81: Chapter 81 Lifespan or Luck?

It was the first time Mo Zixing had heard Liu Qingyan speak with such a reproachful tone, and his heart actually felt a bit of an itch.

But he quickly regained his senses and suppressed the restlessness brought by the [Candle Dragon Bloodline] in his body.

He couldn't afford to be distracted right now.

He didn't want to be blown away by this furnace of medicine.

Mo Zixing didn't dare to relax his hands; he intentionally pulled back some force, leaving her some breathing room.

Only then was Liu Qingyan able to break free from that strange sensation, her cheeks already flushed with an alluring color.

In all her life, she had never lost her composure like this, let alone in front of her own Personal Disciple.

Yet she could only force herself to remain calm, letting out a light cough to hide the embarrassment and returning to her usual gentle and dignified Revered Master persona:

“Cough, Zixing, you must follow my instructions from here on out. Not a single step can be wrong.”

Liu Qingyan took a deep breath, composing her still somewhat anxious and flustered mind.

She threw a few more Auxiliary Herbs into the Pill Furnace.

The Qingyun Flame split into several gentle tongues of fire, wrapping around the medicinal ingredients to slowly refine them.

Mo Zixing followed her lead and activated his Alchemy Fire.

Purple-gold Thunder Fire and green Alchemy Fire circulated within the Pill Furnace.

Liu Qingyan took the lead throughout this stage.

While refining, she simultaneously explained the entire essence of the Pill Formula to him.

As the medicinal ingredients were added one after another...

The Alchemy entered the next stage.

Mo Zixing's techniques became increasingly proficient, fully displaying his excellent talent for fire control and Alchemy.

He was even able to anticipate Liu Qingyan's next refinement rhythm several times, filling in the refinement nodes she missed when her spiritual power faltered.

No words were needed between the two.

They could cooperate perfectly just by the guidance of the Alchemy Fire.

Sensing his progress, Liu Qingyan looked up with eyes full of gentle appreciation and approval.

The two were very close to each other.

Mo Zixing could clearly see a few drops of sweat sliding down her cheeks and disappearing into her loose collar.

Until the final Main Herb was added.

The medicinal properties of the ingredients clashed.

The Pill Furnace shook violently, nearly exploding on the spot.

Liu Qingyan's face turned pale as her spiritual power was jolted by the violent medicinal properties.

Mo Zixing was quick-witted, splitting the Thunder Fire into dozens of strands to wrap around every restless medicinal ingredient.

At the same time, he channeled a wisp of spiritual power through the Alchemy Fire into Liu Qingyan's body.

It was also at this moment.

Their Divine Souls were tied together by the intertwining Alchemy Fire.

Mo Zixing only felt a sudden white flash before his eyes.

When he came to his senses...

He could actually see everything inside the furnace.

His first reaction was that something had gone wrong.

Had the Alchemy Fire backfired and refined him into the furnace?

But there was no expected burning sensation around him.

Only two streams of gentle Alchemy Fire were flowing slowly.

He realized.

This was the perception of the Alchemy Fire.

What shocked him even more...

Was that he could not only perceive every tiny change in his Thunder Fire, but also understand the entire state of the Qingyun Flame through the intertwining Alchemy Fires.

Along with that, he also indirectly perceived Liu Qingyan's current physical condition.

Only then did he discover that Liu Qingyan's state was much worse than he had imagined.

Liu Qingyan did not have his level of resilience.

Long periods of controlling fire for refining medicine had already exhausted her spiritual power.

The infusion of medicinal properties from thousands of ingredients had also accumulated a thick layer of chronic ailments in her dao base.

These were obstructing her normal spiritual power circulation.

Mo Zixing clicked his tongue inwardly; while helping her stabilize the Alchemy Fire, he also filled the gaps in her overextended spiritual power.

The spiritual power from Mo Zixing flowed through her Meridians, stabilizing her turbulent dao base and alleviating the fatigue of her spiritual power depletion.

Liu Qingyan's tense body relaxed slightly, and her gaze toward Mo Zixing became even gentler, with an added hint of an indescribable reliance.

“Thank you.”

She spoke softly.

“Focus on the Alchemy, Revered Master.”

Mo Zixing replied with a smile, his Alchemy Fire coordinating even more seamlessly with her Qingyun Flame.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Perhaps it was a few hours.

Or perhaps several days.

The Pill Furnace suddenly erupted with a burst of golden light.

A dense medicinal fragrance was locked within the courtyard.

Even through the Pill Furnace, one could feel the Heaven-Defying medicinal power contained within the Medicinal Pill.

Then.

The Pill Furnace emitted a dull roar.

The furnace lid slowly popped open.

A Medicinal Pill wrapped in golden patterns rose slowly.

Spiritual Qi overflowed.

At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary item.

The pill was formed!

Almost at the same time.

Liu Qingyan could no longer hold on.

Her vision went black, her body went limp, and she began to fall toward the scalding Pill Furnace.

“Be careful!”

Mo Zixing was quick-witted, reaching out to grab her waist and pulling her firmly into his arms.

Soft and fragrant beauty in his arms.

Her body was as light as a thin leaf, and her whole being was trembling slightly.

The usually gentle and noble Revered Master now showed complete exhaustion and vulnerability.

Seeing her in such a weak state, Mo Zixing couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart.

He freed one hand and made a light beckoning gesture.

The Medicinal Pill landed in his palm.

As the pill touched his hand...

The System panel popped up:

[Item: life-defying marrow-cleansing pill]

[trait: Reshuffle]

[Consumes the vast majority of one's own Lifespan to refine the dao base and Spiritual Root, rooting out Innate shackles and Acquired hidden injuries, significantly increasing the Cultivator's talent and Comprehension Ability, and attracting a certain amount of Heavenly Dao Luck]

Looking at the panel information, Mo Zixing felt waves of shock in his heart.

Sacrificing the vast majority of one's Lifespan?

In exchange for talent and Comprehension Ability?

Attracting a certain amount of Luck?

Although breaking through a major Realm theoretically increases Lifespan.

But the description of this Medicinal Pill did not specify the exact amount of Lifespan reduced or the specific extent of the gains.

This wasn't a fate-changing pill.

It was clearly a gambler's pill that traded life for the Dao!

He suppressed the shock in his heart, holding the weak Liu Qingyan in his arms, and lowered his head to ask in a deep voice:

“Revered Master, what exactly is the origin of this Medicinal Pill?”

In his arms, Liu Qingyan slowly woke up and looked up at Mo Zixing, her eyes showing no surprise.

It was clear that from the beginning, she knew the effects and the price of this Medicinal Pill.

She weakly raised her hand, her voice very soft:

“This Medicinal Pill is called the life-defying marrow-cleansing pill.”

“I have studied the Dao of Alchemy all my life, and my Meridians have been infused with medicinal properties year after year; my dao base has long since developed irreversible shackles.”

“This is natural and unavoidable.”

“As I refine more and more pills, my cultivation growth will become slower and slower until it comes to a complete standstill.”

She smiled, a hint of bitterness in her smile:

“I don't want to stop here, so I searched through all the Alchemy Classics, and only the life-defying marrow-cleansing pill can break these shackles.”

“As for the price... sacrificing the vast majority of my remaining Lifespan, I'll probably have about one year left.”

Hearing this, Mo Zixing pulled back his hand holding the pill, his tone serious:

“The price is too high.”

“I know.”

Liu Qingyan interrupted him, her voice soft but unquestionable:

“I won't hide it from you. Ever since I entered the Sect, my wish has been to take control of the entire Mingyu Sect.”

“To achieve it, I must be at least stronger than the Golden Core Stage Elder Qin.”

“If I am forever trapped in the Crystallization Stage, what difference is there from being dead?”

“I have no other choice but this path.”

“Give it to me, Zixing.”

She looked up at him, her gentle eyes carrying a hint of plea, revealing her most vulnerable side.