. With his beloved gone, Mo Tang felt a slight unease.
However, a glance at his inventory lifted his spirits.
The previous auction had brought the Mo Alliance great fame, but for Mo Tang, the benefits were more substantial.
"I've discovered 1580 points of intermediate energy. Do you want to absorb it with one click?"
"Yes/No."
"Yes!"
His previously empty account instantly saw over a thousand points of intermediate energy added to it.
Furthermore, Mo Tang now had tens of millions of gold coins in his bank account, earned from the auction and also from his family.
Just as he was sorting through his gains, there was a knock on the door.
Mo Tang was slightly surprised to find it was Nalan Yanran...
"What's wrong? Is there something going on with the Yunlan Sect?" Mo Tang asked worriedly.
After Yun Yun's departure, Nalan Yanran, a girl under twenty, had become the acting leader of the Yunlan Sect.
Nalan Yanran shook her head slightly, looking at Mo Tang with a flicker of unease in her eyes. Then she said, "Well, Master Mo... Uncle Master, I heard Lao Shi say you were searching for the Infant Soul Flower."
Ever since Mo Tang and Yun Yun had gotten their relationship, Nalan Yanran had changed the way she addressed him. However, every time she addressed him as "Uncle Master," it always felt awkward.
Mo Tang nodded and said, "Indeed, why do you ask?"
The Infant Soul Flower is one of the key ingredients in refining the Soul-Melting Pill and is incredibly rare. Even Fa Ma, a centuries-old monster, had never seen its true form.
Nalan Yanran's answer surprised Mo Tang. The girl pulled out a rather ancient-looking scroll and said, "This is a map of ancient ruins my grandfather stumbled upon. When I was a child, he told me that when he was exploring the ruins, he discovered a very special flower that closely resembled the description of the Infant Soul Flower. If you're truly interested, you can go check it out..."
"Oh?" Mo Tang, a thought stirring, took the map.
"Poison Soul Valley? Is this where the ruins are?"
Mo Tang raised a brow. He hadn't expected the location marked on the map to be within the Izumo Empire!
Furthermore, according to the map, it was a strangely poisonous valley, perpetually shrouded in yin and toxic auras. Even a Dou Wang-level warrior would suffer corrosive effects on their Dou Qi and body after spending time there.
Seeing this information, Mo Tang truly understood the dangers of the ruins.
Seeing the intrigue on Mo Tang's face, Nalan Yanran warned him again, "The ruins are extremely dangerous, containing countless poisonous creatures. My grandfather was injured by a fifth-level branding poison python there and was poisoned..."
Mo Tang's expression froze.
"So that's how Nalan Jie got the poison?"
If there were something as venomous as the branding poison python in the Poison Soul Valley, then perhaps there were even more dangerous things...
Add to that the pervasive cold and poisonous fog, and exploring inside wouldn't be easy!
After a moment's hesitation, Mo Tang came to a decision.
While the Poison Soul Valley was dangerous, it likely held many treasures. After all, danger and opportunity go hand in hand!
"With Queen Medusa accompanying us, this time shouldn't be too dangerous..."
A seventh-tier Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python would inflict the pressure of its bloodline on any other snake-like beast. So, even a sixth-tier, let alone a fifth-tier Branding Poison Seal Python, wouldn't matter.
Having made his decision, Mo Tang thanked Nalan Yanran and began making preparations for his journey to the Izumo Empire.
The Poison Soul Valley was too far from the Jiamao Imperial Capital. Even at Mo Tang's speed, a round trip would take nearly a month, not to mention exploring the ruins. He had no idea what he might encounter, so he had to make all the arrangements.
First and foremost, he had to find another expert to lead the Mo Alliance.
Although the Nalan Clan had chosen to join the Mo Alliance, since Nalan Jie's death, their strongest member was only a nine-star Dou Ling. While not weak, it was still a bit too low.
"In today's Jia Ma Empire, the most suitable candidate is probably Dan King Gu He..."
A sixth-rank alchemist and peak Dou Wang, coupled with Gu He's prestige within the Jia Ma Empire, if he could truly bring this man to the Mo League, then the Mo League would truly have a living, breathing brand to showcase to the outside world!
No matter how you slice it, this Dan King is the perfect tool.
As for whether he might harbor hostility due to Yun Yun's situation...
Mo Tang never doubted it. Hostility was certainly present, but it wasn't insurmountable.
Mo Tang and Yun Yun were simply in love, while Gu He was just a sad,
servile sycophant... Having lost his beloved, Gu He has dedicated all his life to alchemy. If Mo Tang offered the precious alchemy notes left by Yao Lao as an inducement, there was no fear that this man wouldn't take the bait!
Finding Gu He's retreat outside the city...
Mo Tang once again met Liu Ling, whom he had met at the Alchemist Conference. Liu Ling
was Gu He's direct disciple, possessing a remarkable talent for alchemy and now a fourth-rank alchemist.
Liu Ling was also very surprised when she recognized the identity of the visitor.
He looked uneasy, wondering if the man before him was trying to mock his teacher.
However, Mo Tang's reaction disproved his unrealistic idea. "Hehe, please inform Master Gu He that Mo Tang requests an audience," he said politely, smiling at Liu Ling. Although somewhat surprised, Liu Ling remained
indifferent, saying in a distant tone , "Wait a moment..." A moment later, the door to the simple wooden house opened, and Gu He's voice rang out from within. "What are you doing here? I have nothing to discuss with you!" Although he had decided to let the matter go, Gu He didn't intend to treat his former "rival" with any kind of courtesy. Mo Tang smiled softly, his tone warm, and said, "Hehe, Master Gu He, why are you so distant? I don't think there's any deep hatred between you and me, is there?" Gu He: "...!!!" Revenge for the murder of his father, hatred for the abduction of his wife! Now you're telling me there's no deep hatred? Of course, while the situation wasn't that serious, Gu He was still amused by the other party's shamelessness. Mo Tang didn't waste any time. He simply searched his inventory and found Yao Lao's scroll, which contained some experience and methods for advancing from a sixth-grade alchemist to a seventh-grade alchemist. He tossed it through the door. "Master Gu He, why don't you take a look at this first and then decide whether to see me next?" (End of this chapter)