In an empty room on the third floor, the rich fragrance of medicinal herbs filled the entire space. Taking a deep breath, one would feel refreshed and invigorated.
"Crystal Cold Essence Fruit, Golden Silk Fire Lotus, Flowing Cloud Jade Marrow, Sixth-Tier Magic Core..."
A gentle woman in a white dress moved like a joyful butterfly, her clear autumn-water-like eyes brimming with delight. Her delicate hands carefully organized the exceptionally rare medicinal ingredients, while her rosy lips continuously uttered their names.
Sitting cross-legged nearby, Xiao Bai watched Xiao Yi Xian with a smile in his eyes, quietly observing her as she busied herself.
After Elder Su left, Xiao Bai mentioned that he would be studying the refinement of pills for the next few days. Xiao Yi Xian eagerly volunteered to assist him, hoping to observe the process of pill refinement.
Seeing her so enthusiastic, Xiao Bai gladly agreed!
"Master Xiao, this humble girl has finished sorting all the medicinal ingredients. Nine sets, not a single one missing!" After finishing, Xiao Yi Xian gracefully moved over to Xiao Bai's side, her charming face beaming with a bright smile, appearing lively and adorable.
"Good! Apprentice Xian'er, stand by and observe this master's pill refinement!" Xiao Bai chuckled, gently patting her head.
"Mm-hmm! Xiao Bai, you got this! You can definitely do it!" Xiao Yi Xian clenched her small fists and shook them vigorously, cheering him on.
"Rest assured! A mere sixth-grade pill is nothing. Watch how your husband handles it with ease!" Xiao Bai smiled faintly and waved his hand. With a loud thud, a tall, pitch-black cauldron landed before him.
The cauldron had a dark, glossy sheen, with strange flame patterns etched onto its surface. It was a gift from Elder Huo on the day of the selection competition, as he noticed Xiao Bai lacked a proper cauldron.
Though it wasn't a rare treasure, it was far superior to his previous ebony cauldron. That old thing was barely suitable for refining low-grade pills. This time, however, he was dealing with a sixth-tier magic core—no joking matter. If an explosion occurred, it would be equivalent to a Dou Huang's full-powered strike. Not just any cauldron could withstand such force!
The smile in Xiao Bai's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression. Though he spoke lightly, the difference between a sixth-grade pill and a fifth-grade pill was immense. Elder Huo of Jia Nan Academy and the president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Association were both stuck at the fifth grade for years, unable to break through to the sixth.
Once an Alchemist reached the fifth grade, every rank beyond became a major hurdle. This was because, starting from the sixth grade, refined pills began to develop a sense of spirituality. Regardless of the degree, this was a fundamental transformation in the nature of pills.
A fair hand stretched forward, and a crimson flame mixed with lightning appeared out of thin air. The moment the fire emerged, Xiao Yi Xian immediately felt the surrounding temperature rise sharply. A tingling sensation spread across her skin, accompanied by a faint pain.
That streak of crimson fire turned into a flowing light and surged into the cauldron. Instantly, roaring flames, accompanied by a faint crackling of thunder, erupted within, filling the cauldron's inner space.
Xiao Bai's expression remained calm as he watched the rapidly rising Bing Fire within the cauldron. His soul power swept over the gathered medicinal ingredients. When the cauldron's temperature reached an optimal range, he waved his hand, and a Golden Silk Fire Lotus, its fiery-red petals streaked with golden threads, slowly floated up before being placed into the black cauldron.
The moment the Golden Silk Fire Lotus entered, it was devoured by the crimson flames like a starving wolf. In an instant, it withered rapidly. However, instead of turning to ashes, tiny golden-red droplets seeped from its surface, dripping into the flaming lightning and rolling about.
As time passed, the fire lotus had completely turned to ashes, leaving only a small mass of liquid that was initially murky but gradually became clearer, growing more crystalline and dazzling.
"As expected of an Alchemist. Compared to this, a physician's method of extracting medicinal properties is truly crude and simplistic!" Xiao Yi Xian praised internally, her beautiful eyes fixed on the cauldron.
Ever since she started cultivating The Heavenly Heart Perception Chapter that Xiao Bai passed to her, her soul power had been growing rapidly. Watching him refine pills no longer felt like staring into a void—she could now perceive what was happening inside the cauldron.
Just as she was marveling at the process, the cauldron suddenly trembled slightly, emitting crisp metallic clashing sounds from within.
"Xiao Bai, this... what's happening? Could it be..." Xiao Yi Xian's expression changed. She sensed that within the cauldron, the golden-red liquid had started to release strands of glowing filaments containing an incredibly powerful energy fluctuation, continuously colliding against the cauldron's inner walls. She couldn't help but look at Xiao Bai with a hint of nervousness in her eyes.
"Xian'er, don't worry. Sixth-tier medicinal ingredients are vastly different from lower-tier ones. They contain immense energy and have a counteracting effect. That's why refining high-tier pills requires great personal strength—whether it's Dou Qi cultivation or soul perception. Otherwise, just the backlash from the medicinal energy alone would be unbearable for an Alchemist, let alone the actual refinement!"
Xiao Bai's expression remained unchanged as he gently explained to Xiao Yi Xian while waving his hand.
Inside the cauldron, crimson lightning flames suddenly surged, enveloping the entire inner wall of the cauldron. The spreading threads, as if startled, rapidly retracted.
"Is that so?" Xiao Yi Xian stuck out her petite tongue. She hadn't expected sixth-tier medicinal ingredients to be this formidable. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Xiao Bai.
"Moreover, the quality of the flames is crucial when refining high-tier pills. Take the Golden Silk Fire Lotus, for example. Ordinary flames can hardly extract its medicinal essence completely. Even if they could, it would take an enormous amount of time, and the quality would be poor due to the excessive impurities. It wouldn't meet the standards for refining a sixth-tier pill at all!"
"This is why Heavenly Flames are so irresistible to Alchemists. They not only enhance an Alchemist's efficiency but also improve the quality of the pills!"
While monitoring the changes inside the cauldron, Xiao Bai patiently explained various alchemy concepts to her. He withheld nothing from Xian'er—whenever she showed interest, he would share everything he knew.
The waiting process was tedious, but Xiao Yi Xian didn't feel bored. Listening to Xiao Bai's gentle voice as he explained alchemy, her eyes shone brightly, and she felt deeply touched and joyful.
The man before her had shown her nothing but boundless care. He knew she possessed the Calamity Poison Body, yet instead of distancing himself, he sought a solution for her. When they arrived at Jia Nan Academy, he worried about her suffering due to her body's outbreaks, so he found a cultivation method for her.
Since that technique required a powerful soul, he even passed on a rare soul cultivation method to her. Knowing her dream of becoming an Alchemist, he went to great lengths to find a way for her to achieve it. And now, he was selflessly teaching her everything about alchemy.
"Xiao Bai, why are you so good to me?" Xiao Yi Xian rested her delicate chin on her palm, gazing at him with infatuated eyes as she asked softly.
Xiao Bai was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected her to suddenly ask such a question.
Had he been good to Xiao Yi Xian? At first, his interest in her was influenced by the original story. Everything he had done felt natural, as if it were meant to be.
But after spending so much time together, this gentle and independent girl had unknowingly carved a place in his heart, making his actions feel less like duty and more like instinct.
"Do you remember that night in the small valley of the Magical Beast Mountain Range? After you finished telling me a story, you asked me one last question," Xiao Bai said softly, meeting Xiao Yi Xian's gaze.
"What question? I don't remember!" A blush crept onto Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks, her eyes flickering with embarrassment.
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Bai instantly knew—this little girl was still too stubborn to admit it, even after all this time.
A gentle smile appeared at the corner of his lips as he slowly recited:
"When your hair reaches your waist, I fear the years will drift away. I only pray the heavens won't be cruel and grant you a life of peace and serenity."
Hearing those words, Xiao Yi Xian felt as if they struck straight into her heart. A pang of sorrow surfaced before warmth spread through her chest. Countless emotions welled up inside her, and her eyes became misty. She quickly turned her head, trying to hide it.
"A life of peace and serenity…" she silently repeated in her heart.
Thinking about the inevitable fate of her Calamity Poison Body, a faint sadness appeared between her brows. Beneath her long lashes, tears shimmered like dew on a lotus, reluctant to fall as if they cherished the warmth of her fair skin.
Xiao Bai, sensing her emotions, said nothing. With a flick of his finger, the liquid medicine inside the cauldron floated up, wrapped in a cluster of crimson flames.
Retrieving a porcelain bottle from his storage ring, he poured the liquid into it and sealed it with a thin layer of flame before setting it aside.
Then, he reached out to Xiao Yi Xian. With a soft cry, she found herself lifted into the air and landed directly in his embrace.
Gazing at her tear-streaked, delicate face, Xiao Bai gently wiped away her tears with his thumb and murmured softly, "Don't cry. I know… You've always been worried about your constitution, afraid that one day, you'll lose yourself and become a poisonous woman despised by all."
As Xiao Yi Xian opened her mouth to refute, Xiao Bai raised a finger to stop her and continued, "Even though I found a possible solution for you, there has never been a single successful case recorded. So, deep down, you never had much hope, did you?"
"So, as your cultivation improves, your anxiety grows. These past few days, even though you smile as usual when you're with us, the worry in your eyes has only become more obvious!"
"Is it really that obvious?" Xiao Yi Xian murmured, her eyes losing focus. Her expression was a little despondent—she had thought she had hidden it well!
She never expected that Xiao Bai, who usually seemed indifferent, would be so observant, seeing right through her thoughts!
"How could it not be obvious? Even though you try your best to conceal it, you often stare blankly when you're alone, and the worry in your eyes is impossible to hide!" Xiao Bai said calmly.
"What puzzles me, though, is that given your personality, even if you had no hope in the Poison Pill Method, you still wouldn't be like this. Can you tell me why?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian stared at him blankly. Tears, as delicate as fine rain, slid gently down her cheeks, carrying a trace of tenderness. Her slender hand softly caressed Xiao Bai's sharp-featured face as she murmured, "Because... Xian'er can't bear to leave you!"
Xiao Bai was instantly struck as if by lightning. He stared fixedly at the woman in his arms and muttered, "So that's how it is… so that's how it is…"
In an instant, all his doubts vanished. He finally understood—
In the original story, she had reached the Dou Zong realm without showing any distress, yet now she was acting as if she was afraid of losing something.
It was all because of him!
Xiao Bai's heart was filled with complex emotions—touched, joyful, and guilty.
He held the delicate figure in his arms tightly, as if trying to merge her into his own body. Resting his chin on the top of her head, his lips trembled slightly, as if suppressing the emotions surging within him.
"Xiao Bai… you're holding me so tight… I can't breathe…" After a long while, a weak voice sounded.
"Sorry!" Xiao Bai quickly let go and looked her up and down. "Xian'er, are you okay?"
Xiao Yi Xian found his anxious expression amusing. He was usually wise and composed, but whenever it came to her or Xun'er, he turned into an impatient, reckless young man. Shaking her delicate head, she pursed her lips and smiled. "I'm fine!"
"That's good!" Xiao Bai let out a long breath. His emotions had been so turbulent just now that he hadn't paid attention—if he had been careless, his physical strength might have hurt her.
"As for your body, stop overthinking it. We already have leads on all the materials. The Scorpion Dragon Beast is in Falling God Gorge of Central Plains, and I've also found some clues about the Bodhi Transforming Saliva. As for the three Heavenly Flames, you know that my Thunder Seed can serve as a substitute. So, stop overthinking and worrying, alright?" Xiao Bai gazed at her intently, his voice firm.
"Is… is this true?" Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, shining brightly. Covering her mouth, she gasped in astonishment. Something that had seemed impossibly difficult suddenly had a glimmer of hope and resolution!
"When have I ever lied to you? Besides, would I joke about something like this?" Seeing the astonishment and joy on her face, Xiao Bai flicked her delicate nose and said in mock annoyance.
"Xiao Bai, thank you!" Xiao Yi Xian's eyes rippled with endless affection. She didn't know how he had gathered this information, but it must have taken a great deal of time and effort.
And within such a short period, he had already found leads on the materials that past Calamity Poison Body hosts had sought for their entire lives without success—what an unbelievable feat!
"There's no need for thanks between us—we are one, after all!" Xiao Bai lightly tapped her forehead and said, "If something happened to me in the future, I trust you would do the same for me!"
"Pfuh, pfuh, pfuh!" Xiao Yi Xian quickly spat a few times and scolded him angrily. "Don't jinx yourself! Nothing bad will happen to you! You have to be fine forever!"
"If anyone dares to harm you, Xian'er will make them regret ever being born!" Xiao Yi Xian declared through clenched teeth, her voice filled with determination.
"Xian'er is mighty!" Xiao Bai gave her a thumbs-up. This girl truly had the makings of a sect leader. Despite her usual gentle and elegant demeanor, she could be incredibly fierce when needed.
"Alright!" Xiao Bai patted her delicate back and smiled. "Now that everything is clear, you can relax and focus on your cultivation. Increase your strength, and when the time is right, I'll take you to deal with the Scorpion Dragon Beast and obtain its Magic Core. For now, your husband needs to start refining pills!"
-----------------------
If you like this Fanfiction and want to support me, visit my Patreon to read 50 ahead chapters.
[email protected]/AllenTL
(Replace @ with a)
------------------------