Chapter 961: Obsession

“Hmm, this appears to be a case of will overexertion syndrome. What a woman of strong obsession!” remarked the unassuming man.

Ye Mo, hearing this as if it were celestial music, quickly approached and offered a respectful fist salute. “Dao Friend, do you know the cause of her illness?”

The unassuming man, though clearly more powerful than Ye Mo, possessed a genial demeanor. He nodded. “I know the cause; I've seen it before. You're here for pills from Pill Master Sun, yes? But you'll likely be disappointed.”

Sun Houchang coldly glanced at Ye Mo and Su Jingwen, remaining silent.

Ye Mo found Sun Houchang's behavior objectionable. He was merely an ordinary pill concocter; was this display of arrogance necessary? Did he believe himself a pill king? Yet, given the man's recognition of Su Jingwen's condition, Ye Mo couldn't dismiss Sun Houchang entirely.

He again offered a fist salute. “Pill Master Sun, may I ask—”

Before Ye Mo could finish, Sun Houchang waved him off. “No need to ask. I can't cure this. I've never even heard of such a condition.”

Ignoring Ye Mo, he offered a fist salute to the unassuming man. “Brother Li, I’ll be going.” He then retreated inside and sealed the formation.

Brother Li turned to Ye Mo, displaying his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “He has a terrible temper, but he is a level six spirit pill master. I came for pills, but I think he truly doesn't understand this ailment. I've only heard of it in passing.”

Ye Mo seized this opportunity. “Dao Friend, please, do you know how to cure this will overexertion syndrome?”

The cultivator shook his head. “The reason I even know of it is because, seventy years ago, I accompanied an Elder to visit a Qianbei. He had encountered a similar patient. That Qianbei stated the condition stemmed from an obsessive will surpassing the patient's will to live. Unless the patient can be mentally awakened, they are incurable.”

“What did the Qianbei ultimately say?” Ye Mo asked desperately.

Seeing Ye Mo's desperation, Li replied sympathetically, “That Qianbei couldn't cure it either. He only suggested understanding the patient's obsession and then awakening them with mental and soul-type pills. But soul-type pills are exceedingly rare…”

As if reluctant to dash Ye Mo's hopes, Li added, “Even spirit sense repairing pills are very expensive. I heard that in the last pill concoction hall of fame tournament, one pill master used Spirit Attraction Grass to create a spirit weaving pill. Perhaps you could seek him out?”

Ye Mo was stunned. That person was him! If he possessed a cure, why would he consult a level six spirit pill master?

Seeing Ye Mo's distress, the cultivator continued, “That Qianbei did mention a herb called Du Lan Chun Xiao. Used in a pill, it might awaken the patient. If the number one hall of fame pill master were willing to assist, such a pill might be possible.”

Ye Mo suddenly realized his own clouded judgment. He was a pill king-level master! Yet, in his desperation, he hadn't considered this. He hadn't even arrived at the diagnosis that Su Jingwen suffered from excessive obsession.

He knew of the Du Lan Chun Xiao. A level three spirit herb with potent effects on spirit and mental ailments, he might indeed be able to create a pill and test it. Moreover, he suspected Su Jingwen's obsession was linked to him.

The only challenge would be acquiring the Du Lan Chun Xiao. Though a level three herb, it was exceptionally rare—as rare as level five herbs! It wasn't as difficult to incorporate into a pill as Spirit Attraction Grass, but it was still challenging. However, if he could use Spirit Attraction Grass, why not Du Lan Chun Xiao?

This thought brought relief. Even failing with the Du Lan Chun Xiao, he still had the spirit recovery pill. A heaven-grade level three pill, it was ideal for repairing soul injuries. Even if it couldn't cure Su Jingwen, it could alleviate her condition.

Ye Mo immediately administered a spirit recovery pill.

It dissolved instantly. Su Jingwen's eyes closed, and she soon fell asleep.

Ye Mo rejoiced. Su Jingwen hadn't slept for days, a fact that greatly worried him. Without his marrow refinement, she might not have endured. Now that she was asleep, even without a complete recovery, he had time to seek the herb.

Seeing the possibility of a cure, Ye Mo felt immense gratitude. “Brother Li, thank you. I am greatly enlightened.”

The cultivator stared at Su Jingwen in astonishment. “I heard the Qianbei say patients with this condition cannot sleep. How did you induce sleep?”

Having received significant help, Ye Mo felt no need to deceive him. “It was a spirit recovery pill I obtained fortuitously.”

“What?” The cultivator was shocked. “You mean the heaven-grade level three spirit recovery pill?”

He didn’t understand its creation, but he knew its value. This cultivator had simply given one to the woman in his arms. How wealthy was he?

Ye Mo wished to avoid further discussion. “Brother Li, I must find the Du Lan Chun Xiao. Farewell.”

He wanted to offer his name, but given his precarious situation, he couldn't.

Li realized Ye Mo's reluctance and refrained from further questions. “If you seek the Du Lan Chun Xiao, I know a place where it will be available in four days.”

“Where?” Ye Mo asked.

“In four days, Shuo Gan City will host a small golden core state gathering. I hear someone will be bringing Du Lan Chun Xiao. I'm going; if you wish, join me.”

This was remarkably fortuitous! Yet, upon closer observation, Ye Mo detected no deception in Li's tone.

He nodded. “Thank you, Brother Li. My name is Mo Ying. I’m a solo cultivator. What pill are you commissioning from Sun Houchang that requires a month?”

The cultivator smiled. “I'm Li Jingwen, also a solo cultivator. I obtained two pieces of Blue Wen Grass and wished to commission some blue wen pills from Pill Master Sun.”

Having been helped by Li Jingwen, Ye Mo couldn’t allow him to be defrauded.

He said, “Brother Li, I don't mean to criticize, but a level six spirit pill master cannot concoct blue wen pills. It requires at least a level seven master. As for exceptional grade pills, only pill kings can create them.”

Li Jingwen sighed. “Of course I know that, but among the pill masters I know, Sun is the highest level. I couldn't afford level seven or higher masters. Sigh…”

Ye Mo understood Li Jingwen's plight. Being a pill king, he hadn’t experienced the struggles of ordinary cultivators.

After a moment’s reflection, he said, “Brother Li, if I’m not mistaken, Sun is deceiving you. The claim of a month's timeframe is false. I've made blue wen pills before; even an inferior level seven master wouldn't need a day.”

“You—are you a level seven spirit pill master?” Li Jingwen was astounded.