“Thunder from the heavens, fire from the earth, ghostly wood and green flames, the true fire of Samadhi, gather and rise to illuminate, absolve!” Mei Qing’s face showed a hint of seriousness as he carefully chanted the incantation, slowly applying the talismans to the stone block before him.
Stone Manor’s master and mistress were shooed away by Zhang Shisan under the pretense of it being unsuitable for them to watch, and Hou Shen was also driven to guard outside the door. Inside the room, only Zhang Shisan, Bi Zhen, Mei Qing, and the pitiful stone block remained.
According to Zhang Shisan, the fundamental issue with Stone Block wasn’t just a congenital deficiency but the overwhelming demonic energy in his bloodline. To heal his body, the first step was to extract the demonic energy from within him. However, since Stone Block was a hybrid of human and demon, and had been sustained by his mother’s demonic essence over the years, the demonic energy had almost become one with his body. How could it be easily separated?
Zhang Shisan earnestly told Mei Qing that the only way to extract the demonic energy was through refinement.
“You know how steel is forged through repeated refining? The impurities are gradually removed. It’s the same with Stone Block. Refine him over and over, and the demonic energy will be gone,” Zhang Shisan explained.
Though Mei Qing harbored deep doubts about Zhang Shisan’s theory, he had no choice but to follow it. After all, while Zhang Shisan’s theory was questionable, Mei Qing himself couldn’t even propose a theory that was worth doubting.
Purple-tinged flames, conjured by Mei Qing’s incantations, enveloped Stone Block’s frail body. Mei Qing carefully followed the method taught by Zhang Shisan, gradually channeling the flames through the crown of Stone Block’s head, along the meridians, and slowly refining the accumulated demonic energy within his body.
Given Stone Block’s current condition, enduring such intense refinement was extremely dangerous. That’s why Zhang Shisan had earlier infused protective talismans into his body to shield his vital organs and meridians, preventing Mei Qing from accidentally reducing him to ashes.
Despite this, Mei Qing was still drenched in sweat from the tension. Refining energy within the delicate meridians of a young child was no trivial matter. If it weren’t for Mei Qing’s exceptional spiritual strength and rapid cultivation progress, achieving this would have been nearly impossible.
As he refined each meridian, Mei Qing felt the flames of the talismans gradually merge with the purple flames that had once appeared within him, becoming indistinguishable. He felt the true fire responding to his will, breathing in and out at the core of his golden elixir, moving effortlessly as he directed it.
He almost forgot that he was treating the child before him, unconsciously driving the true fire through the intricate meridians, refining the thick demonic energy accumulated within, purifying and clearing it. The refined demonic essence, following the path of the flames, gathered within him, condensed by the purple flames into a jade-like substance, dripping onto his golden elixir and evaporating into dense purple mist.
The true essence within the cauldron slowly pushed the golden elixir, rotating under the illumination of the sun and moon within him. With each rotation, it absorbed the purple mist, growing stronger. The rotation of the golden elixir slowed, and the purple mist became more viscous, emitting a sound like jade and gold, signaling the strange transformation occurring within.
At some point, the demonic essence within the meridians had been completely refined. But the true essence within Mei Qing’s body was now boiling, churning and expanding under the increasingly intense sunlight, then calming under the gentle moonlight, in an endless cycle.
Suddenly, a familiar and joyful spiritual consciousness joined Mei Qing’s. Unconsciously, Mei Qing accepted, intertwined, and merged with it. The two consciousnesses spiraled together like yin and yang, delving deeper and deeper until they became one, forgetting everything.
At the deepest moment, something stirred within Mei Qing, and he understood. A golden elixir, as bright as the sun and moon, trembled like a newborn baby, struggling with its tiny arms, emitting unintelligible sounds.
So that’s how it is.
Mei Qing seemed to stretch, letting out a few unconscious murmurs, and then fell into a deep sleep.
When Mei Qing woke up, he almost wondered if time had reversed and he was back to yesterday morning.
Everything was so similar—the sunlight streaming into the guest room, him lying naked in bed, and beside him, the ever-charming Bi Zhen.
Somehow, Bi Zhen seemed even more beautiful, her delicate face glowing like jade in the sunlight, almost translucent. Her long eyelashes, straight nose, and small cherry lips, though familiar, still captivated Mei Qing.
As her eyelashes fluttered, her bright, clear eyes slowly opened. Upon seeing Mei Qing, Bi Zhen smiled radiantly, unguarded.
Her smile seemed to light up the entire room.
“Bi Zhen, we… huh?” Mei Qing suddenly exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?” Bi Zhen gently embraced Mei Qing and asked.
Mei Qing was momentarily surprised, then after a moment of thought, said, “I think… I think I’ve formed a Nascent Soul?”
Bi Zhen chuckled, “Just noticed? You did form a Nascent Soul.”
Mei Qing, puzzled, asked, “How do you know?”
Bi Zhen proudly replied, “Because I did too.”
“…So that’s it. My dear, shall we celebrate again?”
“My good disciples, it’s already broad daylight. You two have been harmoniously united, but your master has been squatting at the door all night. Don’t you think it’s time to take a break?” Zhang Shisan’s grating voice always managed to ruin the moment.
“Tsk tsk tsk, if the cultivators of the world knew, half would be furious, and the other half terrified,” Zhang Shisan said, scrutinizing Mei Qing and Bi Zhen. “You two are truly blessed. In just a few days, you’ve reached the stage of refining Qi into Spirit. In a couple more days, I might have to start calling you two ‘Master.'”
Bi Zhen giggled, “Master, don’t be jealous. Your cultivation isn’t bad either.”
“You silly girl!” Zhang Shisan sighed, shaking his head. “The simple-minded are blessed. You, carefree and thoughtless, should indeed be fortunate. But this guy, full of schemes, how does he have such luck? Truly, there’s no justice!”
“Master,” Mei Qing protested, “Your disciple’s progress reflects well on you, doesn’t it? Instead of rewarding us with some treasures, you’re here mocking us?”
“Treasures?” Zhang Shisan chuckled, “I’ve taught you the methods. You can refine your own from now on! As for my meager collection, I’ll have to dole it out slowly. Can’t afford to give it all away now. But, my foolish disciple, such rapid progress isn’t necessarily a good thing. Be cautious.”
Mei Qing nodded, “I didn’t expect such a transformation either. I never imagined the demonic essence within that child could be so profound, allowing me to form a Nascent Soul in one night.”
Zhang Shisan’s smile faded as he shook his head, “While refining the demonic essence helped you cross the threshold of refining Qi, the real reason for your rapid progress is likely that small cauldron.”
Mei Qing was startled, “But I still have no idea where that cauldron came from. It’s all quite confusing.”
Seeing Bi Zhen also looked puzzled, he asked, “By the way, Bi Zhen, last time you didn’t explain clearly. How did you end up here and get that cauldron?”
Bi Zhen hesitated, “Actually, when I heard you were coming to Yongping, I was worried and went to my grandmother to make a fuss… Eventually, she took pity on me and secretly let me disguise myself to come here, saying it was best not to show myself and just protect you from the shadows.”
Though Bi Zhen spoke lightly, Mei Qing was deeply moved. Remembering the previous times he had taken risks and how worried Bi Zhen had been afterward, he realized she must have insisted on following him this time.
Seeing the gratitude in Mei Qing’s eyes, Bi Zhen smiled sweetly and continued, “I followed them to the harbor. When I saw Tian Niu, I noticed she had a deathly aura, which was strange. I initially thought it wasn’t my business and ignored it. But I couldn’t let it go, so I got up in the middle of the night to check the bridal chamber.”
“When I got there, I was a bit embarrassed to look…” Bi Zhen blushed slightly, as it was improper to spy on a newlywed couple. “But upon closer inspection, I realized that the person with Tian Niu wasn’t the groom but someone else!”
Mei Qing was shocked, “How could that be? I thought Tian Niu and Da Shan were deeply in love. On their wedding night, could there really be an affair?”
“No,” Bi Zhen shook her head, “Someone must have cast some evil spell. Da Shan was unconscious, and Tian Niu was in a daze, probably thinking she was with Da Shan, but it was actually someone else.”
Mei Qing nodded, “So it was a flower thief?”
Bi Zhen shook her head again, “At first, I thought so too, so I shouted and prepared to capture him. But the guy was extremely cunning. He immediately sent out two decoys and slipped away. I initially chased the wrong one, but fortunately, he only relied on some magical tools and didn’t have real cultivation, so I was able to track his aura and follow him to Changchun Marsh.”
Shi Zhuangzhu and Lady Shi had been sent away by Zhang Shisan under the pretext that they shouldn’t witness the proceedings. Hou Shen had also been driven outside to stand guard. Thus, only four people remained inside the room: Zhang Shisan, Bi Zhen, Mei Qing, and the pitiable Shi Lengzi.
According to Zhang Shisan, the fundamental issue with Shi Lengzi wasn’t merely his congenital insufficiency, but rather the heavy demonic energy within his bloodline. To heal his body, the first step would be to extract this demonic essence. However, the boy was already a hybrid of human and demon, and for years had survived solely on the demonic energy and true essence supplied by his mother. This demonic energy had essentially fused with his body, making it extremely difficult to separate.
Zhang Shisan earnestly told Mei Qing that there was only one way to extract the demonic energy—through refinement.
“You know the saying, ‘A hundred refirings make steel pure’? Repeated refining naturally removes impurities from iron. It’s the same with this Shi Lengzi—refine him again and again, and the demonic energy will dissipate,” Zhang Shisan explained.
Though Mei Qing deeply doubted Zhang Shisan’s theory, he had no choice but to follow it, since Zhang’s questionable reasoning was still better than having no theory at all.
One after another, purple-tinged flames, summoned by Mei Qing’s incantations, enveloped Shi Lengzi’s frail body. Carefully following the method taught by Zhang Shisan, Mei Qing guided the flames into the boy’s crown, channeling them gradually through the eight extraordinary meridians, slowly refining the accumulated demonic energy within.
Given Shi Lengzi’s current physical condition, enduring such true fire refinement was extremely dangerous. Therefore, Zhang Shisan had earlier infused talismans into the boy’s body to protect his internal organs and meridians, preventing Mei Qing from accidentally reducing him to ashes.
Even with these precautions, Mei Qing was drenched in sweat from tension. After all, refining true energy within the delicate meridians of a child was no trivial matter. If not for his exceptionally strong spiritual awareness and the rapid progress he had recently made in cultivation, accomplishing this feat would have been nearly impossible.
Meridian by meridian, Mei Qing refined the boy’s body. He felt as though the flame talismans he was channeling gradually merged with the purple flame that had once appeared within his own body, becoming indistinguishable from one another. The true fire responded to his will, arising from the cauldron and golden elixir within his core, obeying his every command. Whether advancing or retreating, left or right, all proceeded exactly as he wished.
He had almost forgotten he was healing a child before him. He simply and unconsciously directed the true fire within his body into every minute meridian of the boy, gradually refining the thick demonic energy stored inside, clearing and purifying it completely. The refined demonic energy followed the channel of flame, drop by drop, flowing into Mei Qing’s own body, where it was transformed by his surging purple flame into a substance as refined as jade fat. These drops fell upon the golden elixir within his cauldron, giving rise to thick purple mists as dense as tangible vapor.
The true energy within the cauldron gently propelled the golden elixir, which continuously rotated under the influence of the sun-rabbit and moon-hare. Each full rotation absorbed some of the purple mist, enhancing its power. The golden elixir’s rotation grew slower, while the purple mist thickened further, emitting a sound like jade chimes and golden bells, heralding the strange transformations occurring within.
At some unknown moment, the demonic energy within the meridians before him had been completely refined. Yet the true energy coursing through his body roared like boiling water, surging and crashing about. It grew stronger under the gradually intensifying sunlight, yet calmed under the gentle nourishment of moonlight, cycling endlessly, without beginning or end.
Suddenly, a familiar and joyous spiritual resonance joined his own. Mei Qing instinctively accepted it, intertwining and merging with it. The two spiritual presences slowly spiraled, like two yin-yang fish continuously revolving, gradually sinking deeper and deeper, until they could no longer be distinguished from one another, forgetting all else.
At the deepest moment, something stirred within Mei Qing’s heart, and he suddenly understood. A golden elixir, as large as a fighting cock and as radiant as the sun and moon, began to tremble. Like a newborn infant stretching its tiny arms, it emitted a series of incomprehensible, infantile sounds.
So that’s how it is.
Mei Qing seemed to stretch lazily, murmuring unconsciously, before falling into a deep slumber.
When Mei Qing awoke, he almost doubted whether time had reversed and he had returned to the morning before.
Everything seemed so familiar—the sunlight filtering into the guest room, his own naked body lying on the bed, and beside him, the ever-charming Bi Zhen.
Yet somehow, Bi Zhen seemed even more beautiful. Her delicate face glowed with a jade-like luster under the sunlight, almost translucent in its purity. Her long lashes, straight nose, and small cherry lips—though they had known each other so intimately, Mei Qing still found himself entranced by her beauty.
As her lashes fluttered, he saw her clear, bright eyes slowly open. Upon seeing Mei Qing, Bi Zhen smiled radiantly without any pretense.
With that smile, the entire room seemed to brighten.
“Zhen’er, are we… huh?” Mei Qing suddenly gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Bi Zhen gently embraced him, asking.
Mei Qing looked puzzled for a moment, then thought carefully before replying, “I think… I think I’ve formed an infant soul!”
Bi Zhen chuckled and said, “Just noticed? You’ve formed your infant soul.”
Mei Qing asked in confusion, “How did you know?”
Bi Zhen replied proudly, “I formed mine too.”
“…So that’s how it is. My dear wife, perhaps we should celebrate again?”
“Thunder from the heavens, fire from the earth, ghostly wood and green flames, the true fire of Samadhi, gather and rise to illuminate, absolve!” Mei Qing’s face showed a hint of seriousness as he carefully activated the incantation, slowly applying the talismans to the stone block before him.
The Stone Manor’s master and mistress were shooed away by Zhang Shisan under the pretense that it was unsuitable for them to watch, and Hou Shen was also driven outside to stand guard. Inside the room, only Zhang Shisan, Bi Zhen, Mei Qing, and the pitiful stone block remained.
According to Zhang Shisan, the fundamental issue with the stone block wasn’t just its innate deficiency but the overwhelming demonic energy in its bloodline. To heal its body, the first step was to extract the demonic energy from within. However, since the block was a hybrid of human and demon, and had been sustained by its mother’s demonic essence over the years, the demonic energy had almost become one with its body. How could it be easily separated?
Zhang Shisan earnestly told Mei Qing that the only way to extract the demonic energy was through refining.
“You know how steel is made through repeated refining, right? The impurities in the iron are naturally removed. It’s the same with this stone block. Keep refining, and the demonic energy will disappear,” Zhang Shisan explained.
Though Mei Qing was highly skeptical of Zhang Shisan’s theory, he had no choice but to follow it. After all, while Zhang Shisan’s theory was dubious, Mei Qing couldn’t even come up with a questionable theory of his own.
Purple flames, conjured by Mei Qing’s incantation, enveloped the stone block’s frail body. Mei Qing carefully followed the method taught by Zhang Shisan, gradually channeling the flames through the block’s crown, along its meridians, slowly refining the accumulated demonic energy within its body.
Given the stone block’s current condition, undergoing such intense refining was extremely dangerous. That’s why Zhang Shisan had earlier infused talismans into its body to protect its internal organs, preventing Mei Qing from reducing it to ashes.
Despite this, Mei Qing was still drenched in sweat from the tension. Refining energy within the delicate meridians of a young child was no trivial matter. If it weren’t for his exceptional mental strength and rapid cultivation progress, achieving this would have been nearly impossible.
As he refined each meridian, Mei Qing felt the flames of the talismans gradually merge with the purple flames that had once appeared within him, becoming indistinguishable. He felt the true fire responding to his will, breathing in and out at the core of his golden elixir, moving effortlessly as he directed it.
He almost forgot that he was treating the child before him, unconsciously driving the true fire within him through the intricate meridians, refining the thick demonic energy accumulated within, purifying and clearing it. The refined demonic essence, following the path of the flames, gathered within him, condensed by the purple flames into a jade-like substance, dripping onto his golden elixir, evaporating into a dense purple mist.
The essence within the cauldron slowly pushed the golden elixir, rotating under the influence of the sun and moon within him. With each rotation, it absorbed the purple mist, growing stronger. The elixir’s rotation slowed, and the purple mist became more viscous, emitting a sound like jade and gold, signaling the strange transformation occurring within.
At some point, the demonic essence within the meridians had been completely refined. But the true essence within him was now boiling, churning and expanding under the increasingly intense sunlight, then calming under the gentle moonlight, repeating endlessly, without beginning or end.
Suddenly, a familiar and joyful consciousness joined in. Mei Qing unconsciously accepted, intertwined, and entangled with it. The two consciousnesses spiraled like yin and yang, gradually deepening, merging into infinity, becoming one, forgetting everything.
At the deepest moment, something stirred within Mei Qing’s heart, and he understood. A golden elixir, as bright as the sun and moon, trembled like a newborn baby, struggling with its tiny arms, emitting meaningless sounds.
So that’s how it is.
Mei Qing seemed to stretch, uttering a few unconscious murmurs, then fell into a deep sleep.
When Mei Qing woke up, he almost wondered if time had reversed, bringing him back to yesterday morning.
Everything was so similar—the sunlight filtering into the guest room, himself lying naked in bed, and beside him, the ever-charming Bi Zhen.
Bi Zhen seemed even more beautiful, her delicate face glowing like jade in the sunlight, almost transparent in its purity. Her long eyelashes, straight nose, and small cherry lips, though familiar, still captivated Mei Qing.
As her eyelashes fluttered, her bright, clear eyes slowly opened. Upon seeing Mei Qing, Bi Zhen smiled radiantly, unguarded.
Her smile seemed to illuminate the entire room.
“Bi Zhen, we… huh?” Mei Qing suddenly exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?” Bi Zhen gently embraced Mei Qing and asked.
Mei Qing was surprised, pondered for a moment, then said, “I think… I think I’ve formed a Nascent Soul?”
Bi Zhen chuckled, “Just noticed? You have.”
Mei Qing, puzzled, asked, “How do you know?”
Bi Zhen proudly replied, “I have too.”
“…So that’s it. How about we celebrate again, my dear?”
“Good disciples, it’s already broad daylight. You two have been in harmony all night, while your master has been squatting at the door. Don’t you think it’s time to rest?” Zhang Shisan’s grating voice always managed to ruin the moment.
“Tsk tsk tsk, if the cultivators of the world knew, half would go mad with envy, and the other half with fear,” Zhang Shisan scrutinized Mei Qing and Bi Zhen seriously. “You two, where did you get such fortune? In just a few days, you’ve reached the stage of refining Qi into Spirit. In a couple more days, I might have to call you two masters.”
Bi Zhen giggled, “Master, no need to be jealous. Your cultivation isn’t bad either.”
“Little girl!” Zhang Shisan sighed, shaking his head. “Fools have their luck. You, carefree and thoughtless, should be blessed. But this guy, full of schemes, how does he have such luck? Truly, there’s no justice!”
“Master,” Mei Qing protested, “Isn’t my progress a credit to you as my master? Instead of rewarding me with some treasures, you’re here mocking me?”
“Treasures?” Zhang Shisan chuckled, “I’ve taught you the methods. You can refine your own from now on! As for my meager possessions, I’ll have to reveal them slowly. Can’t give them all away now. But, foolish boy, such rapid progress isn’t necessarily good. Be careful.”
Mei Qing nodded, “I didn’t expect such fortune either. I never imagined the demonic essence within that child could be so profound, allowing me to form a Nascent Soul overnight.”
Zhang Shisan’s smile faded as he shook his head, “While refining the demonic essence helped you cross the Qi refining threshold, that’s not the root cause. What truly boosted your cultivation was likely that small cauldron.”
Mei Qing was startled, worriedly saying, “But I have no idea where that cauldron came from. It’s all quite confusing.”
Seeing Bi Zhen also looked puzzled, he asked, “By the way, Bi Zhen, last time you didn’t explain clearly. How did you end up here and get that small cauldron?”
Bi Zhen, slightly embarrassed, replied, “Actually, when I heard you were coming to Yongping, I got worried and went to my grandmother to make a fuss… Later, she took pity on me and secretly let me disguise myself to come out, saying it’s best not to show myself, just to protect you from the shadows.”
Though Bi Zhen spoke lightly, Mei Qing was deeply moved. Remembering the previous times he had taken risks and how worried Bi Zhen had been afterward, he realized she must have insisted on following him this time.
Seeing the gratitude in Mei Qing’s eyes, Bi Zhen smiled sweetly at him, then continued, “Later, I followed them to the harbor. When I saw Tian Niu, I noticed she had a deathly aura, which was strange. I initially thought it wasn’t my business and ignored it. But I couldn’t let it go, so I got up at midnight to check the bridal chamber.”
“When I got there, I was a bit embarrassed to look…” Bi Zhen’s face turned red. After all, it was someone’s wedding night, and she was peeking. “But upon closer inspection, I realized that the person with Tian Niu wasn’t the groom but someone else!”
Mei Qing was shocked, “How could that be? I thought Tian Niu and Da Shan were deeply in love. On their wedding night, could there have been an affair?”
“No,” Bi Zhen shook her head, “Someone must have cast some evil spell. Da Shan was asleep, and Tian Niu was in a daze, probably thinking she was with Da Shan, but she was actually with someone else.”
Mei Qing then understood, “So it was a flower thief?”
Bi Zhen shook her head again, “At first, I thought so too, so I shouted and prepared to catch the guy. But he was very cunning, immediately splitting into two doppelgangers and slipping away. I initially chased the wrong one, but fortunately, he only relied on some artifacts and didn’t have real cultivation, so I managed to follow his aura all the way to Changchun Lake.”
“Tsk tsk tsk tsk. If cultivators across the world knew this, half would be furious, and half would be terrified,” Zhang Shisan said seriously, examining Mei Qing and Bi Zhen. “You two don’t know where you got such luck. How many days has it been? Already reaching the stage of refining energy into spirit. Heh heh, in a couple more days, it might be me chasing after you two, calling you master.”
Bi Zhen giggled and said, “Master, you don’t need to be jealous. Actually, your cultivation is quite good too.”
“Little girl!” Zhang Shisan sighed, shaking his head. “Fools have good fortune. You’re carefree and lighthearted, so it’s natural you’d be blessed. But this kid, with all his scheming, how come he’s so lucky too? There’s truly no justice in the heavens!”
“Thunder from the heavens, fire from the earth, ghostly wood and green flames, the true fire of Samadhi, gather and rise to illuminate, absolve!” Mei Qing’s face showed a trace of seriousness as he carefully activated the incantation, slowly applying the talismans to the stone figure before him.
The stone manor’s master and mistress were driven away by Zhang Shisan under the pretext of it being unsuitable for them to watch, and Hou Shen was also sent to guard outside the door. Inside the room, only Zhang Shisan, Bi Zhen, Mei Qing, and the pitiful stone figure remained.
According to Zhang Shisan, the fundamental issue with the stone figure was not just a congenital deficiency but also the overwhelming demonic energy in his bloodline. To heal his body, the first step was to extract the demonic energy from within him. However, since the boy was a hybrid of human and demon, and had been sustained by his mother’s demonic essence over the years, the demonic energy had almost become one with his body. How could it be easily separated?
Zhang Shisan earnestly told Mei Qing that the only way to separate the demonic energy was through refining.
“You know how steel is forged through repeated refining? The impurities in the iron are naturally removed. It’s the same with this stone figure. Keep refining, and the demonic energy will eventually be gone,” Zhang Shisan explained.
Although Mei Qing was highly skeptical of Zhang Shisan’s theory, he had no choice but to follow it. After all, while Zhang Shisan’s theory was questionable, Mei Qing himself couldn’t even come up with a theory that was worth doubting.
Flames tinged with purple energy, conjured by Mei Qing’s incantation, enveloped the stone figure’s frail body. Mei Qing carefully followed the method taught by Zhang Shisan, gradually channeling the flames through the crown of the figure’s head, along the eight extraordinary meridians, slowly refining the accumulated demonic energy within his body.
Given the stone figure’s current physical condition, undergoing such intense refining was extremely dangerous. That’s why Zhang Shisan had earlier infused talismans into his body to protect his internal organs and meridians, preventing Mei Qing from directly refining him into ashes.
Despite this, Mei Qing was still drenched in sweat from nervousness. After all, refining energy within the delicate meridians of a child was no trivial matter. If it weren’t for his exceptionally strong spiritual power and rapid cultivation progress, achieving this would have been nearly impossible.
Meridian by meridian, Mei Qing refined the energy. He felt as though the flames from the talismans were gradually merging with the purple flames that had once appeared within him, becoming indistinguishable. The true fire seemed to respond to his will, breathing in and out at the core of his golden elixir, moving effortlessly as he directed it.
He almost forgot that he was treating the child’s condition, unconsciously driving the true fire within him through the intricate meridians, refining the thick demonic energy accumulated within, clearing and purifying it. The refined demonic essence then flowed back along the path of the flames, gathering within him, where it was further refined by the purple flames into a jade-like substance. Drops of it fell onto his golden elixir, evaporating into dense purple mist.
The true essence within the cauldron slowly propelled the golden elixir. Under the illumination of the sun and moon within his body, it continuously rotated. With each rotation, it absorbed the purple mist, growing stronger. The rotation of the golden elixir slowed, and the purple mist became increasingly viscous, emitting a sound like jade and gold resonating, signaling the extraordinary changes occurring within.
At some point, the demonic essence within the meridians had been completely refined. But the true essence within his body was now boiling, churning and surging, growing stronger under the intense sunlight and calming under the gentle moonlight, in an endless cycle.
Suddenly, a familiar and joyous spiritual presence joined in. Mei Qing unconsciously accepted it, intertwining and entangling with it. The two spiritual presences slowly spiraled, like the yin and yang fish, gradually deepening until they became one, forgetting everything.
At the deepest moment, something stirred within Mei Qing’s heart, and he understood. A golden elixir as bright as the sun and moon suddenly trembled, like a newborn baby struggling with its tiny arms, emitting incomprehensible sounds.
So this was it.
Mei Qing seemed to stretch, letting out a few unconscious murmurs, and then fell into a deep sleep.
When Mei Qing woke up, he almost wondered if time had reversed, bringing him back to the previous morning.
Everything seemed so similar—the sunlight filtering into the guest room, himself lying naked on the bed, and beside him, the ever-charming Bi Zhen.
Somehow, Bi Zhen looked even more beautiful, her delicate face glowing like jade in the sunlight, almost translucent. Her long eyelashes, straight nose, and small cherry lips, though familiar, still captivated Mei Qing.
As her eyelashes fluttered, her bright, clear eyes slowly opened. Seeing Mei Qing before her, Bi Zhen smiled radiantly, unguarded.
Her smile seemed to light up the entire room.
“Bi Zhen, we… huh?” Mei Qing suddenly exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?” Bi Zhen gently embraced Mei Qing and asked.
Mei Qing was momentarily surprised, then thought for a moment before saying, “I think… I think I’ve formed a nascent soul?”
Bi Zhen chuckled, “Just noticed? You did form a nascent soul.”
Mei Qing, puzzled, asked, “How do you know?”
Bi Zhen replied proudly, “Because I did too.”
“…So that’s it. My dear, shall we celebrate again?”
“My good disciples, it’s already broad daylight. You two have been in perfect harmony, but your master has been squatting at the door all night. Don’t you think it’s time to take a break?” Zhang Shisan’s grating voice always managed to ruin the moment.
“Tsk tsk tsk, if the cultivators of the world knew, half would go mad with envy, and the other half with fear,” Zhang Shisan said, scrutinizing Mei Qing and Bi Zhen. “You two, I don’t know where you got such luck. It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already reached the stage of refining qi into spirit. In a couple more days, I might have to start calling you two masters.”
Bi Zhen giggled, “Master, don’t be jealous. Your cultivation isn’t bad either.”
“Little girl!” Zhang Shisan sighed, shaking his head. “The simple-minded are blessed. You, carefree and thoughtless, are destined for fortune. But this guy, full of schemes, how did he get so lucky? Truly, there’s no justice in the world!”
“Master,” Mei Qing protested, “Isn’t my progress a credit to you as my master? Instead of rewarding me with some treasures, you’re here mocking me?”
“Treasures?” Zhang Shisan chuckled, “I’ve already taught you the methods. You can refine your own from now on! As for my meager collection, I’ll have to dole it out slowly. Can’t give it all away now. But, my foolish disciple, such rapid progress isn’t necessarily a good thing. Be careful.”
Mei Qing nodded, “I didn’t expect such a breakthrough either. I never imagined the demonic essence within that child could be so profound, allowing me to form a nascent soul in just one night.”
Zhang Shisan’s smile faded as he shook his head, “While refining the demonic essence helped you cross the threshold of refining qi, that’s not the main reason. What truly propelled your cultivation was that small cauldron.”
Mei Qing was startled and somewhat worried, “But I still have no idea where that cauldron came from. It’s all quite confusing.”
Seeing Bi Zhen also looking puzzled, he asked, “By the way, Bi Zhen, you never explained clearly last time. How did you end up here and get that small cauldron?”
Bi Zhen, slightly embarrassed, said, “Actually, when I heard you were coming to Yongping, I got worried and went to my grandmother to make a fuss… Later, she took pity on me and secretly let me disguise myself and come out, saying it would be best not to show myself openly, just to protect you from the shadows.”
Although Bi Zhen spoke lightly, Mei Qing was deeply moved. Recalling his previous adventures and how worried Bi Zhen had been afterward, he realized she must have gone through great lengths to follow him this time.
Seeing the gratitude in Mei Qing’s eyes, Bi Zhen smiled sweetly at him before continuing, “I followed them all the way to the harbor. When I saw Tian Niu, I noticed she had a deathly aura, which was strange. I thought it wasn’t my business and decided to ignore it, but I couldn’t let it go. So, I got up in the middle of the night and went to the bridal chamber to investigate.”
“When I got there, I felt a bit embarrassed to look…” Bi Zhen’s face turned slightly red. After all, it was someone’s wedding night, and she was peeking in. “But upon closer inspection, I realized that the person Tian Niu was with wasn’t her groom, but someone else!”
Mei Qing was shocked, “How could that be? I thought Tian Niu and Da Shan were deeply in love. On their wedding night, could there really be someone else?”
“No,” Bi Zhen shook her head, “Someone must have cast some evil spell. Da Shan was asleep, and Tian Niu was in a daze, probably thinking she was with Da Shan, but in reality, she was being taken advantage of by someone else.”
Mei Qing nodded, “So it was a flower thief?”
Bi Zhen shook her head again, “At first, I thought so too, so I shouted and prepared to catch the guy. But he was extremely cunning, immediately creating two doppelgangers and slipping away. I initially chased the wrong one, but fortunately, he only relied on some magical tools and didn’t have real cultivation. I followed his aura and eventually tracked him to Changchun Lake.”
“Treasures, huh?” Zhang Shisan chuckled. “I’ve already taught you the techniques. From now on, you can refine your own. As for what little treasures your master has, I’ll keep them for later. I can’t just give them all away now. But you fool, your rapid cultivation progress isn’t necessarily all good. Be careful.”
Mei Qing nodded and said, “I never expected to gain such fortune. I never imagined that the demonic energy within the child’s body would be so abundant, allowing me to form my infant soul in a single night.”
Zhang Shisan’s expression turned serious as he shook his head. “Although refining demonic energy certainly helped you cross the threshold of refining energy, the fundamental reason for your breakthrough likely lies elsewhere. I suspect the real cause of your sudden advancement is that little cauldron.”
Upon hearing this, Mei Qing was startled and said with some concern, “But the origin of that cauldron is still completely unknown. It’s quite puzzling.”
Seeing Bi Zhen also looking confused, he asked, “Right, Zhen’er, last time I asked you about it, you didn’t explain clearly. How exactly did you end up here with that little cauldron?”
Bi Zhen looked slightly embarrassed as she replied, “Actually, when I heard that you were coming to Yongping this time, I became worried and went to plead with my grandmother. Later, out of affection, she secretly let me disguise myself and come along, though she told me not to reveal myself and to secretly protect you instead.”
Though Bi Zhen spoke lightly, Mei Qing felt a deep sense of gratitude. Thinking back to the previous times he had taken risks, he recalled how anxious and fearful Bi Zhen had been afterward. This time, she must have insisted relentlessly to finally be allowed to come with him.
Seeing the grateful look in Mei Qing’s eyes, Bi Zhen smiled sweetly and continued, “Later, I followed them all the way to that port town. When I saw Sweetie, I noticed something strange—she had a deathly aura about her. At first, I thought it wasn’t my business and decided not to get involved. But I couldn’t shake the feeling, so I got up in the middle of the night to investigate the newlyweds’ room.”
“When I arrived, I was a bit hesitant to look…” Bi Zhen blushed slightly, since spying on a newlywed couple was awkward, “but upon closer inspection, I discovered that the person in the bridal chamber with Sweetie wasn’t actually the groom, but someone else entirely!”
Mei Qing was greatly surprised and exclaimed, “How could that be? I saw that Sweetie and Dashi seemed deeply in love. On their wedding night, could there really be an affair?”
“No,” Bi Zhen shook her head. “At that time, someone must have cast a spell. Dashi was unconscious beside the bed, while Sweetie was in a dazed state, probably thinking she was with Dashi, when in fact she was being taken advantage of by someone else.”
Upon hearing this, Mei Qing exclaimed, “Oh! So she was attacked by a flower-picking thief?”
Bi Zhen shook her head again. “At first, I thought so too, so I shouted and prepared to confront the man. But the fellow was extremely cunning—he immediately conjured two clones and slipped away. I initially chased the wrong one, but fortunately, the guy relied only on magical artifacts and had no real cultivation, so I was able to track him by his aura all the way to Changchun Dian.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage