"... snake?"
"That's right, this prescription is a method for feeding the spirit snake. It is said that the snake was originally grayish-black, but after consuming rare medicines such as Ganoderma lucidum, ginseng, and deer antler for twenty years, it turned completely red."
"The black snake transformed into... Red Dragon?"
"Indeed, the [Crimson Dragon] is formed from the [ Red Dragon ] and the Spirit Grass; this is a medicinal herb that is priceless."
"It is said that sucking the blood of the Red Dragon can transform a person and double their power."
Jiaoqiu feigned mystery, saying, "Since we've already come this far, let me give you another clue—there's a Red Dragon like this hidden within the Luofu Alchemy Commission..."
"Really?!"
"Hush—it is said that [ Red Dragon vomits blood, it dies and returns to the underworld]. This medicinal ingredient is a closely guarded secret, and probably only the Cauldron Master of the Alchemy Commission knows the details. I will stop here."
Having said that, Jiaoqiu leisurely left...
To find out more, Xing and March 7th went directly to the Alchemy Commission and found the Lingsha.
"Oh, isn't this Xing and Miss March 7th? You two are really inseparable."
"I see you two have come to the medical market because you want to buy some medicinal herbs?"
"To be honest, Mr. Jiaoqiu of Yaoqing mentioned that there is a [ Red Dragon ] hidden in the Alchemy Commission."
Xing chose to tell the truth. Looking at the crimson color of the Lingsha Cauldron Master... could she be the [ Red Dragon ] that Jiaoqiu mentioned?
"... Red Dragon?"
Lingsha crossed his arms, seemingly having figured something out. "Hmm, did he tell you two about some miraculous elixirs that increase cultivation? That Jiaoqiu guy..."
March 7th and the stars kept nodding.
" Miss March 7th, if the [ Red Dragon Blood] truly exists, would you really dare to drink it?"
"Hmm, uh..." March 7th chose to pose this question to Xing, "Um, Xing, do you dare?"
Xing put her hands on her hips. "What's there to be afraid of? Bailu's clinic is right next door anyway."
"As expected of Xing, she easily accomplished what I couldn't."
"Hehe~ Miss March 7th's reaction is quite cute. It's fine to tell you, Mr. Jiaoqiu's [ Red Dragon ] does indeed exist."
"... Then, Lingsha, where is the [ Red Dragon ]?"
"The ' Red Dragon ' is merely a riddle set up by Jiaoqiu. If I'm not mistaken, what you seek is both far away and right before your eyes."
March 7th suddenly realized something, then thought of something else, "Could it be that Lingsha was... completely black before?"
"Although I am not a viper, I do possess pills that can turn a person's entire body black. Would Miss March 7th like to try them?"
March 7th shook her head frantically. How wonderful it would be to be a fair-skinned, beautiful girl! She didn't want to turn dark!
"So... what Mr. Jiaoqiu is looking for is... Lingsha's... blood?"
"I've practiced medicine and tested drugs for over a century, consuming all sorts of rare and precious herbs, which does meet the [ Red Dragon ] standard," Lingsha smiled slightly. "If Miss March 7th 'truly' desires it, I can certainly give it to you~"
"However... [medicine is also poison], Miss March 7th, you can't just focus on the benefits of medicine and ignore the dangers of poison. [ Red Dragon Blood] is right here with me, Miss March 7th, you'd better think it over carefully--"
March 7th was so shocked she couldn't speak. She looked at Xing in a panic, hoping she could give her some advice.
"Don't blame me, March 7th ~ You can't be a vampire~"
"No, that's right! This girl has sworn a solemn oath to live a bland life from now on, only drinking Teacher Ye Yan's milk tea."
Isn't that right now?
March 7th coughed lightly. "In short, Lingsha wouldn't need to take such a big risk..."
"There's no need to worry, it's just a few drops of blood, it won't kill me."
"I see that your indecisiveness won't lead to anything for now... How about this, you tell me your decision next time we meet. By the way, I'll have the person who came up with this terrible idea come and give me an explanation in person."
After Lingsha left lightly, Xing and March 7th, dragging their tired bodies, returned to the milk tea shop.
But here, they did not see any of Ye Yan, Yunli, or Yanqing. Instead, they saw a young woman dressed in a pure white robe, with a serene and deep aura.
"Wow, there's a beautiful lady I've never seen before at Teacher Ye Yan's milk tea shop!" March 7th nudged Xing next to her.
She sat quietly by the window, the warm yellow light illuminating her long, pale golden hair, which flowed like sunlight, cascading smoothly over her shoulders and back.
A thin veil, as thin as a cicada's wing and embroidered with intricate silver patterns, gently draped down from her forehead, partially obscuring her face and adding a touch of solemnity and mystery befitting Eternity.
Beneath the veil, what captivates the eye most are her eyes—the pupils a pure and deep azure, clear as jewels, sparkling as if reflecting the faint light of the soul.
Her skin appeared exceptionally fair and delicate under the warm indoor light, like meticulously polished mutton-fat jade, almost without a single flaw, perfectly blending with the pure and serene aura emanating from her.
In this milk tea shop filled with a sweet aroma, the pastor who performed the prayer ceremony seemed so out of place; Xing felt that she and the milk tea shop were completely out of sync.
A simple milk tea shop suddenly has an elaborately designed altar for prayer; just one glance at it makes you feel like you have no regrets in life.
Notably, a small, Eternity silver insignia [∞] was quietly pinned to her collar.
Based solely on this [∞] emblem, Xing and March 7th knew her identity.
I recognized him immediately – a new character from the [ Church of Eternity ] I'd never seen before. The last one was the unreliable Knight Commander Botenis. I wonder what kind of shock this new one will bring.
"Xing, I feel like she and we are completely different styles..."
March 7th tilted her head in confusion; it seemed this was due to differences in clothing.
"Oh ho ho~ Look at these little pink ice cubes, such a sweet tongue~ How about joining the [ Church of Eternity ]?"
Despite wearing a veil, Saileni couldn't hide her smile, her eyebrows raised in delight.
"Huh? Ice Cube? What a strange nickname!"
" March 7th, admit it, this is your true form."
"My true form is, in a sense, a camera, not some block of ice... but I was indeed dug out of Six-Phased Ice, so I can't find a point to refute that for the time being."
Saileni, having received guidance from a certain chuunibyou priest, knew the importance of self-introduction, so she interjected on the topic at the opportune moment.
"Ahem~ Let me formally introduce myself..."
As soon as she finished speaking, her aura underwent a dramatic transformation.
Saileni gracefully clasped her hands in front of her, her veil fluttering gently as she spoke, her voice ethereal yet penetrating:
"Gaze into these eyes, mortals. They once reflected the extinguishing fires of the abyss, and the radiant light of the stars at their birth."
Saileni tilted her head slightly, her pale golden hair shimmering like moonlight beneath her veil.
"Do not be surprised, this is one of the marks that [ Eternity ] has imprinted upon me."
"I am Saileni, bearing the shadow of [ Eternity ], presiding over the ritual of [Prayer], walking in the narrow space where light and darkness intertwine, for your souls... I've forgotten my words."
"Can a prayer pastor forget his prayers?"
March 7th was confused; who usually does the prayer work then?
Meanwhile, the Acting Priest, who was working overtime at the Church, sneezed.
"In short... considering your connection with [ Eternity ], next time you visit the Church's famous prayer site, I can make an exception and only charge half the Credits!"
Saileni stopped pretending and tried to the Guild Fulisina's melodramatic lines... but she couldn't.
Do you want more money?
"If we didn't charge them, the priestesses wouldn't even have enough to eat... although it wouldn't make a difference, since they'd be robbing the Knights for every meal anyway."
March 7th and Xing exchanged a glance; it seemed she had inadvertently revealed something outrageous.
Xing felt that the [ Church of Eternity ] was stranger than she had expected. According to Saileni, the fighting abilities of the Church's priests and knights were completely opposite.
At the same time, she also realized that the [ Church of Eternity ] was a world of faith supremacy, where as long as you believed in the [ Eternity ] Aeon, you would be forgiven for whatever you said.
Then look at that certain dark-skinned Aeon... she's hard to comment on.
"So, why did the pastor come here?"
"Hmm?" Saileni also showed a surprised expression. "As a follower of [ Eternity ], isn't it perfectly normal for me to appear in His milk tea shop?"
Clearly, Saileni knew Ye Yan's true identity, and the Church's higher-ups were basically aware of it as well.
"No, no, no... actually I wanted to ask where Chair Blake and the Priestess went."
Usually, it's those two [ Eternity ] Emanator who frequent this milk tea shop, so the sudden appearance of a new face made March 7th a little uncomfortable.