The Alchemist's Privileges

Bai Yue cursed and raged during the judgment.

How could she possibly give up just like that?

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

What storms and waves had she not seen? How could she possibly give up over something like this?

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

She swore that if she could get out one day, she would grind his bones to dust and scatter his ashes.

Xiao Yu stayed in the Judgment Room all afternoon.

[Bai Yue's Judgment Score rose to 3.1%!]

[Bai Yue's Judgment Score rose to 3.5%!]

[Bai Yue's Judgment Score rose to 3.9%!]

Xiao Yu looked at the sun about to set, and panic seized him on the spot.

His cultivation had not increased at all that afternoon.

Meanwhile, Bai Yue's cultivation had risen to Body Tempering, Third Layer.

There was too little time.

But he had to go find Zhang Ziling now. If Mei Chunlan cornered him, that would be trouble!

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

Ugly women were jealous deep down of women prettier 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.

They would be a great help once he trained them into maidservants later.

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

He had to think of something...

"Damn it! That cursed old witch Mei! Give me one or two more days, and I'll definitely break through to the Qi Refining Stage!"

Why not find someone to help?

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

Zhang Ziling needed to lead troops into battle now, and 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 was still somewhat uneasy.

Would Hua Lian not start causing trouble the moment he left?

When he reached the storeroom and saw Hua Lian awake and curled up in the corner, he deliberately spoke with concern, "Well, I have to leave for a while later. While I'm gone, you must stay here properly. Don't let anyone discover you!"

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

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

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

"There's some food here too! Alright, 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.

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

He had even brought her food?

She had been full these past two days...

And occasionally nauseous.

Besides, she would never eat anything he gave her. It was definitely poisoned!

Wait, was he worried about her?

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

Hua Lian clenched her fists instinctively. "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 knife in the pile of firewood opposite her?

Hua Lian clenched her fists again. Her Spiritual Root seemed to have recovered somewhat, and her cultivation had reached Body Tempering Level One.

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

Although her cultivation was lower than his, she had practiced martial arts since childhood.

Disciples from major sects were different from Rogue Cultivators. Many Rogue Cultivators began halfway through their lives and had never received any prior training.

Many from major sects practiced jianghu martial arts, spear techniques, saber arts, movement techniques, and fighting skills from childhood.

The reason a Qi Refining Stage cultivator from a major sect could defeat a Rogue Cultivator of the same realm was because their foundations were different.

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

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

It knocked the woodcutter's knife loose, sending it back to land by her feet.

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

Trying her best not to think of what had happened between her and Xiao Yu then.

When he returned, she would definitely seize him!

The reason she had lost consciousness last time was because she had inhaled that black smoke. This time, she was completely certain of victory.

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

Bai Yue, who was still undergoing the Judgment Room's judgment, also experienced a slight shift in her thoughts.

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

And, incredibly, her damaged meridians and Spiritual Root had actually begun to improve!

It was simply inconceivable!

She had been grievously injured by a Golden Core Stage grand cultivator. The resources needed to repair her meridians and Spiritual Root should have been an astronomical figure.

Why had they suddenly begun recovering?

Could it be because of Xiao Yu...

Just then, the voice of judgment rang out once more in the Judgment Room. "Wicked woman Bai Yue, do you know your sin?"

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

The Judgment Room continued asking, "Wicked woman Bai Yue, you repay kindness with ingratitude. All may punish you! Do you know your sin?"

Bai Yue flew into a rage. "You keep asking me the same question. What sin have I committed? Do you think I grew up eating for nothing? Heh heh, is that all? Bring out whatever other methods you have!"

The Judgment Room said, "Judging a wicked woman requires a process. If you refuse to reform and repent today, tomorrow's judgment will intensify, and on the third day, it will double!"

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

"I'll ask one more time. Wicked woman Bai Yue, do you know your sin?"

Bai Yue sneered. "I am innocent!"

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

Bai Yue was instantly electrocuted into unceasing screams.

[Wicked woman Bai Yue's Judgment Score rose to 4.1%]

"I am innocent!!!"

"What sin have I committed? I wanted to avenge my disciple. I wanted to eradicate the demonic path. I have lived my entire life openly and honorably—what sin have I committed?"

"If one is determined to condemn, why worry about finding a pretext! I refuse to accept this—!"

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

"I curse you! I curse you to die a miserable death! You'll descend to 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...

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

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

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

Bai Yue did not speak.

Immediately afterward, long, melodious screams drifted from the Judgment Room.

The screams echoed through the depths of the Judgment Room.

Echoing...

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

Zhang Ziling, seated and reviewing various documents, did not turn around upon hearing him. As she read through the recent battle-loss reports, she said, "Mm, you're here... Recently, the Hehuan Sect's front line has been expanding its manpower. We need large quantities of Marrow-Cleansing Pills and Meridian-Opening Pills to help the newly arrived disciples improve their aptitudes!"

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

"I don't care how many pills Elder Wu used to refine each day. You are to submit one thousand first-grade pills to me in a single payment every month!"

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

Xiao Yu hurriedly cupped his fists. "Rest assured, Elder. This disciple will certainly do his utmost... It's only..."

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

Xiao Yu said, "It... it can't be called a benefit. This disciple merely wants a formation that can protect the alchemy room, because quite a few people in the sect harbor improper intentions toward this disciple..."

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

Her gaze fixed straight on Xiao Yu. "Because your constitution is special? I suppose Elder Wu was also after you because of your Pure Yang Body! No matter. I understand the situation!"

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

That was a mid-grade flying magical artifact!

Zhang Ziling truly had a substantial fortune...

"Get on~ I'll set up a formation for you, and I'll issue an announcement as well. Whoever dares make a move against an Alchemist under me, I'll make sure he comes but never returns!"

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

Zhang Ziling then brought him above the alchemy room.

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

After thinking it over, she looked toward a well ahead.

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

Xiao Yu stared at the flying formation flags in surprise. She had actually enclosed a huge plot of land for him?

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

As the formation flags landed in their respective positions, a layer of blue formation instantly rose like a dome.

Blue tortoise shells flickered faintly within the formation, and from time to time, a ferocious serpent's head could be seen.

"This formation is a small Black Tortoise Formation. Although it is only a low-grade formation, it is enough to keep others from disturbing you!"

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

"Elder Wu is dead, and the sect has not given me any additional support. I urgently need capable hands. As long as you serve me wholeheartedly, I naturally will not treat you unfairly!"

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

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

Zhang Ziling nodded. "Mm. I will send you a personal Puppet Eagle later. It possesses cultivation at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement and can keep you safe!"

As Zhang Ziling spoke, she released a wooden Puppet Eagle from her storage pouch.

Xiao Yu swallowed at once. Was this woman truly planning to take him as her disciple?

This treatment...

What delighted him most was that the system had actually issued an assessment.

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