143: Chapter 143 This round, I bet you can't refuse!

"I have the pill formula."

These five words, spoken lightly from Xu Chen's mouth, were like a thunderclap from the nine heavens, booming within the quiet space of the Cloud Top Medicine Pavilion.

Liu Hanyan froze where she stood.

Her eyes, which were usually as calm as an ancient well and seemed to have seen through the vicissitudes of the world, were now trembling violently, the depths of her pupils reflecting Xu Chen's confident face.

"You... what did you say?"

She subconsciously took a step forward, and the "Tower Master" poise she had maintained so well showed a crack at this moment.

It wasn't her fault for losing her composure.

To a "pill fanatic" who had dedicated her life's blood to the Dao of Alchemy, the value of a lost ancient divine formula far exceeded that of any extreme dao imperial weapon or Immortal Medicine. It was the Dao in their hearts, the ultimate truth pursued throughout their lives.

Furthermore, it was the Nine Revolutions Replenishing Heaven Pill.

"I said, I have the complete pill formula for the Nine Revolutions Replenishing Heaven Pill."

Seeing her excited state, the smile on Xu Chen's lips deepened. He slowly pulled a green jade slip radiating an ancient aura from his sleeve and waved it before Liu Hanyan's eyes.

"Tower Master Liu, if you don't believe me, feel free to verify it."

As soon as the jade slip appeared, a vast and ancient Dao charm spread out. As a Wood Spirit Body, Liu Hanyan was most sensitive to this kind of aura. She almost instinctively reached out and grabbed Xu Chen's... wrist.

Yes, she was too anxious—so anxious that she didn't even see where Xu Chen's hand was and grabbed his wrist directly, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

"Give it to me... let me see..."

Liu Hanyan's voice was trembling, her usual reserve and coldness thrown to the winds. At this moment, she was like a person who had trekked through the desert for months and suddenly saw a clear spring.

Xu Chen didn't keep her in suspense either. He generously injected his divine sense into the jade slip, unsealed the first layer of restrictions, and handed it to her.

Liu Hanyan snatched the jade slip and impatiently probed it with her divine sense.

Boom!

In an instant, a massive flow of information rushed into her mind like a river bursting its banks. Countless obscure and difficult ancient characters, long-lost alchemical hand seals, and unheard-of medicinal combinations... it all unfolded before her eyes like a grand scroll.

"So that's how it is... this 'Heavenly Star Sand' is actually meant to neutralize the dryness of 'Dragon Blood Vine'..."

"Brilliant! Using the principles of the five elements' mutual generation and inhibition to reverse Yin and Yang and reshape the heart's meridians... this is the true Way of Replenishing Heaven!"

Liu Hanyan fell into a state of frenzy.

A seductive flush rose on her gentle face due to excitement, her breathing became rapid, and her ample chest heaved violently. She muttered to herself while unconsciously pacing within the medicine pavilion, clutching the jade slip so tightly it was as if it were her very lifeblood.

At this moment, where was there any trace of the "Cold Tower Master"? She was entirely a research maniac lost in her academic pursuit.

Xu Chen stood to the side with his arms crossed, quietly admiring the loss of composure of this top-tier beautiful woman.

A full half-hour passed.

Only then did Liu Hanyan barely snap back from that profound realization.

She took a deep breath and slowly turned around. The look in her eyes as she watched Xu Chen had undergone an earth-shattering change.

The previous aloofness and politeness had vanished, replaced by a heat bordering on worship and a deep sense of longing.

"This... is indeed the complete version of the Nine Revolutions Replenishing Heaven Pill formula."

Liu Hanyan gripped the jade slip tightly, her voice hoarse yet incredibly firm.

"Young Master Xu, you win."

"There is indeed no business in this world that can move me, but this pill formula... is the exception."

She paused and walked up to Xu Chen, her autumn-water eyes staring straight at him.

"Name your price."

"Whether it's the Dan Tower's collection or my personal promise, as long as I can provide it, I will not refuse. Even... if you need the Dan Tower to refine pills for your Xu Family for a hundred years free of charge, I can make that decision."

For this formula, and to personally refine the legendary divine pill, she was willing to pay any price. Such was the purity of a pill fanatic.

Xu Chen looked at her and shook his head.

"Tower Master Liu, do you think I'm someone who lacks money? Or do you think my Xu Family lacks labor for pill refining?"

Liu Hanyan was stunned.

Indeed, the Ancient Imperial Clan Xu was rich enough to rival nations, with an unfathomably deep foundation. Although the Dan Tower was wealthy, it truly had no capital to boast of in front of the Xu Family.

"Then what do you want?" she asked, somewhat at a loss.

Xu Chen stepped forward, closing the distance between them once again.

As he approached, Liu Hanyan subconsciously wanted to retreat, but behind her was the Red Sandalwood Desk; there was no room to back away.

The distance between them narrowed to inches. Xu Chen could even smell the pleasant medicinal fragrance on her, mixed with a faint, mature body scent that was intoxicating.

Xu Chen lowered his head slightly, his eyes burning as he stared into Liu Hanyan's somewhat flustered, watery eyes, his lips curling into a domineering and playful arc.

"I want you."

Boom!

Liu Hanyan felt a roar in her mind, and her entire body froze in place.

"You... what did you say?"

She thought she had misheard, or that this was just the teasing words of this playboy young master.

"I said, I want you."

Xu Chen repeated, his tone brook no doubt.

"Not only this pill formula, but I will also provide the refined divine pill and all the divine materials needed for the refining process."

"But I have only one condition."

"From now on, you will be the chief alchemist of my Xu Family."

At this point, Xu Chen leaned into her ear, his warm breath fanning across her sensitive earlobe, his voice low and magnetic:

"Not just for refining pills, but also... to be my person."

Liu Hanyan's face instantly turned red down to her neck, and her body trembled slightly.

If it were anyone else who dared to be so frivolous with her in the past, she would have slapped them away long ago. But now, facing this man who held her lifelong dream in his hands, she actually couldn't find a single thought of resistance.

Moreover, for some reason, under the shroud of this man's domineering aura, her Dao heart, which had been silent for hundreds of years, was actually beating a little fast.

"You... this is taking advantage of the situation."

She bit her lip, her voice as thin as a mosquito's wing, carrying a hint of embarrassment and annoyance, yet notably lacking a refusal.

"That's right, I am taking advantage of the situation."

Xu Chen admitted it openly, his gaze candid, not feeling himself to be despicable in the slightest.

"This pill formula is a priceless treasure. If it were only exchanged for some pills and spirit stones, wouldn't that be a waste of a heavenly gift? Only someone as peerless and divinely skilled in alchemy as Tower Master Liu is worthy of its value."

"Furthermore, my Xu Family Imperial Clan has a deep foundation. If you follow me, what ancient pill formulas will you not have in the future? What rare divine medicines will you not have?"

"This is a win-win choice. Liu Hanyan, you are a smart person; you should know how to choose."

Xu Chen's words were highly provocative, like a demon holding candy to entice a young girl. But the candy he offered was simply too sweet—so sweet that Liu Hanyan could not refuse at all.

She looked up at the domineering yet sincere young man before her.

Perhaps... this really was the will of heaven?

Liu Hanyan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened them.

The original panic and shyness were forcibly suppressed by her, replaced by a resolution like that of someone burning their bridges.

"Fine."

"Young Master Xu, I, Liu Hanyan, accept this deal."

She reached out and proactively grasped Xu Chen's palm. Her hand was soft and delicate, yet it carried a firm strength.

"From this day forth, I am your chief alchemist."

"But..."

She looked at Xu Chen, a complex light flashing in her eyes.

"I also bet that you will keep your promise and let me see the end of the Dao of Alchemy."

Xu Chen squeezed her soft hand in return, feeling the smoothness of her palm, a victorious smile rising on his lips.

"Rest assured, following me, you will find..."

"The end of the Dao of Alchemy is only the beginning."