Recruiting Gu He! Rank 8 in One Month! Nine-Colored Pill Lightning!

In a small courtyard on the Back Mountain.

Chu Yang toyed with a small tower, a faint smile on his face.

There was no need to think about it. Once news of the Cloud Mist Sect spread, the entire Northwest Region would be shaken, and it might even swiftly ripple across the whole continent.

With so many Heaven Rank cultivation methods and Dou skills, even Dou Venerate experts would be tempted by such a grand gesture.

How to sift through the masses, weed out those harboring ulterior motives, and select exceptionally gifted disciples was something Yun Yun needed to consider.

Chu Yang had already laid out both the current and future framework of the Cloud Mist Sect. If it still failed to rise, then it could only be said that it was worthless mud that could not be molded into a wall.

Those cultivation methods and Dou skills had naturally been obtained by Chu Yang through refining the cultivation arts, spell techniques, martial arts, and internal energy methods of various worlds.

Of all the things Chu Yang had said in the square, the only exaggeration was that he had yet to become a Rank 7 Alchemist.

But with the support of pill formulas and medicinal ingredients, becoming a Rank 7 Alchemist—and even breaking through to Rank 8—would not be difficult.

In truth, Chu Yang did not need to go to such lengths. Having repeatedly helped the Cloud Mist Sect avert crises, he had long since repaid the debt of inheritance and protection.

The reason he did so was because he wanted to cultivate the Cloud Mist Sect into a towering tree, so that when he entered the Great Thousand World in the future, he would not find himself without capable people to use.

Likewise, there might be friction with the Ancient Seven Clans and the three great Demon Beast Races in the future. Building up more foundations was never a bad thing.

A moment later, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran arrived together. The latter was brimming with excitement, and the way she looked at Chu Yang was like she was looking at an idol.

Yun Yun, however, was filled with concern. She said directly, "Chu Yang, I’m afraid the Cloud Mist Sect won’t be able to protect itself if you give all these cultivation methods and Dou skills to me!"

"I know you will leave sooner or later. When that time comes, the Cloud Mist Sect may face a great disaster!"

Chu Yang smiled. "There will certainly be people willing to take risks, but before I leave, I’ll make an example out of a few to scare the rest."

"After I leave, if you encounter trouble you can’t resolve, use this to contact me. I’ll return at once."

As he spoke, Chu Yang tossed over the small tower in his hand.

"This is…" Yun Yun caught the little tower and examined it from every angle, but could not see anything special about it.

"You can call it Pangu. It possesses independent intelligence."

"If a disciple is demoted, Pangu will be responsible for sealing their memories. Once the disciple’s status is raised again, it will return those memories."

"At the same time, no matter where I am, it can contact me instantly."

"Pangu…" Yun Yun murmured. The small tower trembled slightly, as though responding.

After the Pangu Calculation Cluster had been completed, this was the product of Chu Yang’s initial attempt to merge Pangu with a particular vessel.

Chu Yang seemed to recall something and suddenly asked, "By the way, can you contact Gu He?"

"I want him to join the Cloud Mist Sect. After I leave, he can provide the sect with pills."

Yun Yun froze for a moment, her expression turning somewhat awkward.

She and Gu He had nearly become husband and wife, and she knew how he felt about her. But while he had feelings for her, she had none for him.

"You don’t need to feel awkward. When the time comes, I’ll take you away with me. Pass the position of Sect Leader to Senior Sister."

The moment Nalan Yanran heard this, she refused outright. Widening her eyes, she said, "No! All of you are leaving and abandoning me here alone? What kind of plan is that?"

Chu Yang shook his head with a laugh. "It’s not like we’ll never return. No matter where I am, I’ll have a way to return to the Cloud Mist Sect instantly."

"If I don’t come back regularly, how will I keep the powerful experts and disciples who join the sect afterward in line?"

Only then did Nalan Yanran give a reluctant snort, though she did not continue arguing.

Yun Yun asked in confusion, "Where are we going?"

"The Central Plains. But we’ll act separately. You’ll go to the Central Plains to gain experience, while I have other matters to handle."

As he spoke, Chu Yang took out two jade slips and handed one to each of them. Then he added, "These are cultivation methods that surpass the Heaven Rank. You can also understand them as Emperor Rank cultivation methods."

"This cultivation method is to be passed down only to successive Sect Leaders. With it, Senior Sister will soon break through to the Dou Emperor realm. Once she breaks through, we’ll leave."

"This…" The master and disciple exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in the other’s eyes.

Heaven Rank cultivation methods and Dou skills were already outrageous. After all, both of them had guessed that Chu Yang had likely encountered some great opportunity, which was why his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Thus, although it was unexpected that he could produce those resources, it still made sense.

But a cultivation method above the Heaven Rank—if it were revealed, the entire continent would likely go mad over it.

"Focus on increasing your strength, and get the Cloud Mist Sect on track as soon as possible."

Chu Yang’s smile faded as he said solemnly, "In the future, I’ll need help from both of you and the Cloud Mist Sect. Don’t disappoint me."

The two of them had felt somewhat embarrassed at receiving so many benefits from Chu Yang, yet found it difficult to refuse an Emperor Rank cultivation method. Hearing him say this, they put the cultivation methods away.

At the same time, they finally understood why Chu Yang had done so much for the Cloud Mist Sect.

Whatever Chu Yang considered important enough to pour such effort into, even nurturing a massive force to face it, was clearly unimaginably dangerous.

At that moment, both master and disciple made up their minds. Even if it cost them their lives in the future, they would certainly help Chu Yang clear away every obstacle!

After they left, Chu Yang began cultivating in the rear courtyard.

Over the past month, although he had focused on learning alchemy, he had not neglected his cultivation. His realm had already reached the peak of Dou Venerate, only one step away from the Dou Saint level.

Nalan Yanran did not immediately enter seclusion. Instead, she went down the mountain to seek out Gu He.

Whether Gu He still could not let go of his feelings for Yun Yun or simply wished to meet the legendary Dou Venerate expert, he did not refuse Nalan Yanran’s invitation.

Sect Leader’s Hall.

Looking at the refined and elegant Gu He, Chu Yang smiled and said, "Mr. Gu He, it’s been a long time."

Gu He repeatedly cupped his hands. "I dare not accept being called ‘Mr.’ by Your Excellency. I was disrespectful in the past, and I hope Your Excellency will forgive me!"

Chu Yang waved a hand. "Mr. Gu He helped me a great deal before, providing me with many pills for cultivation."

"I’m not an ungrateful person. I invited you here this time not only because I wish to invite you to join the Cloud Mist Sect, but also because I want to discuss some matters of alchemy."

Gu He’s spirits rose. News that Chu Yang had gone from a complete novice to a Rank 6 Alchemist in just one month had long since spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

After thinking for a moment, Gu He asked tentatively, "I heard from Miss Nalan that Your Excellency has already become a Rank 7 Alchemist?"

Chu Yang glanced at Nalan Yanran, who secretly stuck out her tongue at him.

Chu Yang shook his head. "Without a formula for a Rank 7 pill, I can’t truly be considered a Rank 7 Alchemist."

"This time, I also wish to exchange for some Rank 7 pill formulas from Mr. Gu He. In return, I can help you break through to Rank 7!"

Gu He’s pupils abruptly contracted. He was a peak Rank 6 Alchemist and had been trapped at the Rank 7 bottleneck for many years.

He had originally believed that after obtaining a Heavenly Flame, he could advance to Rank 7 in one stroke. Yet he had ended up making a wedding dress for someone else, and the Heavenly Flame had fallen into Xiao Yan’s hands.

Thus, Gu He had devoted himself to cultivation, intending to challenge Rank 7 after breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm.

Now, although his cultivation had broken through, he was still half a step short of Rank 7.

A Rank 7 Alchemist was a realm Gu He had pursued for many years, so Chu Yang’s offer was simply too tempting to refuse!

Most importantly, Rank 7 pill formulas were not treasures at all, unless they were some personally created formula.

Low-rank alchemists could not refine high-rank pills even if they obtained the formulas, while for high-rank alchemists, most pill formulas were widely circulated across the continent and easy to acquire.

Besides, those who could become high-rank alchemists had accumulated foundations over many years. How many of them lacked pill formulas?

Someone like Chu Yang, who had only begun learning alchemy a month ago and was already attempting to refine Rank 7 pills, could not be found anywhere throughout history!

Gu He knew that Chu Yang was offering him such generous terms because of the matter of joining the Cloud Mist Sect. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Your Excellency wishes for me to join the Cloud Mist Sect. May I ask what you require of me?"

Chu Yang glanced at Nalan Yanran before saying, "I want Mr. Gu He to serve as the deputy hall master of the Medicine Hall. The position of hall master will remain vacant for now. Whoever becomes a Rank 8 Alchemist will automatically become the Medicine Hall’s hall master."

"What you need to do is refine pills. The sect will provide all medicinal ingredients."

"Of course, not only high-rank pills. You will also need to spend time refining some low-rank pills."

"And you must guide the Medicine Hall disciples. Only after the sect’s pill supply chain becomes stable may you focus wholeheartedly on pursuing higher realms of alchemy."

Gu He fell silent. It was not that he could not accept those conditions, but that the treatment was simply too generous—so generous that it felt unreal!

Breaking through his bottleneck, with all the medicinal ingredients he needed for alchemy supplied without limit—what conditions could possibly be more appealing to an alchemist?

Nalan Yanran added at the right moment, "My teacher will soon leave for the Central Plains with Junior Brother, so Uncle Gu He needn’t have any reservations because of the past."

Gu He took a deep breath, and his final concern vanished. He nodded. "Since Your Excellency thinks so highly of me, I will certainly lay a solid foundation for the Medicine Hall!"

A smile appeared on Chu Yang’s face. Then Gu He directly took out various Rank 7 pill formulas, including a Rank 8 pill formula he had obtained by chance.

This was truly an unexpected delight for Chu Yang. He had Nalan Yanran settle Gu He in, then headed straight for the small courtyard on the Back Mountain and began devoting himself to alchemy.

Another half month passed. Just as he had done in the imperial capital, Chu Yang used Source Qi to conceal the entire small courtyard. Otherwise, the Cloud Mist Sect’s Back Mountain would likely have been shrouded in heavenly phenomena every day.

When Rank 6 pills and ordinary Rank 7 pills were successfully formed, they would trigger heavenly phenomena to varying degrees.

High-grade Rank 7 pills could even summon lightning tribulation!

Although Chu Yang could use Source Qi to conceal the secrets of heaven and prevent the lightning tribulation from descending, pills that had not been tempered by lightning tribulation would inevitably be slightly inferior in quality.

Thus, over the next half month, dark clouds covered the skies above the Cloud Mist Sect almost constantly, while thunder roared continuously from the Back Mountain.

This even led the Cloud Mist Sect disciples to wonder whether their monstrous senior brother had done something defying the heavens again.

But on further thought, a sixteen-year-old Rank 7 Alchemist with Dou Venerate cultivation truly was absurdly heaven-defying.

Chu Yang had once been the junior brother of this generation of disciples, but after his strength soared so rapidly, aside from Nalan Yanran, no one dared call him junior brother anymore. They had all begun voluntarily calling him senior brother.

In the newly established Medicine Hall, Gu He looked at the cloudy sky and then toward the Back Mountain, unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly.

He naturally knew that pill tribulation meant the formation of either a peak Rank 6 pill or a Rank 7 pill.

Gu He was not surprised that Chu Yang had become a Rank 7 Alchemist, but the uninterrupted pill tribulations completely overturned his worldview.

It meant that Chu Yang was continuously refining pills capable of triggering lightning tribulation—and his success rate was astonishingly high!

Just then, Gu He suddenly spotted an unusual flash of light within the dark clouds.

His pupils contracted sharply. The teacup in his hand fell to the floor with a clatter, and his expression became incomparably shocked.

"Two-Colored Pill Lightning! A Rank 8 pill?!"

A month ago, Chu Yang had only been a peak Rank 6 Alchemist. In just one short month, not only had he broken through to Rank 7, he had even successively broken through to Rank 8?!

Most importantly…

Chu Yang had been feeling his way across the river by touching stones. No one had guided him, and he had no experience to draw upon.

All he had relied on… was a single Rank 8 pill formula!

This was simply inconceivable!

But Gu He’s shock was far from over, because another color appeared amid the dark clouds.

Three-Colored Pill Lightning!

"It’s not over yet?!" Gu He’s eyes widened.

Then…

Four colors… five colors… six colors… eight colors… nine colors!

"How is this possible?!"

Gu He knew full well that the pill formula he had given Chu Yang, while indeed a Rank 8 formula, was only among the lowest Rank 8 pills.

The pill was called the Longevity Pill, and it could extend one’s lifespan by a hundred years.

But it could only be consumed once. A second dose would have no effect due to drug resistance.

No matter how high the quality of the Longevity Pill, it could at most summon Three-Colored Pill Lightning. How could it trigger Nine-Colored Pill Lightning?

That was a pill tribulation only peak Rank 8 pills could summon!

Pills of that level could even develop intelligence, and some could take human form.

Gu He had heard certain rumors that some peak existences on the continent had been formed from transformed pills, though he did not know whether they were true.

Thinking of this, his breathing quickened. Though he knew it might displease Chu Yang, he could not suppress the impulse. Dou Qi wings spread from his back as he shot toward the Back Mountain.

He wanted to witness with his own eyes the moment the pill that had summoned Nine-Colored Pill Lightning was formed!

He also wanted to see for himself what a pill born with intelligence actually looked like.

Back Mountain, small courtyard.

Watching the Nine-Colored Pill Lightning roar toward him like a nine-hued furious dragon, Chu Yang’s expression did not change. He merely raised a hand lightly, and a streak of white light rose to meet the pill lightning.

The instant the Nine-Colored Pill Lightning touched Tianque, it burst apart like a reflection in water, transforming into countless tiny multicolored arcs that drifted into the pill cauldron in thin strands.

When the final arc entered the pill cauldron, the cauldron, which had already been trembling continuously, finally could not bear the strain any longer and exploded with a bang!

At the same time, Gu He, who had just arrived at the Back Mountain, widened his eyes and eagerly looked toward the pill that had summoned Nine-Colored Pill Lightning!