After much contemplation, Liao Pantu and Sun Yigao decided to set aside their alchemy experiments for the time being and focus on their cultivation.
This way, they could wait for another opportunity to acquire the Quenched Ice Essence and no longer be hindered by their insufficient cultivation levels.
After all, they had already developed many types of pills, more than enough to sustain the sect's external trade.
The pill recipes had also been simplified, with detailed instructions left in the alchemy room for anyone in the sect to learn.
The disciples in the alchemy room were already well-versed in the methods and could even teach others with ease.
Thus, Liao Pantu and Sun Yigao, having learned their lesson, decided to enter seclusion and work on improving their cultivation.
However, as the saying goes, the behavior of those at the top influences those below.
With the two leading figures of the alchemy room entering seclusion due to their insufficient cultivation, how could the others in the alchemy room remain complacent?
The once-busy and peaceful alchemy room soon became a place where its members began prioritizing their cultivation.
Over the past three years, with Lingxian Sect enjoying a period of tranquility, the sect members had grown immersed in their own passions and pursuits. Some focused on farming with great dedication, while others, like the alchemists, spent all their time in the alchemy room.
For most of them, cultivation had become secondary. Other than the daily routine of going to the cultivation hall in the morning, many would cut their sessions short to attend to matters they found more urgent, like newly planted seeds or recently learned pill formulas and formation diagrams.
It wasn't unusual—without a pressing purpose, long-term tasks like cultivation tend to fall behind more immediate concerns.
After all, cultivation, while simple in concept, is an endless journey, and maintaining daily dedication is one of the hardest challenges.
The newer disciples of Qingyun Peak, for the most part, didn't have much experience with cultivation. With many senior members of the sect guiding them in learning new cultivation techniques, they had plenty to occupy their time.
Although the cultivation hall provided structured lessons and the initial excitement of entering the world of cultivation helped them stay on track, not every disciple was equally motivated.
While some formed study groups to encourage each other, only a small number of disciples truly excelled, and the rest lagged behind.
As the saying goes, falling behind once means falling behind every step, and soon, laziness sets in.
This is the case for most people.
Fortunately, with Liao Pantu and Sun Yigao setting an example—and with the realization that future pill production would depend on their own cultivation—many in the alchemy room resolved to put more effort into their cultivation.
Most of them were still at lower levels of cultivation, so they practiced diligently at night without significantly impacting the output of the alchemy room.
Thus, Liao Pantu and Sun Yigao entered seclusion with peace of mind, especially since Lin Xiao had just recently finished his own seclusion and wasn't likely to enter again anytime soon. With the sect master overseeing everything, they had no concerns.
Lin Xiao had initially intended for them to use Ziran Platform for their seclusion. However, since neither was at a bottleneck, they chose to cultivate in their own preferred locations instead.
Liao Pantu, of course, opted for Changming Mountain.
Before leaving, he meticulously arranged everything in the Yaoguang Small World, ensuring that every precious herb was cared for according to its specific needs. He even prepared detailed guides, outlining each herb's growth characteristics, potential issues, and solutions.
He had originally planned to personally recruit and train someone from the sect to care for the herbs, but Lin Xiao stopped him.
Instead, Lin Xiao hired twenty disciples, dividing them into groups to take care of different types of herbs. These disciples didn't need to watch the herbs constantly; they only needed to check on them periodically.
The disciples were required to quickly master the habits and characteristics of the herbs they were assigned to, a task that, under Liao Pantu's rigorous teaching, was manageable.
In addition, Lin Xiao recruited six more disciples to guard the medicinal garden. They worked in pairs, rotating shifts to ensure round-the-clock vigilance. These guards were also required to learn the basics of herb care to ensure that they could spot any problems. If they couldn't resolve the issue themselves, they could at least alert the responsible caretaker.
With all these arrangements in place, Liao Pantu could finally focus on his seclusion at Changming Mountain with peace of mind.
As for Sun Yigao, his choice of a cultivation spot wasn't a secluded room for solitary meditation.
After deciding to focus on his cultivation, he didn't make any elaborate preparations. Instead, he went directly to the entrance of Yaoguang Floating Island, sitting cross-legged before the Mirror of Truth.
From his storage ring, he pulled out stack after stack of books, arranging them neatly beside him. He even set up a small array to protect the books from the elements.
Out of curiosity, Jiang Youfu and the others, who had been secretly observing, watched as Sun Yigao settled in. They saw him sit down next to the pile of books and begin reading intently.
From the moment he opened the first book, his focus was unwavering. Even when people passed by or there were sounds from the surroundings, nothing disturbed his concentration.
It was as if, from the moment he began reading, the world outside no longer existed—his entire being was absorbed in the words on the page.
Watching this, Jiang Youfu and Liu Yunan couldn't help but sigh in admiration: Sun Yigao was still the same studious scholar they remembered from their village.
Though they hadn't interacted much with Sun Yigao as children, they still admired him. Even when they were kids, they could tell that this young man, their peer, had a dedication they lacked.
As children, they couldn't imagine spending every day indoors, pouring over books filled with dense, incomprehensible characters. But as they grew older, they realized how remarkable it was that Sun Yigao had maintained this dedication for so long.
Without consciously realizing it, their admiration for him had grown deep over the years.
And so, from that day onward, the atmosphere in Lingxian Sect began to shift.
Those who had unknowingly allowed cultivation to slip down their list of priorities quietly raised it back up, returning it to its rightful place at the forefront of their minds.
Lin Xiao, watching all of this, couldn't help but feel impressed.
Some people have a natural ability to inspire others, drawing them in and motivating them to follow their example.
Without a word of persuasion or strict enforcement, they become a silent yet powerful force, pulling others along in their wake.