The twin branches of the Day and Night Epiphyllum grew from the same root, one pure white and the other ink-black, distinct yet inextricably intertwined.
The day branch was a lustrous white, condensing light, while the night branch was a deep, misty dark purple. At the tip of each branch hung an epiphyllum bud.
Yin and Yang harmonized perfectly, bathing in light and embracing the shadow.
Yuan Shu did not know how many years this spiritual plant had been nurtured in the Herb Repository, but judging by its maturity, its age was certainly not low.
With the item in hand, under the pained gaze of the Guardian Elder, Yuan Shu walked up to Yao Qianci and pulled him out of the Herb Repository.
...
In a secluded bamboo forest, Yuan Shu pulled back Yao Qianci, who was walking ahead.
As he turned his head with a confused gaze, she suddenly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his lips.
Feeling the warm touch, Yao Qianci blanked for a moment.
When he came to his senses, his hands had already wrapped around Yuan Shu's waist. He pulled her into his embrace, supported the back of her neck, and returned her kiss.
The bamboo shadows rustled and the clear breeze blew gently. The two, locked in a deep kiss, lost themselves in passion, seeing only each other in their eyes.
After a long time, only when she felt Yao Qianci's body growing hot and his breathing becoming unsteady did Yuan Shu finally release him.
"Shu Shu, you don't have to do this. I gave it to you willingly."
Yao Qianci reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from her temple, speaking tenderly.
"Do you think I kissed you just to repay you?" Yuan Shu blinked and asked in return.
"Is it... not?" Yao Qianci was taken aback.
Yuan Shu shook her head. She tightened her grip around his neck, pulling him down slightly to whisper in his ear.
"I am not someone who would ever use myself as a bargaining chip. I kissed you simply because I wanted to."
Yao Qianci's body tensed, his Adam's apple bobbing. He looked deeply moved, boundless affection surging in the depths of his eyes.
That single sentence from Yuan Shu was better than countless words of love.
So, Yuan Shu liked him too?
Yao Qianci reached out and hugged her tightly. "Shu Shu."
"If Peak Master Yao has nothing else to do, how about accompanying me to refine some pills?" Yuan Shu blinked, then added another sentence.
"We can go to the... Divine Fire Space."
!
Yao Qianci's eyes suddenly widened.
...
In the alchemy room of the Chiyang Hall, at the exact same spot where they had refined the ancient recipe that day.
Yuan Shu looked at the familiar three-legged beast cauldron in front of her and smiled, the corners of her lips curling up.
With a flick of her fingers, she summoned the Red Lotus Purifying Fire. As she tossed it into the cauldron, she stimulated the spiritual fire power within the Red Lotus Purifying Fire.
Sure enough, the Chiyang Fire sensed the power of the Red Lotus Purifying Fire once again and immediately used its spatial power on them.
In the next second, she and the cauldron appeared in the familiar Divine Fire Space.
A wave of heat rushed over their faces, burning so hot it made one's heart flutter.
Immediately after, Yao Qianci's spiritual sense also condensed out from his natal cauldron.
The moment his translucent spiritual sense appeared before her, his eyes fell upon Yuan Shu, unblinking.
The Frost Glaze Essence-Calming Pill was a sixth-grade pill, requiring extremely precise control over the heat and the refinement of spiritual plants.
Yuan Shu had considered having the alchemy masters of Yaoyun Peak refine it, but after thinking about it, she decided against it.
This kind of pill did not exist in this cultivation world. Having them refine it would be a novice experiment with absolutely no experience.
If it failed, these medicinal ingredients would be very hard to find again!
It was better for her to do it herself; perhaps the success rate would be guaranteed!
What's more, she had Yao Qianci by her side to help.
The Chiyang Fire popped out from a corner, tilted its head, and held hands with the Red Lotus Purifying Fire that Yuan Shu had condensed, twisting together and rubbing affectionately against each other.
"I'm going to start, Peak Master Yao?" Yuan Shu tilted her head to look at him.
Yao Qianci's gaze trembled, sweeping over Yuan Shu's full and exquisite curves, hiding a trace of disappointment in the depths of his eyes. "Alright."
Yuan Shu acted as if she didn't see his disappointment. Her lips curled into a smile as she stepped in front of the three-legged beast cauldron, releasing her spiritual energy to sense the changes within it.
When the temperature had risen enough, she began to toss in the spiritual plants.
Yao Qianci stood to the side. All he needed to do was continuously supply Yuan Shu with spiritual energy; Yuan Shu controlled everything else.
The alchemy process went very smoothly this time.
Although it took quite a bit of time, when the pills were formed, a rich fragrance wafted out, making one feel completely refreshed.
The cauldron opened, and eight perfectly round pills flew out, landing in the pill box Yuan Shu held in her hand.
The lustrous white pills were round and full, all of them top-grade!
On the side, Yao Qianci was once again shocked by this terrifying success rate.
The Frost Glaze Essence-Calming Pill—he had never even heard of this pill's name, let alone seen it in ancient texts.
And Yuan Shu casually refined it just like that?
As he was thinking, Yuan Shu stored the pills in her spatial dimension and turned to walk toward him.
At the same time, her fingertips moved.
The Chiyang Fire, which was playing happily with the Red Lotus Purifying Fire, suddenly paused. It released a wisp of a Chiyang Fire clone that crawled up Yuan Shu's ankle.
Wherever it crawled, her dress began to spontaneously combust without any wind, wrapping around her ankle, sweeping past her thighs, and climbing up her slender waist...
As the sparks scattered, the clothes on Yuan Shu's body burned away completely, leaving only her breathtaking, glowing white curves completely unreserved in Yao Qianci's line of sight.
Yao Qianci's eyes widened slightly, his throat dry, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shu had already walked up to him and reached out to wrap her arms around his neck.
"Peak Master Yao, your ability to control spiritual energy is amazing. I really have to thank you for the successful refinement of these pills!"
The exaggerated, stunning curves were right in front of him, undoubtedly drawing all of Yao Qianci's attention.
Meeting Yuan Shu's smiling face with her curved brows and eyes, Yao Qianci had already reached out, unable to help himself from pulling Yuan Shu into his arms, his voice hoarse.
"Shu Shu, it is my honor to be of service to you!"
Even through the thin fabric of his clothes, he could still feel the exaggerated, tempestuous waves of her body.
Yao Qianci lowered his head, supporting the back of Yuan Shu's neck, and spoke again in a husky voice, "Shu Shu, you look so beautiful right now. Can I hold you?"
"Aren't you already holding me, Peak Master Yao? Do you still need to ask for my permission?"
Yuan Shu lowered her head, glanced at his arms wrapped around her waist, and spoke with a half-smile.
Those hands held her waist, pressing her tightly against his chest, as if afraid she would run away.
Yao Qianci's emotions surged. He lowered his head and leaned close to Yuan Shu. "Not holding you like this, Shu Shu, but like this..."
As his words fell, Yao Qianci hooked his arms under Yuan Shu's legs, lifting her to his waist, and then lowered his head.
...
The Chiyang Fire was a good baby, knowing exactly what to do and when.
After helping Yuan Shu burn away her clothes, it used the Chiyang Fire to conjure a large red bed and a red brocade quilt.
Yao Qianci's kisses traveled down from her shoulders, covering her entire body. Just at the critical moment, he was stopped by Yuan Shu's hand.
"You have been in the Soul Formation realm for many years, and you only need one opportunity to advance to the Void Refinement Realm. Even as a body of spiritual sense, you shouldn't carelessly leak your Primordial Yang."
"Now is not the time."
Darkness surged in the depths of Yao Qianci's eyes, his voice hoarse, revealing a heavy sense of unsatisfied desire. "Shu Shu..."
"Wait for me for a while, there will be a huge surprise!"
Yuan Shu stopped him again, lifting her head to kiss the corner of his mouth.
Yao Qianci pursed his lips and returned her kiss twice.
Then, suddenly as if thinking of something, he lifted the blanket made by the Chiyang Fire, covering Yuan Shu's body as well as his own lowered form.
Fine, fragmented kisses trailed down her waistline...
Her ankle was suddenly grasped.
The next instant, Yuan Shu's eyes widened slightly.
"Yao, Yao Qianci! Mmh..."
