Long Aotian, taken aback by finding Ye Chen alone at night, inquired, "Junior Brother, what brings you here at this hour?"

Just concluding his sword practice, he intended to hunt venison for dinner, not anticipating encountering his new Junior Brother.

Upon hearing Long Aotian's query, Ye Chen responded, "Senior Brother, Master tasked me with understanding the method of creating non-toxic pills. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, my slow comprehension hinders me. Thus, I'm relying on diligence to compensate for my lack of understanding. That's why I'm still engrossed in comprehending the Dao of Alchemy here late in the night."

Master had instructed Ye Chen to comprehend the Dao of Alchemy. Long Aotian marveled at the challenge presented to his Junior Brother. Even he couldn't fathom that Greater Dao. What was Master thinking?

Intrigued, Long Aotian's curiosity surged.

Observing the new Junior Brother delving into such profound Dao in the dead of night, Long Aotian couldn't help but express skepticism: "Junior Brother, are you certain Master instructed you to comprehend it here?"

Ye Chen responded with a friendly demeanor, "Yes, Senior Brother. I chose to pursue the Dao of Alchemy, and Master left it to me to comprehend it. However, my aptitude is lacking, and I'm still struggling to grasp it."

"But Master mentioned that Senior Brother instantly comprehended something the first day you arrived. It demonstrates your remarkable perception. Junior Brother sincerely hopes that Eldest Senior Brother can offer guidance. I don't want to disappoint Master!"

Long Aotian blushed at the praise, wondering if Master had really made such remarks. It appeared his Master might be using him as an example to teach his Junior Brother a lesson, aiming to curb any potential arrogance.

Elated at the idea that Master was satisfied with his progress, Long Aotian thought about the future inheritance of the Wujin Bianhua Sect. As for the new Junior Brother, he considered the possibility that Master assigned him to help manage the sect.

With these thoughts racing through his mind, Long Aotian said, "Junior Brother, if you're struggling with the Dao of Alchemy, I'll help you. I can briefly ordain the power of heaven for you to better comprehend your Dao."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Seating himself in a meditative posture, Long Aotian directed Ye Chen, "Junior Brother, assume a meditative position. I'll do what I can."

Following his instructions, Ye Chen swiftly settled into meditation. Long Aotian closed his eyes and began chanting in an unfamiliar tongue.

A faint luminescence emanated from the white mark on his forehead, rendering him conspicuous amidst the darkness.

Long Aotian was determined. It seemed this Junior Brother's perceptivity was remarkably low, potentially burdening Master in the future. As the Eldest Senior Brother, it was his duty to share Master's responsibilities.

He resolved to care for and support his Junior Brother to expedite his growth. Long Aotian believed that upon learning of his efforts, Master would be immensely pleased.

Gradually, weariness enveloped Ye Chen's mind, and his consciousness was drawn into a celestial rift that materialized in the sky.

Ye Chen, in his soul form, opened his eyes. He looked at his surroundings and found out that he was high in the sky. He watched as everything beneath appeared to be very small. He then looked at the stars in the sky.

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A daring notion took root in Ye Chen's mind. His Master's guidance to abandon tainted herbs and shape pills using heaven and earth energies inspired an audacious plan. He intended to harness the moon's power, aided by his Senior Brother, to refine a pill.

Contemplating how, as a mortal, he lacked the requisite spiritual energy to commune directly with the moon, Ye Chen realized he must rely on his Senior Brother's assistance. By using power of heaven, he aimed to establish a link through moon and refine a potent Yin Pill.

Murmuring to himself, Ye Chen plotted his approach, confident in refining a potent yin pill with the moon's cold qi, driven by the urgency caused by Long Aotian's interference with heaven's order. Despite his limited perception, he held firm belief in achieving the impossible with his Senior Brother's aid.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen centered himself, shutting his eyes to commence meditation. As he did, an image materialized in his mind's eye—a colossal sphere, adorned by a blend of extreme yin Qi and cold Qi, surrounded by a dazzling galaxy of stars.

"It's the moon," Ye Chen thought, recognizing its pivotal role in sustaining life in the Wu Xian world.

While deep in meditation, his mind stayed remarkably lucid. Gazing at this vivid mental image, he swiftly began carving a path for yin qi from the moon to the Wujin Bianhua sect.

As Ye Chen redirected the spiritual energy, suddenly thudding sound of his heartbeat reverberated intensely, echoing like war drums from a distance, stirring the blood of anyone who heard it. Simultaneously, ancient blue symbols materialized on Ye Chen's chest, swiftly transforming into beams of light that streaked toward the moon.

Amidst the transformation, the moon, veiled by dark clouds, suddenly radiated a brilliant light. Its once gentle glow intensified, and a beam of moonlight descended upon Ye Chen, empowering him. Swiftly rising, he gestured, weaving hand seals to unleash extreme Yin power. As he did, a colossal spiritual cauldron, crafted from the moon's cold Qi, materialized, spanning a radius of 1,000 meters.

These ancient runes facilitated the absorption of copious Yin Qi, drawn by a mysterious force, into the cauldron. Inside, the Qi underwent purification, transmuting into pure spiritual energy—an act fueled by the borrowed power of the heavens, temporarily granted by Long Aotian.

Through this celestial power, Yin Qi transformed into purified energy, coalescing into a potent pill within the cauldron and emitting intense fluctuations. Ye Chen seized the pill, and in an instant, the surroundings faded, as if the entire event had been erased.

"Master! Senior Brother! I've succeeded!" Ye Chen exclaimed, a surge of emotion welling within him. Despite his eagerness to share his accomplishment, he acknowledged the disturbance his communion with the Lunar Star had caused.

Upon successfully refining the pill, Ye Chen also gained insights into his situation concerning his previously destroyed spiritual roots. Through the refining process, he awakened what was known as the Heart of Alchemy.

Individuals possessing the Heart of Alchemy exhibited exceptional talent in the art of alchemy. However, a peculiar stipulation accompanied this gift—it was utterly incompatible with the possession of spirit roots. The coexistence of both talents would render their abilities excessively transcendent, unsettling the natural order to an extent intolerable even to the heavens.

This incongruity led to the deliberate destruction of the spirit roots of those blessed with the Heart of Alchemy. The heavens enacted this measure to diminish their excessively formidable potential, ensuring they remained less disruptive to the cosmic balance.

Fortuitously, during the pill refinement, the heavens' power graced him, inadvertently lifting the curse and healing his afflicted spiritual roots.

The incredible stroke of luck owed entirely to his Senior Brother's ability to harness celestial power—a debt Ye Chen vowed never to forget.

...

Ye Chen's communion with the Lunar Star had indeed drawn the attention of numerous experts, but their attempts to discern the event's location and nature ended in futility.

Meanwhile, within the Immortal Drunken Inn in Maple Leaf City...

Ming Xuan, engrossed in jovial banter, held the shopkeeper's hand with a cheerful demeanor. "Come now; there is no need for formality. Join in the feast! Guests should indulge—oh, my apologies; I mean, I am the guest here. I'm sorry, pardon me."

"Waiter!" he called out between bites. "Bring another plate of fish; your shopkeeper here seems to have devoured this one entirely. None left for me now."

As Ming Xuan continued to eat voraciously, managing the dishes with remarkable speed, the shopkeeper watched in growing dismay. Though cultivators of the Mahayana Realm had no real need for mortal sustenance, Ming Xuan's gluttony was a spectacle in itself.

Throughout the day and into the night, Ming Xuan relished each bite while effortlessly using his spiritual power to digest the food—a scene that left the shopkeeper increasingly perturbed. Unable to offend a Mahayana Realm cultivator, he resigned himself to Ming Xuan's insatiable appetite.

Amidst this dining spectacle, a radiant beam of moonlight suddenly flooded the inn from outside.

Ming Xuan and the shopkeeper both paused, peering outside. Ming Xuan's eyes widened as he spotted the radiant moon in the sky. "Is today the Christmas Eve?"

The shopkeeper, noticing the commotion, whispered, "It could be a nearby sect's genius breaking through or the birth of a heavenly treasure. Big brother, why not take a look?"

But Ming Xuan shook his head. "What's the use? We're cultivators; our focus should be on diligent cultivation, not chasing after every glint of moonlight for treasures."

He chuckled inwardly. What good were heavenly treasures to him, a Mahayana Realm cultivator? Rushing there would only make him a pawn in someone else's game.

Turning the conversation around, Ming Xuan asked about a book he had requested. "Have you found the basic Qi refinement technique book?"

The shopkeeper nodded, puzzled. "Why do you need it? It's simple even for someone with minimal understanding."

Offended, Ming Xuan took the book, masking his irritation. "I have a friend who needs guidance. It's my duty to help."

The shopkeeper continued, "Cut ties with such friends. They won't match your future."

Ming Xuan's expression darkened.

"What do you mean? They are not worthy?"

He was offended by the shopkeeper's words and couldn't help but think, "Shopkeeper, you're pushing it. Haven't I taught you enough of a lesson?"