Xiao Jue took out the Yin-Yang Cauldron and planned to refine a batch of Wind Spirit Pills. He had previously refined this fourth-grade elixir for Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, which could accelerate the cultivation of those with wind-attributed Dou Qi. The effect gradually decreased by 10% each time, and after taking the tenth pill, it had no effect.
Mo Linglin possessed wind-attributed Dou Qi, and the Wind Spirit Pills would be very helpful for her cultivation. Xiao Jue also planned to refine a batch of Three-Striped Green Spirit Pills and Na Qi Pills to use in winning over the hearts and minds of the people.
Subduing the Mo Clan was a piece of cake for Xiao Jue, mainly because he was quite satisfied with Mo Linglin, her obedience and her versatile ways of playing.
Xiao Jue had no interest in building a faction; he could leave that to Xiao Yan in the future. He would only be interested if that faction was filled with beautiful women.
To Xiao Jue, beautiful women held the same status as strange fire to Xiao Yan: if encountered, they must not be missed.
...
"Master, Senior Sister Nalan has come to the Mo Clan. She's Nalan Yanran, the Young Master of the Yunlan Sect."
Mo Linglin came to Xiao Jue in a tight red dress, looking quite alluring. A thigh-length leather skirt exposed her slender, snow-white legs to the air. The bruise Xiao Jue had caused a few days ago had long since healed.
"Nalan Yanran?"
Xiao Jue successfully condensed the Qi-gathering Pills in the Yin-Yang Cauldron and placed them into a jade bottle. He put away most of the bottles, leaving only ten.
After putting away the Yin-Yang Cauldron, Xiao Jue said, "Here are ten fourth-grade Wind Spirit Pills. Take one per month to accelerate your cultivation."
"Thank you, Master." Mo Linglin smiled sweetly and threw herself into Xiao Jue's arms.
...
Half an hour later, Mo Linglin lay on Xiao Jue's body, panting and said, "Great Elder Mo Cheng had a good relationship with Yunlan Sect, so after the news of his murder spread, Senior Sister Nalan came to express condolences on behalf of the Sect Master."
Mo Linglin was a disciple of Yunlan Sect, but just an ordinary disciple. She also had a cousin, Mo Li, a direct descendant of Mo Cheng, who was also in Yunlan Sect and was a disciple of an elder.
Xiao Jue asked, "Where are the others?"
"Some of the smaller families have their patriarchs come to mourn Mo Cheng. Others, like the Ye family, which boasts powerful Dou Ling masters, have sent elders to offer their condolences. The City Lord's Mansion also sent people at random."
Mo Linglin smiled sweetly and said, "Although it feels like everyone is pushing down the wall, Mo Cheng's death is also a good thing. Over the years, his mental state has become increasingly unstable, and my father was always worried that the head elder would lead the family into an abyss."
"And with the elixir given by the master, my father has also broken through to become a three-star Dou Ling. The Mo family's status in Yancheng will not be any worse than before."
Xiao Jue reached out and held Mo Linglin's head. She immediately rolled her eyes wildly. Xiao Jue narrowed his eyes. His soul power had already reached the late Mortal Realm, capable of covering the entire Mo family.
And now, he sensed something interesting: in a secret room, a young man and a middle-aged man were together.
The middle-aged man looked hesitant, while the young man had a gloomy expression. He said, "Dad, I don't want to sit here and wait for death. Grandpa is dead, and most of those who supported him have become fence-sitters. If we continue like this, we will definitely not end up well."
The middle-aged man sighed, "Mo Li, I know what you mean, but your grandfather is gone. Mo Lan has broken through to the Dou Ling level, and no one in the Mo family is his opponent."
"Besides, it wasn't Mo Lan who killed your grandfather. The Yunlan Sect wouldn't deal with Mo Lan for us. If we endure it for a while, they won't make things too difficult for us for the sake of the Yunlan Sect."
Mo Li's face looked ugly. He didn't understand why his father was so indecisive when his grandfather had always been insidious and cunning. He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "I plan to use the medicine that my grandfather gave me before. As long as I have a fait accompli with Nalan Yanran, there won't be any accidents."
"Dad, help me drug the food I send to Nalan Yanran, and then find a way to frame Mo Lan. Then you can become the head of the Mo family."
The middle-aged man was clearly beginning to hesitate. Seeing that he didn't immediately refuse, Mo Li quickly increased his pressure, trying to persuade him to fight with him.
...
"Hello, I'm Nalan Yanran."
Not long after, Mo Linglin and Xiao Jue arrived at a courtyard on the other side of the Mo family. This was where the Yunlan Sect's mourners for Mo Cheng were staying.
The woman wore a moon-white robe with wide sleeves and a tight, floor-length dress. A light silver belt cinched her waist, perfectly showcasing her slender figure.
The woman's hands were as delicate as catkins, her eyebrows were delicate, and her smile was charming, revealing a subtle sense of elegance and refinement. Her smile seemed gentle, but it also exuded a cold and distant aloofness.
A pair of green jade pendants dangled from the woman's delicate earlobes. As they swung, the gentle tinkling of the pendants evoked a moving melody, like the interplay of mountain springs and reefs.
The woman in the moon-white dress that greeted them was far superior to Mo Linglin, standing beside Xiao Jue, in both temperament and appearance. Standing next to each other, they made one feel a bit inferior.
She smiled faintly, "What happened with your cousin Xiao Yan back then was ultimately due to youthful recklessness and incomprehension. How is he now?"
Nalan Yanran knew Xiao Jue. Back in Wutan City, he had, through Ya Fei, arranged a trade between the Mitel and Nalan families, acquiring the Seven Illusions Azure Spirit Birth, promising to help Nalan Jie rid himself of the branding poison before the three-year agreement.
Regardless of any slight sense of guilt towards Xiao Yan for her actions, or her hope that Xiao Jue's "teacher" could help Nalan Jie rid himself of the branding poison, Nalan Yanran remained unfailingly friendly towards Xiao Jue.
"Thanks to you, Xiao Yan is doing well." Xiao Jue found a chair and sat down, his tone somewhat amused, looking at the old man standing behind Nalan Yanran.
The old man was wearing the same robes, a servant of the Yunlan Sect. He stood behind Nalan Yanran, his old eyes occasionally flashing with a sharp light, and the dry palms extended from his sleeves twisted slightly without rhythm, like sharp eagle claws.
"I'm sorry." Nalan Yanran lowered her head with a hint of guilt. Xiao Jue smiled indifferently and waved his hand, saying, "It's meaningless to say this to me. When you went to the Xiao family to break off the engagement, I was with my teacher and didn't witness it with my own eyes. It's quite a pity. If you have anything to say, just say it to Xiao Yan in person after the three-year agreement."
Nalan Yanran said confidently, "I won't lose to him."
...
"Ah!"
Xiao Yan, who was refining pills in Shimo City, rubbed his nose. Looking at the burnt herbs in front of him, he said speechlessly, "I always feel like someone is talking about me."
Yao Lao said sinisterly, "It's useless for anyone to talk about you. You haven't been able to refine a third-grade pill for such a long time. You can't become a third-grade alchemist within three days. Just wait until the end of the three-year agreement to refine the sub-fire of the Bone Spirit Cold Fire."
Xiao Yan wanted to cry but had no tears. Which alchemist would choose this kind of condensed liquid pill, which is close to the difficulty of refining a fourth-grade pill, when he just started refining a third-grade pill?
(End of this chapter)