Chapter 494: The Princess’s Probe
Southern Wilderness.
The wheels rumbled.
The luxurious palanquin, crafted from amethyst, stopped within the Southern Wilderness’s Space Divine Hall.
Soon, amidst a hazy immortal air, the fairy, whose beauty was unparalleled in the Nine Provinces, stepped out of the palanquin, her skirt lifted by her accompanying Jade Pool disciples.
A strong wind blew her green dress backwards, the fabric clinging to her high and perky bosom, the thin material unable to conceal her curvaceous figure. Every inch of her skin seemed to shimmer faintly, shrouded in a hazy mist, making it difficult to see clearly.
Yao Meng walked gracefully to the front of the divine hall, glanced at the Southern Wilderness maid at the entrance, and said softly, “Did the Space God ask you to wait for me here?”
“Yes, Holy Maiden said you would arrive today, so she asked this lowly one to wait here and escort you into the hall.”
The maid at the door replied respectfully, then bowed slightly, “Please follow me.”
Led by the maid, after a while, Yao Meng walked into the hall on the soft carpet and saw the woman who had been waiting inside.
Her figure was graceful, her posture straight, her smooth platinum blonde hair complementing her magnificent white dress, fully displaying the imposing aura of an empress.
Regina, or rather, Xue Yi.
“A palanquin from the Eastern Continent entered my Southern Wilderness territory yesterday. Many Southern Wilderness cultivators were curious about the mistress within, some even couldn’t resist attacking the palanquin, but before they could even touch it, their cauldrons were sealed for several days…”
Xue Yi walked down the steps towards Yao Meng, casually smoothing the wrinkles on her chest, and said softly, “You could have come directly to the Southern Wilderness to find me, yet you chose to travel slowly in a palanquin. Sometimes, you’re truly hard to understand.”
Yao Meng smiled faintly, “I wanted to enjoy the scenery along the way, and wouldn’t it be impolite to rashly enter the Southern Wilderness Divine Hall?”
Xue Yi smiled and asked casually, “Why didn’t I see Mu Zhian today?”
“He’s in Yu State,” Yao Meng replied with a smile.
Xue Yi’s expression changed slightly, her voice lowering subconsciously, “You left him alone in Yu State? Why?”
“No reason, I just need to go on a trip, and I’m not at ease leaving him in the Eastern Continent,” Yao Meng said faintly.
Xue Yi’s eyes flickered, and she said softly, “Not at ease leaving him in the Eastern Continent, but you’re at ease leaving him with the Pill Emperor? You know that if his Innate Celestial Furnace is discovered by the Pill Emperor…”
Xue Yi didn’t continue, because she saw a flicker of complexity in Yao Meng’s eyes.
Then, Yao Meng raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a faint smile, “If it’s not safe to leave him with the Pill Emperor, then should I bring him to the Southern Wilderness? I don’t think the Space God is interested in such a troublesome thing as looking after someone, right?”
Not interested in looking after someone, but very interested in looking after your husband…
A strange look appeared in Xue Yi’s usually gentle eyes. She hummed softly, “Naturally, I have no interest in your husband… However, Regina seems to have special feelings for Mu Zhian, so I’m considering her feelings…”
Yao Meng hummed softly and said with a half-smile, “I see… The Space God is truly considerate, even thinking of Regina’s feelings.”
Her tone was laced with sarcasm.
This kind of talk might fool a naive girl like Lin Ling, but the Jade Empress wouldn’t fall for it.
After tasting the pleasures of the Innate Celestial Furnace last time, this Space God had probably developed a taste for it~
Xue Yi slightly raised her snow-white chin, her smooth platinum blonde hair resting on her shoulders, and said softly, “Does the Jade Empress have something to say?”
Yao Meng said with a faint smile, bringing up a seemingly irrelevant topic, “You’ve heard of the Innate Celestial Furnace constitution, right?”
“Naturally, why do you suddenly mention the Innate Celestial Furnace?” Xue Yi asked gently, her voice sweet.
“The Innate Celestial Furnace is closely related to the person’s own realm. The higher the realm, the greater the benefits obtained from dual cultivation… But throughout history, most Innate Celestial Furnaces, even with dual cultivation, the actual benefits are limited… Some low-realm Innate Celestial Furnaces, at most, just add a bit of spice to dual cultivation.”
Yao Meng casually toyed with a strand of hair with her fingertip, a passionate glint in her gentle, compassionate eyes. She raised her eyelids and said softly, “But you should know what my husband’s Innate Celestial Furnace is like, right?”
An unnatural look flashed across Xue Yi’s face, and she said with a faint smile, “This Seat hasn’t had any intimate relations with your husband, how would I know such things?”
Yao Meng didn’t dwell on this matter and said casually, “At Qi Condensation Realm, he already had a Core Formation Realm cauldron. After Core Formation Realm, his Innate Celestial Furnace evolved to Nascent Soul Realm.”
“And during the Ascension Tournament, he consumed a pill, causing his Innate Celestial Furnace to evolve once again.”
“Space God, why don’t you guess what his Innate Celestial Furnace will be like at Soul Transformation Realm?”
Thump! Thump!
Almost at that instant, Xue Yi’s eyes widened, her heart racing, staring at the fairy before her with burning eyes.
“Dao Integration… or even a Heavenly Celestial Furnace beyond Dao Integration?” She subconsciously lowered her voice, trying to maintain her composure.
Yao Meng said with a faint smile, “Perhaps… But there’s a prerequisite, which is that he can successfully reach Soul Transformation.”
“You should know how dangerous the path from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation is, right?”
Xue Yi nodded silently.
If reaching Nascent Soul Realm meant becoming a powerful figure in the Nine Provinces, a target for recruitment by those Ancient Families, then Soul Transformation Realm meant being able to do as one pleased in this world, as long as they didn’t provoke Dao Integration Realm experts.
However, the path to Soul Transformation was extremely difficult. Judging from past historical records, among a thousand Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, having two or three reach Soul Transformation was already considered good.
Since the rules of heaven and earth were rewritten not long ago, at least over a thousand cultivators had attempted to break through to Soul Transformation, ultimately perishing in the Heavenly Tribulation.
“The path to immortality is long and arduous, the Heavenly Dao is merciless. If one wants to reach Soul Transformation, to extend their lifespan, they have to bear the threat of the Heavenly Tribulation.”
Yao Meng’s tone changed, and she said faintly, “But with the Nine Cauldrons Nascent Soul Pill, supplemented by the assistance of the Innate Dao Body, the success rate of reaching Soul Transformation can even be increased to sixty or seventy percent.”
Xue Yi didn’t answer, her voice as soft and crisp as usual, “So you asked me for the Southern Wilderness’ Black Flame True Leaves earlier, it was indeed for this Nine Cauldrons Nascent Soul Pill?”
“Mu Zhian is truly fortunate to have a Dao Companion like you,” she sighed sincerely.
Then, she paused and said with a faint smile, “Although Black Flame True Leaves are rare in the Southern Wilderness, they can still be found if one searches. But the Cloud Smoke Willow from Cloud Province might not be so easy to obtain.”
“I heard your relationship with Cloud Province hasn’t been very good in the past? If you ask for it, not to mention the Princess, even the Great Peng Emperor would probably be suspicious of your motives for wanting the Cloud Smoke Willow.”
After all, the Cloud Smoke Willow could only be used to refine the Nine Cauldrons Nascent Soul Pill, as it wasn’t used in any other pills… Suddenly wanting the Cloud Smoke Willow for no reason would naturally arouse suspicion.
Moreover, the Cloud Smoke Willow grew in the boundless realm of Cloud Province, which was the territory of that Daughter of the Great Dao.
She had heard that the Jade Empress and the Princess had a very bad relationship. Obtaining the Cloud Smoke Willow might not be so simple.
“Do you need me to help you ask for it?” Xue Yi asked.
“It would be best if you could, but even if you ask, you might not be able to obtain the Cloud Smoke Willow.”
Yao Meng’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Although the Southern Wilderness and Cloud Province seemed to be cooperating secretly, the Cloud Smoke Willow was too special a heavenly material and earthly treasure. Even if Xue Yi asked, Cloud Province would probably be wary.
After all, who would want another power to produce a new Soul Transformation Realm expert for no reason?
“I’ll try my best to obtain the Cloud Smoke Willow for him,” Xue Yi smiled.
Yao Meng said with a faint smile, “I hope so.”
But she couldn’t help sighing inwardly, Getting the Princess to agree, how easy would that be?
And even in Cloud Province, the Cloud Smoke Willow was an extremely rare heavenly material and earthly treasure. From the moment it was picked to when it withered due to Spiritual Energy loss, it only took seven days. Because of this harsh condition, even the Princess couldn’t preserve the Cloud Smoke Willow.
The only way to obtain the Cloud Smoke Willow was to have the Princess personally search for it, or send someone to search… No matter what, it couldn’t be done without the Princess.
Thinking of this, Yao Meng’s thoughts quickly returned to reality, and she said faintly, “We’ll take it one step at a time. If it comes to it, I’ll personally go to Cloud Province.”
…
“Luo Tan asked me to go to her bedchamber tonight… Does this mean she wants to sleep with me?”
Back in his guest room, Mu Zhian dismissed the maids, then began recalling the events of the day.
In Mu Zhian’s opinion, although Luo Tan seemed to have a strong desire to take the initiative, wanting the Innate Celestial Furnace and the Innate Celestial Furnace to complement each other… in reality, she was still somewhat shy, or perhaps couldn’t bring herself to cross that line in her heart.
Therefore, if he went to her bedchamber tonight, he might have to take the initiative…
And that Great Peng Emperor’s fiancée was also quite interesting.
Not only was she connected to the Great Dao like Lin Ling, but her cauldron was also innately connected to the Great Dao.
If Lin Ling was a creation beloved by the Great Dao, then this Princess was presumably the ‘Chosen Daughter’.
Speaking of which, if Lin Ling wanted to transcend and ascend, she first needed to resonate with the Great Dao… But he had never known how to connect with the Great Dao.
This Princess… perhaps she had a way?
After all, her cauldron was inherently connected to the Great Dao.
Thinking of this, the Princess’s figure involuntarily appeared in Mu Zhian’s mind.
Then, he quickly shook his head and sighed softly.
This matter concerned the secrets of the Great Dao. Even the Great Peng Emperor probably hadn’t been able to extract any secrets about the Great Dao from the Princess, let alone him, an outsider?
Unless… he could first establish a good relationship with the Princess.
And the Cloud Smoke Willow needed for the Nine Cauldrons Nascent Soul Pill also had to be obtained from Cloud Province…
“So it seems I shouldn’t have teased her earlier, but should have flattered her instead…” Mu Zhian suddenly realized this.
If it were a normal beauty, Mu Zhian naturally wouldn’t want to offend her.
But the Princess had frankly stated earlier that she didn’t want him to be intimate with Luo Tan… and even offered him a stalk of Emperor Medicine to stay away from Luo Tan.
Although he knew the Princess was considering Luo Tan’s best interests, it still made him somewhat displeased.
But unexpectedly, he now had to find a way to befriend her…
“Forget it, let’s not think about these things for now.”
Mu Zhian shook his head, dispelling his thoughts, then walked out of the guest room and took out a black cauldron in the courtyard.
A Mysterious-grade cauldron, it wasn’t particularly precious, but it was sufficient for refining fourth or fifth-grade pills.
Or rather, with Mu Zhian’s current skill level, not even a second-grade alchemist, using a cauldron above Mysterious-grade would be too extravagant.
Mu Zhian recalled the Pill Emperor’s teachings from their conversation today while taking out the ingredients needed for a third-grade pill.
According to Luo Tan, the higher the pill grade, the more Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy it could contain. He wanted to verify whether her words were true.
“You may all leave. No one is allowed to approach this area without my orders,” Mu Zhian turned and instructed the two maids in the courtyard.
After the maids left, Mu Zhian activated his Spiritual Energy and placed the ingredients for the third-grade Heart Consolidating Pill into the cauldron one by one.
“Sanskrit Willow, Starspotted Ginseng, then add Ancient Lingzhi…”
Mu Zhian looked at the alchemy manual in his hand, taking out ingredients from his storage ring and putting them into the cauldron.
These ingredients were part of the monthly ‘salary’ given by the Two Polarities Sect. The ingredients themselves weren’t particularly rare, but they could still fetch a good price on the market.
And now, they were all being used by Mu Zhian for his alchemy experiments.
Flames began to roar within the cauldron, and Mu Zhian focused his mental energy entirely on it.
In the distance, the two maids looked over curiously, wondering why someone was refining such low-grade pills now.
Just then, a maid seemed to sense something and subconsciously turned her head towards the courtyard entrance. Seeing the slender woman with gentle eyes and a pink veil appearing in her vision, she almost blurted out, “Princess—”
Before she could finish speaking, the Princess placed a finger against her lips, making a “shh” sound.
When she approached, the two maids greeted her and asked softly, “Why is Your Highness here…? This is Young Master Mu’s resting place, did you come to the wrong place?”
The gentle and mature Princess glanced sideways, her beautiful eyes gentle and charming, and said softly, “I’m here to see him.”
“You may leave now. I’ll protect him, nothing will happen,” she instructed again.
The two maids exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly: “Yes.”
…
“Failed again… Third-grade pills are indeed still somewhat difficult for me.”
Mu Zhian looked at the ingredients in the cauldron that had already turned to dust, shaking his head and sighing, feeling somewhat distressed about his wasted ingredients.
If first and second-grade pills were at a level that even amateurs could refine, then starting from third-grade, it was a realm only alchemists could enter.
Although Mu Zhian had the aptitude of an alchemist, he had been indulging in beautiful women in the past, neglecting his cultivation for a long time, let alone alchemy.
“Fortunately, I’m in Yu State now. If I have any questions about alchemy, I can directly ask Luo Tan, saving myself many detours.”
Mu Zhian comforted himself inwardly, then prepared to put away the cauldron.
Just then, a clear, pleasant, and gentle voice suddenly came from behind him: “Judging by the Spiritual Energy you just condensed, it seems you have good alchemy aptitude, yet you’re not even a second-grade alchemist now, what a waste of such good talent.”
Mu Zhian turned around and saw the Princess standing behind him at some unknown time.
She had changed into a dress embroidered with crabapple blossoms, paired with a plain long skirt. Her hair was meticulously styled, adorned with a valuable jade hairpin, dignified and beautiful, with a homely, wifely air.
Of course, those who knew her would understand that although this Princess seemed gentle, she wasn’t as simple as she appeared.
“Your Highness visiting my residence for no reason, could it be you have some important matter?”
Mu Zhian asked doubtfully, his tone carrying a hint of teasing, “Could it be you’re here to persuade me to leave Luo Tan again? If you can give me five stalks of Emperor Medicine, I might consider it.”
The Princess rolled her beautiful eyes at Mu Zhian, giving him a charming and flirtatious look.
Five stalks of Emperor Medicine? Why didn’t he just rob her?
Even the entire Cloud Province might not be able to produce more than three stalks of Emperor Medicine. Within the Nine Provinces, currently, only the Eastern Continent was known to have more than five stalks. The Emperor Medicine painstakingly cultivated by other powers for generations was almost depleted.
“I’m not here to persuade you to leave Luo Tan. I just smelled a strange odor while taking a stroll and came in to take a look. I didn’t expect it was Young Master Mu refining pills here,” the Princess said faintly.
“If you don’t usually practice alchemy, suddenly wanting to refine pills beyond your skill level is just wasting ingredients.”
“Is this mocking me for overestimating myself, attempting to refine third-grade pills when I’m not even a second-grade alchemist?”
Mu Zhian smiled, “Although Your Highness is a Dao Integration Realm expert, you’re unexpectedly quite the grudge-holder.”
The Princess pursed her rosy lips beneath her veil and said calmly, “I’m not holding a grudge, I’m just stating the truth.”
Mu Zhian sighed softly, “Actually, if I have to say, I’m the one who should be holding a grudge.”
“I’ve been unjustly targeted this time… Inexplicably targeted by the Great Peng Emperor, I’m afraid I won’t even dare go to Cloud Province in the future.”
“That was the Great Peng Emperor acting on his own, it has nothing to do with me.” The Princess’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Although her tone was gentle, it held a coldness towards the Great Peng Emperor.
“I naturally know that, it’s just…” Mu Zhian hesitated slightly.
“Just what? Young Master Mu, please speak frankly,” the Princess said.
“It’s just… Judging by the Great Peng Emperor’s attitude today, he seems to care about Your Highness quite a bit. I’m afraid he doesn’t think there’s nothing between you two.”
Hearing this, the Princess’s delicate brows couldn’t help but furrow slightly.
Mu Zhian discreetly glanced at the beautiful woman, then continued, “Is Your Highness just here to laugh at me today?”
The Princess snapped back to reality and said, “I know why the Jade Empress went to the Southern Wilderness, Luo Tan already told me.”
“Therefore, I also know what you want.”
Mu Zhian’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t speak, wanting to hear what the Princess would say next.
The Princess smiled, “As long as you agree to one condition, I can give you anything you want.”
There’s such a good thing? Then does that mean you’re also on the table…? Mu Zhian thought to himself, not immediately agreeing, “What do you want me to do? Tell me first.”
“With your current strength, there’s nothing you can do to help me.”
The Princess’s gentle eyes gazed at him intently, and she opened her red lips slightly, “However, I want to confirm that she has good judgment.”
“So… I’d like you to refine a pill.”
Mu Zhian raised an eyebrow, “What pill?”
The Princess took out a pill she had just obtained from Luo Tan from her storage ring and gazed at Mu Zhian:
“A second-grade pill, the Minor Rejuvenation Pill.”
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