News from Spirit Hall

Ah Yin's progress in learning to cook was less than ideal.

After several days of lessons, she could still only serve up a dish that wouldn't kill anyone who ate it.

Jiang Nian could only pinch his nose and accept it, devoting all his attention to instructing Qian Renxue in pill refinement.

Qian Renxue was indeed an exceptionally quick learner.

After just a few days of practice, Qian Renxue had essentially mastered the simple process of extracting medicinal properties from herbs and refining them into medicinal liquid.

Of course, the Black Demon Cauldron deserved some credit for that.

As a top-grade pill furnace, the Black Demon Cauldron made it easier for an alchemist to control the temperature of the flames.

"Teacher, Xue'er has refined all the coagulation grass into medicinal liquid! Can I learn something new now?"

"Mm, Xue'er is amazing, unlike a certain grass."

Ah Yin, who was cultivating with her eyes closed nearby, had been called out again. She immediately took offense. "How could pill refinement be harder than cooking? I could do it too!"

Jiang Nian said nothing and simply pushed the Black Demon Cauldron in front of Ah Yin.

Ah Yin's eyes darted away. "I don't have a flame Soul Ring! If I had one, I could definitely refine pills!"

"You're a blade of grass. What the hell do you need a fire-type Soul Ring for?" Jiang Nian glared at her, but the next moment, a new idea occurred to him.

Ah Yin's body recovered quickly, so ordinary methods of physical training were almost useless to her. No physical exercise could keep up with the speed of her recovery.

But what if he used fire to help temper her body?

Jiang Nian had come up with a brilliant idea. In any case, with him there, her life wouldn't be in danger.

Ah Yin sensed the unfriendly look in Jiang Nian's eyes and instinctively shrank back. "You... what are you going to do? Master, I was only joking. I don't want a fire-type Soul Ring."

Jiang Nian looked at her. "You're just scared."

Ah Yin's face twitched. Who the fuck wouldn't be scared?!

I'm a blade of grass! If I got a fire-type Soul Ring, would I be refining myself into a pill?

Qian Renxue also tugged at Jiang Nian's sleeve. "Master, junior sister Ah Yin is suited to plant-type Soul Rings."

Having lacked love since childhood, Qian Renxue actually found it easy to accept a new companion, as long as that person was genuinely good to her.

Although Ah Yin wasn't very bright and her cooking was a complete disaster, she was genuinely good to her little senior sister Qian Renxue.

These past few days, whenever she went out to buy ingredients, she brought back snacks for Qian Renxue.

Of course, she was still spending Jiang Nian's money.

"Be good, Ah Xue. Don't worry, your master knows what he's doing." Lu Jin rubbed the little girl's head, then his expression changed the instant he looked at Ah Yin. "Unfilial disciple, get over here!"

Gulp~

Ah Yin heard herself swallow. "Master, Ah Yin can be just as good as senior sister Xue'er. Could you please not do this to me?"

What did she mean, do this to her?!

Jiang Nian was speechless. "Come here. I've thought of a way to improve your physique, but I need to try something first."

Jiang Nian had actually considered using Whale Rubber, including to improve Qian Renxue's physique.

But the stuff had too strong a side effect: after taking it, one's Qi and blood would go wild, and it had an aphrodisiac effect. Besides, Ah Yin and Qian Renxue were both female. If they took it and ended up blaming him for having impure intentions, that would be just great.

Ah Yin came closer. "Master, how are you going to try it?!"

Whoosh~

Jiang Nian said nothing. He seized her wrist and summoned Bone Spirit Cold Flame, its light making Ah Yin's face turn pale.

She tried to pull her hand away in terror, but how could her strength possibly compare to Jiang Nian's? "Not that! You can't do it like this, it'll break!"

"Shut up!" Jiang Nian glanced at the innocent Qian Renxue and hurriedly stopped the veteran driver from saying any more.

Then he flicked a wisp of Bone Spirit Cold Flame into the back of Ah Yin's hand and began controlling it as it flowed between her five fingers.

Almost instantly, her fair little hand turned bright red, and Ah Yin's brows drew tightly together.

Jiang Nian raised a fingertip and drew the flame out. "Did it hurt a lot?"

This time, Ah Yin's hand did not recover quickly. It took a while to turn fair again, and it looked even more delicate than before.

Clearly, tempering her body with Heavenly Flames was effective.

Even so, he respected Ah Yin's choice. She was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, after all. If she cultivated steadily, with the cultivation method Jiang Nian provided, her future achievements would be limitless.

Ah Yin studied the back of her hand. The flame had filled her with instinctive fear, and what had just happened made her realize that fear was not unfounded.

If Jiang Nian wanted to, Bone Spirit Cold Flame really could refine her very essence out of her.

But if he did not refine her essence, the flame would be immensely helpful to the growth of her body, with nothing but benefits and no drawbacks.

But having Jiang Nian's Heavenly Flame run through her body... it just felt strange. The veteran driver couldn't help feeling strange at the thought of her master's Heavenly Flame roaming all over her body.

"Since you're unwilling to do it this way, I'll think of something else."

Other than Heavenly Flames and Whale Rubber, the only option left was to try the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. It was no exaggeration to call that place a paradise for plants.

Jiang Nian had already planned to make a trip there. A place with Immortal Herbs growing everywhere held a deadly attraction for a medicinal alchemist.

What was more, now that Pang Dun had pledged his allegiance, Jiang Nian had new plans.

An Immortal Herb like Aromatic Silk Beauty was a one-use item in Ning Rongrong's hands, but it was a different story in the hands of a pill alchemist.

When the time came, he could gather Aromatic Silk Beauty's stamens to refine pills. Wouldn't that have the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect leaping for his hook?

Ah Yin looked at Jiang Nian and finally made up her mind. "Master, I'm willing!"

It was already very good of a Titled Douluo to respect her wishes. Besides, if Jiang Nian really wanted to refine her into a pill, she had no power to resist.

Since she had chosen to follow Jiang Nian, she had to show her loyalty!

Loyalty that was not absolute was absolute disloyalty!

She wanted to be like senior sister Xue'er too, so she wouldn't have to endure their master's pressure every day.

When Ah Yin nodded, Jiang Nian was undoubtedly gratified. Not everyone was willing to let a flame beyond their control run wild in their blood; that was tantamount to putting their life in the other person's hands.

Jiang Nian nodded. "Not bad! That's the spirit!"

Ah Yin smiled. "Um, Master, since Ah Yin has been so good, could I stop learning to cook?"

"You're not going to learn to cook? Do you expect me and your senior sister to wait on you?"

"Pah! Evil slave owner..."

Spirit City.

Inside the Pope's Hall.

Qian Xunji received Yue Guan and Gui Mei's report. "You're saying the Clear Sky Sect brothers are in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Yue Guan cupped his fists. "Yes, Your Holiness. Our people saw both of them use their Martial Soul Avatars."

Qian Xunji raised an eyebrow. "The brothers both used their Martial Soul Avatars? Who were they fighting?"

Yue Guan shook his head. "Please forgive us, Your Holiness. It was night at the time, and our people only saw the Clear Sky Hammers from a distance. They didn't see exactly who the brothers were fighting."

Qian Xunji ran his hand over the papal throne, his gaze growing deep. "Investigate. I want to know everything the Clear Sky Sect has been up to lately!"

"As you command!"

Only after both men had left did Qian Xunji look at Bibi Dong, who had been standing nearby with a stern face, silent all the while. "Dong'er, your birthday is coming up soon. Is there anything you want?"

"You don't need to concern yourself with me, Teacher. There's nothing I want."

"Do you miss Xue'er?"

Bibi Dong gave a cold laugh. "I just want her to hurry up and die!"

Qian Xunji's expression darkened. Qian Renxue was a disgrace to the Qian Family, but she was also his child.

He said in a low voice, "Dong'er, I hope you understand who you are. She's your child too!"

With that, Qian Xunji left the Pope's Hall. He was going to discuss Spirit Hall's successor with Qian Daoliu.

Bibi Dong clenched her fists tightly, staring fixedly at Qian Xunji's retreating figure.