Chapter 471: Transaction
He placed the jade slip to his brow. In just a few breaths, its contents were already clear in his mind.
Bai Mo’s expression changed slightly.
“I have heard that in ancient times, mighty figures could produce several different pills from a single cauldron.”
“Could this be such a method?”
Recorded within the jade slip was a technique named the “Three-Pill Fire Refinement” method.
The “three” was taken from the concept of “three begets all things,” meaning that one could refine several types of Pills from a single furnace.
Sun Qiyou nodded, a look of yearning on his face.
“Legend has it that a great power once used the Alchemy Dao to benefit all living beings, refining a thousand kinds of Pills in a single furnace and scattering them in all directions.”
“This method was created by our predecessors based on such legends, but it can only be used for fire refinement, which is quite a limitation.”
“It’s more than enough,” Bai Mo said.
The importance of this technique didn’t lie in how many Pills it could produce, but in its ability to test Pill Formulas.
If one could try out several Pill refinement methods in a single furnace, one could save a boundless amount of energy in the long run.
“A method like this makes my Outer Alchemy Skill seem rather provincial.”
Bai Mo lamented.
The White-Haired Old Man, however, disagreed. He waved his hand dismissively.
“I don’t know the fine details of this Three-Pill Fire Refinement technique, but I know the gist of it. It’s an extraordinary Alchemy Skill.”
“But ultimately, it’s an auxiliary method, not a necessity.”
“Young friend Bai’s Outer Pill Method, on the other hand, is a true Pill-producing method. How can the two be compared?”
He paused, then sighed.
“Besides, this Outer Alchemy Skill has few remaining legacies in the Cultivation Realm.”
“Only you, young friend, have gone through the trouble of piecing it together and organizing part of its legacy.”
Sun Qiyou and the others agreed, cupping their hands slightly in a gesture of respect.
“That is precisely the case.”
“The Outer Pill Method is rare, which is why we were so anxious to come. We just don’t know Grandmaster Bai’s intentions…”
This Three-Pill Fire Refinement method was something Bai Mo could definitely use, and it would be of great use.
Thinking this, Bai Mo naturally found it impossible to refuse.
“I will agree to this matter. However, my Outer Pill Method is still only at a rudimentary stage and has not yet reached the level of Divine Techniques.”
“Furthermore, if there are any flaws in the details, you will all need to rely on your life’s experience to handle them…”
At this, Sun Qiyou and the others let out a long breath, their hearts finally settling.
The men chuckled and said:
“No matter, no matter. We have seen Grandmaster Bai’s Outer Pills, and they are truly marvelous.”
“There is no way they could be described with the word ‘rudimentary’.”
Bai Mo looked at the White-Haired Old Man, who smiled and nodded.
“We rested in Immortal Arrival City for a few days and patronized your shop quite a bit.”
“I imagine those clerks of yours should remember a few old fossils like us.”
With the deal settled, Bai Mo prepared to lead the group back to Mi Mountain.
Ah Er quickly collected the teapot, cups, and other items, then brought out its own Flying Ship to carry the guests back.
Sun Qiyou and his group had come prepared with a jade slip, but Bai Mo had not.
Ah Er’s Flying Ship wasn’t fast. By the time they returned to Mi Mountain, a day had already passed.
After handing things over to Li Wuji, Bai Mo entered the stone house. He took out a book with a blank cover and exchanged it with Sun Qiyou and the others.
“As the saying goes, a method cannot be transmitted lightly. Gentlemen, please make your oaths!”
the White-Haired Old Man said calmly from the side.
The Cultivation Realm had its rules. In transactions like this, involving one’s most prized skills, one could not simply allow the other party to spread them freely.
There were naturally methods of constraint.
Bai Mo and the others immediately swore oaths on the spot, setting their own boundaries.
The contents were simple, amounting to pledging on their Dao hearts that the methods would only be passed down to their own successors and not to outsiders.
CRACK!
After Bai Mo absorbed its contents, the remaining jade slip lost its color, cracked, and fell to pieces.
Bai Mo now had the gist of it and was just waiting to give it a try.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain, Sun Qiyou and his companions sat on folding stools that Ah Er had thoughtfully brought over. They flipped through Bai Mo’s book, clicking their tongues in admiration.
“This Outer Pill Method’s refinement actually requires such a significant use of Divine Thought. This step alone would bar many Pill Masters…”
They had seen Bai Mo absorb the information from the jade slip in just over twenty breaths, all told.
This was a sign of powerful Divine Thought.
Now it seemed it was no accident that this Grandmaster was able to organize the Outer Pill Method.
Fortunately, none of them were novices in cultivation. After years of trials and tribulations, their Divine Thought had also been tempered to be tough and resilient.
At least for the Outer Pill Method, it was more than enough.
Sun Qiyou and the others continued to read in front of Mi Mountain, occasionally coming over to ask a few questions.
Bai Mo answered them conscientiously.
Fortunately, Bai Mo had originally intended this book for training his clerks and Ah Er, so its notes and annotations were detailed.
After reading it, Sun Qiyou and the others found many of their doubts resolved, saving them a great deal of effort.
Bai Mo and the White-Haired Old Man stood to the side, speaking softly.
“It’s good that you’ve come, Senior.”
Bai Mo invited.
“These past few days, I’ve been trying to overcome the challenge of the Divine Technique Outer Pill, but in many areas, I just can’t find the right method.”
“Why don’t you stay a while longer, Senior, so we can exchange some ideas?”
“A Divine Technique Outer Pill?” The White-Haired Old Man was surprised.
He and Bai Mo often corresponded by letter, so he naturally knew what Bai Mo was talking about.
“Have you already reached such a stage?”
The White-Haired Old Man was moved. His expression changed, then turned regretful.
“A pity. On this trip, I still have to deliver accounts of the Pill Tasting Conference to several old friends.”
A few thick volumes flashed in his hand.
“I can’t go back on my word. I’m afraid I won’t have the good fortune to study this path with you for the time being, young friend.”
Bai Mo thought of his own copy of the *Jing River Pill News*, which he had read through several times.
“Mine was delivered to me earlier.”
“That was because a chronicler from the Great Liang Dynasty happened to be visiting you and brought it along.”
The White-Haired Old Man asked, “What was your impression when you met them?”
“The interests involved are neither fame nor fortune, so it was nothing out of the ordinary.”
Bai Mo answered honestly.
“Mm, the Great Liang Dynasty must have a deep foundation to be able to seek out major Pill Cultivators everywhere. We may have use for it in the future, so it’s best to pay it some mind.”
“I understand…”
It wasn’t until the sky was full of stars that Sun Qiyou and the others finished memorizing the entire contents of the book.
When they came back to their senses, they saw red and yellow Spirit Charms occasionally floating up and down Mi Mountain in the night.
The entire mountain exuded a deep pressure in the darkness, which, contrasted with the floating Spirit Charms, created a very dissonant image.
Only then did the men truly realize that this was not a pleasant place.
After returning the book to Bai Mo, Sun Qiyou and the others took their leave.
“We didn’t realize it had gotten so late. We should take our leave now. We hope to have the chance to visit Grandmaster Bai again in the future.”
Bai Mo returned the courtesy and bid them farewell.
“We will surely meet again.”
As for the White-Haired Old Man, he and Bai Mo looked at each other, simply smiling and nodding before Bai Mo watched him depart.
Ah Er had nothing to do today, but with guests present, it couldn’t go out, so it had been cooped up on Mi Mountain for the better part of the day.
It was just starting to nod off when it heard the guests were leaving. It leaped up in delight.
It feigned composure as it went out to clean up the stools, chairs, and tea set, only to earn a roll of the eyes from Bai Mo.
After giving it a light rap on the head, Bai Mo walked past Ah Er and back into the house.
“Tidy up. We have a lot to do tomorrow, so don’t stay up late.”
Ah Er turned and chirped once in acknowledgment.
Bai Mo returned to the stone house, washed up briefly, and after reviewing the day’s events in his mind, he calmly went to bed to rest.
As for the Three-Pill Fire Refinement method, it was already stored in his mind, so there was no rush to comprehend and test it.