Handing the Soul Devouring Banner to Ma Liang, Chu Xinghe remarked that this banner seemed to share a common origin with the Feng City Formation.
It was likely a matching set, but Chu Xinghe wasn't sure how to use it, and the Deputy Sect Master hadn't explained it either. As for how to operate it, Chu Xinghe suggested going to the Dark Moon Palace to inquire.
Throughout the Grand Sky Sect, even Elder He, who was known for studying the most miscellaneous subjects, didn't have much research on ghost artifacts.
After all, ghost artifacts weren't something that righteous people should typically use.
Ouyang Ming knew a bit about them, but only about the crafting process, not the specific usage. So, looking at the entire Grand Sky Sect, the only ones who could help Ma Liang with ghost artifacts were the Dark Moon Clan.
The Dark Moon Clan specialized in using dark forces, and recently, Chu Xinghe had often visited the Dark Moon Palace to ask the Great Sage about the cultivation techniques of the Dark Moon Clan.
Was there any possibility of teaching these techniques to others in the Grand Sky Sect? If the Great Sage dared to say yes, Chu Xinghe would surely nip this danger in the bud.
Even if it could be taught, the Great Sage would have to hold back! At least for now, it can't be taught.
However, it turned out that Chu Xinghe was overthinking it. The dark arts of the Dark Moon Clan were their secret techniques, not because the Great Sage didn't want to teach them, but because only those with a dark constitution could learn them.
Recently, the Great Sage had discussed this with his friend, Elder He, and found that none of the Dark Moon Clan's techniques could be learned by others.Although others couldn't learn the dark arts, the Dark Moon Clan surely had some research on ghost artifacts.
So Ma Liang was bound to gain something by going to the Dark Moon Palace!
What? You ask why Chu Xinghe is advising Ma Liang?
Even though Ma Liang had backstabbed him many times, this time, being stripped of his status as a personal disciple and reaching the realm close to a Martial Saint, Ma Liang's contribution was significant.
And with the Deputy Sect Master helping Ma Liang so diligently, could Chu Xinghe let the Deputy Sect Master down?
Could Ma Liang let the Deputy Sect Master down?
We absolutely cannot let the Deputy Sect Master down!
Besides... letting Ma Liang go to the Dark Moon Palace might even slow down the Great Sage's progress in completing the cultivation technique, isn't that killing two birds with one stone?
"Senior Brother Xinghe, rest assured, I will not let you down!" Ma Liang said, tears of gratitude in his eyes.
"Hey... Ma Liang, it's not about letting Senior Brother Xinghe down, it's about not letting the Deputy Sect Master down. Not only you, but Senior Brother Xinghe also can't let him down!"
"Yes, yes! We will absolutely not let the Deputy Sect Master down!"
After saying this, Ma Liang took the Soul Devouring Banner and headed to the Dark Moon Palace.
"I wish you wealth, hey... I wish you brilliance, hey yo!"
Humming a cheerful tune, Chu Xinghe had just returned to the Spirit Crane Palace when he ran into the dejected Sima Bian.
Seeing Sima Bian's appearance, Chu Xinghe was overjoyed, this must be a good thing.
Upon asking, it turned out to be true!
Although Mu Bai and the others were doing their utmost to research automatic alchemy, there was no way they could succeed.
Recently, Mu Bai and the others had been failing so much they were almost spitting blood... not to mention results, they were almost going mad...
Chu Xinghe had long known this would be the outcome, no amount of Fortune Essence or Misfortune could change it, as he had said!
It's not that Chu Xinghe was too arrogant, but he had the Medicine Saint's inheritance.
You could say Chu Xinghe didn't like alchemy, but you couldn't say he was bad at it.
In fact, when it came to theoretical knowledge, Chu Xinghe was unbeatable in alchemy.
Automatic alchemy? Could it even be done? As an inheritor of the Medicine Saint, he knew it couldn't.
So when Mu Bai and the others proposed automatic alchemy, Chu Xinghe agreed wholeheartedly, if they could achieve it, the Medicine Saint title would be theirs for the Muyue Nation!
The facts proved that Chu Xinghe was indeed unbeatable in his field; from the start of this joyous event, they had been tinkering, and now, aside from grafting various spiritual herbs into a mess, there had been no progress in automatic alchemy.
Sima Bian was so anxious he was jumping up and down, grabbing Senior Brother Xinghe and saying, "Senior Brother Xinghe, our Northern Branch relies entirely on the Feng City Formation for alchemy, what will we do if it stops working?"
Seeing Sima Bian's worried expression, Chu Xinghe was so happy he almost jumped for joy.
This time, he had finally succeeded, fixing the bug that allowed the Feng City Formation's Wan Ghosts to perform alchemy for the Northern Branch!
"Sima Bian, don't panic, leave professional matters to the professionals, you have to trust in Mu Bai and the others' abilities. By the way, are the Northern Branch's pills running low?"
"Yes... not much left..."
"How long can they last?"
"At most, another year..."
Chu Xinghe: "???"
What the hell?
They can last another year?
Sima Bian, what are you telling me? You call this not much left?
How many pills did Ma Liang produce for you using the Feng City Formation?
Seeing you so anxious, I thought the Northern Branch would run out of pills next month, but you say they can last a year?
Why are you worried about something that can last a year? Just get out of here!
Ignoring Sima Bian's complaints, Chu Xinghe made his way to the Medicine King Palace.
At this moment, Mu Bai and a group of Muyue Nation disciples were gathered around a recently exploded pill furnace, and Chu Xinghe was overjoyed.
Seeing Mu Bai and the others looking like they had lost their eggs, you could tell they were at their wit's end.
And the facts proved Chu Xinghe's guess was spot on. After some inquiries, Mu Bai said they had tried countless times, but no matter how hard they tried, without control, the Earthly Flame couldn't refine any pills.
Mu Bai was so aggrieved he was about to cry.
Seeing Mu Bai's distress, Chu Xinghe first offered some comfort.
"Junior Brother Mu Bai, beginnings are always tough. Although you've been failing, as they say, failure is the mother of success. You must not give up because of a little failure, believe that you will succeed!"
Chu Xinghe also comforted Mu Bai, telling him not to give up just because a few furnaces exploded and a little resource was consumed. Look at Ouyang Ming, the king of exploding furnaces back in the day, isn't he doing well now?
Mu Bai was moved to tears by Senior Brother Xinghe's comfort.
"Senior Brother Xinghe... our Muyue Nation has never been one to give up easily. Rest assured, no matter how difficult the road ahead, we will keep striving!"
"Well... not only should you work hard in the Medicine King Palace, but also in the direction of the spiritual fields..." Chu Xinghe cautiously reminded.
Pill refining is different from crafting; when crafting fails, many materials can be reused.
So Ouyang Ming's exploding furnaces were the biggest consumption.
But when pill refining fails, can the herbs be recovered?
Compared to the pill furnace, the herbs themselves are the biggest consumption.
Although I'm pleased with your exploding furnaces, the real loss is in the spiritual herbs.
So you need to venture out... head to the spiritual fields and wreak havoc on those herbs.
Look at our Grand Sky Sect's spiritual herbs, all those rare treasures, they terrify me!
If you can ruin those herbs... no matter who punishes you, Senior Brother Xinghe will stand up for you!
Don't be fooled by the fact that I'm just an elite disciple... I still dare to stand up to anyone in the Grand Sky Sect!
Although Mu Bai didn't understand why Senior Brother Xinghe wanted them to focus on the herb fields, based on his understanding of Senior Brother Xinghe, there must be a deeper meaning.
So Mu Bai nodded vigorously, assuring Senior Brother Xinghe that they would not let him down!
We're off to wreak havoc on the spiritual herb fields!
After arranging for Mu Bai and the others to wreak havoc on the spiritual herb fields, Chu Xinghe hummed a cheerful tune as he prepared to rest. But just as he reached his room, before he could open the door, Senior Brother Shen Chun popped out from some corner.
"Junior Brother Xinghe! Great news!"
Hearing the words "great news," Chu Xinghe immediately felt a sense of impending doom...
Senior Brother Shen Chun, is this really great news? It's more like terrible news, isn't it? Whenever you say "great news," it never turns out well...
Soon, Chu Xinghe found out what the terrible news was!
The message came from the Dark Moon Palace: Great Sage An Zhi had successfully completed the Wuxiang Heart Sutra!
Hearing this, Chu Xinghe almost spat blood!
No way! I just sent Ma Liang to stall for time, and now it's completed in no time?
Are you forcing the progress here?
Following Senior Brother Shen Chun to the Dark Moon Palace, they arrived to find the Great Sage chatting with Ma Liang.
Seeing Chu Xinghe arrive, the Great Sage stood up with a smile.
"Saint, today Ma Liang came and said it was your instruction for our Dark Moon Clan to assist him. Initially, I planned to experience the feeling of death brought by the Wuxiang Heart Sutra for a couple more months before announcing it, but hearing it was your arrangement, I dared not delay. I quickly avoided all the wrong paths and completed the Wuxiang Heart Sutra in one go!"
The Great Sage said cheerfully, while Ma Liang nodded vigorously, glancing at the calm-faced Senior Brother Xinghe.
Senior Brother Xinghe, see, I am indeed your lucky charm. As soon as I arrived, the Wuxiang Heart Sutra was completed...
Of course, it's mainly thanks to Senior Brother Xinghe. He must have known that the Great Sage had found the right path and that he was delaying the announcement to experience the feeling of death.
Senior Brother Xinghe couldn't directly tell the Great Sage, so he used me to subtly urge him, and it turns out Senior Brother Xinghe's guess was spot on.
The Great Sage had indeed completed the Wuxiang Heart Sutra, and Senior Brother Xinghe advanced its release by over two months...