Treatment of an Alchemist

Bai Yue cursed during the trial.

How could she possibly give up just like that?

She was the Jade Maiden Sect's Sect Master, the righteous path's holy maiden!

She had weathered every storm and wave—how could she give up over something like this?

At this moment, her hatred for Xiao Yu had reached an unprecedented height.

She swore that if she ever got out, she would grind his bones to dust and scatter his ashes.

Xiao Yu remained in the Trial Chamber all afternoon.

[Bai Yue's trial value rose to 3.1%!]

[Bai Yue's trial value rose to 3.5%!]

[Bai Yue's trial value rose to 3.9%!]

Seeing that the sun was about to set, Xiao Yu immediately panicked.

His cultivation had not increased at all that afternoon.

On the contrary, Bai Yue's cultivation had risen to the third layer of Body Tempering.

There was too little time.

But he had to go find Zhang Ziling now. If Mei Chunlan blocked him, things would become troublesome!

If she came looking and saw Hua Lian in the storeroom, she would definitely kill her.

Ugly women were innately jealous of women more beautiful than themselves. It was a biological instinct!

Hua Lian and Bai Yue were both his women now. Naturally, he could not bear to let them die.

Once they were trained into maids, they would still be a great help.

Besides, he had yet to claim Hua Lian's trial reward. He definitely could not let her die.

He had to think of a way...

"Damn it! That damned old witch Mei! If you gave me another day or two, I'd definitely break through to the Qi Refining Stage!"

What if he found someone to help?

The first person Xiao Yu thought of was Zhang Ziling. He was now the only alchemist at this stronghold.

Zhang Ziling needed to lead troops into battle now, and medicinal pills were essential supplies.

Besides, she had told him to find her at sunset.

Why not ask Zhang Ziling to set up a formation for him?

With that thought, Xiao Yu set off.

Before leaving, though, he still felt uneasy.

Wouldn't Hua Lian start causing trouble the moment he left?

When he arrived at the storeroom and saw Hua Lian, who had already awakened and was curled up in a corner, he deliberately spoke with a pained expression. "Well... I have to leave for a while. During that time, you must stay here properly. Don't let anyone find you!"

"There may be an old witch trying to deal with me. If anyone discovers you here, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Do you only want to serve me, or do you want to serve the entire sect? Think it through yourself..."

"I brought you some clothes and daily necessities. I won't loosen these chains, so stay here by yourself! Don't run around!"

"There's also some food here! All right, if you don't want anything to happen to your master, stay put!"

After saying that, Xiao Yu left.

He shut the doors and windows tight.

Looking at the clothes and food Xiao Yu had brought, Hua Lian instinctively sneered.

He had even brought her food?

She had been full these past two days...

And occasionally nauseated.

Besides, she would not eat anything he brought. It had to be poisoned!

Wait, was he worried about her?

Was he even afraid that she would run around and get caught?

Hua Lian subconsciously clenched her fists. "Hah! Stop putting on that hypocritical act. Just let me catch an opportunity... I definitely won't spare you!"

Though she said that, she still put on the clothes Xiao Yu had brought.

Looking over the storeroom's layout, there seemed to be a woodcutter's blade in the pile of firewood across from her?

Hua Lian clenched her fists again. Her spiritual root seemed to have recovered somewhat, and her cultivation had reached the first layer of Body Tempering.

That guy probably had not reached the Qi Refining Stage yet. If she wanted to save her master, tonight was her only chance!

Though her cultivation was not as high as his, she had practiced martial arts since childhood.

Disciples from great sects were different from Rogue Cultivators. Many Rogue Cultivators had begun halfway through life and had received no earlier training whatsoever.

Many disciples of great sects began practicing martial arts, spear techniques, saber techniques, movement techniques, and combat skills from childhood.

The reason Qi Refining Stage cultivators from great sects could defeat Rogue Cultivators of the same realm was because their foundations differed.

Hua Lian dared to conclude that Xiao Yu did not know martial arts. His cultivation was simply higher than hers.

Looking at the woodcutter's blade in the distance, Hua Lian lifted her foot and kicked. A piece of firewood flew straight out.

It knocked the blade back, sending it down beside her feet.

She immediately picked up the blade and slowly exhaled...

She tried her best not to think about what had happened between herself and Xiao Yu then.

When he returned, she would definitely capture him!

The reason she had fainted last time was because she had inhaled that black smoke. This time, she was completely confident.

"Bastard... just you wait! I'll make you regret this!!!"

Meanwhile, Bai Yue, who was still undergoing the Trial Chamber's judgment, experienced a slight change in her thoughts.

Her cultivation had actually reached the fourth layer of Body Tempering.

Even more miraculously, her damaged meridians and spiritual root were improving!

It was simply inconceivable!

She had been severely wounded by a Golden Core Stage great cultivator. The resources needed to repair her meridians and spiritual root should have been an astronomical figure.

Why were they suddenly beginning to recover?

Could it be because of Xiao Yu...

At that moment, the Trial Chamber's judgment voice rang out again. "Evil woman Bai Yue, do you know your crime?"

Bai Yue's face was filled with disdain, but the next second, she began screaming.

The Trial Chamber continued, "Evil woman Bai Yue, you repaid kindness with enmity. Everyone has the right to punish you! Do you know your crime?"

Bai Yue immediately flew into a rage. "You keep asking me the same question. What crime have I committed? Do you think I grew up eating for free? Heh, is that all? Bring out whatever other methods you have!"

The Trial Chamber said, "Judging an evil woman requires a process. If you refuse to reform and repent for one day, the intensity of the judgment will increase the next day, then double on the third day!"

"Until your divine sense falls into chaos, your five senses collapse, and you forget yourself!"

"I will ask once more. Evil woman Bai Yue, do you know your crime?"

Bai Yue sneered. "I am innocent!"

The next second, countless strange mechanical wires and cables wound around her.

Bai Yue was instantly electrocuted into ceaseless screams.

[Evil woman Bai Yue's trial value rose to 4.1%]

"I am innocent!!!"

"What crime have I committed? I wanted to avenge my disciple, I wanted to destroy the demonic path. I have lived my life open and upright—what crime have I committed?"

"If they want to condemn someone, why worry about finding an excuse! I refuse to accept this—!"

"I would rather die than submit----!!! Xiao Yu, if you have the guts, kill me! Don't dream of making me yield to you. Keep dreaming your spring and autumn dream!"

"I curse you! I curse you to die a horrible death! You will descend into the eighteen levels of hell!"

"You will..."

Before Bai Yue could finish cursing, she froze.

She seemed to have heard something.

Listening to the thing spinning rapidly before her, she panicked.

It sounded like some kind of magical artifact...

[Evil woman Bai Yue, your hatred has nothing to do with Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu saved you, yet you repeatedly harmed him! And you call yourself innocent?]

[Are people born into the demonic path inherently evil? Is good and evil in this world all decided by you righteous sects? Does joining the righteous path make everyone a good person?]

[You twist black into white, repay kindness with enmity, hold yourself above all others, and possess the heart of a wolf and lungs of a dog! Do you know your crime?]

Bai Yue did not speak.

Immediately afterward, long, melodious screams rang out from within the Trial Chamber.

The screams echoed through the depths of the Trial Chamber.

Echoing...

Inside a study, Xiao Yu clasped his hands respectfully and said, "Elder Zhang... this disciple greets you!"

Zhang Ziling, who was seated and browsing through various documents, did not turn around upon hearing him. As she read the recent battle loss reports, she said, "Mm, you're here... Recently, our Hehuan Sect's front lines have been expanding their manpower. We need a large quantity of Marrow-Cleansing Pills and Meridian-Opening Pills to help newly arrived disciples improve their aptitude!"

"At the same time, we need large quantities of strategic medicinal pills such as Blood-Staunching Pills and Qi-Replenishing Pills!"

"I called you here to tell you that I don't care how many pills Elder Wu used to refine every day. Every month, you must submit one thousand first-grade medicinal pills to me at once!"

"As for spiritual herbs and materials, I will have them delivered to you. Whatever I send, you refine. If even one pill is missing after a month, I will hold you accountable!"

Xiao Yu hurriedly clasped his hands. "Rest assured, Elder. This disciple will certainly do his utmost... it's just..."

Zhang Ziling raised her head upon hearing this. Looking at the silent Xiao Yu, she said softly, "Speak. What benefit do you want?"

Xiao Yu said, "I... I wouldn't call it a benefit. This disciple merely wants a formation that can protect the alchemy room, because quite a few people in the sect have improper designs on this disciple..."

The corners of Zhang Ziling's lips rose slightly, her brows curving like willow leaves.

Her eyes fixed directly on Xiao Yu. "Is it because your physique is special? I suppose Elder Wu was also interested in you because of your Pure Yang Body! No matter. I understand the matter!"

As Zhang Ziling spoke, she released a flying magical artifact, startling Xiao Yu.

That was a mid-grade flying magical artifact!

Zhang Ziling was quite well-off...

"Come up~ I will set up a formation for you, and I will issue an announcement as well. Whoever dares make a move against an alchemist under me, I will make sure they come but never return!"

Xiao Yu was delighted for a moment. "Th-thank you for your favor, Elder!"

Afterward, Zhang Ziling brought him above the alchemy room.

Looking at the alchemy room below, Zhang Ziling slowly shifted her gaze toward the storeroom, herb garden, and living quarters.

After some thought, she looked toward a well in front of them.

She directly took out six formation flags and threw them in every direction.

Xiao Yu stared blankly at the formation flags flying out. She had actually enclosed a huge area for him?

She had even included the herb garden and well within it.

As those formation flags fell into their designated positions, a layer of blue formation instantly rose up like a dome.

Blue tortoise shell patterns flickered faintly within the formation, and from time to time, one could even see a ferocious serpent's head.

"This is a small Black Tortoise Formation. Though it is merely a low-grade formation, it will be enough to protect you from interference by others!"

"I have made arrangements. Only you and I can enter and leave this formation, so you may rest assured!"

"Elder Wu is dead, and the sect has given me no additional support. I urgently need manpower. As long as you wholeheartedly work for me, I naturally will not treat you poorly!"

"Once you reach the Qi Refining Stage, I will accept you as my disciple!"

Xiao Yu hurriedly clasped his hands. "Thank you for your favor, Elder. I will certainly do my utmost and raise my cultivation as quickly as possible!"

Zhang Ziling nodded. "Mm. Later, I will send you a personal puppet with cultivation at the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Stage. It can keep you safe!"

As Zhang Ziling spoke, she released a wooden puppet eagle from her storage pouch.

Xiao Yu swallowed hard. Was this woman really planning to take him as her disciple?

This treatment...

What delighted him most was that the system had actually issued a judgment.

[Zhang Ziling does not meet the evaluation criteria for an evil woman. Unable to detect her attribute panel!]