After a brief rest, starting from the next day, Wen Fei no longer delayed and eagerly chose a location to enter seclusion.
Restoring her Dao bones was a significant matter; any mistake could lead to disastrous consequences. Not only would she fail to recover her cultivation, but she might even lose her life. Wen Fei didn’t know how long she would need to be in seclusion, but it certainly wouldn’t be just a few days. Therefore, as she was about to enter seclusion, she called Tang Muxi over.
As a master, she had to do what a master should do.
“This jade slip contains my years of experience using the Illusion God. It contains many techniques and insights. Take it and study it carefully so you can adapt to the magical tools as soon as possible.”
Tang Muxi took the jade slip and obediently nodded, “Disciple obeys.”
“What level have you reached in alchemy and artifact forging?” Wen Fei asked.
“I can manage at the Xuan level, but the Earth level is difficult,” Tang Muxi replied.
Xuan level is manageable… Wen Fei was surprised. No wonder she wanted to find a master; it turned out she aimed to refine Earth-level pills.
Others might not be able to teach her, but she was different.
When Wen Fei was still with the demon clan, she was a well-known prodigy, proficient in alchemy, artifact forging, and talismans. Not to mention Earth-level, as long as she had the fortune and the formula, she could even attempt to refine Heaven-level items.
Isolated skills might not compare to some geniuses in the cultivation world, but if averaged out, few could match her, as true polymaths have always been rare.
“Have you managed to refine any pills?” Tang Muxi took out a Transformation Pill she had refined last time.
Wen Fei took it, feeling the pure energy emanating from it, and couldn’t help but nod in approval.
The quality of the pill was excellent, with fine silver patterns floating on the surface, abundant spiritual energy, and even a hint of dispersing aura. The texture was dense, the power refined, and there should be no impurities inside, indicating her fire control ability was extremely strong, already reaching a level of ease.
However, her technique was still somewhat immature, clearly indicating she had just started learning.
“When did you start learning?” Wen Fei couldn’t help but be curious.
“About two or three months ago?” Tang Muxi replied, a bit uncertain. “Last time, Senior Sister gave me an introductory alchemy manual, and I started self-studying from there.”
Wen Fei froze, a smile still lingering on her lips as she processed this information: “Two or three months? Self-study?” Tang Muxi blinked innocently and nodded as if it were the most natural thing: “Yes, I just started when I came to Piaomiao Peak a few days ago.”
Wen Fei’s breath caught in her throat as she stared incredulously into Tang Muxi’s eyes, trying to find even a hint of deceit, but there was none. Her eyes were as sincere and honest as ever, completely unaware of the earth-shattering statement she had just made.
She had thought of herself as a polymath, but she had humbly studied under the elders of the demon clan for a full decade before reaching the Xuan level. Cultivators already had long lifespans, and demons even more so. Therefore, more than ten years was considered exceptional talent for them.
But this girl in front of her had managed it in just two or three months?! Wen Fei’s confidence took a severe hit. If it weren’t for her Dao bones being destroyed, forcing her to use the Hunyuan Spirit Fruit, she would have wanted to return all six fruits and give up entirely.
Now, the only comfort she had was that her disciple still couldn’t refine Earth-level pills.
“Master?” Tang Muxi blinked in confusion, looking extremely obedient.
Wen Fei felt a bit weary, forcing a smile and pretending nothing was wrong: “It’s nothing. To refine Earth-level pills, you need at least an Earth-level alchemy furnace. You…” Before she could finish, Tang Muxi swiftly placed the Liuli Dragon Bone Furnace in front of Wen Fei: “I have one!”
Wen Fei’s eyelids twitched. She had intended to say that if she didn’t have one, she could lend her own. But upon seeing the radiant, beautiful Liuli Dragon Bone Furnace, she found herself at a loss for words.
Her alchemy furnace had been given to her by the Grand Elder, and although it was somewhat old-fashioned, it was of decent quality, made from Tianshan Stone Essence, and was a mid-grade Earth-level furnace. It had once been a source of pride for Wen Fei.
But compared to the Liuli Dragon Bone Furnace, not only did it lack aesthetic appeal, but it also didn’t have the slightest trace of dragon energy entwined within. Despite being of the same grade, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Wen Fei felt utterly defeated, realizing for the first time just how impoverished she was.
Even a mere Foundation Establishment junior was wealthier than her!
“Master, is this okay?” Tang Muxi, seeing her silence, couldn’t help but ask.
Wen Fei lightly hummed in response, unable to muster a smile: “Of course, it’s fine.” And it was excellent, even better than her own.
She refrained from saying the latter part for the sake of her dignity as a master.
“Great!” Tang Muxi smiled happily, as if she had thought of something. She added, “Once Master comes out of seclusion, I’ll use this furnace to make you fish soup! It’s really delicious!”
Using the Dragon Bone Furnace to make fish soup? If she were the Dragon Bone, she would definitely come back to life out of anger! Wen Fei’s fingers trembled, and he accidentally dropped the Transformation Pill on the ground. Startled, he quickly picked it up and said, “No need! I don’t like soup!”
“Oh, what a pity, it’s clearly very delicious.” Tang Muxi said, a bit disappointed.
Wen Fei’s eyes were filled with complexity. He just wanted to quickly enter seclusion and hand over the advanced alchemy techniques he had recorded overnight to Tang Muxi: “This is the culmination of my alchemical knowledge. While I am in seclusion, you can study it. If you have any questions, don’t rush. When I come out, I will clarify them for you.”
“Alchemy is similar to crafting; the essence is all included within.”
Speaking of this, Tang Muxi suddenly remembered and hurriedly handed over the copied Star Shift Technique to her master: “Master, I have finished transcribing the Star Shift Technique.”
Wen Fei took it, feeling a bit better inside: “I accept it.”
“How long will you be in seclusion, Master?”
“About a month.” Seeing her disappointment, Wen Fei added, “During this time, focus on your studies. Don’t be greedy. If you have no questions, solidify your understanding and leave the extra time for refining pills.”
“I will follow your teachings, Master.”
Having said enough, Wen Fei glanced at the Glazed Dragon Bone Furnace with a hint of envy and reminded her, “In the future, don’t easily show your wealth; it can attract unwanted attention.” It could also undermine my confidence.
Tang Muxi nodded obediently: “Don’t worry, Master. I understand the principle of not revealing wealth.”
After giving her advice, Wen Fei said no more, waved her out, and closed himself off in exhaustion.
*
After Wen Fei entered seclusion, Tang Muxi began learning how to control the Illusory Spirit and alchemy techniques.
What her master gave her was not just simple techniques; it was filled with unique insights and understandings. It was clear that a lot of effort went into these two jade slips.
Tang Muxi had a high innate talent. Starting with the Illusory Spirit, she grasped the control method in just three days and even applied it creatively, discovering more interesting uses.
According to her master’s introduction, the Illusory Spirit was originally a heavenly-grade treasure. Made from celestial bones, it had an ice attribute and was quite gentle for the user, making it accessible to almost anyone.
However, when using it, Tang Muxi found that the Illusory Spirit was not as accommodating as it seemed. The low entry difficulty was merely to attract more users. The bow contained strange seals, and if they could not be triggered, it would greatly limit its power and prevent it from recognizing a master.
Tang Muxi attempted multiple times to establish a master contract, but the Illusory Spirit forcefully broke free before the contract could be formed.
She was not good at formations and seals, finding the intricacies too complicated, so she couldn’t settle down to study. Thus, she took the Illusory Spirit to find Senior Sister.
To her surprise, even Senior Sister couldn’t fully decipher it.
“This seal is inscribed in ancient script; I can’t break it either.”
Tang Muxi felt quite disappointed. The Illusory Spirit was highly compatible with her and very easy to use. Therefore, she sensed that the Illusory Spirit was hiding something and was unwilling to recognize a master, which made her very anxious.
“What should I do? An unmastered item can be taken by anyone.” Tang Muxi was deeply troubled and found it hard to accept this outcome.
No wonder it was originally her master’s artifact, yet it could be easily taken by her; it turned out that even her master couldn’t make the Illusory Spirit recognize a master.
Jiang Yin reached out and rubbed her head: “Don’t be discouraged; you might have missed something.”
Tang Muxi knew it was a comforting remark and nodded gloomily in response.
If it couldn’t recognize a master, she had to think of a way to bind the artifact to herself to prevent it from falling into someone else’s hands.
For the next few days, Tang Muxi spent all her time in the study, searching repeatedly for any corresponding spells, and finally found a method called “Blood Contract.”
The Blood Contract was not a master contract but a pseudo-contract that connected both parties through blood. By drawing the essence blood of one party and injecting it into the other, they could use blood as a medium to control the other.
This was dark magic and carried significant risks.
The essence blood of a cultivator was quite precious; excessive loss could lead to weakness or even a significant drop in cultivation. Blood as a medium was not one-sided but bidirectional. If the controller’s power was weak, they could easily be enslaved in return, which is why few people used it.
Tang Muxi was initially excited when she found it, but when she saw the drawbacks, all her joy dissipated.
She was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage; what qualifications did she have to compare her strength with the once-mighty Heavenly Tier artifacts?
Despite her reluctance, in the end, she could only give up. Tang Muxi temporarily set aside the matter of recognizing the Illusion God as her master and began to delve into the art of alchemy and artifact forging. The difference between the Earth Tier and the Profound Tier was like heaven and earth, separated by a chasm that felt as daunting as ascending to the heavens. Even with extraordinary talent and the insights and efforts of her master as shortcuts, Tang Muxi still spent considerable time before gradually finding her bearings.
The Earth Tier, named after heaven and earth, signified that the item had transcended the realm of humanity. Earth Tier elixirs contained unique alchemical patterns, a condensation of the alchemist’s understanding of alchemy and elixirs. When the elixir was successfully refined, it would shine with golden light, indicating that both the elixir and the alchemist’s skills had received the acknowledgment of the heavenly path.
The elixirs Tang Muxi refined were free of impurities and brimming with power, already exhibiting the characteristics of top-tier quality. The reason she had yet to break through to the Earth Tier was due to the lack of her own “insight.” Those who could condense Earth Tier patterns were all extraordinary talents with a profound understanding of alchemy and artifact forging, thus able to gather the principles of the Dao and inscribe them onto the elixirs.
After reviewing her master’s insights, Tang Muxi finally discovered her own problem. She thoroughly read her master’s understanding and contemplated it, gaining deeper insights, but still, she was stuck. She still could not refine Earth Tier elixirs.
It wasn’t due to a lack of talent; on the contrary, her talent was so high that it seemed almost innate. The unruly Solar Essence Fire was incredibly obedient in her hands, requiring no deliberate guidance or control, as it would actively help her burn away impurities and regulate the heat. The various complex medicinal plants obeyed her every command, as if they had already recognized her as their queen, never defying her will.
Her master’s insights taught her how to coexist peacefully with the spirit fire and medicinal plants, how to adjust their interactions with a touch of kindness and compromise, embodying a gentle way of friendship. But she did not need to befriend them.
She was the queen of the spirit plants and the fire, a being of high status. The will of the queen, the commands of the queen, were the truths they followed, never to be defied. The servants only needed to crawl on the ground and obey orders. A ruler need not lower themselves; a combination of majesty and kindness was enough to make them submit.
In an instant, Tang Muxi understood her own “principle.” Before she could even condense the alchemical patterns, a sudden feeling of enlightenment washed over her.
Spiritual energy gathered into a vortex, surging wildly into her body. Golden light radiated from her once more, shooting up into the sky. In just a moment, clouds gathered within a ten-mile radius, and auspicious rain fell from the heavens. She had broken through.
