Chapter 58: Extracting the essence of the herbs

"Zhan Chen, you have come finally. I don't know what to do with this matter", Shen Ruyan spoke as a trace of hope appeared in her eyes.

She seemed anxious and the face of manager Yao was also same. Their anxiousness could be seen from their faces.

"What happened?", Zhan Chen asked. 

"The Huo family couldn't produce an Essence condensation pill but they are offering a grade five soul nourishing herb to grandmaster Li. A grade five soul nourishing herb is too great of an attraction for Grandmaster Li", Shen Ruyan replied.

"When are they arriving at the place of Grandmaster Li?", Zhan Chen asked.

"They will most probably reach at his place in tomorrow afternoon. We also need minimum six hours to reach the place of Grandmaster Li", Shen Ruyan replied.

"So, we still have the time. No need to worry then", Zhan Chen spoke.

"Have you gathered all the herbs I have asked for?", Zhan Chen asked. Shen Ruyan nodded her head and took out some exquisite looking wooden boxes.

"Check and see if anything is missing. This time it is all thanks to the effort of Aunt Liu. Otherwise, I could not have have managed to gather these herbs before tomorrow morning", Shen Ruyan replied.

"Oh! Are not these herbs only grade three? Why do you need to bother aunt Liu? It shouldn't be a problem considering the capacity of your Firecloud treasure pavilion", Zhan Chen asked in confusion.

Although the herbs needed for concocting an Essence condensation pill is numerous but the Firecloud treasure pavilion is dealing with fourth grade herbs since it's establishment. So, Zhan Chen felt confused after hearing that Shen Ruyan faced trouble while gathering the herbs.

"What do you know? Some herbs you have written were more rarer than grade four herbs. Especially the five coloured lily. It could only be found in where five heavenly elements gathered together", Shen Ruyan rolled her eyes at Zhan Chen.

Zhan Chen smiled after hearing her annoyed voice. He chose not to question her anymore. "Ok then, leave this matter to me. The pill furnace is still there, right?", Zhan Chen asked.

"Yes, It is still there", Shen Ruyan nodded her head. 

"Has your teacher agreed to help us? This time it is very important for my Firecloud treasure pavilion?", Shen Ruyan asked in an anxious voice.

Zhan Chen felt a headache when he heard Shen Ruyan taking the name of his teacher. "Don't worry. Everything going to be alright. It is mearly a grade three pill. Even grade four pills are not a problem to me", Zhan Chen replied with a smile.

"Young miss, I am going then. Number of visitors has increased since the battle between Zhan family and Gu family. I need to personally see the proceedings", manager Yao spoke. 

"Ok, we will talk later", Shen Ruyan replied and the manager Yao left the main hall of second floor. Liu Nanxi had already left. Zhan Chen spread his soul consciousness and could not find her in the vicinity. His soul consciousness spread towards the nearby building and Zhan Chen found her standing on top of a nearby building. Her gaze was still focused on Firecloud treasure pavilion.

"This woman really takes the security of Shen Ruyan seriously. It will be best if I help her in increasing her strength. That way Ruyan will be more safer", Zhan Chen thought to himself.

"When will your teacher going to visit or do you have to deliver these herbs to him?", Shen Ruyan asked in a curious voice.

Zhan Chen shifted his gaze and smiled towards Shen Ruyan. "Looks like you are still thinking about the Essence condensation pill. I am feeling a heartche Now. My woman is giving her attention to a mere pill rather than focusing on me", Zhan Chen spoke. Even he felt disbelief after saying such a flowery sentence as it was impossible for him to utter such words in his previous life. Here, the memory of his present life came to play.

Shen Ruyan blushed after hearing the line of Zhan Chen. "What nonsense are you talking? I didn't know that you are capable of saying such words", Shen Ruyan said in a sweet voice.

Zhan Chen stood up and lifted the chin of Shen Ruyan. Then he planted a kiss on Shen Ruyan's juicy lips. 

"Zhan Chen, stop. Su'er and Ling'er is still watching", Shen Ruyan said shyly after freeing her lips from Zhan Chen. She had not expected that Zhan Chen would act so suddenly.

"Don't worry about them. They are already my women", Zhan Chen spoke while smiling towards both of the maids. A redness appeared on the cheeks of Su'er and Ling'er after they heard Zhan Chen. Shen Ruyan also blushed after hearing Zhan Chen admitting there relationship so openly.

"Ok, no need to bother about such minor details. Come with me to the pill room. Let me help you in relaxing your mind. You are worrying too much for a mere grade three pill", Zhan Chen spoke and walked towards the pill room.

Shen Ruyan follwed after him and entered the pill room. "Let me make one thing clear first. I never had a teacher in this life. I need to make such a lie to make things more believable", Zhan Chen spoke.

"What? How is it possible?", Shen Ruyan blurted out after being stunned for a moment. Her gaze moved towards Zhan Chen as she saw a serious look in Zhan Chen's face.

"Then what about your alchemy acheivement?", Shen Ruyan asked with surprise. 

"Ruyan, do you believe me?", Zhan Chen asked. Shen Ruyan nodded her head in return.

"Then what if I tell you I have recovered the memory of my past life. I have a decent acheivement in the alchemy in my past life", Zhan Chen looked at Shen Ruyan.

"Oh, such a miracle really happened! But what are you going to do with the essence condensation pill", Shen Ruyan took sometime to reply. There was still a hint of shock in her beautiful face.

"Don't worry. I am going to concoct the Essence condensation pill myself", Zhan Chen replied. Shen Ruyan nodded her head as she sat down folding her legs.

She chose to observe Zhan Chen's face instead. There was some shock and curiousity in her eyes when he looked at Zhan Chen.

Zhan Chen was sitting cross legged with his eyes closed. He opened his eyes after few minutes. He took out the herbs from the wooden boxes and started to sort them out.

'Red spine grass'

'Spirit Bamboo shoot'

'Sparrow Lotus flower'

'Ten petal flower'

'Purple spirit leaf'

Zhan Chen took out the spirit herbs one by one and sorted them according. A faintly glowing flame appeared on his palm as he channeled the spiritual energy of his pseudo soul.

Without throwing any herbs inside the pill furnace, he chose to heat it first. The pill furnace started to became reddish after Zhan Chen heat it for five minutes.

Zhan Chen took out the lead of the pill furnace and a burning heat came out from the pill furnace. Zhan Chen threw the 'ten petal flower' inside and closed off the lead.

It took only three minutes to extract the essence of the Ten petal flower. He threw in other herbs one by one and within fifteen minutes he extracted the essence of the other herbs. There was only one herb remained which was still inside the exquisite looking wooden box.

Shen Ruyan had a stunned look on her face as she witnessed such heaven defying Essence extraction method. She had seen many grand masters concocting pill but she had never seen anyone who could do this in such a short period of time. 

Zhan Chen threw a smile at her after he finished extracting the herbs. Her stunned expression felt very charming to Zhan Chen.

"Ruyan, close off your mouth. Otherwise, flies going to find their ways there", Zhan Chen spoke with a smile.