Half a month later, in the laboratory at the headquarters of Yihetang, in the northwest of Jinling City.
With hurried footsteps, the door of a lounge was pushed open.
Zhong Yiming entered the lounge, holding a bottle, his expression a mix of trepidation and excitement.
"Young Master Chen, this is the latest version of the True Qi Pill. According to the analysis, its efficacy should be far superior to the Body Tempering Pill!"
Chen Fan took the bottle, opened it, and a rich medicinal aroma wafted towards him.
After sniffing carefully and sensing for a moment, Chen Fan said, "There are still too many ineffective components, but it should be the best version yet."
For the past half month, Zhong Yiming had put aside all other matters and, along with his son and assistants, had been dedicated to developing new medicines for Chen Fan.
The medicinal ingredients for these new medicines came from the three major martial arts families and factions.
With Zhong Yiming's talent and skill in medicine, failure was not an option; it was only a matter of efficacy.
By investing different medicinal materials and adjusting their ratios, he experimented with the effects of the final product.
Chen Fan had also tested the medicines here for about ten days. Through continuous discussion and improvement with Zhong Yiming, they aimed to make the best use of centuries-old ginseng, yellow spirit grass, and snow lotus.
With the development of the times, so-called medicine making was no longer like ancient alchemy, but involved various processes of extraction and purification, followed by the formation of pills.
"Then I will continue to research and improve!"
Zhong Yiming said.
Chen Fan picked up a pill and put it into his mouth.
Soon, a warm current appeared in his abdomen and began to spread.
Chen Fan circulated his True Qi and felt it become more active. The medicinal power merged with his True Qi, making it increasingly potent.
"No need!"
Chen Fan said, "This is enough. Speed up and refine all the medicinal materials into True Qi Pills."
"Young Master Chen, do you not have time to wait? I apologize, Young Master Chen, but ultimately my medicine-refining skills are not yet sufficient."
Zhong Yiming said hastily.
Chen Fan shook his head and said, "Old Zhong, don't underestimate yourself. Your medicine-refining skills are top-notch in the martial arts world; few can match you."
"However, I genuinely don't have time to wait. I must depart within a few days."
He felt a sense of urgency in his heart, growing impatient to see Su Yingxue as soon as possible.
This feeling had begun to sprout and grow since he traveled south half a month ago and met Li Xiuying and Niannian in Hangjiang.
Li Xiuying thought of Su Yingxue every day, worrying about her, her hair almost entirely white.
If not for the need to care for Niannian, giving her a spiritual anchor, the old woman might have completely broken down.
And little Niannian, after not seeing Chen Fan for over a month, was overjoyed to see him. But her first question upon meeting him was whether he had found Su Yingxue yet.
All of this was urging Chen Fan, leaving him no mood to wait any longer.
Moreover, if he gave Zhong Yiming more time, he might be able to produce even better medicine.
But Chen Fan had collected a limited amount of medicinal materials. Pursuing perfection excessively would be a waste.
"Understood, Young Master Chen. If it's purely for manufacturing, with my people working overtime, I can refine the pills within three days."
Zhong Yiming said.
"Thank you for your hard work!"
Chen Fan nodded and said, "I spoke with Han Shuying. Longteng Group will invest in Yihetang again to help Yihetang expand into other industries. Yihetang will retain control, and Longteng Group will not interfere with its daily operations."
Zhong Yiming was not overly surprised by this.
He was not a person with grand ambitions and was already content with Yihetang's current scale.
Of course, he would not refuse. He said, "Thank you, Young Master Chen."
"You go ahead and be busy. I'll be leaving now to meet a friend."
"Certainly, Young Master Chen."
Chen Fan took two more True Qi Pills and, after circulating his mysterious power, quickly digested them completely.
Increasing cultivation by taking pills was not the right path.
The effect of the pills was not that significant, and they had side effects, leading to an imbalance of Yin and Yang Qi. For martial artists, this was not beneficial but harmful.
Therefore, while martial artists in the martial arts world utilized medicinal herbs extensively, they did not consume pills like candy as Chen Fan did.
However, for Chen Fan, the problem was not significant. The mysterious power from the Dragon Mark Compass was peculiar, and its vigorous vitality was sufficient to counteract the side effects of these medicines.
Leaving the Yihetang headquarters, Chen Fan drove an ordinary Audi provided by the Zhong family towards Xuanwu Lake.
As he reached the lakeside, dusk was falling. A pleasure boat was moored by the shore, and an elder in a Tang suit stood at its prow.
"Young Master Chen, we meet again!"
Upon seeing Chen Fan, the elder bowed respectfully and said, "My master has been waiting for you for a long time."
Chen Fan leaped lightly onto the pleasure boat and said, "Let's go."
The elder said nothing further and instructed the driver at the front of the boat to set sail.
The engine roared to life, and the pleasure boat sailed towards the center of the lake.
Xuanwu Lake was not large. In just over ten minutes, the pleasure boat docked at a pier on an island in the middle of the lake.
A woman in a white long dress stood quietly, like a fairy from a painting, seeming capable of soaring into the sky at any moment under the moonlight.
"Young Master Chen, we meet again."
Seeing Chen Fan disembark, the woman clasped her hands in greeting.
It was none other than the leader of the Yulong Association, whom Chen Fan had met during his last visit to Jinling.
Today, she wore no veil, her peerless beauty unhidden, like an immortal who had strayed into the mortal world.
"Yes, we meet again," Chen Fan said. "I didn't expect the Yulong Association leader to know I was in Jinling."
"The Zhong family is a prominent family in Jinling. With some movement, it's easy to find out if one intends to inquire."
The Yulong Association leader said, "It's just that I didn't expect, Young Master Chen, that you wouldn't intend to see me upon arriving in Jinling?"
Chen Fan smiled, "I thought we weren't very familiar."
"Has Young Master Chen forgotten the agreement we made?" the Yulong Association leader said.
"I haven't gathered all the Dragon Mark Compass fragments yet," Chen Fan replied.
"But I see Young Master Chen refining medicine at the Zhong family. It seems you've encountered difficulties?"
The Yulong Association leader said.
Chen Fan glanced at her and replied, "It's a bit troublesome."
"Then you should have come to me," the Yulong Association leader gestured, "The banquet is ready. Let's go inside."
Chen Fan nodded and walked alongside the Yulong Association leader.
"Although the capital is far away, I still have some channels for information. Young Master Chen is now famous in the capital; who doesn't know you?"
The Yulong Association leader said with a hint of surprise, "Young Master Chen still has troubles?"
As they spoke, they arrived in front of a restaurant.
Located on an island in the middle of Xuanwu Lake, the restaurant's decoration and style were naturally extraordinary.
Entering a private room on the third floor, one could overlook the entire lake.
Chen Fan did not answer the Yulong Association leader's question and instead asked, "What guidance does the leader have?"
"Guidance is too high a compliment."
The Yulong Association leader smiled, "Is Young Master Chen refining medicine for his own use?"
"Yes!"
"I happen to have a precious medicinal ingredient here. I'd like to offer it to Young Master Chen. Please don't stand on ceremony."
She said leisurely.