Chapter 12: Her Secret

Regrettably, Linglong’s skills were just that good— even when the Dan Furnace was already releasing the fragrant scent of pills at the very end, there wasn’t the slightest sign that it was going to explode.

Steady, reliable, and utterly despair-inducing.

“Phew, the pill is done!”

Linglong reached out and gave the Dan Furnace a light tap. With a crisp snap, the lid sprang open, and a Seven-Colored Pill the size of half a fist shot out from inside.

In an instant, a thin mist spread through the entire cave, and illusory mirages flickered around the two of them, clearly showing just how much Misty Fragrance Authority this pill contained.

“I’ve fulfilled my duty.” Linglong cupped the pill in both hands and offered it to Hua Jian. For once, a rare emotion flickered across her face.

It was a faint trace of pride— she was extremely satisfied with her performance this time.

Before this, she’d never refined a pill of this grade. Even though the ingredients she used this time were all downgraded versions, the skill required was by no means reduced.

Refining this pill meant that her abilities had already surpassed all cultivators at her level, and she now stood shoulder to shoulder with those of a higher stage.

Hua Jian took the pill in a daze, her eyes blank. The moment it touched her hand, her fingers trembled heavily.

Why was this pill still wet after coming out of the Dan Furnace?

“Why is it still wet?”

“If it was dry, the pill would be ruined. Hurry up and eat it— the Misty Fragrance inside will keep evaporating. Now is the best time to absorb it.”

Gulp. Hua Jian swallowed hard.

Remembering that she’d gotten this pill for free, and that its real value might be over a thousand Spirit Stones, the little tangle of anxiety and worry in her heart was gradually pushed down.

It’s fine, in this world, making pills this way is completely normal. It’s just a special ingredient. I really shouldn’t let my mind wander like this…

Gritting her teeth and squeezing her eyes shut, Hua Jian looked like a death row prisoner heading for the execution ground as she shoved the pill into her mouth.

The moist pill melted instantly, turning into a warm current that Hua Jian couldn’t even describe with words as it flooded her body. In the next moment, her entire world was turned upside down.

Who am I? Where am I? And what are those little people dancing over there?

Countless strange and fantastic scenes flashed before Hua Jian’s eyes. Her consciousness seemed to sink to the bottom of a pitch-black abyss; even thinking became a luxury.

I just want to sleep like this forever…

Boom!

Just as Hua Jian’s mind was about to fade away, a clap of thunder boomed by her ear.

“Hold firm to your mind, circulate your techniques, don’t let the illusions confuse you!”

An emotionless voice echoed beside her ear. Hua Jian’s pupils contracted, and she finally managed to grasp a sliver of clarity from the chaos.

I’m absorbing the Misty Fragrance right now— I can’t just fall asleep like this.

If I doze off, that’s thousands of Spirit Stones down the drain!

For the sake of Spirit Stones, I absolutely can’t lose!

Her attachment to Spirit Stones tore the illusions apart by sheer force.

Hua Jian opened her eyes and saw a white-haired Dragon Girl crouching in front of her, looking at her with worried eyes.

In the next instant, the Dragon Girl’s non-human features vanished like an illusion, turning back into Linglong’s appearance.

But Hua Jian had already burned that image into her mind… Honestly, she was really quite pretty.

Wait, why am I spacing out again? I need to hurry up and circulate my Cultivation Method to absorb the pill’s energy.

Hua Jian quickly crossed her legs, formed a hand seal, and started running her Inherited Cultivation Method, seizing the pill’s energy flowing inside her and transforming it into her own strength.

The pill’s energy was immense. Controlling and absorbing it was extremely difficult for Hua Jian, but she didn’t back down.

Even if this thing was a rock, she’d grind it down bit by bit with her own teeth.

Bit by bit, the refining of the pill’s energy began to go smoothly. Linglong’s eyes flashed with another hint of surprise.

Just one reminder from her was enough for Hua Jian to break free of the Misty Fragrance illusions?

After all, the instructions for this pill clearly stated that unless the user possessed great willpower, they’d need another cultivator nearby to awaken them with special methods.

Just now, Linglong had only clapped her hands by Hua Jian’s ear and shouted—she hadn’t even used any special methods yet.

For Hua Jian to break free of the Misty Fragrance illusion just like that was truly beyond her expectations.

As Hua Jian began refining the pill, that familiar cultivation phenomenon appeared again.

Only this time, it was much more intense than the one from that night, almost enveloping the entire cave.

The mesmerizing Flower Fragrance poured out from Hua Jian, spreading outward as the center, forcing Linglong to retreat a step and cover her nose with her sleeve.

No… This Flower Fragrance isn’t right!

Linglong frowned slightly. Why did this Flower Fragrance seem so similar to the one from that neither-good-nor-evil sect? It was like they were cast from the same mold.

“Compared to that place… her scent seems even purer, but also more awkward. What kind of Cultivation Method is this?”

Linglong didn’t suspect Hua Jian’s identity. Without a doubt, the Spiritual Power Hua Jian cultivated was Wood Element Spiritual Power, and that sect’s Cultivation Method had this special ability.

But Hua Jian’s Cultivation Method seemed to have some connection to that sect’s Cultivation Method— after all, that mind-stirring Flower Fragrance was that sect’s signature trait.

“She really does have a lot of secrets, doesn’t she…” Linglong suppressed the surprise in her eyes and didn’t rush to any conclusions.

No matter what Cultivation Method Hua Jian was using now, once Linglong managed to bring this little genius back to her sect, her previous Cultivation Methods wouldn’t matter at all.

The Yaochi Sacred Sect’s Secret Method had advantages that other sects’ Cultivation Methods couldn’t match— it allowed any cultivator who switched to it to transfer over without losing any cultivation.

No matter what Cultivation Method Hua Jian practiced before, once she entered the Saint Sect, she could switch painlessly.

However… the sect’s recruitment had just ended two months ago, and the next time the mountain gates opened would still be a few months away.

Linglong sat down not far away, propped her chin on her hand, and watched Hua Jian, secretly pondering how she could win Hua Jian’s heart for the Yaoci Holy Sect in these next few months.

Compared to the other Saint Sects here in the Central Continent, the Yaoci Holy Sect really was the most suitable for Hua Jian.

Still, Linglong worried that if the other sects learned about Hua Jian, things could get complicated.

Especially the Penglai Sacred Sect. In recent years, they’d been lacking in talent, and lately, they’d been frantically throwing Spirit Stones around to recruit people.

Quite a few geniuses that the Yaoci Holy Sect had their eyes on had been snatched away by the Penglai Sacred Sect.

And Hua Jian, she was a little money-grubber. If Penglai started throwing Spirit Stones at her, she might just get dizzy and run off with them.

How could the genius she’d found end up as someone else’s prize?

Linglong narrowed her eyes and began seriously considering how to hide Hua Jian from the other Saint Sects and successfully turn her into her own little junior sister.