26: Attending a lecture at Dan Pavilion, hearing about the magic for the first time

The Pill Pavilion.

It was a place within the Qingyun Sect specifically for teaching the Dao of Pills, perennially filled with an incredibly rich aroma of medicinal herbs.

This scent was complex, yet strangely not pungent; instead, smelling it brought peace to one's mind.

Lin Gou took a deep breath, sensing the active medicinal molecules in the air, and a fitting look of yearning and anticipation appeared on his face.

Today, he had specifically changed into a clean Disciple robe, laundered until it was white, and his hair was meticulously combed.

Anyone who saw him would think he was an excellent student, full of piety and reverence for the Dao of Pills.

【I hope Elder Sun's public lecture talks more about how to spectacularly blow up Pill Furnaces, instead of the same old clichés about safe Alchemy.】

Lin Gou's internal calculations rattled loudly.

Yet, on the surface, he walked steadily, eyes fixed straight ahead, into the spacious lecture hall.

Many Disciples were already seated in the lecture hall, mostly Alchemists from the Inner Sect, each with a composed aura and focused expression.

Upon seeing Lin Gou enter, many cast complex gazes his way.

There was curiosity.

There was scrutiny.

And even undisguised disdain.

After all, Lin Gou's feat of "destroying" a Medium Grade Pill Furnace had long spread throughout the entire Inner Sect.

In the eyes of many, this kid was just a reckless brute who got lucky; perhaps he had talent, but his actions were too rash, and he would ultimately not achieve great things.

Lin Gou ignored these gazes, walking directly to a corner seat.

He wasn't here for socializing, but to absorb more Advanced "death-seeking" nutrients.

Soon, the jingle of ornaments sounded, and an even more mellow, concentrated medicinal aroma wafted into the lecture hall.

Elder Sun, with his crane-white hair and youthful face, slowly walked onto the podium. He calmly swept his gaze over the assembly, finally pausing imperceptibly on Lin Gou for a moment.

Lin Gou immediately straightened his back, his eyes sparkling, adopting the most attentive listening posture.

"Today, we will not discuss specific Pill Formulas."

Elder Sun's voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"We will discuss 'momentum'."

"The momentum of the Dao of Pills lies in the heat control, in the medicinal properties, and even more so in the human heart."

The opening remarks were profound and mysterious.

Many Disciples listened in confusion, their brows furrowed, feeling it was deep but not understanding why.

Lin Gou, however, listened with shining eyes.

【Momentum? This is good! I understand this!】

【Isn't an explosion a kind of ultimate 'momentum'? Accumulating all medicinal power to its Peak, then releasing it instantly, forming a destructive torrent of energy!】

【Elder is indeed a master; his opening words touched upon the core Profound Truth of blowing up Pill Furnaces!】

Elder Sun began to elaborate, from the "gentle momentum of slow fire" to the "surging momentum of fierce fire," and then from the "dominant momentum of the principal medicine" to the "auxiliary momentum of the subordinate medicines."

The content was incredibly profound; many Disciples were already struggling to stay awake, only forcing themselves to write down the content, preparing to slowly comprehend it later.

Lin Gou, however, listened with great interest, utterly engrossed.

The Primer of the Dao of Pills in his mind seemed to come alive, corroborating Elder Sun's explanations.

Many previous experiences of blowing up Pill Furnaces, which he had only vaguely understood, now became clear.

It turned out that his previous acts of blowing up Pill Furnaces were still in the primitive stage of "violent destruction," completely lacking in aesthetics.

The true art of blowing up Pill Furnaces should be a rhythmic, premeditated guidance and eruption of "momentum"!

"Medicinal powers generate and counteract each other, like Yin and Yang; in their transformation, endless changes can arise. If guided properly, it can turn decay into wonder; if control is insufficient, it leads to the destruction of the furnace and death."

Elder Sun's voice carried a hint of warning.

Upon hearing this, a long-standing technical problem that had troubled Lin Gou instantly found a solution.

He raised his hand.

Among the drowsy Disciples in the hall, this straight-raised hand stood out conspicuously.

Elder Sun was also a bit surprised; he nodded.

"Lin Gou, what is your question?"

Lin Gou stood up and respectfully bowed to the podium.

"Reporting to Elder, this Disciple has something unclear."

His voice was clear, attracting everyone's attention.

"Since medicinal power conflict can generate immense force, can we not do the opposite?"

"For example, when refining a Medicinal Pill of extreme Yang attribute, deliberately adding an extreme Yin medicinal ingredient. Not only do we not try to harmonize it, but we use special techniques to stimulate its extreme conflict. At that critical point, just as the Pill Furnace is about to explode, we use Divine Soul power to compress and Seal this wild 'momentum of destruction' entirely into the Medicinal Pill!"

"In this way, will the efficacy of the Medicinal Pill receive an explosive boost? And what kind of wondrous effects will this Sealed 'momentum' produce within the human body after being consumed?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

The drowsy Disciples instantly sobered up, staring intently at Lin Gou with the eyes of someone looking at a madman.

What kind of outrageous words were these?

The greatest taboo in Alchemy was medicinal power conflict; yet, he not only didn't avoid it but actively provoked it, even wanting to Seal the explosive energy into the Medicinal Pill?

Was this Alchemy or the crafting of a palm-sized thunderbolt?

Elder Sun's pupils also sharply contracted.

He looked deeply at Lin Gou, his gaze no longer just simple appreciation, but carrying an undisguised hint of shock.

This idea was too bold!

Too crazy!

It could even be called heretical!

But with his Golden Core Stage Alchemy attainment, he rapidly deduced it in his mind, and to his horror, he found... this approach actually had a faint possibility of feasibility!

However, this would require an unimaginable level of control over medicinal power, heat control, Pill Furnace materials, and even Divine Soul power!

Any slight error in any single step would result in complete annihilation of body and Soul!

"You..."

Elder Sun was about to say something, but then shook his head, seemingly feeling that this question was too dangerous to discuss in depth in a public setting.

He changed the subject, his face darkening.

"This idea of yours is too perilous; do not think about it for now. If your cultivation and state of mind are insufficient, attempting to control destructive power will only bring disaster upon yourself."

"Speaking of peril..."

Elder Sun's tone became serious.

"Recently, the area around the Sect has not been peaceful; you all must be extra careful when going out."

"Patrolling Disciples have reported finding traces of demonic cultivators in the Blackwind Mountains area."

The words "demonic cultivators" instantly dropped the atmosphere in the lecture hall to freezing point.

All the Disciples' relaxed and drowsy expressions vanished, replaced by deep apprehension and a hint of fear that emanated from their very bones.

"Two Outer Sect Disciples have already gone missing during patrol; no one has seen them alive, and no bodies have been found dead."

Elder Sun's voice carried a chill.

"Based on the residual aura at the scene, the methods used were extremely cruel. I'm afraid... they were used as sacrifices for Cultivation."

The lecture hall was silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Lin Gou's heart, however, began to pound inappropriately, like a drum.

【Demonic cultivators?】

He keenly caught this keyword.

The next second, the cold System prompt exploded in his mind!

【High-Risk Death Opportunity Warning: Demonic cultivator stronghold, potentially containing Soul attacks, blood sacrifices, and other high-value death methods!】

【Soul attacks! Blood sacrifices! High-value death methods!】

Lin Gou's breathing stopped for a moment.

Blowing up Pill Furnaces was good, but it was ultimately a physical death; after repeated explosions, the rewards also started to hit a Bottleneck.

But Soul attacks, that was a completely new Domain! It was an unprecedented death experience!

The reward for this had to be at least S Rank, right!

【Holy Land of death-seeking! This is simply a paradise tailor-made for me! My chosen land!】

Lin Gou's heart was celebrating, roaring, singing loudly, so excited he almost wanted to jump up and down.

On the surface, however, he timely displayed the same shock and worry as everyone else.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his fists clenched, his face full of concern for his fellow Disciples and indignation towards the demonic cultivators; his acting was flawless.

"Elder!"

Lin Gou's voice carried a hint of urgency and sorrow, perfectly breaking the dead silence.

"Demonic cultivators are so rampant, is the Sect just going to sit back and do nothing? Are the missing Senior Brothers and Sisters just going to have sacrificed in vain?"

His "righteous" words immediately resonated with the surrounding Disciples.

"That's right! We must make the demonic cultivators pay with blood!"

"We implore Elder to issue a Sect mission; we are willing to avenge our Senior Brothers and Sisters!"

Elder Sun raised his hand to quiet the crowd.

"The Sect will naturally not stand idly by."

"But these demonic cultivators are unusual; it is estimated that they are at least at the Peak of Qi Refining Stage Nine Cultivation, and their methods are even more bizarre and unpredictable."

"The Mission Hall will soon issue related extermination missions, but..."

He paused, his eyes becoming extremely serious.

"This mission has an extremely high death rate; only Inner Sect elite Disciples should take it. I warn you all here, do not act impulsively or privately, only to needlessly throw away your lives."

These words were like a bucket of ice water, dousing the passion of most Disciples.

A demonic cultivator at the Peak of Qi Refining Stage Nine?

What was the difference between them, Disciples in the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, going there and delivering food?

The atmosphere in the lecture hall became oppressive once again.

Lin Gou, however, inwardly gave Elder Sun a big thumbs up.

【Extremely high death rate? Good! Excellent!】

【Only elite Disciples can take it? This threshold is just right; it saves a bunch of rookies from going to their deaths and ruining my plans.】

The class ended in a somber atmosphere.

Disciples left in twos and threes, all with troubled expressions.

Lin Gou, however, lingered until the very end, voluntarily helping Elder Sun tidy up the Jade Slips on the podium.

"Elder."

Lin Gou looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Elder Sun glanced at him.

"Is there anything else?"

"This Disciple... still wishes to inquire about that question from earlier."

Lin Gou's voice was very low, his expression extremely serious.

"Regarding how to stabilize chaotic medicinal power. This Disciple knows this method is dangerous, but on the path of the Dao of Pills, if one lacks a spirit of unyielding exploration, how can one reach the Peak?"

He was referring to that crazy idea of Sealing explosive energy into Medicinal Pills.

In reality, he was indirectly probing how to more precisely control the power and scope of explosions, in order to get higher-Rank, more stable rewards.

Elder Sun fell silent.

He looked at the young man before him, at the genuine, unfeigned yearning for the ultimate Dao of Pills in his eyes.

After a long while, he slowly spoke.

"To control chaotic power, one must first understand its essence. It is not simply destruction, but an ultimate 'birth'."

"When things reach an extreme, they reverse; the end of destruction is new life."

"What you need to do is not to 'stabilize', but to 'guide'. Like Yu the Great controlling the floods, blocking is not as effective as channeling."

After speaking, Elder Sun gave Lin Gou a deep look and turned to leave.

Lin Gou was left alone, carefully pondering these words.

【Guiding? The end of destruction is new life?】

【I understand!】

An astonishing light burst forth in Lin Gou's eyes.

【Isn't the essence of System rewards 'death' for 'new life'?!】

【It turns out that what I have been doing all along is guiding this destructive power of 'blowing up Pill Furnaces' to exchange for new life for myself!】

【Elder, you truly are my guiding light!】

Lin Gou bowed deeply and sincerely to Elder Sun's retreating back.

Returning to his own Alchemy Room, Lin Gou didn't even glance at the brand-new low-Rank Pill Furnace.

At this moment, he had only one goal.

The Blackwind Mountains, the demonic cultivator stronghold.

Blowing up Pill Furnaces, such small-scale antics, could no longer satisfy his growing need to seek death.

Only true life-and-death crises, trials of blood and fire, could bring the most generous rewards!

He sat cross-legged and took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch.

This was an internal Jade Slip from the Inner Sect Mission Hall that he had obtained after becoming Elder Sun's Named Disciple, allowing him to see some high-risk missions not yet publicly released.

As spiritual power was injected, the Jade Slip glowed.

He directly skipped the regular missions like "collecting Spiritual Plants" and "hunting Yao Beasts," his gaze precisely fixed on the very top.

That line of mission marked in blood-like color.

【Exterminate the Black Fiend Demonic Cultivator】

Mission Rank: Extremely Dangerous.

Mission Description: Go to the Blackwind Mountains, exterminate the demonic cultivator Black Fiend and his associates, and search for the whereabouts of the missing Disciples.

Mission Notes: The target's strength is at the Peak of Qi Refining Stage Nine, his methods are cruel, and he is proficient in blood Dao secret techniques. Those who accept the mission are responsible for their own lives and deaths.

After the notes, there was a long string of shocking blood-red small characters.

"Outer Sect Disciple Wang Er, patrol team, missing."

"Outer Sect Disciple Li Si, log entry, last seen in the outer perimeter of the Blackwind Mountains, missing."

"Inner Sect Manager investigation team, three people, one dead and two seriously injured, survivors' Divine Souls were damaged, repeatedly muttering the words 'Soul search'…"

...Death, disappearance, serious injury.

Every word exuded a strong scent of blood.

Lin Gou looked at these chilling notes, not only without the slightest fear, but his eyes glowed, and his breathing became somewhat rapid.

【Soul search! There's even a Soul search technique!】

【Fantastic! If I personally experience this, the reward will definitely be SSS Rank!】

【This is it! My best death opportunity of the year! My promised land!】

He closed the Jade Slip, stood up, and stretched his limbs.

Every cell in his body was cheering for the upcoming "death feast."

The next day.

Mission Hall.

In the spacious hall, people gathered, yet it was unusually quiet, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Zhang Executive, responsible for issuing missions, stood on the high platform, his face stern.

"What Elder Sun of the Pill Pavilion said yesterday, I presume everyone has heard."

"Today, the Sect officially issues an extermination mission; the target, the Blackwind Mountains, the demonic cultivator Black Fiend!"

"This mission is a one-in-ten chance of survival!"

Zhang Executive's voice echoed in the empty hall.

"I ask again, who dares to volunteer?"

What answered him was a suffocating silence.

The Disciples looked at each other, their eyes full of fear and hesitation.

That was a demonic cultivator at the Peak of Qi Refining Stage Nine, accompanied by a group of associates; whoever went would surely die.

Just in this despairing silence.

A figure slowly walked out from a corner of the crowd.

He had a calm expression and steady steps.

As if he wasn't going to take on a mission with a one-in-ten chance of survival, but rather to take a stroll in his own herb garden in the back mountain.

Under the gaze of hundreds of shocked, bewildered, and disbelieving eyes in the entire hall, Lin Gou walked to the high platform and bowed slightly to Zhang Executive.

"Disciple Lin Gou, I volunteer."

The voice was not loud, but it was like a clap of thunder, exploding in the silent hall.

The entire hall was astonished.