Chapter 5: Elixir Pavilion

Words : 2041 Updated : Feb 26th, 2025

The streets were bustling with people, traffic flowing endlessly. The moment Abel appeared, all eyes turned to him. "Isn't that Abel? Didn't the city lord cripple him? What is he doing at the Elixir Pavilion?" "Maybe he's here to buy some pills to restore his cultivation." "Ridiculous! His energy center is destroyed, his martial meridians shattered—no saving him." "The Elixir Pavilion has close ties with the city lord. After offending the city lord, it'd be a miracle if they even let him inside." A chorus of sneers and whispered judgments filled the air. Abel ignored them all. Let them gloat. He had no time for fools. "Stop right there!" A guard blocked Abel's path, his tone harsh and condescending. "Mortals and cripples are not allowed inside!" Abel's eyes turned cold, a flicker of anger surfacing. The Elixir Pavilion did have a rule barring non-warriors from entering. But since when was there a rule against cripples as well? The guard was targeting him, likely under the influence of Luca. One day, Abel would ensure Luca was ruined—so thoroughly that even death wouldn't be an escape. But now wasn't the time to bother with a mere guard. His priority was getting his hands on Awakening Dragonroot. Suppressing his anger, Abel said nothing. Instead, he unleashed his aura. "Fifth stage of the Body Refining Realm!" The guard was dumbstruck. The crowd, just as shocked, fell into stunned silence. Wasn't Abel supposed to be crippled? How was he still a cultivator? And in just one day? Where did his cultivation come from? It defied all logic. After a long pause, Abel spoke coolly. "Am I allowed to enter now?" "It's just a trick. Who knows if your cultivation is real?" The guard quickly regained his composure and stubbornly refused to step aside. "If he has cultivation, then let him in." "Since when does a mere guard have the authority to change the rules of the Elixir Pavilion?" "Maybe the pavilion owner should just let this guy take over!" Grumbles of dissatisfaction rippled through the crowd. Initially, they came to watch the spectacle, but seeing Abel reveal his strength, some changed their stance. Even at the fifth stage of the Body Refining Realm, he was still considered a mid-tier cultivator in Sunway City. Most of them weren't even at his level. The crowd's growing dissent made the guard uneasy. But he had his orders—he wouldn't back down. "Someone told you to stop me, didn't they?" Abel asked coldly. "Shut up! If you don't leave, I'll throw you out myself!" Losing his patience, the guard lunged, fingers splayed wide, aiming to grab Abel. This was a strike carrying three thousand pounds of force—a direct hit would tear Abel's skin. Gasps erupted from the crowd. The guard was at the sixth stage of the Body Refining Realm. Abel was only at the fifth. How could he possibly withstand this? But the next moment, the crowd went silent. Abel effortlessly caught the guard's wrist. The guard's face twisted in agony as sweat poured down his forehead. He struggled, pleading desperately, "M-Mr. Letherdale, I was wrong! You can enter the Elixir Pavilion. Don't break my hand!" Abel scoffed and flung the guard aside, sending him tumbling several yards away. At that moment, his aura surged like a sharp, unsheathed blade cutting through the air. No one dared to make a sound. Not a single soul spoke against Abel. They mocked him before because they thought he was a cripple. But now that they saw his strength, they didn't dare to offend him anymore. That was just human nature. Inside the Elixir Pavilion, it was filled with shelves stocked with all kinds of rare herbs and pills. Abel stepped inside, drawing curious glances from the staff. They had heard the rumors. Ignoring them, Abel approached a staff member and stated plainly, "I need Awakening Dragonroot." "Apologies," the staff member replied without hesitation. "We've received orders not to sell you anything." Abel's brows furrowed. "Whose orders?" "Mine." A cold voice rang out. A young man stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. He wore black robes embroidered with a gold elixir symbol, a mark of high status among alchemists. In alchemy, ranks were designated by embroidery: • Copper Elixir for a low-tier alchemist • Silver Elixir for a mid-tier alchemist • Gold Elixir for a high-tier alchemist A low-tier alchemist could refine basic pills and elixirs. Mid-tier alchemists were lesser in Sunway City, let alone high-tier alchemists. People highly respected them. "Mr. Caleb." The pavilion staff bowed respectfully. At the Elixir Pavilion, there were no ordinary people. Aside from the guards, who were purely warriors, everyone else was involved in alchemy. The clerks were apprentices, while the management consisted of actual alchemists. "Caleb?" Abel recognized the young man instantly. He was Caleb Showyer, Victoria's cousin, and a management team member—no wonder the Elixir Pavilion treated Abel with hostility. "Abel," Caleb sneered, his expression arrogant. "The Elixir Pavilion doesn't welcome cripples. There's the door. Get lost!" "Mr. Caleb, I couldn't stop him," the guard from earlier muttered, holding his swollen wrist as he approached. Caleb's face darkened. "What level is he at?" "Fifth stage of the Body Refining Realm," the guard replied. "Useless idiot!" Caleb roared, kicking the guard away. "You're at the sixth stage and couldn't stop someone at the fifth? What kind of trash are you?" By now, the commotion had drawn quite a few onlookers. "Abel," Caleb said, smirking. "So what if you have some cultivation left? A cripple who fell from the True Essence Realm to the Body Refining Realm is a disgrace in my eyes." He crossed his arms smugly. "I'm a high-tier alchemist. I control the sale of everything here. Even a True Essence Realm warrior can't buy anything without my permission." Abel's response was cold. "I'm purchasing as a fellow alchemist." The Elixir Pavilion could reject martial artists but not alchemists. Caleb's eyes narrowed. "You? An alchemist?" Laughter erupted around them. In Sunway City, anyone with alchemy talent trained at the Elixir Pavilion. Most of them were still apprentices. Only a few had advanced to alchemists. Caleb was the best among them—the only local high-tier alchemist. Yet Abel, who had never shown any sign of alchemy talent, claimed to be one. "Of course," Abel replied calmly. He had inherited the alchemy knowledge. His skills were leagues ahead of anyone here. "Fine," Caleb smirked. "I'll give you a chance. I'll believe you if you can refine a Body Refining Pill." "And if I succeed?" Abel asked. "You get the Awakening Dragonroot." "Deal." A space was quickly cleared. Someone brought over ingredients, a small cauldron, and a pile of firewood. Abel glanced at the wood, hesitating briefly. Then he sat cross-legged, lit the fire, and began. There were six alchemist flames: Kindling Flame, Truefire, Soulfire, Beastflame, Earthflame, and Skyfire. Kindling Flame was the weakest—typically used by apprentices and low-tier alchemists. Skyfire, the strongest, was a legend. Someone obtained it and became the master alchemist. Abel didn't need his Soulfire for this. A simple Kindling Flame would do since the Body Refining Pill was low-grade. Abel started heating the cauldron. As the cauldron heated, he moved on to the next step: selecting ingredients. Without hesitation, he tossed everything into the cauldron at once. Caleb froze. The crowd froze. Then, laughter exploded across the room. "Is he making a pill or cooking garbage?" "If he succeeds, I'll eat shit on the spot!" Caleb sneered.

Chapter 5: Elixir Pavilion

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