Chapter 11 - A Maiden's Heart

Sophie's cheeks gradually turned red. Such an astonishing revelation, and Moyang only whispered it to her. To know, alchemists were incredibly esteemed across the entire Xuantian Continent, treated as honored guests wherever they went.

Although Moyang seemed impenetrable to persuasion, his words stirred an inexplicable feeling in her heart.

What's more, Sophie was filled with curiosity about Moyang. Everyone used to say he was a useless nobody, but now it seemed he was nothing of the sort. He was a genius, shrouded in countless secrets, like a figure cloaked in mist.

She couldn't figure it out—how could Moyang, who lived in the same Lingxu Sect as everyone else, master alchemy techniques that even the Fourth Elder didn't know?

"You… you let me take a look at that pill first. If it's real, I… I'll help you!" Her thoughts wavered as she spoke, her words stuttering and her tone no longer as sharp as usual.

Although Moyang sensed something unusual about her, he didn't dwell on it. Hearing her words, he handed over the Beautifying Pill and said in a low voice, "You'll know its effects after taking it. I guarantee you'll grow more and more radiant and beautiful!"

Sophie's cheeks flushed even redder. Previously, Moyang had claimed he wasn't interested in her, and she had harbored a grudge against him for it—nobody had ever treated her like that before. But hearing him now praise her beauty, her heart felt oddly satisfied, her emotions becoming more chaotic.

Moyang frowned slightly, feeling something was off about Sophie. But preoccupied with his need for herbs, he reminded her again, "I'll be waiting for your good news at Wood Peak!"

Sophie took the Beautifying Pill without even looking at it and stored it away. She didn't dare meet Moyang's gaze and nodded almost instinctively, her face still flushed.

Seeing her nod, Moyang finally felt reassured. Without saying more, he turned and walked down from the main peak.

From a distance, disciples who had retreated earlier watched the scene. To their disbelief, Moyang and Sophie appeared to be whispering to each other, and Sophie looked utterly shy. In the end, nobody knew what she agreed to, but she nodded bashfully.

The disciples felt like they were dreaming, unable to believe their eyes. When had Sophie ever displayed such a demeanor?

It wasn't until Moyang's figure disappeared from sight that Qi Heng, his face dark, stepped forward.

Sophie's blush had yet to fade. Qi Heng snorted coldly in the direction of the mountain's base and said, "Junior Sister Su, no matter what Moyang says, don't believe him. He is disrespectful to his elders, reckless in his actions, and frivolous in his words. You mustn't get too close to him!"

Sophie quickly composed herself, feigning calm as she nodded. "Senior Brother Qi, I understand!"

---

Moyang returned to Wood Peak and immediately entered the stone tower to meditate and adjust his breathing. Then, he began experimenting with refining more common pills.

"My alchemy skills are still in their infancy. I must quickly refine ordinary pills to gain familiarity. Otherwise, even if I find rare spiritual herbs, I'll end up wasting them."

He remained in the stone tower, refining pills, oblivious to the passage of time. When he finally emerged, night had already fallen.

Opening the door to his courtyard, Moyang stepped outside. The sparse stars and bright moon bathed the earth in silver light. To his surprise, he noticed someone sitting on a stone bench. The silver threads embroidered on her white dress shimmered in the moonlight, and the jade hairpin nestled in her black hair reflected faint glimmers.

Moyang frowned and saw it was Sophie.

Instinctively, he glanced back at his door. It was intact, and the courtyard showed no signs of damage. He found it odd. Based on Sophie's usual personality, shouldn't she have kicked down his door or caused some commotion?

Pondering for a moment, Moyang walked over. He discovered Sophie had fallen asleep, leaning against the stone bench. In the quiet courtyard, her even breathing was clearly audible.

Beneath the moonlight, her peaceful, sleeping face seemed less annoying than usual.

"Has this girl suddenly developed a conscience? Or is the Beautifying Pill too enchanting, making her wait so patiently here? Tsk tsk… If only she restrained her usual overbearing, shrewish behavior, she wouldn't be so unbearable…" Moyang muttered to himself.

He coughed deliberately, waking Sophie up with a start. Seeing Moyang standing before her, she jumped up in fright and angrily shouted, "Moyang, you pervert! What do you think you're doing?"

"Uh…" Moyang was momentarily stunned, then sighed in relief. This girl was finally acting like herself again.

Before he could respond, Sophie seemed to regain full consciousness. She quickly stood, smoothed her dress, and fixed her hair before speaking. "When did you get back? Here—these are the herbs you wanted!"

She took out a spatial ring from her robes and handed it to Moyang.

Moyang froze briefly, touched his forehead, and pinched his face to ensure he wasn't hallucinating. In the span of a few seconds, Sophie had transformed into someone completely different. She didn't yell at him or lash out; even her tone was utterly unlike her usual self.

"Do you… have anything else to say? If not, I'll take my leave."

Taking the ring, Moyang looked at Sophie, whose nervous demeanor was far from her usual confidence. He was utterly confused.

After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "Nothing else. You can go now."

Watching Sophie leave the courtyard, Moyang was still baffled. But he quickly dismissed it—his focus was on the herbs. He would deal with other matters later.

---

For the next half month, Moyang stayed in the stone tower's second floor, tirelessly refining pills. Occasionally, when he caught his reflection in a bronze mirror after leaving the tower, he barely recognized himself, his disheveled appearance resembling a beggar.

However, the time spent was fruitful. With repeated attempts, his alchemy skills grew increasingly refined. Failures became rare, and the herbs in his spatial ring transformed into bottles of pills.

He successfully refined dozens of bottles of Marrow Cleansing Pills, as well as Beautifying Pills, Spiritual Origin Pills, and Bone Mending Pills.

The Spiritual Origin Pill, rich in spiritual energy, was commonly used for cultivation. It could also replenish true energy when depleted.

The Bone Mending Pill, one of the most basic healing pills recorded in the Ancient Pill Scripture, was another significant achievement.

For Moyang, success or failure was all that mattered. He personally tested each pill he refined, confirming their effectiveness. To him, that was proof enough.

In addition to mastering alchemy, his cultivation had also improved, advancing from the early to mid-stage of the Earth Profound Realm's third level.

Through repeated depletion and recovery of his true energy during alchemy, his energy reservoir had expanded and become more refined. The mysterious mark in his dantian, present since he began cultivating the Star Emperor Technique, also grew clearer. It now resembled a tightly sealed gateway.

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