The Ancient Giant Crocodile looked utterly defiant.
’It really is better to follow Su Mo.’
’You don’t have to be afraid of anyone.’
’You can be as wild as you want, whenever you want.’
’Stuck here in the Beast Taming Sect, I’m on edge every day. At any moment, someone could skin me and turn me into a handbag.’
...
Daoist Xuanqing spoke with a grave expression, "Elder Su, Sect Leader Chu sent a message. The Celestial Moon Sect has gone to seek revenge against them."
"Why did they go back again?"
Su Mo asked in surprise.
He hadn’t been gone from the Beast Taming Sect for long, yet the Celestial Moon Sect was already back to cause trouble. They were like a persistent shadow.
Daoist Xuanqing nodded. "And what’s more, their entire sect has mobilized."
"So you’re saying we should go back?"
Su Mo said with a frown.
Daoist Xuanqing shook his head. "Sect Leader Chu said they were intimidated by your reputation and don’t dare to make a move. He asks that you focus on your breakthrough in peace. Once you’ve succeeded, they’ll make the people from the Celestial Moon Sect apologize to you."
"That works too,"
Su Mo nodded.
’For him, the breakthrough was the top priority. Besides, the other side wouldn’t dare to act for the time being anyway.’
Soon, they arrived at Medicine King Valley.
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley had rushed back ahead of them, bringing two elderly men with him.
The Valley Master introduced them, "Elder, these two are my friends, Master Mo and Master Jia. Both are experts in alchemy. I specially invited them to concoct your Elixir Pills."
"Hello."
Su Mo greeted the two, but they didn’t respond. They both held their heads high, their faces filled with arrogance.
Alchemists were incredibly revered, treated like the center of the universe wherever they went.
So, Su Mo wasn’t offended.
The Valley Master continued his introduction, "Master Mo, Master Jia, this is the Elder Su I mentioned to you. Don’t be fooled by his young age; his strength..."
"Master Lu, I never thought you would have fallen so low," Master Mo interrupted.
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley’s surname was Lu, and his origins were mysterious. Very few people knew this; only fellow Alchemy Masters like Master Mo and Master Jia knew his background and addressed him as Master Lu.
The Valley Master was completely baffled.
’How have I fallen so low?’
Master Jia glanced at Su Mo and said disdainfully, "As a noble Alchemist, you’re actually addressing a mere brat as ’Elder.’ Is that not a sign of your fall?"
"Master Lu, we are very disappointed in you. We never thought you’d stoop so low as to associate with a Martial Disciple, casting aside all the honor of being an Alchemist," Master Mo said, his tone one of deep disappointment.
"I..."
The Valley Master was at a loss for words.
"Since you two find my low Realm so distasteful and refuse to associate with me, then please just head on home. Go do whatever it is you do, and stop spouting nonsense here," Su Mo said lazily.
’Who do these guys think they are?’
’So my Realm is a little low, big deal. I didn’t do anything to you, yet you keep fucking calling people ’fallen’ as if I’m some pathetic piece of trash.’
’Unbelievable.’
Upon hearing this, Master Mo glared at Su Mo and bellowed, "Brat, how dare you speak to me with such a tone! Do you still want us to refine Elixir Pills for you or not?"
"Hmph. You will apologize to the two of us today. Otherwise, even with Master Lu here, we won’t let you off," Master Jia said coldly.
Su Mo retorted, "And what if I don’t?"
Master Jia’s eyes grew cold. "Then I will have to teach you a proper lesson, so you’ll remember to respect your elders."
SLAP!
The moment Master Jia finished speaking, the crisp sound of a slap echoed by his ear, and his old face stung with a burning heat.
However, he couldn’t see who had hit him.
SLAP!
Su Mo slapped Master Jia’s face again. "Make me remember, huh? Why don’t you learn a lesson first: don’t look down on people."
"Insolent whelp! You dare to slap me?! I’ll kill you!"
The enraged Master Jia charged at Su Mo.
BANG!
Su Mo lifted his foot and sent Master Jia flying with a single kick.
Master Jia was dumbfounded.
He was a Late Stage Grand Martial Artist, yet he couldn’t even get near Su Mo. He’d been swatted away as casually as a fly.
This...
Master Mo, who was standing to the side, was also stunned.
But his shock quickly turned to fury. His face contorted with rage as he said, "Hmph! After humiliating Master Jia like this, don’t even dream of asking me to refine Elixir Pills for you! I wouldn’t agree even if you got on your knees and begged me!"
Su Mo retorted, "Did I ever say I wanted you to refine Elixir Pills for me?"
Master Mo froze.
It was true. Su Mo had never asked them to refine pills; it was all their own assumption.
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley quickly stepped forward. "Elder Su, please calm your anger. Master Jia and Master Mo are alchemy experts. With their help, the quality of the refined Elixir Pills will be much better."
However, Su Mo waved his hand dismissively. "I don’t need their help. I’ll do it myself."
"Yourself?"
The Valley Master’s face was a mask of astonishment.
Su Mo said, "That’s right. I’ll do it myself. It’s not like you’re the only alchemists in the world."
"This..."
The Valley Master asked, "Elder Su, could it be that you are also an Alchemist? If I may ask, what grade are you?"
Alchemists were graded from First to Ninth Grade, with Ninth Grade being the strongest.
The Valley Master never imagined that in addition to his immense strength, Su Mo was also an Alchemist.
It was truly surprising.
However, Su Mo shook his head. "Sorry, I’m not an Alchemist. This will be my first time performing alchemy."
What?
The Valley Master stared at Su Mo, completely dumbstruck.
’He dares to concoct Elixir Pills without even being an Alchemist?’
’Has he lost his mind?’
Su Mo commanded, "Take me to the Alchemy Room."
"Yes!"
The Valley Master led Su Mo to a massive Alchemy Room. It contained not only a Pill Furnace but also an Earth Fire source.
The Valley Master pointed to the furnace. "This is the best Pill Furnace in our Medicine King Valley. It’s a Tier Four Spiritual Artifact, capable of refining all Elixir Pills below the Fourth Grade."
"That’s good enough. The Elixir Pill I’m refining happens to be Fourth Grade."
What!
’Su Mo is going to personally refine a Fourth-Grade Elixir?’
The Valley Master felt a massive headache coming on.
’Even for him, refining a Fourth-Grade Elixir was extremely difficult. He needed someone to assist him just to have a decent chance of success.’
’For Su Mo to attempt a Fourth-Grade Elixir on his very first try... that was completely impossible!’
’He’s mad!’
’Su Mo has definitely gone mad.’
By now, Su Mo had walked up to the Pill Furnace and taken out all the prepared ingredients.
Seeing the Spiritual Medicines Su Mo took out, Master Jia’s eyes lit up. "Ancient Divine Beast Bloodline, a Thousand-Year-Old Purple Spirit Ginseng, an Extreme Yang Spirit Stone, a Ten-thousand-year-old He Shouwu... These are all legendary Spiritual Medicines!"
Master Mo was also awestruck.
’Many of these ingredients were things he had only ever heard of by name; this was the first time he had seen them for real.’
Master Mo asked, "Brat, it must have taken you a lot of time to gather all these things, didn’t it?"
"It did,"
Su Mo replied.
Master Mo said solemnly, "Since you spent so much time finding these materials, and it’s impossible to find a second set, you shouldn’t just rashly start the alchemy. Everything must be properly prepared, and you should only proceed when you have absolute confidence."
Su Mo said impatiently, "If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush."
"Fine, then I’ll be direct,"
Master Mo said with a grave expression. "Out of respect for Master Lu, we’ll let what happened earlier slide. However, you must kneel and apologize to Master Jia. In return, Master Jia and I will work together to help you refine the Elixir Pills. How about it?"