Inside the Pill Room, the aroma of medicine was rich. Yu Yin held a Jade Bottle containing two Azure Wood Marrow Cleansing Pills that emitted a faint green light. Outside the door, Murong Bai's gentle yet unyielding voice broke the joy of successfully refining the pills.
Qing Xue's eyes turned cold, and she stepped in front of Yu Yin, her icy gaze sweeping toward the doorway.
Song Jiaojiao, however, bristled, carefully putting away the pills she had just obtained. She hefted her giant axe and strode to the door, yanking it open. Facing the richly dressed Murong Bai outside, she said displeasedly, "Murong Bai, what is the meaning of this? Trying to snatch things from me? These pills were painstakingly refined by Sister Yu Yin. She decides if they sell, not you! Stop this act!"
Her tone was harsh, completely disregarding his status as the Young Master of the City Lord's Mansion.
Murong Bai seemed accustomed to Song Jiaojiao's rudeness, his face still holding a gentle smile, but his gaze passed over her to land on Yu Yin: "Miss Song misunderstands. This Bai only admires talent, and I am desperate for pills. Miss Yu Yin's Pill Dao skills are profound and admirable. These two Azure Wood Marrow Cleansing Pills are of excellent quality and are quite important to me, so I took the liberty of requesting to purchase them. I have absolutely no intention of forcibly taking them."
His tone was sincere, and his posture was humble, but the underlying certainty of obtaining them was clearly discernible.
Yu Yin gently pulled Song Jiaojiao, who was blocking her way, aside. She walked to the door, gave Murong Bai a slight bow, and said, "Young Master Murong flatters me. These pills are also useful to me, so I will not be selling them for now. I apologize."
Her tone was gentle, but her refusal was firm.
A fleeting, almost imperceptible shadow of gloom flashed deep within Murong Bai's eyes, but his smile remained unchanged: "Since that is the case, I was too abrupt. However, Miss Yu Yin possesses such talent in the Pill Dao; remaining in the mere Reincarnation Sect is somewhat wasting your potential. My City Lord's Mansion has abundant resources, numerous Alchemists, and even a path directly to the Azure Cloud Sect. If you are interested, the Chief Alchemist position in the City Lord's Mansion awaits you."
He was directly attempting to recruit her! And the terms he offered were even more enticing than those of the Lin Family!
The surrounding onlookers erupted in an uproar! The Chief Alchemist of the City Lord's Mansion! That was a position countless Alchemists dreamed of!
Qing Xue snorted coldly, the chill around her intensifying.
Yu Yin shook her head, her eyes clear and resolute: "Thank you for Young Master's kind offer. But Master's kindness to me is like rebirth; the Reincarnation Sect is my home. Yu Yin will never betray the Sect."
Being rejected so cleanly once again, the smile on Murong Bai's face finally faded. He looked deeply at Yu Yin, then glanced at the cold-faced Qing Xue and the watchful Song Jiaojiao. Finally, he nodded: "Everyone has their own aspirations; I, Bai, cannot force the issue. I hope that one day, I will not have to be your enemy, Miss."
With that, he gave a meaningful smile and turned to leave with his guards. But those final words carried a faint, almost imperceptible threat.
"Pah! What a phony!" Song Jiaojiao spat toward Murong Bai's retreating back, then excitedly threw an arm around Yu Yin's shoulder, "Sister, that was gutsy! I love your spirit! From now on in Qingyang City, Sister will definitely look out for you!"
Yu Yin stumbled slightly from her embrace, feeling both exasperated and warmed. Although Miss Song acted rashly, her nature was straightforward, making her hard to dislike.
"Thank you for your protection, Miss Song," Yu Yin thanked her sincerely.
"Stop calling me Miss, just call me Jiaojiao!" Song Jiaojiao waved her hand grandly, then leaned in curiously toward Yu Yin, lowering her voice, "Sister, that green flame you used for refining just now, and the way you handled the Medicinal Herbs... it seems completely different from other Alchemists? I feel the Spiritual Qi around you is especially comfortable, totally unlike those fiery Alchemists I usually meet!"
The power within her body was violent, making her exceptionally sensitive to gentle and pure Wood Spirit Qi.
Yu Yin was slightly taken aback and looked at Qing Xue. Qing Xue nodded subtly to her.
Yu Yin pondered for a moment. Feeling that Song Jiaojiao was not inherently malicious and perhaps suffered from a hidden ailment, she had an idea and spoke: "Sister Jiao Jiao, do you... often feel that the power inside your body is out of control, violent and difficult to tame, even harming yourself?"
Song Jiaojiao's delicate body jolted violently. She stared wide-eyed at Yu Yin as if she had seen a ghost: "You... how did you know?!" This was her biggest secret! Even the Alchemists in her family were helpless, only saying it was a physique issue that couldn't be cured.
Yu Yin did not answer directly. Instead, she extended her index finger, where a wisp of extremely pure, life-filled Wood Spirit Qi swirled, and gently touched Song Jiaojiao's wrist.
Song Jiaojiao instinctively wanted to dodge, but the comfort brought by that wisp of Qi forced her to stop. The moment that wisp of Wood Spirit Qi touched her skin, the wild, runaway power inside her body miraculously calmed down slightly. Although it was only for an instant, it made her so comfortable she almost groaned!
"This... this is..." Song Jiaojiao's voice trembled with excitement.
"My physique is special; it is called the 'Wood Spirit Sacred Body.' I am naturally close to all flora and fauna, and the Spiritual Power I cultivate is also full of Vitality," Yu Yin withdrew her finger and explained. "If I guess correctly, Sister Jiao Jiao's physique is also extraordinary, but... you have walked the wrong path, or rather, no one has been able to guide you correctly."
Wood Spirit Sacred Body! Those eavesdropping nearby were shocked again! This was a legendary Special Physique! No wonder she could refine pills in such a peculiar manner!
Song Jiaojiao clutched onto Yu Yin like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline. She grabbed Yu Yin's hand urgently, "Sister! No, Grandmaster! Can you help me? As long as you can control this strange strength of mine, I'll do anything for you! My life belongs to you from now on!"
Her temperament was fiery, and she clearly distinguished between love and hate. At this moment, she was certain Yu Yin was the only one who could save her.
Yu Yin felt overwhelmed by her fervent gaze and quickly said, "Sister Jiao Jiao is too serious. My Cultivation Level is still shallow; I can only temporarily soothe and calm things for you. To cure it completely, I fear my Master would need to intervene. However, my Master is currently away and has not returned..."
"That's fine! I can wait!" Song Jiaojiao said without hesitation. "Does your Sect accept new members? What do you think of me? I am strong and can fight! Even if I sometimes can't control it, I am absolutely loyal!"
She was directly recommending herself to join the Reincarnation Sect!
Both Qing Xue and Yu Yin were stunned. Song Jiaojiao's train of thought jumped too quickly!
However, just then, a sinister voice suddenly rang out:
"Wood Spirit Sacred Body? Heh heh, I searched high and low without success, and now you appear without effort!"
The crowd parted, and Lin Yuan, who had left, returned. But beside him was an elder wearing a dark red robe, his face withered, and his eyes like venomous snakes! This elder exuded a cold and eerie aura, and his Cultivation Level was shockingly at the Peak of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage! He was more than a level stronger than Lin Yuan!
The elder's greedy gaze locked onto Yu Yin, as if looking at a peerless treasure: "I never expected to encounter the legendary Wood Spirit Sacred Body in such a remote place! Little girl, come with this old man. Your physique is being wasted in such a small place!"
He intended to forcibly abduct her!
Lin Yuan stood nearby, a sinister grin and the pleasure of revenge on his face. After leaving, he immediately contacted the "Blood Dove Elder," who had some ties to the Lin Family and had been searching for Special Physiques to cultivate his evil arts!
"How dare you!" Qing Xue roared, unleashing her Profound Yin Qi completely. Frost instantly spread outwards!
Song Jiaojiao roared in anger, swinging her giant axe. Her violent aura swept out uncontrollably: "Old thing! You're asking to die!"
The Blood Dove Elder sneered, raising a withered palm. A claw made of dark red Spiritual Power carrying a scent of blood shot out, directly grabbing for Yu Yin! In his eyes, these juniors at the Qi Refining Stage could be crushed with a flip of his hand!
However, just as the dark red giant claw was about to touch Yu Yin—
Deep within Yu Yin, the Wood Spirit Sacred Body sensed extreme malice and threat, activating autonomously! Brilliant emerald-green light burst forth from her body, and surging Vitality poured out like a tide, forming an incomparably pure green barrier in front of her!
That dark red giant claw, filled with deathly stillness and filth, struck the green barrier and immediately began to sizzle and dissolve, like ice meeting the sun!
"What?!" The Blood Dove Elder's face changed drastically, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Such pure Life Force! It can actually suppress my Blood Fiend Spiritual Power?!"
He became even more certain that she was the perfect cauldron he had sought for many years!
"Attack together, capture her!" The Blood Dove Elder commanded Lin Yuan, while he himself summoned a skull banner exuding a thick scent of blood!
The situation was critical!
Qing Xue and Song Jiaojiao met the attack with all their strength, but the gap in their Cultivation Levels was too large, and they were about to be overwhelmed!
At this moment of extreme peril, a cold, ethereal female voice, yet one containing Supreme Majesty, suddenly echoed in the depths of everyone's Soul, like the Nine Heavens' Profound Ice:
"Touching my Reincarnation Sect disciple, who gave you the gall?"
The moment the voice fell, the temperature in the entire Pill Room area plummeted to freezing point! Countless ice crystals and snowflakes materialized out of thin air in the sky, each one containing the terrifying Sword Intent capable of annihilating all things!
The Blood Dove Elder's skull banner, which had just been raised, along with his entire body, were instantly frozen into lifelike Ice Sculptures! Even the look of utter horror on his face was solidified!
Lin Yuan and the other Lin Family disciples didn't even have time to react; they simply turned into blocks of ice!
Great Emperor Domain, Freezing with a Single Thought!
Although Elder Leng Wei had not arrived in person, her power had crossed space and descended upon this location!
Everyone was utterly terrified and stunned into immobility by this miraculous and terrifying display of power!
The green light around Yu Yin slowly receded. Looking at the situation that had instantly reversed, her heart filled with a sense of belonging and pride for her Sect.
Qing Xue retracted her sword and stood still, her expression icy.
Song Jiaojiao's mouth hung wide open. Looking at the Ice Sculpture of the Blood Dove Elder, then at Yu Yin and Qing Xue, her eyes erupted with an unprecedented, fervent light!
"Reincarnation Sect... I, Song Jiaojiao, am set on joining! No one can stop me!"
The Wood Spirit Sacred Body, upon first revealing its extraordinary nature, attracted covetous eyes, simultaneously demonstrating the Reincarnation Sect's protectiveness and might!
And Song Jiaojiao, that thorny flame, seemed poised to fall into the embrace of the Reincarnation Sect.
（Chapter Twenty Ends）