Inside the Pocket World Spiritual Building.

The sky was a hazy expanse, the lake’s surface shimmering with light.

In the distance, cyan mountains were draped in vibrant green. Nearby, fine trees formed a forest, with emerald grass like a carpet and a riot of flowers like brocade.

Most of these trees were so thick it would take seven or eight people to encircle them. Their trunks were tall and straight, lush and towering to the heavens.

From time to time, one could see secluded deer carrying ganoderma in their mouths or Spiritual Apes picking fruit in the woods, a scene brimming with life.

Peculiar stones stood by the lake, their surfaces covered in thick, moist moss reaching three inches deep—a solid, vibrant green with no other color mixed in.

Patches of lotuses bloomed in the lake, their flowers a hundred feet wide and their leaves as large as boats.

Ever since Lu Wei arrived in this Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, she had endowed the place with an even richer and more vibrant vitality.

In addition to the Spirit Fields, many strange flowers, exotic herbs, unique trees, and Spirit Beasts had appeared among the mountains and waters.

This made the Grotto Heaven more closely resemble the outside world.

A giant lotus in the lake had yet to bloom, its bud still waiting to unfurl.

A moment later, the giant lotus slowly bloomed, and two figures emerged from within the flower to bathe in the lake water.

These two were none other than Fang Cheng and Lu Wei.

After the two were happily wed, they had gotten a taste of bliss and couldn’t get enough, often finding themselves overcome by passion.

In the month or so since she had married Fang Cheng, her eyes had been opened, in a sense, and she experienced a pleasure and excitement she had never known before.

Perhaps it was true that a happy occasion lifts the spirits, for during this time, Fang Cheng’s cultivation smoothly broke through the mid-stage bottleneck, and he officially stepped into the Late-stage Life Talisman Realm.

The accumulation within the Resentment Demon Bead had already been incredibly potent. Now that he had broken through his shackles, his Magical Power surged wildly, reaching a level previously unimaginable.

Such an astonishing cultivation speed left even his wives, who were always by his side, marveling in amazement.

In their eyes, their husband was a man utterly devoted to the Dao, his heart set on its pursuit, never once slacking.

While others who had entered the Life Talisman Realm at the same time were still languishing in the initial stage, he had already reached the late stage.

The main theme in the life of someone devoted to the Dao was, by necessity, the constant ascent of one peak after another in the Cultivation Realms, until they reached the very summit!

One’s progress on the Dao was the most fundamental thing.

Talismans, Magical Artifacts, and medicinal pills were all external objects. Things that could be obtained with power and Spirit Stones were not worth spending too much time on.

Unless, of course, the item in question was of great importance and not easily acquired.

Such as refining the Immortal Binding Rope and the Four Symbols Divine Pill.

As for the Four Symbols Divine Pill, Lu Wei had managed to gather all the remaining Spiritual Medicines needed for the Black Tortoise Divine Pill.

Mu Xuanyu had now begun the alchemy process, preparing to let Dong Qing test the quality of this pill first.

If it proved effective, Fang Cheng would then head to the Wilderness Domain to continue gathering Spiritual Medicines or Spirit Medicine Seeds according to the Pill Formula.

Especially the Spiritual Medicines in the formulas for the next three Divine Pills. If he could obtain them all, what obstacles on the path ahead could possibly stop him?

After finishing their bath in the lake, the two came ashore onto a lotus leaf to dress.

Fang Cheng looked at the stunning beauty before him, his heart filled with joy. He smiled and said, "Xuan Yu should be finishing the Black Tortoise Divine Pill soon. Let’s go take a look."

Lu Wei had changed into a magnificent long dress. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her skin was snow-white, and a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks. Amidst her dignified and charming aura, there was an added touch of enchanting allure.

She nodded with a charming languor, her beautiful eyes darting about enchantingly. "If the Black Tortoise Divine Pill can truly help Sister Qing’er break through to the Life Talisman Realm," she said, "then we should focus on cultivating the Spiritual Medicines from the Pill Formula here in the Grotto Heaven."

"In the future, our children will face one less major obstacle on their cultivation path."

As she spoke, her voice was soft and pleasant, a stark contrast to her earlier breathless cries and soft complaints.

While talking, the two came ashore and walked toward a building by the lake.

It was a large, circular hall with an air of ancient elegance.

The interior of the hall was shaped like an overturned bowl. This was where Mu Xuanyu usually performed Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

She was proficient in the Fire Element Techniques of the Flame God Palace and had been immersed in the Alchemy Dao and Artifact Refining for many years, achieving a profound level of skill.

The inner walls of the great hall seemed to be carved from fine jade, lustrous and without a single flaw. In the center of the hall was a Jade Couch, and scattered before it were numerous jade tables, jade stools, Jade Screens, jade desks, Alchemy Furnaces, Pill Furnaces, Profound Iron Puppets, a guqin, books, and painted scrolls—a vast and varied collection of items.

Many strange and exotic flowers grew inside the hall, all gifts from Lu Wei to her new sister-wife.

Some of these plants resembled seaweed, laden with scarlet fruits. Others had leaves like large fans, adorned with tiny blossoms. Some had jade-green stems and vermilion trunks, with flowers as large as basins. Still others looked like coral, brilliant and crystal-clear, with fine filaments like hair that swayed without any wind. All were bizarre and beautiful, lending the hall a unique and fascinating charm.

At this moment, Mu Xuanyu was sitting cross-legged on the Jade Couch, channeling her Magical Power to control a Pill Furnace, causing its spiritual light to flicker and a medicinal fragrance to waft through the air.

Faint, crisp, and pleasant Spirit Sounds could be heard emanating from within the Pill Furnace.

To one side, Die’Er and Dong Qing were also present, quietly watching Mu Xuanyu perform her alchemy.

This pill was crucial to whether the two of them could achieve the Dao, so they were quite nervous.

This was especially true for Dong Qing. It had been some time since her cultivation reached Perception Realm Perfection, and now she was just one step away from a meteoric rise.

All their hopes were concentrated inside Mu Xuanyu’s Pill Furnace.

Mu Xuanyu was seen continuously forming Spiritual Techniques, sending streams of fiery light into the Pill Furnace. The halo of light around it shifted and changed, and the faint phantom of a Black Tortoise began to appear.

Not long after Fang Cheng and Lu Wei entered, they saw a flash in Mu Xuanyu’s eyes as the Spiritual Techniques she formed with her hands began to change with increasing speed.

The sounds from within the Pill Furnace grew more and more frequent.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the lid of the Pill Furnace suddenly trembled and flew into the air.

Three brilliant streams of light shot out from the Pill Furnace in an instant.

Mu Xuanyu was prepared. With a wave of her fair hand, a surge of Magical Power enveloped the three streams of light, holding them suspended in mid-air.

Everyone looked up and saw, within the spiritual light, three crystal-clear pills the size of longan fruits.

At the center of each pill was a faint, turtle-shaped rune, emitting a dense Spiritual Qi.

"It’s done."

A smile touched the corners of Mu Xuanyu’s lips. Seeing the pills she had successfully refined, she seemed to be in a very good mood.

She drew the Black Tortoise Divine Pills into her hand, examining them closely, sniffing their aroma, and sensing their medicinal properties. Then, she looked at Fang Cheng and said, "These pills are truly extraordinary. My feeling is that they are even superior to the Celestial Lake Spirit Pill."

The Celestial Lake Spirit Pill was one of the most famous Spiritual Elixirs and Wondrous Medicines in the Cultivation Realm, known for assisting in the condensation of a Life Talisman. Unfortunately, due to its extreme difficulty to refine and the rarity of its Spiritual Medicines, very few existed in the world.

Back then, He Yujing of the Netherworld Valley had gone to painstaking lengths, plotting for a long time just to gather the Spiritual Medicines for his alchemy attempt.

Mu Xuanyu placed the three Spirit Pills into a Jade Bottle, sealed it with a stopper, and handed it to Dong Qing. "Qing’Er, you can go and test the pill now."

A trace of pleasant surprise flashed through Dong Qing’s cool, beautiful eyes. After accepting the Jade Bottle, she thanked Mu Xuanyu and was about to return to her Cave Mansion to cultivate and attempt her breakthrough.

Fang Cheng stopped her. "Why not try it here in this hall? The rest of us can stand guard for you outside."

Dong Qing had no objection.

Immediately, Fang Cheng and the three women walked out of the hall. He then waved his hand to activate the hall’s restrictive wards, allowing Dong Qing to focus on her breakthrough in peace.

Whether the Black Tortoise Divine Pill was effective or not would soon be revealed.

...