White Moon looked over the people below and said, "Everyone, go back and reorganize. Also, pay close attention for now. If there's nothing else, you're dismissed."
Everyone dispersed one by one, except for the Poison Alchemist, who lingered behind. Gavin White regarded him with open curiosity. "Is there something else you need?" she asked.
"Sect Master, I have a friend—he's a pill-refining marvel. He's already joined Medicine King Heaven, but he wants a private room on Fire-Top Mountain. I hope Sect Master will approve," the Poison Alchemist petitioned.
"A pill-refining marvel? Who is he? Is he worthy of such a title?" White Moon asked with curiosity.
"Basically, for any pill, he can make the matching antidote. His pill-refining skills are on par with mine," the Poison Alchemist boasted.
"Someone who can make antidotes for your poisons? Now that's interesting. Bring him here, and I'll test him myself. If he passes, I'll grant him a room," Gavin White replied, intrigued.
"Alright, I'll go arrange it right away," the Poison Alchemist promised, turning to leave.
After watching the Poison Alchemist leave, Gavin White turned and headed for the rear hall. Though everyone believed only the sect master lived here, the truth was quite different. Once she entered, the space opened up—several maids appeared as she walked in.
"Miss, you're back? Did you find out who was causing trouble?" one of the maids asked, her tone both curious and concerned.
"No, today I called all the elders and pill experts together to prepare for a thorough investigation of their disciples," Gavin White replied with a smile. In front of the maids, she shifted from her male disguise to her true form—a young woman with snow-white hands, faint pink on her cheeks, and a floral hairpin in her hair.
A woman like this would certainly shine like a pearl in any crowd. Yet for reasons unknown, she disguised herself as a man and took on the role of sect master.
"Miss, why not just tell everyone the truth? Pretending to be the sect master all the time must be exhausting," another maid suggested gently.
"Lana, I have to wait here for that thing to appear. I won't leave Medicine King Heaven until then," Gavin White insisted.
Lana sighed. "Honestly, it's your father's fault for making you sect master. Now you have to keep this up every day—it's so tiring."
"It's not so bad. At least I have my own space here, and I can do what I love," Gavin White said, smiling.
The maids exchanged helpless glances, unable to change their mistress's mind.
After the Poison Alchemist left, he went to find Yang Han, who was wandering through Medicine King Heaven. When the Poison Alchemist showed up so quickly, Yang Han raised an eyebrow. "What's up? Need anything?"
"Not really. I just wanted to share some good news: the sect master wants to see you," the Poison Alchemist informed him, grinning.
"What? The sect master wants to see me? That fast?" Yang Han had barely left before receiving this news, and couldn't help but be surprised.
The Poison Alchemist chuckled at Yang Han's surprise. "I went straight to the sect master to tell him about you, so he sent me to bring you over."
"So that's how it is. Thanks," Yang Han said with a smile, then followed the Poison Alchemist to the mountain. With the Poison Alchemist's introduction, Yang Han learned the mountain's alias—Medicine King Mountain. Only the sect master could reside there; others were not allowed to stay for long. This had always been the rule.
When Yang Han entered, he hadn't noticed the mountain at all. Only after reaching a certain area did it appear. Curious about this phenomenon, Yang Han remarked, "This mountain really is strange."
"Of course. This is the most famous mountain in Medicine King Heaven. It's said that many experts have comprehended the Heavenly Dao here, so everyone treats it as a sacred mountain," the Poison Alchemist replied with a smile.
"So that's how it is," Yang Han smiled. Walking on the mountain, he realized the rocks weren't ordinary—they interfered with vision, making the mountain invisible from a distance.
Curious, Yang Han entered a grand hall on the mountain. The hall was empty, prompting him to ask, "Where is everyone?"
"Wait, I'll call out," said the Poison Alchemist. He then shouted inside, "Sect master, are you there?"
At that moment, White Moon, alerted by one of the maids, quickly tidied up and changed her appearance before stepping out from the rear hall.
A dignified-looking man walked out. Yang Han was stunned at first glance, but quickly regained composure—thanks to his cultivation of natural-law techniques, he could easily see through disguises and transformations. What he saw was not White Moon's disguised smile, but the smile of a woman.
Yang Han was puzzled why the other party would dress as a man, but now wasn't the time to ask. If White Moon took offense and tried to kill him, his purpose in coming here would be wasted.
So Yang Han pretended not to notice. White Moon looked at him for a long moment before asking, "You're the pill-refining marvel?"
"That's me," Yang Han replied.
"Poison Alchemist, you may leave. I want to test him alone," White Moon said. The Poison Alchemist nodded, glanced at Yang Han, and said, "It's up to you now."
After the Poison Alchemist left, Yang Han respectfully greeted, "Greetings, Sect Master."
"Mm, I've heard from the Poison Alchemist that you're skilled at alchemy and want to set up your own pill room in Medicine King Heaven. But not just anyone can enter Fire-Top Mountain. Since you made the request, I'll test you," said White Moon.
"I wonder how the test will be conducted. Please instruct me, Sect Master," Yang Han said.
"It's simple. I have a recipe here. If you can refine ten top-grade pills, you pass," White Moon said with a smile.
Yang Han took the recipe from White Moon, glanced at it, and said, "I'm afraid I don't have these ingredients."
"No problem, I've prepared a set here," White Moon replied.
"Where should I refine the pills?" Yang Han asked.
"Right here. It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you refine them yourself," White Moon said.
Yang Han nodded, then casually produced a furnace, carefully studied the recipe, and began picking through the herbs Gavin White had prepared, selecting what he needed.
Seeing that Yang Han's pill-refining technique was quite different from others, White Moon watched with curiosity.
Soon, Yang Han used his own flame to refine the pills—easily producing twenty. Seeing him effortlessly make twenty pills, far exceeding the requirement, White Moon looked at him suspiciously.
Yang Han knew that many in Medicine King Heaven were pill experts. If he didn't stand out, it would be hard to blend in, so he deliberately refined extra pills.
But to White Moon, it was a different story. After a moment, she said, "You've passed. Congratulations on becoming a resident of Fire-Top Mountain. I'll have the Left Protector take you there."
After White Moon finished speaking, the Left Protector soon arrived. Following White Moon's instructions, he led Yang Han away.
Yang Han left, but kept thinking about White Moon's gaze. "Why did she look at me like that? Did she realize I'm an imposter?"
After all, Yang Han was currently disguised. If the other party could sense it, he'd be in trouble, so he stayed alert around the Left Protector, worried he might sabotage him on White Moon's orders.
But things went smoothly. The Left Protector brought Yang Han to Fire-Top Mountain, handed him a room, and left. Once inside, Yang Han muttered, "She didn't notice?"
Thinking it over, he confirmed she probably hadn't noticed. He began inspecting his room: in the center was a furnace, with flame rising from below. After checking the room and its layout, he started setting up formations as a precaution.
As for White Moon, she returned to the rear hall deep in thought. Xiaolan asked curiously, "Miss, what's wrong?"
"Just now I saw someone, barehanded, without using any artifacts, refine twenty top-grade pills. It's the first time I've seen someone so skilled," White Moon said.
But for Gavin White, it was something else entirely. She studied Yang Han in silence for a moment, her gaze sharp and probing, before finally announcing, "You've passed. Congratulations on becoming a resident of Fire-Top Mountain. I'll have the Left Protector take you there."
After Gavin White finished speaking, the Left Protector soon arrived. Following her instructions, he led Yang Han away.
"That's really strange. Is someone like that really from our sect?" Xiaolan wondered.
Yang Han left, but Gavin White's gaze lingered in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was studying him, searching for something beneath the surface. "Did she see through my disguise?" he wondered, uneasy.
"Either way, at least he's part of our sect now. With such a talent, we should make good use of him," Xiaolan said with a smile.
"Oh? What are you thinking?" White Moon asked.
"Miss, didn't you say there's a pill that's very hard to refine? You could let him try. If he succeeds, then he's the one you're looking for—he might even help you make the Saint Pill!" Xiaolan said with a smile.
But everything went smoothly. The Left Protector brought Yang Han to Fire-Top Mountain, assigned him a pill room, and departed. Once inside, Yang Han muttered, "So she didn't notice?"
He double-checked his room: in the center was a furnace with the natural flame rising from below. After inspecting the room and layout for hidden threats, he began laying protective formations, just in case.
"That's a good point, but if I have him refine it alone, others might misunderstand. After all, as the sect master, if I give such a difficult task to a newcomer and he actually succeeds, people will talk. That would be troublesome to handle. But I've thought of a solution: I'll hold a pill-refining tournament. Everyone on Fire-Top Mountain can participate. Whoever refines the most and best pills wins and will be rewarded—and also gets the right to try refining the Saint Pill. The ingredients for the Saint Pill are extremely precious, so I can't just let anyone try," White Moon said after some thought.
"That's a great idea, Miss," Xiaolan said with a smile.
"You reminded me, but we'll wait a few days. I'll observe him further, and there's still one ingredient that needs a few days to mature," White Moon said.