The Herb King

Aethelwolf took out the Moonlight Frost Cauldron from his storage space. When it was revealed to the crowd, they all gasped in surprise. They were Alchemists so they could tell that it was a Unique-Rated cauldron!

"That is a Unique-Rated Cauldron!"

"That cauldron seems familiar... I think I've seen that before..."

Karman Leone glanced at the cauldron with a hint of surprise. "That is the Moonlight Frost Cauldron of the Rayden Household. They actually gave their family heirloom to you?"

Aethelwolf smiled as he stared at the old man. "You mean this? I got this from Sir Jericho as a gift. Not bad, right?"

Karman Leone's mouth twitched upon hearing his words. He then ignored Aethelwolf and took out his own cauldron. It was also a Unique-Rated artifact!

"You are not the only person who owns a Unique-Rated cauldron." The old man chuckled. "Do you have your ingredients?" He asked while looking at Aethelwolf.

"No." Aethelwolf shook his head. "But I'm in the Alchemy Tower. I believe you have all the ingredients I need. This is the list of ingredients I need. Sir Johann, please buy ten sets for me." He beckoned to Johann and handed a piece of paper to him.

"Ah, me? Alright." Johann grabbed the paper and left.

"You don't even have your own ingredients..." Karman Leone muttered in disdain. He then took out a bunch of herbs from his storage ring and laid them down.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Aethelwolf clapped his hands as he looked at Karman Leone. "You are quite prepared, Sir Karman. You can start refining your pill. I don't mind giving you a few minutes as a head start." He said.

"You! What did you say?!" Karman Leone almost flew into rage when he heard his words.

"Go on. It's just a few minutes." Aethelwolf chuckled.

The Alchemists who were watching the duel stared at him speechlessly. Aethelwolf was the only person who dared to talk like that to the Supreme Director.

"I will wait for you. I don't want to hear your excuses if you lose." Karman Leone snorted.

Aethelwolf smiled widely when he heard this. "Oh? Alright. Don't blame me later." He said.

Karman Leone's veins protruded in anger, but he acted as if he heard nothing.

"Sir Aethelwolf, just what are you planning?" Jade Kristine looked at him in worry. The only thing she could do now was trust Aethelwolf. If he failed, she would be punished by Karman Leone and lose her Administrator position. Her fate was in his hands...

Soon, Johann arrived at the examination area. He handed the ingredients to Aethelwolf. "I got everything you listed, Sir Aethelwolf."

"Thanks." Aethelwolf glanced at Karman Leone and said. "Let's begin, Sir Karman."

The two Level 4 Alchemists summoned their Golden Pill Fire at the same. The sight of the two bright golden flames made everyone excited. This duel would determine the best Alchemist in the Leone Empire!

Aethelwolf was planning to refine a pill called Extreme Spirit Gathering Pill. It was a pill that can enhance the speed of gathering world essence for a Level 4 Esper by two folds. This pill was very expensive and only wealthy people could purchase it. In the entire Leone Empire, only the Alchemy Tower sells this pill and there was only one person responsible for refining this pill... Karman Leone.

As the sole Level 4 Alchemist of the Alchemy Tower, he was the only person capable of refining this pill.

"I think those are the ingredients for the Extreme Spirit Gathering Pill! Sir Aethelwolf must be planning to refine it, but isn't that the specialty pill of the Supreme Director?" Johann was confused by Aethelwolf's choice.

The Extreme Spirit Gathering Pill was a 4th-Grade Pill that was already mastered by Karman Leone. The old man has been refining the pill for decades and it was said that he could form three of the pills in just one refining session!

The other Alchemists also identified the ingredients in Aethelwolf's hands.

"Does he plan to lose this duel?"

"Why did he choose to refine that pill?"

"Wait. I think he is lacking two ingredients. How could he refine the Extreme Spirit Gathering Pill without those two ingredients?"

"Now that you mentioned it. I think he is missing two of the ingredients. Did he perhaps make a mistake when he listed the ingredients?"

Karman Leone looked at Aethelwolf and smirked coldly. 'The fool wants to refine the Extreme Spirit Gathering Pill without the Golden Wing Ganoderma and Jade Buddha Leaf. He must be crazy. Those two herbs are key ingredients to enhance the effects of the pill.'

"I thought you had some sort of plan since you dared to challenge me. It seems like I have overestimated you, Aethelwolf." Karman Leone muttered and started refining. He was also planning to refine the Extreme Spirit Gathering Pill! He knew the recipe of this pill like the back of his hand.

'I can refine three pills in just an hour. That would be nine pills in three hours.' The old man was confident. He believed that there was no way for Aethelwolf to win this duel. With two missing ingredients, he would fail to refine the pill.

Under the dumbstruck gazes of the crowd, Aethelwolf took out a cigar and lit it up with the Golden Pill Fire burning under his Moonlight Frost Cauldron.

"What is he doing?"

"What's the thing he is holding?"

Aethelwolf placed the cigar in between his lips. He then inhaled its minted scent and blew fragrant smoke into the air.

He didn't even touch the ingredients and just puffed on his cigar with a smile on his face.

He looked at the dumbfounded crowd and muttered to himself. "Look at these ignorant people. I bet this is their first time seeing someone smoke a cigar. I should consider selling this. It would be a popular item among the nobility."

Aethelwolf ignored them. He just continued to enjoy the minted flavor of his cigar.