At Ximen Gong’s question, Master Chen shook his head. "Patriarch, you overestimate me. I’m only a First-Grade Alchemist, so I can only refine First-Grade Elixirs. How could I possibly refine a Second-Grade Elixir?"

"Besides, to heal the Young Master, the Golden Healing Pill must be at least Gold Quality."

As a First-Grade Alchemist, Master Chen only ever refined First-Grade Elixirs for the Ximen Family.

Even that was considered a remarkable feat.

Alchemists were bound by a strict hierarchy of ranks. A First-Grade Alchemist could refine pills until the day they died and still never produce a Second-Grade Elixir.

This was a rule, an unbreakable one at that.

It was an ironclad rule that Second-Grade Elixirs could only be refined by a Second-Grade Alchemist or higher.

Faced with this, Master Chen could only look on helplessly.

Ximen Gong sucked in a sharp breath.

"It has to be Gold Quality?"

"This..."

He knew that Elixirs came in four qualities: Black Iron, Silver, Gold, and Purple Gold. Black Iron was the worst, while Purple Gold Quality was the best.

Gold Quality Elixirs were, therefore, exceptionally rare.

"I’ll send my men to search the markets."

"As long as we find a Gold Quality Golden Healing Pill, my son has a chance to recover."

But Master Chen shook his head.

He then said something that made Ximen Gong’s heart sink.

"As far as I know, there are no Second-Grade Elixirs like the Golden Healing Pill in all of Hanwu City."

"Not only is the Golden Healing Pill complex to refine, but a Gold Quality one is almost unheard of."

As an Alchemist, he had some knowledge of matters in the Alchemy Realm.

Forget how difficult the Golden Healing Pill was to refine; in a place like Hanwu City, it was hard to find even a low-quality one.

The Golden Healing Pill was a precious Elixir, after all. Even those of the Black Iron Level were highly sought-after.

Let alone one of Gold Quality.

These words sent Ximen Gong’s heart plunging into despair.

Healing his son’s injuries had become an insurmountable challenge.

"Master Chen, are you saying my son is beyond saving?"

He was unwilling to accept it. Seeing his son lying there unconscious filled him with rage.

Naturally, his killing intent for Jiang Chen, the one who had crippled his son, was already raging.

Master Chen fell silent for a moment.

After some thought, he said, "We can try to find a Golden Healing Pill. It’s possible there might be one in Hanwu City."

"But the chances are slim."

A chill ran through Ximen Gong’s heart.

Just then, Master Chen suddenly spoke again. "If the Young Master could wait eight or ten years, and if I somehow manage to become a Second-Grade Alchemist, I might be able to refine the Golden Healing Pill myself."

This was a conservative estimate. After all, it wasn’t easy for a First-Grade Alchemist to become a Second-Grade Alchemist.

This was especially true since Master Chen himself wasn’t a particularly outstanding Alchemist.

His aptitude had its limits.

"Eight or ten years..."

Ximen Gong gave a bitter smile.

That was indeed a long time to wait.

And his son couldn’t afford to wait that long.

"COUGH, COUGH..."

Suddenly, the unconscious Ximen Jianren let out a cough.

Ximen Gong rushed to his son’s side.

"Son, son! You’re awake!"

Ximen Gong looked at his son, Ximen Jianren, with anguish. This was the apple of his eye.

He was also the hope of the Ximen Family. After all, his son possessed an Eighth-Grade Martial Vein, making him an absolute genius.

Given enough time, he was destined to become a top-tier expert.

When Ximen Jianren saw his father, he immediately burst into tears.

"Father..."

"You have to get revenge for me! It was Jiang Chen! That waste of space, Jiang Chen! He crippled me!"

He could feel that he’d lost all ability to move his limbs.

The realization almost made him pass out again.

’With injuries this severe, I’m afraid I’ll never stand again in this life.’

His heart was filled with terror and despair.

His hatred for Jiang Chen, especially, was off the charts.

Ximen Gong comforted his son.

"It’s okay, my son. I will find a way."

"I will make sure your injuries are healed."

Ximen Jianren grimaced, his teeth clenched in agony. Jiang Chen had broken all four of his limbs. Even though a Healing Pill had temporarily stabilized his condition, waves of pain still washed over him, drenching him in a cold sweat.

It was more than anyone could bear.

His biggest concern was whether he could ever recover.

"Father, can I recover?"

"Will I be able to stand again?"

He even turned a pleading gaze toward Master Chen.

Ximen Gong comforted him, "Son, Master Chen said that as long as we can find a Golden Healing Pill, there is hope for your recovery."

"Rest assured, I will find a Golden Healing Pill and save you, no matter what it takes."

After comforting his son a while longer, Ximen Jianren drifted back to sleep.

"Master Chen, please help me keep an eye out for any news about the Golden Healing Pill as well."

Master Chen nodded.

Then, Master Chen looked at Ximen Gong.

He asked hesitantly, "Patriarch, are you planning to go to the Jiang Family now?"

His son had been crippled. There was no way Ximen Gong would tolerate that.

Sure enough, Ximen Gong nodded. "That’s right. How could I possibly let them get away with injuring my son so badly?"

"I will kill that piece of trash from the Jiang Family with my own two hands and avenge my son."

He had made up his mind. He would go for revenge right now.

Master Chen didn’t try to stop him. The Jiang Family and the Ximen Family were roughly equal in strength.

Naturally, there wouldn’t be much danger involved.

He said to Ximen Gong, "Patriarch, when you go, if you get a chance, see if that Alchemist of the Jiang Family, Ling Xuan, has made any progress."

"I’ve heard that his Alchemy Skill is on the verge of a breakthrough. If he succeeds, Ling Xuan will become a Second-Grade Alchemist."

Master Chen didn’t spell out his full meaning, but Ximen Gong’s eyes immediately lit up.

Although they were rivals with the Jiang Family, the Alchemists for both families were hired. Since Ling Xuan had a chance of becoming a Second-Grade Alchemist, he represented a huge hope for healing his son.

Master Chen’s implication was clear: Ximen Gong should poach Ling Xuan and bring him over to the Ximen Family.

He shot Master Chen a grateful look.

"Thank you for the reminder, Master Chen. I will definitely poach Ling Xuan."

"I will drive the Jiang Family to ruin."

Without further delay, Ximen Gong took the men of the Ximen Family and headed straight for the Jiang Family.

He was going to avenge his son.

Jiang Chen walked out of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

He didn’t run into Bai Shu, who had apparently stormed off in a rage after being slapped.

However, he knew Bai Shu wouldn’t let the matter rest.

He wasn’t too concerned, however.

He took Yiyi and returned directly to the Jiang Family estate.

In the courtyard, Jiang Chen held a Pill Furnace.

’In this life, I will begin my journey of Alchemy anew.’

Jiang Chen estimated that with his current abilities, he could at most refine Second-Grade Elixirs.

Although he possessed the experience of a Pill Emperor and could refine Ninth-Grade Elixirs, his Cultivation in this life was still lacking.

His control over the process also needed to be honed again.

Being able to refine Second-Grade Elixirs was already a decent start.

He decided to do a practice run first.

All the necessary materials were prepared.

Returning to an unused room in the courtyard, Jiang Chen took out a brazier and lit a fire inside it.

An ordinary flame could also be used to refine Elixirs.

It just might not be able to produce perfect results.

However, for refining ordinary Elixirs below Second Grade, it wasn’t an issue.

’Focus my spirit, quiet my mind.’

Jiang Chen skillfully sat cross-legged on the floor and took several deep breaths to calm himself.

Slowly, he fell into the rhythm. Everything felt effortless, second nature. Even after a thousand years, he had not forgotten his Alchemy Skill.