Transmigrated As A Cannon Fodder Sacrifice, I Tricked An Evil God Into Becoming My Live-In Husband - Chapter 17

Zheng Qiuyu accepted the Soul-Nourishing Jade. The moment it touched her palm, a warm current surged upward from her hand.

The warmth was peculiar.

It wasn’t a physical heat, but a warmth that directly nourished the depths of her divine soul.

She glanced sideways at Zhuohuo lying on the Cold Jade Bed and noticed that the wisp of black qi coiled between his brows had visibly faded.

Her heart settled with relief.

This jade was indeed effective for Zhuohuo.

Without a word, she placed the jade beside Zhuohuo’s pillow before turning to face Zhang Xuan, whose face was filled with hopeful anticipation.

I can refine the pill, Zheng Qiuyu said, deliberately pausing to watch Zhang Xuan’s expression shift from wild joy to tense apprehension. But I have conditions.

Master, please name them! I’ll agree to anything! Zhang Xuan’s reaction was so swift it startled Zheng Qiuyu. The old man would clearly stop at nothing to save his Dao Companion.

The pill refining must take place at the Main Pill Furnace of Pill Peak, witnessed by all the Sect’s high-ranking members, Zheng Qiuyu stated, enunciating each word clearly.

During the process, no matter how unorthodox my methods may seem, no one is to interfere.

Zhang Xuan nodded without hesitation. No problem! I guarantee it in the name of the Lord of Pill Peak!

Excellent, Zheng Qiuyu said, nodding in satisfaction.

She needed an audience.

A large audience.

The System’s earlier notification had made it clear to establish herself in this cultivation world, mere minor achievements wouldn’t suffice.

She needed a performance so earth-shattering that no one would dare question her identity again.

And the Main Pill Furnace of Pill Peak was the perfect stage.

Less than an hour after Zhang Xuan left, the entire Azure Cloud Sect erupted in chaos.

The Voice Transmission Stone on Pill Peak reverberated across the mountains, Elder Zhang’s voice, trembling with excitement, echoing through every peak.

Fellow disciples! Elder Zhang will join forces with the Ancient Alchemy Grandmaster Zheng Qiuyu to refine the Soul-Nourishing Ancient Pill, a formula lost for a millennium!

Once completed, this pill can revive a dying divine soul in a single breath!

The refinement will take place at the Main Pill Furnace of Pill Peak. Peak Masters and Elders from all peaks are welcome to observe!

The announcement sent the entire Azure Cloud Sect into a frenzy.

An ancient pill formula?

Lost for a millennium?

How had that newly accepted disciple, who had only joined yesterday, suddenly become an Ancient Alchemy Grandmaster?

On Pill Peak Plaza, murmurs of discussion rose and fell like waves.

Has Elder Zhang been bewitched by that demoness?

Ancient Alchemy Grandmaster? More like a charlatan!

Remember Senior Brother Wang’s furnace explosion yesterday? Her prediction was spot-on!

Maybe she caused it herself!

Amidst the heated debate, a sarcastic voice cut through the crowd.

Junior Brothers and Sisters, there’s no need for such concern.

The crowd parted, making way for the Second Elder of Pill Peak, who strode forward with a group of elite disciples.

Senior Brother Zhang may be obsessed with pill refining, but he’s not foolish enough to fall for this.

He sneered.

Since that Demoness dares to put on this show in broad daylight, we’ll play along. But when her true colors are revealed, don’t blame us for showing no mercy.

The Second Elder’s favored disciples immediately chimed in.

Master is right! This so-called ‘Ancient Pill Formula’ is just smoke and mirrors!

Senior Brother Wang’s furnace explosion was probably her doing! Now she’s trying the same trick to deceive us!

Just wait and see! Her true form will be exposed soon enough!

The Main Pill Furnace of Pill Peak stood atop the mountain, the most sacred pill refining site in the entire Azure Cloud Sect.

The colossal bronze pill furnace stood three zhang tall and two zhang wide, its surface etched with ancient runes that radiated an aura of profound history.

Legend held that this furnace had been left behind by the founding ancestor of the Azure Cloud Sect and had once refined countless legendary divine pills.

Yet for nearly a thousand years, few had been able to master it.

Zheng Qiuyu stood before the furnace, her heart sinking.

The thing was far larger than she had imagined.

Moreover, the ancient runes appeared utterly incomprehensible she couldn’t decipher a single one.

What am I going to do?

She stole a glance at Zhang Xuan beside her, noticing the old man gazing at her with an almost reverent expression.

His eyes were filled with expectation, yet also a deeply hidden despair.

Zheng Qiuyu knew she couldn’t back down.

Retreat meant certain death.

Elder Zhang, she began, her voice surprisingly calm even to her own ears.

How do I control the earth fire within this furnace?

Zhang Xuan quickly explained, Master, this main furnace is connected to the mountain’s ley lines. The intensity of the earth fire can be adjusted using spiritual power.

However, traditionally, Pill Refiners directly channel their spiritual power to ignite and maintain a constant temperature within the furnace.

Zheng Qiuyu nodded.

A plan was forming in her mind.

Elder Zhang, can you use your spiritual power to create temperature control points on the outer wall of the pill furnace?

Temperature control points? Zhang Xuan looked puzzled.

Yes, use your spiritual power to form several independent temperature control zones on the furnace’s outer wall, Zheng Qiuyu explained, struggling to convey modern chemical engineering concepts using this world’s terminology. Each zone will have a different temperature that can be adjusted at any time.

Zhang Xuan frowned deeply. Master, what’s the purpose of this? Traditional pill refining maintains a constant temperature throughout the entire furnace. Wouldn’t dividing it into zones disrupt the medicinal properties?

A frog in a well cannot comprehend the sea, Zheng Qiuyu said coolly, mimicking the tone of the esteemed figures she had observed the previous day. Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Zhang Xuan was momentarily taken aback but nodded. I’ll try.

By now, the crowd of onlookers had grown significantly.

Peak Masters and Elders from various peaks had arrived, and even the Sect Leader himself had come to witness the spectacle.

The Second Elder stood at the forefront with his disciples, his eyes gleaming with mockery.

Senior Brother Zhang, is this what you call an ancient secret technique? the Second Elder sneered. Randomly placing temperature control points on the furnace wall? This isn’t pill refining—it’s utter nonsense!

Exactly! This is a blasphemy against the Pill Dao!

Wang Hao, still recovering from his injuries, was helped to the scene to witness the spectacle.

Pointing at Zheng Qiuyu, he roared angrily, Demoness! How dare you perform such trickery before the Sacred Furnace!

Zheng Qiuyu didn’t even glance back.

Elder Zhang, do you still trust me?

Zhang Xuan stared into Zheng Qiuyu’s unfathomable eyes, recalling the uncanny accuracy of her prediction about the furnace explosion yesterday.

Gritting his teeth, he bellowed, Silence! Today, I only trust Great Master Zheng!

Channeling his spiritual power to its limit, he began constructing the bizarre temperature control points on the pill furnace’s outer wall.

Threads of blue spiritual power snaked across the furnace’s surface, quickly forming over a dozen circular regions of varying sizes.

Each region radiated heat of different intensities, creating an undeniably strange sight.

The surrounding Pill Refiners buzzed with speculation, most dismissing it as utter nonsense.

Yet a few seasoned elders, their eyes gleaming with thoughtful curiosity, exchanged knowing glances.

Elder Zhang, add the ingredients.

Zheng Qiuyu began her performance.

She instructed Zhang Xuan to add the ingredients in a specific sequence, each herb placed within a region of precisely calibrated temperature.

Then, she began calling out precise timings.

Three breaths from now, extinguish the third fire source in the lower left.

Five breaths from now, increase the temperature by three degrees in the upper right region, area two.

Now, using your Divine Sense as a guide, capture the Dragon’s Saliva!

Zhang Xuan followed her instructions.

Instantly, the vibrant green primary medicinal herb within the pill furnace was rapidly cooled, forcing out a single, crystalline drop of golden liquid.

The droplet hovered in the air, emitting an otherworldly fragrance and radiating intense spiritual energy.

The entire hall fell silent.

Every Pill Refiner stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

Extracting liquid essence directly from a single herb?

What technique was this?

The Second Elder’s face turned deathly pale.

He pointed at the golden droplet, his voice trembling, This… how is this possible?

But Zheng Qiuyu didn’t give them time to dwell on their shock.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, she pointed to two highly poisonous spiritual herbs—one red, one blue—within the pill furnace.

These were Ice Heart Grass and Flame Sun Flower, universally recognized as mortal enemies in the cultivation world, guaranteed to explode upon contact.

Next, simultaneously extract the essence from both herbs and fuse them to create Phoenix Bl00d.

She looked at the dazed Zhang Xuan and emphasized, Remember, they must be extracted simultaneously.

Zhang Xuan’s face instantly turned ashen.