Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 264 - 173: Everlasting Pill!

This woman was none other than Jiang Yu, the owner of Qingyi Garden. When the Ancestor took her in, it was just over a year after Wan Yu had entered. Their paths overlapped far too much—they both vied for favor, so naturally, they didn’t get along.

"Uncles and elders, I have some good news. Just now, Alchemist Gu from White Cloud Pharmacy agreed to help with the alchemy."

"Is that true?"

The clan members up front instantly leapt to their feet, unable to keep their meditative posture, faces brimming with excitement.

Jiang Yu smiled: "How could I joke about such things with Uncles and Elders? It’s absolutely true."

She then recounted the details of what happened.

Wan Yu listened, her face looking especially ugly, but she had to hold it back, suppressing her feelings. Jiang Yu even called her out, making her share her own thoughts in front of everyone.

However, Wan Yu wasn’t one to take things lying down. She stepped forward immediately, forcing out a faint smile: "Sister Jiang really is impressive. Even Alchemist Gu was persuaded, but I still have a slightly different opinion. You see, although Alchemist Gu is very close to being a Grade B Alchemist, he hasn’t officially crossed that threshold yet. So I think we shouldn’t put all our hopes on him—two approaches would be safer."

Jiang Yu’s expression changed just a bit, shooting Wan Yu a discreet glare.

She’d wanted to use Alchemist Gu’s involvement to pressure Wan Yu—shut her down completely, never giving her a chance to show face. Yet Wan Yu had carved out another path for herself, right in front of everyone.

The argument made perfect sense. No matter what Jiang Yu thought, she couldn’t refuse, because Wan Yu was simply speaking the truth. If Jiang Yu denied it and Alchemist Gu failed to refine the Everlasting Pill, causing the Ancestor’s death, she’d shoulder most of the blame.

"It’s settled then—having two alchemists working in parallel is more reliable." Qu Feng and several of the Qu Family elders made the decision then and there.

Jiang Yu turned to ask around, and once she learned the details of this Alchemist Lu whom Wan Yu mentioned, she relaxed.

"Just an old, newly appointed alchemist. Nothing to worry about."

Lu Chang’sheng’s reputation in White Cloud Pharmacy actually exceeded that of many veteran alchemists, but it wasn’t for anything good.

Jiang Yu almost laughed out loud at some of the rumors she saw.

But before long, she couldn’t stay so carefree.

After sending over the alchemy ingredients, over two months passed without any good news for her.

"Understanding a new pill formula isn’t easy. It’s not just me—even if Alchemist Lei took over, it’d still take some time."

Outside Alchemist Gu’s residence, Jiang Yu and her retinue waited patiently. Very late, finally, Alchemist Gu emerged from the alchemy room, reeking of medicinal fragrance, and spoke in a deep voice.

Seeing his displeasure, Jiang Yu quickly replied, "So sorry, Alchemist Gu. It’s just that the Ancestor’s injuries keep worsening, and we desperately need a remedy."

Alchemist Gu was quite understanding, but said, "Alchemy cannot be rushed. If I don’t fully grasp the pill formula, even if I started now there’s no way I’d succeed."

Alchemist Gu honestly didn’t have much confidence in making a first-grade superior pill, and without full preparation, the chance of success was truly zero.

Utterly helpless, Jiang Yu could only swallow her anxiousness.

Luckily, she heard that Wan Yu hadn’t completed the pill either.

"Looks like refining the Everlasting Pill really is no easy feat."

······

"Chang’sheng, how’s the alchemy going?" Almost at the same time, Wan Yu arrived at Yun’an Institute and met up with Lu Chang’sheng.

"Madam, why not wait another half month? I should have results by then."

Wan Yu’s face lit up at his words, quickly replying, "No rush, no rush."

Now that she had a date, she felt much more at ease. Although the Ancestor’s injuries were grave, at the cost of immense resources to prolong life, waiting another month or two wouldn’t be a problem at all.

"By the way, which alchemist is helping out? When this is over, the Qu Family will certainly bestow a grand reward."

"That would be me." Lu Chang’sheng didn’t even look up, still engrossed in a book.

Wan Yu was secretly impressed. She’d met plenty of alchemists, but very few could pursue study with such dedication as Lu Chang’sheng.

It’s a pity he was a bit old—otherwise, in a hundred years, White Cloud Pharmacy might have had a place for him.

But once she heard Lu Chang’sheng’s response, she could no longer keep her composure.

"Wait—Alchemist Lu, are you joking with me?" Wan Yu’s smile totally froze, leaving only a forced, awkward laugh.

"Of course not. But don’t worry, I have the situation well in hand." Lu Chang’sheng finally took his eyes off the jade scroll, facing Wan Yu.

"Besides, Madam hasn’t got any better options right now, does she?"

Just as Wan Yu was about to burst out, Lu Chang’sheng spoke up ahead of her.

"There’s only ten or so days until the deadline I gave. Are you telling me you can’t even wait that long?"

The anger in Wan Yu’s chest got stuck right in her gut. She took a few deep breaths, realizing Lu Chang’sheng was no longer someone she could push around anymore. She forced out a bitter smile instead: "You really know how to make things tough for me."

Wan Yu returned, face as pale as death.

Lu Chang’sheng’s blunt confession was like a hammer blow to her heart, nearly shattering her will. Most likely she’d spend the next days figuring out how to patch things up.

As for Lu Chang’sheng, he didn’t bother to explain anything more—facts would speak for themselves in a dozen days or so.

Back in the alchemy room at Yun’an Institute.

The spacious alchemy room was now stacked with books on the Dao of Alchemy, all bought by Lu Chang’sheng at the Immortal City market over the past two months.

The average price for each was about fifty lower-grade spirit stones.

The more precious ones only went for several hundred spirit stones at most.