Chapter 739: Restoring the Pill Formula

"President, something terrible has happened! As soon as the Fragrance Pavilion opened today, the threshold was nearly trampled!"

Early in the morning, the steward of the Celestial Fate Trading Company hurriedly found Zuo Xin.

The bustling scene at the Fragrance Pavilion had frightened him.

In contrast, their Celestial Fate Trading Company was desolate, with hardly any customers.

Zuo Xin frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

"The Fragrance Pavilion's newly launched fifth-grade pills have effects that are 40% to 60% higher than our identical varieties, yet their prices are even cheaper than our 20% discount! And... and..." The steward stammered, afraid to continue.

Zuo Xin's face darkened. "Speak!"

"Yes, President! And after yesterday's defeat of Alchemy Saint He by Ye Yuan and his master, it seems overnight that all the martial artists in the city know the power of the Fragrance Pavilion!" said the steward.

"Bang!"

Zuo Xin gnashed his teeth in anger and threw the teapot in his hand to the ground, shattering it.

"Go, find a way to get me some of the Fragrance Pavilion's pills!" Zuo Xin said in a deep voice.

"I have already obtained some from martial artists who bought them. Here."

The steward was clearly efficient; without waiting for Zuo Xin's orders, he had already brought the pills.

But at this moment, Zuo Xin had no intention of praising him. He snatched the pills and examined them closely.

Yet after looking for a long time, Zuo Xin could not see any difference between these pills and his own.

"Go, summon Alchemy Saint He! Wait... forget it, I'll go find him myself!"

Such a major matter could not wait for Zuo Xin.

If what the steward said was true, then the Celestial Fate Trading Company would face its greatest crisis!

The foundation Zuo Xin had painstakingly built in Gufeng City would soon be completely eroded by the Meteor Trading Company!

Although fifth-grade pills belonged only to the low-end market, it was also the largest market. If the Fragrance Pavilion captured this segment entirely, their business would likely suffer a loss of 30% to 40%!

Such a loss was unbearable for the Celestial Fate Trading Company!

Moreover, Zuo Xin had heard that behind the Fragrance Pavilion was a master who could refine top-grade and even super-grade sixth-grade pills.

If allowed to grow unchecked, the consequences would be disastrous!

He had thought that with two preparations, he could crush the Fragrance Pavilion in one blow, but instead, he had struck a snake only to be bitten. On only the second day of opening, the Fragrance Pavilion had already posed such a great threat to the Celestial Fate Trading Company.

What surprised him even more was that He Shuming, a dignified Alchemy Saint, had actually lost to an Alchemy King!

Although it was only in the art of flame control, a loss was a loss, with no excuses. The martial artists who bought the pills would listen to no excuses either!

Zuo Xin quickly found He Shuming. Originally, He Shuming was too embarrassed to see Zuo Xin, but since the man had come to him, he could not avoid it.

But when Zuo Xin briefly explained the great crisis facing the Celestial Fate Trading Company, He Shuming could no longer remain calm.

He had thought that yesterday's loss was a temporary setback, insignificant.

Who would have thought that early the next morning, he would hear such a thunderous blow?

"This... how could a fifth-grade Rejuvenation Pill contain Starry Secret Flower? Hmm? And Moon-Sand? This... this defies pharmacology! The strangest thing is that after adding these, the efficacy has increased by 40% to 50%. This is simply incredible!"

He Shuming, worthy of being an Alchemy Saint, had already identified the differences from an ordinary fifth-grade Rejuvenation Pill just by smelling it.

But in his view, adding these ingredients was utter nonsense and should have destroyed the main ingredients' medicinal properties.

Yet why, after adding them, did the efficacy increase so much?

When a new pill appears, it always attracts intense study from other alchemists.

The composition of a pill is not something that can be easily hidden; high-level alchemists can identify the herbs in a pill just by smelling it.

But restoring the pill formula from a single pill is nearly impossible.

Because the proportions and amounts of each herb cannot be replicated. Not to mention the refining techniques and control of heat.

Alchemy is an extremely precise craft; even the slightest error results in a waste pill.

Nevertheless, this did not stop He Shuming from marveling at this fifth-grade Rejuvenation Pill!

"Alchemy Saint He, can this pill... be restored?" Zuo Xin asked cautiously.

He Shuming sighed and said, "With my ability, I certainly cannot restore the pill formula. On the surface, this pill seems ordinary, but the refining technique is extremely skilled. To crack it... I'm afraid we'll have to send it back to the headquarters. I wonder if the Alchemy Emperor there can restore the formula!"

Restoring a pill formula, though nearly impossible, still holds a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, some common formulas would not have leaked out.

However, restoring a pill formula generally requires a strength several levels higher.

Because their understanding of pharmacology and alchemy has reached a very profound level.

With luck, they might still be able to discern some patterns through the attribute relationships among the herbs.

Zuo Xin exclaimed in surprise, "Even an Alchemy Venerable cannot restore it?"

He Shuming shook his head. "In my opinion, an Alchemy Venerable cannot either! If Ye Yuan refined this pill himself, then his attainment in the Dao of Alchemy is definitely above mine! It's just that his realm is insufficient, so he cannot refine sixth-grade or higher pills. But if that's the case, then the person behind him... is too terrifying!"

Though unwilling to admit it, the facts before him forced He Shuming to concede defeat.

Zuo Xin was shocked. These were only fifth-grade pills; logically, an Alchemy Venerable should be able to restore the formula.

Yet He Shuming said it would require an Alchemy Emperor.

Zuo Xin gritted his teeth. "This batch of pills is of great importance. We'd better send it back to the headquarters! Later, I will explain the situation to the steward. If this pill formula can truly be restored, it will be greatly beneficial to our Celestial Fate Trading Company!"

He Shuming nodded, clearly agreeing with Zuo Xin's view.

Under normal circumstances, an Alchemy Emperor would hardly bother to restore such low-grade pills.

But in Zuo Xin's eyes, if the formula for these pills could be restored, the Celestial Fate Trading Company would have a never-ending stream of wealth!

Because the Celestial Fate Trading Company had branches everywhere, spanning dozens of major domains. Once popularized, these pills would be a money tree!

Whether the headquarters agreed or not, these pills had to be sent back!

Zuo Xin trusted the vision of the higher-ups; they would surely see the value of these fifth-grade pills!

...

At that moment, Ye Yuan and Jun Tianyu stood facing each other.

"Brother Jun, I will now demonstrate a martial technique called the 'Azure Firmament Drifting Snow Sword.' Watch carefully!"