"Tang Sect Master has sharp eyes," Ye Tian said. "This ginseng is about seven hundred years old and of excellent quality, containing thirteen extraordinary medicinal properties."
Tang Xuan Si's eyes lit up. "Mr. Ye, are you an expert in identifying spiritual medicine?"
Ye Tian smiled. "I wouldn't dare call myself an expert, but I do know a little."
Zhang Long Sheng chimed in, "Mr. Ye is being too modest. When it comes to identifying spiritual medicine, if he claims second place, no one else would dare claim first."
Tang Xuan Si said, "That's wonderful. Mr. Ye, I don't know much about medicine myself, but I've collected quite a lot of medicinal herbs over the years. Would you be willing to come and take a look for me?"
Ye Tian replied, "It would be my honor to see the Tang Sect Master's collection."
Immediately, Tang Xuan Si invited Ye Tian and Zhang Long Sheng to another building. As the door opened, Ye Tian was greeted by the aroma of herbs. The room was filled with various medicinal plants, both potted and stored, including ambergris.
Tang Xuan Si walked directly to a wooden shelf and carefully took down a jade box, opening it with great care. Inside lay a snow lotus seed.
He smiled. "Mr. Ye, I acquired this from a Tibetan master three years ago. He claimed it was a thousand-year-old snow lotus seed. Please, take a look."
Ye Tian picked up the lotus pod and examined it, then sniffed. "This is a mutated lotus seed. It has some medicinal properties, but it's likely not a thousand-year-old snow lotus. The seeds of a thousand-year-old snow lotus are crystal clear like jade, with unique snowflake-like crystals inside, and they possess a distinct fragrance."
Tang Xuan Si frowned. "But I ate one of these seeds, and at the time, I felt its medicinal effect was very good, leaving me refreshed."
Ye Tian asked, "Can you be sure, Sect Master Tang, that the seed you ate was the same as these?"
Tang Xuan Si froze. He recalled that the Tibetan master had casually picked a seed for him to consume. Being no ordinary person, he quickly understood the issue. "Mr. Ye," he asked, "do these seeds have any value?"
Ye Tian replied, "They certainly have value, but it's quite limited. These seeds here could be worth a million or so."
Hearing the mention of a million, Tang Xuan Si couldn't help but smile wryly. "I spent one hundred and eighty million to buy this lotus pod!"
Zhang Long Sheng remarked, "If Sect Master Tang had known Mr. Ye back then, he wouldn't have been deceived by that Tibetan master."
Tang Xuan Si then moved to a chest and opened it, revealing over a dozen pieces of ambergris of various sizes. "Mr. Ye," he inquired, "these ambergris are said to contain ancient spiritual medicines. Could you examine them for me?"
Ye Tian picked up a piece of ambergris and scanned it with his spiritual sense. He knew the medicinal properties within had already dissipated. "The medicines inside are no longer effective," he stated. "However, you can still sell them, as not everyone can judge the value of ambergris."
He then examined the other pieces of ambergris and found that out of the dozen or so, only one contained valuable medicine; the rest were rendered useless.
When he informed Tang Xuan Si of the situation, the latter sighed, "I spent twenty-five billion on these ambergris!"
Zhang Long Sheng then asked, "Mr. Ye, Sect Master Tang has stored so many medicinal herbs; surely there must be some valuable items among them?"
Ye Tian's gaze swept across the room and landed on a string of snake bones. The bones had a peculiar appearance. He stepped forward and observed them for a moment before speaking. "These are the bones of a bone-mending snake. Ground into powder, these bones can strengthen bone quality and are effective for martial artists."
Tang Xuan Si nodded. "These are indeed bone-mending snake bones. I bought them over a decade ago. Mr. Ye, Brother Zhang mentioned you are also skilled in alchemy?"
Ye Tian replied, "I wouldn't say skilled, but I know a little."
Tang Xuan Si's eyes gleamed. "To be frank, sir, I collected so many medicinal herbs for the purpose of refining pills. Unfortunately, I have no true alchemists to teach me, so I can only learn through trial and error."
Ye Tian asked, "Is that so? Sect Master Tang, are you already capable of refining pills?"
Tang Xuan Si looked embarrassed. "I have succeeded in refining them once or twice, but the quality of the pills was too poor to be consumed."
Ye Tian chuckled. "Alchemy is quite difficult. Merely succeeding is already a great feat."
Tang Xuan Si smiled. "Mr. Ye, my alchemy room is just ahead. I would be grateful for your guidance."
Ye Tian replied, "I wouldn't dare, but we can learn from each other."
The group arrived at the alchemy room, where Ye Tian noticed a considerable stock of medicinal herbs. It was clear that the Tang Sect was a wealthy and influential family, as ordinary people would find it difficult even to catch a glimpse of such resources.
Tang Xuan Si presented a pill recipe. "I have a pill formula here, Mr. Ye. Please take a look."
Ye Tian took the formula and glanced at it, discovering that two of the medicinal properties within were in conflict. After a moment of thought, he said, "This formula has some issues. Where did you obtain it, Sect Master Tang?"
Tang Xuan Si explained, "I spent three hundred million to buy it from an old Taoist priest. He claimed this formula had been successfully refined before."
Ye Tian inquired, "Have you attempted to refine it, Sect Master Tang?"
Tang Xuan Si sighed. "I've tried no less than five times, and each attempt has failed."
Ye Tian nodded. "I'll modify the formula, and then we can try it."
Tang Xuan Si was overjoyed. "Excellent!"
He immediately retrieved the necessary medicinal herbs for alchemy, while Ye Tian slightly adjusted the formula, removing one ingredient and substituting it with another.
Following that, he began the process of cleaning and warming the furnace.
As Ye Tian's skilled movements were observed by Tang Xuan Si, his eyes began to shine.