CHAPTER 56

— Golden Core Formed —

"The main ingredients for the Huanzhu Pill?" The voice was cool yet smooth and elegant, captivating to the ear—though the content of the question was far less appealing.

"Yemingzi, Qingxin Grass, Lizhu Fruit... uh, uh..." She stole a glance at her flawless, fair palm while pretending to wipe sweat, quickly scanning the densely packed, tiny characters before looking up with renewed confidence. "And one more ingredient to balance the medicinal effects—Lingwu Flower!"

"Hmm, not bad... Then, what is the formula for the Jietian [Celestial Core] Pill?"

"That would be... three qian of Gouyi seed, three qian of Green Watercress Leaves, five qian of Minglan, mixed with eight liang of Boundless Water. Refine over a gentle flame for twelve days, then expose to fierce winds for twelve days, followed by twelve days of ice immersion, and finally twelve days of earth sealing. Hmm..." Tong Tong cautiously glanced past the smiling figure waiting for an answer, her eyes sweeping over the serene, beautiful face behind her. Squinting, she tried to decipher the subtle movements of the slightly parted lips before suddenly realizing, "On the final day, it must be completed with the Shangqing Sword Technique!"

"Hmm, correct..." Straightening her already smooth sleeves, she let out a cold snort, the earlier smile vanishing completely. "Hmph! How impressive you've become! Daring to play tricks right in front of me!"

The woman, whose beauty was unparalleled, appeared no older than twenty, yet her clear, rippling eyes held the weight of countless years, making it impossible for anyone to deceive or take advantage of her. This was none other than Elder Yuan Qiongshuang, who had removed her disguise and restored her true appearance in front of Tong Tong.

Within Chonghua, aside from a few elders who had ascended or passed away, almost no one had ever seen Yuan Qiongshuang's true face. Lu Xianrou was a disciple she had taken in by chance, while Tong Tong was the only outsider in a thousand years to receive such an honor.

Whoever said that beauty and cruelty were directly proportional was absolutely right!

With the face of Snow White but the heart of the Evil Queen, could you be any more overbearing, you Obasan?

Was it really such a crime to be momentarily stunned by your true appearance? It was a compliment to your beauty!

She hadn't spoken out of turn or acted inappropriately—at most, her gaze had been a bit too fervent. Did that warrant a life sentence without parole?

Where was justice in this world?

Teaching alchemy? Fifty pill formulas a day—even with memory-enhancing bread, it was impossible to digest them all!

Instructing in sword techniques? Chasing her around all day with a massive sword, leaving her with barely a moment to rest—it was practically a death sentence!

Sooner or later, she'd be tortured to death!

After three months of such merciless oppression, the Obasan suddenly announced a surprise exam, catching her completely off guard—how utterly devious!

Fortunately, she had the gentle, considerate, and understanding Junior Sister Lu Xianrou by her side to help. Tong Tong felt as confident as she had back in elementary school when the top student at her desk promised to pass her cheat sheets. But no matter how carefully she planned, she never anticipated the Obasan's sharp eyes and ruthless heart!

She was like a stubborn, old-fashioned parent determined to break up a young couple, unable to stand the sight of the "poor, uneducated boy" Tong Tong exchanging flirtatious glances with her carefully nurtured "delicate young lady" Lu Xianrou. She was even more furious that her obedient disciple had been bewitched by this little monkey, daring to help deceive her own master. Truly despicable!

Glaring at her beloved disciple who was signaling Tong Tong with her eyes, Yuan Qiongshuang's beautiful eyes turned cold. She casually drew Lu Xianrou's sword and lunged at Tong Tong: "Since you've made such progress, I suppose I must test your swordsmanship!"

As soon as the words fell, the bronze longsword was already thrusting toward Tong Tong's shoulder and neck—

Clang— Tong Tong instinctively summoned Biling to block it. Twisting her slender waist, she began to exchange blows with Yuan Qiongshuang. Compared to her opponent's fluid and effortless movements, she struggled greatly—her small face contorted in pain, and her sword-holding hand trembled as if she hadn't eaten enough.

Looking at Yuan Qiongshuang's cold yet stunningly beautiful face, Tong Tong couldn't help but inwardly lament: Even Junior Sister Little Rou's swordsmanship could rival that of the First Senior Brother, let alone her master, the Obasan? Why bother taking a swordplay novice like me so seriously? This isn't just lowering your status—it's outright bu|lying!

Unfortunately, in this small territory, the Obasan held the highest status. Here, Tong Tong had no one to turn to—heaven wouldn't answer her cries, and the earth wouldn't heed her pleas. She could only obediently endure the oppression!

Wuwuwu... Where are you, my beautiful master? Someone is bu|lying your disciple!

Wuwuwu... Where are you, Su Yan? Someone is bu|lying your junior sister!

"Tsk." Yuan Qiongshuang's lips curled slightly, as if she had guessed Tong Tong's tearless despair from her expressive face. She even added mockingly, "With your timid and hesitant demeanor, you call yourself the Seventh Disciple of Qiuye? Such little ambition! How can you live up to your master?" The words "How can you live up to me—" were swallowed back.

"Mmm..." Tong Tong bit her lip and remained silent, but her face grew increasingly flushed—whether from shame over these words or exhaustion from the relentless attacks.

"Hmph." Seeing that Tong Tong seemed to have gained some insight, Yuan Qiongshuang's movements grew faster instead of slower, like a storm, forcing her to retreat step by step—sword energy crisscrossed, tearing countless gashes in her clothes, yet leaving no marks on her body—a clear sign that the other was holding back.

Though Tong Tong dodged clumsily, she managed to stumble through dozens of exchanges under Yuan Qiongshuang's fierce assault—a vast improvement from three months ago when she would fall in a single move. Of course, this level was still far from that of a true master, but compared to the once-useless Tong Tong, it was like the difference between clouds and mud.

She didn't notice that as she survived more and more of Yuan Qiongshuang's sword moves, the other's expression remained stern and unsmiling, but her eyes had softened considerably. As an observer, Lu Xianrou took in every change in her master's expression and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly: Though she spares no effort in criticizing, Master actually quite likes this Senior Sister Tong—I've never seen Master show her true face to an outsider before...

—It seems she has a talent for making it difficult for people to be harsh or strict with her.

Shaking her head with a light smile, Lu Xianrou flashed between the two in the next second, using two fingers to intercept the tip of Qingming—her own lifebound sword. Only when she met Yuan Qiongshuang's astonished gaze did she realize what a foolish thing she had done, and she stammered, "Uh, M-Master... I, I..."

Just now, seeing the sword about to "pierce" Tong Tong's heart, she had momentarily forgotten the one holding the sword was her own master. She had subconsciously jumped in front of Tong Tong, completely losing her usual calm. It was as if she were possessed, rushing forward without a second thought.

Facing her flustered disciple, Yuan Qiongshuang's eyes sharpened, yet her heart softened unexpectedly: It's rare to see her show such obvious emotion... I wonder if that's good or bad?

With a faint sigh, she paid no mind to her disciple's rashness. She sheathed her sword, cast a cold glance at Tong Tong, who was covering her mouth to stifle a giggle, and left with a cold command: "Prepare for your Golden Core formation."

"Whew—finally gone." Tong Tong exhaled in relief, patting her chest as if she'd narrowly escaped disaster. She then turned to Lu Xianrou, who was still standing protectively in front of her, and grinned cheekily. "Junior Sister Little Rou, you're so loyal! If you hadn't stepped in, I might've been chopped to pieces by that Obasan!"

"Master wouldn't do that." Lu Xianrou's gaze flickered to Tong Tong's tattered robes, torn by the sword's energy, revealing glimpses of delicate skin beneath. Yet Tong Tong herself seemed utterly unconcerned, unlike those noble young ladies who treated chastity as their very lives. An inexplicable irritation surged within Lu Xianrou. She pursed her lips, averted her eyes, and her voice, no longer gentle, carried a hint of coldness. "Your clothes are in tatters. How improper. Change into clean robes quickly and follow me to the back mountain."

With that, she reverted to her usual impassive expression, much like her master, and strode away briskly, sleeves fluttering.

—The faint blush on her cheeks went unnoticed.

"Huh? Did I say something wrong again? Why does she seem upset? How strange..." Birds of a feather flock together! Master and disciple are truly alike... But, her Beautiful Master and the Big Iceberg are quite different, aren't they?

Shaking her head to dismiss the random thoughts, Tong Tong rummaged through her Qiankun pouch and pulled out a brand-new set of clothes—a soft lotus-pink fabric embroidered with silver-threaded double-cloud patterns, the diagonal collar adorned with delicate little flowers, adding a touch of youthful innocence, perfectly suited for a young woman. It was the very dress Ding Ding had gifted her that day at the Chaohua Market.

—Young Master Ding, I will definitely come to save you!

Clenching her fist in a silent vow, she lowered her head and gently stroked the smooth, soft fabric. Recalling Su Yan's cool, indifferent praise—"It looks nice"—her heart bloomed with a thousand flowers, bright and radiant. So this is what they mean by "love me, love my dog" and "seeing an object reminds one of its owner"...

—I wonder how Su Yan is doing now?

The very person she was so concerned about, after successfully forming her Nascent Soul, still needed time to consolidate her cultivation.

Thanks to Ye Zhiqiu single-handedly suppressing the heavenly phenomena and using illusionary techniques to obscure the truth, the outside world knew someone at Chonghua was undergoing a tribulation but not what kind or when it would end. As long as the illusionary barrier remained over Luoxia Peak, no one could uncover the truth. Thus, Su Yan had been meditating by the mountaintop hot spring for months after forming her Nascent Soul, undisturbed by anyone.

That day, her tranquil and serene state of mind was suddenly shaken, like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples across its surface. Her dark eyes opened gently, only to see the calm waters of the hot spring boiling as if bubbling incessantly, as though some monster beneath was about to break free from its shackles and burst forth from the depths. Just as she braced herself, the commotion abruptly ceased, and the water's surface returned to its original undisturbed state, as if it had all been nothing but her illusion.

Her willow-leaf brows furrowed and then relaxed. Su Yan let out a clear, resonant cry, her sleeves fluttering as she rose. The cry was as crisp as the call of a phoenix or a crane, and her figure stood as majestic as a soaring phoenix or a great roc. The pressure of her Nascent Soul realm instantly unfurled, suppressing all living beings on Luoxia Peak, and even disciples from other peaks felt a shudder run through their bodies, a fleeting sense of palpitation.

Her spiritual sense expanded, almost immediately locking onto Tong Tong's location. The corners of her cold lips lifted slightly, and Su Yan felt a touch of relief. "Three days apart, one must look with new eyes. I never expected that clumsy girl to have advanced to the Core Formation stage while I was in seclusion after forming my Nascent Soul..." Her phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly once more. "Hmph, she's grown even closer to that Lu Xianrou!"

What's there to learn from her? Learning to be fickle and flirtatious!

A disciple of Qiuye Peak, yet so close to a disciple from another peak?

She deserves a good lesson...

"Achoo—!" Tong Tong, who had just succeeded in forming her Core after immense effort and was excitedly holding Lu Xianrou's hand, inexplicably felt a chill run down her spine. She wondered inwardly: Shouldn't Core Formation cultivators be immune to all ailments? Why does it suddenly feel so chilly? And what's with this feeling of being watched?

......

On Qiuye Peak, within the Jiuhan Palace, Ye Zhiqiu's meditating figure paused. In the next moment, she picked up a small black box and stepped into the secret chamber within her bedchamber.

Her steps were steady yet slow, one after another, as if she had traversed a thousand years of time, parting layers upon layers of icy winds and frost, finally arriving deep within the underground palace.

The smile on her face seemed dreamlike, yet held a touch more sincerity than usual. Her palm, cradling the black box, was as white and smooth as porcelain, resembling a carved relief.

Her clear, bright eyes gazed tenderly at the sleeping beauty within the ice coffin. Soft murmurs mingled with the mist of ice beads, faintly hinting at boundless affection. "Yan'er, my Yan'er..."

Click— The sound of the black box opening was deep, hoarse, and drawn-out, mysterious and eerie, as if a door to the unknown had been opened...

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