Resolving the Martial Soul Problem

Those patterns had not been carved by hand, but had naturally formed as pill patterns during the refining process. Every single one contained an incomparably pure fluctuation of soul power.

"Creation Mystic Soul Pill." Yang Wudi's voice became low and solemn. "I had some doubts about the formula you wrote on your list. After all, combining several immortal herbs with another seven high-grade medicinal herbs in one batch—this was a ratio I had never tried in my life. But since you trusted me, I went all out."

He turned to Bing Yekong, exhaustion in his eyes, but even more excitement and pride.

"And guess what? I actually succeeded! There are twelve pills in this batch, and every one is of exceptional quality, retaining over ninety percent of its medicinal potency! If you took them to market, one pill would be more than enough to trade for a small city!"

Bing Yekong accepted the twelve Creation Mystic Soul Pills. They felt warm and smooth in his hand, like holding a piece of warm jade. He could sense the surging medicinal power within them, as well as a spirituality utterly unlike that of ordinary pills.

These twelve pills could be said to contain the essence of half the immortal herbs from the Icefire Yin-Yang Well. Taking one would be far more effective than any pill on the market, whether for increasing soul power or tempering the body.

"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Yang." Bing Yekong carefully put away the pills, then poured Yang Wudi a cup of hot tea. "Please get some rest first. These past few days must have exhausted you."

Yang Wudi took the cup and drained it in one gulp, waving his hand. "Exhausted? I've never refined pills this satisfyingly in my life! If you get medicinal ingredients this good again, bring them to me. I'll refine them for you for free!"

Bing Yekong smiled and agreed. After chatting with Yang Wudi for a while longer about precautions for using the pills, he turned and left the alchemy room.

He looked up at the sky. It was afternoon, and warm sunlight spilled over the bluestone slabs in the courtyard. He touched the jade bottle in his robes, already having made his decision.

Some things were due to be given away.

Shui Bing'er had not gone to class today.

Ever since Bing Yekong returned, she had taken two days off, saying that she wanted to "keep her family company after their long journey." Teacher Yun Xue understood perfectly and approved it without a word. Before leaving, she had even given Bing Yekong a meaningful look that made his back go cold.

Bing Yekong knocked on the door, and Shui Bing'er's gentle voice came from within. "Come in."

When he pushed the door open, Shui Bing'er was sitting at the desk beside the window, holding an old book about the use of ice-attribute soul power. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the window lattice onto her profile, making her long ice-blue hair gleam.

Seeing that it was Bing Yekong, she set down her book, surprise flashing through her eyes. "Why are you here? Didn't you say you were helping Senior Yang refine pills today?"

"Finished already." Bing Yekong entered the room and casually shut the door behind him. "Senior Yang has gone to rest, so I thought I'd come see you."

He walked over to Shui Bing'er, took out the jade bottle containing the Ice Spirit Pill, and placed it on the desk.

Shui Bing'er's gaze fell on the jade bottle. Sensing the cool aura wafting from it, curiosity flashed in her eyes. "This is...?"

"Your cure." Bing Yekong sat across from her and looked at her seriously. "An Ice Spirit Pill, refined with Eight-Horned Mysterious Ice Grass as its main ingredient. It was made specifically to solve your martial soul problem."

Shui Bing'er froze for a moment.

The moment she heard the name Eight-Horned Mysterious Ice Grass, she knew it was an extraordinary immortal herb.

And now, such an immortal herb had been refined into a pill and placed before her, all for her sake.

"Yekong..." Shui Bing'er's voice tightened slightly. "You must have suffered a lot for this..."

Bing Yekong smiled. "The immortal herb came from somewhere else, but the refining process did take a great deal of effort. Senior Yang barely slept for five days because of this batch. But none of that is important. What matters is this."

He reached out and pushed the jade bottle toward Shui Bing'er.

"Once you take this pill, your martial soul problem will be completely resolved. Your soul power will never lose control and erupt again."

Shui Bing'er stared at the jade bottle in silence for a long while.

Her fingers lightly brushed over its surface, feeling its icy touch as her eyes gradually stung. But this time, she did not cry. She merely took a deep breath, lifted her head, and gave Bing Yekong a gentle yet resolute smile.

"Alright. I'll take it."

She did not ask where the pill had come from, nor did she ask how much Bing Yekong had paid for it. She simply trusted him, just as she had every night for the past six years, when he had sat beside her on time and used his soul power to suppress her unruly martial soul.

Bing Yekong nodded, poured the Ice Spirit Pill from the jade bottle, and placed it in Shui Bing'er's hand.

"Sit cross-legged and circulate your soul power. I'll guard you."

Shui Bing'er obediently sat cross-legged on the bed and placed the ice-blue pill into her mouth.

The instant the pill slid down her throat, an incomparably cool force spread through her body. Like the first stream of spring water after a frozen river thawed, it flowed from her throat into her limbs and bones, merging into every meridian and every inch of her skeleton.

Shui Bing'er's body trembled slightly.

She could clearly feel the pill's medicinal power rapidly spreading through her body. Everywhere it went, the unstable factors buried deep within her martial soul—things that had plagued her for years—were being peeled away, purified, and reshaped bit by bit.

It was like a craftsman carving a piece of unpolished jade, removing every impurity and leaving behind only the purest part.

Bing Yekong sat across from her with his eyes closed, sensing her condition. Once he confirmed that Shui Bing'er had entered a stable state of absorption, he extended both hands and pressed his palms against her back.

Ultimate Ice soul power flowed into her body like a gentle stream, complementing the medicinal power of the Ice Spirit Pill. His soul power was like channels guiding the flow of water, precisely delivering the medicinal power to every corner that needed repair and ensuring that not even the slightest bit went to waste.

Shui Bing'er's body leaned forward slightly, resting against Bing Yekong's palms as she felt that familiar, reassuring power.

Six years. From the first night he moved into this courtyard, he had always sat behind her like this, using his soul power to suppress the force that could erupt at any moment. Day after day, year after year, without interruption.

And today, the appearance of this pill meant that all of it would finally come to a complete end.

Shui Bing'er closed her eyes, gathered all her thoughts, and devoted herself completely to absorbing the pill.

Time passed second by second.

Outside the window, the sun shifted from noon toward the west, then sank from the west toward the horizon. The golden sunlight gradually turned orange-red, dyeing the entire room in warm hues.

Fine beads of sweat seeped across Bing Yekong's forehead. Although he possessed the attribute advantage of Ultimate Ice, sustaining such an intense output of soul power for three hours to help another person guide medicinal power still drained considerable physical and mental strength.