Chapter 52

Looking at the two people before her, she thought they were a perfect match.

Qin Zheng smiled as he looked at Chu Ning.

Chu Ning understood his meaning.

She gracefully expressed her gratitude to Xu Xiuhua and extended her hand.

Xu Xiuhua’s smile became even kinder as she reached out to shake hands.

“Let’s sit down and talk.”

“Zheng Yuan, go make some tea.”

“Okay!” Zheng Yuan exited the room.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Our Alchemist Association is very interested in the Jade Dew Pill. Personally, I’m also quite curious about its formula.”

“But as of now, the patent for the Jade Dew Pill’s formula is exclusively authorized to the military. I personally contacted Director Zheng, but he just gave me the runaround.” Xu Xiuhua smiled helplessly.

“Now that I’ve found the person in charge, I’d like to discuss this with you.” Xu Xiuhua looked at Chu Ning.

“Well…” Chu Ning hesitated.

“Our Alchemist Association is willing to offer 10 billion star coins for the primary patent authorization of the Jade Dew Pill. Additionally, if you’re willing, I’d like to take you as my final disciple.”

Compared to money, becoming the last disciple of a senior alchemist should hold much greater significance for her.

Xu Xiuhua looked at Chu Ning with a kind expression, growing more satisfied with this potential disciple the more she observed her.

She even imagined taking Chu Ning out in the future and making those old geezers green with envy.

However, after hearing this, Chu Ning’s expression stiffened.

“Ah, this—”

“If you’re just curious about the formula, I can send you a copy. As for the patent authorization, it will be available for sale in half a month. But as for becoming your disciple…”

Xu Xiuhua’s eyes lit up.

“I’ll have to decline.” Chu Ning said apologetically.

She was once the revered Grandmaster of the Alchemy Sect, nearly ascending in her past life—why would she need to take a mere Nascent Soul-level alchemist as her master?

A moment ago, Xu Xiuhua had been all smiles, but now her expression nearly cracked.

Did she hear that correctly? This girl actually rejected her?

“Thank you for your kindness, but… I already have a master. And I promised her that I wouldn’t acknowledge another, so—” Seeing Xu Xiuhua’s expression, Chu Ning hastily made up an excuse.

Xu Xiuhua collected herself after hearing this.

“I see.”

“May I ask who your master is—” It was truly a shame that such a great talent already had a teacher.

“My master prefers to stay low-profile. You probably wouldn’t know her.” Chu Ning smiled at Xu Xiuhua while discreetly squeezing Qin Zheng’s palm.

Qin Zheng glanced at his wife, whose smile was beginning to falter, and stifled his laughter.

“The military is financially strained, and Zheng Yuan wants to capitalize on the initial wave of demand for the Jade Dew Pill. Eventually, though, the patent authorization will be released.”

“Since the President has come to us directly today, as my wife just said, in as soon as half a month, we can sell you the patent authorization for the Jade Dew Pill.”

“As for your personal curiosity about the formula, you may study it freely. As long as it isn’t publicly disclosed or used for commercial purposes, we have no objections.”

Xu Xiuhua nodded.

“Then we’ll wait another half a month.” She was aware of the military’s situation. As long as every party received equal treatment, waiting was acceptable.

Chu Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’ll send you the formula.” She turned to Xu Xiuhua.

Xu Xiuhua still felt a tinge of regret that she couldn’t take this disciple.

After some thought, she pulled up her identity code, allowing Chu Ning to add her as a contact and send the formula.

Chu Ning complied.

Upon receiving the formula, Xu Xiuhua opened it immediately.

And once she started reading, she couldn’t stop.

“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! The spiritual energy flow can actually be guided like this! And these medicinal ingredients—they can be combined in such a way?!”

“Girl, you are a genius!” Xu Xiuhua’s eyes burned with excitement as she stared at the formula, unable to look away.

Chu Ning and Qin Zheng exchanged glances, smiling awkwardly.

She wanted to say that she wasn’t actually the one who created the formula.

But if she credited it to her “master,” this Alchemist Association President would surely start digging into her teacher’s identity.

At that moment, Qin Zheng squeezed Chu Ning’s hand and gave her a look, signaling her to stay quiet.

So, Chu Ning chose to keep her mouth shut.

Just then, Zheng Yuan returned with the tea.

She also brought along Chu Ning’s Intermediate Alchemist badge.

After receiving the badge, Chu Ning and Qin Zheng stayed for a short while before taking their leave.

Once they stepped out of the Alchemist Association, Chu Ning finally relaxed.

“Good thing you were there today. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for me to refuse.” She clung to Qin Zheng’s arm as they walked.

Without Qin Zheng, as a newly certified Intermediate Alchemist, she might not have had the authority to reject the President’s offer at all.

She was still too weak. She had to advance to Senior Alchemist as soon as possible.

Qin Zheng turned to look at Chu Ning, his gaze filled with indulgence.

“If you want to refuse, just refuse. Even if I weren’t there, you could still tell them that you’re my wife.”

“My wife doesn’t need to compromise.”

Chu Ning’s heart trembled, as if scalded.

“…Mhm.” She responded softly.

Hand in hand, they walked forward, their hearts drawing ever closer.

—

Marshal’s Mansion, a Few Minutes Later

Chu Ning and Qin Zheng returned home. Since it was still early, she headed straight for the alchemy room.

At that moment, Xia Ye had just finished refining a batch of pills. Seeing that both of them looked relaxed, he guessed that Chu Ning’s exam had gone well.

“Congratulations, Wife, on becoming an Intermediate Alchemist!”

“Mhm, I passed smoothly!”

“I’ll go upgrade the online store. From now on, we can increase our daily sales cap to one million star coins.” Chu Ning said as she pulled up her optical brain.

Although her online store had purchase limits, the situation remained the same—sales would max out just past midnight every day.

The reason? Many people were waiting for her store’s Jade Dew Pills.

Ever since she signed the patent authorization with the military, the pills had gone on sale.

But because only the military held the patent and could legally distribute them, the market supply was extremely scarce.

Currently, in the military’s public sales channels, a single Jade Dew Pill sold for at least ten thousand star coins.

In some high-end markets, the price had even been speculated up to two hundred thousand.

According to Gu Ming, Director Zheng had been going crazy lately, urging the military’s contracted alchemists to mass-produce the Jade Dew Pills without rest.

Since the pill could replenish both physical and mental energy, the military had even started distributing some to the alchemists themselves, practically working them like beasts of burden.

With market prices skyrocketing, Chu Ning also raised her store’s prices, but demand remained just as high.

In short, her online store was thriving.

“Mhm.” Xia Ye nodded.

“I contacted Imperial Sister for help. She’s willing to lend us two Intermediate Alchemists. We should seize the time to refine more Jade Dew Pills for sale.”

“Additionally, she said she could provide us with some Junior Alchemists under lifetime contracts. Wife, what do you think—?”