Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Master Mo (墨师) |
| Species/Race | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Xu Family; Zichuan Pill Shop 7 11 168 |
| Occupation/Role | Pill master; Lin Changheng’s former alchemy teacher 11 237 |
| Family | Grandfather of Mo Zhaoli, his only remaining relative 15 |
| Age | Over 130 by Chapter 237 237 |
| Status | Near death in his last documented scenes; Lin temporarily slows his loss of vitality with a pill 238 239 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 4, “Ruined Pills and Inferior Pills” 4 |
Background / History
Injuries and Alchemy Work
Master Mo suffered grave injuries that left lingering damage despite the medicines he tried, cutting off his cultivation path. Watching Lin Changheng prepare cautiously for travel, he regretted his own earlier lack of caution and believed even a fraction of Lin’s prudence might have spared him those injuries 22.
At Zichuan Pill Shop, he initially maintained a leisurely schedule, refining pills every other day. An urgent letter from the Xu Family forced him to increase production to two batches per working day, working two days out of every three. His output also shifted toward Crimson Flame Pills: three batches of those and one batch of Wood Origin Pills over each two-day working period 7.
Teaching Lin Changheng
Lin Changheng began as Master Mo’s apprentice. Master Mo recognized his successful pill refinement, formally confirmed his standing as a pill master, and praised his composure. He also taught Lin how to process inferior and ruined Wood Origin Pills 11 12.
Lin later sought additional insights and pointers from him, but hesitated to ask about the final difficulties in his refining work. He wanted to conceal his progress and avoid placing his former teacher in a difficult position; he also recognized that an apprenticeship did not necessarily entitle him to everything Master Mo knew 47.
Their bond survived the end of the apprenticeship. Lin continued chatting with him in the pill room, visiting his home, and sharing meals. He regarded Master Mo’s instruction as the foundation of his livelihood in the cultivation world and consistently treated him with a teacher’s due respect 100 237.
Later Years
Master Mo stayed at Mo Zhaoli’s cave residence, where Lin found him tending a newly reclaimed medicinal field. At a gathering afterward, Lin toasted him and thanked him for pointing the way forward 135 136.
He supported his granddaughter’s ambition to pursue Core Formation and planned to return to the Xu Family. News that Lin had become a second-tier pill master deeply moved him; he recognized his former apprentice as an overlooked talent who had finally flourished. He subsequently appeared among the Xu Family’s residents 152 168.
By the time he was over 130, most of his hidden injuries had healed, but his condition prompted Lin to ask whether a physician had been consulted and whether Zhaoli had been notified. When Lin visited, Master Mo was bedridden and withered, no longer displaying his former bearing as a cultivator and pill master. Lin used a pill to temporarily slow his fading vitality and told Zhaoli how to wake him gently 237 238 239.
Personality
Master Mo could be teasing and encouraging. He teased Lin over a refining mishap, but readily praised genuine achievement, including both Lin’s new pill-master status and his ability to remain unruffled by recognition 4 11.
He preferred a comfortable working life and disliked time-consuming chores. Rather than process defective pills himself, he repeatedly returned them to the Xu Family despite requests that he handle the work properly. His later reflections on his injuries show a more regretful side: he openly recognized the value of the caution he had lacked 7 12 22.
Abilities & Skills
Pill Refinement
- Routinely refined Crimson Flame Pills and Wood Origin Pills for the Zichuan Pill Shop 7.
- Could refine a batch of ten pills with practiced techniques, though the cited batch kept him working until late at night 10.
- Provided Lin with practical alchemy instruction, insights, and pointers 11 47.
Defective Pill Processing
- Knew how to process inferior and ruined Wood Origin Pills for use in nurturing spirit-fish eggs in the Blackwater River 12.
- The processed material strengthened the eggs’ foundations, improved survival, and supported later growth 12.
- Delegated this time-consuming work rather than routinely performing it himself 12.
Relationships
- Lin Changheng — Former apprentice who continued to honor him as a teacher. Their relationship included regular visits, meals, and tea; Lin later attended him during his decline 100 237 238 239.
- Mo Zhaoli — Granddaughter and only remaining relative. He stayed at her cave residence and supported her pursuit of Core Formation; she returned to his bedside as his vitality faded 15 135 152 239.
- Senior Brother Feng — Toasted Master Mo at Zhaoli’s Foundation Establishment celebration in an effort to introduce himself and build connections 172.
Notable Quotes
“Now our Zichuan Pill Shop has another Pill Master!” 11
“Unruffled by honor or disgrace. Very good. Keep it up.” 11