An hour later, Ye Mo and Jing Yingli walked out of the Pill Association, sighing. Having connections certainly made things easier. Ye Mo produced the jade card, smiling. “I’ll keep using this. Next time I need something, I’ll just use this jade card again.” Jing Yingli looked at the card, confused. “It’s strange, considering Lu Qianbei’s personality, that he’d let you keep it.” Just as Ye Mo began to reply, the jade card cracked, dissolving into dust. Ye Mo cursed. That old guy was truly stingy; one use, as promised.

Jing Yingli watched Ye Mo stare at the remnants of the jade card, then suddenly laughed. Passersby glanced their way, but upon seeing Jing Yingli, quickly averted their gaze. Unfazed, Jing Yingli looked at the disgruntled Ye Mo, feeling happier than ever before. She’d never laughed so freely; not since she could remember.

“Martial Sister Yingli?” a crisp voice called out. Her newfound joy evaporated as she realized someone she knew had witnessed her mirth.

“Martial Sister Pandie,” Jing Yingli replied awkwardly.

Ye Mo saw the newcomer and was startled—it was Yi Pandie of the Heaven Star Sect.

“This is…?” Yi Pandie looked at Jing Yingli quizzically.

Jing Yingli made the introductions, feeling peculiar. Yi Pandie rarely inquired about male cultivators; she typically disregarded them. While Ye Mo’s appearance had improved, countless more handsome cultivators existed in the cultivation realm. Even the male cultivator beside Yi Pandie appeared more attractive.

Ye Mo hadn’t told Jing Yingli about his prior encounter with Yi Pandie, but Jing Yingli, ever perceptive, deduced their previous meeting from a single sentence. She simply stated, “This is my friend, Luo Xiaomo. He’s a solo cultivator.”

“Luo Xiaomo?” Yi Pandie repeated, studying Ye Mo. His familiarity sparked a woman’s intuition. Realizing her abruptness, she offered an awkward smile. “He just seems familiar; I thought I’d seen him before.”

Ye Mo was shaken. His appearance and aura differed greatly from his Truth Fall Palace persona, yet Yi Pandie still sensed something. A woman’s intuition was truly formidable.

He smiled, “Really? I often feel that way too. Even with strangers, sometimes a meeting feels like a long-awaited reunion. Martial Sister Jing, you haven’t introduced me to this beautiful lady yet.”

Yi Pandie’s expression soured. Ye Mo’s flippant remark displeased her. Before she could respond, she turned to Jing Yingli. “Martial Sister Yingli, this is my Martial Brother Feng Ling. He’s here for the pill king tournament. I didn’t expect to see you here. What a coincidence.”

Ye Mo used his spirit sense to assess Feng Ling, finding his cultivation superior. A Nascent Soul level seven cultivator, though seemingly young, and a level one pill king! His sect likely kept him from the Truth Fall Palace, fearing the loss of such a valuable asset. A pill king held significantly more importance than several core disciples within a large sect.

Ye Mo admired Feng Ling’s prodigious talent—achieving pill king status at such a young age. The disparity in power between South Peace State and North Far State was evident. Ye Mo’s own progress stemmed from cultivating the Three Birth Chant.

Jing Yingli remained impassive, replying calmly, “Martial Brother Feng is beyond comparison. To become a pill king at such a young age!”

Yi Pandie, sensing the tense atmosphere, quickly interjected. “Martial Sister Yingli, the pill king tournament is next month. Many pill kings are discussing pill concoction at the Number One Pill Rest Tower. Martial Brother Feng was invited; I’m accompanying him. Would you like to join us?”

(A pill rest tower functioned similarly to a spirit rest tower, simply named differently here.)

Jing Yingli would have declined under normal circumstances, but this was different. She subconsciously glanced at Ye Mo. “Xiaomo, what do you think?”

Ye Mo, having yet to encounter the pill kings and masters of South Peace State, and intending to attend the tournament, readily agreed. “Since there will be pill kings discussing pill concoction, we can learn a great deal. Let's go.”

“Very well, let’s go together,” Jing Yingli told Yi Pandie.

Yi Pandie was astonished. Despite Jing Yingli’s unconventional appearance, she was a prodigious cultivator with considerable pride. Even her sister, Jing Yingmeng, paled in comparison, yet Jing Yingli sought the opinion of a solo cultivator like Ye Mo. It was baffling. And she’d used his given name!

She subconsciously assessed Ye Mo, realizing his cultivation surpassed hers—Nascent Soul level five. This Luo Xiaomo possessed superior talent.

Ye Mo remained less cautious around Yi Pandie than he was around Ling Xiaoshuang; Ling Xiaoshuang was familiar with his cultivation essence wave, but Yi Pandie was not.

The four proceeded to the Number One Pill Rest Tower. Yi Pandie observed Ye Mo while speaking with Jing Yingli. Even if Ye Mo’s talent exceeded her own, it hardly explained Jing Yingli’s amiable demeanor. Jing Yingli was exceptional. Were it not for her low profile, her renown would eclipse that of the South Peace State’s ten most beautiful women. Her talent was exceptional – rivaling Yuan Guannan.

“Brother Luo seems very interested in pill concoction?” Feng Ling asked Ye Mo.

Ye Mo nodded. “Yes, I enjoy it. While I don't intend to specialize, it's incredibly useful.” He wouldn't be buying pills and currying favor with pill kings otherwise.

“Ah,” Feng Ling realized. “So, Brother Luo is here for the pill king tournament? The participants are the most skilled pill concoction masters in South Peace State. Observing the tournament benefits interested masters greatly. If you have any questions, I may be able to assist.”

Ye Mo smiled, but remained silent.

Jing Yingli interjected, “Xiaomo is participating in the tournament as well.”

Both Yi Pandie and Feng Ling were dumbfounded.

Feng Ling questioned, “Brother Luo, did you receive Pill City’s pill king verification?”

Ye Mo shook his head. “No, I only have a level seven spirit pill master verification. Fortunately, it suffices.”

“I see,” Feng Ling breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been eager to display his superiority.

A significant difference existed between level seven and level eight pill masters, much more so between a level seven spirit pill master and a pill king.