Hai Bodong, who doubts the world

Cao Ying returned to her quiet chamber, ready to meticulously study the poe pill's formula.

However, she quickly noticed something unusual.

Sister Dan Chen, who would almost invariably come to discuss alchemy with her every morning,

had not appeared today.

With a hint of doubt in her heart, she pushed open the door of her quiet chamber and stepped out.

She hadn't walked far before she saw Dan Chen in the courtyard.

She was patiently guiding Qing Lin on how to condense a Qi Cyclone and become a Dou Practitioner.

"Sister Dan Chen?" Cao Ying approached, asking somewhat strangely, "Why didn't you come to find me today? Are you feeling unwell?"

Dan Chen turned her head at the sound.

Her delicate little face instantly turned crimson, her eyes darting away as she stammered, "N-no, I'm not unwell... It's... it's because Her Majesty the Queen passed by this morning and told me... told me that Sister Ying... you... you and Brother Shen Wen were... were doing things that only couples do... She told me not to disturb you today, to let... let you rest well for a bit..."

"Boom—!"

Cao Ying felt a rush of heat straight to her head, and her stunningly beautiful face instantly turned as red as a cooked shrimp.

Even her earlobes and neck were stained crimson.

That woman, Medusa! How... how could she say such things!

Qing Lin, who had been listening intently nearby,

though still young, was not entirely ignorant of such matters due to her difficult past and her identity as a Snake-Person hybrid.

Upon hearing Dan Chen's words and seeing Cao Ying's utterly embarrassed expression,

her own small face couldn't help but flush, and she shyly lowered her head, nervously twisting the corner of her clothes with her small hands.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard became exceptionally awkward and ambiguous; the air seemed to be filled with the embarrassed heat emanating from Cao Ying.

Just as Cao Ying wished she could find a hole to crawl into, a voice filled with laughter timely broke the stagnation:

"What are you all gathered here for?"

Shen Wen slowly walked over, his gaze sweeping across the three red-faced women, already guessing seven or eight parts of the situation.

He casually changed the subject and said to Cao Ying, "Ying'er, how is your research on the poe pill coming along?

I just remembered that the Snake-People Tribes Sacred City's storeroom might have Sand Mandrake.

Once the pill is refined, we'll make a trip to Mo City."

He remembered that Hai Bodong still had a part of the Purification Lotus Demon Flame's incomplete map, and this was a good opportunity to get it as well.

When the topic turned to serious matters,

Cao Ying forcibly suppressed the shyness in her heart, took a deep breath, and tried to make her voice calm again: "I have memorized the pill formula. Since the medicinal ingredients are all ready, I can start the furnace now."

"Good, Dan Chen and I will protect you," Shen Wen nodded.

The group moved to the alchemy room.

Cao Ying conjured the heaven burning cauldron, and with a thought, a wisp of green flame leaped from her fingertip; it was the Green Lotus Core Flame, which she had initially refined.

As the Heavenly Flame entered the cauldron, the temperature inside instantly soared, yet it carried a stability and agility that was previously unattainable when using the Blood Spirit Demonic Flame.

Cao Ying concentrated fully, placing one medicinal ingredient after another into the cauldron. Under the refining of the Green Lotus Core Flame, the speed and precision of ingredient purification far exceeded before.

The impurities that previously required careful removal seemed to meet their nemesis before the Heavenly Flame, easily being incinerated and stripped away.

Moreover, with the heaven burning cauldron, this cauldron was extremely beneficial for stabilizing medicinal properties.

She even felt she could try refining a seventh-grade pill.

Dan Chen watched from the side, her eyes wide with amazement and envy.

She looked at the dancing green flame and couldn't help but sigh softly, "Heavenly Flames are indeed miraculous.

...If... if only I could also possess a Heavenly Flame..."

What she possessed was merely a Beast Fire found for her by her family, which was worlds apart from these spiritual objects nurtured by heaven and earth.

Cao Ying's hand, which was controlling the flame, paused slightly, and her willow-like brows twitched imperceptibly.

Medusa, who was leaning lazily against the doorway, spoke up, "Heavenly Flames are creations of heaven and earth, rare and hard to come by.

This Queen searched the Tagor Desert for many years and only confirmed the whereabouts of the Green Lotus Core Flame, and yet you... you stole a march on me."

Her tone was flat, devoid of emotion, then she changed the subject, "However, this Queen has heard that in the chaotic Black-Corner Region, there's a fellow known as the 'Medicine Emperor,' named Han Feng.

His alchemy skills are quite impressive, and to be able to establish a foothold in such a place, he must... he must also possess a Heavenly Flame."

Her words seemed casual, but they were like stones thrown into a lake, creating ripples in Dan Chen's heart.

After speaking, Medusa subconsciously looked at Shen Wen, but saw that Shen Wen's expression was normal.

He didn't respond, merely focusing on Cao Ying's alchemy, as if he hadn't taken her words to heart.

It seemed Dan Chen's status in Shen Wen's heart was still not comparable to Cao Ying's.

With the assistance of the Green Lotus Core Flame, the refining of the poe pill proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

In just over half a day,

a fragrant pill, the size of a longan and emitting strange energy fluctuations, was successfully released from the furnace and dropped into the jade bottle in Cao Ying's hand.

"It's done," Cao Ying sighed in relief, a satisfied smile on her face.

Shen Wen took the jade bottle and nodded, "Without further ado, let's go to Mo City now."

"I'll go too."

Medusa spoke.

These past few days, Medusa had actually realized that Shen Wen was able to find the Green Lotus Core Flame because of the map made by Hai Bodong, whom she had sealed back then.

This made her secretly resentful, wishing she had killed that scourge long ago!

Everyone once again boarded the flying boat, leaving the Snake-People Tribes Sacred City and speeding towards Mo City.

Before long, the flying boat landed in Mo City.

Shen Wen and his group went straight to the 'Ancient Map' store where Hai Bodong was located.

Inside the shop, Hai Bodong was still, as usual, engrossed in studying the complex maps on the table, his head bowed.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even lift his head, habitually saying in his arrogant tone, "Pick your own map, different..."

His words abruptly stopped.

Because a cold and familiar, yet powerful aura that had left an indelible mark on him, instantly locked onto him!

Hai Bodong suddenly looked up, his gaze immediately falling upon the enchanting and alluring purple figure beside Shen Wen.

Medusa!

"Medusa!!!"

Hai Bodong's face drastically changed, his pupils constricted, almost instinctively.

The meager Dou Qi remaining after his sealing frantically circulated, and he retreated explosively, intending to smash through the wall behind him and escape!

The fear of being sealed for decades had long been deeply ingrained in his bones!

However, just as he made a move,

a calm voice rang out, like an invisible shackle, pinning him in place.

"Hai Bodong, why are you panicking?"

Shen Wen looked at the pale-faced Hai Bodong, who was acting as if facing a formidable enemy, and smiled, "Don't you want to break the seal?"

Only then did Hai Bodong see Shen Wen, his face showing astonishment amidst his terror.

His gaze darted suspiciously between Shen Wen and Medusa.

His throat bobbed dryly, his voice trembling with disbelief: "You... how could you still be alive? Medusa, she..."