Mo Hua told Zhang Lan and Leader Yang about this matter.
Both were from noble clans, so they should know something about it.
"Lifespan Transformation Elixir?"
Zhang Lan’s brows gradually furrowed, and his expression became solemn, "I have never heard of such a pill."
Zhang Lan looked toward Leader Yang, who also shook his head, "Neither have I."
Mo Hua was somewhat surprised; this pill was so obscure that even Zhang Lan and Leader Yang had never heard of it.
Zhang Lan then said, "Copy the drawings of the pill furnace and the herbs for me, and I will take them back to my clan to ask around."
Leader Yang also said, "Give me a copy too, and I will ask as well."
Mo Hua copied a set for each of them and asked:
"How long will it take to get a response?"
Zhang Lan pondered, "It’s hard to say, if it’s quick, less than a week, if it’s slow, maybe half a month."
"With low cultivation, many means of communication aren’t available, so it takes longer," Zhang Lan added with a sigh.
Mo Hua nodded.
About six days later, Zhang Lan received a reply from his clan.
Zhang Lan found Mo Hua, his expression grave, "This is not an ordinary evil pill!"
"Lifespan Transformation Elixir, it refines the life of a cultivator, transforming cultivation into medicinal power; it is a pill passed down in some great demon sect traditions, a true demon path method!"
"These several herbs here, Soul-refining Herb, Life-extinguishing Vine, are indeed used to refine the Lifespan Transformation Elixir."
A chill went through Mo Hua’s heart, "How could the Patriarch of the Qian Family possess such a pill recipe?"
Zhang Lan shook his head, "Maybe he obtained it unintentionally, or perhaps someone deliberately gave it to him. With so few clues right now, it’s impossible to know."
The next day, Leader Yang also received a reply from his clan.
The response in the letter was similar to what Zhang Lan had said, but with an additional point.
"The Lifespan Transformation Elixir, even within demon sects, is an extremely precious pill; the method for its alchemy is a secret of demon sects, and it is unlikely to leak out easily."
"In refining this pill, one must commit grave acts of murder. First, people are refined into Human Life Pills, and then these pills are used as a catalyst. Human flesh and blood serve as the medicinal ingredients to transform lifespan and boost cultivation."
"To refine a furnace of pills, it could take decades or even a hundred years of continuous killing and alchemy before the Lifespan Transformation Elixir is completed."
"Therefore, even for a demon sect, refining this batch of pills is very strenuous."
A coldness settled in Mo Hua’s heart.
This tallied with the actions of the Patriarch of the Qian Family.
The Patriarch of the Qian Family established Black Mountain Stronghold, raised evil cultivators, and murdered for alchemy.
First, he refined Human Life Pills to extend his life and that of the Chief Elder of the Qian Family; then, using the Human Life Pills as catalyst, he crafted the Lifespan Transformation Elixir.
Mo Hua asked Old Mr. Feng; although Human Life Pills could extend life, there were limits.
If continuously taken, the medicinal power of the Human Life Pills would gradually wear off, the life extended would become shorter, and eventually, the medicinal power would fail completely.
The Patriarch of the Qian Family could not possibly rely on the Human Life Pills to live forever.
So his goal was to cling to life with the Human Life Pills, hang on for another hundred years until the Lifespan Transformation Elixir was refined; then, he would take the Lifespan Transformation Elixir to boost his cultivation, break through realms, and become a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator.
Breaking through from the middle phase of Foundation Establishment to the late stage could add a hundred years of life; thus, he would have another hundred years to live!
And once in the late stage of Foundation Building, with a hundred years of time, he would no longer be limited to the area of Tongxian City. He could travel to a higher grade state boundary to seek the Core Formation method!
In a hundred years, anything is possible!
Zhang Lan and Leader Yang also realized this, and their expressions turned to shock.
"But there’s one problem," Zhang Lan said with confusion, "The pill furnace in Black Mountain Stronghold was destroyed, doesn’t that mean that his batch of pills has also been ruined?"
Leader Yang pondered, "It seems so..."
But everyone’s faces did not show any sign of relief.
The Patriarch of the Qian Family was immensely crafty; things probably weren’t that simple.
"Does the Qian Family have a pill furnace?" Mo Hua asked.
Zhang Lan nodded, "Yes, there are several pill furnaces in the cave dwelling of the Patriarch of the Qian Family. They were destroyed during the battle the day we tried to kill him."
"What about the other pill furnaces of the Qian Family?"
"You mean those furnaces that, on the surface, look like legitimate pill furnaces?"
Mo Hua nodded.
Leader Yang nodded and said, "I will have the Taoist soldiers go and destroy all pill furnaces of the Qian Family, without leaving a single one behind!"
Zhang Lan continued, "I will also go and speak to the Court Leader; all privately owned or family sects and alchemy businesses in Tongxian City must report their pill furnaces, to be checked one by one. We cannot afford to overlook any."
After speaking, Zhang Lan thought for a moment and then said to Leader Yang:
"The area around Black Mountain Stronghold needs another thorough search."