Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Qingyun Mountain, Liuyun Palace.

Shen Mo stood by the window, toying with an ordinary communication jade talisman in his hand. Su Xiao's figure appeared in the shadows.

"Sect Leader, the bait has been laid. The Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect have been active with their spies, both trying to find out about the pill formula and the 'Falling Star Sea'."

"The Xuan Yin Sect has close ties with both factions and is demanding more detailed information about the pill formulas, offering a very high price."

"The 'eyes' we've set up in the library have also discovered suspicious signs of spying. The methods are sophisticated, suggesting professional spies. As you instructed, they've left their 'traces'." Su Xiao's voice was cold, carrying a hint of murderous intent.

"Hmm." Shen Mo responded softly, his gaze drifting into the distance, towards Falling Star Valley. "Let them investigate, let them fight, let them be suspicious. Keep a close eye on the Xuan Yin Sect's preparations for the 'blood sacrifice,' as well as any unusual movements from the Lie Yang Sect and the Tian Jian Sect."

"In addition, through the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's channels, we 'accidentally' leaked the 'vague information' about the 'suspected ancient altar in the Northern Desert' to Fairy Ling Shuang of the Xuanbing Pavilion. Remember, it has to look like an accident."

A glint flashed in Su Xiao's eyes: "Does the sect leader intend to... stir up trouble and lure the snake out, or... divert the disaster eastward?"

"They are all," Shen Mo said calmly, a cold smile curving his lips. "The muddier the water, the easier it is to fish. I want to see just how many monsters and demons are interested in this 'Golden Condensation Pill' and 'Starfall Ancient City'."

"We also need to see how those 'friends' in the shadows react when we 'accidentally' stumble upon the Xuan Yin Sect's good deed."

He turned to look at Su Xiao: "Protect Li Xiaocao and Elder Han. They know some of the inside story about the pill formula, and they may become targets."

"In addition, have our people secretly gather information on alternatives to the 'Golden Jade Mushroom' and the 'Nine Aperture Star Fruit'. Be discreet, but leave enough clues for those who are interested to discover them."

"Remember, it's a 'substitute,' the kind that's similar but not quite the same."

"Disciple understands." Su Xiao nodded, his figure slowly merging into the shadows.

Silence returned to the hall. Shen Mo walked to the table, unfolded a map of the Southern Region, and slowly moved his gaze over the marks such as "Falling Star Valley", "Northern Desert Wilderness", "Blazing Sun Sect", "Heavenly Sword Sect", and "Suspected Stronghold of Xuan Yin Sect".

The "Golden Elixir" is bait, used to catch fish that are greedy for power and malicious towards the Qingyun Alliance.

"Starfall Ancient City" is a deep pool, unfathomable, hiding unknown risks and opportunities.

The Xuan Yin Sect's "blood sacrifice" conspiracy is a whirlpool hidden at the bottom of the pool.

What he had to do now was to throw the bait into the pool, stir up the whirlpool, and let the fish jump out on their own, bite each other, and eventually... crash into the net he had already set out.

As for the mystery that keeps him up at night, the one that has been "fabricated to be true"... perhaps, at the center of this storm, when the "Star Ruler" truly appears in the world, he can find some clues.

He gently stroked the jade slip in his arms that contained the "complete" formula for the Golden Elixir, his eyes as deep as an ancient well.

"The stage is set, and the actors are ready to take the stage. Let me see how this grand play, 'Beware of Bait and Lure, Golden Carp Lurking in the Abyss,' will ultimately turn out."

......

Deep within Danxiang Hall on Qingyun Mountain

The earth's fire pulses, and heat waves surge, mingling with the complex aromas emitted from the boiling, purification, and fusion of countless spiritual herbs and medicines, forming the eternal theme of the Danxiang Palace.

The air was filled with the unique warmth and inspiration of alchemy fire. The hum of the cauldron, the crackling of the fire, the crisp sound of jade bottles colliding, and the low conversations and hurried footsteps of the alchemists intertwined to create a unique melody.

This is the heart of Qingyun Sect's, and even the entire Qingyun Alliance's, alchemy center. Every day, it absorbs and produces a massive amount of medicinal herbs to refine various kinds of pills for the Alliance's members and for trade in the markets.

And Li Xiaocao, the master of the Dan Hall, is the most powerful heartbeater.

At this moment, she was standing in front of a huge jade table carved from a single piece of "Warm Sun Jade". On the table was a huge tanned beast skin, which was covered with delicate and powerful characters, as well as various complex diagrams of the mutual generation and restraint of medicinal properties and the deduction of the flow of fire.

She frowned slightly, her fingertips twirling a small pinch of dark golden powder, which she gently sniffed. She then probed the powder with a wisp of her divine sense, muttering incantations:

"The 'Earth Vein Purple Core' is extremely potent and needs to be neutralized with 'Cold Jade Marrow.' However, Cold Jade Marrow is yin in nature, which slightly conflicts with the earth-metal-warming properties of the main ingredient, 'Golden-Veined Jade Fungus'... Adding the morning dew extract of 'Star Grass' as a catalyst might harmonize yin and yang, stimulating the effect of earth fire tempering without damaging the essence... However, the dosage needs to be precise to the millimeter..."

She was completely absorbed, not even bothering to brush away the stray hairs damp with the heat from her forehead. Her fair cheeks were stained with a little ash, but her bright eyes burned with an almost fanatical flame of thirst for knowledge.

On the table lay the "complete version" of the Golden Elixir Formula that Shen Mo had given her.

Since obtaining this formula, she has been working tirelessly, immersing herself in the vast and profound world of alchemy.

For Li Xiaocao, this was not only a task assigned by the sect leader, but also a possible door to the supreme alchemy hall!

The ancient elixir formula, lost for a long time, has now reappeared thanks to the legacy of the ancestor and the sect leader's heaven-defying deduction. How could she not be excited and obsessed?

"Elder Li, the earth fire in Pill Room Number Three is a bit unstable again; you need to adjust the array plate!"

"Uncle Li! The purified extract of the 'Jade Marrow Ganoderma' has been collected at the time you specified, and the medicinal properties test results are here!"

"Master! There's something unusual happening in the cultivation room for the mutated 'Star-Patterned Grass'; the spiritual energy fluctuations are abnormal!"

Several core disciples hurried over, carrying jade slips and jade bottles, their faces showing anxiety or excitement. Li Xiaocao didn't even look up, speaking extremely quickly: "The earth fire is unstable. Check the spirit-gathering talismans in the 'Fire Separation Position' for any impurities or blockages, and use 'Dust-Cleansing Talismans' to remove them."

"Place the Jade Marrow Spirit Mushroom Liquid into the No. 3 Cold Jade Box and seal it with the 'Spirit Sealing Technique.' I'll examine it personally. A mutated Star-Patterned Grass? Lead the way, I'll go take a look!"

Like a nimble butterfly, she moved nimbly through the vast space and complex affairs of Danxiang Palace, handling one problem after another and issuing one instruction after another, efficiently and precisely.

Only when his gaze occasionally swept over the prescription on the jade table would a hint of almost devout focus and longing flash deep in his eyes.

"Master, you haven't slept for three days, so why don't you..." The eldest disciple, Mu Qingqing, came over with a bowl of emerald-green "Heart-Clearing Lotus Seed Soup" and, seeing the bloodshot eyes in her master's eyes, advised her with heartache.

"It's alright, this is the crucial moment." Li Xiaocao took the jade bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and the warm spiritual energy spread out, nourishing her somewhat dry meridians and consciousness. "Qingqing, look here, the timing for using the 'Nine Aperture Star Fruit' in medicine, the recipe says it must be done when 'the earth fire transforms from martial to civil, and the starlight first appears'."

"After repeated deductions, I believe that 'the first appearance of starlight' may not refer to celestial phenomena, but rather to the moment when the medicinal power within the alchemy furnace fuses, producing the first wisp of 'stellar spiritual energy'! This requires a keen perception of the fusion of medicinal properties, and the opportunity is fleeting!"

Looking at her master's face, slightly glowing with excitement, Mu Qingqing felt both admiration and worry. She took the empty bowl and whispered, "Master, can this pill formula really be refined? The main ingredients have been extinct for a thousand years. Even if the complete refining method is deduced, without the herbs, it's still..."

"The matter of medicinal herbs will be taken care of by our sect leader," Li Xiaocao interrupted her, her tone firm. "What we alchemists must do is to exhaust all our abilities to push the ultimate principles of alchemy to their limit!"

"Even if I am not destined to refine this elixir myself in this lifetime, being able to complete and verify the method of refining this ancient and wondrous formula is still an immeasurable merit! What's more..."

Her voice lowered, and a strange light flashed in her eyes. "Since Senior Brother Sect Leader asked me to make this deduction, there must be a deeper meaning behind it. Perhaps, the opportunity lies within it."

She said no more, and returned to her desk, her fingertips flashing with inspiration as she quickly sketched and calculated on the animal hide. Sometimes she frowned in deep thought, and sometimes she smiled in sudden realization, completely immersed in the profound world of alchemy.

That "complete" prescription, like a puzzle full of endless charm, attracted her to devote all her mind and passion.