Just as Xia Qing was almost ready to rush over and open the pill furnace for her, Mo Tiange finally stood up.
The timing for opening the furnace at the final stage of alchemy was crucial. Opening it too early would cause the pill energy to dissipate too quickly, destabilizing the pill formation. Even if a pill did form, its efficacy would be reduced. Opening it too late was equally disastrous; excessive pill fire sealed within the pill would create pill toxins, affecting its quality. Opening the furnace either too early or too late would result in complete failure.
Therefore, a skilled alchemist had to master the precise moment to open the furnace—neither too early nor too late—to maximize the pill's efficacy while minimizing toxins. This was no easy feat to grasp. Even master alchemists could slip up. There was no shortcut other than repeated practice and careful study.
At this moment, Mo Tiange focused her senses, then suddenly made her move in an instant. A wisp of spiritual energy shot out, lifting the furnace lid.
Heat dissipated, and a refreshing fragrance filled the air. At the bottom of the furnace lay several pills, their color clear and translucent, each one plump and full.
Mo Tiange let out a sigh of relief. In truth, with her current alchemy skill, she couldn't guarantee a successful batch of Core Condensation Pills every time. During her worst moments in the five years of seclusion, she had even failed to produce a single pill from a batch of ten ingredients. She hadn't expected all five pills to form successfully this time; she had anticipated perhaps two failures.
She didn't need to do anything next, as Xia Qing had already taken over. Xia Qing practically pounced, grabbing the pills from the furnace bottom, feeling them, sniffing them, and even scraping off a bit of powder to taste. Watching her, Mo Tiange suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the future cultivator who would consume these pills—likely one of the three Core Formation elders of Bixuan Pavilion. They had it tough; the pills they ate might have been tasted by someone else first...
Her random thoughts were interrupted as Xia Qing grabbed her arm, urgently exclaiming, "Fellow Daoist Ye, teach me! Teach me! You're amazing! These pills are refined much better than mine. Look at this quality, this luster..."
Since embarking on the Immortal path, Mo Tiange had met many female cultivators. There were innocent ones like Murong Yan, lively ones like Luo Fengxue, amiable ones like Han Qingyu, aloof and proud ones like Wei Jiasi, and even many who, like mortal women, were vain and status-conscious. But among them, she had never met anyone like Xia Qing, who threw herself wholeheartedly into one pursuit, so fervent that she disregarded everything else.
Mo Tiange considered herself a cultivation fanatic, usually interested only in cultivation, alchemy, and studying formation books, with no interest in other matters. But she was still a normal cultivator—she schemed, calculated, and strategized. She would never be like Xia Qing, who was unkempt, ignored social niceties, and single-mindedly pursued the heights of alchemy.
Such fanatics were rare even among male cultivators; she had never encountered one before.
Fortunately, Wei Haolan was present. She pulled Xia Qing back, chiding, "Junior Sister Xia, aren't you afraid of scaring Fellow Daoist Ye? If you want to learn from her, we can ask her to stay a few more days. What's the rush?"
"Oh, oh, right." Xia Qing came to her senses and hurriedly apologized to Mo Tiange. "Fellow Daoist Ye, I'm sorry, I was just too eager..."
"It's nothing, I understand." Mo Tiange's gaze shifted to Wei Haolan. "Sect Leader Wei, regarding the matter we discussed earlier, can we reach a conclusion now?"
Given Xia Qing's reaction, Mo Tiange felt the initiative could shift more into her hands. Bixuan Pavilion held the only teleportation array, but she possessed the alchemy techniques they desperately needed. Each side had something the other wanted.
When it came to serious business, Wei Haolan's expression turned calm. She glanced at Xia Qing and smiled. "Naturally. Fellow Daoist Ye, shall we go have a proper discussion now?"
Mo Tiange understood and nodded. "That would be best."
As the two were about to leave together, Xia Qing pounced from behind. "Sect Leader Senior Sister, you can't take Fellow Daoist Ye away!"
Mo Tiange was suddenly pulled back and shielded behind Xia Qing, who glared at Wei Haolan like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
Both Mo Tiange and Wei Haolan couldn't help but laugh. Finally, Wei Haolan placated her, "Junior Sister Xia, don't worry. I'm just going to discuss with Fellow Daoist Ye about having her teach you alchemy. If you want to learn her techniques, don't cause trouble."
"Really?" Xia Qing's eyes were full of suspicion. She looked at Wei Haolan, then turned to look at Mo Tiange, shaking her head. "Sect Leader Senior Sister, this isn't the first time you've schemed against me."
Mo Tiange secretly smiled. In Xia Qing's eyes, there was nothing but alchemy. As for Wei Haolan's character, she could guess a thing or two—likely someone who prioritized sect interests above all. Given that, she'd be more surprised if Wei Haolan *hadn't* schemed against Xia Qing before.
Wei Haolan sighed. "Junior Sister Xia, in the past when I've schemed, have I ever not supported your efforts to improve your alchemy? Since Fellow Daoist Ye is beneficial to your alchemy skills, I naturally won't let her leave."
Xia Qing thought for a moment, then hesitantly nodded. "Alright, you're the Sect Leader Senior Sister. I'll listen to you one more time." She then patted Mo Tiange's shoulder. "Fellow Daoist Ye, don't you run off! Let's exchange insights first. Whatever you want, I'll have Senior Aunt Qingyi get it for you. I guarantee you won't lose out!"
Mo Tiange nodded. "Fellow Daoist Xia, you can rest assured. If your senior sister agrees to help me, I will definitely tell you all my alchemy secrets."
"That's good." Hearing this, Xia Qing turned back to Wei Haolan with a simple-minded earnestness. "Senior Sister, just agree to whatever Fellow Daoist Ye wants. Master alchemists are hard to find. Even if you find one, they never share their secrets with others. I can't learn anything from them."
Wei Haolan had a headache but nodded straight away. "I know. You can go back now."
Only then did Xia Qing let go. Mo Tiange smiled and exchanged farewell bows with her again, barely suppressing her laughter as she followed Wei Haolan away.
The two didn't speak much along the way. Not far off, Wei Haolan led her back to the main hall from before, ordered servant disciples to serve tea again, dismissed everyone else, leaving only the two of them present.
"Ahem!" Wei Haolan cleared her throat, glancing at Mo Tiange. "Fellow Daoist Ye, since my junior sister has spoken so plainly, I won't beat around the bush either. You want to borrow the teleportation array? No problem. As long as you impart all your alchemy techniques to my junior sister, the teleportation array is yours to use as you please."
Now Mo Tiange was in no hurry. She slowly sipped her tea for a while before speaking. "Fellow Daoist Wei, for an alchemist, some things are closely guarded secrets not to be passed on. If I impart them all, shouldn't you add a bit more to your offer? This is worth more than just two thousand Spirit Stones. Even if you had the Spirit Stones, you couldn't buy alchemy secrets."
Hearing this, Wei Haolan's expression darkened. "Does Fellow Daoist Ye wish to raise the price now?"
"I wouldn't dare." Mo Tiange smiled faintly. "I'm not an ungrateful person. We had already reached a preliminary agreement earlier. I merely wish to refine that agreement a bit."
Wei Haolan's expression softened slightly. "Very well. Fellow Daoist Ye, state your additional requests. As long as they're not excessive, as Sect Leader, I can still make the decision."
"Sect Leader Wei is decisive!" Mo Tiange clapped her hands.
Wei Haolan forced a smile. "Fellow Daoist Ye, state your conditions first."
Mo Tiange didn't speak immediately but pondered for a moment. In truth, a small, remote sect like Bixuan Pavilion had little she coveted. Spirit Stones? She had them. While not as wealthy as a charity dispenser, she was richer than the average Core Formation cultivator. Pills? Needless to say, for now, she could refine as many as she needed. Magical instruments? She wasn't lacking, even possessing several magic treasures and two late-Foundation Establishment puppets. Few Foundation Establishment cultivators carried as many treasures as she did. Materials? This was the East Sea, and Wei Haolan had already mentioned the scarcity of cultivation resources here.
"Sect Leader Wei, to be frank, I don't need Spirit Stones or items. I only need your sect to provide one thing."
"Oh?" Wei Haolan was puzzled. Besides Spirit Stones and cultivation-related items, what else did a cultivator need?
"Safety." Mo Tiange said calmly. "To be honest with you, Sect Leader Wei, this time I was teleported here together with an enemy. Although we weren't teleported to the same location, I can't be sure this person hasn't arrived in Linhai."
Hearing this, Wei Haolan grew serious. "An enemy? What cultivation level is Fellow Daoist Ye's enemy?"
"He should be at the early Core Formation stage now. A demonic cultivator."
"Early Core Formation..." Wei Haolan pondered for a moment, not asking how the enmity began, and said calmly, "If that's the case, Fellow Daoist Ye can rest assured. As long as you don't leave Bixuan Pavilion, I can guarantee your safety."
"So, Sect Leader Wei can guarantee my safe departure from Linhai until I return to Kunwu?"
"As long as Fellow Daoist Ye doesn't wander off casually on ordinary days, with our three Core Formation elders present, that won't be a problem."
Mo Tiange smiled. "Good. Since Sect Leader Wei is straightforward, I'll be straightforward too. As long as your sect guarantees my safety and allows me to smoothly use the teleportation array to return to Kunwu afterward, then I will impart my alchemy techniques without holding anything back."
Hearing this, Wei Haolan finally showed a genuine smile. "Good. Then it's settled."
Mo Tiange nodded. The two sealed the agreement with a handclap, then drank a cup of tea in lieu of wine to signify the deal was struck.
With the serious business concluded, Wei Haolan seemed to finally be in a leisurely mood. She slowly looked Mo Tiange over and asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Ye, your appearance doesn't seem to be the effect of a Dingyan Pill. I imagine you are naturally quite young?"
Actually, Mo Tiange had taken a Dingyan Pill. However, given her age relative to a Foundation Establishment cultivator's lifespan, she hadn't yet reached an age where aging would show. Thus, she still retained a youthful freshness that cultivators who had taken Dingyan Pills typically lacked.
Mo Tiange merely said calmly, "I was fortunate to have the regard of my elders, which allowed me to reach my current cultivation level."
Though she didn't directly admit it, Wei Haolan understood her meaning. "Fellow Daoist Ye is truly accomplished at a young age, worthy of being a disciple of a great sect."
Mo Tiange smiled and didn't reply further. Continuing such a topic would lead to mutual flattery, which she wasn't accustomed to.
As a sect leader, Wei Haolan was naturally astute. Seeing Mo Tiange's expression, she said, "Fellow Daoist Ye must be tired after refining pills just now. Teaching alchemy techniques isn't urgent at this moment. Shall I arrange for Fellow Daoist Ye to rest first?"
Mo Tiange was indeed tired and went along with the suggestion. "Good. Thank you, Sect Leader Wei."
Wei Haolan waved her hand and called out, "Attendants!"
The two Qi Refining female cultivators guarding the hall entrance stepped in and bowed. "What are your orders, Sect Leader?"
Facing her disciples, Wei Haolan adopted a different demeanor—serious and imposing. "Starting today, Senior Ye will reside in the guest building. From now on, the two of you will serve Senior Ye. You must not show the slightest neglect. Understood?"
Hearing the Sect Leader's solemn instructions, the two Qi Refining cultivators dared not be careless. They quickly bowed again. "We understand, Disciple."
Wei Haolan nodded. "Very well. You may go."
"Yes." After responding, the two female cultivators turned and bowed respectfully to Mo Tiange. "Senior Ye, please follow us."