That night.
Xiao Mo sat in the courtyard of the Maple Leaf City lord's manor.
He wasn't cultivating just then. Instead, he calmly watched the night sky over the city.
Xiao Mo's gaze grew deeper as he looked up at the sky. No one could tell what he was thinking.
"Fifth Brother."
Qian Zhenhao's voice rang through the quiet courtyard.
"Fourth Brother."
Xiao Mo turned his gaze from the stars to his fourth brother.
"What are you doing, Fifth Brother?" Qian Zhenhao smiled and sat down beside him.
"Nothing. Just thinking about some things." Xiao Mo shook his head. "Did you come to see me about something, Fourth Brother?"
"Hahaha, what, am I not allowed to catch up with my fifth brother?" Qian Zhenhao said with a smile.
Xiao Mo didn't answer. He simply took a sip of the tea beside him.
"But..." Qian Zhenhao's eyes shifted. "You guessed right, Fifth Brother. There is something I want to tell you."
"Go ahead, Fourth Brother."
"It's wonderful news. Here, take this."
Qian Zhenhao drew a bottle of pills from his sleeve.
"This pill is called a Blood Refining Pill. Taking it can increase your blood energy and purge impurities; it's extremely beneficial to the body. Take one every day, Fifth Brother. In four days, Senior Sister will test you. If you pass, you can join the Wangchuan Sect."
Xiao Mo took the pill and opened the glass bottle, examining it closely.
With his modest knowledge of alchemy, Xiao Mo quickly realized that this Blood Refining Pill was no ordinary medicine.
Fourth Brother was right: this pill could indeed increase the blood energy within his body and purge some impurities.
But the pill was also a preparatory medicine for the Cauldron technique.
A female disciple from Myriad Flower Peak had once tried