At this moment, Mo Qi had no idea what was happening outside. Many people inside heard the commotion and ran out to investigate.
Mo Qi, however, was completely captivated by the silk-drawing test, unable to pull himself away.
Firstly, he could clearly see the entire appearance of each cocoon silk and its boundaries with other cocoon silks, their intertwined state and positions. He could distinctly differentiate between impurity threads and normal threads.
Secondly, he suddenly discovered that the divine power he had just acquired seemed inherently suited for silk drawing. He could even feel that his divine power, when shaped, was finer than the cocoon silk itself. With a gentle flick, he could hook out those impurity threads, completely intact.
One, two, three… rapidly increasing.
Meanwhile, outside the hall, the name "Wo Lai Wan Wan" easily appeared on the silk-drawing leaderboard, climbing rapidly.
Initially, many people stood before the Hall of Shame, laughing uncontrollably. "Who is this? With such skill, they dare to enter the test? Zero, not a single point earned, and they didn't recognize any medicinal herbs."
However, sharp-eyed individuals suddenly noticed the changes on the silk-drawing leaderboard. As if seeing a ghost, they pointed at the board, "I, 'Wo Lai Wan Wan' has made it onto the silk-drawing leaderboard!"
But that was not all. "Wo Lai Wan Wan's" progress was like surging, magnificent waves, crashing one after another, leaving everyone breathless. Just as they caught their breath, another wave hit.
It was also like bamboo shoots after rain, breaking through the soil and becoming unstoppable.
"Wo Lai Wan Wan has entered the top twenty on the silk-drawing leaderboard… This is incredible."
"And it's still changing, so fast. No, no, my heart can't keep up."
"Ah, they've entered the top ten, seventh place, sixth place… My heavens, they've even entered the top five."
All eyes were focused on the name "Wo Lai Wan Wan."
They watched as "Wo Lai Wan Wan's" ranking on the silk-drawing leaderboard continued to soar: fifth, fourth, third… The numbers behind the name also changed rapidly: six hundred and twenty, six hundred and forty, six hundred and sixty… Soon, they reached seven hundred, and the ranking steadily climbed to first place.
"My heavens, seven hundred strands, this is invincible!"
Everyone's jaws dropped. Someone on the Hall of Shame could also be first on the silk-drawing leaderboard? And with such an astonishing number of drawn silks, what logic was this?
Yet, it hadn't stopped. The numbers behind "Wo Lai Wan Wan" continued to change rapidly: seven hundred and twenty, seven hundred and forty, seven hundred and sixty…
The shock in everyone's hearts was indescribable. Was this person going to surpass the Sect Leader's record?
More experienced disciples clearly remembered that scene. About ten years ago, Wu Fan, on a whim, went in to test his silk-drawing skills and achieved eight hundred and ten.
Although he easily ranked first, he was not satisfied with the result and used his divine abilities to erase it.
As expected, "Wo Lai Wan Wan's" silk-drawing count soon surpassed eight hundred and ten and showed no signs of stopping, though the speed seemed to have slowed down: eight hundred and twenty, eight hundred and twenty-five, eight hundred and thirty…
At this moment, Geng Xu arrived at the front of the leaderboard. Attracted by the crowd, he first paid attention to the silk-drawing leaderboard and was immensely shocked by the numbers.
Even more shocking was that he discovered the person on the Hall of Shame and the prodigy on the silk-drawing leaderboard were one and the same.
What to do? Could such a person never enter the Alchemy Hall? This matter would likely need further discussion. He decided to report this to the Sect Leader. However, for now, he wanted to see how many impurity silks this person could draw.
At this point, the numbers behind "Wo Lai Wan Wan" had already surpassed nine hundred. Many people were on the verge of collapse.
Some desperately wanted to go in and see who this person was. But they were afraid of missing the tracking of the numbers, of missing the first moment the numbers stopped.
Moreover, it was difficult to find them inside. The most direct connection between the leaderboard stone tablet and the testing stone tablet inside was only the tester's name. From the external leaderboard, one could not tell which stone tablet they were testing on inside.
Geng Xu couldn't help but use a transmission stone to send a message to Wu Fan: "Sect Leader, please come over and take a look. Something extraordinary has happened here."
Wu Fan received the transmission, somewhat bewildered. What extraordinary thing could have happened? Had Geng Xu been beaten while warning this person?
If so, this tester could only be one of the five peak masters. But they wouldn't be on the Hall of Shame.
Just as Wu Fan was hesitating whether to go, the numbers behind "Wo Lai Wan Wan" became nine hundred and ninety, and they were still increasing, albeit very slowly: "Nine hundred and ninety-one, nine hundred and ninety-two…"
Watching the numbers rise, many were so shocked they fainted.
Many female cultivators had gone mad, shouting towards the inside, "Wo Lai Wan Wan, I want to be your Dao companion!"
The numbers finally stopped at nine hundred and ninety-eight.
Everyone held their breath, watching silently. The numbers indeed stopped moving, and it was time for them to stop. Everyone felt as if a burden had been lifted and breathed a sigh of relief, without any regret.
Many people rushed inside, wanting to find out who it was.
However, at this moment, someone cried out in despair, "Ah, it's not over yet!"
So, those who had just taken a few steps ran back. Indeed, it had changed again. Nine hundred and ninety-nine. With only one strand left, many had already despaired.
Although they knew that drawing one thousand strands of impurity was something no one had ever achieved, at least not in recorded alchemy history. The highest recorded record to date was nine hundred and eighty-nine, and that was eight hundred years ago.
But after the shock they had endured along the way, they were no longer surprised. At that moment, even drawing one thousand strands seemed normal. As expected, "Wo Lai Wan Wan" did not disappoint them. Amidst everyone's eager anticipation, the number turned to one thousand.
At that moment, the wind stopped, breaths stopped, and all things stood still.
However, the bell rang again.
Only, this was not the same bell as before. This bell was high-pitched, sonorous, and its resonance was long and continuous, carrying an intent of eternal inheritance.
Similarly, for twenty years, no one had heard this bell, including Wu Fan.
Concurrently, on the rooftops of the Medicine Testing Halls of the four major sects – Divine Sword Sect, Divine Mist Sect, Divine Escape Sect, and Divine Pill Sect – the same bell sound rang out. In thousands of years, no one had ever heard this bell.
But many knew what this bell sound signified. It signified that in another sect, an alchemist capable of drawing one thousand strands had appeared.
It signified that in that sect, a peerless alchemy prodigy had emerged; it signified that from then on, the finished quality of pills in that sect would undergo a qualitative leap. What quality those pills would reach, no one knew.
With the improvement in pill quality, the overall cultivation level would rise, and consequently, the entire pattern of the Nine Gods Cultivation Realm would change.
Similarly, upon hearing this bell, Wu Fan immediately understood what had happened, as this bell was created by him. In an instant, he descended from the peak and appeared before the stone tablet leaderboard.
The other five peak masters also rushed over.
At this time, within the Medicine Testing Hall, after completing the silk-drawing test, Mo Qi felt mentally exhausted and extremely sleepy. He even felt like lying down right there and having a good sleep.
Therefore, no matter what, he had no desire to continue playing. He hastily ended the test and walked towards the hall's exit.
At this moment, a group of people stormed in aggressively, their faces a mix of complex emotions, with a hint of anger.
Upon entering, their gazes were sharp, constantly scanning the people testing inside. They shouted, "Who is 'Wo Lai Wan Wan'?"
Everyone had the illusion that these people were here to fight. Mo Qi included, wondering what he had done wrong. Had his zero score in the drug test been discovered? That would be too embarrassing.
But the external leaderboard clearly only displayed the names of those who ranked high.
No, he was a little uneasy and decided to go and see.
So, he continued to walk out. Mimicking the testers ahead, he shook his head when their gazes met his, and they let him pass.
When he walked out of the grand hall, he was stunned by the scene before him. A crowd had gathered around the leaderboard, pointing and discussing animatedly.
Most surprisingly, the Sect Leader and all the peak masters had arrived. Their expressions were complex, making it impossible to decipher.
Mo Qi no longer dared to approach. He quietly skirted around the outer circle and, looking over the heads of the crowd from a distance, glanced at the leaderboard. Just one glance was enough to make him feel a chill.
He had been discovered. The Hall of Shame had appeared. He had been thoroughly outdone.
Damn it, they hadn't mentioned a Hall of Shame before. He felt a pang of regret, wondering why he had bothered playing this game earlier.
In his annoyance, he had already slipped away, deciding it was safer to return to his cave.
When Wu Fan saw the leaderboard, his heart was filled with mixed emotions. For twenty years, since the founding of the sect, he had felt a dark cloud hanging over them. At this very moment, that gloom had vanished into thin air.
He felt that this was an opportunity. It was possible that the Lingxiao Sect would embark on a path of glory because of this person.
Even though people around him kept sighing, "Alas, the Hall of Shame and the first place on the silk-drawing leaderboard are the same person," he turned a deaf ear. He knew very well that the drug leaderboard did not indicate anything; it was not a skill leaderboard but a diligence leaderboard. It was something that could be continuously improved through diligence.
He was already envisioning the various possibilities for the rise of the Lingxiao Sect.
At this moment, Geng Xu's "Ah" interrupted his thoughts: "Sect Leader, isn't our immediate priority to find this person? 'Wo Lai Wan Wan' is clearly a fake name."
Wu Fan immediately sobered up and nodded, "You go in and see if you can find him." Geng Xu accepted the order and left.
A moment later, Geng Xu returned empty-handed, a look of annoyance on his face. "Sect Leader, for some unknown reason, no one has admitted it. Moreover, people have been leaving intermittently. He might have already left."
Wu Fan's heart grew anxious. If such a person left the Lingxu Sect, it would be a loss for the Lingxu Sect.
He immediately issued an order: "Immediately close the mountain gate, activate the barrier, and do not allow anyone to leave the mountain gate. Each peak should intensify their search upon returning. No matter what method is used, this person must be found."
The peak masters accepted the orders and left.
On Tianxiang Mountain, Zhang Tianshi, the Sect Leader of the Divine Sword Sect, convened the chief disciples of each peak for a meeting: "What do you all think about the bell ringing in the Medicine Testing Hall today?"
Everyone spoke up. Some frankly said they didn't know, some said it was the wind, and some speculated it might have been struck by someone's divine power.
Lingxu said, "According to ancient legends, at the beginning of the founding of the four major sects, the path of alchemy was lagging. The four Old Ancestors jointly decided on a testing method. After eight hundred years, not a single person had reached the standard of drawing one thousand strands of silk and the complete quality of the Fire Butterfly Worm pupa. The four Old Ancestors, feeling their imminent ascension, created four bells using great divine abilities and placed them on the rooftops of the Medicine Testing Halls of the four major sects. For all Daoists in the world, anyone who achieved drawing one thousand strands of silk or refining the Fire Butterfly Worm pupa to perfect quality would cause the bells of the four major sects to ring in unison. This was so that after the Old Ancestors ascended, they could perceive it whether in heaven or hell; secondly, it also served as encouragement for other cultivators."
Zhang Tianshi nodded in agreement, glanced at everyone, and said slowly, "Now that the bell of our sect has rung, it means that someone in the Daoist world has achieved drawing one thousand strands of silk or refined the perfect quality Fire Butterfly Worm pupa. The emergence of such a person will inevitably change the pattern of the Dao of Alchemy, and even the pattern of the world of cultivators. Other Daoist sects will also make moves, and we must seize the initiative. My idea is that each peak should dispatch their most capable and outstanding disciples to go out into the world. Firstly, to use this opportunity for tempering, and secondly, to secretly gather information and find out which sect this person belongs to. After they report back, we can make our next decision accordingly."
The chief disciples of each peak nodded in agreement.
At the same time, the other three major sects also dispatched disciples to gather information.
Mo Qi returned to Baili Bing's cave dwelling. Fortunately, she had stopped cultivating and was sitting there in a daze. Mo Qi knew that her cultivation had made no progress, perhaps she was thinking, or perhaps she was dejected.
"I have successfully condensed my spirit and obtained divine power," Mo Qi said with a smile.
"So quickly? Congratulations!" Baili Bing couldn't hide her joy and immediately beamed. But no matter how excited she was, a shadow of gloom remained deep within.
"The bell rang outside just now, what happened?" Baili Bing asked. "It was quite lively outside at the time, and I didn't want to disturb my cultivation, so I didn't go out to see."
Mo Qi's eyes flickered. "I don't know. Nothing much should have happened, perhaps it was the wind."
No, he had to change the subject. Mo Qi sat down facing her and began to impart his experience: "This is how I succeeded. First, calm your mind and feel the universe with your heart. At this time, it's as if the universe has become one with you. Then, you will feel a boundless, vast ocean, and within it, there will be an eye. That might be your spiritual sense. Once your spiritual sense awakens, you are basically close to success."
Unexpectedly, Baili Bing became even more disheartened upon hearing this. "Where is there any ocean? I didn't see anything."
Mo Qi was stunned for a moment and comforted her, "It's okay, don't be too anxious. There are still three months left. Success or failure can happen overnight."
It was impossible not to be anxious. Hearing Mo Qi's experience, Baili Bing felt she at least had a direction. She closed her eyes again and began to sense her spiritual sense.
Mo Qi sighed. Suddenly, he heard a commotion from the next door, with occasional shouts of reprimand, as if they were arguing about something. "It's Jin Dan." Mo Qi immediately ran over.
At the cave entrance, he saw a figure with his back to him. Opposite him, Jin Dan and Yu Ming were both lying on the ground, blood at the corners of their mouths, struggling to get up.
Even though the person in front of him had his back to him, Mo Qi recognized him as Leng Xiao.
Leng Xiao meticulously cleaned his fingernails and then brought them to his mouth to blow on them, saying arrogantly, "Didn't they say it themselves? The rules of the Lingxiao Sect are survival of the fittest. Scum like you are not worthy of being in the Lingxiao Sect. However, I'm not here to drive you away. I'm not interested in your dilapidated cave dwelling either. It's just that yesterday you spoke disrespectfully and insulted me. I am magnanimous, and as long as you kneel down and apologize to me, this matter will be settled."
Jin Dan's eyes were filled with venom and defiance. He looked up and saw Mo Qi, a flicker of joy in his eyes.
However, the joy was instantly replaced by worry. He gently shook his head, signaling Mo Qi to leave quickly, indicating that Mo Qi was no match for him.
Mo Qi, as if he hadn't seen his hint, walked straight past Leng Xiao and stood in front of Jin Dan and the other person, facing Leng Xiao with a cold gaze.
Jin Dan lowered his voice and said, "He has divine power, and his cultivation is at least at the second stage of spirit condensation. Don't mind us, you are no match for him."
Leng Xiao was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Oh, so you're the one backing them up." He shook his head again. "To back them up, your foundation must be strong enough. You look like a weakling – have you awakened your spiritual sense?"
Mo Qi deliberately feigned weakness. "No, I haven't awakened it. But Jin Dan is my brother, and he can only be bullied by me. Yu Ming is my friend, and I can't just stand by and watch you bully him."
"Fine, so you're looking for death." Leng Xiao appeared helpless, turning his head as if to loosen his muscles. "Alright, it's good to teach someone like you a lesson. At the same time, I want to tell you, never provoke someone with extraordinary talent."
Mo Qi's eyes suddenly flashed with ferocity, a fleeting glimpse. Leng Xiao felt a momentary tremor, but when he looked closely, he only saw a calm gaze. He thought it was an illusion.
Damn it, you scared me. Whether it was an illusion or not, I have to teach you a harsh lesson.
Leng Xiao formed a hand seal, preparing to unleash his术法神通 (shùfǎ shéntōng - magical abilities).
Mo Qi suddenly shouted, "Wait a moment."
Leng Xiao paused, forcibly withdrawing his spiritual sense. "What is it?"
Mo Qi smiled. "Let's fight outside. If we fight inside, the cave might collapse. If the cave collapses, no one can escape."
Leng Xiao was somewhat impatient. He turned and walked outside. "Alright, it's restrictive to fight inside the cave. Outside, it's convenient for me to use my full strength."
Mo Qi followed behind him. Jin Dan and Yu Ming also followed.
Leng Xiao was about to form a hand seal again, when Mo Qi shouted once more, "Wait a moment."
Leng Xiao's stomach was about to explode. He ignored him and said, "Go to hell." He formed a hand seal with his right hand, and white mist rose around him, flowing rapidly like water splashes, condensing into one in an instant, and directly blasted towards Mo Qi.
From a distance, Mo Qi could already feel the pain of his bones being corroded and his flesh being burned.
Mo Qi made a preliminary estimate and felt that the opponent's cultivation was indeed better than his. If he were to resist head-on, it would only be seeking his own death.