Chapter 145: The Dual Saints of Martial Arts and Pharmacy (Second Update)

After finishing their meal at the Supreme Delicacies restaurant, Xin Lang took out another forty Essence-Transforming Pills, giving twenty to Fatty Gu and twenty to Qian Baidu. He instructed them to continue consolidating their cultivation and strike while the iron was hot, lest the primordial essence within their bodies dissipate completely.

Fatty Gu and Qian Baidu obeyed Xin Lang implicitly. After filling their stomachs, they obediently returned to their quarters to cultivate.

On his way back to the Martial Dao Academy, Xin Lang was intercepted by the Third Prince, Huangfu Shaoqi, who cordially invited him to the Princess's Mansion. "Master Xin, both Her Imperial Highness Huijing and I are eager to know whether that Saint-grade Tier-3 pill has been successfully refined."

Ever since learning that Xin Lang was capable of refining Saint-grade Tier-3 pills, Huangfu Shaoqi’s deference toward him had grown significantly. Moreover, Huangfu Huijing’s attitude toward Xin Lang had also undergone a major shift, completely shedding the overt hostility she had previously displayed.

Huangfu Shaoqi, Huangfu Huijing, and Shangguan Ningyu all fixed their gazes on Xin Lang, awaiting his reply.

"It has been refined." Xin Lang retrieved a Marrow-Cleansing Pill from his robe and said indifferently.

Gazing at the Marrow-Cleansing Pill in Xin Lang's hand, Huangfu Shaoqi, Huangfu Huijing, and Shangguan Ningyu asked in disbelief, "Is... is... is this truly a Saint-grade Tier-3 pill?"

Noticing the skepticism written all over Huangfu Huijing's face, Xin Lang casually tossed the pill directly to her as if he were throwing a mere pellet of grain, saying, "If you don't believe me, you can taste it!"

Huangfu Huijing caught the medicinal pill, examined it closely, gave it a sniff, and then swallowed it whole.

She had remained deeply skeptical of Xin Lang’s ability to refine a Saint-grade Tier-3 pill; without personal verification, she would never have believed it.

After waiting for a moment without sensing any physical changes, Huangfu Huijing remarked, "It doesn't seem to have any effect at all. You wouldn't happen to be trying to trick us with some random pellet, would you?"

"Hehe..." Xin Lang chuckled as he looked at her. "No rush, it will take effect immediately! Though I suggest you head back to your room right now; otherwise, I won't be held responsible for whatever happens shortly!"

No sooner had Xin Lang finished speaking than the expression on Huangfu Huijing's face shifted dramatically. Her internal organs began to churn violently, accompanied by an overwhelming urge to relieve herself—an urge that was exceedingly difficult to suppress.

"Ah!"

With a startled cry, Huangfu Huijing scrambled toward the direction of the latrine. She wanted to cover her backside with her hands, but feared being seen by Xin Lang, so she simply quickened her pace and relied on sheer willpower to endure.

***

Huangfu Huijing left and did not return for a full hour before she finally reappeared.

Xin Lang asked, "Well? Did I lie to you?"

Huangfu Huijing’s cheeks burned with a deep crimson blush. Had her movements been even slightly slower just moments ago, the consequences would have been utterly unthinkable, and she likely would have been too ashamed to face anyone for the rest of her life.

"Well, Elder Sister Huijing? Is it as astonishingly powerful as a Saint-grade Tier-3 pill?" Huangfu Shaoqi asked anxiously.

Huangfu Huijing replied cautiously, "I have never consumed a Saint-grade Tier-3 pill before, so I dare not make a rash judgment, but this medicine is undoubtedly extraordinary!"

"Ah! Does that mean this pill really is as terrifyingly potent as a Saint-grade Tier-3?" Huangfu Shaoqi exclaimed.

"Mm, there's likely no mistake about it." Having tested the medicine herself, Huangfu Huijing had already verified the authenticity of the Marrow-Cleansing Pill.

Standing nearby, Shangguan Ningyu looked at Xin Lang with a solemn expression, thinking to herself, *A Saint-grade Tier-3 pill... Doesn't that mean he is not only a Martial Saint, but also a Tier-3 Medicine Saint?*

Noticing the shift in Shangguan Ningyu’s gaze, Huangfu Huijing felt a twinge of displeasure and steered the conversation elsewhere. "Fellow student Xin, may I ask what this pill is called, and how many more of them you have on hand?"

Xin Lang replied, "This pill possesses the efficacy of cleansing the marrow and purging toxins, so I call it the Marrow-Cleansing Pill. As for how many more I have—that is a secret and cannot be disclosed to you! However, the quantity is more than enough for your needs."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Huangfu Shaoqi beamed with joy upon hearing that Xin Lang still possessed more of these pills.

With cautious prudence, Huangfu Huijing asked Xin Lang, "Fellow student Xin, if we wish to purchase these Marrow-Cleansing Pills from you, how much would one cost?"

"Hehe, as for that... it's rather hard to say!" Xin Lang countered with a question. "If we were to compare a Saint-grade Tier-3 pill with a Treasure-grade Tier-9 pill, Your Highness, how many times greater do you think the value difference would be?"

"Hmm... about that?" Huangfu Huijing pondered for a moment before answering, "It should be somewhere between several dozen and a hundred times!"

"Oh, hehe, then setting a price is easy!" Xin Lang said. "I happen to have a Treasure-grade Tier-9 Marrow-Cleansing Pill right here. Their effects are identical, except the previous one was Saint-grade Tier-3, while this one is Treasure-grade Tier-9. If we take this Treasure-grade Tier-9 pill to an auction house, we can use its final auction price to determine the exact value of the Saint-grade Tier-3 Marrow-Cleansing Pill!"

***

"Splendid! As long as there is a price to be set, everything is negotiable! Master Xin, I shall go and contact the auction houses right away to see if there are any large-scale auctions scheduled in the next couple of days." With that, Huangfu Shaoqi departed the Princess's Mansion to arrange the auction.

Huangfu Huijing frowned slightly. If a Treasure-grade Tier-9 medicinal pill were put up for auction, the price would undoubtedly be astronomical. If a Saint-grade Tier-3 pill was worth a hundred times that amount, just how exorbitant would a single Saint-grade Tier-3 Marrow-Cleansing Pill be? Huangfu Huijing did not dare to think any further.

Xin Lang had arrived alongside Huangfu Shaoqi; and while Huangfu Shaoqi had left, Xin Lang remained behind. Since Xin Lang intended to stay and flirt with the women—a deliberate opportunity engineered by Huangfu Shaoqi to curry favor with him—Xin Lang shamelessly settled into his seat and refused to budge.

Since she currently needed Xin Lang's help, Huangfu Huijing could not bring herself to chase him away. Instead, she offered stiffly, "Fellow student Xin, the hour is late and it is nearly noon. I shall have the kitchen prepare a few dishes, so please stay and partake in a modest meal with us?"

"Oh... I was originally planning to leave!" Xin Lang said. "But since Her Highness the Princess insists on treating me to a meal, how could I refuse to give her face? Very well, I shall stay then."

The feigned reluctance on Xin Lang’s face made Huangfu Huijing grit her teeth in silent exasperation, yet she could do nothing to vent her frustration!

Noticing the playful banter between Xin Lang and Huangfu Huijing, Shangguan Ningyu gently bit her lower lip, a faint smile blooming across her face. This sight caused Xin Lang's heart to skip a beat. *Sigh! I must admit, this little girl Shangguan Ningyu is truly a breathtaking beauty in the making!*

"Ahem, ahem..." Catching Xin Lang staring intently at Shangguan Ningyu, Huangfu Huijing could not help coughing twice out of annoyance.

Hearing her cough, Xin Lang reluctantly pulled back his gaze and turned his attention back to Huangfu Huijing instead.

Today, Huangfu Huijing was once again dressed in men's attire, sporting the dashing look of a fair-faced young scholar. If one deliberately ignored the distinctly feminine curves of her chest—which were by no means inferior to Hu Qingqing's—she could undoubtedly captivate tens of thousands of young maidens!