Bai Ling has been kidnapped.
Tang Muxi has lost her appetite for two consecutive meals; usually, she can eat two bowls of rice, but this time she only managed one and a half.
The Heavenly Talisman Pavilion was always by her side, and she often gazed at it with a forlorn expression.
Her red lips pout, biting down a couple of times, then pressing tightly together, her mind clearly elsewhere.
Jiang Yin, annoyed by her demeanor, put down her chopsticks and asked, “Why aren’t you studying alchemy anymore?”
Ever since the transformation pill was successfully refined, Jiang Yin hadn’t seen her practice alchemy; instead, she spent her days cultivating, farming, and daydreaming, which made Jiang Yin feel like she was wasting her talent.
Such a good aptitude should not be neglected.
Hearing Jiang Yin call her, Tang Muxi slowly withdrew her gaze, “I am studying, but I’m not making any progress.”
“Not making any progress?”
Jiang Yin frowned, “What’s going on?”
Wasn’t she supposed to have exceptional talent?
How could she become mediocre in just a few days?
Tang Muxi furrowed her brows, looking serious, “I just can’t make any progress. I can refine any Xuan-level pill as long as I have the formula, but I can’t produce any of the higher-level pills. I suspect it’s the alchemy furnace’s fault; if I had a Tian-level alchemy furnace, I should be able to do it.”
Jiang Yin fell silent, staring at Tang Muxi’s serious expression in disbelief.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if Tang Muxi was bragging or genuinely expressing her frustration.
She had only been studying alchemy for a short time, with just an introductory jade slip, which was supposed to contain only the most basic knowledge.
Even if she mastered it, it didn’t guarantee she could refine pills.
Yet, Tang Muxi not only managed to refine pills but also started at the Xuan level.
In just over a month, she had reached the level where she could refine any Xuan-level pill as long as she had the formula.
Indeed, Xuan-level pills aren’t too difficult, but many cultivators who don’t specialize in alchemy may never reach this level in their entire lives.
Tang Muxi, however, achieved this with just an introductory text.
If this were to be known, others might think she was talking nonsense.
Jiang Yin felt embarrassed to tell Tang Muxi that there were several advanced versions of that alchemy technique, which taught various alchemy skills and how to handle unexpected situations.
But it seemed Tang Muxi didn’t need that now.
“Senior Sister, do you have any alchemy techniques? You know, the kind that teaches how to refine Di-level pills? I might understand it if I see it,” Tang Muxi suddenly spoke up, seemingly having thought of a brilliant idea, looking at Jiang Yin with eager eyes.
The sincerity in her eyes was so genuine that no one would want to let her down.
However…
Jiang Yin coughed heavily twice and averted her gaze.
How could she tell Tang Muxi that she didn’t know either?
Jiang Yin had decent talent in alchemy, considered quite good, but in her previous life in the Demon Realm, she had no time to practice alchemy herself.
She had always just killed a few unsuspecting ones and bought what she needed from the shop.
Moreover, the Earth-level alchemy techniques are not something just anyone can possess.
Do you think it’s like the cabbages in the field?
“I’ll keep an eye out for you,” Jiang Yin said casually.
“Really? That’s great! Senior Sister is so nice to me,” Tang Muxi easily fell for it, smiling sweetly, and then she served Jiang Yin a piece of sauce-braised fish.
The fish was selected from the spiritual spring, with exquisite meat that was tender yet not greasy.
After removing the bones, it became translucent and shone like a luminous pearl.
Ever since she had tasted the delicacies her senior sister brought back, Tang Muxi’s standards for meals had risen by a whole level.
She wouldn’t eat anything that wasn’t spiritual meat or mountain delicacies.
The ingredients were rare and expensive, making her a true little rich woman enjoying life.
However, all of these were sourced from the Floating Immortal Island or the Misty Mountains, costing her not a single penny.
Jiang Yin enjoyed free meals every day without feeling any shame.
When she saw Tang Muxi serving her food, she nodded in agreement, “Mm, thank you.”
She thanked herself again.
Tang Muxi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and picked up her chopsticks to serve Jiang Yin again.
This time, she was still chewing on the braised fish and couldn’t free her hands, so Tang Muxi simply held the chopsticks up to her mouth, her dark eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Jiang Yin glanced at her and strangely followed her train of thought.
Did she think that serving her food would earn her another thank you, so she served again?
It left one at a loss for words.
Jiang Yin slightly bowed her head, bit down on the piece of food, and then raised her hand to stop her, “Don’t serve anymore.”
Tang Muxi’s excitement was doused with cold water, and she pouted.
“Today, you should learn to forge weapons,” Jiang Yin suggested after they finished eating.
“The magic robe we were supposed to refine hasn’t been completed yet.”
If she hadn’t mentioned it, Tang Muxi would have almost forgotten about it.
Her eyes lit up, “Oh right, I haven’t used my Mirage Beast bone yet!”
After saying that, Tang Muxi hurriedly walked into the alchemy room.
She was the type of person who would become so focused once she got busy that she wouldn’t pay attention to anyone else.
Jiang Yin had gotten used to it; seeing her start studying again, she decided not to be idle and turned to fly out of the immortal island.
This mountain range was full of yang energy and abundant spiritual power.
However, extremes must balance each other; behind the utmost yang, there must be a hidden place of utmost yin and evil, so that yin and yang can achieve balance.
With the previous corpse cultivation mansion destroyed and the yin energy vanished, a new place of yin and evil should emerge at this time.
Jiang Yin planned to find it for her cultivation.
Relying solely on moonlight and essence was still too thin.
Tang Muxi had lived many lives and had a foundation in crafting, plus with the Liuli Dragon Bone Furnace and the exceptionally obedient Sun Essence Fire, the process of refining the法衣 (magic robe) went quite smoothly.
In just half a day, it had taken shape, waiting only for spiritual power to mold and dye it before it could be completed.
However, she didn’t expect this step to be so difficult.
“Clothes… clothes… how do I make clothes?”
Tang Muxi stared at the “prototype” in front of her, lost in thought.
She knew how to wear clothes, but making them was another story.
She was a cultivator, not a seamstress, and had never dealt with such matters.
“How about asking Senior Sister?”
However, as soon as this thought popped up, it was completely dismissed with a snap.
The big demon lord came from the blade and went into the blood.
No matter how you thought about it, it was impossible for her to quietly and gently pick up a needle.
If that day ever came, Tang Muxi would probably think the world was about to end.
Sitting in the alchemy room, deep in thought, she finally decided to find some references.
Both she and Senior Sister were women and often wore skirts, so her references would also be skirts.
“Um… a cross-collar narrow-sleeved shirt, a short jacket, a wrap skirt, and then a fitted waistband…”
The more Tang Muxi counted, the dizzier she became.
She had never noticed so many layers when wearing them; there were layers upon layers, several belts, and intricate embroidery at the collar of each piece, with prints on the surface.
The colors varied in depth, and the textures were all different.
Not to mention making them, even just imitating them felt troublesome.
Just as Tang Muxi was frowning in distress, she suddenly thought of something, and a triumphant smile crept onto her lips.
Jiang Yin had found the newly emerged place of yin and evil.
There were numerous corpses of demon beasts scattered around, seemingly affected by the Soul Extermination Disk, each one mangled beyond recognition.
However, the thunder tribulation was not strong enough to reduce them to ashes, so their bodies and souls lay strewn about, forming a small chaotic graveyard.
Beneath the ground lay a demon cultivator, bound by magical artifacts, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation.
Having been sealed within a dead body for a long time, there were faint signs of corpse transformation.
The area was already lush with vegetation, with sunlight unable to penetrate, creating a very cool atmosphere.
Even during the day, it was shrouded in a heavy aura.
Coupled with the demon cultivator on the verge of corpse transformation and the vengeful souls of the buried demon beasts, it was a harbinger of great misfortune.
Given time, it was likely to nurture flying corpses.
If it progressed further, it could even give rise to a drought demon.
Like the demon race, corpse cultivators also possess innate “bloodlines.”
White zombies, black zombies, flying corpses, drought demons.
White zombies are the weakest, even at the Great Ascension stage, they are no different from ordinary cultivators, and they have a fatal weakness of becoming weak when exposed to sunlight.
Black zombies can move freely under the sun, while flying corpses have bodies that are impervious to decay, moving as fast as lightning.
As for drought demons… they can be described as ferocious beasts.
Not only are their bodies impervious to blades and bullets, but wherever they pass, not a blade of grass will grow, leading to prolonged droughts, much like a calamity.
Once, a drought demon appeared in the cultivation world, its power was immense, and it took the combined efforts of many from both the human and demon realms to finally eliminate it in the Void Sea.
Jiang Yin pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled, raising her hand to imprint a seal in the demon cultivator’s spiritual sea, forcibly taking it as a servant.
“A drought demon, huh… I look forward to your arrival.”
When Jiang Yin returned to the Floating Immortal Island, it was already late, so she went directly to the kitchen to look for Tang Muxi.
To her surprise, she, who was usually very enthusiastic about food, was not there.
Jiang Yin was slightly taken aback, thinking she was still focused on forging, so she went to the alchemy room to find her, but unfortunately, there was still no sign of her.
“Where is she?”
Jiang Yin murmured to herself as she stood in place, suddenly flying high into the deep blue sky to look down, finally spotting a flickering light in the main chamber.
As night deepened, the stars twinkled.
A streak of dark arc light cut across the distant sky, looking quite beautiful.
The bright moon hung overhead, its light like a silver thread.
The rich and bright warm light flickered like fireflies, illuminating the surroundings with a halo.
Could it be that she was sleeping in?
Jiang Yin sighed softly and flew over.
Although she had intended to wake her, she instinctively tightened her grip and tiptoed in as she pushed the door open.
The room was illuminated by a soft lamp, separated by a screen in the middle.
Outside, it was bright, and inside, it was even more brilliantly lit.
How could anyone sleep with such bright lights?
Jiang Yin felt something was off, but didn’t dwell on it and walked around the screen.
What she didn’t expect was to see such a scene.
Tang Muxi was bare-backed, her delicate and fair skin exposed to the air, glowing softly under the warm light, as if she had applied blush, smooth and beautiful.
Her two slender legs were kneeling on the bed, wearing only a pair of shorts, her fair and rosy feet pressed together, her posture not quite proper, yet adorably charming.
Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, swaying left and right, loosely draping around her waist, accentuating her delicate figure.
Her arms, resembling white lotus stems, held a small garment, her fingertips round and pale, contrasting with the simple, silky fabric.
She wasn’t completely turned away from Jiang Yin, her body angled significantly to the right.
With her soft chest uncovered, it inevitably revealed a hint of spring.
Jiang Yin caught a glimpse of the rounded curve and hurriedly turned her head, her heart racing and her eyelids trembling.
When she finally spoke, her voice was flustered: “What… what are you doing?”
Tang Muxi was taken aback for a moment, then delighted, turning around with a smile: “Senior Sister, come look!”
