Alchemy's Difficulties

"Kill? Or not to kill?"

Yun Zimo gazed at Ge Ye, who was trembling on his knees, and Gu He, who wore a strange expression nearby. He lightly tapped the Judgment Sword against his palm, finding it difficult to make a choice.

"Hall... Hall Master, this humble one truly did not know the Mo Clan was like this! Although I am Mo Ling's teacher, he never told me the true situation of his family!"

Seeing the sword in Yun Zimo's hand swaying, Ge Ye, terrified that the blade might descend upon him the next second, looked as if he were about to cry. His aged face was scrunched up like a withered chrysanthemum.

"Enough, enough. Get up. You are a dignified sect elder; what is this display? However, while the death penalty may be waived, you cannot escape punishment. Upon returning to the sect, report to the Punishment Hall yourself. You will handle the matter of reclaiming seventy percent of the Mo Clan's assets for the sect. If there is another mishap, you will not be returning to the sect!"

Seeing Ge Ye in such a state, Zimo felt a sense of boredom. He sheathed the Judgment Sword and waved his hand, granting him a chance. Although this old fellow was a bit slippery, he was not so deranged as to participate in the Mo Clan's plot to overthrow the Misty Cloud Sect.

Ge Ye was overjoyed at these words. He hurriedly stood up, bowed, and departed. The moment he turned, his entire body radiated a murderous aura, looking as if he would kill anyone who dared to block his path.

"Master Gu He, what are your thoughts?"

Yun Zimo stood within the secret chamber of the Mo Clan, gesturing toward the various items in the vast room, and asked Gu He with a hint of emotion.

"Heretical paths, nothing more. They do not compare to orthodox alchemy in the slightest."

Gu He only needed a few glances to discern the nature of this so-called Transplantation Evolution Technique, and he spoke with disdain.

"Oh?"

Gu He's attitude surprised Yun Zimo. He knew that the Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region had also built his reputation on the Human Refining Technique. He had expected there to be some substance to it, but he had not anticipated such a critique from Gu He.

"Why? Is the Hall Master interested in this alchemy again?"

Gu He tilted his head to look at Yun Zimo.

"How could I not be? Alchemists are the most noble profession on the Dou Qi Continent. It is just a pity that I lack the fortune for it."

Yun Zimo sighed. With his mutated Wind-Cloud attribute, how could he ever have the chance to become an orthodox alchemist?

Gu He recalled the "rumors" circulating among the upper echelons of the sect.

Punishment Hall Junior Hall Master Yun Zimo was studious from a young age, displaying astonishing talent. Through a near-masochistic method of cultivation, he began at age six and crossed several major ranks in just three years. By ten, he was a Dou Grandmaster, and now, at twenty, he was a bona fide Dou King.

The only regret was that the Junior Hall Master's obsession with alchemy had reached a point of madness. However, because his soul attribute was a combination of wind and water, it mutated into a bizarre Wind-Cloud attribute upon cultivation, dooming him to be incompatible with alchemy.

Yet, because Yun Zimo possessed such high talent, he had managed to piece together a set of "alchemy techniques" through self-study of alchemical theory.

However, in Gu He's eyes, this was not alchemy at all; it was clearly just hand-rolling pills. Although the medicinal effects were comparable to first or second-grade pills, they were ultimately unrefined and lacked a future.

"So, did the Junior Hall Master choose to descend the mountain for training to learn more alchemical theory?"

Gu He suddenly remembered that five years ago, Yun Zimo had left the mountain in a fit of pique. Now that he thought about it, it seemed that by the age of twelve, he had already studied all the classics within the sect and had learned all of Gu He's publicly available alchemical theories.

"Terrifying talent."

Gu He seemed to understand something. He felt both regret and relief that Yun Zimo could not become an alchemist; otherwise...

"Junior Hall Master, I believe it is best to have less contact with such heretical paths. In the world of alchemy, such people are universally reviled. Only those poison alchemists in the Chu Yun Empire would tacitly allow it, but it is ultimately beneath contempt."

Fearing that the obsessed Yun Zimo might go astray, Gu He could not help but warn him. He had seen Yun Zimo quietly tuck away that Mountain-Breaking Arm!

"Ah, haha, I know, I know," Yun Zimo said, feeling a bit guilty. He laughed it off and waved his hand. "Master Gu He, rest assured. I have no interest in those inhuman things. It is just alchemy, after all; there will always be other ways."

Hearing Yun Zimo's words, Gu He became even more worried, wondering if he should go and have a serious talk with Sect Master Yun. He felt he was losing his ability to dissuade the Junior Hall Master.

Yun Zimo now understood why Yun Yun had sent Gu He. This alchemy master, who strictly guarded the bottom line and dignity of his profession, would never allow things that blasphemed orthodox alchemy to exist.

She was terrified that he might lose his way if he wasn't careful!

"Sister..."

Yun Zimo felt a warmth in his heart, and his thoughts regarding the Human Refining Technique faded significantly.

"Master Gu He, would you be willing to teach me the art of alchemy?"

Yun Zimo thought for a moment and suddenly spoke. Gu He was stunned, then frowned.

"Junior Hall Master, your body, actually..."

Gu He hesitated, but looking at the evil artifacts behind Yun Zimo, he feared that stimulating him further might drive him toward the wrong path.

"Master Gu He, precisely because I am destined never to be an alchemist, you can teach me with peace of mind. You know that I only require the theory of alchemy. I have already learned all the alchemical theories publicly available in the Jia Ma Empire, and I hope you will instruct me." As he spoke, Yun Zimo bowed solemnly.

Gu He's mouth twitched slightly. Why do you need my alchemical theories? You don't have Fire-Wood attribute Dou Qi, and you'll just use the pharmacology to roll pills again?!

Thinking about his own alchemy being reduced to a manual for rolling pills, he couldn't help but hold his forehead in a headache.

"Master Gu He!"

Yun Zimo's eyes shone, looking at Gu He with anticipation. Gu He could not bring himself to refuse, so he changed his words to, "I will consider it."

Watching Gu He flee as if escaping, Yun Zimo could not help but sigh. He took one last lingering look at the "masterpieces" of the Mo Clan and waved his hand, ordering someone to set a fire to cover all the sins.

"The Mo Clan is finished..."

The towering fire that consumed the Mo Clan made it clear to everyone that the Mo Clan no longer existed in the Jia Ma Empire. Yet, everyone knew that the Mo Clan would never truly disappear...

"The Mo Clan was wiped out?"

Even in a remote place like Wutan City at the foot of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, news of the destruction of the Mo Clan, the hegemon of the northeast, had spread.

Under the official promotion of the Jia Ma Empire, everyone began to act with caution, fearing they might become the next Mo Clan. Yun Zimo, who had orchestrated it all, was misrepresented in rumors as a cold-faced butcher who hated evil and was ruthless.

"Big Brother Yun Li, this is..."

Having returned to the level of a five-stage Dou Disciple, Xiao Yan was stunned for a long moment after hearing of the heroic feats of Yun Zimo.

"Hehe, kid Yan, I never expected that while Yun Li looks gentle and refined, he is actually such a ruthless and cold-blooded character. Look at what is written on that bulletin—tsk tsk, 'leaving not even a chicken or dog alive' wherever he goes! Tsk tsk tsk..."

Yao Lao's teasing voice rang in Xiao Yan's ear, causing Xiao Yan to roll his eyes involuntarily.

"These reporters love to exaggerate; it would be good if even thirty percent of what is written here could be believed."

Xiao Yan responded softly, thinking that even in a different world, the nature of certain events would never change...

"Oh?"

This time it was Yao Lao's turn to be surprised, and he couldn't help but manifest to circle around Xiao Yan.

"You kid actually have such insights?"

"Did you think I was truly a waste for these past three years?"

Xiao Yan felt the Dou Qi gradually filling his body and felt increasingly delighted; it seemed there was hope to break through to a Dou Practitioner before the ceremony!

"This damn world that looks down on people!"

Recalling the way those people at the Nalan Clan had looked at him like an ant, Xiao Yan's desire for strength burned even hotter in his heart.

"Brother Yun Li, thank you..."

A flash of memory crossed Xiao Yan's mind, and he firmly closed his eyes once more to begin forming seals...

"You say you are Xiao Yan?!"

Yun Zimo looked at the little fellow before him, who was a full head shorter than himself and whose aura was already fluctuating at the level of a Dou Practitioner, and suddenly realized that he had arrived too early!

"Who are you? Why are you wandering around the Xiao Clan's territory in the middle of the night?!"

Little Xiao Yan pointed at Yun Zimo and shouted, but his appearance was so childish that it gave Zimo a sense of contrasting cuteness.

"Snap!"

Yun Zimo couldn't help but flick the adorable little Xiao Yan on the forehead, and under his angry glare, an evil thought couldn't help but rise in his mind.

"Wouldn't it be... ahahaha, to groom the future Flame Emperor..."

"You... what are you doing?!"

Seeing Yun Zimo's evil gaze, little Xiao Yan swallowed hard, feeling that this guy didn't look like a good person—could he be a human trafficker from another world?!

"Fa..."

Before little Xiao Yan's exclamation could escape, Yun Zimo covered his mouth, and with a slight force applied to the back of his neck with his other hand, Xiao Yan fainted.

"Cloud Mist Illusion!"

Yun Zimo changed the seals in his hands, and mist quietly permeated the Xiao Clan. Many people, in a daze, saw the Third Young Master Xiao Yan skipping back to his small courtyard, wondering why he had returned home so early today.

"Such a troublesome brat..."

Yun Zimo clearly captured the emotional fluctuations of those within the illusion and gained a preliminary understanding of Xiao Yan's current personality—well, it was hard to describe...

It could be said that the former Xiao Yan was mature and steady, showing wisdom and maturity far beyond his peers at a young age, often making the upper echelons of the Xiao Clan sigh that this child was destined for greatness.

And so, little Xiao Yan embarked on the path of cultivation amidst the praise and flattery of the crowd, and later events began to gradually follow the path of a wasted prodigy, the only difference being that Xiao Yan remained that dazzling genius.

"Tsk tsk tsk, if nothing goes wrong, your journey of arrogance is about to end here, little guy..."

Yun Zimo couldn't help but look at the pitch-black ring hanging around Xiao Yan's neck, wondering if Old Man Yao had awakened yet. Choosing this place as his first stop was also because he wanted to see if he could get to know Old Man Yao first.

Thinking this, Yun Zimo impulsively reached out with his soul power to touch the ring. The next instant, he felt as if his forehead had been struck by a heavy hammer; after a bout of ringing in his ears, the world spun, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Next time... I will never be so itchy-handed again!"

"Eh, so these are two little dolls whose soul strength passes the test..."