Chu Feng took this matter to heart and decided to learn more about Wu Xuan.

Due to the decline in business at the Longevity Hall, which was no longer booming, Chu Feng believed the problem lay with the ten recruited Pill Masters. The quality of the elixirs they concocted was subpar.

Thus, he casually took elixirs from the counter to inspect them.

Each elixir had markings detailing what type it was, its grade, and who concocted it, all recorded.

The elixirs were also numbered.

This system was devised by Li Shishi, Beixie National Master, and Chu Feng together. It allowed for accountability to ensure every sold elixir could withstand scrutiny.

After examining over ten boxes of elixirs, Chu Feng found their quality to be quite excellent.

Among them, two caught Chu Feng’s eye with brilliance.

Their standard was definitely above that of an Alchemy King.

Both elixirs bore the initial numbers nine and were concocted by the same individual. If Chu Feng recalled correctly, this Pill Master should be Zhao Shaobo, a very young Pill Master.

This person, despite being somewhat antisocial and unruly, was otherwise commendable.

At the time of recruitment, Chu Feng hesitated slightly.

He was worried that bringing in someone like him would cause conflicts with many Pill Masters. Zhao Shaobo, aware of Chu Feng’s concern, proactively pledged to never argue with other Pill Masters.

Seeing his eagerness to learn and his exceptional talent, Chu Feng intended to nurture him.

He taught Zhao Shaobo some fire control skills and provided two advanced-level recipes, along with some of his own alchemy insights.

Back then, Zhao Shaobo was only at the level of a fourth-grade Alchemist, but unexpectedly, over the years, he had grown rapidly.

Learning any skill requires diligence and hard work, but talent is also crucial.

Zhao Shaobo is the best example of this.

"Since the quality of the elixirs is not an issue, what’s the reason for the decline in Longevity Hall’s business?"

Chu Feng was puzzled. Earlier, when entering the shop, he had already observed the clerks’ attentive and warm service to customers.

"Housekeeper Hu, has our Longevity Hall’s business always been this slow?" Chu Feng called the manager behind the counter to inquire.

"Well, no, it’s only been declining for the past six months." Housekeeper Hu’s gaze flickered slightly.

"Have you found the cause?" There’s always a reason; it won’t happen without cause. The originally booming business has gradually become stagnant.

"This..." Housekeeper Hu lowered his head, not daring to look at Chu Feng.

"Are you still unwilling to speak the truth in front of me? You truly know how to manage, don’t you!" Anger surged on Chu Feng’s face.

Seeing Chu Feng angered, Housekeeper Hu trembled with fear and confessed, "The proprietress forbade us from telling you about it; she said you have more important matters to attend to and shouldn’t be distracted. For the past six months, the Alchemy Academy has constantly targeted our Longevity Hall, and their methods are despicable beyond belief."

Li Shishi was indeed considerate, knowing Chu Feng was anxious about the Chang’e matter, hence she strictly ordered the staff to keep quiet to avoid creating more trouble for Chu Feng.

"Oh, that clown from the Alchemy Academy dares to provoke again; it seems the previous lesson wasn’t severe enough!" Chu Feng’s eyes narrowed, emitting streams of chilling light.

If it weren’t for the urgent need to return to the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Country to fend off the Azure Dragon Heavenly Kingdom and the Xuanwu Heavenly Kingdom’s invasion, Chu Feng would have undoubtedly stomped the Alchemy Academy into the mud.

His leniency didn’t earn gratitude. Instead, the Alchemy Academy even worsened their actions.

Since they provoked Chu Feng, they must be shown some colors.

"Tell me, what vile means has the Alchemy Academy been using?"

"Oh, it makes my teeth itch with hatred. If I weren’t so weak and vulnerable, I’d have loved to chop the scoundrels from the Alchemy Academy into ground meat."

Housekeeper Hu, being an honest and earnest person, expressing such anger indicates the Alchemy Academy’s actions were excessively over the line. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"About half a year ago, a poisoned guest rushed to our Longevity Hall to buy a First-grade Detoxification Pill. After consuming it, blood gushed from their seven orifices, and they fell to the ground convulsing in agony. It terrified everyone. People suspected issues with the Detoxification Pill, but after being examined by our Longevity Hall’s Pill Masters, the elixir was flawless."

"The guest’s family caused a huge commotion inside our Longevity Hall’s shop. The proprietress mollified the situation by compensating them with some silver, which finally sent them on their way. They took the silver and boldly went to the Alchemy Academy shop opposite. Surprisingly, under watchful eyes, the poisoned patient consumed the Alchemy Academy’s Detoxification Pill and vomited several mouthfuls of foul-smelling black blood, then recovered."

Housekeeper Hu recounted what happened at that time to Chu Feng.

He remembered it vividly.

Undoubtedly, such incidents would severely impact the Longevity Hall’s reputation.

As for the Alchemy Academy shop, they must have gained much reputation.

"We initially thought it was just an isolated incident; at the time, no one gave it much thought. The proprietress even convened all the shop clerks for a meeting, urging everyone that if they encounter patients with severe conditions again, they must first consult a Pill Master for diagnosis before selling elixirs to them."

Li Shishi’s response was very meticulous.

One learns from mistakes.

Absorbing lessons to prevent future incidents, this approach was precisely correct.

"Who knew after about half a month, another incident occurred. This time, an injured guest, struck by a sword on the back, came with a ghastly wound to our Longevity Hall for prime antiseptic medicine. After applying it, the wound should scab quickly according to expectation. Unexpectedly, upon applying the antiseptic medicine, things went wrong. The guest’s wound flowed with blood like a spring, unstoppable, terrifying everyone."

"Watching the guest’s face turn pale, fainting, his family smashed part of the counter, causing a huge scene. Compensations were made again. They too went to the Alchemy Academy shop opposite, where they cleaned the wound and applied the academy’s medicine, witnessing the wound visibly scabbing. After swallowing a Qi-Blood boosting elixir, the patient was carried in, but walked out."

In operating an Elixir Medicine Shop, one or two similar accidents are inevitable.

However, occurring consecutively twice, this was somewhat abnormal.

Moreover, allowing the Alchemy Academy to steal the spotlight.

There certainly lies secrets unknown.

Indeed, Housekeeper Hu clenched his fists in anger, "By the fourth time such a medical accident occurred, the proprietress began an investigation, finally uncovering the truth. The patients of all four incidents were paid stooges from the Alchemy Academy. Isn’t this infuriating?"

Chu Feng’s face exuded chilling evil Qi, akin to Hell’s King Yanluo.

"Dare to show tricks before me; I’ll make you scoundrels kneel and call me ancestor!"