"My pet was taken away by you..." a chilling voice echoed.

Mo Wuji and Yin Qianyin could now see clearly that it was a woman so faint she was almost a shadow. Her face was blurred, making it impossible to discern her features.

The eerie atmosphere within the stone cave intensified, sending an involuntary shiver down Mo Wuji's spine. He felt as though the air around him was about to freeze, though nothing actually changed.

Yin Qianyin suddenly tossed out the pouch restraining the Life Devouring Beast. "Senior Yanfei, this junior was unaware that the Life Devouring Beast had an owner. Please forgive me, Senior. Junior Brother Mo, we shouldn't stay here and disturb her..."

Fu Yanfei? Mo Wuji didn't know how Yin Qianyin recognized her. However, seeing Yin Qianyin's expression, he suspected she was making it up; the person before them wasn't Fu Yanfei at all. As for the reason for the fabrication, he couldn't fathom it.

"Since you're here, don't even think about leaving. Did that old thing Zhuo Wuhen not tell you that Wuhen Sword Mountain isn't a place one can enter casually?" the shadow said, extending a withered, white hand towards Mo Wuji's head.

Mo Wuji tried to move, but he was completely immobilized.

Yin Qianyin abruptly spat out a mouthful of blood, her previously restrained hand suddenly rising. With it, she thrust her long sword forward, seemingly loosening the icy grip on the space around Mo Wuji.

"Junior Brother Mo, this is all I can do for you. Run!" After unleashing this strike, Yin Qianyin was sent flying backward like a shooting star.

Mo Wuji didn't blame Yin Qianyin. At this moment, self-preservation was paramount. Yin Qianyin couldn't save him; managing to break the ice around him before fleeing was already a great favor.

Mo Wuji didn't follow Yin Qianyin's path of escape. He understood a simple truth: when chased by wolves, you don't need to outrun the wolves; you just need to outrun your companion. Now, his companion was Yin Qianyin, and there was no way he could outrun her.

This applied to Yin Qianyin, but not to him. Yin Qianyin's loosening of his restraints before leaving, though intended to help, might also have included the thought of him providing a momentary distraction.

Perhaps Yin Qianyin knew that even with Mo Wuji providing a distraction, she still couldn't escape the shadow woman.

The moment he could move, Mo Wuji didn't flee; instead, he quickly bent down, drew his sharp knife, and stabbed out.

"Ahh..." a wretched scream accompanied a bolt of blue lightning as it flew backward. In an instant, Mo Wuji understood: though powerful, the shadow woman feared his lightning arc.

With this realization, Mo Wuji turned and bolted, sprinting out of the cave at full speed.

The shadow woman's power was immense, unbelievably so. Although he had managed to wound her with his lightning arc when she was caught off guard, if he didn't leave and she realized he was a paper tiger, his end would be tragic.

Perhaps Mo Wuji's lightning arc had an effect. As he burst through the vines at the cave entrance, the shadow woman still hadn't given chase.

Just as Mo Wuji emerged from the cave, a dizzying, disorienting force enveloped him. Alarmed, he thought the shadow woman had targeted him again. But when he turned back and saw her emerging from the vine-covered entrance, he knew that the force engulfing him wasn't her doing.

As the shadow woman's withered hand reached for him once more, Mo Wuji was swept away by the swirling force and vanished from the spot.

...

A heavy landing sent Mo Wuji staggering back several steps, nearly causing him to fall. He found himself in the middle of the stone hall where he had been teleported to Wuhen Sword Mountain.

Besides himself, he saw Yin Qianyin, Qu Pill Master, and another person he didn't recognize.

Thirteen people had entered, but only four had emerged. Less than a third had survived. Stone Pill Master hadn't made it either; it seemed he had met a grim fate. Mo Wuji felt a pang of melancholy. Though Stone Pill Master wasn't the best at alchemy, had terrible aptitude, and was quick-tempered, he was a straightforward person without hidden agendas.

Seeing Mo Wuji emerge, a flicker of surprise crossed Yin Qianyin's eyes. In truth, she felt guilty for not being able to bring Mo Wuji out with her. As for Mo Wuji's meager possessions, she didn't care for them.

Qu Pill Master also saw Mo Wuji, his eyes filled with disbelief. Mo Wuji was just a medicine boy; how could a medicine boy survive the problems with the teleportation array?

Before they could speak, a group of people hurried into the hall, led by Gu Ran, the Sect Master of Wuhen Sword Sect.

Gu Ran visibly sighed in relief when he saw Yin Qianyin. He immediately said, "The teleportation array to Wuhen Sword Mountain suddenly malfunctioned, causing heavy losses to our Wuhen Sword Sect. Fortunately, four people have returned, including three pill masters. This is the best of a bad situation."

"Sect Master, let's return to the main hall to discuss this," an elder said, also relieved to see Yin Qianyin.

"Huh? Aren't you Stone Pill Master's medicine boy? How are you still alive?" Someone finally noticed Mo Wuji.

The Sect Master, who was preoccupied with Yin Qianyin's well-being, now focused his attention on Mo Wuji. He had wondered why Mo Wuji was still alive but had been too concerned about Yin Qianyin to ask.

Mo Wuji quickly bowed. "Replying to the Sect Elders, this junior was rescued by Pill Master Yin, which is why I managed to survive."

With so many Sect Elders present, Mo Wuji didn't think he was qualified to call Yin Qianyin "Senior Sister."

"Oh? Is that so?" The Sect Master and the Elders turned their gazes to Yin Qianyin.

Yin Qianyin nodded. "Indeed. I happened to encounter Junior Brother Mo who was injured, so I helped him. Later, I learned that Junior Brother Mo comes from a long line of alchemists. Although his spiritual roots are a little weak, he has extraordinary insight into the Dao of Pills. When I saw him..."

Mo Wuji quickly interjected, "I must also thank Senior Sister Yin for her teachings. If not for Senior Sister Yin's diligent guidance, I wouldn't be able to become a true pill master."

Yin Qianyin was slightly puzzled. When she saw Mo Wuji, he was already a Grade 1 Human Pill Master, only one step away from being a Grade 2 Human Pill Master. In fact, she hadn't really guided Mo Wuji much, only pointing out a few things. Though she didn't understand why Mo Wuji was attributing the credit to her, she didn't say much.

"You're a pill master?" Gu Ran looked at Mo Wuji in surprise. He had never heard of a servant disciple's medicine boy suddenly transforming into a pill master.

Yin Qianyin answered for Mo Wuji. "Yes, Sect Master. Junior Brother Mo is not only a pill master, but also a Grade 2 Human Pill Master. He was able to advance to Grade 2 Human Pill Master because I gave him some guidance. But the main reason is his talent in alchemy. His talent is even stronger than mine."

Remembering Mo Wuji's earlier words, Yin Qianyin voluntarily took the credit for Mo Wuji's advancement to Grade 2 Human Pill Master.

"So that's how it is." Gu Ran, the Sect Master of Wuhen Sword Sect, his eyes lighting up after hearing Yin Qianyin's words. "So Wuji is a Grade 2 Human Pill Master. Qianyin, why not let Wuji become an official pill master of my Wuhen Sword Sect..."

Qu Pill Master, who had been displeased with Mo Wuji, looked awful. A medicine boy was going to sit at the same level as him. However, now that Mo Wuji was a Grade 2 Human Pill Master, he had no reason to object.

However, Yin Qianyin said at this moment, "Although Junior Brother Mo is a Grade 2 Human Pill Master, and his alchemy talent is extremely amazing, his spiritual roots are not very good..."

Yin Qianyin didn't finish her words, but she reminded Qu Pill Master, who quickly added, "Sect Master, Senior Sister Yin is right. Junior Brother Mo was previously a servant disciple, with poor cultivation aptitude. A pill master not only needs alchemy talent, but if his cultivation aptitude is too poor, it will be difficult for him to take another step forward in his life. A pill master who cannot advance, will ultimately affect the sect if he joins Wuhen Sword Sect..."

Gu Ran, the Sect Master of Wuhen Sword Sect, also calmed down. The sect's own pill masters needed a lot of resources. A pill master who couldn't advance wasn't good for the sect.

"Sect Master, I think it would be better to let Pill Master Mo become a guest pill master of the sect. This would be most appropriate," Yin Qianyin said again.

Even Qu Pill Master followed behind and agreed, "A guest pill master's resources in the sect are completely incomparable to the sect's own pill master. If pill masters want to advance, the most important thing besides talent is alchemy resources. Without resources, what's the point of having talent?"

Gu Ran and the Elders were very touched. Although Yin Qianyin's alchemy talent was amazing, she was slightly lacking in other areas. Even if they wanted Mo Wuji to become a guest pill master, they shouldn't mention it in front of Mo Wuji. This would cause Mo Wuji's gratitude towards her to disappear.

Now that Yin Qianyin had brought it up, Gu Ran had no choice but to ask, "Pill Master Mo, do you have any intention of becoming a guest pill master of my Wuhen Sword Sect?"

Becoming a guest pill master of Wuhen Sword Sect was something that Mo Wuji and Yin Qianyin had already discussed. Now that the Sect Master of Wuhen Sword Sect was asking him, Mo Wuji naturally said without hesitation, "Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master. I am willing to become a guest pill master of Wuhen Sword Sect."

The Elders and Sect Master Gu Ran of Wuhen Sword Sect exchanged glances, thinking that a servant disciple was indeed easier to talk to.

(Today's update is here. Good night, friends!)