Shen Hui sat cross-legged atop the mountain, clouds and mist swirling before him, the distant peaks dark as ink.
He picked up the Soul-Searching Gourd beside him and tossed it straight into the air, casting a spell formula at the same time.
The gourd hovered in midair, spinning round and round.
The spiritual energy among the mountains immediately seemed to feel a pull, surging toward the gourd and streaming ceaselessly through its mouth.
Mountain winds churned, and the surrounding spiritual energy grew ever denser, condensing into a visible blue-green haze that circled the gourd, lingering without dispersing.
Time flowed slowly by, and the sun and moon rose and set several times.
The Soul-Searching Gourd gradually began to glow red, shining from within, bright and burning.
Those below occasionally looked toward Shen Hui on the mountaintop.
Hu Cheng crouched beside the stream, craning his neck for a while before he could not help asking:
"What is Master doing?"
Lu Huan sat beside him and dispersed the icicle in her hand. At his question, she glanced up too:
"No idea."
No sooner had she spoken than Fourth Senior Sister Jinghui appeared from somewhere, standing behind them with her hands clasped behind her back. She said smugly:
"Junior Brother is refining a magic treasure."
Hu Cheng turned at her words. He froze briefly at the sight of Fourth Senior Sister, then hurriedly stood and bowed:
"Greetings, Fourth Senior Aunt."
Jinghui thoroughly enjoyed his respectful manner and patted his shoulder with a beaming smile:
"Good, good."
Lu Huan, however, tilted her head curiously and asked:
"I've always wanted to ask: why does he call me Junior Aunt, but call you Senior Aunt?"
Grinning, Jinghui ruffled Lu Huan's hair:
"Obviously because I joined before his master, while you joined after his master, silly!"
Then she