Chapter 18 The alchemy was a success!

Just then, the stone door of the side hall opened silently.

Xiao Ming walked out slowly, his face wearing just the right amount of fatigue. Seeing the stunningly beautiful figure standing by the window, he was instantly stunned, because... she was just too damn beautiful!

Seeing Xiao Ming walk out looking exhausted, Luo Li initially wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but then she saw him staring straight at her with an infatuated expression, a wicked smirk on his lips. Her cheeks flushed, and she cursed inwardly: 'Wicked Disciple! You wretch!'

The slightly improved feelings she had just held vanished instantly. Her voice rose coldly: "Hmph... Wicked Disciple! What, did the Alchemy fail? You..."

Hearing this, Xiao Ming curled his lips. A smooth, warm jade bottle appeared in his hand. The bottle mouth was sealed, yet faint wisps of an indescribable medicinal Aura emanated from it.

He walked up to Luo Li, handed her the jade bottle, and bowed: "Revered Master, the Medicinal Pill is complete. This Disciple has fulfilled the mission!"

Hearing this, Luo Li's delicate body trembled violently, as if struck by an electric current. She abruptly looked up, staring in disbelief at the warm jade bottle in Xiao Ming's hand.

'Um... He... he actually succeeded?'

She reached out with her jade hand and snatched the jade bottle. The moment her fingertips opened the bottle, a vast, sea-like, and extremely pure medicinal fragrance drifted clearly into her delicate nose, causing the barrier of her Nascent Soul to tremble!

A voice in her heart told her that this was exactly the realm breaking pill she had dreamed of, and it was Earth Rank supreme grade!

With this Divine Pill, her Breakthrough to the Spirit Severing Realm was within reach!

After the wild joy receded like a tide, what remained was a deeper shock and an indescribable complexity of emotions. This Wicked Disciple... not only possessed such unfathomable attainments in Alchemy, but his mind was also so meticulous and cunning that he played everyone in the palm of his hand!

Uncontrollable, blush-inducing images surged in her mind: his heavy breathing, his domineering demands, and her own unbearable compliance... A strong sense of shame mixed with the anger of being profaned surged up, scorching her reason.

'Does a mere Medicinal Pill think it can offset your crimes that disregard human ethics and are rebellious? Xiao Ming! What do you take me for? Am I one of those sluts who can be toyed with just by offering some resources and benefits?!'

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Her knuckles, tightly gripping the jade bottle, turned white from the extreme force, and even her slender, fair wrists trembled slightly.

On her stunningly beautiful face, the previous surprise was instantly covered by a layer of frost. Her peach-blossom eyes were filled with a mix of shame and anger, carrying a bone-chilling humiliation as she glared fiercely at Xiao Ming. The accumulated fury was on the verge of erupting completely!

"Revered Master,"

At this critical moment, Xiao Ming seemed to be able to see through her thoughts and spoke first. His voice was gentle and steady, carrying an unquestionable concern, abruptly interrupting the brewing of all her emotions.

"A Soul Transformation Breakthrough is no small matter; the resulting Heavenly Tribulation will surely be earth-shattering. Within the Sect, there are many eyes and ears, and various forces are intertwined. To ensure absolute safety, it would be best for you to find a completely secure location for secluded cultivation."

His words were sincere and logical, every syllable considering her safety, instantly pulling Luo Li's attention away from the vortex of personal shame and anger, and back to the cruel reality.

That's right, the Soul Transformation Heavenly Tribulation!

If she were to force a Breakthrough, just those within the Sect harboring ulterior motives would never let such a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity pass!

The stern reprimand that had reached her lips was forcibly blocked back. A sense of stifled frustration was stuck in her chest, with nowhere to vent, causing her ample bosom to heave violently, outlining a breathtaking curve.

Luo Li also knew this Wicked Disciple was changing the subject, but his words were reasonable, leaving her no room to refute. She had no choice but to turn all her inner shame and indignation into a cold, delicate scolding. However, in that tone, there was a trace of something she herself hadn't noticed, akin to a young girl sulking:

"Hmph! How I act, when is it your turn, you Wicked Disciple, to point fingers!"

These words sounded aggressive, but combined with her slightly reddened, teary-eyed corners and her unconsciously pouted cherry lips, it sounded less like a reprimand and more like the coquettish complaining of lovers having a spat, lacking any deterrent power.

Watching her appearance of being fierce on the outside but weak on the inside, and struggling to maintain her composure, the corners of Xiao Ming's lips curled into an almost imperceptible hint of playfulness. He took a sudden step forward, instantly closing the distance between them until their breathing was clearly audible to each other.

Startled by his sudden proximity, Luo Li instinctively shrank back, but her smooth back slammed against the cold window lattice, leaving her nowhere to retreat. Her beautiful eyes widened, and just as she was about to scold him, she saw Xiao Ming reach out. He naturally lifted her slipping, somewhat loose gauze dress and meticulously yet domineeringly draped it back over her snow-white shoulders. The action was gentle and considerate, yet carried an irresistible, strong sense of possessiveness.

"Revered Master," Xiao Ming's voice lowered, his tone carrying an unquestionable dominance, "It is cold, dress properly! You looking like this... don't let outsiders see!"

Luo Li's whole body suddenly stiffened. How could she not feel the undisguised possessiveness in this Wicked Disciple's words? This couldn't help but make her heart jump, as if brushed by a feather, and a surge of heat uncontrollably rushed to her cheeks, even staining her delicate earlobes a charming crimson.

'This Wicked Disciple... what does he mean by this? Is... is he concerned about me being seen like this by others?' This absurd thought uncontrollably crept into her mind, strangely diluting a trace of her anger, and instead, a subtle palpitation she was ashamed to admit even to herself arose.

But immediately, a stronger sense of shame flooded her like a tide! 'Luo Li! What are you letting your imagination run wild with! He is your Disciple, he is just a Rebellious Disciple! Such actions are merely his possessiveness at work!' She fiercely spat at herself in her heart, forcibly suppressing her churning emotions, and suddenly turned her face away, avoiding Xiao Ming's gaze that seemed capable of seeing through everything. She did not want him to discover her burning cheeks and her cold facade that was on the verge of collapsing. Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible panic as she delicately scolded, fierce on the outside:

"It's... it's none of your business! I will do as I please! If you nag me again...!"

Yet this reprimand, due to the intoxicating blush on her face that could not be concealed, and the slight tremor of exasperation at the end of her voice, appeared completely unconvincing, instead adding a few more points of alluring charm.

Xiao Ming took in all her subtle reactions, secretly smiling in his heart, knowing this silly woman was starting to say the opposite of what she meant again. But he also understood the principle of knowing when to stop, not overdoing it. His face instantly returned to that impeccable "respectful" Disciple posture, and he bowed slightly:

"This Disciple obeys. Revered Master... take care in all things."

After speaking, he no longer lingered, slowly turned around, and walked with a calm gait back into the darkness of the side hall. The heavy stone door slowly closed behind him, separating the inside from the outside.

Not until the stone door was completely closed did Luo Li's tensed nerves suddenly relax, as if she had lost all strength, and she gently exhaled a breath of turbid air. She subconsciously raised her jade hand, her fingertips brushing over the gauze dress on her shoulder that had just been adjusted, as if the temperature of that Wicked Disciple's fingertips still lingered there. Recalling his unquestionable concern and declaration of possessiveness just now, her calm heart lake was as if a stone had been cast into it, causing ripples of numbness to spread, even affecting some secret softness, which also quietly palpitated for a moment.

"Bah! Shameless... Wicked Disciple!" She spat out softly, as if cursing him, but even more so cursing her own unpromising reaction. Her gaze fell back onto the Medicinal Pill jade bottle in her hand, and her reason quickly returned.

"The Soul Transformation Heavenly Tribulation is vast and grand in scale; it is absolutely impossible to conceal it here." The few romantic thoughts that had just arisen were quickly suppressed by the gravity of reality. "Those lurking in the shadows, if they knew I was attempting a Soul Transformation, would definitely spare no cost to come and obstruct me. At that time, I might fall short of success, and it might even implicate Senior Sister..."

Expressions changed on Luo Li's stunningly beautiful face, finally settling into firm determination. She shook her head gently, as if to cast away all those messy thoughts. Her figure then turned into a hazy stream of light, carrying a faint, lingering fragrance, and sped off in the direction of Vice Sect Master Luo Hongyi's palace.

Inside the side hall, Xiao Ming sat cross-legged in front of the Alchemy cauldron again, his mind returning to calm, and began to refine the Medicinal Pill he needed to consolidate his foundation and improve his cultivation.