Chapter 32: Chapter 30: You’ll Easily Lose This Emperor

Within the Void Sect, the name Mo Qi had long been famous for his culinary skills, but that fame was mostly limited to the Inner and Outer Disciples and a handful of Elite Disciples.

From this moment on, however, there was no one—from the Sect Leader, Tributors, and Supreme Elders at the top, down to the servants, menials, and underlings at the bottom—who did not know of Mo Qi.

This wasn’t just because he had killed Wang Hao on the Gambling Arena, but also because he had become a disciple of the Chief Alchemy Master, Yu Liang, and had earned the favor of Inspector Elder Yang Ming.

Even more shockingly, he had been specially approved by Yun Xuzi to become a Core Disciple.

What was a Core Disciple? They were the representatives and the face of the Void Sect’s younger generation—a group with the best talent, regarded as idols and goals for countless other disciples to pursue.

In the future, once Core Disciples matured, they would immediately become pillars of the Void Sect, holding important positions and wielding real power.

Even the successor to the Sect Leader would be chosen from among the Core Disciples.

Driven by an undercurrent of incitement, countless disciples who considered themselves exceptionally talented began to express their resentment toward Mo Qi.

If Mo Qi, who couldn’t even condense True Essence, could become a Core Disciple, then why couldn’t they?

Being a Core Disciple wasn’t just a supreme honor; it also determined the allocation of resources.

’What right does a good-for-nothing who can’t condense True Essence have to occupy a Core Disciple’s spot?’

Gradually, with the subtle insinuation of certain interested parties, a rumor began to circulate among the disciples.

Whoever could defeat Mo Qi could take his place as a Core Disciple.

For a time, countless disciples secretly simmered with ambition, vowing to challenge Mo Qi and prove their superiority.

If not for the deterring prestige of Yang Ming and Yu Liang, these people would have likely made their move long ago.

...

Unaware of all this, Mo Qi, the person at the center of it all, was currently inspecting two Storage Rings.

One belonged to Yang Ming, the other to Yu Liang.

As expected of the Inspector Elder and the Chief Alchemy Master, their Storage Rings were filled with countless treasures, dazzling Mo Qi.

Yu Liang, in particular, was excessively rich.

There were innumerable Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Although their quality couldn’t compare to those from the Wailing Abyss, their sheer quantity was overwhelming. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Mo Qi casually selected a few. For him now, preparing Medicinal Cuisine was second nature.

A four-piece kitchen set made of Obsidian made Yang Ming’s and Yu Liang’s eyes light up. They didn’t just stand by and wait. Instead, they stood a short distance from Mo Qi. One was driven by curiosity, the other by a thirst for knowledge, but both wanted to witness the process of making Medicinal Cuisine with their own eyes.

"Th-this is... Obsidian?!" Yang Ming’s face paled in shock. He was all too familiar with Obsidian; he had personally given that Obsidian Gate to Mo Qi.

Obsidian was dense and incredibly hard. It was impervious to Spirit Communication and virtually indestructible.

Even he, who had broken through to a new Realm, wouldn’t dare claim he could leave a single mark on Obsidian, let alone cut, process, and forge it.

But now, a pot, a kitchen knife, a Fire Stick, and a long ladle—all of them were forged from Obsidian.

’How did he do it?’

The more he interacted with Mo Qi, the more unfathomable Yang Ming found him to be.

Not in terms of strength, but in his methods.

Mo Qi nodded and smiled. "I have you to thank for this, Senior Brother. You allowed me to obtain such perfect cookware."

Yang Ming shook his head with a wry smile and said nothing.

Yu Liang, who was single-mindedly devoted to Alchemy, didn’t know much about Obsidian and didn’t understand its significance. He just thought Yang Ming was overreacting and making a fuss over nothing.

However, when Mo Qi flicked his finger and a Yang Fire from the Netherworld Flame appeared, the Alchemy Grandmaster could no longer sit still. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"A F-F-F-Fire Seed?!"

Mo Qi nodded but didn’t elaborate.

But Yu Liang’s old face flushed bright red with excitement.

’A Fire Seed! That’s a legendary Fire Seed!’

To an Alchemy Master, the most alluring thing wasn’t an Elixir Recipe, an Alchemy Furnace, or even an Alchemy Technique—it was an exceptional Fire Source.

If talent determined whether a Cultivator could become an Alchemy Master, then the quality of their Fire Source determined the upper limit of that Alchemy Master’s achievements.

The vast majority of Alchemy Masters used Pill Fire, which was formed by burning and condensing the True Essence in their Dantian. This was the lowest grade.

A step above that involved finding an external Fire Source to graft into one’s body, such as Earth Core Fire, Beast Fire, and so on.

Higher still were the exceptionally gifted who possessed a Fire Vein constitution, allowing them to plunder natural flames from the void.

And at the very top were the legendary Fire Seeds, the true source of all fire.

Acquiring a Fire Seed required destiny; it could not be forced.

Of course, Fire Seeds also varied in strength. From weakest to strongest, they were divided into one hundred and eight Human-level Fire Seeds, seventy-two Earth-level Fire Seeds, and the Thirty-six Celestial-level Fire Seeds.

Yu Liang’s Fire Source was a Beast Fire, one that came from a Fierce Fire Lion.

Its low quality had caused him to be stuck at the rank of Alchemy Grandmaster for many years, unable to break through.

"This is... this is madness! A profane waste of a heavenly treasure!" Seeing Mo Qi use a Fire Seed for cooking, Yu Liang beat his chest and stomped his feet. ’My heart aches!’

If he were to find out that Mo Qi’s Netherworld Flame was one of the Thirty-six Celestial-level Fire Seeds, he would probably go insane.

’No, I can’t let a Fire Seed be wasted like this! He must become an Alchemy Master! He’ll definitely surpass me and become a Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade, or even an Eighth or Ninth Grade Alchemy Master above the rank of Grandmaster—perhaps even an Alchemy Saint Master!’

Alchemy Masters were divided into grades. A First Grade was only called a Pill Disciple. A Second Grade was an official Alchemy Master. A Third Grade was a Master, and a Fourth Grade was a Grandmaster.

Above Fourth Grade, there were no more such empty titles. At that level, no one cared about them; their pursuit was the ethereal rank of Alchemy Saint Master.

Yang Ming and Yu Liang each had their own thoughts, but they soon cast them aside, captivated by Mo Qi’s dreamlike Sword Skill.

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

The jet-black kitchen knife danced in Mo Qi’s hands like a butterfly, fluttering up and down. It appeared to move slowly, but this was merely an afterimage created by its extreme speed.

One by one, the Spirit Medicinal Treasures were sliced and processed into appropriate sizes.

On the left were the discarded excess stems and branches; on the right were the ingredients, all cut to uniform size. The distinction was crystal clear.

CLANG!

The kitchen knife was put away, making a sound like a divine eagle crying out to the sky.

Only then did Yang Ming and Yu Liang pull their gazes back, and the two exchanged a look.

’What terrifying knife work!’

Even they were stunned. Involuntarily, the same thought occurred to both of them.

’If Mo Qi had used a knife when he fought Wang Hao, Wang Hao probably wouldn’t have even had a chance to make a move.’

Looking at the Spirit Medicine chopped into small pieces, Yu Liang subconsciously frowned.

’By processing it like this, isn’t he afraid of the medicinal efficacy being lost?’

’You have to understand, during Alchemy, to preserve the medicinal efficacy, you throw the entire plant into the Alchemy Furnace, using fire to burn away impurities and leave only the essence.’

However, Yu Liang soon discovered an astonishing fact: he couldn’t smell the distinct fragrance that would have been released if the medicinal efficacy was leaking.

Looking closely, he saw that no juice was dripping from the cut surfaces of the Spirit Medicine. A faint, barely visible membrane had perfectly sealed the cuts.

’How is that possible?!’

Yu Liang could tell that the membrane hadn’t been added afterward; it was part of the Spirit Medicine’s original channels.

’Heavens, what kind of Sword Skill and control would it take to achieve this?!’

If Mo Qi hadn’t demonstrated it, these channels would have been completely imperceptible to the naked eye.

Yu Liang swallowed hard. At this moment, he was no longer just astonished; he felt a genuine sense of terror.

He didn’t dare to imagine what it would be like if Mo Qi were to use this Sword Skill in combat.

Yang Ming was also completely dumbfounded, his gaze vacant as he stared blankly at Mo Qi.

’Are you even human? How did a monster like you do that?’

Mo Qi’s movements were swift. In just the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, five dishes and a soup were ready.

Liu Hui had already witnessed Mo Qi’s Sword Skill before. Although he still found it dreamlike, his reaction was much better than Yang Ming’s and Yu Liang’s.

He helped set the plates, serve the dishes, arrange the chairs, and pour the wine.

"Come on, time to eat."

Yang Ming and Yu Liang only snapped out of it when Mo Qi prompted them.

"OINK!"

The Pig Emperor smelled the aroma and, taking the lead, leaped from Liu Hui’s head onto the dining table.

Mo Qi quickly reminded him in secret, "Pig Emperor, you can eat, but don’t hog all the food."

If the Pig Emperor ate as he did in the Wailing Abyss—swallowing a whole plate in one bite—then no one else would get to eat.

The Pig Emperor’s open mouth froze in mid-air, and it flicked its small tail in great dissatisfaction.

"Then you feed Us! Otherwise, We’re afraid We might accidentally swallow everything."

Mo Qi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, alright, I’ll feed you."

Only then did the Pig Emperor shake its plump head in satisfaction and leap onto Mo Qi’s shoulder.

"Oh? Junior Brother, you’re raising a pig?" Yang Ming looked at the palm-sized Pig Emperor and chuckled. "It’s a bit too small, isn’t it? Not even enough for a single plate of braised pork."

The Pig Emperor’s face instantly darkened.

"Damn it! How dare he treat Us like a common pig raised for meat! Mo Qi, don’t stop me! I’ll fight him to the death!"

The Pig Emperor’s already round body puffed up even more with anger, making it look like a walking meatball.

Mo Qi gave the Pig Emperor a placid glance but didn’t move.

The Pig Emperor’s short leg, which had taken a step forward, froze.

"Why aren’t you stopping me?"

Mo Qi shrugged. "Didn’t you tell me not to stop you?"

The Pig Emperor: "..."

’I was just saying! Couldn’t you have played along a little?’

It had witnessed the entire process when Wang Xinglong and Xu He were thrashed.

’Fight Yang Ming? Not unless it was crazy.’

"Hmph. For your sake, I’ll spare him this time," the Pig Emperor transmitted, trying to sound tough.

"Don’t do that!" Mo Qi laughed. "No need to give me face. I support you. Go on, get him!"

The Pig Emperor: "Mo Qi, if you keep this up, you’re going to lose Us."

Yang Ming, unaware of the silent exchange between Mo Qi and the Pig Emperor, had already started eating impatiently.

As a mouthful of food entered his mouth and he chewed lightly, several rich aromas met on his palate. They didn’t clash, but instead intertwined and merged.

His taste buds exploded. The unique, fused aroma surged into his nasal cavity, and Yang Ming subconsciously held his breath, wanting to hold on to the flavor.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed the delicious food. A lingering fragrance rose up, making him unable to resist letting out a long, deep sigh.

Although the flavor didn’t stay, the longing it left behind was all the more alluring.

"Incredible!"

Yang Ming struck out quickly, continuously picking up food with his chopsticks and bringing it to his mouth.

Seeing this, Yu Liang refused to be outdone and joined the "battle."