Chapter 176: Corefire of the Earth
Qian Tao gave Gu Mo a thorough once-over, confirming that this man wasn't from his own branch—meaning he must be a disciple from another lineage.
That immediately made Qian Tao suspect that perhaps another branch had also begun investing in alchemists.
"What level are you here to certify for, junior brother? If it's for first- or second-tier alchemist, I can handle it," Qian Tao asked.
As a third-tier alchemist himself, Qian Tao was qualified to conduct certification for both first- and second-tier alchemists.
"Third-tier."
Gu Mo stated his intention openly—there was no need to hide this kind of information; it wasn't some critical secret.
"In that case, follow me."
Hearing that Gu Mo was here to certify for third-tier alchemist, Qian Tao was visibly surprised. Clearly, the branch backing this junior brother was fully committed to developing alchemists—they had already produced a third-tier one.
That level of alchemist could easily lead an entire team.
Gu Mo followed Qian Tao to a building shaped like a giant cauldron. The moment they approached, Gu Mo caught a thick, fragrant whiff of medicinal aroma.
The scent hit his nose and instantly invigorated his mind. For a fragrance alone to have such an effect, the pill being refined inside had to be fourth-tier.
Even though Shennong Valley wasn't known for its strength in alchemy, the sect still had fourth-tier alchemists—and it was the same for other professions too.
What a top-tier sect considered a "weaker discipline" still outclassed the strengths of most Nascent Soul-level sects. That was the true foundation of a top-tier sect.
Knowing that the Elder Liu he sought was currently refining a pill, Gu Mo simply waited outside in silence.
After several hours, the potent fragrance suddenly withdrew—an obvious sign that the pill was complete. As an alchemist himself, Gu Mo could instantly judge from this alone whether the process had succeeded.
Sure enough, before long, a tall woman in green emerged from within. A faint pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator radiated from her body.
"Greetings, Elder Liu," Gu Mo said respectfully.
As someone who had reviewed detailed records on Shennong Valley's Nascent Soul elders, Gu Mo had no trouble identifying her, even though this was their first meeting.
"Mm."
Liu Shulan gave Gu Mo a brief glance and nodded slightly, then turned her attention to Qian Tao.
"Master, this junior brother is here for third-tier alchemist certification," Qian Tao quickly stepped forward and explained Gu Mo's purpose.
"Third-tier alchemist?"
Liu Shulan gave Gu Mo a more thorough look. She was certain he wasn't her own disciple—so when had another alchemist lineage popped up in Shennong Valley?
"Come in."
Though puzzled, she didn't ask further. Certifying alchemists within the sect was her lineage's responsibility.
Gu Mo followed Liu Shulan into the cauldron-shaped building and was immediately greeted by rows of alchemical equipment. His eyes lit up at the sight of several furnaces lined along one wall.
Truth be told, he still lacked a truly high-quality pill furnace. If he could get his hands on one here, it would definitely elevate his alchemy to a whole new level.
But just from appearance alone, Gu Mo could tell these furnaces were anything but ordinary. He didn't have the kind of influence or relationship it would take to make a Nascent Soul elder part with one of her treasured tools.
And if these were the ones just placed off to the side, then what kind of grade was the main furnace in the center?
"You can choose one of these furnaces. You'll be given three sets of materials. Succeed once, and you pass," Liu Shulan said, gesturing toward the row of furnaces.
"Yes, ma'am," Gu Mo replied, then moved over to select the herbs he needed from the nearby storage.
If Shennong Valley lacked anything, it certainly wasn't spirit herbs—they had those in abundance.
"Hm?"
Liu Shulan narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched Gu Mo picking out herbs. As a fourth-tier alchemist, she instantly recognized what pill these ingredients were for.
Since there was no need to hold back when it came to skill, Gu Mo naturally aimed straight for the most difficult third-tier pill he could reliably refine—the Condensed Gold Pill.
"That's the formula for Condensed Gold Pill!" Qian Tao exclaimed, also realizing what Gu Mo had chosen. His eyes filled with disbelief. Even for him, that particular pill was still out of reach.
Condensed Gold Pills, like Foundation Establishment Pills, were considered breakthrough-grade. Within the same tier, they ranked among the most challenging to make. Anyone who could refine them was already operating at the peak of that tier.
Once he'd selected his materials, Gu Mo examined the available furnaces before settling on a middle-of-the-road one. Though average-looking, its build and functionality were solid—it was clearly a top-tier magical artifact.
Compared to the others, which were also of the same high grade but had specialized functions—such as one fiery red furnace that could amplify flame temperature and was more suited to unique recipes—this furnace focused on core performance.
But the Condensed Gold Pill didn't require those specialty boosts. What it needed was precision and stability.
With the furnace chosen, the next step was to ignite the flame.
At the third-tier level, alchemists typically used Pillfire, a flame condensed from their Golden Core. Those with special alchemy inheritances might have refined unique flames, while those from powerful backgrounds might even use Heavenly Fires or Spirit Flames.
Gu Mo could already sense a special fire in the central cauldron—clearly a type of Heavenly Fire. He wasn't surprised. With Shennong Valley's deep resources, possessing a few of these rare flames was to be expected.
That made Gu Mo want this place even more—not just for the furnaces, but also for that rare fire.
Of course, if he wanted any of those, he'd have to offer Elder Liu something truly valuable in exchange.
No one gives away true treasures for nothing—not even for spirit stones. Real treasures are beyond monetary value.
Fortunately, Gu Mo had just the thing to pique Elder Liu's interest. With that in mind, he took out a wooden stump—it was the Torch Tree Stump.
When it came to refining the Condensed Gold Pill, using this stump offered the highest chance of success. No other fire could match the precision control it provided.
This wasn't just his secret weapon for the certification—it was also his bargaining chip for dealing with Elder Liu.
As a Golden Core-ranked spirit cultivator, it was perfectly natural for him to bring out some rare spiritual flora.
The only thing Gu Mo truly needed to keep secret was the Sunflower, but showing off other plants? If they could be exchanged for even greater benefits, he wouldn't hesitate.
"What the heck is that?"
Qian Tao had been watching closely, eager to see how this unknown junior brother would attempt a pill he himself couldn't manage.
Then, he saw Gu Mo pull out a stump—and couldn't help but feel utterly dumbfounded.
"Silence."
Liu Shulan gave a sharp rebuke. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, she had already seen through some of the unique traits of the Torch Tree Stump.
With preparations complete, it was now time for Gu Mo to put on his performance.
And his performance, in Liu Shulan's eyes, scored an 80 out of 100. His alchemical technique was decent—above average at best—but his flame control? A perfect score. She could say with certainty that even if she herself handled the flames, her control wouldn't surpass his.
In other words, this third-tier alchemist possessed fourth-tier flame control ability.
"No... this isn't his own skill—it's that spiritual plant!"
After her brief shock, Liu Shulan quickly realized the truth.
Aside from being a fourth-tier alchemist, Liu Shulan was also a third-tier spirit cultivator. Recalling Gu Mo's entire process, she could confidently deduce that the exquisite flame control he exhibited was all thanks to the stump.
This was a completely new type of spiritual plant, one that could assist in alchemy and artifact refinement.
"It's done."
Feeling the intense gaze behind him, Gu Mo was fairly certain he'd secured the furnace and the flame. And by "done," he wasn't just referring to the deal—it was also about the Condensed Gold Pill inside the furnace.
"This... this can't be!"
Qian Tao stood dumbfounded, staring at the unique phenomenon caused by the successful refinement. His expression was dazed. As someone who had always considered himself a prodigy in alchemy, he had just witnessed a younger alchemist successfully refine a Condensed Gold Pill.
"Elder Liu, please examine the pill."
Gu Mo respectfully presented the freshly completed Condensed Gold Pill.
"You've passed."
Liu Shulan took a deep breath. This wasn't merely a pass—Gu Mo was clearly at the peak of third-tier alchemy, with a strong potential to reach the fourth tier.
"However, this special spiritual plant of yours certainly deserves some of the credit," she added, unable to suppress her curiosity.
"Yes. This was something I managed to cultivate by chance, Elder. It's called the Torch Tree Stump. It has powerful auxiliary effects for both alchemy and artifact refinement." Gu Mo briefly explained its capabilities.
As he spoke, Qian Tao's eyes lit up with intensity—possibly even brighter than Gu Mo's when he first laid eyes on the furnaces. He was already imagining how having such a plant could compensate for his weakness in flame control. With it, he might actually succeed in refining the Condensed Gold Pill.
"Speak—what do you want in exchange?" Liu Shulan asked directly.
As someone who had lived for centuries, she saw right through Gu Mo's intentions—and she didn't mind. On the contrary, she was pleased that he was willing to trade such a special spiritual plant.
After all, most spirit cultivators were highly protective of their unique plants, terrified of having their techniques reverse-engineered. But Gu Mo showed no such fear.
"Elder Liu, I would like a pill furnace and a small seed of your flame," Gu Mo stated his terms.
"You can have the furnace, but not the flame."
Liu Shulan shook her head firmly. In her eyes, the value of the tree stump was not equal to that of the Corefire of the Earth, especially given the effort she had put into nurturing it.
The Corefire of the Earth came from deep within the planet. Unlike other types of Heavenly Fire that were wild and hard to control, this one was renowned for being the most stable and manageable.
Yet even with that stability, Liu Shulan still had to expend considerable effort every time she used it. Still, its ability to boost alchemical efficiency was massive and undeniable.
To raise this fire to its current strength, she had fed it countless rare materials—much of her income from pill refinement had gone into it. So for Gu Mo to casually request a seed of it? Naturally, she refused.
"Elder Liu, in truth, my Torch Tree Stump has another special trait," Gu Mo continued calmly. He wasn't surprised by her refusal. In fact, he was confident she would change her mind.
His confidence came from the Torch Tree Stump's ability to host Heavenly Fire—a huge boon for any alchemist or refiner who possessed one.
With the Torch Tree Stump, they no longer had to use expensive spiritual materials as fuel—drastically reducing the cost and effort of wielding a Heavenly Fire.
"Are you serious?"
Liu Shulan could hardly believe it. The fact that this plant could fine-tune fire control was impressive enough—but to think it could host a Heavenly Fire?
"You can test it yourself, Elder," Gu Mo said, gesturing toward the stump. As for the Iceflame Tree Stump, he chose not to reveal that just yet—one good thing at a time.
If Elder Liu had something else worth trading in the future, then he'd consider using the Iceflame's seed as leverage.
"Very well."
Liu Shulan was nothing if not decisive. She raised a hand and cast a technique toward the massive central cauldron. The lid opened, and a cluster of flame floated out at her command.
"A spiritual-weapon-grade pill furnace!"
The moment the central furnace opened, Gu Mo felt its spiritual essence—it wasn't weak. Clearly, this wasn't a low-grade spiritual tool.
For someone of Liu Shulan's standing in Shennong Valley, owning a mid- to high-grade spiritual pill furnace wasn't surprising. What was noteworthy, however, was the flame itself.
As it emerged, Gu Mo didn't sense heat, but rather the weight of the earth—a heaviness emanating from the fire itself.
Even he had to marvel: Heavenly Fires truly were wonders of the world. His own Iceflame brought searing cold, while this Corefire of the Earth brought a crushing, elemental weight.
"Go."
With a flick, Liu Shulan sent a wisp of the Corefire into the Torch Tree Stump, which Gu Mo had already suppressed to its lowest flame output.
Just like with the Iceflame, the Corefire immediately devoured the weaker residual fire and successfully inhabited the Torch Tree Stump.
"It really works!"
Seeing this, Liu Shulan was astonished. For a plant to host a Heavenly Fire—it was no ordinary thing.
What amazed her even more was that after housing the fire, the stump could draw in ambient spiritual energy to fuel it.
Just imagining all the precious materials she had burned through to feed her fire over the years brought tears to her eyes—even as a Nascent Soul cultivator. What kind of miserable days had she been living?
Now, with this stump, she could freely use her Corefire of the Earth for alchemy. Her pill output would surely skyrocket.
"Your terms are accepted."
Liu Shulan turned to Gu Mo, her expression now free of hesitation. In fact, she felt she might have gotten the better end of the deal.
After all, while Heavenly Fires were rare, there were still a few high-tier alchemists and refiners who had them. But Gu Mo's unique spiritual plant? That was truly one-of-a-kind.
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