108 A Century

The Bai Ling Mushroom of Mount Dawang had earned a widespread reputation, known even in several other realms. In the trading town of Wuting in the Shiyu Realm, where Hansu once visited, people often lingered in hopes of acquiring this rare item. Not to mention the group of spirit herb merchants stationed at the foot of Mount Dawang; whenever someone emerged safely, they would inevitably resort to coercion and forced sales, sparing no one.

Yet, despite their abundance, these mushrooms possessed immense power, and every opportunity to capture one was fleeting. It was said that catching even a single Bai Ling Mushroom might take centuries. Even if someone managed to obtain one, they would rarely travel far outside Mount Dawang before being stopped by the waiting merchants.

These merchants were formidable, their strength unpredictable. Hence, any Bai Ling Mushrooms that circulated in the market would fetch sky-high prices.

How could she not know the dangers of Mount Dawang?

Hengbo Daojun embraced Hansu tightly, his heart aching as tears streamed down his face. Most cultivators spoke of severing attachments and renouncing love; even the bond between father and child was often faint despite natural ties. Not to mention those who would kill their own parents for the sake of “profit,” using their offspring as medicine...

Though the couple dearly loved their only daughter, they were no different from ordinary parents in this world—providing her with the necessary resources and guidance but mostly focusing their energies on their own cultivation, giving her little direct attention.

Hengbo Daojun wept like rain, silently thinking: Our daughter’s breakthrough to Nascent Soul was never witnessed by us. If not for her own fate and fortitude, who knows what would have become of her. Since she left home after Foundation Establishment, no one knew the hardships she endured outside.

Because her progress was so rapid, my senior brother and I often speculated about her origins. Now, learning that she ventured deep into danger for me—such devotion, if not born of motherly love, who else could do this?!

The more he thought, the more he felt he had failed his daughter, ashamed beyond words. Yet, pride swelled within him as well, caught between sorrow and joy, holding Hansu silently for a long time.

Hansu grew slightly embarrassed and gently comforted him, “Mother, perhaps it was just good fortune. I didn’t encounter any real danger and managed to get these two.”

Hengbo Daojun choked back her tears, “Fortune is one thing, whether or not you obtain anything is another. You ventured into danger for me—I feel both moved and pained. Please don’t do such risky things again.”

Hansu patted her back softly, “Yes, I won’t next time. Has anything been happening at the sect recently?”

Her question lifted Hengbo Daojun’s spirits; she released Hansu’s shoulders, clasped her hands tightly, and with wide eyes gleaming with laughter said, “Speaking of which, since you left, Senior Brother Yuheng has come looking for you several times. Every time he sees us, he seems hesitant to speak. Tell me, is there something between you two?”

Hansu was caught off guard by her mother’s gossiping gaze, “Mother, what are you saying? I’ve barely exchanged a few words with Yuheng Daojun. There’s nothing special. You must be mistaken.”

Unsatisfied with her answer, Hengbo Daojun gave her a sidelong glance, about to speak, when a disciple’s voice announced from outside, “Daojun, Yuheng Daojun has heard that Hansu’s ancestor has returned and wishes to pay a visit...”

Suddenly delighted, she shared a knowing smile with Hansu and said aloud, “Invite him in.”

Soon, deliberate footsteps echoed as Yuheng Daojun appeared around the screen before them. Seeing Hansu, his surprise was evident. He took a hesitant step forward, hands clasped behind his back, then produced a large array of gifts.

“Sister Hengbo, I have an impertinent request.” He neatly stacked the gifts, offering them with both hands, bowing deeply as he spoke clearly.

“What’s this about? Besides, how could I be worthy of being your senior sister?”

Though Hengbo Daojun said this, she glanced proudly at Hansu, her mind wandering to unknown places.

“Sister, please don’t blame me—I... I...” Yuheng Daojun hesitated, his gaze shifting to Hansu, a shy blush coloring his cheeks. As the most beautiful among the Yao Hua, this bashfulness gave him a unique charm.

“Senior Brother Yuheng, if you have something to say, just say it. How will we know if there’s a chance if you don’t?” Hengbo Daojun drawled the last words with a smile, successfully painting Yuheng’s face a deep red.

“I wish to take Junior Sister Jiang as my apprentice to teach her the art of alchemy!” He finally burst out the plan he had been nurturing for who knew how long and felt a great weight lift from his shoulders.

“You... what did you say?!”

This time, Hengbo Daojun was dumbfounded. Hansu, though silent, looked at Yuheng with surprise.

With the first step taken, speaking again seemed less daunting.

“Junior Sister Jiang is incredibly gifted and perceptive, which is why she has had multiple sudden insights. Listening to her speak often feels like a breakthrough. She possesses both ice and fire spiritual roots, enabling her not only to refine pills but also to control their fiery nature, purifying and condensing them. If she studies alchemy, she will surely achieve great success.

“Although I know her cultivation is still somewhat behind mine, she has already reached Nascent Soul. With her talent, her future cultivation will surely surpass mine. I hardly deserve the title of her master.

“But it’s rare to encounter such a promising alchemy prodigy, and she has never learned this art before. I simply cannot hold back. I seek not the title of master but only to prevent such a genius from being wasted...

“Please, Sister, grant this favor! Junior Sister Jiang... what say you?”

The mother and daughter exchanged glances, speechless. A Nascent Soul cultivator wanting to take another Nascent Soul as an apprentice was rare and could easily be taken as an insult. If it had been before her breakthrough, it might not have been too late. But now she was Nascent Soul, without a true master yet.

This...

Yuheng Daojun realized his request bordered on disrespect. Previously, he had hesitated for various reasons. But after meeting Hansu, he became obsessed, thinking day and night about this matter.

He harbored no other intentions, only wishing to pass on his alchemical knowledge and see it flourish through her. If only he had a master; then he could claim the title, accept disciples in their name, making her nominally a junior sister but his actual student.

Unfortunately, his alchemy was self-taught, and his own master knew nothing of it, so claiming to act on their behalf was laughable.

The mother and daughter looked at each other, unsure how to refuse this almost never-before-made request from such an ardent alchemist.

Hengbo Daojun cleared her throat, about to decline, when Hansu smiled and said, “I agree.”

“Hansu, you...” Hengbo Daojun was surprised, looking at her.

“I’ve always been somewhat interested in alchemy. Though I may not be as clever as you imagine, and might disappoint you.”

With her consent, Yuheng Daojun was overjoyed, hurriedly giving the gifts to Hengbo Daojun and eager to pull Hansu away to begin instruction.

Though a bit disappointed, Hengbo Daojun acknowledged Yuheng’s exceptional alchemy skills. If Hansu could learn even a little, it would be invaluable. So she did not stop them. Soon, the two vanished, leaving the vast cave dwelling strangely empty, which unsettled her somewhat.

The empty alchemy room contained only a solitary meditation cushion. Not long after, a female cultivator entered, skillfully setting up formation arrays in the room, then sitting cross-legged on the cushion. She took out a pure white, adorable little alchemy cauldron, making it float before her.

This was Hansu. A century ago, she spent half her days learning alchemical knowledge from Yuheng Daojun and the other half practicing. From clumsy and hesitant beginnings, wasting many herbs, she had now successfully refined numerous pills.

A hundred years had passed. She had reached the late stages of Spirit Transformation, while Yuheng Daojun always remained a step ahead, preserving a shred of masterly dignity.

Her dantian fire, born after Foundation Establishment, was an ice marrow fire. This fire appeared milky white with a faint blue glow, looking pure and harmless. Yet, in truth, it was far more powerful than many exotic flames—it was the legendary Mysterious Fire.

The Mysterious Fire was the sum of a hundred flames, capable of mimicking various exotic fire traits while uniting them into a new, more inclusive, sharper, and perfect flame.

It had the supreme yang and unyielding force of the Golden Crow Fire, yet was more controllable. It also possessed the softness and extensive reach of the Moonlight Fire, appearing ever-changing yet consistent.

Pills refined with this fire lacked the harshness of pure yang fire or the dampness and yin energy of yin fire. Every pill was a masterpiece that maximized efficacy. One could say pills forged by this flame had almost no toxicity and required no effort to neutralize.

She skillfully summoned the small cluster of Mysterious Fire, the milky flame swirling as the white cauldron spun rapidly. Soon, strange patterns began to emerge on the cauldron’s surface.

While heating the cauldron, Hansu snapped her fingers, arranging the hundred types of spiritual herbs needed for the pill before her. Her divine control over objects was a great aid in alchemy.

As white smoke rose from the cauldron, she willed each herb to enter in order. Though the cauldron appeared small and easily filled by a single herb, the first herbs touched the smoke and vanished, transforming into drops of emerald liquid falling inside.

She focused intently, guiding the hundred herbs to undergo this transformation sequentially, refining into a hundred drops of medicinal liquid, just enough to cover the cauldron’s floor.

The cauldron spun swiftly, the milky flame seeming alive under her control, burning continuously and steadily.

Soon, the hundred drops of liquid fully blended together, inseparable, mixing evenly. As temperature rose, the mixture gradually condensed.

The cauldron never ceased spinning, though the heat fluctuated according to the pill’s requirements.

After an unknown time, the liquid condensed into seven round, pure white pills! They danced actively, as if eager to leap out. If not for the lid, they might have soared into the sky and been lost.

Hansu knew the pills were complete and it was time to remove the lid. Even then, she dared not relax, holding her breath and performing a flowing sequence of hand seals. The lively pills gradually ceased their struggle, and the cauldron fell silent.

At that moment, she used her divine sense to lift the lid, and the seven pills shot out like dormant divine birds. The lid swiftly circled them, catching the pills once more, now resting in her hand—seven snow-white, plump pills adorned with golden cloud patterns.

A refreshing medicinal fragrance filled the entire alchemy room. The pill was complete.

Hansu finally smiled, storing the pills away. The cauldron had fulfilled its purpose and obediently cleaned itself, resting aside for its owner to put away.

“Sister, are you done?” A chubby, adorable little girl eagerly waited outside as the door opened. “An uncle came looking for you today.”

“Uncle?” Hansu bent down, picking up little Hanshen and placing the jade bottle containing the freshly refined pills in her hands. Seeing the girl’s eyes curved in a smile, she kissed her forehead. “Which uncle?”

“It’s me...” Turning to look, not far away stood a man, still dressed elegantly, exuding pride and nobility.

Author’s Note: As I write this, the story is approaching its conclusion. I feel a little reluctant to part ways, though honestly, the writing has been somewhat rushed. This is my first work and I lack experience. To keep up with progress, I didn’t expand many parts or develop many characters fully. Even the carefully crafted world view rarely appeared. Ah, my skills are insufficient. Thank you all for not giving up on me, and thank you, Brother 78, for your daily encouragement. I will continue! My eyes well with tears... —166 Reading Network