The next day, at noon.
Qian Renxue walked to the door, shut it tightly behind her, and locked it.
Turning around, she took medicinal ingredients from the Soul Tool at her waist. Countless herbs poured out like a flowing stream, quickly piling into a small mountain on the floor.
More than two thousand kinds of medicinal ingredients were spread out before her, their sheer variety dazzling to the eye.
There was Condensing Qi Grass, palm-sized with golden edges on its leaves. Depending on its age, the golden edging varied in intensity.
There were Blood Vines, entirely crimson and shaped like tiny snakes. The short ones measured only a few inches, while the longest could reach several yards. Their surface patterns grew clearer with age.
There were also fist-sized Iron Armor Fruits, wrapped in layers of scales ranging in color from light gray to pitch black.
There were Purple Heart Orchids that gave off an unusual fragrance, Earth Vein Roots that dripped with viscous sap, Stardust Flowers that flickered with faint light...
Some were roots and stems, some flowers and leaves, some fruits. Their forms differed greatly, and their ages ranged from several years to several hundred. Every plant carried traces of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Looking at the pile of medicinal ingredients before her, Qian Renxue crouched down and touched the bark of an aged Dragon Blood Tree. She asked Chen Qingxuan in her mind, "Master, does preparing body-tempering medicine really require this many ingredients?"
"Feel carefully. Watch closely." Chen Qingxuan's voice rang out in her mind. The next moment, Qian Renxue felt her hands rise beyond her control, her fingers weaving through one profound and intricate hand seal after another.
The seals flowed with faint golden light and contained some great principle of heaven and earth. They moved so quickly they were dizzying to watch, yet carried a strange rhythm.
Qian Renxue held her breath and stared intently at her shifting hand movements. She clearly felt the blood and qi within her body being drawn by an invisible force, circulating through her arms and merging into the seals at her fingertips.
Each completed seal was accompanied by a fierce drain on her blood and qi, making her faintly weary. Yet an even stronger curiosity drove her onward, and she could not bear to look away.
"An immortal-grade divine ability: the Heavenly Evolution Technique." Chen Qingxuan's voice carried a trace of majesty.
As his words fell, an invisible formation spread outward with Qian Renxue at its center, enveloping every medicinal ingredient on the ground.
Countless profound runes flowed across the formation's screen of light. As though alive, they constantly moved and flashed.
In an instant, the name of every herb, its growing environment, medicinal properties, potency, effects when combined with other ingredients, and possible conflicts...
All that information flooded into Chen Qingxuan's mind.
Although the medicinal ingredients of this world resembled those from Chen Qingxuan's original world, subtle differences still existed. Without such deductions, even he would not dare refine medicine rashly.
The time it took an incense stick to burn passed quietly. The formation's screen gradually dispersed, and the information that had flooded into his mind settled, becoming Chen Qingxuan's knowledge.
Qian Renxue went limp, drenched in sweat. Her bangs were soaked through, and sweat trickled down her cheeks and dripped onto her collar.
She felt as if her body had been completely hollowed out. She did not even have the strength to raise a hand. Staggering back several steps, she collapsed onto the bed and panted heavily before asking weakly, "Master, what did you just do? Why do I feel like I've been wrung dry?"
"You have no Soul Power in your body. I could only use your blood and qi as the foundation, with Mental Power as the guide, to perform this Heavenly Evolution Technique," Chen Qingxuan explained.
He did not mention that his remnant soul had only just stabilized in this world. Rejected by its laws, he could not directly absorb the energy of heaven and earth, and every use of his power consumed his origin.
After possessing Qian Renxue, he had already absorbed more than half of her fortune and planted karma between them. Now, he could not only directly absorb the energy in her body to restore himself, but could also slowly draw upon her fortune.
Compared to Qian Renxue's currently feeble energy, the fortune Spirit Hall had gathered upon her was the fastest way to restore his remnant soul.
The total amount of fortune in this world was fixed. Unless the world advanced, it would neither increase nor decrease.
Fortune could shift and be consumed. The fortune that was consumed would naturally be replenished by heaven and earth. Once Chen Qingxuan absorbed fortune, it vanished. When heaven and earth sensed the missing fortune, it would produce new fortune until balance was restored.
The portion he took would naturally be slowly replenished by Spirit Hall's fortune flowing toward her, so it would not cause Qian Renxue any harm.
"So that's how it is." Qian Renxue suddenly understood. She raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her brow, a flash of comprehension passing through her golden eyes before she frowned again in confusion.
"But, Master, can't you use this divine ability directly yourself? Why do you need my blood and qi and Mental Power?"
"Of course I can use it directly," Chen Qingxuan said calmly.
"But if you wish to learn my abilities, you must use your own blood and qi and Mental Power as your foundation to feel and comprehend how divine abilities operate. Today's expenditure is crucial to your future understanding of divine abilities."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue nodded firmly, fighting spirit igniting in her golden eyes.
She stood up and dusted herself off. Although her body was still exhausted, her gaze became exceptionally resolute. "Master, I understand! I'll definitely study hard!"
As soon as she spoke, her hands were seized by another force and raised to point at the ground.
Among the medicinal ingredients on the floor, more than a hundred selected herbs suddenly rose into the air and lined up neatly.
Qian Renxue's hand clenched sharply, and the herbs instantly converged as though pulled by an invisible force, floating together in midair.
"Refine."
At Chen Qingxuan's command, a ball of golden flame appeared beneath the ingredients out of thin air. The fire was extraordinarily hot, yet controlled with extreme precision, without the slightest bit of heat leaking out.
The ingredients melted and vaporized in the flames at a visible rate. Black impurities were continuously refined and stripped away, turning into wisps of green smoke that dispersed.
The remaining pure medicinal liquid was guided by an invisible force and slowly flowed into several prepared jade containers. The liquids varied in color—golden yellow, emerald green, crimson red—and gave off a rich medicinal fragrance that invigorated the mind.
In only a short while, the medicinal liquid was finished.
Chen Qingxuan controlled Qian Renxue's hand and waved it. The remaining medicinal ingredients on the floor flew back into the Soul Tool like tired birds returning to their nest, properly stored away.
After finishing everything, Chen Qingxuan released control over Qian Renxue's body and returned to the Sea of Consciousness, leaving behind a message. "Xiao Xue, use this medicinal liquid in three portions. Take a medicinal bath once each day."
"Here is the list of ingredients and required ages for refining the medicine afterward. Have your subordinates prepare more of them."
Qian Renxue moved her hands after regaining control, feeling the lingering exhaustion in her body and the clear knowledge of medicinal ingredients in her mind. "Thank you, Master! I'll make the arrangements right away!"
She walked to the door, opened it, and instructed Snake Lance Douluo, who was standing guard outside, "Uncle Snake Lance, I need to bathe. Please arrange for a few trustworthy maids to prepare it. Also, collect more medicinal ingredients according to this list."
As she spoke, she copied down the list Chen Qingxuan had left in her mind and handed it to Snake Lance Douluo.
Snake Lance Douluo accepted the list and glanced at the densely packed names of medicinal ingredients and age requirements. Though surprised inwardly, he still bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, Young Mistress. I'll make the arrangements immediately." With that, he turned and left.
Qian Renxue watched his retreating figure and gently closed the door...
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