"Oh? Brother Tang, don't tell me you came without a gift? Why else would you just sit there?" Liu Wuhui studied Tang Ling's darkened face, immensely pleased. He knew full well that whatever this fellow had brought was a poor thing beside the offerings of the three great families.

The old patriarchs of the Qin Family and the Wu Family watched Tang Ling with the same mocking look, waiting for the Tang Family to disgrace itself.

The City Lord and a few other sharp-eyed guests had already guessed the truth behind this gift-giving: it was a snare set by the other three families against the Tang Family. Each of them sighed inwardly. This time the Tang Family was certain to swallow the loss.

Tang Yan sneered to himself. He had expected some scheme all along. He rose, cleared his throat lightly, and said with a smile, "The years truly favor Madam Lin above all others. Madam Lin looks no older than my own elder sister. This junior, Tang Yan, wishes Madam Lin lasting youth, and beauty that only grows."

"Damn." The guests around him cursed his shamelessness all at once. How did this fellow get such brazen words past his own lips?

The muscles in Tang Ling's face twitched. I'm already fretting over how light my gift is, and now this brat comes out to shame me again.

But Madam Lin, hearing him, let slip a soft laugh and chided, "Such a glib tongue. The years are merciless. No one can hold back a fading face, and I am no exception."

"You need not press the Tang Family for a gift any longer. Their gift arrived three days ago." She turned and inclined her head to Old Master Tang in thanks. "I am deeply grateful to the Tang Family for the Pill they gave me, which lifted the scar from my face."

The whole hall erupted.

Madam Lin's disfigurement had quietly circulated through the city; it was no real secret. Today, seeing her face unmarked, the guests had been curious, yet none dared ask given her station. No one had imagined a Pill from the Tang Family had healed it.

And everyone in Yun City knew how dearly the City Lord cherished this wife of his. With this, the City Lord's Manor now owed the Tang Family a heavy favor. At the news, the faces of the great families darkened another shade.

"Since I have just wished Madam Lin lasting youth, I ought to lend that wish some weight." Tang Yan's voice carried clear across the hall. "My Tang Family offers one Youth-Preserving Pill. Once taken, it holds one's appearance unchanged for twenty years, and even after those twenty years, the youth-preserving effect lingers for several more.

"Its grade is only second-tier High Grade, yet the formula is exceedingly rare, and a single Pill cannot be bought for ten thousand gold. As today is Madam Lin's birthday, I have brought it to present to her."

He drew the Pill from his robes and carried it forward himself.

Twenty years with her appearance untouched, and the slowing of age beyond that. As the effect left Tang Yan's mouth, excitement flickered in Madam Lin's eyes.

From ancient times to now, what woman has not longed for unfading youth? A beautiful woman most of all treasures whatever preserves her looks.

Seeing Tang Yan approach, Madam Lin lost her composure as she rarely did, even taking two steps forward, her eagerness plain for all to see.

"This Pill was won through no small hardship, and I have confirmed its effect myself. It truly preserves the looks for twenty years, with no ill aftereffect, so Madam may take it without worry." Tang Yan smiled. "And should Madam still have doubts, she may have it tested another day. If there is half a word of falsehood in this, my Tang Family will accept whatever punishment follows."

Liu Wuhui added from the side, "Madam Lin, it would still be best to let Miss Wu Xuan appraise it."

"Madam Lin, might I be permitted a look at that Pill?" A crisp voice rang out. The guests turned to find the speaker was none other than the chief alchemist of the Myriad Pill Pavilion, Wu Xuan.

The other families had never believed the Tang Family could lay hands on so heaven-defying a Pill. If Wu Xuan could expose the thing as a fraud here and now, then the Tang Family would not merely fail to shine; it would lose all face and earn the City Lord's Manor's displeasure besides.

The last time, the Traceless Pill Tang Yan gave Madam Lin had cleanly erased the scar from her face. With that precedent, and in a setting such as this, Madam Lin had no reason to think his gift a fake. She smiled. "There is no need to appraise it. I trust Young Master Tang."

"Madam Lin need not be wary on my account. Wu Xuan is simply devoted to the Alchemy Dao. I have heard of the Youth-Preserving Pill but never once laid eyes on one. Today I am fortunate to share in Madam's good favor, and I hope she might indulge this small request of mine." Wu Xuan spoke with sincerity.

"Where Pills are concerned, it would be best to let Miss Wu Xuan appraise it," Liu Wuhui put in from the side.

"Madam Lin, since Miss Wu Xuan is here, let her see it." Tang Yan knew that a word from the Myriad Pill Pavilion would settle Madam Lin's heart all the more. He knew the worth of what he had refined; better to be open about it and earn the Manor's deeper goodwill.

"Very well, then." After a moment's hesitation, Madam Lin held out the porcelain bottle.

Wu Xuan received it with care, drew the stopper, and brought it to the tip of her nose for a gentle breath. Her brows drew tight at once.

The crowd could not tell what she had found in that expression. One by one they held their breath, afraid to disturb the appraisal.

Wu Xuan sent a thread of divine sense into the bottle, carefully sensing the aura the Pill gave off. Only after a long while did she shake her head.

Seeing that, Liu Wuhui, who stood nearest her, raised a brow. A fake, perhaps? Holding down the thrill in his chest, he feigned calm and asked, "Has Miss Wu Xuan found anything amiss?"

"No matter how closely I study it, I cannot pick out a single one of the ingredients within," Wu Xuan sighed.

"In other words, even Miss Wu Xuan cannot tell whether it is genuine?" Old Master Qin asked from the side.

"So it is a false Pill! Tang Yan, what gall, to work a fraud in the City Lord's Manor!" The Qian Family Head seized the moment to leap out and retaliate.

Madam Lin was taken aback. Could it truly be false?

Wu Xuan explained, "The Qian Family Head speaks too rashly. That my skill falls short of naming the ingredients does not make the Pill false.

"Look at it: the Pill is perfectly round and smooth throughout, with not the faintest leak of medicinal power. The one who refined this Pill is surely a master of the craft.

"As for its fragrance, the aura it gives off truly lends great strength to a person's vitality. I am all but certain there is nothing wrong with this Pill.

"Though I have refined pills for years, I still cannot tell the ingredients apart, and the reason is this: the one who made it has fused every ingredient into a single whole, so the Pill carries but one fragrance. That is why no ingredient can be distinguished."

She paused, then continued, "The hand that refined this Pill has reached pure mastery, perhaps even the very peak. Even I am put to shame. This Alchemist must be of the fourth tier, at the least."

What? A fourth-tier Alchemist? The guests exchanged stunned glances. In all of Tingxiang Kingdom, the fourth-tier Alchemists could be counted on one hand. What stroke of dog-shit luck had the Tang Family fallen into, to come by so heaven-defying a Pill?

The people of the Myriad Pill Pavilion were more shaken still.

To melt every ingredient in a Pill into one single fragrance demanded not only countless rounds of practice, but powerful spiritual power and rare talent besides.

"To see such a Pill in this life is truly a blessing. Now even I find myself a little envious of Madam Lin." Wu Xuan offered the light jest.

At her words, Madam Lin let her heart settle entirely. Tucking the porcelain bottle carefully into her robes, she smiled at Tang Yan. "The Tang Family is most thoughtful. I will call on you another day to offer my thanks in person."