Chapter 263: Departure, Poison Hall!

Mo Yu's alchemy furnace was a gift from her master when she first became a one-star alchemist. Counting carefully, she had indeed used it for eighteen alchemy sessions, seven of which showed signs of imminent explosion, each time suppressed by her master.

She had indeed refined an Ice Soul Pill a month ago.

He was not wrong in the slightest.

Just by looking at the furnace, he could see all this? This... was too incredible!

Mo Yu felt her whole body tremble, unable to believe it.

"Of course, these are just the basics, allowing a preliminary judgment that the furnace might explode during alchemy, but not determining when it will explode, how powerful the explosion will be, or how long the furnace can ultimately endure."

Seeing that she said nothing, Zhang Xuan stopped asking and continued.

"To determine these things, one must also reach a certain level of mastery over the medicinal ingredients. Blazing Sun Pill is formed by fusing nine yang-attribute herbs. Only when the nine herbs neutralize and balance each other can the power remain non-conflicting; otherwise, one mistake leads to another, like igniting gunpowder."

"Earlier, you strictly followed my instructions for adding herbs, without any issues. However, at the seventeenth step, when you added Root Extreme Grass, you were half a breath too early."

"Don't underestimate this half breath. The Yang Fire Wood you added at step eleven and the Golden Sun Flower at step fourteen have conflicting powers. Given the conditions inside your furnace at that time, they needed twelve breaths to fully dissolve, while the Golden Sun Flower needed seven breaths. The optimal time to add the next herb is exactly when they have just fused—not a moment sooner or later!"

"Adding Root Extreme Grass half a breath early meant the two herbs hadn't finished fusing. The yang attributes within them still clashed and collided, like ignited gunpowder, immediately creating a shockwave. This force wasn't enough to shatter your furnace, but it accelerated the cracking process. Later, I had you continue adding herbs and even increase the flame, precisely to observe and calculate the impact force generated by the herb fusion, as well as to measure the endurance of your furnace."

"After calculations, I found it could hold out until the pill was formed, so I let you continue." Zhang Xuan stopped here, looking over calmly: "Any more questions?"

"I... have none!"

The shock in Mo Yu's heart was hard to calm.

She had thought it was some technique that allowed him to precisely control the alchemy, but now she realized that although it was a technique, it was not something she could learn.

There were far too many factors involved.

Equipment, herbs, alchemy techniques, environment, even the state of mind during alchemy... all were indispensable; missing even a single calculation could lead to failure.

Earlier, she thought the gap between her and him in alchemy was small, and with diligent practice she could catch up quickly. Now she understood... the difference was not just thousands of miles, but not even on the same level.

No wonder he could succeed in the pill debate; just this understanding of alchemy made her despair.

"If there are no questions, I need to rest!"

Seeing that he had managed to fool her, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

To be honest, what he just said was off the cuff. Without the Library's help, analyzing such minute details to determine that the furnace would explode while the pill formed would be impossible even for a five-star alchemist.

To possess such ability, one would need to be at least six-star, or even higher.

"Master Zhang, please wait..."

Just as he was about to enter the courtyard, Miss Mo Yu quickly called out: "I heard you're going to Tianwu Kingdom?"

"How do you know?"

As soon as he asked, he realized it must be that blabbermouth Yun Tao.

But he hadn't planned to hide it anyway, so he nodded: "I am going to the Red Lotus Mountain Range."

"The Red Lotus Mountain Range is extremely desolate, with almost no one going there. You're not thinking of going to look for... the Poison Hall, are you?" Miss Mo Yu couldn't help asking.

The Xuanluo Mountain Range is lush with trees and countless beasts, while the Red Lotus Mountain Range looks as if scorched by flames, with almost nothing. Practitioners rarely go there.

The reason is that legend says a Poison Hall is hidden deep in the mountains, surrounded by deadly toxins. Anyone or any beast that approaches is invaded by poison and dies.

No one knows the exact reason, because most who go never return. Over time, everyone speaks of it with fear, and no one dares to go anymore.

It is basically a desolate, uninhabited place, ignored by all.

This Zhang Xuan going there... is probably for that Poison Hall.

"You know about the Poison Hall?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

He had learned about the Poison Hall from Master Liu and others, but never mentioned it elsewhere. Hearing Miss Mo Yu say it now, he became excited.

"Legend says there is a Poison Hall in the Red Lotus Mountain Range, but... no one knows exactly where it is!" Mo Yu shook her head.

"As long as it exists, we can find it!" Zhang Xuan smiled lightly.

As long as he confirmed the Poison Hall was in that mountain range, finding it would be easy.

At worst, he could get a map and test place by place. The Library of Heaven's Path could distinguish truth from falsehood; though it couldn't point out the correct location, it could identify all the wrong ones.

As long as there were no errors, that would be the correct one.

"That's easier said than done. The Red Lotus Mountain Range spans thousands of miles. Searching inch by inch would exhaust a person to death. Moreover, even if you find it, the Poison Hall might be surrounded by deadly toxins. Without a guide, you can't get in!"

Saying this, Miss Mo Yu paused, her beautiful eyes looking over: "If you really want to go, I can help."

"You?" Zhang Xuan was startled: "Can you find the Poison Hall and have a way in?"

"I can't, but I know someone who definitely can." Miss Mo Yu smiled.

"Oh?" Zhang Xuan's eyes brightened.

He hadn't expected Miss Mo Yu to have such connections. If he could bring that person along, it would save a lot of trouble.

"You teach me alchemy, and I'll take you to that person. How about it?" Miss Mo Yu looked at him.

"Deal!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"When do we leave?"

"First thing tomorrow. By the way, do you have a flying beast?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

The Iron-teeth Skyhowler had reached half-step Sovereign and was extremely fast. If her flying beast couldn't keep up, it would hold them back.

"You!"

Hearing this question, Miss Mo Yu's eyes narrowed, her teeth grinding, her breathing rapid.

Talking about the one thing she didn't want mentioned—you did that on purpose, didn't you?

"Uh..."

Seeing her expression, Zhang Xuan remembered that she did have a flying beast, but... it had defected and was now his!

"How about this, you ride the Skyhowler with me!"

The Iron-teeth Skyhowler was huge; it could easily carry not just two people, but seven or eight.

"Hmph!"

Hearing this, Miss Mo Yu's expression improved a bit, but before she could enjoy it long, his words continued.

"The Skyhowler is my beast pet. If you want to ride it, you need to pay a fee. Before, when it was at the Master realm, a trip to Tianwu Kingdom cost about 20 Beast Blood Stones. Now that its strength has increased and it's faster... let's double it to 40 Beast Blood Stones."

Zhang Xuan calculated: "Prepare it by tomorrow and pay in advance. Don't default!"

After reading the Beast Hall's books, he knew what Beast Blood Stones were.

Like gold coins, they were the currency used exclusively in the Beast Hall, greatly helpful for advancing a beast's bloodline.

Cultivators absorb spiritual energy; beasts consume Beast Blood Stones.

"..."

Mo Yu's body swayed.

You're proficient in so many professions, such a brilliant alchemist, with extraordinary talent—can you not mention such vulgar things?

"Hmph!"

Knowing that talking to this guy would only infuriate her to death, she could no longer stay and turned to leave.

After just a few steps, she heard his muttering again.

"Ah, people nowadays are so inconsiderate. Earlier they said they'd repay me with some money, but... nothing happened. Riding my flying beast and still not wanting to pay... If you're broke, just say so. I got my hopes up for nothing. And a princess at that—can a princess default on a debt?"

"You... Zhang Xuan, explain yourself. Who's broke..."

Turning abruptly, Princess Mo Yu could no longer hold back and was about to confront him when she saw him sighing and shaking his head as he walked into the courtyard.

"Despicable! Despicable! Stinky Zhang Xuan, damned Zhang Xuan, just you wait!"

Seeing him disappear, Miss Mo Yu stamped her foot and, after a long while, left in a huff.

Given her anger, she probably couldn't sleep all night.

Back in the courtyard, Zhang Xuan was indeed tired and went straight to sleep.

A quiet night passed. At dawn, the two-star beast tamer badge was delivered.

Putting away the badge, Zhang Xuan made some arrangements.

Shen Biru had only escorted him to the Beast Hall and needed to return to Tianxuan Royal City. He had intended to send her back with the Green Eagle Beast, but she insisted on not taking it, so Zhang Xuan gave her the Golden Body Iron Leopard.

With the Green Eagle Beast and the Skyhowler as his two flying beasts, the Iron Leopard was no longer of use to him; keeping it or not didn't matter. Giving it to Shen Biru would be a great help to her.

At least in Tianxuan Royal City, no one would dare trouble her anymore.

It was also a way to repay her care along the journey.

After arranging for Shen Biru, he arrived at the Skyhowler's courtyard and found that a room-like structure had been built on its back, made entirely of metal and perfectly integrated with its body, so that even in the howling winds of flight, it wouldn't shake.

Many people riding beasts were not very strong and could easily fall off if flying too fast. With this, it was like sitting in a room, and it was specially prepared by the Beast Hall for customers.

The Skyhowler was already huge, and the structure on its back was five or six meters long and wide, like a room, with tables, chairs, and beds inside, making one hardly feel the flight.

It could accommodate not just two people, but even the Green Eagle Beast as well, without feeling cramped.

"Farewell!"

Entering it, Zhang Xuan was very satisfied and then bid farewell to Hall Master Feng.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Iron-teeth Skyhowler flapped its massive wings, and the two people and two beasts soared straight into the sky.

Watching the Beast Hall and Xuanluo Mountain Range gradually recede, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

Poison Hall, here I come.