Ning Fa saw Ninth Elder Ning Shaohong again.
Several months had passed, yet time had left no trace on her face. She remained as pure and beautiful as a lotus emerging from water, adorned in an elegant, water-red gauze skirt embroidered with peony patterns, which added a mature, peach-like charm to her presence.
Especially as she reclined on the bed, reading an ancient book, her jade body sprawled out, exuding a captivating, languid allure that even Ning Fa, with his strong willpower, found difficult to resist.
Seeing Ning Fa staring blankly, Ning Shaohong put down the ancient book in her hand, a smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
She sat up straight and said with a light smile, "I was just wondering when you'd come looking for me, and here you are."
Ning Fa quickly cupped his hands and said with sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Ninth Elder, for upholding justice for your nephew this time. I will never forget it."
After speaking, he bowed deeply.
A gentle force lifted him.
Ning Shaohong smiled with a clear, moist expression and said lightly, "It was just a small effort, you don't need to take it to heart."
Then, her expression turned thoughtful, and she said, "You've come at the perfect time. I actually need your help with something. Even if you hadn't come, I was planning to find you."
Ning Fa was taken aback but replied without hesitation, "Ninth Elder, please speak freely. As long as your nephew can do it, I will comply without question."
Ning Fa's response seemed to please Ning Shaohong. She asked with a smile, "Besides your family's alchemy tasks, how many Essence Replenishing Pills can you refine each month?"
Ning Fa's heart stirred. Could this Ninth Elder want his help with alchemy?
After a moment of thought, he replied, "My nephew currently needs to refine fifteen batches of Essence Replenishing Pills for the family each month. With my current cultivation realm, refining another ten batches of Essence Replenishing Pills per month should not be a problem."
At this moment, Ning Fa had already guessed that Ning Shaohong wanted his help with alchemy. He estimated this number, thinking that adding another ten batches of pills wouldn't take up too much of his cultivation time.
Ning Shaohong nodded, her eyes filled with a smile, and asked, "Then, if I asked you to refine another ten batches of Essence Replenishing Pills for me, would you be willing?"
Ning Fa felt a sense of relief and immediately said, "Of course, that's no problem. Does Ninth Elder have any requirements for the pill success rate?"
Ning Shaohong chuckled lightly, "Don't worry, I won't have you refining for free. I will provide you with ten portions of Essence Replenishing Pill spiritual materials each month. Regardless of how many Essence Replenishing Pills you refine, I will purchase them at the market price. What do you think?"
Ning Fa was surprised. He had originally thought Ning Shaohong would provide the spiritual materials like the family, and then require a certain pill success rate.
He hadn't expected Ning Shaohong to directly provide the spiritual materials for free and then purchase the refined Essence Replenishing Pills from him.
In fact, even refining pills for free would be something he, and indeed any other Pill Master, would be very happy to do.
This was because the biggest factor limiting a Pill Master's improvement in alchemy might not be their talent, but the lack of sufficient practice opportunities.
It was precisely because Ning Fa could use the Mysterious Scroll to infinitely trace back spiritual materials that his refining level for Essence Replenishing Pills had improved so significantly in such a short period.
Now, Ning Shaohong was not only providing him with spiritual materials for free but also purchasing the pills at market prices, which was undoubtedly a very generous reward.
One should know that the price of ten portions of Essence Replenishing Pill spiritual materials per month would be one to two hundred Spirit Stones.
Ning Fa couldn't help but show hesitation, "Ninth Elder, this might not be appropriate..."
Ning Shaohong smiled lightly, "Don't overthink it. In fact, I'm acting on behalf of someone. I recently met a friend whose merchant guild is planning to open a shop in Tianshui Market. They are currently very eager for these in-demand pills. These spiritual materials are also provided by her. If you can refine a larger quantity of Essence Replenishing Pills each month, she can even offer you a higher price."
Ning Fa suddenly understood. So that was how it was.
Coming from a merchant guild background, wanting to open a shop in a second-tier market like Tianshui Market, and being friends with Ning Shaohong, the Ninth Elder of the Ning Family, this person's identity must be quite extraordinary.
No wonder she was so generous, able to casually offer spiritual materials worth one to two hundred Spirit Stones per month.
Ning Fa felt even more grateful to Ning Shaohong.
Although it was Ning Shaohong asking for his help, this kind of opportunity was something any low-level Pill Master would jump at. Not only could he practice, but he could also earn Spirit Stones. Now, Ning Shaohong was giving this opportunity to him.
As if guessing Ning Fa's thoughts, Ning Shaohong shook her head and smiled, "No need to thank me. If I didn't know your skill in refining Essence Replenishing Pills, I wouldn't dare recommend you to this friend. Also, please try to master the Qi Replenishing Pill and Spring Return Pill as soon as possible. My friend has a great need for these two types of pills as well."
Ning Fa nodded. He had already planned to find Wei Chengzong later to have him teach him the pill recipes for these two pills.
With the main business concluded, Ning Shaohong seemed to recall something. Her beautiful eyes flickered, and she smiled lightly, "You don't have to keep calling me Ninth Elder anymore. It makes me sound old. Just call me Aunt Hong."
Looking at the smiling Ning Shaohong, Ning Fa was overjoyed and, without any hesitation, directly called out, "Okay, Aunt Hong."
A smile curved Ning Shaohong's rosy lips, and then she said, "I'm a bit tired. You can go back now. I'll have Xiuying send you the Essence Replenishing Pill spiritual materials later."
Ning Fa bowed and then turned to leave.
Watching Ning Fa's tall, slender back in his blue robe, Ning Shaohong, who had been smiling moments ago, suddenly looked dazed. The figure before her gradually overlapped with a figure from her memory, causing her to momentarily drift away.
Ning Fa left Yun Chang Island and went directly to the Pill Hall on Lingchang Island.
Upon seeing Wei Chengzong again, the latter was overly solicitous towards Ning Fa, showing him an excessive amount of warmth.
However, in Ning Fa's eyes, Wei Chengzong seemed to have a guilty conscience.
This was understandable. Wei Chengzong probably realized by now that after he had refused to let Ning Fa move into the Pill Hall, Ning Fa was subsequently injured by Ning Zhen'an. There was definitely a connection between these events, and he was an accomplice, so it was natural for him to feel guilty.
"Xiao Fa, the main control array of the Pill Hall has been repaired. You can move into the Pill Hall anytime now."
Wei Chengzong said with a chuckle.
Ning Fa refused without hesitation, "No, thank you. Ning Ruiming is also in the Pill Hall. I'm afraid that if this person takes a dislike to me one day, I might be inexplicably injured again."
This was naturally Ning Fa's excuse. He currently had no desire to move into the Pill Hall.
After all, there were too many eyes and ears there, and he possessed the Mysterious Scroll and the secret of the Great Five Elements Thunder Body. It was better to stay alone at his home on Pingchang Island, which was also protected by the Guardian Spirit Array.
Of course, staying at home all the time wouldn't be normal and could easily arouse suspicion.
Ning Fa already had a plan in mind, a plan for revenge against Ning Ruiming.
Once he advanced to the middle stage of Qi Condensation, he would give that person a big "surprise"!
Consider it collecting some interest first.
Then he could move to the Pill Hall legitimately.
Of course, he would need to switch to a higher-level Guardian Spirit Array then.
Ning Fa's direct sarcasm made Wei Chengzong feel guilty. He chuckled dryly, "Heh heh, you can move to the Pill Hall whenever you want. Oh, right, I mentioned I'd teach you the refining methods for the Essence Replenishing Pill and the Spring Return Pill. How about today?"
Ning Fa nodded and followed Wei Chengzong to the public alchemy room where the Pill Master assessment had taken place.
Wei Chengzong taught him with exceptional diligence and detail. Several hours later, Ning Fa left the Pill Hall.
Just as Wei Chengzong was about to leave the alchemy room, Liu Qinghui walked in.
She was wearing a light blue tunic dress, her figure graceful, and she looked charmingly beautiful.
"Master Wei, were you just teaching Ning Fa how to refine the Essence Replenishing Pill and the Spring Return Pill?" Liu Qinghui asked softly.
Wei Chengzong stroked his beard and nodded, then sighed, "Truly, a person should be looked at with new eyes after three days apart. This Ning Fa seems to have truly awakened to the path of alchemy. I only demonstrated these two pills once, and he seems to have grasped the key points. The questions he asked were all spot on. It seems he'll be able to fully master these two pills in no time."
A flicker of surprise flashed in Liu Qinghui's beautiful eyes, and a gentle smile, like a delicate lotus, appeared on her jade-like face. She said softly, "That's truly wonderful news."