Ancient Gods - V1C11
Prologue: Farewell, Fourth Elder
1: A remaining mark
2: The Star Emperor Tower
3: Lingxu's Hostage
4: A Bunch of Hypocrites
5: Su Fei
6: The Duel
7: Dao of Divine Pills
8: Beauty Pill
9: Mastering Alchemy
10: Xu Xin and Su Fei Are Denied
11: No Meat, No Soup, No Cooking
12: The Extraordinary Tianxuan Realm
13: A Salted Fish Turns over
14: Those Elders Have No Shame
15: The Yangchun Pill
Chapter 11
No Meat, No Soup, No Cooking
Mo Yang never anticipated that the Marrow Cleansing Pill he had given Su Fei would lead to utter chaos within the Lingxu Sect that very night...
After departing from Wood Peak, Su Fei hurried back to the Main Peak and promptly consumed the entire bottle of Beauty Preserving Pills. Not stopping there, she also took the whole bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills.
As Mo Yang explained the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill while at Wood Peak, Su Fei paid no attention; she assumed it was just another beauty and anti-aging remedy, similar to the Beauty Preserving Pill.
Within moments of swallowing both bottles of pills, Su Fei began to feel a disturbing change in her body. Her consciousness grew increasingly foggy, as if an unstoppable wildfire was raging inside her. The thirty pills turned into two tumultuous forces wreaking havoc throughout her system.
Even seasoned Cultivators would struggle to handle just two pills at once, let alone the effects of these two completely different types of pills. Fortunately, Xu Xin happened to visit and was instantly alarmed by Su Fei’s condition.
Su Fei’s cheeks were flushed like ripe apples, her forehead was marked by bulging blue veins, and beads of sweat poured down her face. Her clothes were visibly drenched, and her consciousness appeared to be fading.
Seeing Su Fei in such distress, Xu Xin panicked and quickly rushed to find an Elder of the Lingxu Sect.
The Elders in the Main Hall soon found themselves in a state of alarm. The Grand Elder and Sect Master rushed to investigate, but Su Fei's alarming condition left many Elders feeling helpless.
"Grand Elder, what could be wrong?" The Sect Master, thoroughly confused, felt a deep anxiety as he observed Su Fei's painful expression.
The Grand Elder’s initial thought was that Su Fei might have mistakenly ingested something, as the symptoms were not typical of cultivation.
"There are two overwhelming forces surging through her body, causing her True Qi to spiral out of control. If we can't contain it, I'm afraid..."
After a moment of examination, the Grand Elder’s demeanor became grave. He promptly began channeling his Internal Energy into Su Fei, but the outcome shocked him; the two forces were wildly unmanageable, spreading throughout her limbs and bones, rendering any effort to suppress them futile.
"What exactly happened?"
The Grand Elder turned his gaze to Xu Xin, who had brought Su Fei in. There had to be a cause for such a troubling state; it wasn't something that could occur for no reason.
"I... I don’t know either..." Xu Xin was just as bewildered. Everything had seemed fine when she and Su Fei left Wood Peak, so how could it have come to this? She recalled that after leaving Wood Peak, Su Fei had slipped away briefly, saying she had something to attend to, and then headed back towards Wood Peak.
"Junior Sister appears to have been to Wood Peak... but..." She was uncertain, as she wouldn’t want to wrongly accuse Mo Yang without any solid evidence regarding such a serious matter.
"Wood Peak? Mo Yang... did he drug Su Fei?!"
The Grand Elder’s face was stormy with anger. Whenever Wood Peak was mentioned, it was impossible not to think of Mo Yang, who was the sole resident there. With the previous rumors circulating in the Lingxu Sect and Su Fei's current state, he instantly associated it with some kind of Medicinal Pill.
The other Elders, including the Lingxu Sect Master, also reacted swiftly. Powerful Cultivators began to consider the possibility that Su Fei’s condition stemmed from Medicinal Pills, and it seemed only a significant dose could cause such an outcome.
Despite the grave expression on his face, the Grand Elder couldn't bring himself to believe that Mo Yang could do such a thing. However, he was aware that Mo Yang had been experimenting with various medicinal ingredients and had been consuming them in large quantities, which made it plausible that he was somehow involved. There was no time for further contemplation; he knew he had to act quickly. He immediately took Su Fei and hurried down the Main Peak towards Wood Peak.
The Grand Elder's decision was based on the worst-case scenario he had devised: if it really was a certain type of Medicinal Pill, then perhaps only the harmony between Yin and Yang could resolve it. Thus, finding Mo Yang was now their only option.
The other Elders quickly followed suit, leaving the chaos of the Main Hall behind as they all made their way to Wood Peak. News of the situation spread rapidly, creating a significant uproar among the Lingxu Sect members.
Upon reaching Wood Peak, the anxious group of powerful Cultivators discovered that Mo Yang was absent from his courtyard, nearly prompting the Grand Elder to curse in frustration.
“You all need to locate Mo Yang immediately! No matter what he’s doing, bring him back at once!” he commanded the First Elder and Second Elder.
He then instructed the remaining Elders: “The rest of you, come with me to protect Su Fei's Meridians with your Internal Energy, or she may explode and die!”
The First Elder and Second Elder rushed off, but despite scouring the entire Sect, they could find no sign of Mo Yang. They even checked the back mountain specifically, but didn’t encounter him at the Fourth Elder’s cenotaph either.
All Sect disciples were dispatched for a thorough search, digging relentlessly, yet they found nothing. It seemed as though Mo Yang had vanished without a trace.
It wasn't until half an hour later that Mo Yang walked out of the house.
As soon as he left the stone tower, he saw the door hanging crookedly, and the room looked as if it had been rummaged through. He immediately felt that something was wrong. The moment he stepped out of the door, he froze.
"What the hell is going on?"
Before he could see clearly, angry gazes all fell upon him.
Although the Elders couldn't understand why Mo Yang would come out of the previously empty room, as they had searched every corner of the room earlier and found no trace of Mo Yang, there was no time to ask further now.
"Mo Yang, you deserve to die! How much aphrodisiac did you give Su Fei?"
The Grand Elder was the first to roar in anger, with who knows how much suppressed rage in his heart, and he blurted out that sentence.
"You bastard! What did you do to Su Fei? Quickly think of a solution!" The Grand Elder also shouted.
Mo Yang was bewildered, feeling extremely puzzled. He naturally saw that the situation was wrong, and there was no time to respond. He flashed forward with a whoosh.
At this moment, a layer of dark, viscous substance began to seep out from Su Fei's body, emitting an extremely foul odor.
"It's over, I'm afraid she can't be saved..."
The Second Elder, upon seeing this scene, immediately spoke as follows.
Although Su Fei's expression was painful earlier, her body was still intact, but now... Mo Yang rushed closer and immediately understood upon seeing it: this was clearly due to taking Marrow Cleansing Pills.
However, looking at Su Fei's current condition, it seemed she had taken too much.
He hurriedly grabbed one of Su Fei's wrists to examine her, and then his expression couldn't help but change. Two forces were wildly raging within Su Fei's body, like two runaway wild horses galloping within her.
Because Mo Yang had previously taken one himself to determine if the Beauty Preserving Pill was successfully refined, he immediately confirmed that Su Fei had also taken an overdose of Beauty Preserving Pills.
"Damn it... this girl couldn't have eaten both bottles of Medicinal Pills I gave her all at once, could she?"
Mo Yang himself was also stunned, but he remembered that he had clearly instructed her.
The Grand Elder was stunned when he heard Mo Yang's murmur.
Previously, he had always disbelieved that Mo Yang would administer a drug, but now Mo Yang had said it himself.
It was truly Mo Yang who had administered the drug!
And it was two bottles!
"Beast, how could you do such a thing? Two bottles? You... you really are a beast!" The Second Elder almost raised his hand to slap Mo Yang.
"You scoundrel, you've been messing with medicinal ingredients lately, hurry up and think of a solution!"
Although the Grand Elder felt he had misjudged Mo Yang somewhat, his mind was still relatively clear at this moment.
While Mo Yang's method was too extreme, if there was truly no other way, he would let them do what they had to; as long as Su Fei's life wasn't in danger, he could accept the outcome.
Mo Yang's expression was also solemn at this moment; this was no laughing matter. Given Su Fei's current condition, if it couldn't be alleviated, her life would be in peril.
He disregarded the Elders' reprimands and continued to dig through his thoughts. To resolve the issue, his only option was to forcibly extract the drug's effects from Su Fei's system, but traditional methods simply wouldn’t work.
Furthermore, the Elders were trying to suppress the potency with their Qi, but their efforts were counterproductive, only making the drug's impact more severe. With external pressure, the effects of the Medicinal Pill would only accelerate.
"Enough already, you old folks! Will you only be content once you've sent her off for good?" Mo Yang said, frowning and speaking sternly.
“Mo Yang, right now, I don’t care about anything else—just save Fei’er!” the Sect Master declared, his voice deep and serious. Although his expression was grim, he understood that acting hastily would only create more chaos and worsen the situation.
Things had reached a critical point, and there was no other option. While Mo Yang found the statement puzzling, he had no time to dwell on it. He intended to bring Su Fei inside to access the Star Emperor Tower.
After much thought, he concluded that he needed to treat the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill and the Beauty Retaining Pill as poisoning, requiring him to create an antidote known as the Detoxification Pill. This was the only solution he could formulate at that moment.
"I’m not coming out, and no one is allowed to enter the house!” Mo Yang didn't stop to explain. He lifted Su Fei by her waist and dashed inside, addressing the Elders without looking back.
Outside, the Elders simmered with frustration, wishing they could take down Mo Yang, but with no solution at hand, they could only watch helplessly as he carried her inside. The Grand Elder trembled, anxiety and anger coursing through him. What on earth was happening?
He sighed and instructed the other Elders, “Everyone, leave the small courtyard and keep your distance!”
Considering the significant impact of the drug, a major disturbance was bound to happen. How would it look with a group of elderly men loitering around? Naturally, he still believed she had overdosed on an aphrodisiac.
▪──── ⚔ ────▪
Inside the Star Emperor Tower, seeing Su Fei’s consciousness fading, Mo Yang decided to disregard any concerns about exposing the tower and took her to the second level of the stone tower.
He quickly retrieved seven medicinal ingredients for the Detoxification Pill from his storage ring. The challenge of crafting this pill was far greater than any he had encountered before. He wasn’t sure he’d succeed, but all he could do was try.
"She’s really a tough case; it feels like she’s forcing me to use her as a test subject for my medicine.” Mo Yang muttered, feeling exasperated.
Then he focused his mind and got to work. One by one, he tossed the ingredients into the Creation Pill Furnace. As a potent aroma filled the air, it began to overpower the foul odor emanating from Su Fei.
▪──── ⚔ ────▪
On Wood Peak, the Elders had retreated from the small courtyard, moving several hundred feet away.
“This scoundrel…” the Second Elder grumbled through clenched teeth.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He had always held disdain for Mo Yang, and seeing him gain such an advantage now was infuriating. What was once raw potential was already being fully realized.
“I never expected him to take such action. I even tested him before, thinking…” The Grand Elder’s expression darkened. He glanced towards the small courtyard and sighed, feeling a deep sense of regret.
The Sect Master's expression was serious. After a prolonged silence, he finally spoke, "This matter must remain confidential. Once it's concluded, make arrangements for their marriage."
▪──── ⚔ ────▪
Time drifted by. Inside the Star Emperor Tower, Mo Yang had successfully refined the Detoxification Pill. As the Medicinal Pill solidified, he exhaled deeply, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. The process of refining so many different medicinal ingredients had drained him of his Mental Energy.
Since only one Medicinal Pill had formed successfully, he had no choice but to test its efficacy on Su Fei. He quickly helped her sit up, placed the Medicinal Pill in her mouth, and focused intently on observing her body's reaction.
Outside, a group of Elders paced nervously back and forth. With each passing moment, their anxiety grew as the small courtyard remained unusually quiet, with no sign of activity. The Grand Elder felt bewildered but was unable to use his Divine Thought to check what was happening inside.
Half an hour turned into an hour... then two hours flashed by until, finally, a creaking sound echoed from the previously silent courtyard. Moments later, the firmly shut door creaked open.
The Grand Elder and the Lingxu Sect Master rushed to the small courtyard without hesitation, only to find Mo Yang standing at the entrance, stretching leisurely.
"How's Fei'er?" they both immediately inquired.
"The effects of the drug haven't fully worn off, and her consciousness is still a bit hazy. Let her rest in bed for now," Mo Yang replied with a hint of fatigue. The effort it took to refine that Medicinal Pill had drained much of his Mental Energy.
Hearing this, the Lingxu Sect Master and the Grand Elder finally felt their anxieties ease, but both shot Mo Yang an accusatory glare.
“What’s with that look, old man? Even if you don’t want to thank me, is staring really necessary?!” Mo Yang retorted, irritation creeping into his voice. If he hadn’t cleverly thought to use an antidote, Su Fei would likely be dead by now.
“Thank you? You poisoned Fei'er, and now you’re reaping the rewards, yet you still expect thanks?” the Grand Elder replied coldly, his anger palpable. The mere thought of it infuriated him; he had always believed Mo Yang to be straightforward and kind-hearted, yet he never anticipated such behavior from him.
The Sect Master also looked ready to explode, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Mo Yang was taken aback. He hadn’t planned to explain himself, but if he didn’t clarify the situation, there was no way to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
He asserted, "Old man, I'm not as vile as you believe. I simply offered her two bottles of Medicinal Pills out of kindness. I even made it clear that she should only take one pill per day at a time. Besides, what I provided were Beauty Retaining Pills and Marrow Cleansing Pills, not some kind of aphrodisiac! It's her fault for ignoring my advice and taking so many at once. It's truly a miracle she didn't suffer any dire consequences!"
"What, not an aphrodisiac? Then... kid, what just happened between the two of you..." The Grand Elder was taken aback by this revelation.
The Sect Master was repeatedly stunned, momentarily at a loss for words as he opened and closed his mouth.
He had just started planning the marriage, and now he was being told that wasn't the case?
At that moment, the other Elders rushed into the small courtyard, and upon hearing Mo Yang's words, they stood frozen, completely taken aback.
"Are you still trying to argue? Where did you acquire those Medicinal Pills?" the Grand Elder demanded coldly.
It was clear from his reaction that the Grand Elder didn't believe Mo Yang. On the continent, Medicinal Pills were considered a specialized lineage, practically a monopoly. Even the Lingxu Sect, let alone Mo Yang, purchased Medicinal Pills only once a year. Furthermore, due to their exorbitant prices, the quantity bought at each purchase rarely exceeded thirty. And the Medicinal Pills available to them were only of average quality.
The two types of pills Mo Yang mentioned were extraordinary; although they didn't fully understand the Beauty Retaining Pill, they were well acquainted with the Marrow Cleansing Pill. This prized pill was sought after for its ability to cleanse one's Spiritual Roots and bones, and it commanded a staggering price, often leading major Sects to fight for it.
Mo Yang snorted derisively and replied, "Ask Su Fei yourself when she wakes up. Why should I tell you about the Medicinal Pills?"
The Grand Elder's face darkened with rage, and just as he was about to retort, a sudden surge of energy erupted from Mo Yang's room, silencing his words.
"Could it be that Fei'er has broken through?" the Grand Elder exclaimed, recognizing the fluctuation as a signal of a cultivation breakthrough.
Not long after, an aura emanating from the First Stage of the Middle-Level of the Spirit Communication Realm[i] enveloped the room, bringing a glimmer of joy to the Lingxu Sect Master. He recognized Su Fei's cultivation level, and her reaching the Third Level was a noteworthy accomplishment.
Yet, before anyone could react, the Elders’ faces changed to expressions of shock. The aura was evolving from the First Stage of the Spirit Communication Realm to the Peak Stage, intensifying with each moment.
"What is going on? How can cultivation rise like this?" The Second Elder exclaimed, his expression filled with disbelief as he gazed at the room behind Mo Yang, struggling to find his words.
Mo Yang, while somewhat surprised, felt no shock. Su Fei had consumed multiple Marrow Cleansing Pills; although it had nearly cost her life, the benefits were profound. Such a comprehensive cleansing of her marrow and bones was akin to a total transformation, unlocking her potential and making a breakthrough inevitable.
"She's at the Second Stage of the Last-Level of the Spirit Communication Realm now—this is incredible," the Sect Master mused, overwhelmed.
Having cultivated for so many years, he had never witnessed such an extraordinary increase in cultivation. As that aura continued to strengthen until it reached the Peak of the Last-Level, it eventually stabilized.
Unable to contain himself, the Grand Elder rushed into the room, but he stopped abruptly at the doorway and turned to Mo Yang. "Is Fei'er dressed properly?" he inquired. The Sect Master, who was following him, also stumbled to a halt, looking anxiously at Mo Yang.
The other Elders did the same, their gazes all fixed on Mo Yang. At this point, they no longer cared about pursuing the Medicinal Pills topic.
Mo Yang was speechless, and his entire face instantly turned as black as a pot sticker. It seemed he was definitely taking the blame for this; no matter how he explained it, it wouldn't make sense. Everything he had said before seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
Feeling those inquiring gazes, Mo Yang firmly stated, "Did you hear what I said? It was not aphrodisiac. I didn't undress her! I'll say it again, I didn't do anything, didn't eat meat, didn't drink soup, and didn't cook!"
The Grand Elder was stunned for a moment, then said, "You scoundrel, I'll settle accounts with you later!"
A group of Elders filed in. Mo Yang shook his head helplessly, then left the small courtyard directly.
[i] Cultivation first 4 Realms:
- Qi Condensation
- Spirit Communication
- Earth Profound
- Heaven Profound
Each Realm consists of three levels, each divided into three stages.
- Initial (First-Level)
- First
- Second
- Peak
- 2. Middle-Level
- First
- Second
- Peak
- 3. Last-Level
- Early
- Second
- Peak (last step before next Realm)
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