Are You Forcing the Plot Forward on Me?

After handing the Soul-Devouring Banner to Ma Liang, Chu Xinghe remarked that the Soul-Devouring Banner seemed to share a common origin with the Fengdu Grand Formation.

It's very likely that it's a matching set, but Chu Xinghe doesn't know exactly how to use it, and the vice sect leader hasn't explained it either. As for how to operate it, Chu Xinghe suggests asking at the Dark Moon Palace.

Throughout the entire Vast Heaven Sect, even Elder He, who was known for his extensive knowledge of miscellaneous subjects, did not have much research experience in the field of ghost artifacts.

After all, ghost artifacts are generally not things that upright people should use.

Ouyang Ming did know a little, but only about the things that were created; Ouyang Ming couldn't possibly know the specifics of how to use them.

Therefore, looking at the entire Vast Heaven Sect, the only ones who could help Ma Liang with ghost artifacts were the Dark Moon Clan.

The Dark Moon Clan is skilled in using dark power, and in recent days, Chu Xinghe has visited the Dark Moon Palace several times to inquire with the Great Sage about the cultivation techniques practiced by the Dark Moon Clan.

Is it possible to pass on the cultivation technique to other members of the Vast Heaven Sect? If the Great Sage dared to say yes, Chu Xinghe would definitely nip this danger in the bud.

Even if you could teach it to Great Sage, you better hold back! At least not at this stage.

However, it turned out that Chu Xinghe was overthinking things this time. The Dark Moon Clan's Dark Arts are a secret technique of the Dark Moon Clan. It's not that the Great Sage didn't want to teach it, but only those with Dark Physique can learn it.

The Great Sage and his friend Elder He had discussed this a few days ago and discovered that all the cultivation techniques of the Dark Moon Clan are inaccessible to others...

However, while others cannot learn Dark Arts, the Dark Moon Clan must be able to conduct research on ghost artifacts.

Therefore, Ma Liang will surely gain something from his trip to the Dark Moon Palace!

What? You're asking why Chu Xinghe gave Ma Liang pointers?

Although Ma Liang had betrayed him so many times, Ma Liang had played an indispensable role in enabling him to be stripped of his status as a personal disciple and reach a level close to that of Martial Saint.

With the Vice Sect Master going to such lengths to help Ma Liang this time, how could I, Chu Xinghe, possibly let him down?

Can Ma Liang disappoint the deputy sect leader?

We absolutely cannot let the Vice Sect Master down!

Besides... sending Ma Liang to cause trouble in the Dark Moon Palace might even affect the Great Sage's progress in completing the cultivation technique. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Xinghe, I will definitely live up to your Senior Brother Xinghe!" Ma Liang was moved to tears.

"Ah... Ma Liang... it's not that I'm letting down Senior Brother Xinghe, it's that I can't let down the Vice Sect Master. Not only can you not let him down, but Senior Brother Xinghe can't let him down either!"

"Yes, yes! We will never let the Vice Sect Master down!"

After finishing his speech, Ma Liang took the Soul-Devouring Banner and headed to the Dark Moon Palace.

"Congratulations on your fortune! Hey... Congratulations on your amazing success!"

Humming a cheerful tune, Chu Xinghe had just returned to the Spirit Crane Palace when he encountered a dejected Sima Bian.

Upon seeing Sima Bian's appearance, Chu Xinghe was overjoyed, certain that there was good news.

Upon inquiry, it turned out to be true!

Although Mu Bai and his team have been doing their utmost to research automated medicine refining, it would be a miracle if they succeeded.

Mu Bai and his team have been failing so many times lately they're practically vomiting blood... Forget about any results, they're practically turning into demons now...

Chu Xinghe had long known this would happen. Even if we were on par with each other, it wouldn't make a difference in this round of bad luck. That's what I, Chu Xinghe, said!

It's not that I, Chu Xinghe, am too arrogant, but rather that I have the Medicine Saint Inheritance.

You can say that Chu Xinghe doesn't like alchemy, but you absolutely cannot say that Chu Xinghe is a complete novice at alchemy.

Even in this world, if you only talk about theoretical knowledge, Chu Xinghe is invincible in alchemy.

It even automatically concocts medicine? As a Medicine Saint Inheritance, how could I not know if it could automatically concoct medicine?

So when Mu Bai and the others came up with the idea of automatic medicine refining, Chu Xinghe was all for it. He said, "If you can develop automatic medicine refining, then the Medicine Saint will belong to your Muyue Kingdom!"

As it turns out, Chu Xinghe is indeed unbeatable in terms of expertise. He started tinkering before the happy event, but as a result, apart from grafting various spiritual herbs into a mess, he has made absolutely no progress in automatic alchemy.

Sima Bian was frantic, jumping up and down, grabbing Senior Brother Xinghe and saying, "Senior Brother Xinghe, our Northern Branch owes everything to the Fengdu Grand Formation's alchemy. If the Fengdu Grand Formation stops alchemy, what will become of our Northern Chamber of Commerce!"

Seeing Sima Bian's miserable expression, Chu Xinghe almost jumped for joy.

This time I finally succeeded! I successfully fixed the bug in the Fengdu Grand Formation where the Ten Thousand Ghosts Refining Medicine allowed the Northern Branch to take off!

"Sima Bian, don't panic. Leave professional matters to the professionals. You have to trust Mu Bai and the others' abilities. Also, is the Northern Branch running low on medicine?"

"Yes... not many left..."

"How long can it last?"

"I can only hold out for a year at most..."

Chu Xinghe: "???"

What the heck?

Can we hold on for another year?

Sima Bian, what the hell are you talking to me about? Do you Northern Branch even consider this a big deal?

That Ma Liang used the Fengdu Grand Formation to refine how many elixirs for you guys?

Seeing how anxious you Sima Bian, I thought your Northern Branch would be out of medicine to sell next month. And you're telling me you can sell for another year?

This can sell for a year, what are you worried about? Get out of here!

Ignoring Sima Bian's complaints, Chu Xinghe made his way to the Medicine King Palace.

At this moment, Mu Bai and his group of disciples from the Muyue Kingdom were sitting around a pill furnace that had just exploded, and Chu Xinghe was overjoyed.

Look at Mu Bai and the others, they all look like they've lost their eggs. You can tell they're completely helpless.

As it turned out, Chu Xinghe's guess was entirely correct. After some questioning, Mu Bai said that they had tried countless times, but no matter how hard they tried, it was impossible to refine any pills without complete control of the earth fire.

Mu Bai was so aggrieved she was almost crying.

Chu Xinghe first comforted the aggrieved Mu Bai.

"Junior Brother Mu Bai, everything is difficult at the beginning. Although you have been failing repeatedly, as the saying goes, failure is the mother of success. You must not give up because of these little setbacks. You must believe that you will succeed!"

At the same time, Chu Xinghe comforted Mu Bai, telling him not to give up just because a few furnaces had exploded and a little bit of resources had been wasted. He pointed out that Ouyang Ming, the former furnace-exploding king, was now doing very well.

Mu Bai's eyes were filled with tears as she listened to Senior Brother Xinghe's comforting words.

"Senior Brother Xinghe... We, the people of the Muyue Kingdom, have never given up easily. Please rest assured, Senior Brother Xinghe, no matter how difficult the road ahead may be, we will always strive!"

"Well... not only should you work hard at the Medicine King Palace, but you should also continue to strive towards the Spirit Field..." Chu Xinghe carefully reminded him from the side.

Alchemy is different from crafting; in crafting, many materials can be recycled and reused even if the crafting fails.

Therefore, Ouyang Ming's use of the oven for deep-frying was the biggest drain on his energy.

But if the alchemy fails, what good are the medicinal herbs?

Therefore, compared to the alchemy furnace, the medicinal herbs themselves are actually the biggest consumer of waste.

While I, Senior Brother Xinghe, am pleased that your Muyue Kingdom's furnace exploded here, compared to the damage you've caused to spiritual herbs, how much loss is this furnace explosion?

So your Muyue Kingdom... go to the Spirit Fields, and recklessly wreak havoc on those spiritual herbs there.

Look at the spiritual herbs of our Vast Heaven Sect! Even I, Chu Xinghe, am terrified by those countless rare treasures!

If your Muyue Kingdom manages to squander all those spiritual herbs... no matter who punishes you then, Senior Brother Xinghe will jump out and attack you head-on!

Don't underestimate Senior Brother Xinghe just because I'm only an elite disciple now... I still dare to bully anyone in the Senior Brother Xinghe Vast Heaven Sect!

Although Mu Bai didn't understand why Senior Brother Xinghe wanted everyone to focus on the herb field, based on Mu Bai's understanding of Senior Brother Xinghe, there must be a deeper meaning behind his move.

So Mu Bai nodded firmly, assuring Senior Brother Xinghe he would never let him down!

Let's go wreak havoc on the medicinal herb field!

After arranging for Mu Bai and the others to wreak havoc on the spirit herb field, Chu Xinghe happily hummed "Congratulations on getting rich" and prepared to rest. However, just as he arrived at the door of his room, before he could even push it open, Senior Brother Shen Chun suddenly appeared from some unknown corner.

"Junior Brother Xinghe! What a wonderful piece of news!"

Upon hearing the word "great joy," Chu Xinghe immediately felt a sense of impending doom...

Senior Brother Shen Chun... is that great joy for you? That's great sorrow, okay? Every time you say something is great joy, there's absolutely no good news coming out...

Soon, Chu Xinghe found out what this great tragedy was!

The news came from the Dark Moon Palace: the Great Sage An Zhi has successfully completed the Formless Heart Sutra!

Upon hearing this news, Chu Xinghe nearly vomited blood on the spot!

Seriously? I just sent Ma Liang to stall for time, and he's already made up for it in a heartbeat?

Are you trying to forcefully push the schedule forward for me?

Following Senior Brother Shen Chun, we arrived at the Dark Moon Palace, where we saw the Great Sage chatting with Ma Liang.

Upon discovering Chu Xinghe's arrival, the Great Sage stood up with a smile.

"My Holy One, Ma Liang came today, saying that Holy One instructed our Dark Moon Clan to help you. Originally, I was thinking of experiencing the feeling of death brought by the Formless Heart Sutra more, and planned to announce it in two months. However, upon hearing that it was arranged by the Holy One, I dared not delay in the slightest. I quickly avoided all the wrong routes and completed the Formless Heart Sutra one go!"

The Great Sage spoke with a cheerful smile, while Ma Liang nodded frantically beside him, glancing at Senior Brother Xinghe, whose expression remained calm.

Senior Brother Xinghe, you see, I, Ma Liang, am indeed your number one lucky charm. With my arrival, the Formless Heart Sutra is now complete...

Of course, this is mainly thanks to Senior Brother Xinghe. Senior Brother Xinghe probably knew that the Great Sage had already found the right path by sending me to the Dark Moon Palace today. At the same time, Senior Brother Xinghe knew that the Great Sage had not made it public because he was experiencing the feeling of death.

Since it was inconvenient for Senior Brother Xinghe to speak directly to the Great Sage, he used me as a substitute to subtly urge the Great Sage. And as it turned out, Senior Brother Xinghe's guess was absolutely correct.

The Great Sage has indeed completed the Formless Heart Sutra. Senior Brother Xinghe has brought forward the publication of the Formless Heart Sutra by more than two months...