Pill Refining Failure

Randolph sat cross-legged in his secret laboratory, his eyes fixed on the cauldron in front of him. He had been working for the past few hours, pouring all of his knowledge and expertise into refining a perfect set of Body Cultivation pills. If he succeeded, he would win over Grand Elder Li, bringing his father one step closer to achieving his goal of becoming Sect Master.

Once his father became the Sect Master it would be like ascending to the heavens in one step; cultivation pills, resources, esteem and even women would be at his beck and call. With a lecherous grin on his face, he began to envision his future success.

He would have completed the pill earlier if it weren't for one crucial ingredient missing from his formula: the Elderflower. He had requested it from Michael, a lowly alchemy servant, hoping to take advantage of his naivete and inexperience. Of his own volition he added the Elderflower to Michael's list in order to save some money as well as put the peasant in his place. He also withheld the required tools to harvest the herbs, making Michael resort to harvesting by hand and lose a portion of his lifespan in the process.

Remembering his brilliant plan Randolph sniggered to himself. "Good things come to those with status, power and brains. Know your place peasant." He said with a sneer.

But what Randolph didn't know was that Michael was not as naive as he appeared. Thanks to Archie, he had seen through Randolph's scheme and had sabotaged the Elderflower before giving it to him. As Randolph added the flower to the cauldron, he had no idea that it was tainted.

As he prepared the ingredients and added them to the cauldron, Randolph felt a sense of excitement wash over him. He knew that he was moments away from succeeding. But suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and the cauldron shattered into a thousand pieces. Randolph was thrown back, his body slamming into the wall behind him.

As he groaned in pain, Randolph realized that something had gone terribly wrong. He looked down at the remains of the cauldron, his heart sinking as he saw the tainted Elderflower lying among the debris. He had been so close, but now just like the cauldron, his aspirations were in pieces.

As he lay there, nursing his wounds, Randolph couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong. He had followed the instructions precisely, and yet the cauldron had still exploded. Remembering the cost and rarity of the ingredients he suddenly paled and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Hearing the loud bang from the cauldron exploding, Randolph's father burst into the laboratory, his face twisted in anger and disappointment. He had hoped that Randolph would finally succeed in creating the Body Cultivation pills that would win over Grand Elder Li and pave the way for his own ascension to the position of Sect Master. But now, he saw his son lying on the ground, injured and defeated, with the remains of the cauldron scattered all around him.

"Randolph! What have you done?" his father shouted, his voice echoing through the room.

Randolph struggled to sit up, wincing in pain as he did so. He knew that he had failed his father, failed himself, and failed to achieve the success he had so desperately craved.

"I… I don't know, Father," he stammered. "The cauldron just exploded."

His father's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene before him. He could see the tainted Elderflower lying among the debris, and he knew that something had gone terribly wrong.

"Did you follow the instructions precisely?" he demanded.

Randolph nodded, but his father could see the fear and uncertainty in his eyes.

"I… I did," he said. "I don't know what went wrong."

His father sighed, his disappointment evident on his face.

"You have ruined everything," he said, shaking his head. "Do you know how much those ingredients cost? And now, we have nothing to show for it."

Randolph's heart sank as he realized the full extent of his failure. He had not only wasted his father's resources but also tarnished his reputation in front of Grand Elder Li.

"I'm sorry, Father," he whispered, feeling tears welling up in his eyes.

His father turned to leave, his disappointment turning into anger.

"F***, I'm going to have to buy a set of Body Cultivation pills from the Alchemy Association." Thinking about the price he would have to pay for the pills, in addition to the ingredients that were just lost in the cauldron explosion, he almost erupted in fury.

"Pick yourself up and clean this mess. You're not to leave until your wounds are healed, lest Jacob or Grand Elder Li see you and find out you've failed in the refinement." Massaging his glabella, he walked out of the room.

Randolph watched his father leave, feeling a mix of anger and despair wash over him. He couldn't believe that he had failed so spectacularly, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something had been off about the Elderflower.

As he began to clean up the remains of the cauldron, his anger got the best of him. He threw the broken pieces against the wall, smashing jars of ingredients and destroying equipment in a fit of rage.

He knew that his father would be furious when he saw the state of the laboratory, but he didn't care. He was consumed by his failure and the fact that he had no idea why it had happened.

Hours passed as Randolph sat in the destroyed laboratory, lost in his own thoughts. He tried to retrace his steps, going over the instructions and ingredients he had used, but he still couldn't figure out what had gone wrong.

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Cane White was an esteemed elder of the Soaring Dragon Sect, and the father of Randolph White. He was a man of refinement and elegance, with a distinguished presence that commanded respect and attention. His silver hair was always perfectly groomed, and his widow's peak gave him an air of sophistication. He was often seen wearing flashy silver robes that shimmered in the light, and he carried a black cane with a giant red jewel on top that glinted in the sun.

He was a man of great power and influence within the sect, and his wealth and connections were vast. He had spent many years cultivating his position within the sect, and had worked tirelessly to ensure that his family's status and reputation remained untarnished. He was a shrewd negotiator and a formidable opponent, feared by many within the sect for his quick wit and sharp tongue.

His Grandfather Lucas White was a Grand Elder in the sect and the primary reason for his rise to elder status. Through his connections and deeds within the sect, he was promoted to his position not long after creating his Nascent Soul. It was since then over 20 years ago that he had been planting the seeds to become the Sect Master.

Elder Cane walked into the Alchemist Association building, his earlier fury had dissipated after talking with his Father. Randolph's failure, although annoying would not ruin his plans completely. If he could secure the Body Cultivation pills and have Jacob believe that Randolph refined them, there should be no issues.