"Little Brother Mo, you’ve been through so much."

Niu Kexin wrapped her arms around Mo Qi’s neck from behind. Her eyes were red, and her voice choked with emotion.

Mo Qi didn’t move from his reclining position, simply turning his head slightly to press his cheek against hers.

He squeezed her hand and smiled. "They say Heaven tests those it has great plans for, first tempering their will and tiring their bodies. Perhaps this is just what it means to grow. But then again, with you and Ruyan here, and with Liu Hui, San Pang, and everyone else who supports me, it’s not hard at all."

"It’s you all I’m worried about. As long as you don’t find it draining to follow me, and as long as you don’t regret your decision, then I’m content."

Hearing Mo Qi’s words, Niu Kexin closed her eyes as two streams of tears slid from their corners.

She tightened her arms around him and said nothing more.

But when she opened her eyes again, three emotions—coldness, madness, and resolve—intertwined within them.

If Niu Kexin’s motivation for her Martial Dao cultivation had previously been limited to increasing her lifespan and easing Mo Qi’s burdens, now she possessed the resolve and ruthlessness to take the initiative—to obliterate any and all obstacles and enemies in their path!

The Saint Demon Fairy, the Demon Chef’s woman. For his sake, she could be as holy as an Immortal; because of him, she could become as crazed as a demon, inspiring a mixture of love and fear, respect and dread in countless people.

No one knew that on this very day, such a terrifying existence had just begun her path of rampage.

Mo Qi sensed the change in Niu Kexin. Their Energy came from the same source, and their minds were connected, allowing them to understand each other’s emotions without a single word.

"There, there. Trust me, it’s alright," Mo Qi said reassuringly, gently squeezing her delicate hand.

Niu Kexin circulated her True Essence, instantly evaporating the tears. She nodded, composed herself, and returned to her usual gentle and elegant demeanor.

"Alright, our guest is here. You should go," Mo Qi said, pursing his lips toward the entrance before planting a kiss on her cheek.

Like a startled rabbit, Niu Kexin leaped back several yards in an instant.

She covered the spot he had kissed, her face flushing crimson with embarrassment.

Although they had already shared the most intimate of acts, the circumstances back then had been unique. This was the first time he had been so forward and affectionate.

And so, under Mo Qi’s amused gaze, Niu Kexin beat a hasty retreat.

"Hahaha." Mo Qi couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Much of the gloom that had built up from all the recent pressure dissipated with it.

After Niu Kexin left, Mo Qi rose from his lounge chair.

’Time to get down to business!’

His laziness and fatigue vanished, replaced by his usual confidence and strength.

At that moment, Liu Hui led Feng Zhang in from outside.

"My Lord, I’ve brought him."

Mo Qi nodded. "That foul-mouthed one outside is Feng Liang. Make him suffer a bit more. You go watch over it. Just don’t kill him. Bring him here in a little while."

"Understood." Liu Hui replied before walking out.

Hearing their conversation, Feng Zhang wanted to speak up and plead for Feng Liang. After all, Feng Liang had deeply awakened his Bloodline Power and was, by far, the most talented member of the Feng Family.

’But on second thought,’ he mused, ’I can’t even save myself. What right do I have to plead for someone else?’

’Besides, it was thanks to Mo Qi that Feng Liang was able to awaken his bloodline so deeply in the first place.’

While Feng Zhang was lost in thought, Mo Qi spoke first. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Master Feng?"

Feng Zhang was an alchemy fanatic who rarely socialized. As a result, he was a straightforward man who didn’t understand the art of beating around the bush.

Hearing Mo Qi’s question, he got straight to the point. "This old man has come to implore Young Fellow Mo to relieve me of my suffering."

As he spoke, Feng Zhang lowered his head and gave Mo Qi a deep bow.

Mo Qi remained noncommittal, asking in return, "How do you know I can cure you? And more importantly, why should I?"

Feng Zhang had anticipated this question and recited his prepared speech.

"Young Fellow Mo, you saw through this old man’s condition with a single glance. That insight alone is proof enough of your capabilities."

"Furthermore, this old man observed the dense, lingering medicinal aroma around you. It’s the kind that comes from being steeped in various Spirit Medicines over many years. If I didn’t know your true age, I would have assumed you were an Elder Pill Master who had been immersed in the Alchemy Dao for hundreds of years." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"For you to be saturated with such profound and complex Medicinal Power without suffering any backlash... the reason for that is self-evident."

With that, Feng Zhang reluctantly took a Jade Slip from his Storage Space, a pained expression on his face.

He offered it to Mo Qi. "These are this old man’s insights from several hundred years of Alchemy. It contains 11,341 pill formulas, 56 secret recipes, and my Path of Fire Control."

"If you agree to help me, Young Fellow Mo, I am willing to gift this to you."

This was the most precious treasure a Fifth-Grade Alchemist possessed!

Feng Zhang expected Mo Qi to accept with ecstatic glee, but to his surprise, Mo Qi showed no intention of taking it.

Instead, he just sneered. "True, I do have the ability to save you. But I have no reason to."

"Your so-called Alchemy insights, your formulas, your secret recipes, your Path of Fire Control... they’re all worthless in my eyes. They’re too hard to wipe my ass with and too soft to prop up a table leg. They’re utterly useless. I can describe your Alchemy Dao in one word—garbage!"

The moment the words left Mo Qi’s mouth, Feng Zhang erupted.

"You little brat named Mo, you’ve gone too far!"

He could humble himself for the sake of survival. He could even cast aside his dignity, shamelessly waiting an entire night while people pointed, whispered, and mocked him.

He could even offer up his life’s savings to stay alive.

He could have even accepted it if Mo Qi had called him a useless piece of trash to his face.

But for many people, there is something in this world more important than dignity or even life itself: their ideals and their faith.

Feng Zhang was one of those people.

And the Alchemy Dao was his ideal and his faith.

He could not tolerate anyone insulting or looking down upon his Alchemy Dao.

He would not hesitate to pay with his life for it.

"This old man will fight you to the death!"

Feng Zhang knew he was no match for Mo Qi in a fight, but what did that matter?

He was a Void Realm Cultivator, after all. If he put his life on the line, he was confident he could at least take Mo Qi down with him.

BOOM!

Dazzling, scorching yellow flames erupted from Feng Zhang’s body. The air instantly filled with a suffocating heatwave, and the room’s furnishings immediately burst into a raging inferno.

Not only that, but the stone slabs underfoot began to glow red and soften, on the verge of melting.

This was the flame Feng Zhang used for Alchemy, taken from a Sixth-level Demon Beast—a Crimson Refining Fire Snake—equivalent to a human in the Divine Sea Half-Immortal Realm. Among Beast Fires, it was considered of upper-middle quality.

"You say this old man’s Alchemy Dao is garbage? Then let me show you my Path of Fire Control!"

Feng Zhang was on the verge of losing all reason. He was determined to make Mo Qi pay for his insolent words, no matter the cost.

Yet Mo Qi’s expression showed no hint of panic. In addition to his sneer, a flicker of amusement now danced in his eyes.

SNAP!

Mo Qi lightly snapped his fingers and whispered a single word: "Out."