Translator: AnubisTL
The little white mouse was about a foot tall and two feet long, robust in build, with bean-sized eyes that flickered with an almost human-like intelligence. It was undoubtedly a top-tier test subject, indicating that the Elder must have meticulously selected it.
After all, this was a pill trial conducted by the Chief Elder of the Alchemy Hall. The standards had to match, and nothing could be done half-heartedly.
The eyes of everyone present were fixed on the test mouse, especially the Elders, who used secret techniques to meticulously observe every subtle change in the mouse.
"It's working! The mouse's physical strength has increased slightly."
"Indeed, I can see it too. Though the increase is minimal, it's definitely there!"
"A reputation well-earned. Elder Shen has held the position of Chief Elder of the Outer Sect Alchemy Hall for so many years, and his mastery of pill refinement is truly admirable."
"Haha, I'm convinced. I'm far from his level!"
"..."
The Elders of the Alchemy Hall nodded and shook their heads, not holding back their praise. As for the ordinary disciples of the Alchemy Hall, they were deeply impressed by Elder Shen, seeing him as an idol and a lifelong goal, hoping to one day become a figure as respected as he was.
Even Gu Feng, who was meeting the Chief Elder of the Outer Sect Alchemy Hall for the first time, was filled with admiration. Long before "The Complete Guide to Bone Cleansing Pills" was published, Elder Shen had handed the book to Zhu Qingyan, instructing her to follow the steps to refine the pills. After several days of trying and wasting hundreds of Spirit Herbs, all she achieved was a series of explosions in the furnace.
In contrast, Elder Shen succeeded in refining the pills on his first attempt, producing three pills, which was enough to cement his reputation as the top alchemist in the Outer Sect.
As he looked around at the astonished expressions of the crowd, Elder Shen stood tall and proud, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling with excitement.
He felt a sense of relief that the incident involving the Bone Cleansing Pill in the Outer Sect had given him the opportunity to showcase his alchemical prowess.
At this moment, he was filled with boundless ambition, and a long-lost passion surged through him. "My alchemical skills are not limited to this. I can go even further!"
For a moment, he wanted to rush to his alchemy room, open the furnace, and refine some pills he had never succeeded with before. The small 'Bone Cleansing Pill' had given him endless confidence, making him believe that with the same perseverance he had shown in researching the 'Bone Cleansing Pill,' he could solve any problem in the world.
Suddenly, he noticed the strange expressions on the faces of the people below the stage. Elder Shen composed himself and turned his attention back to the test mouse in front of him.
The mouse, which had been enjoying itself moments ago, now had a look of anxiety in its bean-sized eyes. Its pointed head darted around, its two legs clutching its stomach, its smooth fur damp with sweat as it ran frantically across the stage, seemingly searching for something.
"It's about to have diarrhea!"
Someone shouted, and everyone realized that the side effect of the 'Bone Cleansing Pill' was indeed diarrhea. This also indirectly proved that Elder Shen had truly succeeded.
Though the Bone Cleansing Pill he refined had not eliminated this side effect, which was a slight blemish, it was still a success, and no one was disappointed.
On the stage, Elder Shen's expression shifted slightly. He ran his finger over the Storage Ring on his left index finger, and a bronze-colored vessel appeared in his hand, glowing faintly.
Clearly, he intended to use this vessel to catch the filth that the mouse was about to expel. Gu Feng stared in shock, his heart aching as if it had been stabbed. This was too extravagant! This vessel must be worth at least several thousand Spirit Stones.
The mouse, upon seeing the vessel, immediately placed it under its rear end. The sound of splattering followed, accompanied by a nauseating stench.
Then, something unexpected happened. The mouse, which had just defecated a few breaths ago, covered its mouth with its front legs. With a retching sound, it spewed a mix of vegetable leaves, meat scraps, and bile, spraying it all over Elder Shen, who was standing not far in front of it.
Fortunately, Elder Shen's cultivation was profound, and he reacted quickly, raising a Spirit Energy Shield just in time to avoid disaster. Even so, he was thoroughly embarrassed.
His smile froze on his face. The mouse's vomiting clearly indicated that something was wrong with the pill.
Retching sounds continued as the mouse alternated between vomiting and diarrhea, its body convulsing and drenched in sweat. After emptying its stomach of food, it began to vomit bile, and then yellow suspended particles were expelled. Finally, its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed to one side, unconscious, with filth still spewing from both ends.
The scene was extremely gruesome. The entire stage was filled with a disgusting stench, and faint yellow particles floated in the air. The audience below began vomiting one after another.
By now, everyone understood that Elder Shen had only refined a pill similar to the 'Bone Cleansing Pill,' not the real thing.
Though it did enhance physical strength, the side effects were a hundred times worse than the 'Bone Cleansing Pill' Gu Feng had refined.
This test mouse, which was equivalent to a human cultivator at the Ninth Level of Body Refinement, had vomited and diarrhea to the point of unconsciousness. If ordinary disciples took this pill, they would likely suffer the same fate.
The disciples who had previously taken the Bone Cleansing Pill couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. They decided it was better not to experiment with the 'Bone Cleansing Pill' anymore, lest they accidentally refine something deadly.
The venue was eerily silent, with only the sounds of the mouse's retching and diarrhea echoing on the stage.
Looking at the convulsing mouse, which seemed on the verge of death, Elder Shen's face turned ashen, the word 'embarrassment' practically written on his forehead.
The earlier grandeur had turned into utter humiliation, and even someone as experienced as him was at a loss for how to gracefully exit the situation.
Helping others out of embarrassment is also a way to save oneself from it. Allowing the Chief Elder of the Alchemy Hall to be publicly humiliated in his own domain would not bode well for Gu Feng in the future.
Thinking of this, Gu Feng cleared his throat and put on an exaggerated expression, shouting, "Oh no! I think I accidentally gave Elder Shen Yellow Ling Grass instead of Incense Candle Grass!"
As he spoke, he deliberately took out the Incense Candle Grass to prove that he had indeed made a mistake, all while keeping his eyes locked on Elder Shen's.
Elder Shen immediately understood, his face darkening as he feigned anger, "No wonder this happened! You gave me Yellow Ling Grass instead of Incense Candle Grass? These two Spirit Herbs look almost identical on the outside, with only a slight difference in scent, but their effects are worlds apart!!!"
His tone was harsh, but his eyes were filled with appreciation. This kid had managed to thrive in the Outer Sect for a reason. His understanding of human relationships surpassed that of most disciples, and Elder Shen decided he would interact with him more in the future.
"My apologies, Elder Shen. I'm still new to alchemy and lack the necessary knowledge. I must have made a mistake!" Gu Feng bowed respectfully to Elder Shen, playing the part to the fullest, not minding an extra bow and apology.
"What a mess! You've caused me to lose a valuable test mouse.
Clean this up and report to the Hall of Elders later!" Elder Shen scolded before turning and walking away without a backward glance.
The other Elders also stood up one by one, giving Gu Feng a meaningful look as they left, thinking to themselves: This kid isn't half bad.
The ordinary Alchemy Hall disciples might have been fooled, but the Elders saw through the act: Would the Chief Elder of the Alchemy Hall really refine a pill without first checking the ingredients?
Fortunately, Gu Feng was quick-witted and reacted swiftly, or else the Outer Sect Alchemy Hall would have lost all face today.
As for the Alchemy Hall disciples, except for a few smart ones, the rest glared at Gu Feng, muttering complaints before leaving as well.
"Clean this up!" Gu Feng sighed, shaking his head as the commotion died down.
"Why are you looking at me? I was hired to maintain order at the venue, not to clean up." Chu Youhuan shook her head like a rattle drum when Gu Feng turned to her. "We, the female cultivators, are all about cleanliness. Who could stand this stench?"
The scene was so revolting that just looking at it would make one lose their appetite for days. To actually go in and clean it up would be a nightmare of vomiting while scrubbing.
"Fifty thousand!" Gu Feng glanced at her and tossed her fifty thousand Spirit Stones.
"Boss, you should have said so earlier! We, the Jade Maiden Sect, have seen it all. We'll make sure this place is spotless and fragrant!" Chu Youhuan immediately beamed, patting her chest in assurance.
"Sisters, let's get to work! Five hundred Spirit Stones each!"
"Alright!"
Gu Feng was long accustomed to Chu Youhuan's blatant self-enrichment. He smirked and instructed Yan Xixi to quickly sell off the remaining Bone Cleansing Pills.
"Oh, and clean that vessel thoroughly and give it to me!
It belongs to Elder Shen, and I need to return it." He added this last instruction to Chu Youhuan before walking out of the venue and heading toward the Outer Sect Hall of Elders.
Return it to Elder Shen? More like he wanted to reclaim it and sell it for money!
Chu Youhuan and the others were dumbfounded, a wave of nausea rising from the depths of their stomachs to their throats. Gu Feng truly had no fear of disgust—he couldn't even bear to leave behind a vessel that had held shit?
But what could they do? They'd taken the money, and now they had to do the job. A few female cultivators began cleaning the area, vomiting as they worked.
(End of the Chapter)
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