"It’s not that we don’t want to send her guards, but Ning Xuan refuses to accept them." Zhu Hongying was exasperated. Regarding Yun Tianye’s assassination attempt, Ning Xuan may have appeared willing to reconcile, but that was just a rational decision. She’s afraid the Yun Family will try to eliminate her, and she doesn’t want to go head-to-head with the Seven Star Divine Mountain while she’s still relatively weak.

"Didn’t they say Lin Mo is with her? Lin Mo has been to the Lingxiao Secret Realm before. With his strength, it shouldn’t be hard to protect Ning Xuan. You shouldn’t worry too much," Zhu Hongxing advised.

"But this time is different. So many people have died. How can I not be worried?" With only three days left until the end of the Alchemist competition, Zhu Hongying was on pins and needles.

On one hand, she was worried Ning Xuan would meet with some misfortune. On the other, she was also worried that even if Ning Xuan was fine, she might refuse to treat Yun Han again. After all, Zhu Hongying had previously promised Ning Xuan many conditions as compensation, all of which she had rejected. It was obvious she didn’t want to get any more involved with the Yun Family.

The last time she came, it was partly because she was curious about Yun Han and wanted to see his true condition, and partly because she wanted Yun Tianye to be punished and to probe the Yun Family.

’This time, even if I wanted to invite her, on what grounds could I possibly do it?’

How could Zhu Hongxing, as her older brother, not know of Zhu Hongying’s worries? However, he wasn’t confident either. He had sent people to investigate Ning Xuan’s background, hoping to find her likes or weaknesses. He wanted to see if he could cater to her tastes or find an opening to establish a friendly relationship.

In the end, they found nothing.

Ning Xuan had no close relatives she deeply cared for, nor did she have any obvious weaknesses like greed or lust. She spent all her time either in Cultivation or practicing alchemy, leaving no angle to exploit.

"Worrying is useless. We can’t just rely on Ning Xuan for Yun Han’s situation. Yun Han was injured this badly while serving the Federation. I’ve already contacted the Elder Council. The Starry Sky Academy will be sending someone to treat Yun Han in the next few days." In his effort to save his nephew, Zhu Hongxing had called in every favor he could, finally managing to connect with the Elder Council.

"Really? That’s great! I heard the Starry Sky Academy has inherited the Ancient Acupuncture Skill. Ning Xuan used an Acupuncture Technique to treat Yun Han last time," Zhu Hongying said, her voice filled with excitement.

"Yes, that’s precisely why I asked someone to pull strings there—because they have that inheritance."

"Have Yun Tianye’s wounds healed? Is he still angry with you, refusing to see you?" Zhu Hongxing asked his sister.

Hearing this, Zhu Hongying shook her head with a bitter smile. "Don’t even mention him. I don’t even know how to communicate with him anymore." To satisfy Ning Xuan’s demands, Zhu Hongying had forced Yun Tianye to accept punishment. Although Yun Tianye eventually compromised, he had been at odds with Zhu Hongying ever since, refusing to meet her privately outside of necessary occasions.

He even had to time his visits to see his son to avoid her.

"How is Yiyi doing?" Zhu Hongying asked. Zhu Yiyi was Zhu Hongxing’s daughter. She was also participating in this year’s Alchemist competition in the unrestricted division. Her Spiritual Power Level was A-level, and her Companion Spirit was an Elite Level Five-Colored Peacock.

"Her Life Plate is stable, but I don’t know if she’ll be able to find what I sent her to look for." A look of worry also crossed Zhu Hongxing’s face.

"Brother, you have to have faith in Yiyi. When has she ever let you down?" Zhu Hongying comforted him.

Many others shared the Zhu siblings’ deep concern about the situation in the Lingxiao Secret Realm, including the families of Lin Mo and Chen Nan, as well as Marshal Ying, who was far away on the Star Domain Battlefield.

Inside the Lingxiao Secret Realm, the Alchemist competition was in its final countdown. Ning Xuan took stock of the medicines in a Space Button designated for them. The liquids in the bottles were clear and pure, glowing in a variety of crystalline, translucent colors. Their Glazed Bottle vials refracted the faint light, creating a shimmering, iridescent display.

On the far left, a Cold Jade Bottle held Ice Soul Condensed Dew. The sky-blue liquid spun slowly within, occasionally forming fine ice crystals. Next to it, the Red Jade Lava was like molten rubies; one could feel the surging, fiery energy through the wall of the bottle, its surface occasionally glowing with a golden-red halo.

The Ice Soul Condensed Dew and Red Jade Lava were refined from the Ice Soul Pearl and Red Jade Rock, respectively. Both were exceedingly precious heavenly treasures, excellent for helping Spirit Controllers achieve a Breakthrough.

Her gaze then fell upon four bottles of two-toned medicine: the Creation Liquid, a weave of emerald and silver. The two colors maintained a delicate balance inside the bottle, like two yin-yang fish chasing each other’s tails, mutually attracting and repelling.

All the medicinal liquids were so clear they didn’t contain the slightest impurity. This was the state of "pristine purity" that only a top-tier Alchemist could achieve through refinement.

This Creation Liquid was ranked second on the competition’s scoreboard, worth 5,000 points, second only to the Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life.

The few bottles of Creation Liquid Ning Xuan had refined were already very close to the level of Star-grade Medicine.

Ning Xuan had a formula for a Star-grade Medicine and had gathered all the necessary ingredients. She had tried to refine one before, even adding Purple Marrow Star Pattern Grass as a catalyst, but she still failed. In fact, over this recent period, Ning Xuan sensed that her Spiritual Power Level should have already broken through. However, within this Secret Realm, any level exceeding B-level was suppressed.

A Jade Box in the corner of the Space Button emanated a warm glow. Ning Xuan took it out. Two Primordial Fruits lay quietly inside. The fist-sized fruits were suffused with an amber-like luster, their skin covered in naturally formed patterns. On closer inspection, these patterns possessed an indescribable spiritual charm. The pulp was translucent, and what looked like liquid Spiritual Energy seemed to pulse along meridians within, as if the fruit were alive.

As the main ingredient for the Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life, the Primordial Fruit was exceptionally rare. These two fruits had been found and brought back by Yan Fuzhen. She herself had wandered the Spirit Medicine Valley for seven or eight days but still hadn’t been able to find the legendary Primordial Fruit Tree.

Since Yan Fuzhen was the one who found them, even though he had given both fruits to her, she couldn’t just take them for free. She planned to give half of the Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life to Yan Fuzhen after she successfully refined it.

The raw materials were too precious. Until she was confident she could refine a Star-grade Medicine, she couldn’t afford to waste them. For now, she could only treasure them carefully.

Ning Xuan put the Space Button back into her Mysterious Ring. As soon as she stepped out of the Alchemy Room, she saw Yan Fuzhen leaning against the door, waiting for her.

Seeing Ning Xuan emerge, Yan Fuzhen bowed deeply. Ning Xuan happened to have a question for him. "Housekeeper Yan, what is the purpose of the Guiding Key to the Chaotic Divine Domain?"

Ning Xuan had signed up for the unrestricted division because she found the format more challenging, and her strength was sufficient to participate. However, she wasn’t quite clear on the use of the champion’s prize, the Guiding Key to the Chaotic Divine Domain.

"The Chaotic Divine Domain is a place that every Spirit Controller who wishes to become a Transcendent must go. Only there can one complete their transformation."