142: The so-called one-tenth probability

"You could say that."

Hearing this, Feng Ming had an awkward expression and continued, "It's just that the City Lord doesn't quite believe in my abilities. So, I'd like to ask the Sect Master and Elder Xu to help me persuade him in a moment."

After saying that, without giving the Sect Master and Elder Xu time to react, Feng Ming asked directly, "By the way, did you bring a Pill Furnace?"

Feng Ming scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

He had only been thinking about the medicinal herbs and forgot to prepare a Pill Furnace in advance.

Fortunately, as a Sixth-Grade Alchemist, Elder Xu had the habit of carrying a Pill Furnace with him. Seeing that Feng Ming hadn't even prepared one, he took out his own furnace with a look of astonishment.

"I say, didn't you arrange for us to come here to assess your Alchemy skills? Your preparation is quite insufficient."

Feng Ming chuckled, "I was in such a hurry that I forgot."

Lu Qianqian, standing to the side, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

He certainly was in a hurry.

He had stolen the herbs and been chased all the way here.

There simply was no time to prepare a Pill Furnace.

Even at a time like this, her brother-in-law was still talking nonsense.

She wondered what kind of expressions the Sect Master and Elder Xu would have once they realized Feng Ming was using them as shields.

Feng Ming didn't respond but glanced at Lu Qianqian, winking and making faces.

His meaning was not to expose anything yet; he still needed these two to hold people back in a moment.

Next, Feng Ming took the Pill Furnace, placed it on the ground, and activated his Pill Fire to heat the furnace.

Lu Qianqian hurriedly pulled out a Storage Ring from her bosom and handed it over.

Inside were the medicinal herbs she had stolen from Lu Zhenfeng's secret chamber.

Feng Ming didn't dare delay. Time was limited; if Lu Zhenfeng caught up, he wouldn't have another chance.

He immediately took out the herbs, about to throw them into the Pill Furnace.

At that moment, a voice rang out in his ear.

"How dare you!"

"If you dare put those herbs into the Pill Furnace, I will ensure you die without a burial today!"

Hearing this voice, Feng Ming's movements paused, and he sighed helplessly. "Sigh, I was still one step too late."

"City Lord, since you're here, why don't you show yourself so we can talk?"

As his voice fell, Lu Zhenfeng's figure appeared in the sky not far away.

His gaze was icy as he stared intently at Feng Ming.

"Father!"

Seeing Lu Zhenfeng, Lu Qianqian also felt a bit awkward.

Lu Zhenfeng glanced at her indifferently and said, "You have disappointed me too much. You know exactly how important these herbs are to me. You'd better give me an explanation later, or don't blame me for being heartless."

Hearing this, Feng Ming sighed again. This soul settling pill was indeed a touchy subject for Lu Zhenfeng.

Even though the person who stole the herbs was Lu Qianqian, he showed no mercy, which showed how much he cared about these herbs.

But it made sense; after so many years, he had only managed to collect this one set. They were likely more important to him than his own life.

Lu Qianqian spoke up, "Father, there's no need to wait for later. I can give you an explanation now."

"I did this after careful consideration. Feng Ming said he could refine the Medicinal Pill and save Mother. I don't want Mother to lie there forever, so I wanted to try."

"Father, after all these years, don't you miss Mother?"

"Let him try, okay?"

"Insolence!"

Lu Zhenfeng shouted coldly, interrupting Lu Qianqian.

"Do you think I haven't wanted to cure your mother all these years? Do you think that with my connections, I couldn't find a Seventh-Grade Alchemist?"

"But for this soul settling pill, not only are the herbs difficult to collect, the success rate of refining it is only one-tenth. In all these years, I've only gathered one set of ingredients. How do you expect me to try? How would I dare to try? That is your mother's only hope!"

"If he fails, can you bear the consequences?"

"I..."

Lu Qianqian was suddenly speechless.

Indeed, if Feng Ming failed, not only would her father be unable to accept it, but she herself wouldn't be able to face her mother.

Those herbs were her mother's only hope of coming back to life!

The Sect Master and Elder Xu, hearing all this, were filled with embarrassment.

Their gazes toward Feng Ming were now tinged with resentment.

"Good grief, this kid... he said he'd perform Alchemy for us, but he never said he stole the City Lord's herbs!"

"This is great. They're practically being dragged into a death trap by this brat."

Feng Ming spread his hands and said with a helpless look.

"Sect Master, Elder Xu, you can't blame me for this. I only said I'd refine a seventh-grade elixir, but you didn't provide the herbs, and I couldn't get them myself."

Hearing this, the Sect Master and Elder Xu were numb with anger.

"If you couldn't get them, a sixth-grade one would have been fine! Why did you have to go to the City Lord's house to steal herbs and then call us over to act as your shields? We're on the same side, yet you're setting us up for a fall!"

Elder Xu quickly clarified to Lu Zhenfeng, "City Lord, this has nothing to do with us. If we had known this kid was doing something so dishonorable, we wouldn't have come even if we were beaten to death."

"Exactly, City Lord. You carry on; we have other matters to attend to. We'll take our leave now."

Lu Qianqian looked at Feng Ming with anxiety.

If the Sect Master and Elder Xu left, no one would be able to restrain her father's wrath.

How would the Medicinal Pill be refined then?

Feng Ming was also panicking inside, but he remained steady on the surface.

"Sect Master, Elder Xu, do you really want to leave? Once you leave, if I successfully refine the pill, the benefits will have nothing to do with you."

"If you stay and this succeeds, the City Lord will owe you a favor. If you leave... well, that would be a great pity."

After saying that, Feng Ming looked at Lu Zhenfeng, "City Lord, don't be in such a hurry. I'm also helping you recover your lost love."

"Utter nonsense!"

Lu Zhenfeng's expression was icy, and his anger toward Feng Ming deepened.

The Sect Master and Elder Xu looked at Feng Ming with suspicion.

This kid was too good at talking nonsense.

They didn't really believe him.

Feng Ming wasn't in a hurry and spoke slowly, "I know you don't believe me!"

"Then you can listen to my analysis..."

"The City Lord and his wife have a deep and enduring love. It's just that the City Lord's wife has been suffering from a chronic illness and has been bedridden for years."

"Over the years, the City Lord has exhausted his efforts and spent his fortune to collect various medicinal herbs for his wife..."

Lu Zhenfeng spoke irritably, "Since you know that, then stop wasting time and return the herbs to me immediately. If you dare ruin my herbs, I won't show any mercy even if you've helped me before."

Feng Ming smiled and shook his head, "The City Lord is mistaken. How can you say I'm ruining your herbs? I'm fulfilling their purpose. In your hands, they will always just be herbs. With me, I can turn them into a Medicinal Pill."

"With me, there is only success and no failure, let alone your so-called one-tenth success rate."

"So, only by believing in me can your wife stand up as soon as possible!"