When he left the Ren Mansion, the sun was about to set.
The crowd dispersed.
Bai Mo said a quick farewell to Ren Lu and hurried away.
Several Pill Disciples behind him who wanted to say something were left in his dust.
After dealing with everyone for two straight days, even Bai Mo, with his extremely high level of theoretical knowledge, felt quite exhausted.
Bai Mo casually handled the various questions posed for guidance or discussion.
It wasn't that he put much heart into it, but his answers were always textbook-perfect, leaving no room for criticism.
What Bai Mo sought were only a few details he had previously overlooked or some different perspectives from his predecessors.
After interacting with the many Pill Disciples, he had indeed come across several refreshing ideas.
But occasionally, there were matters that, in Bai Mo's eyes, could be solved with a little lateral thinking, yet the questioning Pill Disciple simply didn't understand.
No matter how much he explained, the other person would just stare back with a blank, uncomprehending look.
However, because of the skill Bai Mo had demonstrated, which had even earned praise from a Pill Master, many still swallowed their pride and came to ask him questions tirelessly.
Bai Mo just felt mentally drained. As soon as the Pill Assembly ended, he naturally made a swift departure.
'The few fellow cultivators I met when I first arrived in Celestial Mountain City were much more pleasant to talk to than these people.'
Back at the inn, Bai Mo ordered a meal, and after finishing it, he returned to his room.
There was no light in Lanshan's room, so he was likely out.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Bai Mo focused his thoughts.
[Pill Master: Bai Mo]
[Realm: Qi Refining Third Layer]
[Identity: Pill Disciple (0/900)]
[Aptitude: Glimpse the part to know the whole; comprehension begins to dawn.]
'It seems the comprehension from my Pill Disciple rank on the panel already sets me apart from most people.'
If one were to ask what Bai Mo gained from the Pill Assembly, it was nothing more than some improvement in his Alchemy Skill.
However, what he saw and heard there gave him confidence for the upcoming Pill Master certification.
As for the technique he had displayed at the Pill Assembly, it was the Star-Pointing Seven Hands.
With his current ability to project starlight, that deadly martial technique was, at most, enough to slice some medicinal herbs. Harming a person with it was wishful thinking.
Bai Mo closed his eyes and suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind. The important information gathered from his interactions over the past few days then flowed forth naturally.
Just by organizing it slightly, he had already gained a great deal.
'Those Pill Disciples are still too green. I reckon they'll have a tough time with the Pill Master certification!'
...
「The next day.」
When Bai Mo came downstairs, he finally saw Lanshan.
The two greeted each other.
"Lanshan, did you only get back in the middle of the night?"
Lanshan sat across from Bai Mo and called over an attendant to order breakfast.
"Yeah, I was out discussing business."
"Demon Beasts are scarce here in Celestial Mountain City, so the ones our Demon Hunting Team brings down can sell for a high price!"
He began recounting what he had seen and heard over the past two days.
"The trades in this Celestial Mountain City are highly developed. You can find all manner of cultivation-related businesses."
"Unfortunately for them, they have to purchase many of their materials from outside, so business for a Demon Hunting Team is quite easy to negotiate."
As he spoke, a look of doubt appeared on his face.
"However, my contact told me that something happened at Mingding Tower a few days ago, which is what caused the sudden shortage of raw materials in the city."
"The day he mentioned was the day I took Ru'Er there, but I didn't notice anything unusual."
People were constantly coming and going from Mingding Tower. If something had really happened, someone should have been acting strangely.
But he hadn't noticed a thing.
"What happened exactly?" Bai Mo asked.
"I don't know. I only heard that some of the more famous Alchemy and Artifact Refining Cultivators in the city were summoned there."
"And for some reason, some people were even injured."
Bai Mo recalled the old Pill Master he had seen at the Ren Mansion. The man hadn't seemed to be in good health.
When going up and down the stairs, the Ren family's Patriarch had been very attentive in supporting him.
"Never mind that. As long as the Demon Beast business is good, that's what matters," Bai Mo said.
Lanshan laughed heartily.
"Exactly, exactly."
"By the way, Shopkeeper Bai, the Pill Master certification starts tomorrow morning. You'd better be ready today."
"If you have any errands, just let me know, and I'll take care of them for you."
Bai Mo tapped the table.
"What could there be? Eating is the most important thing right now. All I have to do is wait for tomorrow."
"I'm already prepared."
...
「The following day.」
Before the sky had brightened, Bai Mo left the inn.
Lanshan was there to see him off.
Walking down the street, many other people emerged one after another, all heading in the same direction as Bai Mo.
Along the way, there were no galloping carriages, nor were any large goods being transported.
Apparently, the city had specially cleared a path for today's Pill Master certification.
Arriving at the pavilion where he had registered, Bai Mo waited quietly. Before long, he heard someone shouting out numbers at the top of their lungs.
"Group C! Anyone from Group C here?"
"A-4, A-9! A-4, A-9..."
"The Shu Group..."
Bai Mo focused and listened for a moment, finally distinguishing the voice calling for Group B.
Taking out his red-rimmed black plaque for B-7, Bai Mo walked toward the source of the sound.
As he got closer, he saw it was a young Cultivator shouting, but his throat seemed to be having issues, and his voice was a bit hoarse.
It took Bai Mo some effort to find his way over.
Seeing Bai Mo approach, the young Cultivator grabbed his hand.
"What's your number?"
Bai Mo flashed his wooden plaque and was immediately pulled aside by him.
Another person was standing there, a Cultivator in his thirties, meditating with his eyes closed.
"He is Yi Yi. He arrived the earliest. For now, it's just you two. Once all thirteen members of Group B are here, we can go in."
Bai Mo was curious. "We don't have to wait for the designated time?"
"Nope! The sooner we get this done, the sooner everyone can go home. Rest for a bit."
The crowd in front of the pavilion, initially a bustling mess, soon became clearly separated into groups, likely as people found their assignments.
The young Cultivator had Bai Mo and the other man wait where they were while he went out himself.
He made a few rounds and brought back several bewildered Cultivators who had been lost in the crowd.
After waiting for about another hour, the young Cultivator finally gathered everyone.
"I'm the Cultivator leading your group. Just follow me inside."
"Everything will proceed according to the rules. Listen to instructions and don't act on your own."
After receiving a response from the group, he waved his hand and led them toward the pavilion.
On the way, they ran into a Cultivator leading another group, and the young Cultivator greeted him.
That group leader sounded a bit envious.
"Damn, looks like you'll be done soon."
"I've got a bastard in my group who still hasn't shown up. He deserves to be struck by lightning!"
In contrast to the group leader's relaxed attitude, Bai Mo and the others felt a little nervous.
When the thirteen Cultivators entered the pavilion, they saw a spacious hall filled with long tables.
A stern-faced old man came over and took charge of the thirteen of them.
"Choose a spot for yourselves. Process all the medicinal herbs on the table. You may only leave after I have inspected your work."
Everyone looked at the young Cultivator, who nodded.
"Go on. I'll be right here. Come find me when you're finished."
So, the group followed the old man.
"The Pill Master certification will test the entire alchemy process."
"You'd all best display the full extent of your skills!"
"A by-the-book level of skill that's only good enough for working hard in a shop isn't worthy of the title 'Master'!"
Having received his instructions, Bai Mo surveyed his surroundings, found a nearby long table, and walked over.
The table was covered with numerous medicinal herbs. It looked like this would take some time.
Bai Mo didn't feel much of anything. For him, this wasn't a problem.