"What is cultivation?" Mu Xinlian asked dryly, sensing the helplessness radiating from her, posing a trivial question.
"Gathering the essence of heaven and earth into one, cultivating the dantian internally and the body externally, enduring countless heavenly tribulations, ultimately achieving godhood—immortal and eternal, sharing the lifespan of the heavens." Ye Lanshan said leisurely, "It's actually quite similar to training mystic power, except cultivators end up with one extra life compared to mystic practitioners."
"I can't keep talking to you; if I do, I won't even have time to refine pills. Tomorrow's plan is set—remember, don't slip up. If there's any issue, just tell me through your mind." Ye Lanshan immediately left the space, not even giving Mu Xinlian a chance to speak.
When she emerged from the space, the sun in the sky had already moved westward, and the once-shadowy corners were now brightly lit by the slanting rays.
Feeling the warm sunlight, Ye Lanshan relaxed completely.
She walked with light yet steady steps to the Yidan Hall. The shop assistant, seeing her arrive, immediately beamed and welcomed her inside.
Ye Lanshan glanced at the fawning attendant and couldn't help recalling her first visit here. Back then, she had come with Ye Siyu, and this same attendant had let them in. But at that time, he had been utterly impatient with her—if not for Ye Siyu's presence, he probably wouldn't have even let her through the door.
"Head of the Ye family, what herbs do you need? I'll fetch them for you," the attendant's sycophantic voice rang out as Ye Lanshan was still lost in memories of her first arrival in the capital.
"No need, I'll pick them myself." Ye Lanshan's tone was icy as she began selecting herbs on her own.
At that moment, Sun Canghai, a alchemist from the Sun family, was also there picking herbs. He hadn't expected to run into Ye Lanshan. How could he pass up the chance to humiliate her? So he sneered, "Well, Head of the Ye family, not to be rude, but since you can't refine pills, buying herbs here is just a waste of good materials, isn't it?"
Ye Lanshan didn't get angry. She simply replied calmly, "Who told you I can't refine pills?"
"Ha, so our illustrious Head of the Ye family can refine pills? We've never heard of that. All we've heard is that you were a useless child everyone could bully," Sun Canghai taunted, his expression clearly aimed at provoking a conflict.
"Yes, I was indeed useless once. But isn't it this very 'useless' person who defeated your family's eldest daughter, Sun Yulu?" Ye Lanshan smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder and whispering something in his ear that made his face change drastically before he hurried back to the Sun family.
"Checkout, please." Ye Lanshan calmly placed her selected herbs on the counter.
"Oh, right, right away." The shopkeeper's hand trembled as he quickly tallied the bill. "That'll be a thousand mystic stones total."
Ye Lanshan pulled out the card she had obtained from the Fusheng Auction House and handed it over. The shopkeeper, shaking, transferred the money to his own card and then respectfully returned the card to her.
Ye Lanshan took the card with one hand and sent the herbs into her space with the other, letting out an ambiguous laugh. "Do less shady business, or you might end up not knowing how you died."
After Ye Lanshan left, the shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his brow and kicked the attendant. "Didn't you hear what the Head of the Ye family said? Go throw out those expired herbs immediately!"
"Yes, sir!" The attendant scurried off to sort the herbs.
"Your alchemy furnace is quite unique. I've never seen one so ancient and grand," Mu Xinlian said as Ye Lanshan brought out the furnace and summoned her from the space.
At that moment, Mu Xinlian, disguised as the young master Shan Luo, wore a gentle smile and a refined demeanor, even her steps carrying the air of a graceful gentleman.
"You haven't seen it in its splendid form. Little Furnace, show her a flashy look." Ye Lanshan patted the furnace before her.
Suddenly, the furnace emitted a blinding golden light, forcing everyone to shut their eyes. When the light faded, the furnace had transformed into a dazzling, ornate piece, adorned with all sorts of beautiful stones.
"This... this furnace can change its form?" Mu Xinlian pointed at the furnace, stunned.
"This furnace is called the Shennong Ding, the most powerful ancient artifact among all alchemy furnaces. Changing form is hardly surprising." Ye Lanshan patted it again, and with a flicker, it returned to its original ancient and grand appearance.
"I'm starting to believe you can avenge me," Mu Xinlian said. In her entire life, she had never seen a divine artifact, yet since following Ye Lanshan, she had already encountered two—no, three.
"Even if you didn't believe me, I'd still help you get revenge." Ye Lanshan shrugged, looking utterly indifferent.
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you something. I vaguely heard in the palace that someone plans to seize the Red Lotus Karmic Flame. They say it's the number one divine flame in the world. I don't know if it's true, but you should be careful. It might be even harder to deal with than the Phoenix's Nirvana Flame." Mu Xinlian, watching the flame ignite in Ye Lanshan's hand, suddenly recalled the conversation she had overheard while in her slumber.
Ye Lanshan's hand, holding the flame, trembled slightly. On the surface, she remained calm, but inside, a storm was brewing. So the royal court and the sacred grounds were after the Red Lotus Karmic Flame? No wonder the royal family had been protecting the Ye family, and the sacred grounds had acted out of character by not attacking me immediately. Their goal was to let me refine the Red Lotus Karmic Flame to its peak, only to take it from me?
Hah, let's see how you plan to take the Red Lotus Karmic Flame from me. Now that Ye Lanshan knew the secret of what the royal court and sacred grounds wanted to seize, a new plan formed in her mind.
"Ye Lanshan, it's already dawn. In your current state, if the Shadow Lord wanted to kill you, it would be a matter of seconds," Mu Xinlian's worried voice came through.
Ye Lanshan waved her hand, sending the furnace back into her space. She stood up, tidied her appearance slightly, and smiled. "It's just one sleepless night. You make it sound like I'm in terrible shape."
Mu Xinlian paused, then forced a smile. "Sorry, I mistook you for him."
"Still haven't forgotten after a thousand years? How devoted," Ye Lanshan remarked briefly before pushing the door open and stepping out.
Mu Xinlian let out a bitter laugh. "You don't understand. Loving someone isn't so easy to forget."
Yun Di stood with the Shadow Lord at the city gate, waiting for Ye Lanshan. Under the Shadow Lord's oppressive aura, Yun Di wished he could flee far away, but he was afraid Ye Lanshan wouldn't see him, so he reluctantly stood at a distance neither too close nor too far, silently praying for her swift arrival.
Whether his prayers worked or not, Ye Lanshan finally appeared in their line of sight. Yun Di immediately waved and shouted happily, "Ye Lanshan, over here!"