Dan Ding Peak, Alchemy Hall.

The sunlight bathed the alchemy cauldrons, from which wisps of bluish smoke rose, carrying the fragrant aroma of elixirs. Disciples bustled around the cauldrons, their movements lively and purposeful. Elder Xue’s personal disciples each led a group, managing their tasks with precision—some processed materials, others monitored the furnace temperature, while a few worked on refining the pills.

Everything appeared orderly and solemn.

But just moments ago, Tang Xiaobao had brought over an extremely peculiar "pill recipe."

He even instructed them to halt all ongoing work and focus entirely on crafting this new concoction.

"This is Elder Xue’s order," Tang Xiaobao chirped.

"But... why?"

Qiu Xi scanned the list of ingredients, his forehead creasing as his lips twitched uncontrollably.

Beef tallow... dried chili peppers... soy sauce...

This is something you’d ask the kitchen for! What are we, a dining hall?!

"Junior Brother Li Mo is heading to the Imperial Capital soon. He needs these pills to boost his strength," Tang Xiaobao explained earnestly.

Li Mo and the "Ice Block" (a nickname for another disciple) were now the sect’s most treasured talents. The moment Xue Jing heard Li Mo had a request, he immediately prioritized it, pushing aside all other tasks.

"What?"

Qiu Xi looked baffled. Boost strength? What kind of strength could this possibly enhance?

The strength of his soft, pudgy belly?

"Junior Brother Xiaobao, are you sure you didn’t mix up the recipe Li Mo gave you?"

"I’m certain. These are the exact ingredients."

Tang Xiaobao nodded firmly.

As Dan Ding Peak’s humanoid walking herb analyzer, the chance of him making a mistake was slim.

Which meant the problem lay elsewhere...

Qiu Xi turned to the woman in a blue dress beside him.

"Junior Sister Fang, perhaps you should examine Li Mo. Maybe he’s been training too hard lately, and the stress has affected his... mental state."

"Mm, it does sound serious. We should check on him."

The two exchanged solemn glances before leading Tang Xiaobao toward the main hall.

Meanwhile, in the main hall...

"Xiao Mo, have you been feeling unwell lately?"

"Hm?"

Li Mo had just picked up his teacup when Elder Xue fixed him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"I don’t feel sick. If anything, I’ve never been healthier..."

"Still, I’d better examine you."

"Alright."

Li Mo rolled up his sleeve and extended his wrist for Elder Xue to check his pulse.

After a moment, Xue Jing muttered in confusion, "Strange... His pulse is normal. Then what’s the issue...?"

"Master, I suspect Junior Brother Li’s illness isn’t physical... but rather... his mind!"

"?"

Li Mo blinked as Qiu Xi and Fang Hong entered with Tang Xiaobao. A tiny question mark seemed to float above his head.

Seriously? Calling someone mentally ill right off the bat—is this how alchemists greet each other? No wonder people say alchemists are eccentric...

Xue Jing cleared his throat and introduced, "This is my second disciple, Xi Miao. Her talent in alchemy rivals my own, and she’s developed many potent pills."

Then he gestured to the sharp-faced woman.

"And this is Fang Hong. She’s inherited my medical expertise, surpassing even my skills..."

"Right now, they oversee the Alchemy Hall. Your request will be handled by them personally."

Li Mo nodded. "Understood. If they’re Elder Xue’s disciples, I have full confidence in them."

"Junior Brother Li, but we have no confidence in you!"

Qiu Xi couldn’t hold back his concern.

Fang Hong narrowed her eyes, studying Li Mo as if diagnosing an illness.

"I know of a vile curse that warps the victim’s perception. They might mistake dirt and stones for delicacies, or even treasure... certain unspeakable things from the latrine."

"..."

Li Mo glanced at Elder Xue, silently implying that the old man was better suited to address this.

"Why are you looking at me?!"

Xue Jing glared, finding his grand-disciple’s gaze rather impolite.

Fang Hong continued, "Moreover, those afflicted develop peach-blossom-like red marks on their necks..."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s eyes locked onto Li Mo’s neck.

Li Mo, puzzled, pulled out a mirror from his spatial storage and checked. His body stiffened.

"!"

There really was a mark!

Wait—no! What kind of curse nonsense is this? He almost fell for it.

Li Mo coughed lightly. "This is actually a seal. The Ice Block helped me apply it."

"A seal for what?" Qiu Xi frowned.

"Mosquito bites."

"????"

Fang Hong grew even more convinced. "Master, see? Junior Brother Li is clearly suffering from a spiritual disorder!"

"Enough. He’s fine."

Xue Jing sighed, his gaze carrying a hint of pity as he looked at the two.

Combined, your wits still wouldn’t match Xiaobao’s...

Qiu Xi pressed, "Then why did Junior Brother Li ask us to refine that bizarre concoction?"

"Oh, that’s what this is about."

Li Mo adjusted his collar to cover his neck. "The seasoning packets aren’t meant to boost my cultivation directly. They’re not even for me—they’re for the people of the Southern Border."

"Besides, though it looks simple, I wasn’t sure you could even make it."

The Nine Heavens and Ten Lands lacked the industrialization of his previous life.

Tang Xiaobao had only identified the raw ingredients.

Whether alchemy could replicate the taste of instant noodles was something Li Mo wasn’t sure of.

But the power of collective faith was crucial to him.

He was counting on these seasoning packets to help him manifest his divine projection sooner...

"What do you mean, ‘not sure we could make it’? I’ll prove—"

Qiu Xi couldn’t tolerate anyone doubting his skills.

Fang Hong tugged his sleeve and interjected, "Master, we’d gladly assist Junior Brother Li, but we still have a batch of pills for the Crimson Whale Gang. Missing the deadline would mean tenfold compensation."

"Then compensate them."

"It’s a huge sum..."

"No problem. I’ll cover it."

Li Mo dipped into his spatial storage, then reconsidered—there wasn’t enough space to haul out a literal gold mountain.

Thud—

One crate after another landed on the floor.

When opened, the dazzling gleam of gold illuminated the entire hall.

Were they compensating the Crimson Whale Gang... or buying it outright?

Qiu Xi’s stern expression melted into bewilderment before hardening with resolve.

He turned to Fang Hong and declared gravely,

"How could we delay Junior Brother Li’s matter? This is for the welfare of the Southern Border’s people! Where’s your sense of duty?"

Fang Hong: "..."

And so, in the following days, Dan Ding Peak remained as busy as ever.

Only now, the soothing scent of elixirs gradually gave way to something more... culinary.

Several days later...

With a pair of self-made sunglasses tucked away, Li Mo arrived at the Happy Lamb Hotpot Restaurant.

And what a coincidence—

The moment he stepped in, he overheard roving martial artists, flushed with drink, chatting animatedly.

"The Hidden Dragon Ranking is stirring up quite the storm this time."

"Who’d have thought someone from our Purple Sun Prefecture would make it into the top three!"