"Congratulations on reaching Qi Refining," Su Min said. Her voice was calm and even as she watched the last shimmer of spiritual energy settle around the young prince, solidifying his new foundation. She rose from her meditative posture, her joints popping softly in the quiet hall. She brushed a stray thread from her robe with a casual flick of her fingers, her movements fluid and devoid of the exhaustion that had plagued her in the desert.
Prince Yong who had been watching his son's breakthrough with white-knuckled anxiety, let out a slow, shuddering breath of relief. His chest felt lighter as he turned his attention to her, his expression a cautious mix of gratitude and lingering wariness.
"Now," she continued, "prepare a quiet room for me. I will be going into seclusion for some time." She met his gaze directly, her eyes piercing and cold. "As for the medicinal ingredients, gather what you can and send them to me in batches. I will provide the Qi Induction Pills in return."
With the boy's advancement complete, her work here was done. All that remained for him was the slow process of stabilizing his spiritual energy, a task that required patience and time, not her presence.
Prince Yong didn't hesitate. "Attendants! Arrange quarters for Lady Su at once!"
He immediately dispatched several guards to escort her, their footsteps echoing on the polished stone. While he had no power to truly restrict her movements, her willingness to remain within his estate was a significant advantage. It gave him a direct line to an alchemist whose skill surpassed anything he had encountered. His mind was already racing, planning how to mobilize every available agent to scour the kingdom for more Grade 3 medicinal ingredients.
No sooner had she left the courtyard than the young prince stirred. He opened his eyes, a new, vibrant sharpness in his gaze, and pushed himself to his feet. His first question wasn't about the new power coursing through his veins or the longevity he had just secured.
"Father, where is that lady just now?"
Prince Yong's eyelid twitched. Of all the things his son could have asked upon awakening to a new realm of existence, he was inquiring about a woman's whereabouts.
"She has zero interest in you," the Prince said. His tone was blunt and final. "And given her achievements, you aren't even in the same league. Don't annoy her, unless you want to be beaten to death."
He had to douse this hormonal enthusiasm before it became a fatal problem for the entire household.
"No, Father, you misunderstand," the young prince said. His voice was filled with a novice's raw awe. "I can feel this limitless power surging through me now. I feel like no one can rival me, except for her."
"Don't disturb her," the Prince repeated. His voice was low and firm, brookling no argument. "She is a vital ally."
The young prince held his father's stern gaze for a long moment before finally looking down at his own hands, which were still glowing faintly with residual spiritual light. "...Understood."
In the secluded chamber they had provided, Su Min finally allowed her shoulders to relax. The room was cool and smelled of damp stone, a physical comfort after the dry heat of the desert. She was alone at last.
"Finally," she murmured to the empty room. "I can focus on converting these materials into combat strength."
Her mind sifted through her inventory. The monster core and the vast quantities of rare metals from the mine were a treasure trove. Combined with the tough tiger hide and other components, she could forge a full suit of armor. Even with her defensive skills, physical protection was indispensable in a world where a single mistake could be fatal. The only issue was the agonizing amount of time it would take to temper such materials.
For now, a simpler task awaited. She would use the remaining ingredients to refine more Qi Induction Pills for trade. Her prices might seem steep to Prince Yong, but she knew they were more than fair. In any era, in any land filled with geniuses, alchemists and blacksmiths always held an unshakably high status.
"I have enough for two batches this time," she calculated aloud. Her fingers traced the edge of a jade box, the cool stone grounding her. "I will refine one set now and use this chance to break through to late-stage Qi Refining. Plus, I can craft a Qi Gathering Pill too."
She crossed her legs on the floor and summoned her alchemy furnace with a flick of her wrist. The familiar weight of the bronze vessel was comforting in her mind. A stream of information surfaced in her thoughts, the text clear and precise.
[Qi Gathering Pill: High-tier Grade 2 pill. When used during Qi Refining, it has a high probability of elevating the user by one minor stage, but can't assist in major breakthroughs.]
Having already reached mid-stage Qi Refining, she was on the very cusp of advancing. This pill was the fastest and safest path forward. Her Nanming Lihuo flared to life around her hands, its crimson fire dancing with contained power. With her current soul strength, high-tier Grade 2 pills posed no real challenge. Once she reached late-stage Qi Refining, she could finally attempt the more complex Grade 3 elixirs.
One Day Later
"Still not proficient enough. Only one pill per batch."
She chuckled dryly as she examined the lone, perfectly formed pill resting in her palm. It was a pale, shimmering green. Then she retrieved another vial from her spatial ring. She tipped it, and several round, lustrous pills spilled out.
Qi Induction Pills.
They were enough to drive every Body Refining expert in the kingdom to madness. For her current skill level, refining them wasn't difficult. This batch had yielded five pills, a testament to both her meticulous use of ingredients and the pure potency of her Nanming Lihuo. Still, this was technically Grade 3 alchemy territory.
"It seems my compendium has unlocked third-grade recipes as well," she mused. "Still, soul strength alone isn't enough. I need more practice. Time to break through first."
Without any further hesitation, she swallowed the Qi Gathering Pill.
Boom!
Her aura erupted, a powerful ripple of energy that spread outwards across the entire estate like a physical wave. Every cultivator present froze in their tracks. Their senses were jolted by the sudden, potent surge of heat and power that rattled the windows in their frames.
In his main hall, Prince Yong's eyes gleamed with avarice and calculation. "Once she emerges," he whispered to himself, "I must ask if she is willing to leave behind her alchemy legacy."
In the courtyard, his son stared in the direction of the energy surge, utterly mesmerized. "Father... is this her true power?"
Even as a new Qi Refining cultivator, the gulf between them felt vast and unbridgeable. It was a stark lesson that Qi Refining was just the beginning of a very long road.
-
The surge vanished as swiftly as it had come, retracting completely into the chamber. She had already been at the very peak of mid-stage Qi Refining. Over the past year, constant battles and the heavy expenditure of her power had only solidified her foundation. With the pill's boost, advancing had been effortless.
"My strength has increased again," she confirmed. She felt the deeper, more turbulent well of spiritual energy within her meridians. "Next step: crafting the treasure armor. At my current level, it will take less time, but still far longer than forging the Water Fire Staff."
In the next instant, a small mountain of materials cascaded from her spatial ring. The gleaming metals and tough hides piled high in the center of the room, reflecting the flickering torchlight. They were instantly engulfed by her Nanming Lihuo, which burned with a new, more intense ferocity. The room blazed with a white-hot heat, forcing the common soldiers stationed outside to retreat hastily. This fire, unleashed by a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, could annihilate a Body Tempering expert with a single spark. These ordinary men were utterly defenseless against its power.
One Month Later
The scorching temperatures that had radiated from the chamber for weeks finally subsided. Ironically, the prolonged, vitalizing heat had turned the snow-covered grounds outside the window into a lush, unexpected oasis. Nanming Lihuo wasn't just destructive; it carried the energy of life itself.
"Done."
Su Min exhaled a long, weary breath. She eyed the completed armor set standing before her on a wooden rack. It gleamed with a subdued, deep crimson light, the metal sections perfectly interlocking with the treated tiger hide. As before, she hadn't pushed her limits to create a masterpiece, but the results were more than worth the effort.
"A month of nonstop burning nearly exhausted me, but it was worth it."