My jaw clenched as I walked away from Caleb Thorne''s hotel room. The sting of his dismissal still burned, but beneath that, a fierce determination began to rise.


    "So he thinks I''m just another pretender," I muttered to myself, striding through the hotel lobby. "A man riding on the Ashworth family''s coattails."


    The lobby was busy with morning activities—hotel staff attending to wealthy guests, martial artists gathering in small groups, discussing recent tournaments. None of them paid me any attention as I exited onto the bustling street.


    Outside, I leaned against a marble pir and pulled out the recipe Caleb had given me. I studied it again, looking for what I might have missed. The supposed form for the Nine Transformation Pill seemed straightforward enough, but now I understood why Caleb had sneered.


    My father''s jade pendant warmed against my chest, almost in response to my thoughts. I closed my eyes, drawing on the ancient knowledge stored within it.


    "Wait a minute," I whispered, my eyes snapping open.


    The recipe wasn''t just iplete—it was deliberately misleading. The proportions were wrong, and several crucial ingredients were missing entirely. No wonder Caleb had looked so smug when I''d failed to notice.


    I pulled out my phone and dialed Conrad Thornton.


    "Liam!" Conrad''s enthusiastic voice came through after two rings. "How did your meeting with Master Thorne go?"


    "Not as expected," I replied, keeping my voice low. "He gave me a false recipe to test me."


    Conrad whistled. "That''s unfortunate but not surprising. Caleb Thorne is notorious for his tests and trials. Few pass them on the first attempt."


    "I need the real ingredients for the Nine Transformation Pill," I said firmly. "And I suspect they''re far rarer than what Caleb initially suggested."


    There was a brief pause before Conrad responded. "You''re right about that. The true Nine Transformation Pill requires herbs that are at least a century old—hundred-year Panax Ginseng, hundred-fifty-year Knotweed, things of that nature."


    I inhaled sharply. Those weren''t just rare—they were practically legends in modern herbology.


    "Can you help me find these ingredients?" I asked.


    "Possibly," Conrad replied thoughtfully. "But before we dive into that, there''s something else you should know."


    I straightened, immediately alert. "What is it?"


    "Word has reached me about a rare Divine Medicine that might soon appear in White City."


    My heart skipped a beat. "Divine Medicine? Are you certain?"


    "As certain as rumors can be," Conrad answered. "The major families from the River North Region are already mobilizing. The Sterling family, the Harding family, even the Ashworths are sending representatives."


    A Divine Medicine—one of the rarest treasures in the cultivation world. Such medicines were said to appear once in a millennium and could instantly elevate a martial artist''s cultivation by an entire major realm. The implications were staggering.


    "When is this supposed to happen?" I asked, my mind already racing with possibilities.


    "Within the week, from what my sources tell me," Conrad said. "Liam, this could be the opportunity we''ve been waiting for. With a Divine Medicine, breaking through to the Monastic Stage would be child''s y."


    The Monastic Stage—the first major threshold that separated ordinary martial artists from true masters. It had been my goal for months now.


    "Are you suggesting we try to obtain this Divine Medicine?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.


    "Exactly," Conrad confirmed. "But we''ll need to be strategic. Every powerful family in the region will be sending their best people."


    I nodded, though he couldn''t see me. "I agree. We should cooperate on this. But first, I still need those century-old herbs for the Nine Transformation Pill. I want to prove Caleb Thorne wrong."


    "Always fighting on multiple fronts," Conrad chuckled. "That''s what I admire about you, Liam. Alright, I''ll help you find the herbs. But it won''t be easy—or cheap."


    I thought for a moment, then made a bold decision. "Spread the word that I''m offering Level Enhancement Pills in exchange for hundred-year herbs. One pill per suitable specimen."


    There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line.


    "Liam," Conrad finally said, his voice hushed, "do you realize what you''re offering? Level Enhancement Pills are coveted even by Core Formation experts. You could probably buy an entire city district with a dozen of those."


    I smiled grimly. "I know their value. I also know that they''re exactly what will motivate people to find these rare herbs for me." <var ss="frag-3b0998">*<i ss="node-sep"></i>is<i ss="node-sep"></i>the<i ss="node-sep"></i>home<i ss="node-sep"></i>of<i ss="node-sep"></i>this<i ss="node-sep"></i>chapter</var>


    "If you''re sure about this," Conrad said slowly, "I''ll start spreading the word immediately. But be prepared—this will cause quite a stir."


    "That''s what I''m counting on," I replied. "I need those ingredients quickly, and this is the fastest way to get them."


    "Understood. I''ll contact you as soon as I hear anything."


    After hanging up, I took a deep breath and looked up at the clear blue sky. Caleb Thorne thought he had put me in my ce, but he had only reinforced my determination. And now, with the news of a Divine Medicine possibly appearing soon, I had even more reason to elerate my ns.


    I sent a quick message to Mariana Valerius, updating her on thetest developments. Then I headed back to my temporary residence to prepare for what wasing. I would need to produce a significant quantity of Level Enhancement Pills, which would require intense concentration and considerable spiritual energy.


    ---


    Three dayster, the first responses to my offer began pouring in. Conrad called me repeatedly with updates.


    "Liam, this is unprecedented," he said during our fifth call of the day. "I''ve never seen such a reaction. Families of all sizes are scrambling to find these herbs for you."


    I sat in my meditation room, surrounded by dozens of freshly crafted Level Enhancement Pills, each glowing with a soft blue light. "How many viable specimens have been located so far?"


    "Seven confirmed hundred-year Panax Ginseng roots, three specimens of century-old Knotweed, and even a two-hundred-year-old Spirit Mushroom, though you didn''t specifically ask for that."


    I couldn''t help but smile. "The Spirit Mushroom is actually perfect. I''ll take it too."


    "There''s more," Conrad continued, excitement evident in his voice. "Your offer has attracted attention from beyond Eldoria. Representatives from the Grenville family in Verdant City are on their way with multiple specimens. Even the Vance family has reached out."


    This was beyond my expectations. The Vance family, though not as prominent as the Ashworths, possessed extensive botanical gardens dating back generations. If they were willing to part with some of their treasures, it spoke volumes about the value they ced on my Level Enhancement Pills.


    "Any word from Caleb Thorne?" I asked, unable to resist.


    Conradughed. "Not directly, but his disciples have been asking questions. They''re clearly rattled by how quickly you''ve managed to source these rare ingredients."


    That was satisfying to hear. Caleb had dismissed me as a pretender, but now he was witnessing firsthand the extent of my connections and resources.


    "And what about the Divine Medicine rumor?" I asked, getting to the more pressing matter.


    "It''s looking more credible by the hour," Conrad replied, his tone growing serious. "Multiple sources have confirmed unusual energy fluctuations in White City, consistent with the emergence of a high-level treasure. The major families are definitely taking it seriously."


    I nodded thoughtfully. "Then we should make preparations to visit White City soon."


    "Agreed. Though I must warn you, Liam—this won''t be like your previous adventures. Thepetition for a Divine Medicine will be fierce, possibly deadly."


    "I understand the risks," I said firmly. "But the potential rewards are too great to ignore."


    After finishing my call with Conrad, I returned to examining the Level Enhancement Pills I had created. Each one represented hours of meticulous work,bining rare ingredients with precise applications of spiritual energy. They were among the most valuable items in the cultivation world, capable of significantly increasing a martial artist''s progress during a critical breakthrough.


    I had initially created them for my own use, but offering them in exchange for the century-old herbs was a calcted decision. With these ingredients, I could craft not only the Nine Transformation Pill but several other high-level medicines that would prove invaluable in theing challenges.


    My phone buzzed with a message from Conrad:


    *"News of your offer has reached every corner of the martial world. Prepare yourself—tomorrow will be busy."*


    I smiled as I read the message. Caleb Thorne had intended to humiliate me with his "test," but he had inadvertently pushed me to take action that would ultimately strengthen my position.


    As I carefully stored the pills in special jade containers designed to preserve their potency, I couldn''t help but feel a surge of anticipation. The pieces were falling into ce for an unprecedented opportunity—rare herbs to prove my alchemical skills, and potentially, a Divine Medicine to catapult my cultivation to new heights.


    "Let''s see who passes the real test," I murmured, thinking of Caleb''s smug expression.


    The martial world was about to witness what happened when Liam Knight was underestimated. And it would be a lesson they wouldn''t soon forget.