Chapter 65: Having His Cover Blown
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Chapter 65: Having His Cover Blown
“Huh!” Ma Jiugu, who was walking ahead, stopped and turned around:
“Most people call it ‘Fire Dragon,’ but very few know it’s called volcanic lava. Seems you have some knowledge—how do you know what this is?”
Yan Zixia gave him a meaningful look.
Yue Qianchou shook his head with a bitter smile: “It’s nothing, I just heard someone mention it before.”
Ma Jiugu grunted and continued walking forward.
This was his first time walking over volcanic lava. The feeling was like something he’d seen in a movie scene. Suddenly he realized that the rock color on top of the Alchemy Pavilion mountain was the same as the rocks outside, and the temperature on the mountain was very high.
Needless to say, the Alchemy Pavilion was definitely built on a volcanic crater. If he wasn’t mistaken, this so-called Floating Immortal Island was probably just a volcanic island.
Thinking of this, he got a shock. ‘Holy crap! Volcanoes are no joke. This era doesn’t have any scientific early warning systems either. If it erupts, everyone’s done for.
Looking at the lava below, it seems relatively calm, obviously without much explosive energy. But this thing is really unpredictable. Looks like after successfully building my foundation, I need to leave as soon as possible. Don’t want to get blasted into the sky by a volcano one day—that would be one hell of a joke.’
At the end of the stone bridge was a stone chamber with a large space. From the chisel marks around it, you could tell it was artificially excavated. In the middle was a large pit that sank into the ground.
In the pit sat a large copper furnace, estimated to be about as tall as a person. Green smoke rose from the furnace top, and you could smell the fragrance of pills. Fire light faintly emerged from the furnace bottom, making the underground glow red.
Immediately, a thought popped into Yue Qianchou’s mind: ‘This is pill refining!’
Using volcanic earth fire to refine pills—what a great method! Not only is the fire strong, but you don’t need to burn firewood either. No wonder the Alchemy Pavilion was built on a volcano.
The records in the Pill Formula Jade Tablets also mentioned that pill refining was best done with Three-Flavor True Fire, though that was legendary. Next was Natal True Fire, which only those with extremely high cultivation possessed, but using it for pill refining was quite draining on vital energy.
Then came Heaven and Earth Fire—he wasn’t sure what Heaven Fire was, but Earth Fire referred to volcanic fire, which he knew about. Finally came ordinary firewood.
‘Why did Ma Jiugu bring me here?’ Yue Qianchou was a bit puzzled.
The three of them walked down the steps to the bottom of the pit. Yue Qianchou immediately felt he couldn’t take it anymore—the temperature was too high. With his cultivation level, he seemed unable to withstand it. To be precise, it was burning hot.
After staying for a while and seeing that Ma Jiugu still wasn’t speaking, he already had the urge to run. If he stayed any longer, he’d be roasted into human jerky.
“We’re still short of an assistant here. Would you be willing to come over?”
Ma Jiugu, standing by the pill furnace in the firelight, finally spoke.
Yue Qianchou seemed to be roasted senseless, feeling drowsy with buzzing in his ears. He didn’t hear what she said at all.
Ma Jiugu was startled. She turned to look and discovered his predicament, immediately shouting:
“Why aren’t you circulating your energy to resist? With your cultivation level, do you want to die?”
Yan Zixia was wondering what her great-grandmother’s earlier words meant when she also turned and noticed his dire situation, showing a trace of anxiety.
Shocked awake by Ma Jiugu’s shout, Yue Qianchou came to his senses. He circulated his true qi, trying hard to dispel the heat in his body. His somewhat dull and reddened eyes became alert again, though he still felt hot.
He thought to himself: ‘This is more intense than a sauna within a sauna.’
Seeing him awake, Ma Jiugu repeated her earlier words: “We’re still short of an assistant here. Would you be willing to come over?”
“Ah! Yes, yes, of course I’m willing!”
This was exactly what he’d been dreaming of—how could he not be willing? At least it was better than carrying manure all day! After his joy, he frowned again and said:
“I’m just afraid Elder Fei won’t agree.”
“You don’t need to worry about Ferdinand.”
Ma Jiugu looked toward the pill furnace, whose fragrance was becoming increasingly rich: “This batch of pills is ready.”
She tapped the pill furnace with her walking stick, and the furnace lid popped open with a “bang.” Rich, clear fragrance surged in all directions. More than ten dark shadows emerged from the furnace. Ma Jiugu lightly waved her sleeve, and the shadows were drawn in, then placed into the storage bag at her waist.
She tapped her walking stick on the ground again, producing a sound like metal striking stone. The bottom of the pill furnace went dark, instantly losing its fire light.
Yue Qianchou could feel the temperature slowly dropping and couldn’t help but marvel secretly. There must be some kind of mechanism installed below—this really was a great place for pill refining.
Ma Jiugu leaned on her walking stick, turned to Yan Zixia and said: “He’ll be your assistant from now on.”
After speaking, she walked unsteadily up the steps.
Yan Zixia was stunned, her pretty face slightly reddening. She understood that her great-grandmother might have heard her words and was trying to help her. She stole a glance at Yue Qianchou.
The latter, however, was obliviously watching Ma Jiugu and sighing inwardly. If you didn’t know better, who would know that this person who seemed unable to walk steadily was actually a cultivator with late-stage Tribulation Crossing cultivation?
Suddenly, he saw Ma Jiugu, who had walked to the top, turn around and stare at him, asking:
“Boy, let me ask you something. What’s the name of that song you were yelling about outside?”
Yue Qianchou scratched his head embarrassedly: “I sang it on a whim. Let’s just call it ‘A Laugh from the Vast Sea’!”
“Oh!” Ma Jiugu turned and shook her head: “Laugh away, laugh away. I’m too old to laugh anymore. I’ll leave the laughing to you young people. Ah! It’s good to be young!”
Watching the old woman leave, Yue Qianchou bowed and scraped to Yan Zixia: “Aunt Yan.”
Looking at his fawning appearance, Yan Zixia giggled. She thought to herself: ‘This person acts quite convincingly. He’s already been exposed, yet he’s still pretending.’
Her eyes turned, and she asked: “Yue Qianchou, let me ask you about someone. I wonder if you know him?”
Yue Qianchou was puzzled in his heart but still respectfully said: “Please ask, Aunt. Yue Qianchou will definitely tell you everything I know.”
“That’s good.”
Yan Zixia moved with lotus steps, slowly saying: “In recent years, two songs have been circulating in the cultivation world. One is called ‘White Fox,’ and the other is called ‘Butterfly Lovers Dream.’ I heard they were composed by an insignificant disciple of the Azure Light Sect. That person’s name also seems to be Yue Qianchou. I wonder if you know him?”
Yue Qianchou’s expression changed, then returned to normal. This matter absolutely couldn’t be known by others, no matter what. Otherwise, Floating Immortal Island would definitely consider him a spy sent by the Azure Light Sect. This was one of the most taboo things in the cultivation world.
He shook his head without hesitation: “I don’t know him, and I haven’t heard of those two songs either. To think there’s someone with the same name as me—I really didn’t expect that. Aunt must have met him. I wonder what he looks like?”
“I’ve naturally met him.”
Yan Zixia stared at him with a playful smile in her eyes: “Not only have I met him, I’ve also spoken with him, and I’ve even heard him play the qin and sing by the seaside. The strangest thing is, his appearance is exactly the same as yours.”
Yue Qianchou’s heart started beating wildly. Her words were too obvious—she was clearly talking about him. But he definitely hadn’t seen her when he was at the Azure Light Sect. She was very likely trying to trick him.
He said in surprise: “Ah! There’s actually someone in this world who looks so much like me—not only the exact same name, but even the exact same appearance. Aunt, if you get the chance, you must take me to meet him. He might even be a relative!”
Yan Zixia was stunned. ‘I practically said outright that you’re the Yue Qianchou from the Azure Light Sect. I didn’t expect that even after being so obvious, he’d still pretend not to know. His face is really thick…’
After thinking for a moment, she understood. A sect disciple who hadn’t been expelled from his sect yet secretly joined another sect—anyone would consider him a spy. This was a major taboo in the cultivation world, a matter of life and death. Her question had been too rash.
Yan Zixia said nothing more and simply said: “If you don’t know him, then forget it. Let’s go back to the Mulberry Grass Garden.”
