The Four Great Families

During alchemy class, Chen Rong produced some spiritual herbs.

"I believe some of you may have already encountered the principles of medicine before this?"

Only six people remained in Chen Rong's alchemy class, and three of them had joined midway. This meant that six out of the original nine had already given up.

Hearing Chen Rong speak, two of the six nodded, including Li Mo.

Chen Rong smiled faintly, "However, the alchemy practiced by us cultivators and the medical arts of physicians are entirely different systems. You must not confuse them in the future."

The two men looked slightly embarrassed and nodded.

Chen Rong's alchemy class content had gradually begun to delve deeper.

"The principles of medicine for physicians lie in the harmony of yin and yang. They believe that each person is a small world, and any illness or ailment is caused by an imbalance of yin and yang. Then, through external means like herbal decoctions, they harmonize the body, allowing it to gradually return to a state of yin and yang balance, promoting self-healing."

As she spoke, she took out various medical books and read aloud from them about medical principles and prescriptions, much of which was familiar to Li Mo.

Li Mo listened very attentively.

The prescriptions in the medical books shared a common characteristic: boiling various herbs in water.

Here, Chen Rong emphasized the distinction between medicinal herbs and spiritual herbs.

"As for the alchemy pursued by us cultivators, it involves forcefully infusing various external energies to compensate for certain deficiencies or to reach higher realms, ultimately aiming for the ideal state of longevity equal to heaven, or even immortality."

Chen Rong taught with great seriousness and patience.

"Therefore, this requires us to find spiritual herbs with potent medicinal properties, or even legendary, extinct immortal roots. The older the age of the herb, the better, to maximize the spiritual energy of the various spiritual herbs. Thus, any spiritual pill will ultimately present as a perfect solid sphere. It takes effect immediately upon consumption, but there's also the danger of the medicinal power being too strong and causing one to explode."

As Chen Rong spoke slowly, Li Mo gradually understood the difference between alchemy and medicine.

Medicine aimed to treat illnesses and save lives, but its ultimate goal was to follow the will of heaven and allow people to live out their natural lifespan.

Alchemy, on the other hand, was about defying heaven and changing fate. Therefore, regardless of the objective, alchemical pills would always permanently alter certain states of the human body.

It was precisely because of this.

The herbs used by doctors to treat illnesses and the spiritual herbs used by cultivators for alchemy were two entirely different systems. The hundred-year-old Blood Red Flower he had picked earlier held almost no value in the eyes of cultivators.

However, there were also many areas where the two could complement each other.

For example, wound-healing powder and blood-replenishing pills.

Both treated external injuries, but their fundamental principles differed. Wound-healing powder focused on stopping bleeding and promoting self-healing, while blood-replenishing pills focused on generating blood and prolonging life, thus having a complementary effect.

Another example would be some detoxification agents and detoxification pills.

The principles of medicine focused on neutralization and detoxification, while the power of pills lay in repairing the damage caused by toxins. These two could also complement each other.

Li Mo nodded frequently, benefiting greatly.

According to Chen Rong, alchemy was theoretically more complex than medicine.

Li Mo had originally been considering whether to find time to learn the basic theoretical knowledge of artifact refining. After all, he still had a Spirit Reflection Sword Manual> which described the methods for forging ancient monster flying swords. But now, not only did he need to find time to cultivate lightning-attribute spells, learn alchemy and puppet techniques, but he also had to perform rotation duties. He truly had no extra energy.

Therefore, the matter of the Spirit Reflection Sword Manual> would have to be put aside for now.

Spring turned to autumn, and days passed by.

From the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month when he entered the Spiritual Eye Sect, it was already the tenth day of the second lunar month of the following year. Li Mo had been at the Spiritual Eye Sect for over half a year.

In these past few months.

Whether in the Enlightenment Hall> or the Advanced Study Hall, Li Mo felt that every day was incredibly fulfilling. He had met many new friends here, greatly broadening his horizons.

This was the life he wanted!

Not to be in the foul and chaotic Eighteen Mountains> consorting with bandits, being corrupted by bad company and gradually falling into depravity.

In a few more days, it would be Evening Moon> again.

Even the Spiritual Eye Sect seemed a bit desolate because of it. Li Mo, who was responsible for painting and repairing the walls as part of his rotation duty, noticed a notice posted in front of the main hall of the Advanced Study Hall.

He, along with Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang, stepped forward to investigate.

"After Evening Moon concludes, from the first to the seventh of the third lunar month, the Advanced Study Hall will hold its annual year-end assessment. It will be divided into two groups: first-year and second-year disciples will form one group and can receive different sect rewards based on their performance. Third-year disciples will form another group and will receive graduation assessment rewards based on their performance, after which they will be assigned to various halls to serve."

Ma Ling's face was filled with excitement.

"The top two hundred will receive Spirit Stone> and sect contribution rewards!"

One had to know that there were only about two hundred and fifty first-year disciples in the Advanced Study Hall, and the number of second and third-year disciples should be similar.

Although grouping first-year and second-year disciples together for assessment was extremely unfair to the first-year disciples, from the sect's perspective, it was the most effective way to motivate lower-level disciples and to reduce the various unsightly behaviors of the first-year disciples.

"If you enter the top ten, you'll not only get Spirit Stone> rewards but also mid-grade magical artifacts, Qi Gathering Pills, and secret techniques!"

Niu Li's eyes grew envious.

Yang Guang licked his lips.

"I don't think you should think too much about it. I'll be content if I can just make it to 109th place. Ten Spirit Stone>, twenty points of sect contribution, hehe."

Li Mo shook his head upon hearing this.

"I think you all shouldn't overthink it. Those second-year disciples generally have a cultivation base of level four or higher in Qi Refining. Some outstanding disciples have even reached level six of Qi Refining, and some have cultivated family secret techniques and possess magical artifacts for protection. They are simply not opponents we can contend with."

He calmly analyzed the situation for the three of them.

"The sect's grouping arrangement is probably just to broaden our horizons. I doubt many first-year disciples will break into the top two hundred."

Hearing Li Mo say this, Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang all showed dejected expressions.

Li Mo was right.

For a first-year disciple to break into the top two hundred and receive rewards, they needed not only personal strength but also a good deal of luck.

As the four were discussing in low voices, a commotion suddenly erupted not far away.

Li Mo, Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang looked over.

It turned out to be over a dozen disciples from aristocratic families confronting a large group of unaffiliated disciples led by Zhou Zheng and Tao Ran, showing no signs of backing down.

Li Mo was no stranger to Zhou Zheng and Tao Ran.

One possessed the Wind-Clearing Physique and was reportedly taken as a registered disciple by Vice Hall Master Han of the Advanced Studies Hall three months ago.

The other possessed the Divine Wood Physique and, shortly after arriving at the Advanced Studies Hall, was taken as a registered disciple by Vice Hall Master Wang of the Alchemy Hall.

As a result, Their status and strength naturally soared, and they had already become de facto senior brothers in the eyes of many first-year unaffiliated disciples.

As for the dozen or so disciples from aristocratic families, Li Mo had seen them around enough to be somewhat familiar.

He mused thoughtfully.

"Chen Yu from the Chen family, Lu Shun from the Lu family, Ye Xunhuan and Ye Fuhu from the Ye family, and disciples from so many other minor aristocratic families... what are they up to?"

Yang Guang looked at Li Mo in surprise upon hearing this.

"No way, you don't know?"

Li Mo was astonished.

"I've been too busy every day lately, you know that. Did something happen?"

Seeing Li Mo's genuinely confused expression, which didn't seem faked, Yang Guang exchanged glances with Ma Ling and Niu Li before smiling and explaining.

"Ye Xunhuan from the Ye family has taken a liking to Zhao Huaxue and is fervently pursuing her, warning everyone else to stay away. A while ago, he even beat up that scholar Yang... um, Yang Zhiman. Enforcement Hall people even came, but in the end, those guys didn't get much, just a symbolic penalty of some Spirit Stones. They don't care about that at all. And neither Zhou Zheng nor Tao Ran are willing to give up on Zhao Huaxue, so the conflict between the two sides arose."

"Ah?"

Li Mo sighed inwardly. What a femme fatale.

He looked around but didn't see Zhao Huaxue, who should have been the central figure.

It was true that Zhao Huaxue was beautiful, and it was normal for young disciples to admire her. But for so many people to pursue her, to the point of open conflict, seemed a bit too exaggerated.

At the same time.

Two individuals stepped out from both the tense aristocratic family disciples and the unaffiliated disciples.

On the side of the unaffiliated disciples, it was naturally Zhou Zheng and Tao Ran. On the side of the aristocratic family disciples, it was Ye Xunhuan and Ye Fuhu.

Li Mo couldn't help but take another look at Ye Fuhu, who stood behind Ye Xunhuan.

This person was exceptionally burly. Although his height was similar to Li Mo's, his weight was at least double. His face had sharp, angular features. Even though they were separated by more than ten zhang, Ye Fuhu exerted a significant pressure on Li Mo, causing his expression to change slightly.

This Ye Fuhu's martial arts are probably even above mine!

From Lü Cuicui, Li Mo already knew that many disciples from aristocratic families practiced martial arts before reaching adulthood. Li Mo's Three-Way Swordplay was essentially a third-rate martial art. This Ye Fuhu's martial arts were likely no less than that of Greenface Tiger Gao Zhen from the Pingshan Society back then.

This person was undoubtedly a rare martial arts prodigy, and he must also have mastered spells.

Ma Ling, Niu Li, and Yang Guang were all greatly surprised by this.

They knew very well how powerful Li Mo's martial arts were. This Ye Fuhu's martial arts were even above his?

However, Ye Fuhu was just a supporting character at the moment, seemingly there to keep the peace. He stood behind Ye Xunhuan, arms crossed, looking down at the two opposite him.

Zhou Zheng looked at Ye Xunhuan and sneered.

"You're just a spoiled brat from the Ye family. How dare you compete with me for Huaxue?"

Ye Xunhuan rolled his eyes and snorted dismissively.

"That's because you're looking at the sky from the bottom of a well and don't know the power of our Ye family. Don't think that with Senior Uncle Han's favor, you can be on equal footing with our Ye family. You're just a registered disciple now, and even if you become a formal disciple later, you won't have the right to comment on our Ye family."

"Hmph, hmph."

Tao Ran also let out a cold laugh.

"In my opinion, among you aristocratic family disciples, only Jiang Sheng is worthy of my respect. You people have just had contact with the Dao for a few more years and have received more family patronage. In three years, you won't even have the qualifications to stand before me!"

Hearing this, Ye Xunhuan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You? You dare to speak of Brother Jiang Sheng?"

The Jiang Sheng mentioned by Tao Ran seemed to hold an extraordinary status among these aristocratic family disciples. Jiang Sheng was from the Jiang family, one of the four great families, and the only disciple from the Jiang family in this batch.

However, his reputation was quite upright, and he clearly wouldn't participate in such a trivial love-triangle squabble.

"His Three Yang Physique is the perfect constitution for cultivating the Jiang family's True Yang Secret Arts. Don't think that just because you have special physiques, you can be on par with Brother Jiang Sheng. It's like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, laughable."

Neither side was willing to back down.

Li Mo could also see that although both sides were boasting, they were wary of each other. Moreover, the Enforcement Hall people were watching closely.

He focused on the side of the aristocratic disciples.

Of the four great families, only four disciples had come this time.

As far as Li Mo knew.

Among the rest of the four great families, the Chen family had, besides Chen Yu, a female cultivator named Chen Lan, who was infatuated with Jiang Sheng of the Jiang Family.

And Jiang Sheng of the Jiang Family had already been hailed as a legend by the aristocratic disciples of this generation.

Lü Cuicui of the Lü family went without saying.

Lü Cuicui had an older cousin named Lü Tong, who was said to be a genius in studying runes and formations. The Lu Shun present, fat as a pear, was Lü Cuicui's brother.

The Ye Family, besides Ye Xunhuan and Ye Fuhu, also had Ye Yimeng, the one who had Lu Tianyou deeply infatuated and unable to extricate himself.

Li Mo, as one of the rogue disciples in the first year, knew well the power of these aristocratic disciples through the various pieces of information revealed by Lü Cuicui.

It was indeed unrealistic for these first-year rogue disciples to deal with them now. It was estimated that only Zhou Zheng and Tao Ran could contend with them slightly, or perhaps someone like Wang Feng.

"No."

Li Mo suddenly thought of something, a helpless expression on his face.

"Strictly speaking, Wang Feng is also a member of the aristocratic families, not only because of his own foundation but also because his purpose here is to marry into the Ye Family. Moreover, judging by his usual lazy demeanor, he is clearly not here for that, just going through the motions."

After Li Mo sighed, he no longer wanted to waste time.

"Shall we go?"

"Mm-hmm."

The four squeezed through the crowd and left. They were quite well-known among the first-year disciples, and usually, no one would provoke them.

Li Mo was not discouraged; he had his own advantages.

On one hand, it was his excellent martial arts skills and experience. On the other hand, his current cultivation had reached the peak of the third level of Qi Refining, just one step away from reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining.

After reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining, a cultivator's Magical Power would not only be deeper but also possess elemental properties.

This would be extremely beneficial for cultivating spells of the corresponding element, controlling magical artifacts of the corresponding element, and so on, and would significantly increase their power.