Zhu Yin's Request

Song Wen stared intently at Zhu Yin, his brows furrowed slightly, his voice serious.

"Fellow Daoist should know that Alchemy cannot tolerate the slightest disturbance. How can I concentrate on Alchemy with you watching?"

Zhu Yin pursed her lips, a hint of distrust on her face.

"If I'm not watching, what if you secretly keep the pills? What if you refine the Infant Spirit Pill but claim you didn't succeed? Who can I complain to then?"

"I'm not that kind of person," Song Wen said.

"You are..." Zhu Yin said firmly.

Song Wen's lips parted slightly, but he did not refute.

What the other party said was unpleasant, but it was the truth.

"Even if you don't trust me, what difference does it make whether you're guarding inside the cave abode or cave abode? Do you think I'd let you run away right under my nose? You'll only interfere with my Alchemy if you're inside the cave abode," Song Wen said.

As he spoke, his eyes glanced, intentionally or unintentionally, into the depths of the cave abode.

Hidden there are two other exits, which are backup escape routes left by Song Wen when he dug this cave abode.

Perhaps finding Song Wen's words reasonable, Zhu Yin finally stood up and put away the Meditation Cushion.

"Then I will follow your advice, fellow Daoist, and I hope you will not disappoint me."

After saying that, Zhu Yin left the cave abode.

She sat down to meditate and regulate her breathing among a pile of rocks not far from the entrance of the cave abode.

After dismissing Zhu Yin, Song Wen spent several days recuperating, restoring his energy and spirit to their best condition.

With a flick of his finger, Song Wen sent out a wisp of pale blue flame that landed beneath the Pill Furnace.

Under Song Wen's control, the Earthcore Smelting Flame slowly rose, its pale blue flames flickering and dancing. Sometimes it burned fiercely, raging like a fire dragon; other times it was as gentle as a breeze, swaying softly.

Under Song Wen's precise control, the furnace temperature was always kept at the most suitable level.

One after another, the spiritual spirit medicine were thrown into the Pill Furnace, where spirit medicine essence was extracted under the scorching Earthcore Smelting Flame.

The essence of these spirit medicine herbs merged one by one, floating suspended in the Pill Furnace, waiting for the next essence of the spirit medicine herbs to be incorporated.

One month later.

Song Wen threw a 400-year-old Purple Salvia Root into the Pill Furnace.

Purple Salvia Root is the final ingredient in the refinement of the Infant Spirit Pill spirit medicine.

Under the tempering of a suitable furnace temperature, the spirit medicine essence contained in the Purple Salvia Root is extracted.

Immediately afterwards, Song Wen controlled the wisp of spirit medicine essence, slowly drawing it towards the previously extracted medicinal liquid to fuse with it.

Despite Song Wen's utmost caution, an unexpected incident still occurred.

With a "bang".

The Pill Furnace trembled!

Merging failed.

The liquid instantly turned black, turning into a pile of useless waste.

Song Wen rubbed his slightly tired brow and calmly accepted the failure of the first batch of Infant Spirit Pill.

He swallowed two pills and began meditating to restore his mind and Law Power.

At the same time, recall the process of Alchemy before the furnace exploded, and identify your own mistakes.

Half a month later, Song Wen started Alchemy pills again.

This time, the refining process went exceptionally smoothly, so smoothly that Song Wen could hardly believe it.

Forty days later.

A pill rolled to the bottom of the furnace.

The pills were the size of quail eggs, crystal clear, gleaming, and full of vitality.

Song Wen's face lit up with joy. With a gentle wave of his arm, the pill flew into the air and landed in his palm.

After staring at the pill for a moment and confirming that there was nothing wrong with it, Song Wen took out a jade bottle and put it inside.

Another half month later.

Song Wen started the furnace again, and with the experience of his previous success, he was more composed this time.

However, forty days later, in the final stage of condensing the elixir, the task was ultimately unsuccessful.

After a month of recuperation, Song Wen continued his attempts.

Song Wen walked out of the cave abode, looking somewhat haggard.

Zhu Yin, who had been waiting outside the cave abode, rushed over eagerly.

"Extreme Yin, has the Infant Spirit Pill been successfully refined?" Zhu Yin's voice was full of concern.

Song Wen nodded, "I have not failed in my mission!"

As he spoke, Song Wen tossed out a jade bottle.

Zhu Yin took the jade bottle, examined it, and after confirming that it was indeed the Infant Spirit Pill, an undisguised look of surprise appeared on her face.

"Extreme Yin, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. You really did refine the Infant Spirit Pill."

"Don't forget our agreement," Song Wen said calmly. "I'll give you the Infant Spirit Pill, and you have to give me a Primordial Nascent Soul Formation Pill."

"It was already prepared for you."

Zhu Yin tossed a jade bottle to Song Wen.

Song Wen caught the jade bottle, carefully examined the pills inside, and after confirming that everything was correct, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Fellow Zhu Yin, it's a pleasure to work with you. I hope we'll have more opportunities to collaborate in the future."

Zhu Yin said, "We don't need to wait until later; we can work together again right now."

Song Wen raised an eyebrow, asking with considerable interest, "Oh? How will we cooperate?"

Zhu Yin said, "You must have refined more than one Infant Spirit Pill, right?"

Song Wen said, "Of course. There are two in total, one for you and one for me."

"Are there really only two?" Zhu Yin continued to ask.

"The Infant Spirit Pill is extremely difficult to refine, and this is my first time refining it. It is already quite remarkable that two pills can be made from five portions of spirit medicine," Song Wen said.

After hearing this, Zhu Yin remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing something in her mind.

"Extreme Yin, how about giving me your Infant Spirit Pill?"

Song Wen glared at him and resolutely refused.

"Absolutely impossible! Zhu Yin, aren't you being a bit greedy?"

"Don't you want to hear my terms? Maybe they'll tempt you," Zhu Yin said.

Song Wen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a playful smile.

"Then I'd like to see what kind of conditions you can offer to persuade a Golden Core cultivator to exchange Infant Spirit Pill for it."

"I can be your dao companion," Zhu Yin said.

"Heh!" Song Wen chuckled disdainfully. "Zhu Yin, though you are beautiful, in my eyes you are not even worth a single Infant Spirit Pill."

Zhu Yin seemed unconcerned by Song Wen's mockery, and said calmly.

"Don't rush to refuse, let me finish what I have to say."

"I'm all ears," Song Wen said.

Zhu Yin said, "Extreme Yin, you should still remember that I once said that the Cultivation Method I practice is the <Mysterious Maiden Yin Charm Art>."

Song Wen nodded but did not reply.

Zhu Yin gazed at the undulating sea, lost in thought, seemingly lost in memories.

"Before I formed my core, I didn't cultivate this Cultivation Method, nor was I a disciple of the Limitless Sect. I was the daughter of the head of a small Lineage."

"My talent is exceptional; I possess an extremely rare Eighth-Grade Spiritual Root. From a young age, my father placed high hopes on me, wanting to cultivate me into the Lineage's first Golden Core cultivator, and even a Nascent Soul expert, to revitalize the Lineage."

"I successfully Foundation Establishment at eighteen, and by thirty I was already a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator. I thought everything would go smoothly, and I would become the first Golden Core cultivator in my Lineage."

"However, things are unpredictable. That year, the island where our Lineage lived was suddenly attacked by sea Demon Beast. The sea monsters surged onto the island from all directions like the seawater, their roars shaking the heavens and earth and echoing throughout the entire island."

"Countless members of our tribe perished under the claws and fangs of the Demon Beast. One by one, our tribesmen were mercilessly slaughtered and then devoured by the Demon Beast."

"I should have been a part of this catastrophe, but at the critical moment, my father stepped forward and sacrificed his life to give me a chance to escape."