The elders who heard Bai Fanxian's answer all had blank faces, until the clamor and shouting from the audience started rising, then they began coming to their senses.
"...So what's the final verdict?"
"Did Empress pass?"
They began complaining about being interrupted at an important moment, because Elder Chen acting as chairman and main judge suddenly stopped like that.
But the elders and high-level beings on stage didn't care. Once aware, they quickly gathered around that white pill with blue stripes again with interest.
"Heaven-Defying Revival... I've never heard of it before."
One elder stroked his beard while scrutinizing the elixir closely.
Some elders likewise didn't know and had never heard this elixir's name. But seeing the shocked manner of Elder Fang and Elder Chen, the possibility it was genuine was quite high.
"Not strange... the Heaven-Defying Revival Pill's formula has been lost for probably several hundred years." Elder Fang Niang explained while her mind tried excavating memories.
"Partly because Tier 4 alchemists decreased greatly in number, records of its refining method disappeared with time. In this era, only some ancient records have this elixir's name and properties written down. It's not strange you don't know it."
Elder Fang explained.
"But how do we know it's really that elixir?"
One elder raised an observation, because this pill didn't radiate any high-level elixir aura at all.
"...We'll have to test it first." Even Elder Fang answered uncertainly. Master Sun, one of those on stage now, came over to whisper quietly:
"What are this elixir's properties anyway?"
The association's high-level beings nodded in agreement with the question, because Bai Fanxian's answer was that this pill was merely "recovery medicine."
Elder Fang made an uncomfortable expression. She glanced toward Grandmaster Bai sitting sipping tea completely unconcerned with what they were doing, then spoke softly:
"As Grandmaster Bai said, this pill is recovery medicine." Her answer made the elders frown.
"But according to its name, it can save critically injured people's lives in emergencies, heal wounds, treat chronic injuries, and restore life force including depleted qi power. You could say if someone near death ate it, they'd revive like a miracle."
Those listening all gaped. Not only people on stage—the audience below who heard this pill's properties were stunned with mouths agape.
"Aren't those properties too exaggerated..."
"Right, that's like a second life."
The audience below turned to whisper among themselves. Even alchemists who were Alchemy Empress fans could barely believe such an amazing elixir existed in the world.
"As you said... but it only works well for those with cultivation power not exceeding Grandmaster level."
This time it was Bai Fanxian who interjected. This was this medicine's weakness—because its ingredients weren't hard to find and the level wasn't very high, it had almost no effect on cultivators at "Sage" level above Grandmaster.
If cultivators at that level were injured, Bai Fanxian would need to use "Recovery Pill but Tier 5" to treat them instead.
But it was still shocking anyway!
Because in this era, Grandmaster-level beings were already at the pyramid's peak!
"Then... how do we test it?"
Master Sun, currently interested in this pill, asked while forgetting how angry he'd been at Alchemy Empress for demolishing him in his thread.
"...The easiest way is testing with someone truly injured." Elder Chen spoke thoughtfully, because right now they were during the seminar, making it extremely difficult to find one injured or sick person to test the elixir's properties.
Moreover, those injuries necessarily had to be severe to a degree. If just ordinary injuries or illness, ordinary elixirs could also treat them easily. And ideally, it should be tested on someone injured at "Grandmaster" level as Bai Fanxian claimed, to truly confirm this pill's abilities.
While they debated on stage, below in the audience section, things became chaotic again.
It started from a small audience point beginning to move. Soon the dense audience dispersed into a wide circle as if making space for someone, able to make Bai Fanxian sweep her gaze to look with interest.
In that empty space appeared the figure of an old man with white whiskers and beard reaching down to his belly, like martial masters often seen on television. His eyes sparkled keenly but were tinged with weakness. He was leading a young girl whose pale face looked like a sick person.
But what made the audience willingly step back and make space for the old man to walk in comfortably was his reputation!
One of the era's supreme beings—
Sword Saint, Grandmaster Zheng Renyi!
A long-famous Grandmaster-level cultivator. Though he entered Grandmaster level when already old, his sword arts were so profound he was called number one in the cultivation world!
Previously, his clash with Eastern King Ma Fufeng became watched by all sides, but it was suddenly canceled without anyone knowing why. The match result was judged a draw before both sides separated.
No one expected he'd come to the Alchemists' Association seminar today.
Though there was news he appeared in Village Beneath the Clouds two days ago, wasn't his business related to the Divine Doctor?
Because of his sudden appearance, combined with light Grandmaster-level pressure radiating from his body, audience members beside him noticed first, then gaped in shock at standing beside a Grandmaster-level being so long unknowingly.
And after that was as seen—the crowd began parting into a path as the old man started walking.
The old man's figure walked halfway then gradually floated from the floor. He carried the not-very-well-looking young girl on his back up before successfully standing magnificently on stage.
This was definitely a real Grandmaster!
Just like Bai Fanxian, Zheng Renyi also proved himself by floating up.
Elder Chen as the association's representative was also surprised but didn't forget his manners. He walked over with clasped hands to show respect to the old man.
"Grandmaster Zheng, pardon us for not receiving you personally."
"It's fine, this old man came suddenly." The old man's self-reference was quite archaic, but seeing his external appearance like a kind old person, it didn't clash at all.
"Uh... does Grandmaster Zheng have business?" Chen Deming asked with difficulty, because right now they were during an important test.
"Nothing much... I was just taking my granddaughter out to broaden horizons quietly, but happened to hear something interesting and stopped to look."
The old man set down the girl who looked about ten-some years old from his back. She was older than Hui'er and Tang Yeye, but seemed extremely weak physically, noticeable from her limp body as if having no strength and size so thin bones were nearly visible.
To say a being like Sword Saint Zheng Renyi raised his granddaughter inadequately wouldn't be right, because the grandfather's eyes looking at his granddaughter were full of worry and heartbreaking pity.
"Then we'll quickly arrange seating for you and your granddaughter beside the stage. If anything, wait until this test finishes..." Before Elder Chen finished speaking, Zheng Renyi raised his hand to stop first.
"No need... I came up because I have business on this stage." The old man finished speaking and turned toward Bai Fanxian, who was looking at the young girl's condition with an assessing gaze.
Xie Suyao, who'd been sitting encouraging her Elder Sister all along, suddenly narrowed her eyes. She entrusted both little ones to Tang Tianjie's care before her slender figure gracefully leaped to stand before Bai Fanxian. She stared at Zheng Renyi as if about to confront him.
The old man was slightly surprised at Xie Suyao's manner but quickly waved his hands apologetically. It seemed this young woman was misunderstanding.
He turned to speak with Bai Fanxian again, this time even bowing his head pleadingly.
"Young lady... can you let me be the one to test that pill?"
The old man's words surprised both audience and elders on stage. Just now they were discussing the problem of having no one to test the Heaven-Defying Revival Pill's properties, but who'd think minutes later a Grandmaster-level being would walk up requesting to test it himself?
Moreover, it was the famous being Sword Saint Zheng Renyi.
"But I have one request—if the results truly work... could you give the other pill to my granddaughter?"
Zheng Renyi turned toward his granddaughter whose face wasn't well. She just clung silently behind the old man without saying anything.
"Uh... Grandmaster Zheng, testing this pill's properties requires using it on someone injured..." It was Elder Fang Niang who quickly explained to the old man, because looking from outside, Zheng Renyi didn't look injured at all.
But on the contrary, Zheng Renyi laughed lightly. He used one hand to remove his robe. Beneath the robe, a body strong as young men dreamed of appeared to sight. Muscular bundles with many scars showing rich experience were illuminated by stage lights until looking beautiful like artwork.
The old man slowly turned for people on stage to see. In the middle of his back appeared a large purple bruise spreading across the entire back!
It looked both severe and frightening. Just imagining having such an injury in the middle of one's back constantly—even Martial Master-level cultivators couldn't act as casually as the old man.
"I was injured from clashing with young Master Ma last time..."
Zheng Renyi explained with a calm expression. In that clash, he was hit by the "Demon Body" that was Ma Fufeng's ultimate technique right in his back until sent flying far.
"...But that day you showed no injury symptoms?" Elder Chen was surprised. He himself was one of those who went to watch that day too. The scene of Zheng Renyi standing up majestically before countering with over twenty golden sword qi was still embedded in his head.
At that time he was confident the old man truly wasn't injured.
"Ah... at that time I used qi to protect to a degree."
Zheng Renyi made an uncomfortable expression.
"But after that, there was... tremendous pressure pressing down from the sky..." The old man spoke while gradually recalling that day's events.
"It was both fierce and intense... even my protective qi shattered. When hit by that level of pressure on top of the existing wound..."
"...It's as you see."
The old man sighed hopelessly.
"I learned later. From that day until now, no elixir or treatment helps relieve this condition at all. I can only hope the elixir this young lady refined might help relieve it somewhat..."
While speaking, he turned to look at Bai Fanxian, who'd been sitting quietly sipping tea for a while, with pleading eyes. Somehow he felt she was strangely avoiding his gaze!
Bai Fanxian's manner made the elderly butler look in surprise.
Grandmaster Bai acted like hiding something, and her expression was like a small child who just committed some wrongdoing.
Ordinary people probably couldn't tell, but for a first-class butler who'd been with his master for a while, how could Huang Zihan not notice?
"You... you can take both pills..."