Chapter 360: Assessment
Yin Lang briefly mentioned the West Pole Sect's situation, the gloom on his face vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
The three of them had arrived at the warehouse.
Inside, medicinal herbs were piled high, their various scents mingling in the air. Cured Demon Beast meat hung from the rafters.
A look of satisfaction flashed in Jing Heng's eyes. He quickened his pace by two steps, scanning for any herbs he had never encountered before.
Bai Mo gave the place a cursory glance before asking casually,
"The West Pole Sect has such a massive enterprise. Surely they aren't completely helpless against outsiders?"
Yin Lang shook his head.
"The previous Sect Leader made great sacrifices for the West Pole Sect. He was a tragic figure, one who earned much admiration."
"The Sect Leader is unwilling to be ruthless. However, he has also made it clear that if they cross the line..."
Clearly, the higher-ups had their own considerations.
But by the time those decisions trickled down to Yin Lang's level, they left people like him feeling rather confused.
After spending an hour in the warehouse, Jing Heng selected a good number of herbs and took them all.
When they left the merchant guild, the man and woman who had been causing trouble were already gone.
Not that they had a choice. Yin Lang hadn't held back, and if the man didn't get treatment soon, he might not have survived.
Still, the short time they had spent making a scene had had a significant impact on the guild.
Bidding Yin Lang farewell, Bai Mo and Jing Heng headed back to the inn.
On the way, they saw many dejected Cultivators listlessly wandering the streets.
'It makes sense. Those who finished their evaluations this early and are out walking around must be the ones who failed.'
Jing Heng remarked casually, "The saying 'Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles' applies just as well to the Alchemy Dao."
"Unfortunately, I'm currently stuck in this one city and can't practice what I preach. What a pity!"
Bai Mo's heart stirred. This was quite similar to his own path.
"Senior Jing, how long has it been since you became a Pill Sage?"
"It's been eleven years, counting this one. I haven't made much progress in all that time."
Jing Heng shook his head and said,
"You should know that at our level, progress requires a long period of accumulation. Otherwise, you can't even find the direction of your path."
This was the true beginning of their Alchemy Dao—the start of their pursuit of the Alchemy Dao's True Skill, of turning the mundane into the miraculous.
The level spoken of only in legends—helping others achieve immortality, bringing the dead back from bones, and casually plucking the essence of heaven and earth to form pills—that was the direction they pursued.
The two continued their conversation, and before they knew it, they had returned to the inn.
Just as Bai Mo was about to step through the door, his eyes caught a flash of sky blue, and his body stiffened.
Jing Heng also paused.
Their gazes fell upon Old Gai, who was grinning cheekily while speaking with a Cultivator dressed in eye-catching, sky-blue robes.
The two exchanged a look.
"Is that the one who took the head of the Seven Beasts Sect Cultivator?"
"Could it really be such a coincidence?"
All their doubts vanished when the man turned, revealing a face that was both indifferent and rigid.
He looked to be in his fifties, with an unfathomable aura. He certainly seemed like a man who had killed many.
Bai Mo immediately went forward to pay his respects, and Jing Heng followed at a slower pace.
"Fellow Daoist."
"Mm."
The two parties exchanged greetings and names.
The Cultivator in the sky-blue robes was named Xu Wucai, a cultivator at the Perfect Core Formation stage, on the verge of reaching the Nascent Soul realm.
He looked fierce, but his words were surprisingly gentle when he interacted with others.
"I was chasing a few petty thieves on my way here, which took some time. Otherwise, I would have arrived yesterday."
"I wouldn't have been the last to arrive."
Bai Mo and Jing Heng were surprised. "Isn't there still one more..."
Before they could finish, they saw Baitouweng and a young man coming down from the second floor.
The man only looked young; the few strands of white hair woven into his braids were unmistakable.
And with that, the five Pill Sages had finally gathered.
Xu Wucai was not one for subtlety. His extraordinary presence drew frequent glances from the other patrons.
The inn's shopkeeper and staff seemed to realize something, growing very reserved as they served them.
At this point, there was no reason to linger, and it was awkward for the group to remain there.
They settled their bill at the front desk and headed for the Pill Pavilion's branch hall.
Baitouweng said gently, "It's for the best. The Pill Pavilion here has sent people to invite us several times already. I can no longer refuse."
Xu Wucai snorted softly.
"What's the rush? On my way here, I personally cut down quite a few of those Seven Beasts Sect ruffians."
"Once we're finished here, I suggest you fellow daoists don't be in a hurry to leave. Travel with me for a while; it will be safer."
Bai Mo said in a low voice, "Now that my Xuandao Sect is aware of this, we will surely send disciples to clean them out..."
As they spoke, the group expressed their confusion over the Seven Beasts Sect's seemingly insane decision to dispatch so many people deep into the heart of Xuandao Sect territory.
In the Pill Pavilion's branch hall, many Pill Masters had already received the news and were giving the group a grand welcome.
The normally spacious and quiet hall was uncharacteristically crowded with Pill Masters.
Many had abandoned the Pill Master evaluations to come and greet them. Men and women, young and old, were all present, making the scene a bit chaotic.
In terms of both cultivation level and attainment in the Alchemy Dao, Xu Wucai was the most profound among them, so he naturally took the lead.
He ignored the pleasantries and miscellaneous matters, getting straight to the point.
"Young Friend Bai, the evaluation for the rank of Pill Sage begins now."
"Although it's not a terribly important title, it will at least allow you to enter our circle and explore the mysteries of the Alchemy Dao together."
Xu Wucai said softly, "I expect you to put your heart into it."
Bai Mo solemnly agreed.
"Everyone, if you please!"
Xu Wucai flicked his robes, straightened his posture, and put on a serious expression.
A mere trace of pressure he released was enough to make the welcoming Pill Masters choke, causing them to hold their breath and focus their minds.
When the Pill Masters came to their senses, they swarmed forward, ushering the group into the main hall.
"They're here, they're here!"
"Follow the rules. First, into the hall. Have the attendants finished cleaning?"
"Fellow daoists, please follow us inside..."
Bai Mo naturally spotted a few familiar faces, but before he could speak, he was swept up by the crowd and guided deeper into the hall.
A few Pill Masters who had interacted with Bai Mo before remained outside, smiling wryly.
"My goodness. When Young Friend Bai first became a Pill Master, we were the ones who received him. I never thought he'd reach such heights so quickly."
"We're getting old, after all."
"Don't be hasty. When they're finished, we can go pay our respects privately..."
The evaluation for a Pill Sage had its own procedures, which many people would not witness more than a few times in their entire lives.
Xu Wucai led the way, with Bai Mo and the others following behind, descending a staircase in the hall.
Before long, a wave of heat rushed over them, seeming to evaporate the moisture from their skin.
Everyone present was a veteran of alchemy, long accustomed to such heat. They all had ways to deal with it.
Bai Mo hadn't expected this branch hall to have Earth Fire. He just didn't know where it was being channeled from.
'The Pill Masters who usually guard this branch hall must have it very convenient when it comes to alchemy.'
Arriving in the space below, they saw more than a dozen Pill Furnaces of all shapes and sizes.
The Pill Masters who had followed them didn't dare to speak loudly, shrinking into the corners of the hall.
They had only come to observe the process and witness the so-called techniques of a Pill Sage.
Everything was left to the decision of Baitouweng and the others.
Xu Wucai looked back. "Is there a Pill Furnace here that suits you, Young Friend?"
"If not, we can have another one brought in."
Bai Mo's gaze fell on a tall, great furnace with two handles, and he nodded slightly.
"There is a suitable one. No need to go to any more trouble."
The five Pill Sages arranged themselves in five directions, standing around the Pill Furnace with their sleeves gathered.
Baitouweng took a step forward and asked,
"Young Friend, what pill do you intend to refine?"
Without hesitation, Bai Mo replied in a deep voice,
"I once happened upon a Pill Formula for a pill named the Immortal Pill."
"The mysteries within it are astonishing, involving the profound art of refining Qi into a pill. Every time I ponder it, I am left in awe."
"Today, I will refine this pill for you seniors, so you may all see my craft!"