C4 Beauty Is too Cold

Under Little Phoenix's constant chatter, Ning Xiaofan finally laid eyes on the entrance to Sky Burning Valley.

From a distance, it resembled a towering cauldron set within a valley—this was the fabled Sky Burning Cauldron.

In truth, Sky Burning Valley was a sect dedicated to pill refining, renowned for its sect master's ability to produce Grade Three Spiritual Pills.

Spiritual pills were categorized into nine grades. Grade One pills were suitable for cultivators at the Energy Refining Stage, aiding them in advancing their cultivation.

Grade Two pills were tailored for those at the Foundation Stage, offering a much more potent boost in cultivation than their Grade One counterparts.

The Grade Three pills, however, were the stuff of legends, accessible only to the venerable ancestors of various sects. Rumor had it that the sect master of Sky Burning Valley had successfully concocted a batch of Grade Three Medicinal Pills a decade ago.

This sect, known for its Grade Three pill refining, was a colossus within the Shu Kingdom, which merely served as its mouthpiece in the Mortal Realm.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Five bell tolls rang out. What could it mean?

Ning Xiaofan understood that the quintet of chimes signaled the disciples to return to their respective halls and for the deacons and elders to convene a grand meeting. Could there be a significant event about to unfold within the sect?

The Spirit Herb Garden was home to barely a dozen disciples, and now Wang Xiao was absent. And Wang Yun, he was just an Outer Sect disciple. Could their disappearance be the cause of this commotion?

With an uneasy heart, Ning Xiaofan hastened his pace toward the Spirit Herb Garden.

Inside, only a handful of plants struggled against the breeze, their vitality as feeble as Ning Xiaofan's past self.

Crossing through the protective array and into the servants' quarters, he found eight people already assembled.

"Xiaofan, you've returned!"

From among the group, Fanh Yichen beckoned to Ning Xiaofan. Much like Ning Xiaofan, he was a man of few words and quite portly, earning him the nickname Big Fat.

Within the sect, they were known as the Huhai Brothers—Big Fat and his lean counterpart. Fanh Yichen was slightly more adept in cultivation than Ning Xiaofan had been, having reached Level 2 of the Energy Refining Stage.

"Hey, look who's back, little loser! The Huhai Brothers are reunited at last!"

"You're the loser, I—I'm here to challenge you!"

Fanh Yichen's eyes blazed with unquenchable fury, which quickly died down.

"Ha, did you forget how badly I beat you last time? Hilarious!"

The taunter was none other than Hsu Yiyuan.

"Mr. Hsu, check out the parrot on that loser's shoulder—a pathetic little half-plucked thing. What a perfect match, trash carrying trash."

Ning Xiaofan shot them a contemptuous look, as if he were staring down the dead. It was clear now why they had always tormented him; his past timidity and weakness had made him an easy target for their bullying.

"What's the matter? Can't handle the truth?"

Hsu Yiyuan and Ling Tao exchanged glances, their eyes twinkling with amusement. Ning Xiaofan's fists tightened, his gaze cold and dead as he stared them down.

For Ning Xiaofan, dispatching these two would be as simple as a flick of his wrist, now that he had reached Level 7 of the Energy Refining Stage, ranking him among the elite of Sky Burning Valley's Outer Sect disciples.

Reaching Level 10 of the Energy Refining Stage would grant him entry to the Inner Sect, and breaking through that threshold could make him an elder or a personal disciple. In all of Sky Burning Valley, there were only three personal disciples.

Ning Xiaofan still had three cultivation points left—enough to propel him to Level 10. But he was no fool; he wouldn't rush it. A servant leaping to Level 10 of the Energy Refining Stage overnight would raise alarms, leading to severe interrogation by the sect's higher-ups, potentially endangering his life.

"Hsu Yiyuan, Ling Tao, enough," barked Gongsun Zhuo, the deacon in charge of the servants' quarters. His sharp gaze swept over the group, silencing Hsu Yiyuan and Ling Tao instantly. In this world, authority was everything, and Gongsun Zhuo's command was law.

"Xiaofan, why are you only just getting back now?"

"Mr. Gongsun, I was delayed because I had to gather herbs in the mountains."

Since his adoptive father passed away, Gongsun Zhuo, the steward, had been looking out for him.

"Ah, that explains it. For the next half-month, don't leave the sect; there may be significant developments."

"Understood, Mr. Gongsun."

"Master Steward, does our sealing of the valley have anything to do with the Seven Sword Immortal Sect?"

"Shh, keep it down. Is that something you can just blurt out?"

"Okay, everyone, that's enough. You're in charge of the Spirit Herb Garden. Just make sure the herbs are well-tended. Oh, and starting next month, you'll need to double the herbs you contribute."

"Master Steward, must you be so harsh?"

The look on everyone's faces was grim. Doubling the quota next month meant not only fulfilling their cultivation duties but also scouring the area for additional spiritual herbs.

"You've all had it easy for years; I'm just following orders from our leader."

After the crowd dispersed, Fanh Yichen grabbed Ning Xiaofan, "Come on, I've got something great at my place."

"Fanh Yichen, something great?"

"You bet. I went to a lot of trouble for this. Come on, pour it out."

Ning Xiaofan sat at the small table, wine pot in hand, filling cups.

"This is amazing; the wine is infused with spiritual energy!"

"Ding! Congratulations, host. Your cultivation is increasing... your cultivation value is on the rise..."

It wasn't just medicinal pills that aided cultivation; this Spirit Wine was potent too. That meant anything that could boost one's internal spiritual energy would enhance their cultivation value. He'd have to focus on increasing that value more in the future.

Cultivation Points were easier to come by; ten of them could be exchanged for one Cultivation Point.

Fanh Yichen drank himself into oblivion, and Ning Xiaofan was quite drunk himself. But a surge of spiritual energy sobered him up instantly.

"Stick with me, brother, and we'll be unbeatable. Ha!"

After making sure Fanh Yichen was comfortably laid down, Ning Xiaofan's hands glowed as he placed two Energy Refining Pills into a pill bottle and tucked it under the pillow. He also slipped two Spirit Stones inside.

Since Ning Xiaofan had no intention of leaving Sky Burning Valley, his focus shifted to bolstering his knowledge. His destination was the Books Pavilion.

Admission to the Books Pavilion required a Spirit Stone, a standing rule of the Sky Burning Valley. Now in possession of the stone, Ning Xiaofan no longer had to pinch pennies as he had before.

The pavilion's collection didn't boast any particularly formidable techniques; the truly valuable items wouldn't be found in a place accessible to Worker Disciples. Ning Xiaofan's primary goal was to gather information on pill refining. He wasn't in search of advanced techniques, just the foundational texts on the subject.

"Ah, Xiaofan's back! What brings you to my Books Pavilion today?" Elder Fong inquired.

"Greetings, Elder Fong! I've brought a Spirit Stone. I'm here to find some materials," Ning Xiaofan replied.

"Xiaofan wants to read, huh? Well, considering your foster father, keep your Spirit Stone. Go on up!"

Ning Xiaofan pocketed the Spirit Stone, appreciative of the respect shown by the Outer Sect elders, even if the newer members didn't give him much thought.

Elder Fong's rheumy gaze landed on Xiaofeng. "Quite the fine little creature. Is it a spirit beast?"

"I'm not sure. I found it just after it hatched; it barely had any feathers!"

"Lucky find. Off you go, then!"

Ning Xiaofan had always been looked after by his foster father and Elder Fong, who had joined Sky Burning Valley in the same era. However, he hadn't frequented this place before.

The Books Pavilion was split into three levels: the first housed mundane world classics, the second contained various texts from the immortal cultivation world—potentially hiding some gems—and the third was reserved for Energy Refining Stage disciples, offering only the basics discarded by the Inner Sect.

Inside the pavilion, Ning Xiaofan encountered only a handful of people. On the first level, he spotted seven or eight Outer Sect disciples, seemingly in search of needed materials.

Ning Xiaofan's quest was not for esoteric knowledge; he lingered on the first level for quite some time, eager to deepen his understanding of the world around him.

Ning Xiaofan found himself in the Rosefinch Continent, a land dominated by the element of fire. Consequently, the majority of the cultivation sects practiced fire-based techniques.

Spanning a vast expanse from east to west and from south to north, the Rosefinch Continent was so large that even the most venerable ancestors would need to fly for decades to traverse it.

The continent was home to over a hundred nations, with the Shu Kingdom situated in the eastern part, right up against the continent's impenetrable barrier. Rumor had it that not even immortals could cross it.

The Shu Kingdom was, in fact, at the very edge of the eastern Rosefinch Continent. Beyond it lay the boundless ocean and, amidst its waves, the unbreakable barrier.

Having perused the books on the first floor, Ning Xiaofan swiftly ascended to the second and then to the third floor, heading directly for the section on pill refining techniques.

The third floor was deserted, as it housed various cultivation techniques. Disciples typically chose their pill refining techniques upon joining the sect and seldom returned; they wouldn't bother with the subpar options here when changing techniques. Thus, this floor was the quietest.

A large shelf held no fewer than a thousand tomes on pill refining. Ning Xiaofan skimmed from start to finish, selecting the "Alchemy Scripture," "How to Refine Medicine Pills," "Rain Ink Pill Refining Technique," and "Immortal Spirit Herb."

He meticulously reviewed the books, gradually grasping the intricacies of the pill refining process.

Pill refining required a specific type of fire. At the Energy Refining Stage, wood or earth fire was commonly used, with earth fire being preferable for its strength and the superior medicinal efficacy of the pills it produced.

A quality pill furnace was also essential, as it could elevate the pill refining process to a higher level.

The technique of pill refining was another crucial aspect. Summarizing from several books, he learned that the most vital technique was fire control, which was key to managing the heat within the pill furnace.

Additionally, one had to be familiar with herbs—not just recognizing them, but understanding their individual effects and how they interacted when combined.

Recognizing herbs?

The "Immortal Spirit Herb" contained ample information, but its introductions were too brief. It prompted Ning Xiaofan to think of his own "Spirit Herb Manual."

A divine light flickered, and the manual materialized in his hands. Ning Xiaofan, seated in a corner, seemed oblivious to the passage of time as he pored over the Spirit Herb Manual.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, for learning the skill of herb identification. Skill value is increasing... Completion will take five days."

Five days? That's an eternity! Isn't there a quicker way?

"Master, you can directly enhance your Spirit Herb Appraisal skill, but it requires Skill Points."

Skill Points will do? Fantastic. How many are needed to master this book?

"You'll need 10 Skill Points."

'Good grief! That's ten Skill Points, equivalent to one Cultivation Point, which is like advancing from the seventh to the eighth level of the Energy Refining Stage. Such extravagance!'

In the past, Ning Xiaofan would have stubbornly spent ten days studying without considering an upgrade. But now, with a determined bite of his lip, he chose to level up!

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, for mastering the herb identification skill. You've expended 10 Skill Points. The next level requires 100 Skill Points."

An upgrade is possible? Excellent. But the cost is prohibitive; I don't have that many Skill Points to spare.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, on learning a skill for the first time. You are awarded Seven-color Spirit Soil."

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! For mastering the herb identification skill, you are rewarded with 2 Skill Points."

From 15 down to 7 Skill Points, and just 3 more to exchange for Cultivation Points.

What exactly is Seven-color Spirit Soil? Could it be used to cultivate something valuable?

'I must study this thoroughly when I have the time. No more wastefulness.'

"Are you Ning Xiaofan?"

A chilly voice echoed from behind, startling Ning Xiaofan out of his deep concentration.

Laughter bubbled up nearby, a sound so delightful to the ear.

As Ning Xiaofan rose to his feet, he caught sight of a stunning beauty not far off, her laughter enchanting. Yet, the moment her eyes met his, her expression frosted over like the first touch of winter.

Despite the chill in the air, her beauty was breathtaking. With an air of allure, she moved with a delicate grace. Her long, slender legs, full and rounded hips, tender waist, and the hazy curves of her figure cast a seductive silhouette. She was stunningly beautiful, enough to eclipse even the most renowned beauties of the land.

Yet, as he gazed upon her, the temperature seemed to plummet, and he felt as if ice crystals were forming on his skin. Was she what they called a 'cold beauty'? Indeed, she was freezing!

"If you keep staring, I'll gouge out your eyes," she threatened.

"Oh, Senior Sister, did you just say something?" he asked, taken aback.

"I asked if you're the Worker Disciple, Ning Xiaofan?"

"Yes, that's me. May I know who you are?"

"I'm Ling Keer."

Recognition dawned on him. She was the esteemed direct disciple of the Supreme Elder, likely a practitioner at the Foundation Establishment stage, a notable figure throughout the entire Sky Burning Valley. But what could she possibly want with him? Was it something to do with the Wang brothers?

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