Volume 3, Chapter 393 – Dragon and Phoenix Crimson Sun Pill

Green vines slowly wound around the young woman’s fair ankles.

The verdant branches, wrapped in silvery white spiritual light, seemed to weave faint silver patterns as they moved through the folds of her plain white skirt.

She tapped her toes lightly, and a sky full of petals rose into the air as she spun, deep purple hibiscus, snow white rose blooms, and the bright yellow of golden thread blossoms weaving together into a rainbow, surging into a brilliant wave in the morning light.

When the first petal landed between her brows, the entire flower platform suddenly trembled.

The branches of the weeping begonia wove themselves into a flowering staircase on their own, and Cheng Yinyin climbed step by step upon layers of crimson clouds. Where her wide sleeves brushed past, the freshly bloomed magnolias instantly transformed into thousands upon thousands of white butterflies.

These faintly glowing creatures followed the tips of her fingers, gathering above the flower beds into a starry trail like an upturned river of stars.

The most astonishing thing was how perfectly she synced with the flowers’ shadows. Whenever she leaned back and bent at the waist, vines would always form a soft cushion beneath her. Whenever she spun, camellias would always bloom ahead of time at the spot where she landed. Even the water sleeves she flung out carried the crisp sound of willow branches sprouting new shoots.

Every bit of it highlighted her control over spiritual energy and technique.

The young woman danced together with the flowers and fresh leaves, offering an unparalleled visual feast.

This girl’s talent was not as useless as imagined.

What a shame, she had put too much thought into things that looked good but served no real purpose.

Lu Zhuxin made this judgment in her mind.

As the dance came to a close, Cheng Yinyin once again offered Wei Ziqing a graceful bow.

Wei Ziqing’s face showed little expression. His gaze swept subtly over the two Cheng sisters in the distance, and he announced flatly, “Adequate. I will let you pass.”

“Thank you, Noble Consort!” Cheng Yinyin thanked him repeatedly.

As she turned to leave the stage, her heart was once again overtaken by wild joy.

Mother had made her practice this move so hard for so long, and it really had paid off!

Not only had she passed the selection, but no one had noticed what she had tampered with!

When Cheng Yinyin’s gaze swept over Chi Xiyan, the smugness in her eyes was almost impossible to hold back.

No! She had to hold it in. There was still one last step to go. It was too early to be happy!

Thinking this, Cheng Yinyin lifted her chin and slowly walked back to her spot.

When she reached Chi Xiyan’s side, she could not help but say, “Eldest sister, do your best next. I am looking forward to seeing your performance.”

“Heh heh.”

“…” Chi Xiyan glanced at Cheng Yinyin indifferently.

She felt that Cheng Yinyin’s smile carried some ill intent.

Cheng Yinyin paid no mind to her coldness.

She laughed inwardly.

Treasure these last moments of yours, Cheng Lixia.

She really was curious what expression Cheng Lixia would make upon discovering that the knife stabbed into her back had been handed over personally by her own dear sister.

By this time, the officials of Huayue Court had already cleared away the flowers and plants left behind by Cheng Yinyin’s technique.

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“Next, Bu Ruyan.”

Bu Lianshuang stood up. She first glanced subtly at Lu Zhuxin, and only after seeing Lu Zhuxin give a slight nod did she step forward toward the platform at the center.

By the time she reached the center of the platform, she touched the tip of her nose, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

There was a faint, unusual fragrance on this platform.

This unusual scent was distinct, not the fragrance of the surrounding flowers.

If not for the Wolf Clan’s keen sense of smell, it would have been hard to notice this unusual scent within the thick fragrance of the flowers.

It was Cheng Yinyin!

The flower scent planted here by her earlier technique had not been completely removed!

“Miss Bu?” The official nearby, seeing Bu Lianshuang standing in a daze, could not help but urge her on. “Please begin.”

“Alright!” Bu Lianshuang responded.

Now was not the time to think about this.

Cheng Yinyin had tampered with the platform. She would need to warn the fox miss in a moment.

Thinking of this, Bu Lianshuang took a light breath and began preparing the performance she had planned out the night before.

The young woman, dressed in a gauzy robe of pale green, held a nine jointed jade flute in her hand.

She lowered her eyes slightly, fingers caressing the jade flute.

She tapped her toes lightly, and the melody of the jade flute began to flow.

As the notes lightly trembled, birdsong sounded from the sky.

Everyone was startled and looked up.

“It’s a flock of birds!”

“So many birds!”

Lu Zhuxin watched the flock of birds in the sky with great interest.

In the original story, Bu Lianshuang was a princess of the grasslands, able to control flocks of birds in the sky through a bamboo flute.

Her archery and horsemanship went without saying.

Sure enough, after the worlds had merged, these abilities had been retained as well.

As the sound of the jade flute rose and fell, the first tit had already landed on Bu Lianshuang’s shoulder.

The young woman turned her wrist and raised her sleeve. The white sash fluttered up into the sky with her movement, and a flock of kingfishers swooped down to catch hold of that streak of white.

The long birdcalls and the sound of the flute blended together seamlessly.

As the young woman spun, the kingfishers and tits, holding the silk sash in their beaks, seemed to weave a flowing net of feathers behind her back.

Suddenly, the young woman arched her back and leaned backward, and the flute burst out with a clear, drawn out note.

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The shadows of wings overlapped with her flowing pale green gauze robe.

Birdsong and the flute’s melody sounded together as one.

In an instant, she withdrew the pose.

The melody stopped, and the flock of birds dispersed.

Only then did everyone come back to their senses, looking with astonished eyes at the young woman in pale green gauze at the center of the field.

“A jade flute, and spirit birds.” Wei Ziqing watched Bu Lianshuang, looking thoughtful.

At this moment, just like the day before, he still could not tell what this young woman was truly capable of.

“Immortal sister, what do you think?”

The phoenix ring trembled slightly.

“Interesting. I had thought earlier that she came from some beast taming sect.”

“But what she just used has nothing to do with any beast taming sect at all.”

Wei Ziqing frowned slightly. “What do you mean? Can Immortal sister not even place where she comes from?”

“Heh.” The one within the ring gave a cold laugh.

Wei Ziqing caught the displeasure in her tone and quickly said, “In that case, either this woman is not using any Daoist sect technique.”

“Or, she is using a technique of her own creation.”

The one within the ring said nothing.

The look with which Wei Ziqing regarded Bu Lianshuang gradually grew heated.

Coming to Shuyuan Commandery, it seemed he had truly stumbled upon a treasure.

Bu Lianshuang suddenly felt a chill of dread.

“Bu Ruyan, qualified.”

“Next, Cheng Lixia!”

Bu Lianshuang walked back to her seat with a calm expression.

As she passed by Lu Zhuxin, she lowered her voice and said quietly, “There is a peculiar flower scent on the platform. Cheng Yinyin may have tampered with something.”

Lu Zhuxin understood at once and gave Bu Lianshuang a subtle nod.

Having received the fox miss’s response, Bu Lianshuang felt at ease and returned to her seat, settling down properly.

Chi Xiyan glanced at Bu Lianshuang, her expression grave.

This woman felt like a formidable rival.

Just what was her background.

Chi Xiyan shook her head, setting the doubt in her heart aside for now.

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She steadied herself for a moment, then leapt lightly, flying up onto the platform.

The official of Huayue Court said, “Miss Cheng, please begin.”

Chi Xiyan, however, did not begin right away. Instead, she looked up at Wei Ziqing.

“Noble Consort, the performance this humble woman has prepared is somewhat special and requires the use of certain tools and materials. I ask for the Noble Consort’s permission.”

Everyone was taken aback. From the start of the selection until now, Chi Xiyan was the first person to make a request of Wei Ziqing.

“Heh, seeking attention.” Cheng Yinyin sneered.

Lu Zhuxin watched Chi Xiyan’s back, roughly guessing what she intended to do.

Wei Ziqing watched Chi Xiyan with great interest. “Granted.”

Chi Xiyan bowed. “Thank you, Noble Consort.”

Having said that, she raised her hand and gave a light beckon.

A table appeared before her.

On the table sat an alchemy cauldron along with more than a dozen kinds of herbs.

“An alchemy cauldron?!”

“Is she planning to refine a pill?!”

“Is she an alchemist?!”

The indifference on Wei Ziqing’s face faded, replaced by seriousness and gravity.

If the beast tamer earlier had surprised him, then an alchemist appearing in this selection now was enough to leave him thoroughly stunned.

Everyone present understood exactly what it meant for someone to be an alchemist.

“Cheng Lixia is an alchemist? How is that possible?” Cheng Yinyin’s face was full of shock.

She could not accept this fact.

She turned to look at Lu Zhuxin. “Did you already know your sister was an alchemist?”

“Mm.” Lu Zhuxin nodded.

Cheng Yinyin clenched her fists. “Why did you not tell me sooner?”

Lu Zhuxin turned her head, looking utterly blank. “Little sister Yin, you never asked me…”

Cheng Yinyin was choked with anger.

Calm down! Calm down!

Being an alchemist was not something just anyone could manage!

Even among alchemists, there was a difference in skill.

Cheng Lixia was only so many years old. Even if she could refine pills, what of it. At her age, how much attainment could she possibly have in alchemy.

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The Empress certainly had no shortage of alchemists around her.

An ordinary alchemist would never catch the eye of the Empress or the Noble Consort.

Besides, Cheng Lixue had already drugged her. The moment she urged her spiritual energy, the pollen on the platform would react with the substance on her face.

There was no way she could succeed at refining a pill on that stage!

Amid the astonished murmurs of the crowd.

Chi Xiyan had already made her preparations. She formed a hand seal with both hands, and her spiritual energy condensed into threads.

Glowing white threads connected to the alchemy cauldron.

Chi Xiyan flicked her fingertip lightly, and the cauldron slowly rose into the air.

The instant the cauldron hung suspended, Chi Xiyan flipped her hand and sent the crane patterned bronze furnace flying up into the air.

Drawn by the glowing white threads, the furnace lid spun rapidly around the body of the furnace, and seventeen kinds of herbs, carried by the sweep of her rising sleeves as she spun, filed one after another into the furnace.

“Look quick, the fire isn’t burning from the bottom of the furnace!”

A low cry of surprise suddenly rose from below the stage.

They saw the fire summoned by Chi Xiyan’s fingertip transform into the illusory shape of a crimson phoenix.

It climbed along the glowing white spiritual threads onto the cauldron, then dove in through its mouth.

All sorts of strange visions instantly formed above the cauldron. Dragon spittle congealed into ice, flood dragon sinew coiled around phoenix talons, and snow lotus transformed into six wings.

Strangest of all was the thousand year blood ginseng, which unfurled in the fire into a tiny armored figure, sparring three rounds against the male and female fire phoenixes before finally being refined into liquid medicine.

Such a mysterious and wondrous method of alchemy, everyone present was seeing for the first time.

“Immortal sister, do you understand alchemy?” Wei Ziqing asked in a low voice.

The phoenix ring trembled slightly. “I do not understand alchemy, but I understand medicinal herbs.”

“The herbs that girl is using to refine her pill are all of no low grade. The higher the grade of the herb, the harder it is to refine. And alchemy is not something where higher cultivation simply means greater skill.”

Wei Ziqing’s gaze grew heated. “So you are saying this girl’s alchemy skill is of a very high grade?”

The moment Wei Ziqing finished asking, someone below the stage cried out in surprise. “I know what pill she is refining!”

“The Dragon and Phoenix Crimson Sun Pill!”

“I once saw a Sixth Realm alchemist refine this pill before.”

Wei Ziqing’s eyes turned sharp. “Immortal sister, do you know of this pill?”

“Boy!” A voice came from within the phoenix ring.

“You must get your hands on this pill.”

“Your spiritual root belongs to fire. This pill can help you break through your shackles and step into the Fifth Realm!”

Hearing this, Wei Ziqing’s pupils shook violently.