She wouldn’t take the pill immediately. If the Jiang family found out she had a fifth-grade Core Formation Pill in her possession, they would undoubtedly seize it for the Jiang men to use. Even if Jiang Anya had obtained the pill herself, they wouldn’t let her keep it.
No matter how favored a daughter was, she could never compare in importance to a son who would inherit the family legacy.
Jiang Anya understood this all too well.
Sitting cross-legged on her bed, Jiang Anya closed her eyes and entered a meditative state.
To form the Golden Core, one must first undergo Qi Transforms into Sea—a crucial step. Only after successfully transforming the qi into a sea could one proceed to Sea of Qi Condenses into Pill, which was the actual Core Formation process. The entire procedure could not be disturbed in the slightest; if interrupted, the backlash would be devastating.
Murong Chao waited patiently, biding her time to chat with Jiang Anya when the Sea of Qi Condenses into Pill stage began.
She also wanted to see how long she could maintain her spiritual sense while controlling the Porcelain Person for the first time.
The little porcelain figure hopped onto the dressing table, glancing left and right before lazily leaning against the jewelry box to watch Jiang Anya.
Its posture was identical to Murong Chao’s as she lay in her rocking chair.
Even a tiny porcelain figure had to prioritize comfort, especially since it was connected to her soul.
An hour passed before Jiang Anya finally reached the most critical moment—a grain-sized ball of light appeared in her Heavenly Eye.
This ball of light was the Golden Core Image manifested during the Sea of Qi Condenses into Pill stage, signaling the beginning of Core Formation.
Once Core Formation succeeded, Fetal Breathing would take shape, truly elevating her to the Golden Core Cultivation Level. After that, she would Nourish the Sacred Fetus, Refine the Primordial Spirit, and transform it into an infant form, breaking through to the next cultivation stage—the Nascent Soul Stage.
Jiang Anya’s talent was actually quite good; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so favored in the Jiang family. Logically, her Golden Core Image shouldn’t have been this small.
A smaller Golden Core Image indicated weaker talent, likely due to her forcing a breakthrough from the advanced Foundation Establishment stage directly into Core Formation, which diminished her innate potential.
After all, cultivation levels forcibly elevated through pills were unstable, naturally resulting in weaker strength.
Even though she had taken a fifth-grade Core Formation Pill, its effects were still compromised. If she had taken it during the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, the results would have far surpassed her current state.
Even if Jiang Anya succeeded in forming her Golden Core, her strength would remain among the lowest of Golden Core Cultivators.
Nevertheless, Murong Chao had no intention of giving her the chance to succeed. Even the weakest Golden Core Cultivator was stronger than a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
With a flick of her spiritual sense, the little porcelain figure leaped up the moment the Golden Core Image appeared, hovering before Jiang Anya. Raising its tiny hand, it sent a thread of Spiritual Energy shooting toward Jiang Anya’s brow.
Her goal was merely to startle her, so she used only a wisp of Spiritual Energy.
Although she could control the Porcelain Person, her current strength hadn’t yet reached the level where she could remotely manipulate it for combat.
In the midst of this critical moment, Jiang Anya sensed the Spiritual Energy attack. Her breath faltered, and the Golden Core Image in her Heavenly Eye flickered, nearly extinguishing entirely.
If the Golden Core Image vanished, her Core Formation would be severed. Tilting her head, she steadied her breath while dodging the attack.
Jiang Anya opened her eyes in fury, wanting to know who was so reckless as to disturb her at such a time.
Based on her understanding of her family, even if they were displeased, they would consider her status as the Third Prince’s consort. Weighing the interests, they would protect her rather than interrupt her Core Formation.
But when she saw the palm-sized, porcelain-white figure floating before her, she froze, her heart pounding wildly.
Chaochao? How could it be her? She had personally watched her eat the pastry laced with the Spirit-Destroying Pill and had confirmed her death with her own eyes.
How could she appear before me in such a form? Could ghosts look like this after death?
After all, she had never seen what a soul looked like after death. Thinking of this, Jiang Anya felt a chill run through her entire body.
“Jiang Anya, I’m here,” Murong Chao said with a tone tinged with a hint of sinister energy.
She could even speak?
Extreme shock and fear made Jiang Anya forget that she was in the critical moment of forming her Golden Core. The barely maintained Core Formation process instantly broke off, and the Golden Core Image at her Heavenly Eye immediately vanished.
With the Core Formation interrupted, backlash was inevitable. Jiang Anya instantly spat out a large mouthful of blood, and her aura weakened drastically.
“Oh, too unfortunate, you were almost a Golden Core Cultivator,” the little Porcelain Person said in a tone dripping with schadenfreude.
Jiang Anya gritted her teeth and said, “Even after death you won’t let me have peace. Aren’t you afraid I’ll annihilate your soul completely?”
“Hahaha, what a joke! Do you think you still have that chance?” The little Porcelain Person laughed so hard she couldn’t straighten up.
Murong Chao inwardly scorned herself—how could she have confided in such a person for three years? Utterly foolish.
Jiang Anya’s gaze shifted. Even if her Core Formation failed and she suffered backlash injuries, she would recover after some rest. How could she not have a chance? What other tricks did she have?
“Jiang Anya, in your heart, was I only worth a single fifth-grade Core Formation Pill? When making a deal with someone, you didn’t even know to ask for more benefits. Truly wasted a tremendous opportunity,” Murong Chao said in a calm, unhurried tone.
Jiang Anya now calmed down, pondering inwardly: Can ghosts speak?
But she had personally witnessed Chao Chao die thoroughly. If it wasn’t a ghost, what else could it be?
Bearing the ripping pain within her body, she glared venomously at the Porcelain Person. “You’re already dead. What can you do to me?”
The Porcelain Person grinned at Jiang Anya. Even dead, I can’t forgive the person who gave me the Spirit-Destroying Pill to kill me. Besides, whether I can do anything to you—haven’t you seen it already?”
Jiang Anya thought of her Core Formation being interrupted by her. Could she really do other things? At this moment, she was extremely weak. Could she even kill her?
Fear instantly peaked within her.
Jiang Anya immediately softened her stance. “Chao Chao, spare me. Did you see the man who came earlier? He wanted your life, threatened me that if I didn’t do as he said, he would destroy the Protector-General’s Estate. You are one person, but the Protector-General’s Estate has hundreds. My strength is not as good as his, I had to make a choice. We are good close friends, you must understand me, right?”
Quite capable of bending and stretching. Indeed, otherwise she couldn’t have pretended before me for three years. Murong Chao let out a cold laugh. Even now she still wants to deceive me.
“Jiang Anya, I’m so lonely. Since we are good friends, come accompany me. You surely won’t refuse me, right?Murong Chao deliberately imitated Jiang Anya’s hypocritical, manipulative speech in a sinister tone.
Jiang Anya was terrified. Chao Chao indeed wanted her life. She did not want to die. Opening her mouth, she was about to shout for help.
The little Porcelain Person raised a hand and threw a Poison Pill the size of a soybean into Jiang Anya’s open mouth, blocking her cry for help that hadn’t yet been shouted out.
Jiang Anya choked, and the pill slipped down.
Murong Chao sighed.Alas, she only had two high-grade Poison Pills. One was used on a Jiang family member. This last one must be used sparingly. Therefore, she divided the Poison Pill into ten portions, each the size of a soybean grain.
You should know that even the Xuantian Sect hasn’t produced such a Poison Pill yet. Once it’s used up, there won’t be any more. Besides, it’s not easy to get anything out of that old man’s hands.