Alchemist Qian also stepped forward, apologizing to Ling Fan with great embarrassment, "Master Ling, Junior Qian has offended you greatly before. You are magnanimous, please do not hold it against me. I apologize to you!"
Seeing that Ling Fan had no intention of pursuing the matter, Alchemist Qian breathed a sigh of relief and wisely retreated.
Liu Qing Shi seemed to be seeing Ling Fan anew, her pair of clear, watery eyes curiously appraising him. She mused, "You don't seem particularly special. Why can you refine profound-tier pills? Alas, perhaps there truly are unparalleled geniuses in this world who cannot be reasoned with by common sense."
"Master Ling... Hmm, you are about my age. Calling you Master Ling feels strange. I apologized for my attitude earlier, please don't take it to heart." Liu Qing Shi said frankly.
Ling Fan smiled. With his disposition, he naturally wouldn't bicker with such a girl.
Meanwhile, Master Chang, his disciple Liu Qi Yong, and the Chu Tian Kuang and Chu Tian Long brothers stood there, utterly embarrassed.
Alchemist Qian looked at Liu Qi Yong and sneered, "Heh heh, weren't you all incredibly arrogant just now, acting like you were number one in the world? What happened, have you all quieted down? Can't be arrogant anymore!"
"I remember someone saying earlier that if Master Ling could refine pills, they would eat two bronze pill furnaces on the spot. And someone else said they would live by eating feces from now on..."
"What, are you regretting it now!" Alchemist Qian said triumphantly. Although he was borrowing Ling Fan's prestige, it also allowed him to vent his anger.
Liu Qi Yong's face turned red, and he stammered, unable to utter a word. His previously aggressive, arrogant, and sharp-tongued demeanor had vanished completely. He couldn't possibly eat those two pill furnaces, nor eat feces.
Liu Qi Yong stammered, "Master Ling, it was this humble one's ignorance and foul mouth. If I offended you in any way, please just let it pass like a fart. Thank you!"
"Those who humiliate others will be humiliated by others. Begone," Ling Fan said indifferently.
With Ling Fan's dismissal, Master Chang, Liu Qi Yong, and the others had no face to remain any longer and left dejectedly.
"Alas, Master Chang, why are you leaving so soon!" The Chu Tian Kuang and Chu Tian Long brothers also felt they had no face to stay and chased after them.
...
Not long after.
Chu Dong Hai let out a long breath. His gaze was piercing. His exhalation was like thunder! The entire governor's mansion and the area within a ten-mile radius heard this thunderous roar. It was like a long-ill and comatose lion roaring its return to kingship.
In the reception hall, apart from Ling Fan, whose expression remained as calm as a placid lake, Liu Miao Shou, Liu Qing Shi, Alchemist Qian, Chu Tian Ge, and a group of strong individuals from the governor's mansion were all startled pale by this thunderous roar imbued with the might of the Heavenly Yuan realm.
Ling Fan said calmly, "Congratulations, Governor Chu. Your hidden ailments are gone, and your cultivation has advanced further!"
Chu Dong Hai's eyes, filled with a deep brilliance, retracted. He laughed heartily and bowed deeply to Ling Fan, "It is all thanks to the marvel of Master Ling's precious pill. Otherwise, not only would my cultivation not have advanced, but I would have been in mortal danger!"
"Master Ling has bestowed upon me the grace of rebirth. I have no way to repay you. Master Ling, please, just command me. As long as it is within the governor's mansion's capabilities, even if Master Ling wants me to relinquish this position of governor, I would not hesitate!" Chu Dong Hai said solemnly, cupping his hands to Ling Fan.
Ling Fan shook his head, "What use would I have for your position as governor? My coming here to refine pills for you was merely a casual effort. My main purpose is to seek some refining materials." He took out the recipe for the Primordial Pill and handed it to Chu Dong Hai. Several medicinal ingredients, such as Dragon Blood Sunflower, Thousand-Year Cold Flood Dragon Horn, and Spirit Fusion Fruit, were marked.
Upon seeing this, Chu Dong Hai clapped his hands and laughed, "Master Ling, I have these medicinal ingredients here, and I can also provide you with an extra portion of the other ingredients!"
Ling Fan nodded, not refusing. More Primordial Pills were always better. He didn't intend to reach the perfection of the Primordial Qi Art with just one Primordial Pill.
Chu Dong Hai immediately ordered people to fetch these medicinal ingredients from the treasury.
On the other side, Chu Dong Hai added, "Master Ling, you have essentially saved my life, and you are also my son's friend. If I were to thank you merely with these medicinal ingredients, my heart would truly be uneasy."
"Therefore, I wish to invite you to serve as the Deputy Governor of Tian Chu Province. While it is a deputy position, your authority will be no different from mine! All the strong individuals in the governor's mansion, including myself, are at your disposal and will obey your commands at any time. Any treasure in the governor's mansion is yours to take freely, and there will be no restrictions on you within Tian Chu Province!"
"Your father-in-law's family is in Jiangnan City. I will also specifically arrange for strong individuals to guard them and protect the Lan family's safety."
"What do you think of my proposal?"
Ling Fan was about to refuse. He could clearly see Chu Dong Hai's intentions. This was an attempt to tie him to the ship of Tian Chu Province. However, Chu Dong Hai's promise to specifically send people to protect the Lan family did make him somewhat tempted. He was destined not to stay in Tian Chu Province or even in the Flowing Cloud Kingdom for long. He needed such a force to protect the Lan family. Since Chu Dong Hai had extended this olive branch, it saved him some trouble. Within Tian Chu Province, no promise was more reassuring than that of the governor's mansion.
Seeing Ling Fan nod, Chu Dong Hai was even happier than Ling Fan. It was as if Ling Fan had conferred a title upon him, rather than the other way around. Everyone was amazed.
Having obtained the medicinal ingredients he desired, Ling Fan prepared to return to the inn. No matter how hard Chu Dong Hai and Chu Tian Ge tried to persuade him to stay, it was futile. The two smiled wryly and could only let Ling Fan leave.
Chu Dong Hai also heavily rewarded Liu Miao Shou and his group. Although Liu Miao Shou and the others had not been of much help, their gesture represented a significant favor. Moreover, the governor's mansion would have many future dealings with the Pill Pavilion, and it was always wise to foster good relations at this opportunity.
...
Back at the inn.
Ling Fan immediately began refining the Primordial Pill. The refining process naturally needs no further description. With his past life's alchemy attainments, refining such a profound-tier pill recipe was a piece of cake. Moreover, with the Demon Fire Red Lotus, a great killing weapon for alchemy, it was even more advantageous.
Soon, a total of five Primordial Pills were refined. Ling Fan popped one Primordial Pill into his mouth, biting it like cracking beans. Instantly, an immense medicinal power surged through his limbs and bones. Various elemental spiritual powers achieved an extremely subtle balance, circulating, colliding, and merging within his body...
The second Primordial Pill. The third. The fourth. The fifth...
Another two to three days passed. When Ling Fan opened his eyes again, two beams of sharp light illuminated the dim room like lightning. An unprecedentedly powerful force surged within him, extremely abundant. It felt as if a casual strike could shatter the solid inn beneath him. Driven by the five Primordial Pills, his Primordial Qi Art finally reached the level of perfection, beginning to merge with his blood and qi, giving birth to martial qi. His cultivation officially stepped into the Profound Qi realm! Moreover, his Profound Qi realm was not comparable to the ordinary Profound Qi realm cultivators of this lower realm. As early as the peak of the Qi Refining realm, he could kill the Dark Martial Hall Master of the Heavenly Yuan realm. Now that his cultivation had advanced further, his strength naturally took a more substantial leap.
Counting the time, his father-in-law Lan Tian Xiong, mother-in-law Li Hui Mei, wife Lan Xue Yi, and brother-in-law Lan Jun Jie should have already arrived in Tian Chu City. He just didn't know if they had gone to the Tian Chu Lan clan.
Ling Fan rose and stretched. It was time to visit the Lan clan. He wanted to witness firsthand the Lan clan that was rumored to be sharp-tongued and had not acknowledged their father-in-law's family for decades!