This old fool is muddled, refining the golden elixir of dragon and tiger

4,224 years old.

The little beanpole before him was older than the entire history of Great Yu.

And... elixirs?

A Seven Orifices Dragon-Tiger Elixir that turned into a person?

Li Mo pondered—everything in existence had a spirit. Even within the seed of the world lay a talking hammer.

So perhaps an elixir transforming into a human wasn’t so hard to believe after all.

Still, he had plenty of priceless elixirs himself, yet none as miraculous as this.

"The sect always said I was born with a deficiency. Guess they weren’t wrong."

Tang Xiaobao rubbed his tiny chin.

"My master says I’m missing something too."

"Missing what?"

"Common sense."

"......"

Li Mo figured Elder Xue’s assessment might not have been purely physical.

The two collected their books and, since both were heading to Dan Ding Peak, decided to walk together.

"By the way, Junior Brother Li, you’ve reached the Jade Liquid Realm now, haven’t you?"

Tang Xiaobao asked along the way.

"Indeed."

Li Mo nodded.

"Junior Brother, you’re terrifying."

Tang Xiaobao said with genuine admiration.

"......Thanks for the compliment."

Li Mo chose to take it as one.

Tang Xiaobao sighed in frustration. "At this rate, the next time I see you and Junior Sister Ying Bing, I’ll have to call you senior brother and sister."

In the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, martial prowess reigned supreme. Most sects ranked disciples by strength, and Qingyuan Sect was no exception.

So once, he had been the eldest senior brother of Dan Ding Peak.

Now, he was the youngest junior brother.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother Xiaobao. You’ll always be my senior brother."

Li Mo thought of the other’s staggering age and made the solemn promise.

"No wonder the sect says Junior Brother Li has the bearing of an ancient noble. You’re oddly kind."

Tang Xiaobao grinned cheerfully, then clenched his fist.

"I’ll work hard too—I’ll reach the Mystic Elixir Realm before you two!"

"Speaking of which, Junior Brother Li, want to watch me train later? Master will be there too."

"Sure."

Since he was already planning to see Elder Xue and was curious about Tang Xiaobao’s training, Li Mo agreed without much thought.

Soon, they arrived at Dan Ding Peak.

Among the mountain range, this peak was the most lush, its air thick with an exotic fragrance.

Li Mo took a few deep breaths—it smelled oddly pleasant.

At the summit stood the living quarters of the true disciples and the peak’s presiding elder, Xue Jing.

The setup was simple: a small courtyard with a massive Dragon-Tiger Elixir Furnace at its center, identical to the one Li Mo had once seen in a medical hall.

Beneath the furnace, flames danced fiercely, radiating intense heat.

Xue Jing and two true disciples—a man and a woman—were in the midst of refining an elixir.

All three were wholly focused on the furnace, each with their own role.

The male disciple handled new materials, the female disciple cleared residue, while Xue Jing concentrated on controlling the flames and purifying the ingredients.

Now wasn’t the time to interrupt, so Li Mo and Tang Xiaobao watched quietly from the side.

"Add the Yellow Origin Fruit."

At Xue Jing’s command, the male disciple hurriedly produced a thumb-sized, translucent fruit.

Aside from the Black Malice Wood Oil used to intensify the flames, Li Mo didn’t recognize any of the other materials.

Thankfully, Tang Xiaobao was there to explain.

"The Yellow Origin Fruit has a mild medicinal nature. When blended with other primary ingredients, it enhances their potency."

"Next, Master will likely add the Dust-Shedding Flower."

"And what does that do?"

Li Mo had no ambition to become an alchemist, but the process fascinated him.

He’d read about it in novels countless times, but seeing it firsthand was a first.

"The Dust-Shedding Flower separates medicinal energies, of course."

"I see."

Li Mo watched as Xue Jing took out a jade spatula to stir the contents of the furnace, finding the sight strangely familiar.

He couldn’t quite place why.

Then, Xue Jing spoke gravely:

"Bring the True Elixir Liquid."

The male disciple immediately adopted a solemn expression, carefully retrieving a basin filled with a pale golden liquid.

It was clearly a precious material, brimming with vitality.

"True Elixir Liquid?"

Just the name sounded impressive to Li Mo.

"Yep. That’s my bathwater."

Tang Xiaobao whispered.

Li Mo: "....."

Some things didn’t need quite so much detail.

"High heat to reduce!"

After pouring in the so-called True Elixir Liquid, Xue Jing added more Black Malice Wood Oil.

Finally, Li Mo realized why the scene felt so familiar.

"Isn’t this just stir-frying?"

"Where’s the grand, mystical alchemy I was promised?"

Li Mo rubbed his forehead.

"The two aren’t that different, really."

Tang Xiaobao blinked.

Li Mo: ".....I suppose that’s true."

Cooking emphasized ingredients; alchemy emphasized materials. Both required precise sequencing and meticulous heat control.

The only real difference was that alchemy was far more dangerous.

A failed dish might burn, but a failed elixir could explode from conflicting energies.

Soon, the thrilling alchemy session concluded.

"This batch of Green Snake Blood Spirit Elixir is complete."

Xue Jing exhaled in relief.

He’d known Li Mo was there and turned to him with a smile.

"This elixir aids body refinement, but I’m afraid Foutu paid a hefty price for it. Can’t spare you any this time."

"Thank you for your consideration, Elder Xue."

The elder and the young man exchanged pleasantries warmly.

Old Xue had always held this junior disciple in high regard.

"You... I don’t even know what to say about you."

Xue Jing studied Li Mo, who had changed dramatically since their last meeting, and chuckled helplessly.

"How did you even sneak into the Endless Trial and take first place?"

"It was mostly luck."

Li Mo clasped his hands modestly. "My inner energy is unique—it happened to erase the traces on the Hallfront Swallow."

"Have some tea."

Xue Jing gestured for him to sit.

Li Mo settled onto a nearby rosewood chair and casually brewed two cups of tea.

A habit he’d picked up from the ice block (Ying Bing).

"You did well."

Xue Jing took a sip. "Keeping those Hallfront Swallows means we can monitor the Drizzle Pavilion’s movements in Purple Sun Prefecture in real time."

"But their Hallfront Swallows are crafted uniquely. Your inner energy can really erase their traces?"

If the Hallfront Swallows were so easily countered, the Drizzle Pavilion wouldn’t be the terror of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands—let alone capable of assassinating kings.

"See for yourself."

Li Mo flicked a finger, releasing a strand of deep crimson inner energy onto the residual dregs from the furnace.

Crackle—

Tiny flames burned quietly, as if eternal.

The dregs, which even the furnace’s intense heat hadn’t fully refined, began vanishing, consumed by the fire.

Xue Jing narrowed his eyes, a fierce light gleaming in his pupils.

After a long pause, he sighed deeply.

"I was a fool..."

"I should’ve taken you as my disciple back then."

With flames like these, Li Mo’s potential in alchemy would have been limitless.

"Why say that, Elder Xue?"

Li Mo smiled wryly. He’d heard similar regrets from elders many times before.

"Even I can only purify materials to ninety-nine percent."

"But with practice, you might achieve one hundred percent."

"You were born to refine elixirs."

Xue Jing’s tone was thick with lament.

If Elder Hanhe were here, he would undoubtedly say that Li Mo was born to be a blacksmith.

After all, forging is also about mastering the fire.

Young Li even has a hammer capable of crafting mystical weapons...

"Master, master."

"Now that you're done refining pills, it's time to refine me."

Tang Xiaobao climbed into the alchemy furnace, his voice echoing dully from inside.

Li Mo fell silent.

If refining pills was like cooking...

Then wasn’t this eerily similar to stewing oneself in a pot? ...Ahem, random thoughts.

"Hmm?"

Xue Jing paused and glanced at Li Mo.

"On the way here, Senior Brother Xiaobao told me everything," Li Mo said.

Xue Jing nodded but didn’t elaborate further.

He had intentionally kept Li Mo behind to observe the pill-refining process, even dismissing the other two direct disciples.

"Whoosh—"

With a flick of his finger, he tapped Tang Xiaobao’s forehead from a distance.

Instantly, a pill fragrance that stirred the soul wafted out.

Li Mo pondered thoughtfully.

It seemed that earlier, Elder Xue had used a special method to seal Tang Xiaobao’s aura and medicinal energy, making him appear no different from an ordinary child.

Then, Xue Jing’s expression turned solemn, his hair and beard bristling, making him seem even more transcendent.

An intangible force spread through the air.

The dragon and tiger coiled around the alchemy furnace seemed to come alive.

Their jaws—tiger maw and dragon maw—parted, spewing forth raging flames.