Tinglan composed herself and offered a polite smile. "Senior, you worry too much. Sister Zhugong seeks the [Three-Inch Majestic Heart Soil] from the Great Xiukui Temple[1]. As for things like the [Hidden Blossom Spirit Herbs]... we do not possess them."

Shanbai stroked his beard and nodded, though it was unclear whether he believed her. He only sighed and said, "Some grow resentful through illness, and some perish in their pursuit of the Dao. Isn't the situation already turbulent enough? Why insist on walking into the flames?"

Tinglan turned her head slightly. Her usually gentle, smiling face lost its softness, revealing a resolute expression. "If one can plant a golden lotus within the flames, why begrudge one's life?!"

The old man was momentarily stunned. Only then did he realize that although Tinglan was usually gentle, the fact that she could befriend the bold and reckless Zhugong, who came from a devil cultivator background, meant they shared something in common.

He sighed again as they made their way deeper into the cave dwelling. The surroundings grew increasingly dim, with no attendants in sight. The leading disciple trembled slightly.

Tinglan stopped before the entrance and said tentatively, "Fellow Daoist Zhugong?"

"Ah... Tinglan."

A reply came from within, the voice drifting and echoing hollowly through the cave dwelling. A gust of warm wind rushed out with it, along with several scattered red petals that rolled all the way to Tinglan's feet.

The red petals were delicate, yet dotted with small holes as if something had gnawed at them, leaving them in a messy state. Zhugong's voice grew noticeably urgent, "Has the senior arrived? I truly thank you both, benefactors!"

Daoist Master Shanbai's expression shifted slightly. He raised his brows to look, his pupils expanding faintly. The sound of the ground cracking echoed endlessly like shattering porcelain, mixed with the rustling of rodents scurrying.

The old man formed a divine ability with his fingers and made a quick calculation, frowning as he said, "When did she also suffer a [Veiled Yin] injury!"

He sighed. "This is bad!"

If Daoist Master Shanbai could see it, Tinglan certainly could as well. She froze for a moment, a trace of guilt appearing in her eyes, and said softly, "It was likely caused by the glimmer of Wei Xuanyin's dharma artifact. [Veiled Yin] hides and only erupts later. Now... it will be difficult to handle... Please stabilize her injuries first, senior. I will bring Zhaojing here as well."

————

Huyi Mountain, Hall of Passing Guilt.

Clang... clang...

The long, metallic clanging kept echoing through the hall, the sound waves layering over each other in the enclosed, empty space. At times it slowed like the tolling of a bell, and at times it quickened like hammering iron, ringing without end.

At the center stood an entirely dark purple and black pill furnace. It swayed slightly, as if something were sealed within. Each violent struggle caused ripples of golden light to shimmer across its surface.

"What a fine spirit item..."

Li Ximing's face was slightly pale as an excessive amount of divine ability poured into the pill furnace, continuously strengthening the True Fire in an attempt to forcibly refine whatever was inside.

This pill was unlike any he had refined before. At the beginning, it was simple, and Li Ximing handled it with ease. But as the [Profound Vault Golden-Winged Bat] merged with the [Undeclining Golden Cloud], the situation inside the furnace changed. The pill actually came alive!

The blazing True Fire had burned beneath the furnace day and night for four months, yet the thing inside only grew more stubborn. It had long begun to tremble like a living creature, leaping and thrashing wildly, trying to find a way to escape.

Every moment of that struggle drained vast amounts of divine ability mana from him. If not for the [Profound Owl Crossing Scene Furnace] being a Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact that feared no collision and required no effort from him to stabilize, things would have gone wrong long ago!

"The alchemy manual did not mention this at all! After these two spirit items fused, they became even more terrifying. Forget the [Furnace in the River]... even the [Treasure-Elephant Furnace] would not last long!"

He had long been cursing Fuxun in his heart, figuring that the old fellow likely did not know either!

The alchemy manual had at least mentioned that various complications might arise during refinement, including imbalanced spiritual qi, incompatibility between spirit items, and conflicts between spiritual flames and spiritual qi. He had experienced them all. Fortunately, his experience was sufficient, and with assistance from a noble of the Azure Manifestation lineage, he had navigated them smoothly.

"And with the consumption of divine ability mana... only someone like me could handle it. Anyone else would have ruined this pill long ago..."

After nearly four months, one hundred and eight days of refinement, it had finally reached its critical point. As the waves of impact subsided, the two spirit items ceased resisting, and the entire furnace grew quiet.

Li Ximing immediately relaxed, his tension easing. The [Profound Fire of the Three Phases' Guard] burned fiercely, illuminating the entire hall. Then he heard a low, hoarse cry, "Second uncle... Second uncle..."

It was the Demon King Qingyan. His eyes were red, his emotions overflowing. Tears streamed down his face as he pressed his clenched fists tightly against his legs. For a moment, he could not even speak through his sobs. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Fuxun... Fuxun... If you take this pill and still fail, how can you return to [Three Delusions Mountain] with any dignity?!"

Li Ximing had not expected such a strong reaction. Qingyan must have known Fuxun as well. He remained silent for a moment, while the True Fire in his hands burned ever more fiercely. Golden and crimson light flickered, casting a blazing glow across the demon king's face. His tears evaporated at once.

1. Also known as Xiukui Dao Gate. ☜