"Here are five veins of ten-thousand-year-old Earth Pine; I'll buy them in a moment and give you three. Then I'll give you three stalks of thousand-year-old Dragon's Saliva Herb in exchange for your piece of Precious Blood Lotus Root. What do you think?"

Although Mo Wuji knew the Precious Blood Lotus Root was valuable, it was still only a Grade 3 spirit herb. Whether it was the ten-thousand-year-old Earth Pine vein or the thousand-year-old Dragon's Saliva Herb, both were Grade 4 spirit herbs. Using them to exchange for his piece of Precious Blood Lotus Root, which had been stripped of its lotus silk, was a huge advantage for him. There must be some personal consideration involved.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Mu. I am willing to exchange." Mo Wuji said without hesitation.

"Good, straightforward." Mu Ying nodded with satisfaction. She quickly used two Grade 4 spirit herbs to exchange back the Earth Pine vein, and then took out three Earth Pine veins and three Dragon's Saliva Herbs to exchange with Mo Wuji.

After completing the exchange with Mo Wuji, Mu Ying asked, "Alchemist Mo, I greatly admire your selfless contribution of the Mo Clan's Medicine Liquid. But you were originally a handyman disciple, so how did you become a Grade 2 Human Alchemist?"

Mo Wuji originally wanted to befriend Mu Ying. Now that Mu Ying asked, he naturally didn't hide anything. "Senior Sister Mu, the main reason I was able to become a Grade 2 Human Alchemist was because of Senior Sister Yin's help. Senior Sister Yin taught me a lot of things, which gave me the opportunity to become an alchemist."

"So it was Senior Sister Yin's guidance. Senior Sister Yin, you didn't tell me you knew Alchemist Mo." Mu Ying was obviously very familiar with Yin Qianyin, and immediately turned to Yin Qianyin and said.

"It's just that Junior Brother Mo's understanding of the Dao of Alchemy was already quite good. I only gave him a little guidance." Yin Qianyin smiled slightly. She knew that Mo Wuji's becoming an alchemist had nothing to do with her. However, she didn't expose it. Mo Wuji didn't seem to want others to know that he was too talented in alchemy.

After speaking, Yin Qianyin asked Mo Wuji again, "Junior Brother Mo, are you also here to participate in the Five Elements Wasteland Alchemy Competition?"

Mo Wuji smiled gratefully, "Yes, Senior Sister Yin. I just broke through to become a Grade 3 Human Alchemist, so I wanted to give it a try."

"Ah, you're already a Grade 3 Human Alchemist?" Yin Qianyin exclaimed. She had determined that Mo Wuji would only be able to stop at Grade 2 Human Alchemist in this lifetime. But in the blink of an eye, he was already a Grade 3 Human Alchemist. Could it be that she had misjudged him?

She suddenly thought of Gu Ran, the sect leader of the No Trace Sword Sect. She wondered if Gu Ran would regret it a little when he learned that Mo Wuji had become a Grade 3 Human Alchemist.

Mo Wuji laughed. "It's just luck. Inspiration suddenly struck, and then I became a Grade 3 Human Alchemist."

Mu Ying said seriously, "Alchemist Mo, I don't think there's such a thing as luck in alchemy. I believe Alchemist Mo's understanding of the Dao of Alchemy must be extraordinary, which is why you were able to step into the ranks of Grade 3 Human Alchemist. Otherwise, there wouldn't be the Mo Clan's Medicine Liquid. Alchemist Mo, I'll be waiting for you at the Pill Tower of the Heaven Asking Learning Palace. I believe that with your talent, you will definitely be able to enter the Heaven Asking Learning Palace and enter the Pill Tower."

Mo Wuji thought to himself, even if I were to enter the Heaven Asking Learning Palace, I wouldn't go to the Pill Tower. Alchemy is just his sideline; what he wants is not to become some Heavenly Alchemist, but to pursue the highest cultivation realm.

"Thank you for your kind words, Senior Sister Mu. Actually, I have a private matter I want to talk to you about alone. I wonder if Senior Sister can spare some time?" Mo Wuji seized the opportunity to say quickly.

Mu Ying swept her hand, and the things in front of her disappeared without a trace. Then she smiled and said to Mo Wuji, "I was just about to leave. Since Alchemist Mo has something to ask me, please."

Mo Wuji secretly envied those who had storage bags, and at the same time secretly praised her, this woman acts decisively. He quickly greeted Yin Qianyin and told Zhen Shaoru to go back on his own before following Mu Ying out of the Alchemist Exchange Hall.

The matter of meeting Granny Linglong was very important to him, and he couldn't let Zhen Shaoru, this insensitive guy, ruin things.

…

At Mu Ying's residence, Mo Wuji told her about his desire to see Granny Linglong.

"You want to ask Granny Linglong to help you save someone?" Mu Ying asked, frowning after hearing Mo Wuji's words.

"Yes, only Granny Linglong can save Yan'er." Mo Wuji clasped his fists and bowed to Mu Ying, looking at her expectantly.

Mu Ying sighed and said, "It's not that I don't want to help you, but my master has some conflicts with Granny Linglong. If I really take you to see Granny Linglong, I'm afraid it will have the opposite effect…"

Mo Wuji's heart immediately sank. It was as he had expected.

"Moreover, even if I help you see Granny Linglong, she won't help you. Unless you find the Boundless Soul Forging Crystal, then even if I don't help you introduce her, you can still see Granny Linglong." Mu Ying said helplessly.

Mo Wuji clasped his fists again and said, "In that case, I won't disturb Senior Sister Mu. I'll take my leave."

Mu Ying said to Mo Wuji somewhat reluctantly, "You have a good relationship with the Young Pavilion Master of Jiu Yue Pill Pavilion. You can ask him for a spot to enter the Five Elements Wasteland. If you're lucky, you might be able to find the Boundless Soul Forging Crystal in the Five Elements Wasteland. All the spots I get to enter the Five Elements Wasteland after participating in the Alchemy Competition belong to the Heaven Asking Learning Palace, so I can't promise you a spot."

Obviously, Mu Ying didn't think Mo Wuji could get a place in the Alchemy Competition.

"Okay, I understand." Mo Wuji replied to Mu Ying with a wry smile before taking his leave.

Ask the Young Pavilion Master of Jiu Yue Pill Pavilion for a spot to enter the Five Elements Wasteland? If Mu Ying knew that Zhen Shaoke and Zhen Shaoru were waiting for his spot to enter the Five Elements Wasteland, he wondered what she would think.

Although he hadn't seen Granny Linglong, Mo Wuji had a general understanding of Granny Linglong through the descriptions of several people. This should be an extremely eccentric old woman who doesn't care about human relationships and requires direct benefits for everything she does.

It seems that if he wants to see Granny Linglong, getting a place in the Alchemy Competition won't be of any use. The only way is to enter the Five Elements Wasteland and obtain the Boundless Soul Forging Crystal that Granny Linglong needs.

Mo Wuji clenched his fists. This time, he must get a place in the Alchemy Competition, and he must enter the Five Elements Wasteland.

With nearly half a month to go before the Five Elements Wasteland Alchemy Competition, Mo Wuji immediately went into seclusion to cultivate after returning to his residence in Jiu Yue Pill Pavilion.

He constantly condensed his spiritual power, while using spirit stones and Spirit Gathering Pills to improve his cultivation. For him, cultivation simply didn't require the use of pills. In order to be able to refine Grade 4 Earth Spirit Pills as soon as possible, he had to improve his cultivation and spiritual power.

Knowing that Mo Wuji was cultivating, Zhen Shaoke had not bothered him. Even Zhen Shaoru was restricted by Zhen Shaoke and was not allowed to disturb Mo Wuji.

…

Half a month passed quickly. Mo Wuji's spiritual power had improved a lot after half a month of cultivation. Just when Mo Wuji thought he was about to cross the Meridian Opening Seventh Layer and advance to the Meridian Opening Eighth Layer, Zhen Shaoke knocked on his door.

Mo Wuji looked at the spirit stone shards all over the ground with some disappointment. He was so close. If he had a few more days, he might have advanced to the Meridian Opening Eighth Layer.

Zhen Shaoke's knocking at this time was obviously because the Five Elements Wasteland Alchemy Competition was about to begin, and he had to leave seclusion.

Sure enough, after Mo Wuji opened the door, Zhen Shaoke said apologetically, "Wuji, the Alchemy Competition is about to begin. I have to disturb your seclusion."

"It's okay. Let me clean up first." Mo Wuji waved his hand and said.

…

Half an hour later, Mo Wuji, who had cleaned up, and Zhen Shaoke arrived at the center of the square.

The square was already packed with people. In the center of the square was a huge circular altar. In front of the circular altar were nearly a thousand empty seats, and each seat had an alchemy furnace in front of it.

The most eye-catching words on the huge circular altar were Heaven Asking Learning Palace. Around the Heaven Asking Learning Palace were the various sects. Mo Wuji saw sects such as the Heaven Utmost Hall, Green Luo Gate, and Blazing Fire Sect on it, but did not see forces such as the No Trace Sword Sect and Jiu Yue Pill Pavilion.

It seemed that only quasi-heaven-grade sects could ascend the circular altar.

Although there were many people in the square, it was not chaotic. Most people were standing quietly or discussing in low voices.

A man with a long beard wearing a sauce-colored Daoist robe suddenly walked down from the void and landed in the middle of the square's circular altar.

"This person is amazing." Mo Wuji was secretly shocked. It was the first time he had seen someone walk down from the void.

Zhen Shaoke, who was standing next to Mo Wuji, whispered, "This is Senior Feng Zhenqiu, the True God Realm expert and Second Dean of the Heaven Asking Learning Palace."

Feng Zhenqiu clasped his fists at the surroundings on the circular altar and said, "Fellow Daoists, Alchemists. The Five Elements Alchemy Competition has become the number one event in our Five Great Empires, not only because this event is the top-level alchemy competition in our Five Great Empires, but also because this event is related to the number of places available to enter the Five Elements Wasteland. It is not without reason that our Five Great Empires are called the Lost Continent by the outer continents. That is because although our Five Great Empires have many cultivators and many geniuses, very few people can step into the Third Heaven of the Heaven Realm…"

Speaking of this, Feng Zhenqiu deliberately paused. The people below were already extremely quiet because of Feng Zhenqiu's arrival, but now no one was speaking, and there was complete silence.

After pausing for a moment, Feng Zhenqiu continued, "Our Five Great Empires have vast territories and countless geniuses. Why is it so difficult to produce a Heaven Realm expert? Is it because our geniuses are all pseudo-geniuses? I can now tell you with certainty that it is not. It is because the Lost Continent lacks a rule of heaven and earth. This missing rule not only prevents Grade 7 and above spirit herbs from growing, but also prevents us from comprehending the mysteries of the Third Heaven of the Heaven Realm."

The square finally erupted into a series of discussions, but the discussions were not loud. Obviously, this kind of statement was not the first time they had heard it.

"Now that the Five Elements Wasteland has been opened, a large number of Grade 7 and above spirit herbs have appeared inside, and even a large number of Flowers of the True God. In order to avoid everyone killing each other and destroying various precious spirit herbs after entering, we have decided to hold a Five Elements Wasteland Alchemy Competition every few years to determine the number of places available to enter the Five Elements Wasteland. This Alchemy Competition is also the third Five Elements Alchemy Competition we have held. Now I announce that the Alchemy Competition has begun. I hope all the alchemists can represent their side and achieve good results…"

After Feng Zhenqiu finished speaking, he didn't say another word of nonsense and retreated directly.

(Second update for monthly tickets!)