Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

After the words were spoken, the lecture hall fell silent. Many new disciples lowered their heads in shame, and even Wang Ergou and Zhao Ming were completely speechless, their faces filled with regret.

"Disciple knows his mistake!" Wang Ergou was the first to kneel down with a thud, kowtowing towards the direction of Liuyun Hall. "Please punish me, Sect Leader and Elders! Ergou will never dare to do it again!"

"This disciple also knows he was wrong!" Zhao Ming and the other disciples who had participated in the commotion also knelt down.

Shen Mo's figure appeared at some point under an ancient pine tree at the edge of the lecture hall, quietly watching this scene without revealing himself.

Han Lin and Shi Tie exchanged a glance, both seeing the relief in each other's eyes.

"To err is human, to forgive divine." Han Lin stepped forward and helped Wang Ergou and Zhao Ming up. "Punishment is necessary. Wang Ergou, you are to face the wall in the back mountain for three days and copy the 'Sect Rules' one hundred times."

"Zhao Ming, you are punished by cleaning the lecture hall for a month, and also by copying the 'Sect Rules' one hundred times. Do you two accept this?"

"We are convinced! We are convinced!" the two replied hastily.

"Everyone, disperse." Han Lin waved his hand. "Think carefully about what you said today."

The disciples bowed silently and dispersed, their steps heavier and more grounded than when they arrived.

Shi Tie shouldered his axe, walked over to Shen Mo, and grinned, "Sect Leader, how was my red-face acting?"

Shen Mo watched the departing, slightly immature yet upright figures and nodded gently: "Yes. Elder Han's white face sang well too."

The "Hundred Herbs Valley," where the Pill Hall is located on the back of Qingyun Mountain, has been bustling with activity these days. The aroma of herbs in the valley is several times stronger than before, with various exotic fragrances of plants blending together. Just one breath is enough to make one feel refreshed and invigorated, and one's cultivation level will subtly increase.

In the newly opened herb garden, the spiritual herbs brought back from the Myriad Laws Abyss are thriving, their leaves shimmering with a precious light. Even the mist from the streams in the valley carries a faint scent of medicinal pills.

The deepest part of the valley, the "Earth Fire Pill Room" area, is filled with constant roaring sounds. Streams of smoke of different colors burst out from the chimneys of different pill rooms, weaving together into a magnificent spiritual cloud above Hundred Herbs Valley that lingers for a long time.

Many disciples passing by couldn't help but stop and look up in amazement.

"Hey! See that? Crimson clouds are shooting into the sky again! It must be Uncle-Master Li Xiaocao refining some amazing elixir again!"

"I think that wisp of smoke, bluish-purple in color, is much more powerful! It must be Senior Sister Mu Qingqing's alchemy room, right?"

"Uncle-Master Yuan's side is just as good! Look at that pale golden cinnabar cloud, how pure it is!"

The disciples of the Pill Hall walked with a brisk pace, their faces beaming with excitement and pride. Now, within the Azure Cloud Sect, the Pill Hall disciples held their heads highest; even the murderous warriors of the Battle Hall treated them with deference.

There was nothing they could do; after all, they held the life-saving elixir for cultivation in their hands!

At this moment, the largest alchemy room in the Earth Fire Alchemy Room, number one, was filled with sweltering heat. A purple copper octagonal furnace, about ten feet tall, sat in the center of the room. The earth fire beneath the furnace was guided by an array, transforming into nine lifelike fire dragons that coiled around the furnace body and spewed out scorching flames.

The furnace body was already glowing red-hot, and the array runes engraved on its surface were dazzlingly bright, emitting a deep hum.

Li Xiaocao sat cross-legged in front of the stove, her hair casually tied up, with a fire poker stuck in it as a hairpin. Her face and Taoist robe were covered with ash, but she didn't bother to wipe it off.

Her eyes were wide open as she stared intently at the changes in the fire, her nostrils flaring slightly as she tried to detect every trace of medicinal power mingling in the air.

Behind her stood Mu Qingqing and A Yuan, both looking tense. Mu Qingqing held a jade ruler in her hand, ready to deal with any abnormal fluctuations in the alchemy furnace, while A Yuan held a thick pharmacopoeia, flipping through it quickly and muttering incantations.

"The heat... is still a little short..." Li Xiaocao muttered to herself, her fingertips forming a hand seal, and a stream of pure wood-elemental spiritual energy was channeled into a rune on the furnace. The furnace fire suddenly surged, its color changing from crimson to pale gold, and the temperature rose abruptly.

The stove lid began to shake violently, making a clanging sound, as if something was about to burst out. An indescribably rich aroma wafted out.

Just one whiff of it is enough to invigorate you.

"It's about to be completed! Hold on!" Mu Qingqing shouted, pointing out with her jade ruler. A cool spiritual energy, like a ribbon, wrapped around the restless furnace lid.

A-Yuan quickly put down the pharmacopoeia and flicked her small hands, casting several spiritual spells to stabilize the medicinal properties.

Sweat beaded on Li Xiaocao's forehead as her hands moved with lightning speed, forming hand seals like butterflies flitting among flowers, controlling the strength and angle of the nine fire dragons. This was the most crucial moment; success or failure hinged on this!

This time, she improved the "Foundation Building Pill" by adding "Star Pattern Grass" and "Earth Vein Ganoderma" obtained from the Myriad Laws Abyss, making the medicinal properties several times more potent. If not controlled properly, it could result in the furnace exploding.

"Freeze!"

She let out a sharp shout, clasped her hands together, and channeled all her spiritual power!

"Buzz—!"

The alchemy furnace emitted a long, resonant sound, and its lid slammed open with a loud bang, hovering in mid-air. Inside, countless rays of light and auspicious vapors filled the air!

Twelve longan-sized, all over The pills, with natural cloud patterns on their surfaces, spun and flew out, each one radiating immense spiritual power and Daoist charm!

The pills are complete! And there are twelve in the furnace, each one of the highest quality!

"It's done! Haha! It really worked!" Li Xiaocao jumped up, no longer caring about her image, waving her arms and legs, her face streaked with black and white, laughing like a child.

Mu Qingqing and A Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, their faces beaming with joy.

"Master! You are amazing! The potency of this Foundation Establishment Pill is at least 50% stronger than the original formula! And the poison is almost undetectable!" Mu Qingqing said excitedly as she felt the aura of the pill.

Ah Yuan sniffed hard, her little face filled with delight: "It smells so good! Senior Sister Xiao Cao, this pill smells delicious!"

"Get lost! Pills aren't for eating, they're for using!" Li Xiaocao laughed and scolded, carefully placing the twelve Foundation Establishment Pills into the prepared jade bottle. She rubbed the bottle with obvious delight. "Hehe, with this new formula, the success rate of our Qingyun Sect disciples in Foundation Establishment will increase by at least 30%! Let's see who dares to say our Pill Hall only knows how to refine low-grade pills!"

Full of confidence, she pulled Mu Qingqing and A Yuan along: "Quick! Qingqing, try the 'Hundred Flowers Dew Condensation Method' and see if you can purify the medicinal properties even further! A Yuan, record the data; this time, the timing of the heat and the point of fusion of the medicinal power must be perfect!"

The three of them then immersed themselves in a new round of experiments. The rhythmic sounds of fire control and pestle striking echoed through the alchemy room once again, filled with focus and energy.

A few days later, inside the Flowing Cloud Palace.

Li Xiaocao, Mu Qingqing, and A Yuan stood respectfully at the lower end. Li Xiaocao held three jade bottles in her hands, her face beaming with barely suppressed pride. Mu Qingqing and A Yuan, though quiet, also had expressions of joy in their eyes and brows.

Shen Mo sat at the head of the table, with Han Lin and Su Xiao also present. Shen Mo picked up the first cold jade bottle and poured out a modified Foundation Establishment Pill. The pill felt warm to the touch, with natural cloud patterns and contained spiritual energy.

He nodded slightly: "The medicine is potent yet gentle, and the erysipelas is almost gone. It is indeed far superior to the old prescription. Junior Sister Xiaocao, thank you for your hard work."

Li Xiaocao chuckled and scratched his head: "Sect Leader, you flatter me! It's mainly because the spiritual herbs from Wanfayuan are so good! Hehe."

Shen Mo then looked at the jade bottle presented by Mu Qingqing, which contained five Foundation Establishment Pills that were slightly lighter in color but emitted a faint floral fragrance.

"The Hundred Flowers Dew Method? Not bad. Its medicinal properties are even gentler, making it suitable for women or those with a more yin constitution to establish their foundation. Qingqing is meticulous in her pursuit of alchemy and already possesses the demeanor of a master."

Mu Qingqing blushed slightly and bowed, saying, "Sect Leader, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise. It is all thanks to Master's excellent teaching."