Tang Yan, wish Lady Lin eternal youth and increasing beauty.”

"How shameless!" The crowd muttered in disbelief. How could this guy say such things so casually?

Tang Laozi felt his muscles twitching in frustration. Here he was, already worried about the light gift he had brought, and now his grandson was making things worse with his antics.

However, Lady Lin, upon hearing Tang Yan's words, couldn't help but smile, saying, “You speak too much. Time is relentless, no one can escape the passage of time, not even me.”

“You needn’t worry about asking Tang family for a gift anymore,” Lady Lin continued, her face lighting up. “Tang family already sent me a gift three days ago. I must thank them for the elixir that removed the scars on my face.”

The rumors about Lady Lin’s disfigurement had spread quietly throughout the city, so it wasn’t exactly a secret. Everyone had noticed her flawless face today, and they had been wondering how she managed it. It turned out that Tang family had sent her the elixir that healed her.

The people in the hall, especially the heads of the other families, were now looking at Tang family with much more respect. The City Lord had received a huge favor from the Tang family, which made the other families uneasy.

“Since I’ve already wished Lady Lin eternal youth, I must ensure my blessing is credible,” Tang Yan said with a smile. “Thus, Tang family offers this special gift, the Resplendent Youth Pill. Once consumed, it can preserve your beauty for twenty years, and even after twenty years, it will still provide a few more years of anti-aging benefits.”

The crowd was stunned. To maintain one’s beauty for twenty years was truly remarkable, and the effects Tang Yan described were extraordinary. When Lady Lin heard about the effects, her eyes sparkled with excitement. What woman wouldn't want to preserve her youth, especially one as beautiful as Lady Lin?

Tang Yan continued, “The grade of this pill is a top-tier second-grade, but the formula is extremely rare. One pill is worth its weight in gold. Today, on Lady Lin’s birthday, I present it as a gift.”

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As Tang Yan approached with the pill, Lady Lin, usually composed, took a few steps forward in her eagerness. The sincerity in her actions spoke volumes.

“This elixir was painstakingly made, and its effects have been verified,” Tang Yan said confidently. “There are no side effects. Lady Lin, please feel free to take it. If you have any doubts, you may have it tested, and if anything I say proves false, Tang family will accept the consequences.”

Just as Lady Lin was about to take the pill, a clear voice rang out: "May I inspect the pill, Lady Lin?"

The room fell silent, and everyone turned toward the voice. It was none other than Wu Xuan, the chief alchemist of Miaodan Pavilion.

The other families weren’t sure if they believed Tang Yan could actually procure such a miraculous elixir, and if Wu Xuan could expose it as a scam, the Tang family would lose face and be punished by the City Lord’s mansion.

With the precedent of the scar-removal elixir, and in front of so many witnesses, Lady Lin smiled and said, “There’s no need for an inspection. I trust Master Tang.”

Wu Xuan, however, pressed on, “Lady Lin, please don’t misunderstand. I am just deeply passionate about alchemy. I have heard of the Resplendent Youth Pill, but I’ve never had the chance to study one. Since we’re all so fortunate to be here today, would you mind allowing me to examine it?”

Liu Wuhui, from the side, added, “Lady Lin, since Wu Xuan is here, it’s best to have her verify it.”

Tang Yan understood that having someone from Miaodan Pavilion vouch for the elixir would calm Lady Lin’s doubts and improve the Tang family’s reputation. He smiled and said, “That’s fine, please go ahead.”

Lady Lin hesitated for only a moment before handing the pill to Wu Xuan.

Wu Xuan carefully accepted the pill, uncorked the bottle, and brought it to her nose, sniffing it gently. Her brow furrowed in concentration.

Everyone in the hall held their breath, eager to see what Wu Xuan would make of it. After a while, she opened her eyes and shook her head.

Seeing this, Liu Wuhui’s eyes narrowed. Could it be a fake? He tried to remain calm but his curiosity was obvious as he asked, “Wu Xuan, have you noticed something wrong?”

“I’ve been analyzing the ingredients, but I can’t identify a single one,” Wu Xuan sighed.

“So, you’re saying you can’t determine if it’s genuine?” Qin Laozi asked, voice laced with suspicion.

“Is it a fake pill? Tang Yan, how dare you deceive us in the City Lord’s mansion?” the head of the Qian family seized the opportunity to retaliate.

Lady Lin looked confused. Was it real or fake?

Wu Xuan quickly clarified, “The head of the Qian family is overstating things. My failure to identify the ingredients doesn’t mean the pill is fake.

The pill is round and smooth, with no sign of leakage of its medicinal power. Whoever made this elixir is undoubtedly a master alchemist.

From the scent, it’s clear that this pill is meant to enhance vitality, and I am confident that it is genuine.

Although I have years of experience in alchemy, even I can’t distinguish the individual ingredients in this pill. The reason is that the alchemist has perfectly fused the ingredients, resulting in a single fragrance that is indistinguishable. This is a level of mastery that I, too, can’t achieve.

This alchemist’s technique is nearly perfect—perhaps at least a fourth-tier alchemist.”

“Fourth-tier alchemist!” The room was in an uproar. In the entire Tianxiang Kingdom, there were only a few fourth-tier alchemists. How did the Tang family get their hands on such an incredible elixir?

Miaodan Pavilion’s alchemists were equally stunned. The skill required to fuse the medicinal ingredients into one undetectable fragrance was extraordinary. It showed a high degree of mental power and innate talent.

“Seeing this pill in my lifetime is truly a blessing. I must admit, I’m a little envious of Lady Lin,” Wu Xuan said with a wry smile.

Lady Lin, feeling reassured, carefully placed the pill back in her pocket. She smiled at Tang Yan, “Tang family has been very thoughtful. I’ll be sure to visit and express my gratitude personally.”