On Yun Chang Island, within the Spirit Embroidery Hall.
After reading the prescription for the Three Yuan Pill, Ning Shaohong mused, "Although the spiritual materials required for this pill are precious, with Shi Qin's connections, there shouldn't be a problem with a stable supply. I'll contact her immediately and try my best to provide you with at least fifteen portions of spiritual materials each month."
Ning Fa, however, showed a hesitant expression.
He had seen the prescription and knew that the spiritual materials for the Three Yuan Pill were not cheap, far exceeding those for the Essence Replenishing Pill.
It required six main ingredients and five auxiliary ingredients.
The most important main ingredient was the [Mist Spirit Flower].
Not only was it a mid-grade spiritual grass of the first order, but its medicinal age also needed to be at least twenty years.
This single spiritual material alone would cost at least twenty spirit stones.
There was also another important main ingredient, [Essence Fire Liquid], which was a precious auxiliary spiritual liquid.
It was a spiritual material needed for many mid- to high-grade pills, and its value even slightly exceeded that of the Mist Spirit Flower.
These two spiritual materials alone would cost over forty spirit stones, and all the spiritual materials combined would exceed seventy spirit stones.
Fifteen portions per month would be nearly a thousand spirit stones, which was not a small sum, and this was for three months.
He hesitated, "Aunt Hong, these spiritual materials are quite expensive, nephew..."
Before he could finish, Ning Shaohong interrupted him by waving her hand, saying calmly, "You don't need to worry about these issues for now. Just focus on refining the pills. You can make up for the spiritual materials you use later when you refine pills."
Ning Fa quickly bowed in thanks.
Ning Shaohong seemed to recall something and continued, "Do you want to move to Yun Chang Island? The spiritual energy here is more abundant, and it can also ensure that you won't be disturbed by the outside world."
Ning Fa thought about it and politely declined, "Aunt Hong, I'm used to refining pills at home. If I suddenly change locations, I'm afraid I won't be able to adapt and it might affect my refining."
Ning Shaohong nodded, "In that case, I'll have Xiuying accompany you during this time."
A warmth surged through Ning Fa's heart. He knew that Aunt Hong was worried about Ning Ruiming using underhanded tactics again, so she was sending Ning Xiuying to be his bodyguard.
He didn't refuse this time and thanked her again.
Ning Xiuying, standing beside them, had a fleeting look of strangeness in her beautiful eyes.
Ning Shaohong smiled gently, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. This time, you're just starting out. As long as you don't lose too badly in the competition, it will be a victory for you. Go ahead, I'll have someone deliver the spiritual materials to your home as soon as possible."
Ning Fa said respectfully, "Nephew will never forget Aunt Hong's help."
Ning Shaohong gave a light smile and said nothing.
Then, Ning Fa took Ning Xiuying back to Pingchang Island.
"Sister Xiuying, I'll have to trouble you during this time. You can stay in this side room in the front courtyard."
Ning Fa said to Ning Xiuying.
Ning Xiuying was still wearing her signature battle armor, which made her figure appear exceptionally explosive.
Ning Fa muttered inwardly, "Aunt Hong, are you sending this sister to protect me, or to test me?"
Ning Xiuying looked at him with a smile that was not a smile, "Are you sure you don't want me to live with you and provide close protection?"
Ning Fa's eyes widened in surprise, "Is that really okay?"
To Ning Fa's surprise, Ning Xiuying actually nodded, not seeming to be joking.
Ning Fa was startled and quickly chuckled, "Sister Xiuying, don't tease me. These next three months are very important to me. If you're always around me, how can I concentrate on refining pills?"
Ning Xiuying chuckled, "You timid little rascal."
Then, her beautiful eyes flickered, and she said in a seductive tone, "Then you'll have to work hard. If you really defeat Ning Ruiming in the competition, I can grant you one wish."
Ning Fa's eyes widened, "Any wish?"
Ning Xiuying smiled enchantingly and nodded gently.
Ning Fa's gaze shifted to the curves of Ning Xiuying's chest.
He couldn't help but recall what this sister had said before, that if he could become a first-order mid-grade Pill Master in the clan, she would consider letting him...
Now it seemed this sister wasn't joking.
Ning Fa suddenly felt he had another reason to defeat Ning Ruiming.
Ning Fa patted his chest, "Even for Sister Xiuying, I must defeat that Ning Ruiming."
Ning Xiuying smiled and said no more.
At this moment, Ning Fa seemed to recall something and said casually, "Oh, Sister Xiuying, I don't want to be disturbed while refining pills, so I'll set up a vigilance array in my pill room. It can block the spiritual sense probes of cultivators. Please don't mind."
Ning Xiuying nodded, showing no surprise.
Even when Ning Shaohong personally sewed cultivator robes in the Spirit Embroidery Hall, she would activate defensive arrays to ensure her focus.
Ning Fa had the same habit when refining pills, which Ning Xiuying found very normal.
Ning Fa returned to his pill room and activated the Guardian Spirit Array.
Then, he picked up the jade slip containing the Three Yuan Pill prescription, placed it on his forehead, and began to study it carefully.
He wanted to take advantage of the time before the spiritual materials for the Three Yuan Pill arrived to roughly comprehend the prescription and have a clear understanding of it.
Although he was very confident he could defeat Ning Ruiming in the competition three months later, he would absolutely not slack off because of it.
Strategically, one could look down on their opponent, but tactically, they must take them seriously.
During these three months, he would re-enter the frenzied state he was in while preparing for the Pill Master assessment, not wasting a single moment.
Yuan Chang Island, Ning Ruiming's home.
Ning Jiannan, dressed in fine clothes and exuding authority, sat regally in the main seat. He lightly tapped the purple sandalwood table beside him with his right hand, a contemplative look on his face.
Ning Ruiming sat to his right, his brow furrowed, appearing to be under immense pressure.
"Ning Fa's actions were extremely malicious. It's only right that he lost. At most, people will say he overestimated himself. But for you, it's not just about losing; any outcome that isn't an overwhelming victory, a crushing defeat, will severely impact your standing in the Pill Hall and the family."
Ning Jiannan stopped tapping the table and sighed as he spoke.
Upon hearing this, Ning Ruiming's expression grew even more somber.
Ning Jiannan, however, remained calm. He continued, "The deadline is only three months. While that brat has some talent in alchemy, there's no way he can defeat you. He's likely just trying to create a buzz, aiming for a result where the gap isn't too large. For him, that would be a victory, allowing him to regain the family's attention."
"Therefore, in this competition, you must win by a large margin, no matter what. Don't give him such an opportunity. Your current pill success rate of nearly thirty percent won't cut it; you need at least forty percent to be safe."
Seeing Ning Ruiming's continued grim expression, Ning Jiannan frowned. "You're not confident about increasing your pill success rate to forty percent within three months?"
Ning Ruiming slowly shook his head, gritting his teeth as he admitted, "I am indeed not confident."
Ning Jiannan's gaze sharpened, and he said sternly, "If you're not confident, you must become confident! You cannot afford to lose this competition! The Third Elder has already messaged me; you must decisively defeat Ning Fa this time!"
"For the next three months, the Third Elder will provide you with ten portions of Spiritual Material for the Three Yuan Pill each month. Additionally, our branch family will provide you with at least fifteen portions of Spiritual Material for the Three Yuan Pill monthly. With so much material for practice, you must improve your pill success rate!"
Ning Ruiming's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "With this much material for practice, I do have some confidence."
Ning Jiannan frowned. "Just 'some confidence' won't do. How about this: I'll send a message to Wei Chengzong and have him do his best to teach you how to refine the Three Yuan Pill during this period. While Wei Chengzong's refinement of first-grade high-quality pills is mediocre, refining the Three Yuan Pill is not a problem for him."
Ning Ruiming nodded, his expression much more relaxed and his heart considerably more settled.
However, he harbored a deep hatred for Ning Fa, who had put him in such a passive situation.
Ning Jiannan seemed to recall something and added as a reminder, "Right, don't play any tricks during this competition. It will displease the Third Elder. You must defeat that kid honorably."
Hearing this, Ning Ruiming could only suppress his other thoughts and nod in agreement.