Heaven Defying Sect's Wonderful Pill Workshop

Also, Ning Ri was thinking about something. As an ordinary person, if he failed the trial and entered the "life-buying" stage, his price would be a little cheaper...

This is suppressing combat power!

Thinking of this, Ning Ri's heart stirred—

If that's the case, he still needs to prepare some treasures...

He wondered if he could refine some Magic Treasures himself...

With that in mind, Ning Ri pushed open the door of his small room while opening his status panel...

A large stack of skill text immediately appeared before him.

Ning Ri squinted his eyes...

No, he needed to find a way to streamline this, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to keep track of it all in the future.

[Host]: Ning Ri
[Skills]:
1. [****]: 0 (Cannot allocate points)
2. [Mortal Blade Technique]: 8 (Can reset points)
Free Skill Points: 100.

When Ning Ri returned from Luoxia City, he practiced his blade for two hours on the boat, earning another four skill points. Thus, his Mortal Blade Technique had gained new skill points.

Although it felt great last time when skill points surged with [Heavenly Craftsman · Incomplete], Ning Ri also liked the feeling of steadily earning them.

Cutting out a future with every strike, that was also quite good.

What Ning Ri regretted was that among the Acquired Foundation Establishment items in the [Heaven Defying Foundation Establishment Method] section, the Grandmaster Token was not included in the Foundation Establishment package. If he wanted to use the Acquired Foundation Establishment Method, he could still only use the Disciple Token.

He felt it was a pity...

Although the Grandmaster Token didn't directly bring him powerful benefits, he knew in his heart that it was definitely a top-tier treasure. If it weren't for that, the omniscient panel wouldn't have been unable to decipher it.

Because of this, if he could use the Grandmaster Token for Foundation Establishment, perhaps he would become even more powerful, condensing a Dao Foundation even more terrifying than the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

Next, Ning Ri was about to close the door of his small room, intending to stay up all night to earn some skill points and then research what this [****] was...

After finishing, he would plan and prepare for the matter of going to the Yin De Sect tomorrow.

But at that moment.

A large hand suddenly reached out from the side, blocking the door Ning Ri was about to close.

A steady and deep voice rang out, "Junior Brother Ning, wait!"

With the hand extended, Ning Ri found that the door immediately stopped moving. He subconsciously took two steps back, creating some distance, before seeing a young man standing there, panting, looking at him...

The newcomer had single eyelids, pale lips, and wore a thin shirt. Although the weather was still a bit hot, Ning Ri felt a winter chill from the other person...

Because when the person exhaled, white mist came out with each pant.

Ning Ri: "Excuse me, Senior Brother, what do you need me for?!"

He guessed that the other person wasn't an elder. If he were an elder, after what just happened, he should be calling him Grandmaster Ning.

The single-eyed youth immediately cupped his fists and said, "Junior Brother Ning, apologies. I am Yan Han from the Wonderful Pill Workshop. It was not my intention to disturb you, but my master wishes to invite Junior Brother to the Wonderful Pill Workshop for a gathering!"

"Do you happen to have time, Junior Brother?"

Hearing the words "Wonderful Pill Workshop," Ning Ri's heart stirred—

This workshop was the Heaven Defying Sect's supplier of pills.

The owner of the Wonderful Pill Workshop, Kong She, had extremely strong alchemy skills.

He knew this from the Disciple Token.

Artifact Refining had Mo Cuidao, and Alchemy had Kong She; this was the foundation of the Heaven Defying Sect.

As for Senior Brother Yan Han before him, Ning Ri hadn't heard of him, but he felt that his name truly suited him.

This Senior Brother indeed looked very cold and distant.

However, Ning Ri didn't know why he was invited to the Wonderful Pill Workshop. After thinking it over, Ning Ri decided to go and see. He said, "Senior Brother Yan, when should we go?"

Yan Han was about to speak.

A voice suddenly came from the side, "Nephew Yan, your master is currently refining pills. Why are you here?"

As this voice sounded, Ning Ri and Yan Han simultaneously looked towards the source of the sound—

The speaker was Mo Cuidao!

Upon seeing Mo Cuidao appear, both of them immediately said, "Greetings, Elder Mo!"

After Yan Han paid his respects, he exhaled another puff of white mist, his lips pale, and said, "My master is currently resting and not refining pills."

Ning Ri's gaze involuntarily followed the rising white mist...

Mo Cuidao stepped forward, smiled slightly at Ning Ri, and then said to Yan Han, "Oh? Resting? If you're resting, why would you have time to see my beloved disciple?"

Yan Han shivered and said, "Elder Mo, I'm not entirely sure about my master's decision. I am merely responsible for conveying his words."

After speaking, Yan Han completely ignored Mo Cuidao and turned to Ning Ri, saying, "Junior Brother Ning, if you have time, please head to the Wonderful Pill Workshop in an hour. My master will be waiting for you. Senior Brother will take his leave now."

His teeth were still chattering as he spoke.

Then, as soon as he finished speaking, he bolted away...

Ning Ri didn't even have time to reply.

"Uh..."

Ning Ri could only watch as Yan Han's retreating figure disappeared. In the end, only he and Mo Cuidao remained.

He could only look at Mo Cuidao and say, "Elder Mo, may I ask what you need from this disciple?!"

Mo Cuidao smiled faintly and said, "I came here for two reasons. The first is to thank you."

"Thank me? For what?" Ning Ri was stunned. "I haven't had a chance to thank you yet!"

If it weren't for Mo Cuidao helping him create the [Heavenly Craftsman] skill, he wouldn't have been able to gain so many skill points at the Craftsmanship Tower.

"I want to thank you for giving me a chance to vent my frustration in front of Chen Xingfeng."

Perhaps it was because he had vented his frustration, but Mo Cuidao's spirits were much better. His Blood Essence seemed more robust than it had been the past two days. He snorted coldly and said, "He has always looked down on what I do, calling my aspirations wishful thinking. Now, you have proven to me that my ideas are not impossible to achieve, and it has given me more confidence..."

Ning Ri said, "Actually, Elder Mo, I don't think this is my accomplishment, but rather your own perseverance. If you hadn't been tirelessly exploring this path, I wouldn't have been able to see such a vast world of artifact refining through your efforts."

"Hahaha." Hearing this, Mo Cuidao burst into laughter. After laughing, he sighed and said, "Actually, what I truly want to thank you for isn't artifact refining, but for reconnecting me with Chen Xingfeng after so many years."

"We fell out years ago due to differing ideologies and haven't been in contact since. For the past few years, he has been issuing missions to various sects. I knew he actually wanted to humble himself and apologize to me, but he was too embarrassed to say it."

Ning Ri was slightly taken aback when he heard the first part, then sighed inwardly...

How could there be any real enmity between fellow disciples?

But when he heard the latter part, his eyes widened slightly--

It seemed the situation wasn't quite like that.

But Mo Cuidao continued speaking as if he hadn't noticed, "Even when Zhou Hai told me that Chen Xingfeng had submitted his artifact refining mission to the Heaven Defying Sect, I didn't want to bother. I always had Zhou Hai handle such matters every year."

"But after you appeared, Chen Xingfeng took the initiative to contact me. He told me that he had been narrow-minded, like a frog in a well, and hadn't expected such a celestial talent in the artifact refining world. Furthermore, he instructed me to cultivate you well."

"I knew then that he was actually using this opportunity to apologize to me."

"So, I went along with it and told him that I also had my faults..."

"Now, our relationship has eased considerably. I believe my master in heaven would be gratified..."

"And all of this is thanks to you!"

With that, Mo Cuidao patted Ning Ri's shoulder approvingly.

Ning Ri: "..."

Uh, this matter...

Never mind, no need to explain.

Since things have come to this, let's just order the dishes. As long as you two are happy.

Then, Mo Cuidao brought up another matter, "Also, there's one more thing."

"What is it?"

Mo Cuidao's face held some regret. "I originally wanted to take you as my disciple, but... you have already become the Grandmaster of the Heaven Defying Sect and are forging your own path. I cannot take you as my disciple, otherwise, it would be obstructing your Heaven-Defying Path!"

"Therefore, you don't need to take my 'beloved disciple' title to heart. I was just joking."

"In the future, if you need artifact refining techniques, feel free to come to Casting Sea Peak to find me. I will teach you everything I know."

Hearing this, Ning Ri was slightly taken aback.

Actually, Ning Ri had initially thought Mo Cuidao would discuss taking him as a disciple, especially since Mo Cuidao kept calling him his beloved disciple...

But he hadn't expected Mo Cuidao to have already given up on taking him as a disciple.

Thinking of this, Ning Ri could only say, "Thank you, Elder Mo! If there's anything in the future where you need this junior's help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Mo Cuidao nodded slightly. "Haha, alright, I won't be polite with you!"

Then, he suddenly revealed a meaningful smile and said with deep implication, "Since you and I no longer have a master-disciple relationship, you can boldly go to Chen Xingfeng and tell him that you are not learning my artifact refining path. Then, have him hand over all the artifact refining techniques from the Craftsmanship Tower."

"And share them with me."

"Don't worry about him refusing you, after all, you won't be my disciple anymore!"

Ning Ri: "!"

Damn, so there was this kind of calculation!

At this moment, he realized...

Mo Cuidao was quite cunning, just like last time.

He had heard that Mo Cuidao had pretended to be angry at Kite Square, but in reality, he was giving him techniques...

But he had to admit, Ning Ri quite liked this kind of beneficial cunning.

After Mo Cuidao finished speaking, he left very quickly.

Ning Ri couldn't keep him even if he wanted to.

In reality, Mo Cuidao and Chen Xingfeng were cut from the same cloth.

In their minds, teaching skills didn't necessarily require the titles of master and disciple.

Anyone suitable could learn.

Furthermore, in Mo Cuidao's heart, being able to witness his artifact refining skills evolve towards the Heaven-Defying Path that he envisioned was enough!

So, whether he took on disciples or not didn't matter.

Besides, compared to taking on disciples, he felt it was more worthwhile to "borrow" and examine everything Chen Xingfeng had.

After Mo Cuidao finished discussing the two matters and left, Ning Ri immediately galloped towards the Wonderful Pill Workshop in the Inner Sect.

After leaving the Golden Osmanthus Garden, Ning Ri passed through a dense forest, then hurried to the vicinity of the Pillars of Cultivation Pavilion. After crossing a mountain, he arrived at the Inner Sect.

The Inner Sect of the Heaven Defying Sect was like a city in a hidden paradise. Behind the mountains, neat streets and diverse buildings stood in rows, and the entrances to various caves were not far away.

Those caves led to peaks like Casting Sea Peak.

As for the Wonderful Pill Workshop, it didn't require climbing the mountain. Ning Ri quickly found a huge, colorful mushroom house by the roadside.

Before even reaching the mushroom house, Ning Ri felt a dreamlike aura wash over him...

"A mushroom?"

He looked up at the [Wonderful Pill Workshop] plaque above the colorful mushroom house and murmured, "Is this really the Wonderful Pill Workshop?"

He couldn't help but frown—

A mushroom as a building for alchemy.

Was this another Heaven-Defying Path?

Ning Ri pondered for a moment. Mushroom alchemy... He couldn't connect anything. He could only think of homophones like "mushroom pill" and "lonely," or "mushroom refining" and "hardship." Did it mean to refine through loneliness and hardship?

Scratching his head, Ning Ri walked into the Wonderful Pill Workshop.

He had expected Yan Han to be waiting for him there, but the Wonderful Pill Workshop only had a few receptionists and rows of medicine cabinets.

The interior of the Wonderful Pill Workshop was also more spacious than he had imagined. Looking up, he could see that this seemingly small mushroom was actually a three-story building.

After stating his purpose and identity, a receptionist led him to the wooden staircase and up to the third floor.

As he approached [Kong She's Alchemy Room], Ning Ri was about to raise his hand to knock.

Unexpectedly, the door opened on its own, and a deep voice came from within:

"Patriarch Ning!"

Ning Ri looked and saw a white-haired old man sitting in front of an alchemy furnace.

Ning Ri bowed, "Greetings, Elder Kong! Patriarch Ning is too kind; please just call me Ning Ri."

"Patriarch Ning is too polite!"

Kong She spoke with a methodical tone, entirely different from the serious and erratic manner of Xun Zang and Zhou Hai. He said earnestly, "I invited Patriarch Ning here today mainly to see if I can help you find a way to break through to the Golden Core stage!"