Mortal Alchemy

"Fellow Daoist Tang, please have some tea."

The young woman held a jade tray with both hands, presenting Chen Ping with a cup of spiritual tea.

Chen Ping took the tea and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Tao."

This young woman's home, or rather her dojo, was antique and elegant. Although dilapidated, one could still discern its extraordinary past from the various furnishings and furniture.

Furthermore, a near second-order restriction formation protected the dojo.

Chen Ping took a sip of the spiritual tea: "Huh?"

Something was wrong.

There was poison in the tea.

Chen Ping's vigilance and killing intent instantly erupted. This young female cultivator, only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, dared to attack him?

The poison in the tea wouldn't kill him, but it would make him weak and faint.

However, Chen Ping's cultivation was already at the thirteenth level of Qi Refining. He secretly used his spiritual power to suppress the poison and expel it through his fingertips.

But Chen Ping didn't immediately react, pretending to savor the tea while scanning his surroundings.

"Why did she poison me?"

"Let's see what she's up to."

At the fifth level of Qi Refining, Chen Ping could easily kill her with a wave of his hand.

He wasn't in a hurry.

Chen Ping said, "Fellow Daoist Tao, do you live here alone?"

Tao Shuang'er's voice was as pleasant as a clear spring:

"I used to have a master, but after my master passed away, I was left alone here to cultivate."

Chen Ping nodded:

"This place is indeed suitable for solitary cultivation, undisturbed by the outside world."

Chen Ping finished the cup of tea and said:

"Fellow Daoist Tao, I have important matters to attend to, so I won't bother you any longer."

"Then I wish you peace and success, Fellow Daoist," Tao Shuang'er's acting was also excellent, with no flaws visible on her face. She even escorted Chen Ping to the door, watching him leave.

Half an hour later, Chen Ping returned to the place where he had captured the Glacial Netherflame.

He waited quietly.

Another hour passed.

Chen Ping placed one hand on his storage bag and the other concealed in his sleeve, clutching a second-order talisman. He said expressionlessly:

"Fellow Daoist Tao, now that you're here, why not show yourself?"

His voice echoed in the empty foothills.

Then Chen Ping saw a streak of light rapidly heading towards the dojo.

"Hehe," Chen Ping sneered, summoning his White Jade Flying Boat and chasing after her.

After a short while, Chen Ping's distance from Tao Shuang'er decreased. Chen Ping stood on the deck, holding the Green Bamboo Jade Sword, and said calmly:

"Fellow Daoist Tao, now that you're here, why are you leaving in such a hurry?"

Then he urged the White Jade Flying Boat to accelerate, and Chen Ping blocked Tao Shuang'er's path.

Tao Shuang'er's face was pale, but she forced herself to remain calm:

"Fellow Daoist Tang, what do you mean by this?"

Chen Ping chuckled:

"Fellow Daoist Tao, aren't you asking the obvious? Poisoning the tea I drank and waiting behind me for an hour and a half for me to be poisoned."

"You're so young, only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, but I didn't expect your heart to be so insidious and vicious."

Tao Shuang'er's face turned ashen, and her pupils contracted sharply.

This time, she had ruined her master's important plan.

Tao Shuang'er retorted, "It's clearly you who wanted to steal my master's spiritual fire! That's why I took action!"

Chen Ping narrowed his eyes:

"This second-order Glacial Netherflame actually has an owner?"

"But your master has already passed away, so this Glacial Netherflame is now unowned."

No wonder the spiritual fire disappeared halfway through his collection.

"Fellow Daoist Tao, since you harbored the intention to harm me, you must bear the corresponding consequences."

Chen Ping's killing intent could no longer be suppressed, and a sword energy flew towards Tao Shuang'er.

"Bang—"

After an explosion, Chen Ping didn't see Tao Shuang'er's body. Instead, Tao Shuang'er's angry voice rang out:

"Do you really think I, Tao Shuang'er, am afraid of a Qi Refining eighth level cultivator like you?"

Chen Ping's sword energy was enough to kill a twelfth level Qi Refining cultivator, but Tao Shuang'er was unharmed.

Then he saw Tao Shuang'er holding a palm-sized jade plate.

A majestic and fierce spiritual light burst forth from it, shooting towards Chen Ping.

Chen Ping's pupils contracted rapidly:

"A second-order magic weapon! Your master was a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

This woman's background must be significant. A fifth level Qi Refining cultivator actually possesses a second-order magic weapon. No wonder she was safe and sound in the Cloud Ice Mountain, which is full of demon beasts.

"Die!" Tao Shuang'er shouted.

Chen Ping immediately activated the spiritual power in his body and unleashed another sword strike.

"Boom!"

The two attacks collided, and neither of them was injured.

"This... how is this possible? You, a Qi Refining eighth level cultivator, can withstand the attack of a magic weapon?" Tao Shuang'er's eyes were full of disbelief.

Chen Ping chuckled: "Fellow Daoist, do you have any other tricks?"

"Although second-order magic weapons are powerful, you, a fifth level Qi Refining cultivator, cannot unleash their true power."

"Run!" Tao Shuang'er was shocked. She activated the jade plate again, abandoning her cheap flying magic tool, and actually used the magic weapon to turn into a streak of light and flee.

"It's better for Fellow Daoist Tao to stay," Chen Ping said, unleashing another sword strike. A wave of fire sword energy surged out, slamming heavily into Tao Shuang'er.

"Pfft—" The enormous force struck her, and countless bones in her body were broken.

The clothes on her body burned to ashes, but her physical body was not injured.

Underneath her clothes, she was actually wearing a layer of transparent, gauze-like close-fitting defensive magic weapon.

However, under this thin gauze, her exquisite and alluring body was no longer concealed, and the glimpses of spring light made one's heart flutter.

Chen Ping narrowed his eyes: "It's actually a first-order top-grade defensive magic weapon, and the style is so unique."

This woman's master is probably a lecherous demon.

Tao Shuang'er fell from the sky, landing on the snow, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood, her face full of despair.

Without the close-fitting defensive magic weapon, this one blow would have been enough to kill her.

"A second-order offensive magic weapon, and this kind of strange top-grade defensive magic weapon. Fellow Daoist Tao, your master, even among Foundation Establishment cultivators, is quite wealthy."

And that second-order spiritual fire.

Chen Ping stood on the deck, looking down at her:

"I'll spare your life. Take me to the place where your master passed away. His relics are destined for me."

Chen Ping raised his hand from afar, grabbing the soft and delicate body that had lost its combat power, and headed towards Tao Shuang'er's dojo again.

Killing and arson are the way to wealth. Whether it's for these magic weapons or the second-order spiritual fire.

Chen Ping had to properly deal with this woman before he could get his hands on them.

The path to Foundation Establishment is full of thorns and hardships. Whoever blocks him, dies!

Tao Shuang'er felt Chen Ping's surging spiritual power in horror. This spiritual power was almost the same as her master's.

Could this person be a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Tao Shuang'er's face was pale, and she bit her lip:

"If I cooperate well, can Senior really spare my life?"

Chen Ping chuckled:

"I'm not a bloodthirsty person. Whether you live or die depends on your cooperation."

Tao Shuang'er was very sensible and said:

"I will definitely satisfy Senior. I can give all of Master's relics to Senior. I am also proficient in the arts of the bedchamber and will definitely satisfy Senior."

Chen Ping laughed a few times. It seemed that his guess was correct. This master and disciple were not decent people.

This woman was both a disciple and a concubine serving her master.