With Jiang Yin’s assurance, Tang Muxi worked exceptionally hard over the next few days, fully dedicating herself to the arts of alchemy and artifact forging.
She was naturally intelligent and had lived through many lifetimes. Although she hadn’t paid much attention to these skills before, she had picked up a general understanding through exposure. Within just three days, she had memorized the jade slip Jiang Yin gave her and began attempting to refine pills on her own.
The first pill she attempted to refine was the most basic, the Essence Replenishing Pill, which could restore strength and was essential in various situations.
There were many recipes for the Essence Replenishing Pill, and adding different spiritual plant materials could result in varying additional effects and pill grades. However, the fundamental method remained the same; mastering the original technique allowed for future modifications as desired.
She only had a Glazed Dragon Bone Furnace, a mid-grade Earth-tier artifact, which was somewhat overkill for refining Essence Replenishing Pills. But Tang Muxi didn’t mind and began controlling the fire to refine the pill after throwing in the materials.
The power of the Solar Essence Fire was extremely pure and could easily burn the materials if not controlled properly. Tang Muxi was initially worried about her ability to manage it.
But once she started, she discovered she had a natural affinity for the Solar Essence Fire.
Unlike fire spiritual power, controlling the Solar Essence Fire felt incredibly smooth and effortless. The usually domineering and fierce flames became very obedient in her hands, like a child she could easily manipulate.
She handled it with ease, without any hindrance.
Removing impurities and condensing the pill, the entire process went smoothly, almost unbelievably so.
Additionally, the high quality of the Glazed Dragon Bone Furnace elevated the originally intended Yellow-tier Essence Replenishing Pill to a lower-grade Profound-tier pill! Tang Muxi was stunned as she looked at the shining silver light when the pill was completed.
The grading of pills and artifacts was consistent, ranked from highest to lowest as Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.
Yellow-tier was the most common and had no light. Profound-tier was of slightly better quality and emitted a silver light. Earth-tier was a treasure, glowing with golden light. Heaven-tier was a rare treasure, appearing with rosy clouds and sometimes even spiritual rain, a gift from the heavens.
She hadn’t added any materials to enhance the grade, yet she still managed to refine a Profound-tier pill on her first try.
Such innate talent was extraordinary, and if word got out, no one would believe it.
There were many talented alchemists in the spiritual cultivation world, but claiming to reach the Profound-tier upon entry was unprecedented.
Jiang Yin remembered that Tang Muxi was supposed to start refining her first pill today, so she returned early. As dusk approached, she pushed the door open and entered.
She had expected Tang Muxi to fail repeatedly and thought she would find her in a flustered yet determined state, so she went directly to the alchemy room to find her.
To her surprise, the room was empty when she opened the door.
“Tang Muxi?” Jiang Yin called out a few times tentatively. Seeing no response, she walked over to the exquisite alchemy furnace to investigate. After her persuasion, Tang Muxi finally stopped using the Glazed Dragon Bone Furnace for cooking soup and moved it to the alchemy room.
The ashes were minimal, almost devoid of spiritual power, indicating that the process had been successful.
Jiang Yin was somewhat surprised.
She got up to search and finally found Tang Muxi in the kitchen.
Today, she had returned early, and when she arrived at the kitchen, Tang Muxi had just started washing vegetables.
The golden rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting a glow on the girl’s delicate skin, making her look even more exquisite and charming. It was like a beautiful and elegant painting, serene and lovely.
Jiang Yin stood at the doorway watching for a moment, then quietly walked over to her side, picked up a vegetable, and began washing it in the water.
Tang Muxi was startled, then smiled and said, “Senior Sister, you’re back.”
“Yes, I came back early to check on your pill refining.”
Mentioning pill refining, Tang Muxi’s face showed a bit of pride, her clear eyes sparkling more brilliantly than the golden sunset. “Senior Sister, your adorable junior sister is a once-in-a-century genius.”
Jiang Yin was amused by her expression, asking, “Really? I find that hard to believe.”
Tang Muxi was immediately deflated, giving a light humph as she took out a bottle of pills from her storage ring. “Here, see for yourself. Why would I lie to you?”
The pills were contained in a green porcelain bottle, with a slight trace of spiritual power on it. Jiang Yin was slightly surprised when she took it, knowing that the quality of these pills must be quite good, as the power was almost overflowing.
She opened the porcelain bottle and poured out a pill. When she saw the faint silver patterns on the fragrant pill, she was genuinely taken aback.
She remembered that Tang Muxi was supposed to be refining Foundation Pills.
Yellow grade pills have no patterns, but this one had faint silver patterns, though few, they were very delicate. The subtle power occasionally flickered, making the silver patterns light up like stars in the night, both obscure and bright.
Profound grade, lower quality.
“This… you refined this?” It wasn’t doubt, just sheer shock that made her ask.
She remembered that this was Tang Muxi’s first time refining pills. Even with the support of the Glazed Dragon Bone Furnace and Solar Essence Fire, it shouldn’t have reached the Profound grade.
But this pill in front of her was indeed Profound grade! Even she had only managed mid-quality Yellow grade on her first try.
In the cultivation world, many fail on their first attempt. Lower quality is considered good, mid-quality is excellent, and high-quality is genius.
But surpassing Yellow grade to reach Profound grade… it was simply unbelievable.
Tang Muxi saw her surprised expression and thought she would be praised. Who knew that after waiting for so long, she would be met with suspicion, which made her very annoyed.
“If it’s not me, then who? Senior Sister, you’re so annoying! I’ve already shown you, and you still don’t believe me!” She wrinkled her nose, turned her head away, feeling aggrieved.
Jiang Yin quickly snapped out of her surprise, stammering, “I didn’t mean it that way, it’s just, it’s just that a Profound grade pill…” Even as a Demon Lord who had encountered many prodigies, she had never seen anything like this.
Jiang Yin suddenly thought of all the peculiarities about Tang Muxi.
The healing effect of her blood and its pure power, the auspicious rain that fell when she broke through, the almost limitless affinity with the divine artifact Imprisoning Demon Blade, her incredible luck, and now, her first attempt at alchemy producing a Profound grade pill.
All these combined, it seemed only the term “Heaven’s Favored Child” could describe her.
Jiang Yin stared blankly at the still angry Tang Muxi, suddenly wondering if her own rebirth was also influenced by her.
This guess was too absurd and bold, yet it was highly convincing. It felt like something flashed through her mind, but she couldn’t grasp it.
“I’m sorry, Senior Sister apologizes to you.” Jiang Yin came back to her senses and coaxed, “Just don’t spread this around. You know, I know, but let’s not let a third person know, okay?” If word got out, it might incite jealousy.
Since ancient times, Heaven has been jealous of talents. Those who are too outstanding often attract resentment and trouble.
Jiang Yin suddenly feared she couldn’t protect her.
Tang Muxi didn’t expect the Demon Lord to apologize to her. She was stunned for a moment, then pouted, feeling a bit unhappy, “I’m not stupid, Senior Sister always worries too much.”
If it were someone else, she wouldn’t have told them.
She understood the principle of not flaunting one’s wealth.
“I just wanted to hear Senior Sister praise me…” Tang Muxi’s tone was a bit aggrieved when she said this.
Jiang Yin helplessly rubbed her head, “Junior Sister is the best. When you become famous, don’t forget to let me bask in your glory.”
Tang Muxi immediately smiled and solemnly promised, “Don’t worry, even if I become famous, I will always be Senior Sister’s little junior sister!” Jiang Yin smiled but didn’t respond. She noticed that Tang Muxi had become more and more glib lately.
*
Since that day when Jiang Yin advised her not to spread the news, Tang Muxi still laughed and joked, telling Jiang Yin in detail about every pill she made, how she made it, and its grade.
Jiang Yin knew her vain nature well. After the first time, she never easily praised her again. Each time, she either smiled and let it pass or encouraged her to keep up the good work.
Tang Muxi had a lot to say about this, but there was nothing she could do. Jiang Yin had become increasingly busy lately, coming home later and later. Even if she wanted to talk, seeing Jiang Yin’s exhausted look made her reluctant to say more. She wished she could just let her eat and go straight to sleep.
To set an example, she also started going to bed early.
Every day, she would lie down as soon as it was Hai hour.
Unknowingly, half of the half-month period had passed. Jiang Yin’s daily actions became more and more secretive, always giving off a sneaky vibe. Tang Muxi vaguely knew she was doing something behind her back, but no matter how she tried to ask indirectly, Jiang Yin skillfully diverted the topic, leaving her with no way to find out.
During this time, the spiritual fruits sent by Wen Mingyu were all eaten by Bai Ling. The little snow fox’s throat was very itchy, and it would whimper every day. Occasionally, it would make a few sounds, surprisingly with a young girl’s tender voice. Although it couldn’t speak long sentences, it could already produce some vague, short syllables.
Tang Muxi knew it was about to start speaking, and she was happy about it for a long time.
The demon race is quite different from humans; the time it takes for them to take human form varies. But when they can speak human language, they are usually not far from transforming.
Tang Muxi had recently been learning alchemy and happened to know of a few spiritual plants that could be used to refine Transformation Pills. She wanted to try making them herself to help the little snow fox transform. Unfortunately, after searching the mountain for half a day, she couldn’t find the most crucial Transformation Grass.
She guessed that the Corpse Cultivator’s mansion might have it, so she went to the mountainside in the afternoon to try her luck and see if she could meet Senior Sister.
Today was already the tenth day, with only a few days left in the half-month period. Moreover, she had a reason, so Tang Muxi didn’t feel like she was breaking her promise.
Misty Peak was vast and spacious, and the term “mountainside” was quite vague. Tang Muxi searched the mountain all afternoon but found nothing, feeling very discouraged.
The sky gradually darkened, and the clouds were extremely heavy today, likely indicating a storm.
Tang Muxi rested in the mountain for a while, planning to go back first and ask Senior Sister when she returned. Unexpectedly, she hadn’t walked far when she heard a thunderclap in the distance.
The sound was enormous, instantly lighting up half the sky, and the thunder was terrifyingly loud.
Tang Muxi was a bit scared and thought about hurrying back.
However, as if to oppose her, the thunder grew louder. It was exceptionally fierce, striking down in the mountains one after another.
A large amount of eerie ghostly energy permeated the surroundings, making the already chilly mountain even colder.
Tang Muxi suddenly realized something was wrong.
Rain and thunder wouldn’t release ghostly energy, and this was the ethereal Misty Peak, where such anomalies shouldn’t occur. Speaking of the place in the peak most likely to have a lot of ghostly energy… the Corpse Cultivator’s mansion! Tang Muxi suddenly looked up and realized the thunder was coming from the nearby mountainside. Her heart tightened, and she quickly flew in that direction.
