16: A prominent reputation attracts attention.
The successful refinement of the bigu pill held extraordinary significance for Li Muchen. Not only did it mean he had an efficient form of sustenance, saving him time on foraging and cooking, but it also represented his initial mastery of the 'Basic Alchemy Handbook.' This laid the foundation for him to explore the Dao of Alchemy and refine higher-grade Medicinal Pills.
After processing the remaining medicinal ingredients slightly, he successfully refined a second batch of bigu pills. Both the quality and quantity were slightly improved compared to the first time. Having practiced his skills, he began preparing to refine the more important qi nurturing pills.
Refining qi nurturing pills was much more complex than bigu pills. There were more types of ingredients, the compatibility of the 'sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy' roles required more caution, and the heat control transitions were more intricate. Especially when dealing with relatively precious ingredients like ginseng and lingzhi, the processing needed to be even more refined.
Li Muchen was in no hurry to start. He re-examined and processed all the ingredients, repeatedly studying every detail regarding the refinement of qi nurturing pills in the handbook. He simulated the process several times in his mind until he felt seventy to eighty percent confident. Only then, on a clear moonlit night, did he officially begin the refinement.
He still used that same pottery jar as a Pill Furnace and the same charcoal fire.
The difference was that this time, he needed to invest more concentration. His Spiritual Sense was released almost throughout the entire process, tightly locking onto the morphological changes of the seven types of ingredients inside the jar at different temperatures, the extraction of medicinal properties, and the complex Fusion reactions between them.
He used intense heat for rising temperatures and gentle heat for Fusion, occasionally needing to quench the mixture to stimulate specific medicinal properties of certain ingredients.
Throughout the process, Li Muchen was highly focused, with fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead. The warm and peaceful sensation brought by the light of Karma supported him, allowing him to overcome the fatigue from prolonged, high-intensity focus.
It took a full six hours. When the eastern horizon began to turn white like a fish's belly, the medicinal qi inside the jar finally reached a delicate balance. The medicinal powers of different attributes intertwined and permeated each other, eventually condensing into a warm, mellow aura rich with spiritual opportunity.
Li Muchen formed a pill-collecting seal with his hands and lightly tapped it with true yuan.
He opened the lid.
At the bottom of the jar lay nine pills the size of longans. They were pale green with subtle cloud patterns on the surface and emitted a refreshing medicinal fragrance. The fragrance was not as strong as the bigu pills, but it was more reserved and long-lasting; smelling it made one's spirit lift, and the true yuan within the body seemed to become a bit more lively.
The qi nurturing pills were a success! And looking at their appearance, they were more than a notch better than the bigu pills!
Li Muchen took one out and swallowed it.
The pill entered his stomach and quickly dissolved. A torrent of medicinal power—far more pure, gentle, yet majestic than the bigu pills—instantly surged toward his limbs and bones, merging into his Meridians and flowing into his Dantian!
The seed of the dao foundation inside his Dantian seemed to receive the nourishment of sweet dew. It trembled slightly and began to rotate faster on its own, absorbing and transforming the medicinal power at a speed far exceeding his usual cultivation! In just a few moments, the true yuan and mental energy he had consumed during Alchemy were nearly half restored, and there was even a microscopic increase in his total amount of true yuan!
"Excellent pills!" A flash of surprise and joy crossed Li Muchen's eyes. The effect of these qi nurturing pills was even better than he had expected. Although they couldn't compare to the legendary Spirit Pills of myth, they were an excellent aid for his current cultivation level. One pill was enough to equal several days of bitter cultivation and could also play a key role in restoring true yuan or breaking through small Bottlenecks.
The successful refinement of qi nurturing pills greatly replenished Li Muchen's cultivation resources. He calculated that with his current stock of ingredients, he could refine about two more batches. He decided to control the frequency of use, only taking them when his cultivation hit a Bottleneck or when he needed a quick recovery. Usually, he would still rely on the Spirit Gathering Formation and Spirit Stones to avoid developing a dependency.
Life returned to a peaceful yet fulfilling rhythm. During the day, he managed the temple, cared for the plants, and studied Pill Formulas and Talismans. At night, he took qi nurturing pills and devoted himself to cultivating the 'Supreme Clarity Purple Mansion Returning to Origin True Scripture' within the Spirit Gathering Formation. His Purple Mansion grew more stable by the day, and his Spiritual Sense also grew slowly.
The reputation of Qingfeng Temple being 'miraculous' seemed to have entered a relatively stable phase after the initial word-of-mouth and official inspections.
The villagers had made it a habit to fetch water and offer incense. Occasionally, they would climb the mountain for help with minor ailments. Li Muchen would either perform massage or give them simple herbs. The effects were usually quite good, but he kept everything within a reasonable range.
However, the tree wants to be still, but the wind does not stop. The names of Qingfeng Temple and Li Muchen eventually spread further, attracting a different kind of attention.
This afternoon, Li Muchen was using his Spiritual Sense to 'scan' the growth of a newly transplanted fleeceflower root seedling when the edge of his Spiritual Sense suddenly twitched.
Someone was coming up the mountain, and more than one person.
The visitors were not villagers. Their footsteps were steady and rhythmic, their breathing long and deep. They clearly had good physical strength and... faintly carried a sense of being well-trained.
What drew Li Muchen's attention even more was that the aura of one of them, though faint, was different from everyone he had encountered before. It carried a vague sharpness and restlessness—not evil, but not peaceful either.
With a slight thought, he quietly withdrew his own aura and activated the Breath Concealment technique. He seemed to merge with his surroundings, his presence dropping to the minimum. At the same time, his Spiritual Sense extended toward them like invisible tentacles.
Three people were walking on the mountain path.
The one in the lead was none other than Zhao Desheng. His face bore a bit of helplessness and anxiety as he looked back and said something to the two behind him.
The two behind him were a man and a woman, both very young, about twenty-five or twenty-six. The man had a buzz cut and a lean, powerful build. He wore black sportswear, his eyes were sharp, and his steps were steady. His gaze constantly scanned the surroundings with obvious scrutiny and alertness. The woman had her hair in a ponytail and a clean, pretty face. She wore light gray outdoor gear and carried a professional camera bag, her expression a mix of curiosity and inquiry.
"Old Uncle Zhao, don't worry. We just came because of the reputation. We want to visit Daoist Master Li and take some photos of the ancient temple's scenery. We won't disturb you for long," the woman said in a crisp, polite tone.
Zhao Desheng rubbed his hands. "Reporter Liu, Mr. Han... Mr. Han, it's not that I didn't want to bring you here, it's just that the Abbot likes peace and quiet, and..." He paused and lowered his voice. "The Abbot is a truly capable man who doesn't like showing off. When Officer Liu from the town came last time, it was just routine business. But you all... with a reporter and..."
"We know the rules," the buzz-cut man called Mr. Han spoke, his voice low and powerful. "We're just curious. There have been many rumors lately about Yuntai Mountain's Qingfeng Temple and that young Abbot. Our 'China Geography' magazine is doing a special feature on 'Ancient Temples in Deep Mountains.' We felt this place has a lot of story potential, so we came to visit. If the Abbot is unwilling, we'll just take a few photos of the exterior, learn about the history, and leave. We won't force anything."
'China Geography' magazine? Reporters? Li Muchen's heart stirred slightly. He had heard of this magazine in his past life; it was a relatively authoritative popular science and geography publication. If it were truly reporters gathering material, it would be normal. But that man named Han gave him a feeling that he wasn't like an ordinary reporter or photographer. That aura... He scanned the man named Han more closely with his Spiritual Sense. In hard-to-notice places like his waist and cuffs, his Spiritual Sense detected the coldness of metal and the faint signal fluctuations of some... miniature electronic equipment? Although very faint and deliberately hidden, under Li Muchen's now-acute Spiritual Sense, they still revealed some clues.
He wasn't an ordinary reporter. Or rather, not entirely one.
Li Muchen had some guesses, but he didn't expose them. He deactivated the Breath Concealment technique, returned to his normal state, and walked to the entrance of the Main Hall.
Zhao Desheng and the other two happened to reach the mountain gate.
"Abbot!" Seeing Li Muchen, Zhao Desheng hurriedly took a few steps forward, an apologetic look on his face. "These two are reporter comrades from 'China Geography' magazine, Reporter Liu and Photographer Han. They want to interview our temple..."
Li Muchen's calm gaze swept over the two of them, lingering for a split second on the man named Han. Then he looked at the woman, Reporter Liu, and performed a greeting. "taoist greeting. You two Lay Practitioners have worked hard traveling from afar."
When Reporter Liu saw Li Muchen, a clear flash of amazement and curiosity appeared in her eyes. This young Abbot was even more... special than she had imagined. His handsome and clear features were secondary; the key was that calm, otherworldly temperament, as if he were one with this mountain, this temple, and these ancient trees, making one forget worldly concerns upon seeing him.
"Hello, Daoist Master Li! Sorry to disturb you!" Reporter Liu hurriedly returned the greeting with a bright smile. "I am Liu Qing, a reporter from 'China Geography,' and this is my colleague, Han Gang. Our magazine is preparing a special feature on the architecture of unique ancient temples across China. We heard that Yuntai Mountain's Qingfeng Temple has a long history, unique architecture, and the miracle of an ancient tree blooming in spring. So we came specifically to visit, hoping to learn some history and take some photos. I wonder if it's convenient?"
Her explanation was basically the same as what she had told Zhao Desheng, and her attitude was sincere.
Li Muchen pondered for a moment and said, "The temple is simple, and much of the historical records have been lost. I fear I may disappoint you both. As for photos, the statues in the hall are dilapidated and not suitable for photography. If you two don't mind, you are free to look at the ancient cypress and mountain scenery in the courtyard. However, I prefer quiet and cannot accompany you for long."
His attitude was clear: he wouldn't refuse the interview, but he would keep his distance, avoid deep conversation, and not cooperate.
Liu Qing seemed to have expected this and didn't push. She smiled and said, "That's enough! Thank you for your understanding, Abbot! Then we'll just look around the courtyard. Is it okay if we take a few photos of the ancient cypress and the building's exterior?"
"As you wish." Li Muchen stepped aside.
Liu Qing and Han Gang walked into the courtyard. Liu Qing was immediately attracted by the vibrant ancient cypress in front of the hall. She marveled at it and began taking photos from different angles. Han Gang, meanwhile, walked around seemingly at random, but his sharp gaze swept over every corner of the temple. He lingered for a long time on the Spirit Well, the repaired parts of the Main Hall, and the heart-clearing grass in the vegetable patch. He even used a small device he carried to quietly test the air and the well water.
Li Muchen acted as if he saw nothing, simply standing quietly in front of the hall, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains.
Zhao Desheng stood to the side somewhat awkwardly, looking at Li Muchen and then at the two reporters, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.
After Liu Qing finished photographing the ancient cypress, she asked Zhao Desheng about the temple's history and rumors regarding the old Abbot. Zhao Desheng answered cautiously, following the same narrative he had used with Officer Liu.
The whole process lasted about half an hour. Han Gang had scanned almost the entire exterior of the temple. His gaze met Li Muchen's calm eyes several times, and each time he quickly looked away, though a hint of gravity and inquiry remained deep in his eyes.
Finally, Liu Qing put away her camera with satisfaction and thanked Li Muchen again. "Thank you, Abbot! The ancient trees and the atmosphere here are truly special! We won't disturb you any further."
Han Gang also nodded slightly in acknowledgment, gave Li Muchen one last deep look, and turned to leave.
Zhao Desheng hurriedly followed to see them down the mountain.
Only after the three figures disappeared down the mountain path did Li Muchen withdraw his gaze.
Liu Qing might have truly come for a magazine feature, but that Han Gang definitely had another purpose. His aura, equipment, and that well-trained way of observing were more like... someone from a special department.
A deeper level of official attention had arrived.
And this time, those who came were likely more than just from the cultural department.
The mountain wind blew past, making the ancient cypress rustle.
Li Muchen's face was calm, but he understood in his heart that from now on, he would need to be even more cautious. This dilapidated temple in the deep mountains could no longer be completely hidden from the eyes of the secular world.