Hidden Moth-Chapter 565 - 323: Journey Through the Mountains, As If in Another Lifetime

Chapter 565: Chapter 323: Journey Through the Mountains, As If in Another Lifetime

An outstanding Pill Master should be able to distinguish various properties, and even if they haven’t seen something before, they can research a reasonable method of processing it. He Kao has only dabbled in alchemy techniques, certainly not a Pill Master, but he is a chef.

An outstanding chef should be able to recognize all kinds of delicious flavors, and even if they haven’t seen the ingredient before, they can think up a reasonable cooking method. Therefore, He Kao prepared a feast with the specialties of Phoenix Tail Town, and everyone was very satisfied after tasting it.

Li Xiuyuan, in his joyous state, even told He Kao that if he got laid off in the future and couldn’t find another job, he could come to Phoenix Tail Town and open a local food restaurant; the shopfronts are all ready-made.

Elder Li is a local. He has a courtyard here and has opened an agritourism business, which is not run by himself but handed over to the younger disciples to manage. To open a restaurant for He Kao in the town wouldn’t be a problem.

It’s a pity that although He Kao sometimes enjoys making a delicious meal, this is merely a hobby in his life and he has no plans to pursue it as a career, let alone open a restaurant. His family has been carpenters for generations!

After finishing the meal, He Kao finally bid farewell, feeling somewhat reluctant because he didn’t know for sure if he would be able to see Uncle Jiang again.

He told himself in his heart that the old man will definitely succeed in surviving the ordeal!

Wei Luo was also reluctant, but she was more worried about her master’s situation. During Jiang Daozhen’s seclusion, she would not leave Flower Shocking Grotto Heaven. He Kao could find her here if there were matters to attend to.

Gu Chun knew what they were worried about and quietly informed He Kao with divine thought: "The cultivation of Lingxi Skill has its specifics. If you hope Elder Jiang can break through soon, you should do well in doing what he has planned; it lies in both destiny and human effort."

According to Gu Chun’s speculation, Jiang Daozhen had glimpsed a part of the heavenly secrets, and the chessboard he laid out was not only targeted at the Xiao Alliance but also concerned with the future vision of the entire Magic Sect. Whether the vision could be realized is closely related to his cultivation realm.

If He Kao truly wanted to help Jiang Daozhen, then he should properly complete the tasks Jiang Daozhen had arranged.

He Kao purchased many things in Phoenix Tail Town, leaving quite a lot in Flower Shocking Grotto Heaven, but when he went out, he was still carrying a full bamboo basket. As he went down the mountain path with Gu Chun, Li Xiuyuan, and Guo Qianhuai, they met Layman Xingrui at the entrance of the back village in Jinghua Village.

Xingrui should have been waiting there on purpose and greeted all the esteemed elders first upon seeing them. Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Xiao Kao, let me introduce you; this is the steward of the Alchemy Sect, Song Fengyang.

She is a Daoist who has received the talismans, named Xingrui. You can call her Xingrui."

This introduction is quite interesting. Indeed, it’s not necessary to introduce the name "Song Fengyang," as even ordinary disciples of the Alchemy Sect may not know it. In the Magic Sect, everyone usually calls her Xingrui.

Xingrui stepped forward and bowed, saying: "Nice to meet you, Junior Brother He. I came today specially to express gratitude!"

What did she have to thank He Kao for? The sorcerer Jiaobide from the Xiao Alliance had once framed her, and she resigned from her position as steward to accept the Magic Sect’s investigation, while Geng Yanxin took over as steward.

Geng Yanxin used the opportunity of sitting in the Grotto Heaven in turn to sneak in people under Master Dan Qiu, and unfortunately fell into the trap laid by the Ancestral Hall. Geng Yanxin also exposed his identity as an undercover agent for the Xiao Alliance...

Looking back now, this was indeed a setup by the Ancestral Hall, but at that time, Xingrui was genuinely framed and accepted the investigation by resigning.

Later, He Kao unearthed Jiaobide in Qi Yuan and sent Lan Jiwan to capture him. The one dispatched by the Ancestral Hall to take over was precisely Xingrui, which cleared Xingrui of suspicion, and she became a steward anew.

Xingrui didn’t know the identity of Lan Jiwan. She merely went to the designated place to take Jiaobide according to instructions but later heard that capturing Jiaobide and clearing her name was largely He Kao’s merit.

He Kao hurriedly returned the salute, saying: "This is not solely my merit, and it was within my duty. I simply completed the tasks laid out by the Ancestral Hall... Master Brother doesn’t have to be so polite."

Actually, He Kao had seen Xingrui before, having secretly observed her following Elder Li’s instructions, but it was the first time interacting face-to-face. Xingrui, as Li Xiuyuan’s junior, could traditionally be called Master Brother according to Magic Sect customs.

Xingrui was from the Loose Cultivators lineage of Jianji Palace, breaking through Tier Four cultivation during university and returning to the Magic Sect fifteen years ago. Li Xiuyuan was the one who assessed her past conduct.

She is now a steward of the Alchemy Sect and a Tier Five Medicine Gatherer, appearing around thirty, with a slightly ample figure, very fair skin, somewhat resembling Gao Xue’e, and is a woman of great charm.

Luckin slightly bowed his head and said: "Everyone completing tasks from the Ancestral Hall is different in circumstances, and you performed far better and more comprehensively than required, otherwise, you wouldn’t have received special commendation.

As for me, I truly should thank you properly. I wonder if I could trouble you with another matter?"

He Kao asked: "What do you need help with?" Saying this, he had already vaguely guessed something in his heart.

Sure enough, Xingrui replied: "I’ve also obtained a Pure Yang Pill this time and would like to invite you to take it together."

Before He Kao could answer, Li Xiuyuan interjected: "He Kao, I was the one who informed Xingrui about the details in Qi Yuan regarding Jiaobide, and today’s matter was also coordinated by me; this is karma!"

Simultaneously sending secretly a divine thought.

Xingrui, as a steward of the Alchemy Sect, has also received a Pure Yang Pill this time and has been quite troubled by it. She definitely needs to find someone to take it together with, but can’t just randomly choose someone and doesn’t want to use it for any transactions either.

Among the elders of the Ancestral Hall, she is closest to Li Xiuyuan, who is the elder she trusts the most, so she consulted Elder Li—whom he recommends as reliable and suitable?

This represents being adept in social dealings, and indeed, Li Xiuyuan recommended He Kao. However, this matter could not be forcibly assigned by Elder Li; it required Xingrui’s own willingness.

Taking into account that Xing Rui and He Kao were not familiar beforehand, Elder Li let Xing Rui meet He Kao in person before making a decision. If it doesn’t feel right, then so be it.

If Xing Rui thinks it’s feasible, he should discreetly inform Li Xiuyuan, who will then approach He Kao... Xing Rui waiting at Jinghua Village today was also at Li Xiuyuan’s suggestion.

However, right after the initial greetings, Xing Rui directly invited He Kao for pill consumption, which took Elder Li by surprise. It wasn’t what they had discussed beforehand!

But Elder Li also advised He Kao that there’s no need to be reserved in such matters and to agree readily.

This is an opportunity not to be missed. Besides, with Elder Li’s instructions, He Kao wouldn’t refuse, so there was no need to hesitate. He nodded immediately and said, "For such an opportunity, I must thank Brother Xing Rui properly!"

It was certain that Xing Rui truly came to express gratitude and was willing to share such an opportunity, demonstrating utmost sincerity.

Gu Chun clapped his hands and laughed, "That’s excellent, you both can come to the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven with me to take the pills. With me personally overseeing the grotto heaven, everything will be secure."

From Xing Rui’s perspective, this situation wasn’t about matchmaking, but for cultivators, it was more important than matchmaking, at least it had to be to one’s liking.

And at first sight of He Kao, she felt very satisfied, even more than anticipated. Moreover, He Kao truly helped clear her from the false accusations by Xiao Alliance. With this karma in mind, and since karma matters most to cultivators,

she straightforwardly extended the invitation, also to avoid anyone else eyeing the Pure Yang Pill in her hand. As for trust, it was assured with the endorsement from Li Xiuyuan and Gu Chun, so there was nothing to worry about.

This time, there was no need for a three-wheeler; Xing Rui came by car, taking everyone along, traveling through Jinghua Village, Pijing Village, and Fengwei Town, dropping off Guo Qianhuai at Guanshu Village, and arriving outside Immortal Bottle Village to enter the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven on foot.

It was He Kao’s first time here, but the geographical layout of the major Magic Sect grotto heavens was basically the same.

In the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven, traces of human construction were evidently more than in the Flower Shocking Grotto Heaven. Passing through the stone archway inscribed with "Dan Hill," the traces of the great battle were almost gone, and the damaged ancestral hall buildings had been restored.

In the same location, there was also a cave mansion similar to Immortal Pot Residence, where each major sect aligned their Yin Yang Tai Chi Array.

Qi Nansheng, who was in seclusion in the grotto heaven, was not seen. Gu Chun stationed at the ancestral hall, while Xing Rui and He Kao went to Immortal Pot Residence to consume the pills.

The process was different from taking pills with Wei Luo and could not be the same. Both focused and settled into meditation, with no other conditions.

Led by Xing Rui’s casting, He Kao fully cooperated both physically and spiritually, behaving no differently from an ordinary person with no cultivation skills.

He discovered that the way Xing Rui refined the pill’s spiritual effects was subtly different from Wei Luo’s, likely due to the different foundational cultivation and techniques practiced, but the final process of transformation and absorption went very smoothly.

That was He Kao’s sensation, but for Xing Rui, it was extremely surprising. It was her first time taking pills, and with someone not very familiar like He Kao, it was inevitable to be a bit apprehensive. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

However, the whole process was extraordinarily smooth, seamlessly flawless, evidently exceeding Xing Rui’s expectations.

Although He Kao did not demonstrate his cultivation, Xing Rui couldn’t possibly regard him as an ordinary person; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been such seamless cooperation, at least indicating that his cultivation was not inferior to hers, perhaps with an even more inclusive foundation.

Slowly retracting her powers and opening her eyes, Xing Rui couldn’t help but ask, "Brother, do you actually have Tier Five cultivation?"

He Kao: "I was lucky to break through not long ago."

Xing Rui, curious: "May I ask which secret technique you cultivate?"

He Kao smiled without speaking, but a cough from Gu Chun echoed in Xing Rui’s primordial spirit, making her realize the inappropriateness of her question, and she quickly added, "Apologies, I was presumptuous!"

If He Kao were a secret disciple of a certain elder, answering that question would have indirectly hinted at who his master was, which he couldn’t reveal without permission from his master.

He Kao smiled, "It’s no problem... Actually, I have also dabbled in your Alchemy Sect’s techniques, including the sword control skill other technique."

Xing Rui: "Oh, was it taught by Elder Mei... What are your plans next, brother?"

He Kao: "I think I should head back to work."

Xing Rui: "I noticed you bought a lot of items. Let me drive you to the train station."

Leaving Fengwei Town this time, He Kao adopted a completely normal mode of transportation - taking a high-speed train. From Han Ning to Qi Yuan, it took nearly eight hours, achievable within the day.

When he returned to Qi Yuan, only a week had passed, but the experiences and gains from this trip were indescribable, making it feel like a lifetime ago.

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