231: Chapter 229 was probably just luck.

Su Mubai was stunned for a moment before following after him.

Inside the Quiet Room, Yun Ming sat cross-legged and retrieved the cauldron of all things mother qi from the map of mountains and rivers.

The body of the cauldron was ancient and simple, with three legs and two ears, and the golden crow feather burned quietly within it.

Su Mubai sat on a nearby prayer mat, his gaze falling upon that cauldron.

Yun Ming took out a set of Materials for the Heavenly Dew Spirit Nourishing Pill, laying the medicinal herbs out one by one before him. Removing roots, peeling skin, extracting juice, and grinding—his movements were as smooth as flowing water and drifting clouds.

Su Mubai watched very carefully. He silently noted the processing method for every single herb, the order of adding ingredients, and the control of the heat. It was exactly the same as the techniques he usually used, without any difference. Yun Ming cast the herbs into the cauldron, the Golden Crow flames rose in temperature, and his Divine Sense probed inside, sensing the changes in the herbs. Adding ingredients, Fusion, and nurturing.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn,

The Pill Furnace vibrated slightly, and the lid popped open.

He reached into the cauldron and took out a Medicinal Pill.

It was crimson-gold, covered in dense cloud patterns, and had a rich pill fragrance. High Grade.

Su Mubai took the pill, holding it in his palm and looking at it for a long time.

The same technique, the same steps, the same heat. He had refined countless batches, and his best result was only Medium Grade, with a High Grade appearing only occasionally. Yun Ming had produced a High Grade with just a casual batch.

“How did you do it?” he asked.

Yun Ming thought for a moment and said, “The heat must be precise, the Divine Sense must be fine, and the mindset must be steady. Do every step to the absolute limit, leaving yourself no room for error.”

Su Mubai pondered for a moment. “I usually do it that way too.”

“Then it must be good luck.” Yun Ming smiled and did not explain further.

Su Mubai took his own Pill Furnace out of his Storage Pouch, along with a set of Materials for a Xuanyuan Essence Condensing Pill.

“I’ll refine a batch too; help me take a look.”

He processed the herbs, added the ingredients, controlled the fire, and sensed with his Divine Sense.

He performed every step very seriously. An hour later, the Pill Furnace popped open, and a Medium Grade Medicinal Pill lay at the bottom of the cauldron.

Su Mubai took out another set of Materials and refined another batch.

This time it was also Medium Grade. Two successful batches out of two, a fifty percent success rate; this was already his best level.

He put the two pills away and looked at Yun Ming.

“Your success rate is far higher than mine.”

The two of them chatted for a while longer about their insights into Alchemy.

Yun Ming spoke about his understanding of heat and Divine Sense, while Su Mubai shared some of the Dao of Alchemy theories from the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion. Although Yun Ming's methods were more unconventional, Su Mubai gained a lot of inspiration from his experience.

As the sky darkened, Su Mubai put away his Pill Furnace and stood up.

“I should head back. The Xuanhuang Pill Mansion is waiting for news.”

Yun Ming saw him to the courtyard gate.

Su Mubai turned and cupped his hands in greeting.

“Take care.”

Yun Ming also cupped his hands.

“Take care.”

An Escape Light rose and disappeared into the horizon.

Su Mubai flew all the way north.

Mountains stretched out and rivers meandered beneath his feet. He flew for a day and a night, and by the evening of the second day, he finally saw the mountain gate of the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion.

The Xuanhuang Pill Mansion was built within a continuous range of mountains.

The main peak towered into the clouds, its upper half hidden in the mist. Spiritual light circulated at the summit; that was the core of the Mountain Guardian Array.

The mountain gate consisted of two massive stone pillars, pure white throughout, with the pillars carved with dense Pill Formula runes.

Between the stone pillars was a layer of pale gold light curtain, with intricate formation patterns flowing across it. Ordinary Cultivators simply could not enter.

Entering from the mountain gate, there was a long flight of stone steps.

Every step was paved with solid blocks of white jade, polished to a mirror-like shine.

Both sides of the stone steps were planted with Spirit Medicine, ranging from the first to the third rank.

The fragrance of medicine assailed the nose; one breath was enough to make one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

At the end of the stone steps was an open plaza. In the center of the plaza stood a Pill Furnace sculpture, three-legged and two-eared, dozens of zhang high, with the portrait of the Ancestral Master of the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion carved on the furnace body.

The sculpture was surrounded by spiritual springs, the sound of water gurgling.

Surrounding the plaza were the halls of various departments.

The Pill Formula Hall was on the east side, a three-story pavilion housing tens of thousands of Pill Formulas ranging from the first to the fifth rank. The Medicine Storehouse Hall was on the west side, a two-story pavilion with storehouses filled with various Spirit Medicines, aged from decades to over a thousand years. The Alchemy Room Hall was on the south side, a massive circular building containing one hundred and eight independent Alchemy Rooms for the mansion's Disciples to use. The Assessment Hall was on the north side, where Disciples were promoted in rank; inside the hall was a special Pill Furnace that could automatically judge the rank and quality of Medicinal Pills.

The halls mostly featured green tiles and white walls with flying eaves and bracket sets, looking simple and low-key, but spiritual light circulated on the roof of every hall—the traces of hall-protecting arrays.

Su Mubai crossed the plaza and flew toward the main peak.

On the main peak was the Discussion Hall, built on a flat area at the summit. The hall wasn't large, but it was very solemn. The hall doors were made of red sandalwood, and a plaque hung above the lintel with the words "Xuanhuang Pill Mansion" written on it. The plaque was personally inscribed by the founding Ancestral Master, the brushwork vigorous and the Aura magnificent. The interior space was vast, capable of holding over a hundred people. The floor was paved with green jade tiles carved with formation patterns that felt warm to the touch. At the very head of the hall was a wide wooden chair with a Pill Furnace pattern carved on the back. A dozen chairs were arranged on either side for the Elders and deacons.

When Su Mubai walked into the hall, many people were already seated.

Mansion Master Lord Lu sat at the very head, his face lean with a long three-strand beard, wearing a slate-gray Daoist robe. To his left was the Grand Elder, white-haired and elderly but full of vigor. To his right was the Second Elder, a middle-aged female Cultivator with dignified features and a cold, detached Aura.

The rest were Core Disciples and deacons of the Pill Mansion.

Su Mubai walked to the center of the hall and bowed to those at the head.

“Mansion Master, this Disciple has returned.” Mansion Master Lu nodded. “Sit and speak.”

Su Mubai found a seat nearby and sat down.

Everyone's eyes fell upon him.

Mansion Master Lu looked at him, his tone indifferent.

“That Alchemist in Qingyao City, how is the investigation going?”

Su Mubai recounted the process of Yun Ming's Alchemy in detail.

The techniques, steps, heat, and Divine Sense were exactly the same as what he had learned.

But the success rate was extremely high, producing a High Grade in a single batch.

He had also refined two batches himself, succeeding in both, with a fifty percent success rate being his personal best.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The Grand Elder's brow furrowed. The Second Elder's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop.

“A High Grade in one batch?” the Grand Elder spoke. “You saw it with your own eyes?” Su Mubai nodded. “I saw it with my own eyes. The techniques were the same as ours, even the furnace temperature was identical. This Disciple could not see any difference.”

Mansion Master Lu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment.

“Ten sets of Materials producing ten batches—no one in our Xuanhuang Pill Mansion can achieve that.” He opened his eyes and looked at Su Mubai. “Why do you think his success rate is so high?”

Su Mubai thought for a moment. “This Disciple's feeling is that his Divine Soul is very strong and his mindset is extremely steady. He does every step to the absolute limit, leaving himself no room for error. Furthermore, there is a special flame in his Pill Furnace that is very powerful and extremely stable.”

“What else?”

“Also, his experience is very rich. He doesn't say much, but every sentence hits the mark. This Disciple chatted with him for a while and benefited greatly.”

Mansion Master Lu was silent for a moment before looking at the Grand Elder.

“What do you think?”

The Grand Elder stroked his beard.

“This person is worth meeting. Ten batches out of ten—regardless of how he does it, it shows his Alchemy skills far surpass ordinary people. Our Xuanhuang Pill Mansion is currently expanding our Medicinal Pill business; such a person cannot be missed.”

The Second Elder also nodded.

“I also think we should meet him. But don't make a big scene; just sending one steady person will do.”

Mansion Master Lu thought for a moment. “Let the Fourth Elder go. He has a steady temperament and won't offend anyone.” The Grand Elder nodded. “Old Fourth is suitable.”

Mansion Master Lu looked at Su Mubai.

“Su Mubai, you lead the way. After the Fourth Elder arrives in Qingyao City, you arrange for him to meet Yun Ming. Do not be reckless, do not offend anyone, and watch more while saying less. Get a full sense of the man first before making any plans.” Su Mubai stood up and bowed. “This Disciple obeys the command.”

Mansion Master Lu gave a few more instructions and then dismissed everyone.

Su Mubai walked out of the hall and stood at the summit, gazing at the distant sea of clouds. The wind blew over, carrying the scent of the wild mountains and the fragrance of Spirit Medicine. He took a deep breath and turned to walk toward the Fourth Elder's Immortal Cave.

The Fourth Elder's Immortal Cave was located on a cliff face halfway up the main peak. The cave entrance wasn't large, with several stalks of green bamboo planted outside, their leaves rustling in the wind. Su Mubai walked to the cave entrance and knocked; a gentle voice came from inside. “Come in.”

Su Mubai pushed the door open and entered. The Fourth Elder was sitting on a prayer mat, holding a scroll of a Pill Formula and studying it. He was a short, stout middle-aged man with a kind face, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha. He saw Su Mubai, put down the Pill Formula, and beamed. “What is it? Is something the matter?”

Su Mubai recounted the Mansion Master's arrangements. After the Fourth Elder finished listening, he nodded. “Alright. When do we leave?” Su Mubai said, “The sooner the better. The Mansion Master places great importance on that Alchemist.” The Fourth Elder stood up and patted the dust off his Daoist robe. “Then tomorrow morning.”

Su Mubai bowed. “This Disciple will go prepare. I will come to fetch the Elder tomorrow morning.” The Fourth Elder waved his hand. “Go on.” Su Mubai exited the Immortal Cave and returned to his own residence to start packing. He brought some Medicinal Pills, Materials, and a change of clothes. He also put the Medicinal Pills Yun Ming had given him into his Storage Pouch, intending to bring them back to the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion for re-inspection. He was busy until late at night before finally lying down.

Early the next morning, Su Mubai went to fetch the Fourth Elder. The two met at the plaza and flew toward the mountain gate. Passing through the Mountain Guardian Array, the Fourth Elder released a flying boat. The two boarded, and the flying boat turned into a streak of light, heading south.

They flew for a day. Su Mubai stood at the bow, gazing at the continuous mountains and meandering rivers below, thinking of Yun Ming's face, his smooth movements during Alchemy, and the indifferent tone in which he said, “Then it must be talent.” He didn't know what would happen when he brought the Fourth Elder there, nor did he know how Yun Ming would respond.

In the evening, the flying boat landed outside Qingyao City. The twilight was heavy, and the outline of the city appeared dusty in the sunset. Su Mubai jumped off the flying boat, retracted his Escape Light, and led the Fourth Elder through the city gate, walking along that familiar street.

He walked to that door and stopped. The door was still the same door, its paint mottled and its copper lock rusted. He raised his hand and knocked three times.