When Xiao Man was refining her third pill, Nangong Yu kept his distance. However, once the pill was formed without the furnace exploding, Nangong Yu let out a sigh of relief and stepped forward.
"It succeeded..." Before he could finish the word, Xiao Man had already fled. Nangong Yu instinctively turned and ran, but he was still a step too slow. He was immediately sent flying and landed in a pit not far away.
"Could you give me a heads-up?" Nangong Yu got up from the ground, feeling rather dejected. "This girl only cared about her own escape and not my life!"
"I can't predict when it will explode, so I don't know. Moreover, I have to try and snatch a few pills. Where would I have the time to warn you? How about next time I refine, you stay further away?"
Nangong Yu felt defeated. He wiped the dirt from his face and went inside to change his clothes. By the time he came out, Xiao Man was already refining another pill.
Nangong Yu stood aside, watching Xiao Man continue her alchemy. The pill could be formed, so why did it always explode? With Jiuyou present, the heat control was not an issue. Xiao Man's refining process was also fine, and the pill furnace was undamaged despite the powerful energy of the explosions, indicating it was also of good quality.
Nangong Yu observed intently, trying to pinpoint the exact problem that caused the explosions.
Xiao Man was also experimenting. She had already found the cause and was confident she would succeed this time!
The entire Hundred Herbs Hall was on high alert, and no one understood why the alarm bells were suddenly ringing.
The sect leader glared at Lu Qing, a mixture of anger and helplessness on his face.
Elder Zhai Ge, the third elder, looked puzzled. "Sect Leader Brother, what has happened?"
"Seal the mountain gates and do not let anyone leave," the sect leader took a deep breath. "No suspicious individuals should be spared. A very important item has gone missing from our sect."
Zhai Ge was a little confused, not understanding what item could have caused the sect leader to be so on edge. Furthermore, why was he glaring at his martial uncle if something was lost? It wasn't his martial uncle's fault.
"Yes, Sect Leader Brother."
"I am tired," Lu Qing stood up, preparing to leave.
"Martial Uncle, it would be better if you explained clearly. Didn't you go to the East Peak Forest? Why did you return so quickly, and why were you coincidentally at the scene?" The sect leader was anxious but dared not push too hard, trying his best to remain calm.
"The East Peak Forest was too boring, so I returned early," Lu Qing said indifferently. "As for why I was in the forbidden area, I often go there normally, don't I? Am I not allowed to go?"
"Martial Uncle, please don't be unreasonable," the sect leader fumed. "This concerns the lives of everyone in the Hundred Herbs Hall!"
Zhai Ge finally understood the gravity of the situation and instructed people to search the sect for suspicious individuals.
"Sect Leader Brother, Martial Uncle, what exactly has happened?"
The sect leader's brows furrowed. He was unsure whether to speak and instinctively looked at Lu Qing. However, Lu Qing remained expressionless, not offering any advice. He even suspected...
"Martial Uncle, you didn't take it, did you?"
"Are you determined to pin the blame on me?" Lu Qing's expression turned cold. "You claim the Shennong Cauldron is missing, but the Shennong Cauldron is clearly here. You say it's not the Shennong Cauldron, and I can't distinguish its authenticity either. I also want to ask the sect leader, does the sect leader not want me here?"
"Martial Uncle, you know that's not what I meant."
"I don't know what you mean. From the moment you saw me, you've been suspicious and distrustful of me. I have been in the Hundred Herbs Hall for so many years. If I had any covetous intentions towards the Shennong Cauldron, I would have taken it long ago. Why wait until now?" Lu Qing's tone carried a hint of anger. If the sect leader said another word, he would leave immediately.
"Martial Uncle, I just want to know, besides you, who else was in the forbidden area?"
"You," Lu Qing glanced coldly at the sect leader. "You were the one who said it was the Shennong Cauldron, and you were the one who said it wasn't. Others have no idea. If the Shennong Cauldron is gone, you are the biggest suspect."
The sect leader's mouth hung open, speechless for a long time. He looked at Lu Qing in disbelief. In his understanding, Lu Qing was a man of principle and grace. However, Lu Qing's direct counter-accusation truly impressed him.
"Martial Uncle, have you been influenced by Xiao Qin?"
Lu Qing glanced at him. "I asked you to take her away, and you refused."
For the first time, the sect leader felt like he had shot himself in the foot. However, his current concern was the whereabouts of the Shennong Cauldron!
"Martial Uncle, the Shennong Cauldron is of immense importance. If those above find out it is missing, you know the consequences. The entire Hundred Herbs Hall will be implicated!"
"The Shennong Cauldron was fine in the forbidden area. Didn't we go see it together?" Lu Qing said calmly. "You insist it's gone and are causing such a panic. Are you afraid no one will know?"
This statement was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head. The anxious sect leader immediately calmed down. Indeed, if the Shennong Cauldron was missing, no one else would know. As long as this news was kept secret, they could find the Shennong Cauldron privately!
"Third Martial Brother, issue an order. Say that someone stole a martial art technique from the library and we are apprehending the thief," the sect leader quickly instructed. "News of the Shennong Cauldron's theft must not get out!"
"Yes, Sect Leader Brother."
After Zhai Ge left, the sect leader looked at Lu Qing and asked sincerely, "Martial Uncle, tell me truthfully, do you know the whereabouts of the Shennong Cauldron?"
"I genuinely do not," Lu Qing sighed. "I always thought the pill furnace in the center of the forbidden area was the Shennong Cauldron. But then you said it wasn't. I can't even distinguish the authenticity of the Shennong Cauldron, do you think I would know its whereabouts?"
The sect leader slumped back into his chair. It was true. In the entire Hundred Herbs Hall, only he knew the whereabouts of the Shennong Cauldron. Others didn't even recognize it, so how could they have taken it? Moreover, the Shennong Cauldron had always been hidden in its lair. Could a powerful figure have infiltrated the Hundred Herbs Hall and stolen it, a figure who even managed to elude Martial Uncle's eyes?
Was this possible? The sect leader was worried. If it were possible, then this person must have an extremely high cultivation, possibly even a Nascent Soul realm expert.
"Martial Uncle, who do you think would steal the Shennong Cauldron?"
Lu Qing frowned. After a moment, he hesitated, "I don't know. Very strange things also happened in the East Peak Forest this time. I was very worried, which is why I rushed back to check on the Shennong Cauldron. Finding it undamaged, I was relieved. Then you told me that Shennong Cauldron was fake."
"What happened in the East Peak Forest?"
"They used a Nascent Soul expert to trap all the disciples participating in the hunt within the East Peak Forest. Later, a mysterious person appeared and killed this person."