Li Cheng knitted his brows and turned to gaze at the northern sky.
The senior members were all puzzled. The expression of their junior uncle was so grave—what had happened over there?
'Junior Uncle's spiritual sense is indeed incredibly powerful. We didn't sense anything, but he sensed it first,' Mu Xingzhi thought silently.
"Junior Uncle, what's wrong?" the Seventh Elder hurriedly asked.
He was eager to consult Junior Uncle on matters of the Alchemy Dao, but Junior Uncle, frowning, was looking northward. What was the situation?
Li Cheng shifted his gaze back and shook his head slightly, "I'll be in closed-door cultivation for a few days. Don't bother me with anything that isn't important."
Having said that, Li Cheng's figure disappeared from the spot and he returned to the Eighteenth Peak.
Mu Xingzhi and the others looked toward the north and then at the Eighteenth Peak, completely baffled.
The Seventh Elder felt somewhat perplexed and pondered, "What exactly happened in the north?"
All eyes turned to Mu Xingzhi.
After making his calculations, Mu Xingzhi's brows also furrowed, "Strange, my divination with the Heaven Secret Technique indicates an omen, both good and bad!"
"The north? Both good and bad?" the First Elder murmured thoughtfully.
Mu Xingzhi divined once again and then nodded heavily, "Yes, a good omen is near, while the bad omen is still far off. I'm afraid we may need to ask the former Sect Master to divine it."
The Heavenly Mechanism Sect was known throughout the Southern Domain for its Heaven Secret Technique, but only the successive Sect Master had the ability to cultivate it.
The Heaven Secret Technique could glimpse the workings of fate, making it quite mysterious.
Although once cultivators reached a certain realm, they could predict good and bad fortune to some extent through their insights into the Dao, the Heaven Secret Technique had the advantage of having a lower threshold.
"The former Sect Master may not be willing to divine for us. Sect Master, why don't we divine when Junior Uncle will ascend to immortality?" one Elder said expectantly.
Mu Xingzhi glared at that Elder annoyingly. Not mentioning Junior Uncle's ascension was fine, but bringing it up was depressing!
Previously, they thought that the arrival of the Pill Tribulation would also bring forth Junior Uncle's Heaven Tribulation.
But in the end, there was nothing.
All in vain!
"With my level of cultivation, divining Junior Uncle's matters is practically inviting discomfort. Do you want me to be backlash-killed so you can inherit my relics?" Mu Xingzhi said.
The First Elder quickly changed the subject, "Sect Master, what good things could be approaching with the good omen?"
Mu Xingzhi focused his gaze toward the north, faintly sensing that many powerful auras were drawing closer!
The Elders also sensed it one after another and subsequently shifted their gazes toward the Eighteenth Peak, "Junior Uncle sensed those auras earlier—his sensory abilities are so strong!"
These auras were closing in at an astonishing speed. It had been such a long time before they sensed them, while Junior Uncle had sensed them much earlier and retreated to closed-door cultivation.
Only now did they understand that Junior Uncle wasn't truly entering closed-door cultivation, but was trying to avoid those approaching powerhouses.
"They are Pill Masters; with such strong auras, they must be from the Pill Sect!" the Seventh Elder spoke up.
Hearing this, everyone was even more shocked. Junior Uncle had discovered them early on!
Indeed, Li Cheng had sensed them long ago—a group of Pill Masters were rushing toward their sect, obviously attracted by the Pill Tribulation!
Their purpose for coming, need it even be said?
So Li Cheng went straight back to the Eighteenth Peak, not wishing to make contact with those people.
Upon returning to the Eighteenth Peak, he saw the Sixth Elder leading a group of disciples busily at work, either constructing great halls or busy setting up formations.
Li Cheng watched for a moment without revealing himself to disturb them. Satisfied, he left and headed for the Scripture Repository.
The Heavenly Mechanism Sect's Scripture Repository had seven levels. Apart from the seventh level, which required the Sect Master's approval, the other six levels were accessible to all Elders.
Li Cheng came here, of course, to check the pill-related scriptures.
Despite having gained insights into the Alchemy Dao from the Seventh Elder, and even being able to easily produce eighth-tier Spirit Pills, he still lacked extensive knowledge of the Alchemy Dao to truly become an eighth-tier Pill Master.
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Just one more step, of course, I have to take it!
Cultivators read with incredible efficiency, scanning with their Spiritual Sense, a book would be finished in an instant.
Besides, most of them are recorded on Jade Slips, which are very convenient to read.
Li Cheng planned to start from the first layer and scan upwards.
The main hall of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect was now welcoming a group of high-ranking officials from the Pill Sect!
The Pill Sect was also one of the top ten sects, ranked second, and Mu Xingzhi and others certainly did not dare to neglect them.
Mu Xingzhi, leading a group of Elders, stood outside the grand hall, quietly waiting.
Soon after, more than a dozen people descended from the sky, all Transcendance Tribulation Stage powerhouses.
"It's been years, Sect Leader Mu, you still have such an imposing presence!"
The leader was a middle-aged man with a firm face and deep eyes, his voice filled with magnetism.
Mu Xingzhi clasped his hands together, "Sect Leader Shentu graces us with your presence, my apologies for not welcoming you from afar."
The Pill Sect had dealings with all the major sects, and when it came to the wealthiest sect, none could surpass the Pill Sect.
As the Sect Leader of the Pill Sect, Shentu Feng was confident no matter where he went.
Shentu Feng returned the gesture, "Sect Leader Mu is being too courteous. I've come uninvited, and I hope Sect Leader Mu won't take offense!"
Mu Xingzhi and all the Elders wore smiles, presenting a friendly appearance, but they were cursing inwardly!
Why?
Because the Pill Sect thinks it's so great, right?
If it's a visit, don't you know to come through the main gate?
Landing directly in front of the main hall from the sky, isn't that a blatant sign of disrespect to the Heavenly Mechanism Sect?
Although they were angry inside, they had to maintain a pleasant demeanor on the surface.
"You joke, Sect Leader Shentu, please, this way!" Mu Xingzhi gestured with his hand to invite them in.
Once inside the grand hall and everyone was seated, Shentu Feng spoke up, "Earlier, I sensed a Pill Tribulation occurring within your sect, so out of curiosity, I hurried over to see if your sect has managed to create the legendary Emperor Grade Spirit Pill?"
Mu Xingzhi and the others were not surprised; they had anticipated that this would attract a crowd of Pill Masters.
"Yes, Sect Leader Mu, if I recall correctly, the most skilled Pill Master in your sect is only a Level Six. Yet you managed to create an Emperor Grade Spirit Pill, quite strange indeed!" said an old man beside Shentu Feng as he clasped his hands.
He was the First Elder of the Pill Sect, Ning Qianqiu, and his words immediately displeased the Sixth Elder.
What does he mean by 'only' Level Six? What does he mean by 'managed to'?
Shentu Feng also realized Ning Qianqiu's remarks were somewhat improper and said with a smile, "Elder Ning meant to ask whether it would be possible for us to take a look at the Emperor Grade Spirit Pill your sect has crafted?"
Mu Xingzhi kept a smile throughout, and with a flip of his hand, a jade bottle appeared in it, "Why not? It's just a mere Emperor Grade Spirit Transforming Dan!"
The eyes of the Elders of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect lit up, appreciating the way he spoke, especially the use of 'mere'. Quite cunning!
What others desperately seek, the Emperor Grade, is referred to as 'mere' in our Heavenly Mechanism Sect.
Upon seeing the jade bottle, the people from the Pill Sect completely ignored Mu Xingzhi's words and eagerly took it to examine it.
An Emperor Grade, not seen in the world for over a hundred thousand years, had become a legend.
Now that they had the chance to see it with their own eyes, how could they not be excited?
"The dan has clouds spiraling around it, its aura is restrained as if returning to its origin, and it contains the aura of Laws—it's indeed an Emperor Grade!" After a moment of observation, Shentu Feng's eyes flickered with excitement.
Everyone from the Pill Sect stared intently at the Emperor Grade Spirit Transforming Dan, each with an excited and agitated expression. If not for being in the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, they might have already started shouting excitedly.
Ignoring the excited expressions around him, Shentu Feng turned to Mu Xingzhi with a smile, "Sect Leader Mu, it's recorded in the archives that when an Emperor Grade appears, there will inevitably be King Grades born alongside it. May I ask how many King Grades were born with this Emperor Grade Spirit Transforming Dan?"
Mu Xingzhi looked calm, but his mind was as clear as a mirror. He knew, the bait had been cast!
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