"Wow, the Imperial Physician Commander's expression... could that pill be poisonous?" Princess Xinyue stood up, her voice laced with apprehension.
Chu Chen frowned. His spiritual power, extending a hundred meters from his Qi Transformation Realm, enveloped the Blood Qi Pill Zhou Yunshen was refining. His expression immediately turned peculiar.
"I knew it! He wasn't actually refining a pill, and now it's become poison! Why aren't you imperial physicians rushing to help him?"
"Ah? Oh, oh, oh!"
The stunned imperial physicians behind him scrambled forward. Just as they were about to examine the situation, check his pulse, and prepare an antidote, the Imperial Physician Commander swallowed with difficulty and breathed out, "No harm done. I... I am fine."
"That's wonderful! Imperial Physician Commander, you're alright!"
"He's fine! That's great!"
The imperial physicians around him breathed a sigh of relief. If someone had been poisoned to death, it would have been a grave matter. The other participants in the assessment also felt a sense of relief. If someone had poisoned the Imperial Physician Commander, they feared they wouldn't fare well either.
"Imperial Physician Commander, what was that just now?" a younger imperial physician asked, puzzled.
The Imperial Physician Commander looked at the pill in his hand with complex emotions. "This pill, though called a Blood Qi Pill, is not quite a Blood Qi Pill."
"Ah?" Everyone was bewildered.
"The effect of this Blood Qi Pill is too potent, too overbearing. I fear ordinary Martial Apprentice realm cultivators would be unable to withstand its potency. One would need to be at least at the mid-stage of the Ancient Martial Realm to circulate their energy and consume it," the Imperial Physician Commander explained.
"Hiss~"
Could a common Blood Qi Pill be refined to such an effect? This person was terrifyingly skilled!
Chu Chen's expression grew even stranger. This scene felt incredibly familiar, like a trope from novels he'd read in his past life – the 'pretentious character gets his comeuppance' scenario. How could he be encountering it today? Could Zhou Yunshen be the protagonist of the Yunyue Kingdom, blessed by destiny? This Qingzhou Continent was truly a bizarre place!
"Imperial Physician Commander, why would a common Blood Qi Pill be refined to such an effect?" the young imperial physician asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"If my senses are not mistaken, the formula for this Blood Qi Pill is not the common one circulating in the market. It is a secret formula unique to Young Friend Zhou's family, or perhaps one he created himself, isn't it?" The Imperial Physician Commander's dim old eyes sparkled with insight.
"Your esteemed elder is correct. This Blood Qi Pill formula is indeed different from the common ones; it is unique to my family," Zhou Yunshen replied with a faint smile.
"The medicinal properties of various potent ingredients are fused, aided by water to neutralize and add viscosity. A large amount of medicinal materials is added at once, and under extremely high temperatures, they melt and combine rapidly. During the refining process, a trace of spiritual energy is infused to aid the fusion of medicinal properties and enhance its effect. Young friend, your Blood Qi Pill is truly extraordinary!" The Imperial Physician Commander spoke with complex emotions.
As the Imperial Physician Commander, he also knew how to refine pills, though that was in his younger days. Now, he was old and could no longer operate the alchemy furnace. Lacking the cultivation of the Body Tempering Realm, he was left with knowledge but no ability to refine pills.
"You flatter me, you flatter me. No matter how extraordinary it is, it is still merely a Blood Qi Pill," Zhou Yunshen said, waving his hand humbly. This attitude earned him the favor of the Imperial Physician Commander, who saw the young man as humble, capable, and innovative. Had he not had a family, he might have wanted to take him as a disciple on the spot.
"Chu Chen, Chu Chen, do you understand what they're saying?" Princess Xinyue asked, not quite grasping the nuances.
"Hmm~ For the same cost, the Blood Qi Pill's effect is more than ten times better. Most importantly, it can be consumed while circulating one's cultivation technique, meaning it can be taken even during combat. That's its brilliance, understand?" Chu Chen explained to Princess Xinyue, his gaze towards Zhou Yunshen growing more convinced that this fellow might be some kind of protagonist.
"I see!" Princess Xinyue nodded. Her eyes twinkled as she asked slyly, "Then, compared to the Blood Qi Pill you gave me, Chu Chen, what's different?"
"Uh~ Your Highness, you're trying to make me look foolish! But unfortunately, the Blood Qi Pill I gave you has an unparalleled advantage." Chu Chen looked at her speechlessly and said with confidence.
"Oh? What advantage? I've eaten quite a bit, how come I don't know?" Princess Xinyue looked confused.
"Sustained release of medicinal power."
"Sustained release of medicinal power? What kind of advantage is that?" Princess Xinyue asked, not understanding.
"Everyone's body is different, their absorption capacity varies, and even the efficiency of their cultivation technique circulation is different. You understand this, right, Your Highness?"
"Mhm, and then?"
"The effect of sustained release means that after the Blood Qi Pill is consumed, its medicinal power is not digested too quickly. Instead, it continuously releases its potency, releasing it according to the user's cultivation technique and the depletion of their blood and qi. Do you understand what this implies, Your Highness?" Chu Chen said with a smile.
Princess Xinyue suddenly understood, looking at him in surprise. "Then, doesn't that mean your Blood Qi Pill can be used by everyone? Even elderly individuals with weak bodies can safely and risk-free consume it?"
"That's right, that's the effect," Chu Chen replied with a smile. Princess Xinyue was utterly astonished.
Blood Qi Pills are a type of pill that replenishes depleted blood and qi. They are essentially tonics, considered mid-tier medicine for martial artists. Lower tiers would involve directly consuming potent medicinal herbs. These tonics generally have a common drawback: their medicinal power is fixed. Once digested, a large amount of potency is released, regardless of whether one is old or young, or can withstand it. For an ordinary person, biting into a ginseng root that is over thirty years old would release enough medicinal power to cause them to be unable to withstand the supplement, leading to nosebleeds, or in severe cases, fainting and life-threatening situations. Chu Chen's Blood Qi Pills, however, do not have this issue, demonstrating the power of this effect. This means children can consume it from a young age, cultivating and taking Chu Chen's Blood Qi Pills, giving them a head start. Even an elder of seventy years could consume Blood Qi Pills, indirectly supplementing their blood and qi, and perhaps extending their lifespan slightly. More importantly, for those with stomach ailments who cannot absorb nutrients, these pills would also be effective, preventing the risk of over-supplementation leading to death. Universality! This is the power of Chu Chen's Blood Qi Pills.
Chu Chen said with a chuckle, "Now you know how amazing your husband is, right?" Princess Xinyue's beautiful face flushed slightly, and she stuck out her tongue, shyly turning her face away.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yunshen had undoubtedly advanced. Others might score a hundred points because that's all they had, but Zhou Yunshen had achieved a score of two hundred with his hundred points, truly not to be underestimated. Chu Chen watched him, contemplating how to obtain all the Zhou family's pill formulas. "This guy's refining skill is top-notch. While the family's formulas are good, they're not as good as the system. Wooing him is simple, and his family's formulas can be sold!"