Chapter 9: The Art of Puppetry
For the next two days, Ye Hao began to guide the absorbed spiritual energy to nourish and strengthen various parts of his body.
Three days later, a paper crane flew in through the window of Ye Hao's room, speaking in human language: "Come to Dan Temple quickly."
When Han Ye saw Yue Hao for a moment, her pupils slightly contracted, and she found that his body had a strong spiritual aura fluctuation.
"How can it be possible to condense three layers of Qi in such a short time?" Han Ye's mind was filled with disbelief. Even if he had dispersed his cultivation and started anew, it would not have been possible for him to progress so rapidly in just three days, unless he had used some kind of spiritual treasure. What she didn't know was that Ye Hao had already condensed eight layers of Qi, but had disguised it using a special method.
Although she was shocked in her heart, Han Ye didn't show it on her face, nor did she ask any questions. This was her personality; to her, Ye Hao was just her assistant for the time being, and as long as he could help her complete the alchemy smoothly, she wouldn't pry into his affairs.
"This is the spiritual medicine needed for this alchemy, go to the Spiritual Medicine Garden and ask Cui Guan Shi for it, you have two hours." Han Ye Yue handed Ye Hao a long prescription with at least hundreds of first to fourth grade spiritual medicines.
"Two hours, with my two legs, I'm afraid it's not enough." Ye Hao shrugged.
Han Ye's voice was cold as he hummed, and a spell seal hit Ye Hao's two legs. "This is the Divine Movement Technique," he said. "It will take one hour to get there and back, and another hour to fetch the medicine. Two hours later, the effect of the technique will dissipate. If you haven't returned by then..."
Ye Hao was too lazy to listen any longer and with a flash of movement, he rushed out of the Dan Hall at an incredibly fast speed.
Jindan Zhenren's divine movement technique, the effect is still decent, but adding Ye Hao's unique "Flower Petal Steps" increased his speed by at least double.
Ye Hao arrived at the Spiritual Medicine Garden when those miscellaneous disciples were already busy with sweat dripping down their backs.
"I heard that the little guy has been summoned by Night Moon True Person, and Steward Cui is indeed a man of his word. This is a Smoke Spirit Dan given to you by Eldest Brother as a reward, from now on serve Eldest Brother well and you will have your benefits." Just as Ye Hao approached the small building where Steward Cui was sitting, a voice suddenly came from inside, Ye Hao's heart moved and he hid to one side.
"Yes, yes, if Master has any instructions, I, Old Cui, will also go to the knife mountain and sea of fire." The flattering voice of Cui Guan Shi came over.
"Alright, what news does that kid have? Tell Master Big Brother everything in detail. It's best if you can find a way to disable him."
"Yes, yes..."
In a moment, a young man rushed out of the small building, riding on an emerald green bamboo, flying towards the outside of the clouds.
Ye Hao's eyes gleamed with a cold light as he hid in the shadows, a faint smile playing on his lips. Indeed, someone had been plotting against him, and those who did would not have a good ending.
After a long wait, Ye Hao finally emerged from the shadows and swaggered into the small building.
That steward saw Ye Hao and immediately beamed with joy, saying: "Brother Ye, have you come to fetch the medicine for refining the elixir?"
Ye Hao smiled and handed over the prescription given by Han Ye Yue.
Choi's hand instinctively reached out to take it, but just as his fingers touched the prescription, they suddenly went numb, and this numbness instantly spread from his fingertips throughout his body.
At this moment, Ye Hao's hands moved swiftly and precisely, pressing various points on Cui Guan Shi's body. Then, he stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the paralyzed Cui Guan Shi.
"You......" Cui's face was both shocked and furious, his tongue numb and stuttering.
"Old Ye will have to pay the price." Ye Hao chuckled, his eyes fixed on Manager Cui's gaze like a cat watching a mouse that can't escape.
"What do you want to do? You'd better think carefully about the consequences." Cui Guan's numbness passed, but his body was still unable to move due to the strange seal Ye Hao had placed on him.
Ye Hao smiled slightly strangely, his hand stretched out, a spiritual needle condensed, and then lightly pricked several major acupoints on Cui Guan's head with varying depths.
Choi's expression was somewhat dazed, and when he came back to his senses, the gaze he gave Ye Hao had become one of reverence.
Ye Hao smiled in satisfaction, waved his hand to dispel the restrictive spell on Cui's body, and thought: "This set of minor puppetry can only control cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage. I used to think it was useless, but it still has some use after all."
From Cui Guanshi's mouth, Ye Hao learned about the inside story of Wang Tong, the senior brother of Mingyue Peak. This Wang Tong was not simple in identity, his grandfather was a Yuan Ying Taoist who had been cultivating in seclusion, and his parents were also core disciples of the sect back then, only to fall together in a battle against demonic beasts, which made the higher-ups of Yunxia Sect feel guilty towards him and willing to grant him any request.
"Wang Tong, you son of a bitch, watch me take care of you." Ye Hao sneered in his heart, took the spiritual medicine and returned to the top of Fog Moon Peak.
Han Ye saw Yue Hao, didn't say much nonsense, and waved his hand to close the Dan Temple gate.
"Moonlight Pillar, appear!" Han Ye's hands formed a seal and struck the center of the Qingyu board in the Dan Temple.
In an instant, the green jade slab slid open to both sides, and a dan tripod with a length, width, and height of ten zhang each, its surface covered in a layer of moonlight-like luster, rose up from below.
"This dormant month Dan Ding connects the ground to kill Yin fire, slightly careless, blasting furnace is a small matter, the ground to kill Yin fire backlashed control people, even bones will be burned into ash." Han Ye said faintly.
"Oh." Ye Jie lazily responded with a single word.
Han Ye glanced at Ye Hao and said, "This time we're refining the Smoke Spirit Pill. Follow my instructions to add the spiritual medicine to the pill furnace, be quick about it, or else it will affect the quality of the pill."
"Alright, no more nonsense, let's get started." Ye Hao said.
Han Ye glared at Ye Hao for a moment, but didn't bother to argue with him.
"Open the tripod." Han Ye's dozens of spiritual energies struck the lid of the tripod, lifting it up.
"Three portions of Dragon's Tongue Grass, five portions of Wisteria Vine, ten portions of Snake Heart Grass..."
Ye Hao's subordinates were also swift and precise, following Han Ye's command, they quickly and accurately poured the required spiritual medicine into the alchemy furnace.
Han Ye looked at Ye Hao with surprise and delight, her face filled with joy, as she continued to report the names of spiritual medicines, occasionally adding some high-quality spiritual medicines and unknown extracts.
"Not bad, now I'll teach you how to control the fire with this talisman." Huàn Yè Yuè held a cyan talisman in her hand, on which were carved strange patterns. When she infused it with spiritual energy and struck the formation at the center of the Dan tripod, she could control the fierce flames of the Xuan Yin Fire.
Ye Hao is somewhat familiar with alchemy and can make it clear at once.
"Alright, the fire timing is now up to you to control. Remember what I told you, change the fire timing every three hours, and extinguish it after five days. If you ruin the elixir for me, Ben Zhenren won't forgive you." After finishing speaking, Huan Yemeng threw the token to Ye Hao, then entered the inner chamber of the Dan Hall, seemingly not caring about anything anymore.
Ye Hao was delighted and carefree, he sat cross-legged in front of the Dan Ding, and began to cultivate.
