Chapter 24: Alchemy

Bai Yuan and his group continued to run deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.

However, they did not dare to go too deep; they stopped when they could no longer sense any movement in the distance.

"Second Brother." Bai Yuan shouted.

The white-silk beauty behind him immediately understood, her whole body transforming at once into a tall tree that covered everyone.

Moreover, this tree was much taller than before, so even as they went deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest it did not look out of place; instead it blended with the surroundings, as if it had always grown there.

The illusionary formation engraved on his second disciple activated, making the tree and its surroundings blend even more perfectly, and even the windows on it vanished completely.

The interior layout, however, remained largely unchanged, clearly a deliberate preservation by Bai Yuan's second disciple.

Xiao Wu stared, dumbfounded.

Could it really be a ten-thousand-year soul beast that has undergone rebirth?

As soon as that thought arose in her mind, Xiao Wu immediately dismissed it, for a reborn ten-thousand-year soul beast that has taken human form cannot change back.

Unless it is a legendary ferocious beast, only then can it freely shift between human and soul beast forms.

But if it is a ferocious beast,

Bai Yuan set Ning Rongrong down.

The girl still blushed, occasionally stealing glances at Bai Yuan, but whenever she saw his expressionless face, she inevitably felt disappointed.

Bai Yu gently set Wang Qiu'er down, then flung Xiao Wu aside and said, "Master, how should we deal with her?"

Xiao Wu continued to struggle; she was also having some difficulty breathing, her big eyes involuntarily rolling upward.

Bai Yuan activated the Wood Spirit Formation, and the vines in Xiao Wu's mouth finally emerged: "Xiao Wu, do you wish for a fate worse than death?"

"Cough cough cough!"

Xiao Wu coughed violently for a moment, then snapped angrily, "If you have the ability, kill me!"

Bai Yuan said, "Killing you would be useless, so I'll give you another chance to choose—do you want a fate worse than death?"

"Elder Senior Sister Mother, Master Father, how exactly are you going to make her suffer a fate worse than death?" Wang Qiu'er's golden eyes revealed a hint of curiosity.

Without a word, Bai Yu took Wang Qiu'er's little hand and pulled her upstairs, seemingly worried that something inappropriate for minors might happen.

"Master, I've taken Qiu'er upstairs."

"Mm." Bai Yuan nodded.

Ning Rongrong glanced over, not wanting to witness any tormenting scene, and followed Bai Yu and the others upstairs.

"Young Master Bai, I'm going up as well."

"All right." Bai Yuan said.

Instantly, only Bai Yuan remained here, along with Xiao Wu tightly bound by the vines.

"I..." Xiao Wu wanted to say she wasn't afraid, but thinking of her recent breathing difficulties and the constant feeling of being on the brink of death, she suddenly found herself unable to speak.

"It looks like you're afraid." Bai Yuan crouched down and gently stroked her face, which was bruised purple and green in places and still swollen in others.

Xiao Wu lowered her head and remained silent.

Afraid?

In a moment of impulsiveness, when anger flares, perhaps one fears nothing; but once calm returns, lingering apprehension remains.

Yet she had no intention of paying attention to Bai Yuan.

Even if she was truly terrified.

Bai Yuan calmly said, "Xiao Wu, rest assured, I normally don't hit people; I only want to ask you one question: do you consider the Great Bright and Second Bright more important, or your brother Tang San?"

Xiao Wu stared blankly; she had thought that staying silent would bring her fierce torment, even inhuman humiliation.

Now he's merely asking this?

Xiao Wu unconsciously let out a sigh of relief in her heart.

She hesitated a moment, then spoke: "Both are important."

Bai Yuan smiled: "Then if you must choose one side, which would you pick?"

Xiao Wu smiled but gave no answer.

Bai Yuan muttered to himself: "This is the future I foresee: the Great Bright and Second Bright, along with you, will all become Tang San's soul rings and soul bones, forming the foundation of his godhood."

Xiao Wu startled, then instantly regained her composure.

"You're trying to trick me again? This time I won't fall for it."

Bai Yuan smiled: "If you don't believe me, forget it; whether you believe or not makes no difference to me. Our chat is just giving you a chance—if you can help me kill Tang San, I will sincerely take you as my disciple."

"You're dreaming!" Xiao Wu sneered.

Bai Yuan said no more, merely forming hand seals.

"Wood Spirit Formation!"

"Earth Spirit Formation!"

The vines once again blocked Xiao Wu's mouth, making her feel difficulty breathing, extremely uncomfortable, yet not fatal.

A huge pit appeared out of nowhere, burying Xiao Wu inside; just as before, Bai Yuan left her a ventilation shaft.

"Xiao Wu, think it over carefully; if you change your mind, you can tell Ning Rongrong, who will be feeding you."

The earth covered over, and everything returned to how it was.

Bai Yuan approached the "wall" and reached out to touch it.

"Master." A thought called out.

Bai Yuan nodded: "From now on you shall be called Mu Junwu."

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing the name." Mu Junwu replied.

Bai Yuan left; he also went upstairs, and for the time being he had no intention of transmitting the Wood Emperor Longevity Classic to Mu Junwu.

After all, he can still only bind one disciple at present; he needs to seize the time to let Bai Yu break through.

Passing by the second-floor kitchen, Bai Yu was teaching Ning Rongrong how to stir-fry; Ning Rongrong was studying earnestly, while Wang Qiu'er stood to the side curiously watching, three golden eyes blinking away.

Sensing Bai Yuan passing by, the three greeted him in unison.

"Master."

"Master Dad."

"Young Master Bai."

Bai Yuan nodded and replied, "I'm going upstairs; you don't need to call me for this meal."

"Okay." Bai Yu replied.

Ning Rongrong felt a bit disappointed; she now felt her cooking skills had greatly improved, and she had wanted Bai Yuan to savor it properly, but he said he wouldn't eat this meal.

Wang Qiu'er stepped forward and hugged Bai Yuan, saying, "Master Dad, the eldest senior sister's mother said skipping meals is bad for the body."

Bai Yuan was speechless, then gave a wry smile and said, "Alright, Master will eat first and then go upstairs to attend to business."

"Great!" Wang Qiu'er was very happy.

Ning Rongrong also smiled on her face, and she stir-fried even more earnestly.

However, it was obvious that being able to cook well on the third try was truly a talent; this time Ning Rongrong messed up again, the stir-fried dish came out dark and unappetizing.

However, Bai Yuan didn't let her eat it as he had the previous night, and instead had her send it to Xiao Wu; anyway, until she figures it out, all that's needed is for her to stay alive.

Since we can't waste food, just let her eat it.

After the meal, Bai Yuan came to the top floor.

Here, besides a bed and a window, there was also what looked like a bronze alchemy furnace.

This was not an alchemy furnace that Bai Yuan had forged himself.

In terms of quality, it was barely sufficient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

"There's only one of this; I hope it can yield several Foundation Establishment Pills." Bai Yuan ignited it with a Fire Spirit Array, placed various medicinal ingredients inside, and began the refinement.

The outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The battle here had entered a white-hot stage, and the terrifying shockwaves had already slain an unknown number of Soul Beasts.

However, after the Dragon Lord and Snake Granny arrived and unleashed their martial soul fusion skill, the three Soul Beasts fell into an absolute disadvantage.

Each of them was covered in wounds.

The most miserable was the Azure Heaven Ox Python, which had just tried to save the Titan Giant Ape besieged by Bone Douluo and the Dragon Lord and Snake Granny couple, and was directly chopped off a corner by Sword Douluo.

(End of chapter)