To refine pills, and accidentally set the Hearts Nurturing Class classroom on fire?
Yiqin Shifu narrowed her eyes. “I want to hear this—what kind of pill requires Essence of Sun and Moon? And why must it be behind the Yangxin Hall?”
Mushuang was naturally stumped—how would she know what kind of pill it was! She only went with Jiang Ke’er to burn the classroom because they didn’t want to attend the Hearts Nurturing Class…
“My disciple calls it the Transformation Origin Pill,” Jiang Ke’er cut in before Mushuang could answer.
“Oh?” Yiqin Shifu raised an eyebrow, not expecting Jiang Ke’er to respond so promptly. “Explain in detail.”
Jiang Ke’er nodded and spoke openly, “My disciple realized through cultivation that all things in this world are made up of two fundamental properties: yin and yang, which can transform into each other… just like the sun and moon alternate and blend.”
“So?”
“So, my disciple wondered if it would be possible to use this principle to refine a pill that could change the nature of a cultivator’s spiritual power.”
Jiang Ke’er spoke confidently and clearly.
Yiqin Shifu suddenly grew serious, setting down her Peach Blossom Staff as she looked at Jiang Ke’er intently. “Continue.”
“As is well known, the cultivation methods practiced by our Lingyin Valley medical cultivators differ from those of ordinary cultivators,” Jiang Ke’er said.
“The cultivation methods of Lingyin Valley are gentle in nature; the spiritual power they output carries almost no destructive force and is focused entirely on healing and nurturing… On the contrary, the cultivation methods used by cultivators outside are mainly for combat, filled with destructive power, and cannot be used for nurturing or healing.”
“That is true.” Yiqin Shifu nodded.
“So I thought, could the spiritual power within us transform freely like yin and yang,” Jiang Ke’er drew a circle on the ground, “so that when sisters from Lingyin Valley need combat ability for self-defense, it can be converted into the yang property, which possesses fierce killing power. And when we need to provide support and healing, it can be restored to the gentle yin property…”
Yiqin Shifu’s hand trembled in shock.
As Valley Master of Lingyin Valley, she understood better than anyone the shortcomings of Lingyin Valley—its self-defense ability was too weak, forcing its disciples to rely on stronger allies for survival.
To maximize healing abilities, the cultivation methods used by Lingyin disciples had very weak combat power, essentially relegating them to the role of the protected rather than the protectors.
If it were truly possible to achieve the free transformation Jiang Ke’er envisioned, then disciples graduating from Lingyin Valley would have their survival ability increased manifold!
However, such an idea was not without precedent.
But not a single predecessor had succeeded.
“The idea is a good one and deserves encouragement,” Yiqin Shifu calmed down and smiled.
“To come to Lingyin Valley for only one day and already think of this—this new junior sister is not to be underestimated.”
“You flatter me, Shifu,” Jiang Ke’er’s face flushed slightly.
“Although I have the idea, we lack the equipment and conditions for experimentation, so Senior Sister Mushuang had no choice but to take me behind the Hearts Nurturing Class classroom to try to create the conditions… But we didn’t expect to accidentally burn the classroom down. Please punish us, Shifu.”
“Punish you for what? With such dedication to research, I have no reason to punish you!” Yiqin Shifu said contentedly, patting Jiang Ke’er’s head with one hand while tapping Mushuang’s head with the Peach Blossom Staff.
“Lingyin Valley has never opposed disciples’ research. Since you lack facilities and equipment, I will grant you access to the Alchemy Room. That way you won’t recklessly set the mountain on fire again…”
Yiqin Shifu chuckled. “However, you must pass the operation assessment before you can enter. Alchemy is a dangerous and complex craft. Until your basics are up to standard, you are forbidden from operating the Alchemy Furnace privately! Otherwise, you will be punished with Self-Reflection!”
“Yes!” Mushuang nodded quickly like a little chick pecking rice.
Jiang Ke’er also hurried to agree.
Access to the Alchemy Room equipment was finally secured—an entire year ahead of the usual schedule.
Jiang Ke’er exhaled a long breath… It was worth all the trouble she had gone through to come up with the design.
Passing the assessment would not be difficult; she only needed to self-study for one night, and then she could soon have her own little alchemy space.
Yiqin Shifu’s words were casual; she didn’t truly believe Jiang Ke’er could produce any results. She simply didn’t want to dampen the research enthusiasm of Lingyin disciples and thus gave Jiang Ke’er a chance to experiment.
After all, no predecessor had been able to refine such a pill, and Jiang Ke’er was just a newcomer who had only recently stepped onto the Path of Alchemy.
Jiang Ke’er understood that her bold words must have sounded as ridiculous to Yiqin Shifu as a middle school student claiming they could invent a perpetual motion machine after just learning basic physics…
But Yiqin Shifu was gentle and never crushed Jiang Ke’er’s enthusiasm directly.
Instead, she gave her a chance and space for independent thought, which greatly increased Jiang Ke’er’s admiration for her.
“All right! Morning class begins!”
With Yiqin Shifu’s command, Mushuang immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, relaxing completely—it was finally over.
Not being punished was unbelievable; she had prepared herself to face six months of Self-Reflection.
Since there was no punishment, they might as well obediently attend morning class.
Yet, an unexpected event abruptly ended the morning class.
“Yiqin Shishu! Bad news! Cultivators from the Hall of the Wild Dragon just broke in and injured our mountain gate guard disciples. They even threatened to challenge us from the Seven Peaks! That’s no mere challenge—they’re filled with murderous intent, practically ready to storm the mountain gate!”
A disciple from Qingjin Peak shouted as he flew on his sword to Lingyin Valley, stumbling and falling face-first onto the Sword Stopping Platform in panic.
Yiqin caught the crucial point in his words and hurriedly asked, “Are the injuries serious? Has any medical cultivator treated them?”
“Very serious! You must come quickly! Better bring some senior sisters—the injured disciples are quite a few!” the messenger replied hastily.
Without hesitation, Yiqin named off, “Mushuang, Mu Xue, Lin Yu, Ying Lan…”
Yiqin Shifu called out more than a dozen top disciples from Lingyin Valley, all outstanding cultivators.
“…And Qingyi, you all come with me first. The others stand by. Today’s morning class is canceled and replaced with self-study.”
She tapped the Peach Blossom Paper Strip in her hand, and Jiang Ke’er suddenly felt weightless, floating up alongside the other senior sisters as they sped toward the mountain gate.
Yiqin Shifu flew with incredible speed! In the blink of an eye, Jiang Ke’er was standing on the Sword Stopping Platform at the mountain gate.
Looking out, a group of cultivators dressed in black and red robes blocked the entrance, facing off against cultivators from the Taiming Sect with swords drawn.
Unlike the calm, indifferent aura of the Taiming Sect cultivators, their opponents’ faces were filled with killing intent and viciousness.