At this moment, Mo Qi walked out of the cave dwelling. Everyone thought he was fleeing for his life and didn't say much. Survival was human instinct, and this matter had nothing to do with him. If they dragged him into it, they would feel uneasy.
He had saved everyone's lives just now, which was more than enough. Everyone was already immensely grateful to him.
Even if he didn't leave, they would have persuaded him to go, but they didn't know how to start. While everyone was feeling dejected, he left on his own. Wasn't that exactly what they wanted?
However, Mo Qi had actually gone out to survey the terrain. He lingered for a moment at a distance of dozens of feet from the cave entrance and at the position of the cave roof. He set up several formation flags and spirit stones around the area and on the roof, and then returned to the cave.
These people found it very strange. Why had he come back?
Luo Jian said, "Didn't you leave? Why are you back? Hurry up and go. When the fight starts later, fists and feet have no eyes, and magical treasures also have no eyes."
Ai Ren also walked over, put his arm around Mo Qi's shoulder, and said, "Brother, we are very grateful for what you've done for us. We also know you're loyal, but there's no need to rush to your death. Hurry up and go. You're very useful alive. With your artifact refining skills, you'll surely achieve great things in the future. It would be a pity if you died."
Mo Qi pushed his hand off his shoulder and rolled his eyes at him, "Who says we're definitely going to die? Let me tell you, we definitely won't die."
His words echoed in the room, and everyone heard them.
Everyone stared at him blankly. That was quite a boast!
Mo Qi, as if nothing had happened, took out a recipe and handed it to Luo Jian. "This is a method for refining Thunderclap Pills. We can use the time we have while waiting to refine some Thunderclap Pills. When Commander Gu brings his men to attack, we can use these Thunderclap Pills to deal with them and buy some time."
Although Burst Pills were called pills, their refining methods were no different from artifact refining.
Luo Jian took the recipe and his expression immediately lit up with surprise. He exclaimed, "Wonderful, truly wonderful! Who came up with this recipe? It's simply divine inspiration! How could I not have thought of it?"
Seeing how excited he was, everyone asked him what the recipe was.
Luo Jian read the recipe aloud, and everyone also exclaimed its profundity, clamoring to refine it quickly.
Without further ado, Mo Qi first explained the entire refining process and precautions to everyone. Then, after processing several important raw materials, he had everyone collect their respective raw materials and begin refining in an orderly manner.
When Mo Qi had found the problem with the Flying Stone recipe, everyone had already begun to look at him with admiration. Then, he presented a miraculous Thunderclap Pill recipe, and everyone was immediately astonished.
Later, when everyone witnessed Mo Qi's superb skill in processing raw materials, their admiration was beyond words. He was truly a divine alchemist in their eyes!
At the same time, everyone realized that the reason he wanted to process the few important raw materials himself was because others couldn't do it properly!
Even if they managed to produce something, the quality would not meet the requirements, leading to failed artifact refining!
As they refined, everyone was contemplating the same question: Who exactly is this guy?
How could he be so deeply hidden?
What kind of prodigal son is he?
A prodigal son should act like one, but he's completely unqualified!
Mo Qi, completely ignoring the admiring gazes from all directions, found an artifact refining furnace and began to refine.
What he was refining was not Thunderclap Pills, but a magical artifact to launch Thunderclap Pills, something similar to a crossbow.
This was something he had thought of on a whim and had not yet proven.
The reason for this idea was twofold: firstly, the situation was pressing, and secondly, this artifact refining room happened to have the basic materials!
But the recipe was his own fabrication!
No one had ever refined it before!
He wasn't sure if it would succeed, so he could only try!
General Yuchi, who was beside him, was very curious and asked, "What are you refining?"
Mo Qi dared not speak frankly. He was afraid of being scorned if he failed, so he said, "Uh, it's just a small gadget. I'm a prodigal son, just playing around."
This indeed fit his identity. General Yuchi chuckled and continued to focus on his work.
Meanwhile, the refining of Thunderclap Pills by everyone was proceeding in an orderly fashion. They soon refined a batch. Commander Gu had not yet arrived, so everyone began to refine a second batch.
After Guo Huaili left the mountain cave, he went directly to Black Soil Mountain, which was the garrison of the deputy general Li Chunhou.
However, upon arriving at the camp, he discovered that Li Chunhou was not there.
Not only was he not there, but there were very few people left in the entire camp.
He had led his troops out on a campaign!
This was a disaster!
If he had gone out on a campaign, the return time would be uncertain.
Perhaps a day, perhaps a month, perhaps a year, or perhaps he would never return.
This made Guo Huaili somewhat annoyed. Just as he was about to leave to seek out another general, he overheard two sentry soldiers discussing: "I heard the general suffered a defeat this time."
"Yes, I heard that too. He's on his way back to the camp now."
"When will he arrive?"
"He should be here soon."
"Then let's not talk about it. If he hears us when he returns, it won't be fun."
Suffered a defeat? It seemed he had come at the wrong time!
But since he was here, he had to see it through. There was no other way; he had to grit his teeth and ask for his help.
Moreover, they said he was arriving soon, which made him feel that hope was closer.
Guo Huaili made up his mind and slowly walked to a nearby tree, waiting for Li Chunhou to return.
It wasn't that he didn't want to find others, but rather that within the army, Li Chunhou was the only one with a high enough position, real power, and a close relationship with him.
The two of them were fellow disciples and had come to this place together. In the beginning, they had looked out for each other and encouraged each other. Later, although they had become less close because Li Chunhou had risen faster on his own while Guo Huaili couldn't keep up, they still maintained frequent contact. Whenever Guo Huaili had a problem he couldn't solve, he would turn to Li Chunhou for help.
Of course, when Li Chunhou wanted to refine powerful magical artifacts, he would also privately seek Guo Huaili's assistance.
Guo Huaili was quite apprehensive about seeking Li Chunhou's help at this moment.
He realized then that they hadn't been in touch for a long time. The last time he had sought out Li Chunhou was last year.
It wasn't to ask for help, but because he had refined a rather powerful magical treasure and wanted to share it with him, so he had excitedly brought it over.
However, after giving the treasure to Li Chunhou, without a word, Li Chunhou had led his troops out on a campaign.
While waiting, he practiced in his mind how to phrase his words and how to explain the entire matter to Li Chunhou in the shortest possible time.
Unknowingly, time quietly slipped away.
But Li Chunhou showed no signs of returning. He couldn't help but stand up and pace back and forth, his heart feeling like it was crawling with thousands of ants.
At this moment, he felt conflicted. Waiting like this was not a solution.
The people in the artifact refining room didn't have much time for him to waste.
He suddenly thought of General Zheng Yuelun. He had heard that this person was upright and fair in his dealings, so going directly to him would be the same. Why did he have to rely on favors?
As long as this matter was handled impartially, he and his brothers would not be punished, because the fault did not lie with their side.
Just as he was about to leave, Li Chunhou returned.
He truly looked like he had suffered a defeat, returning with a dejected and crestfallen air, followed by a group of defeated soldiers, each with tired eyes and slumped postures.
Some of them were injured and had only been bandaged simply to stop the bleeding, as if they had no energy to deal with it meticulously.
Guo Huaili couldn't care about being rude or abrupt and rushed over immediately. Two soldiers, not understanding the situation, thought he was going to harm the general and instinctively blocked Li Chunhou.
Guo Huaili shouted, "General Li, I am Guo Huaili, and I have something to ask of you."
A hint of a smile appeared on Li Chunhou's tired face. He gently pushed away the two soldiers in front of him and looked at Guo Huaili, saying, "Old Guo, long time no see. What is it?"
Guo Huaili stopped about ten feet away from Li Chunhou and got straight to the point. "I've come to ask for your help. Our artifact refining room received an incorrect artifact refining recipe, and the magical treasure we refined had problems. Commander Gu has shifted the blame onto us and threatened to take the lives of everyone in our artifact refining room."
This was the explanation he had rehearsed countless times in his mind. Fortunately, he managed to say it all in one breath.
He believed he had missed nothing and had explained the matter concisely. The rest depended on whether Li Chunhou was willing to help.
Li Chunhou did understand what was going on, but he hesitated. I've just returned to the camp after arduous travel, and my whole body is about to fall apart. Can't I at least rest a bit?