However, alchemists needed to cultivate two divine abilities: one of the fire element, used to maintain the alchemical fire, and another of the ice and snow element, for the final cooling. Regrettably, the secret technique did not involve specific divine ability spells, merely stating how to eliminate the conflict between the two opposing divine abilities within the body.
Mo Qi wandered through the alchemical secret techniques as if in a trance, and seven days passed without him realizing it. He had mastered the essence of all the secret techniques. As he withdrew his gaze from the sky, the patterns quietly vanished, and the barrier around him naturally disappeared. It was then that he realized he was still on the Divine Pill Sect's plaza.
The two disciples, who had reappeared at his side at some unknown time, stepped forward upon seeing him "awake." The one with thick, dark eyebrows said, "Senior Brother Mo, the Sect Master requests your presence. Please follow me."
Mo Qi followed him up the stone steps. When he left the Lingxiao Gate, Mo Qi had already devised a cooperation plan with the Divine Pill Sect: Lingxiao Gate would provide the alchemical ingredients, and the Divine Pill Sect would provide the alchemical recipes. Both sides would leverage their respective strengths, refine pills together, and discuss profit sharing based on circumstances. This way, both parties would benefit and be satisfied. But now, he had learned all their alchemical secret techniques, and perhaps even knew things they didn't. How could they cooperate now? It was truly a headache.
"Hahaha…" A chilling laugh echoed, and a dark shadow streaked towards him. Before Mo Qi could react, he was swept up by the shadow and carried rapidly in one direction.
The two disciples were greatly alarmed, realizing they were no match for this. They hurried to report to the Sect Master.
Mo Qi struggled for a long time but couldn't break free. When he looked back, he couldn't see clearly; it was just a mass of darkness, and he was wrapped within it, forced to move forward.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived inside a mountain cave. As the movement stopped, Mo Qi finally saw the appearance of the dark shadow. It was an old man, his face covered in wrinkles, his hair white, his body emaciated. He was disheveled and barefoot, his eyes unfocused, and he kept emitting strange laughter. At first glance, the word "madman" would spring to mind.
This person was indeed a madman. He was the junior uncle of Pharmacist Lai, named Daoist Ying Yue, the former Sect Master of the Divine Pill Sect. About a hundred years ago, Daoist Ying Yue, who was at the middle Nascent Soul stage, found his cultivation stuck at that level for a long time. He tried various methods but couldn't break through, even after consuming the Nascent Soul Pills refined by the Divine Pill Sect using secret techniques.
Daoist Ying Yue was almost driven mad. He scoured the Divine Pill Sect's ancient texts and finally found a secret technique for refining Nascent Soul Pills in an ancient book. It not only doubled one's cultivation but also greatly shortened the Nascent Soul stage. According to the ancient text, after consuming this pill, one could immediately transition from the middle Nascent Soul stage to the late Nascent Soul stage.
Ying Yue felt like he had seen an oasis in the desert. The excitement and thrill at that moment were indescribable. He pushed aside all his affairs and devoted himself entirely to the refinement of the pill. After several trials and validations, he believed the alchemical methods in the ancient text were feasible. However, for some unknown reason, every time it reached the critical moment, he failed. After forcing himself to refine it a few times, he himself knew what was wrong. Upon consumption, the effect was like eating rice, with no benefit to his cultivation.
He continued to refine tirelessly, day and night, failing repeatedly and starting anew. In the end, he drove himself mad. Once mad, he could no longer manage anything, yet he remained immersed in alchemy every day, unable to extricate himself.
The sect's affairs could not be neglected, so everyone put forward Pharmacist Lai to become the new Sect Master. However, Ying Yue's daily madness and disturbances in the alchemy rooms greatly affected other alchemists. Many could not bear it and complained to the Sect Master.
Ying Yue was, after all, an elder. Even though he was mad, Pharmacist Lai couldn't treat him too harshly. He found a mountain cave and provided him with all the necessary alchemical equipment, such as furnaces, spirit herbs, and apparatus, allowing him to tinker on his own. At first, he was unwilling to go, continuing to refine pills in the alchemy rooms daily. Later, Pharmacist Lai closed the alchemy rooms for a few days, making him believe they would never open again, before guiding him to the mountain cave to refine pills.
But the mad Ying Yue, who knew if he still had any grasp of the refining methods? Every day, spirit herbs were sent to him like a flowing stream, yet it was still not enough. For decades, Ying Yue refined pills daily without interruption, but not a single puff of smoke emerged. The wasted spirit herbs and equipment could pile up into mountains and flow into seas.
Sometimes, the delivery of spirit herbs and equipment was slightly delayed, or there was a shortage of spirit herbs, or another refinement failed. Immediately, Ying Yue's curses and the sounds of impact and explosions from the mountain cave would be heard. However, for the disciples of the Divine Pill Sect, this was not the worst. The most agonizing part was that, at some unknown time, disciples would be captured by him. He would throw the alchemical secret recipe, which he had been looking at for nearly a hundred years and was almost reduced to dust, in front of them, cackling, "Refine this! You're not allowed to leave until you refine it." Who could refine it? In the end, they could only escape stealthily when he wasn't paying attention. Fortunately, he quickly forgot and didn't pester them further, but the next person might suffer. The disciples of the Divine Pill Sect endured immense suffering, daring not to speak out, praying in their hearts for him to ascend to immortality soon.
At this moment, Mo Qi received the same treatment. The wrinkled, almost dusty alchemical secret recipe appeared before him. Simultaneously, Ying Yue's eerie laughter echoed in his ears, "Refine this! You're not allowed to leave until you refine it."
Mo Qi looked at the alchemical secret recipe. The handwriting was mostly ruined, but from the parts he could still read, he determined it was the formula for refining a certain pill, which he had just comprehended from the patterns in the void.
He immediately began preparing the medicinal ingredients. Several of them required extremely high technical skill to refine their purity, similar to the Bei Hai Ice Silkworm Cocoon. For instance, the Yun Ling Earth Ear needed its parasitic impurities, which were almost integrated, to be removed bit by bit. But Mo Qi handled it with ease and lightning speed.
Ying Yue, who had been restless, sometimes roaring, sometimes laughing wildly, gradually calmed down as he watched. The unfocused look in his eyes slowly concentrated.
The existing materials were processed. Mo Qi took stock and found one ingredient missing. Just as he was about to speak, Ying Yue flashed away and returned in an instant, the missing medicinal ingredient already on the stone table.
With all preparations complete, Mo Qi began to ignite the fire and refine the pill. This pill required extremely precise control of the heat. Mo Qi followed the alchemical methods indicated in the patterns, first using true fire for several hours. Suddenly, Mo Qi said, "I'm afraid I'll need to borrow the spiritual power of the Snow Girl."
Ying Yue's figure flashed and disappeared. In a short while, he brought the Snow Girl back. The Snow Girl's resistance was futile; the difference in cultivation was too vast.
Upon seeing the alchemical furnace, the Snow Girl's eyes filled with fear. Clearly, she had experienced being forced to refine pills before. Then, seeing Mo Qi in front of the alchemical furnace, her fear intensified. These two madmen had gathered together. How was she supposed to live?
Mo Qi said calmly, "You don't need to worry. I'll just borrow your spiritual power. After you quickly extinguish the furnace fire, you can leave."
Whether his words were true or not, the Snow Girl had no choice but to comply. There was no reasoning with two madmen. She wanted to leave the cave immediately and didn't want to stay a moment longer, only hoping he would keep his word.
So, she followed Mo Qi's instructions, channeling her spiritual power to extinguish the furnace fire. Just before the alchemical furnace began to freeze, she immediately stopped the flow of spiritual power.
The two madmen watched the alchemical furnace intently. The Snow Girl glanced at them, but neither of them looked at her. She then slipped out as if she were a thief.
After a period of rest, Mo Qi began to channel his spiritual power, refining with his own spiritual energy. Through the furnace window, the medicinal ingredients inside the alchemical furnace could be seen slowly changing, layering. Some dissipated into the air with the steam, some impurities flowed out from the bottom of the furnace, while some continuously tumbled and leaped within the alchemical furnace, gradually changing their shape and color.
Ying Yue watched silently, a sharp glint gradually appearing in his eyes.
Then, Mo Qi stopped channeling spiritual power again and let it rest for several hours. During these hours, both pairs of eyes stared unblinkably at the alchemical furnace. After several hours, crystals slowly began to form inside the alchemical furnace. Mo Qi then slowly input a faint stream of spiritual power, as if nurturing an infant, carefully caring for it. Another three days passed like this, and the pill was finally produced.
There were three pills in total. Ying Yue held them all in his hand, his hand trembling. Tears seemed to well up in his eyes, and a look of excitement, yet he was trying hard to suppress it, as the success of the pills was yet to be verified.
He merely glanced at Mo Qi and then, holding the three pills, he sped away. They hadn't exchanged a single word throughout the entire process.
After Ying Yue left, Mo Qi let out a sigh. He didn't know if it would be successful either. He felt a little uneasy. If it failed, would Ying Yue become even more deranged?
It would be best to leave the mountain cave first. So, he also unfurled his figure and rushed towards the summit.
In fact, Pharmacist Lai had been secretly observing Mo Qi's alchemical progress during these days. He was well aware that Ying Yue was attempting to break through the middle Nascent Soul stage after consuming the pill.
When Mo Qi arrived, Pharmacist Lai was sitting in a pavilion, having already brewed tea. He gestured to the opposite seat, inviting Mo Qi to sit.
"Little Mo," Pharmacist Lai asked, taking a sip of tea, "have you gained any enlightenment?"
Although the question was abrupt, Mo Qi understood what he meant. "I've gained a little."
"Did you receive the inheritance of an ancestor?" Pharmacist Lai continued to ask.
"I don't know. It seems to be that little girl."
"That is our Second Ancestor, Master Huiling!" Pharmacist Lai said.
Mo Qi didn't know what to say and fell into silence.
"Little Mo," Pharmacist Lai spoke again after a moment, rather slowly and casually, "although you have received the Second Ancestor's inheritance, you are not a disciple of our Divine Pill Sect. If you do not join our Divine Pill Sect, it would be somewhat improper!"
Mo Qi had come to make peace, so he tried his best not to anger him. After a slight deliberation, he said, "I don't know if my sect allows it. I need to return and ask my master for instructions before I can give you a reply, alright?"
"Hmm," Pharmacist Lai nodded. "That is reasonable. It should be so. Regardless of whether you eventually join our Divine Pill Sect or not, one thing is certain: our two sects have forged an unbreakable bond. Hahaha."
Mo Qi also chuckled foolishly, "Yes, yes."
"Because of this bond, all our past unpleasantness can be forgiven and forgotten, including the casualties in the Asura Mountain."
Mo Qi thought to himself: You still dare to mention Asura Mountain? Wasn't it all your own doing?
Pharmacist Lai suddenly changed the subject. "Now, we have taught you all our alchemical secret techniques without reservation. As a gesture of reciprocity, shouldn't you share your alchemical ingredients with us?"
It had finally come. Mo Qi knew he had to face this issue on this trip.
The reason for the outstanding quality of Lingxiao Gate's pills was one aspect: ingredients, and another: heat control. For heat control, the Divine Pill Sect could compensate with mature alchemical techniques. However, for ingredients, they could never reach the quality level of Mo Clan's pills from Lingxiao Gate. Therefore, they thought of directly using Mo Qi's ingredients.
As Mo Qi hesitated, a hearty laugh suddenly cut through the sky and landed in the pavilion, settling into the seat next to the stone table.
Ying Yue had already sat down on the stool. His hair was tied up, his complexion radiant, and his eyes shone brightly, as if he were a different person. Moreover, the confidence and aura emanating from his every move suggested that his cultivation had indeed broken through.
Pharmacist Lai was about to offer some congratulations when Ying Yue suddenly glared at him. "Where do you have the right to sit when an elder is seated!"
Pharmacist Lai immediately stood up, took a step back, and lowered his head.
Mo Qi involuntarily started to stand up, but Ying Yue immediately pressed his shoulder, preventing him from doing so. At the same time, a kind smile appeared on his face. "May I ask the young brother's name?"
"I am Mo Qi," Mo Qi said, nodding slightly.
"It's like this," Ying Yue said, looking at Pharmacist Lai with a serious expression again. "Brother Mo has received the inheritance of our ancestor, so he naturally counts as a disciple of our Divine Pill Sect. Regarding seniority, I think this way: Junior Brother Mo has been as gracious as a second life to me. This kindness is comparable to that of my late master. Therefore, I accept Brother Mo as my disciple on behalf of my late master. From now on, Brother Mo is my Junior Brother Mo. You should call him Uncle-Master Mo."
Mo Qi laughed inwardly. He had struck gold.
"This..." Pharmacist Lai looked up, as if he had something to say.
Ying Yue slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Pharmacist Lai's nose and scolding, "What else do you have to say, you bastard? I was mad for decades, even a century, and did any of you care about my life or try to refine that pill? No one! Junior Brother Mo solved a major problem for me the moment he arrived, giving me a new life. You couldn't do it, but he did. Do you have any objections?"
Pharmacist Lai felt as if he had been thoroughly reprimanded. He immediately lowered his head and repeatedly said, "No objections, no objections!"
"If you have no objections, then say it."
"Mo... Uncle-Master!"
Mo Qi suppressed his smile and nodded. "Little Lai, there's no need for such formality."
"Furthermore, you should also step down as Sect Master. Your virtue does not match your position. This position of Sect Master originally belonged to me. Now I am taking it back, but I have no interest in being Sect Master now. This position should go to Junior Brother Mo," Ying Yue continued.
Upon hearing this, not only did Pharmacist Lai feel displeased, but even Mo Qi felt it was inappropriate. He immediately stood up. "Senior Brother, please don't. Absolutely not. Look, I am also a Vice Sect Master in Lingxiao Gate. I have many sect affairs to handle and can't manage them all. I really don't have the energy here. I think I'll just be a leisurely Uncle-Master like you, refining pills and sleeping when I'm free. I'm quite content with that."
When Ying Yue heard this, he felt it would be inappropriate to force the issue. He gave Pharmacist Lai another stern look. "Alright, you can continue to be the Sect Master for now. If you are not diligent or righteous, I will dismiss you sooner or later."
Pharmacist Lai let out a long sigh of relief.
Afterward, Mo Qi and Ying Yue sat together, sipping tea and chatting, completely engrossed. Pharmacist Lai served them nearby, occasionally refilling their tea.