Thinking of the Profound Crystal, Qin Ruqing asked, “By the way, that Five-Colored Crystal, it doesn’t seem like an ordinary energy crystal…”

Fifth Lingyu looked up, giving her a “you’ve struck it rich” smile, and said, “That’s an ancient attribute profound crystal. Refining it can enhance your control over attribute rules.”

Ancient attribute profound crystal. Qin Ruqing nodded inwardly.

No wonder she noticed an improvement in her control over fire.

Before Fifth Lingyu left, Qin Ruqing asked one last question.

“Director, does the Fifth family have a library or something similar where I can read ancient books?”

Fifth Lingyu: “Of course. You are a honored guest of the Fifth family.”

“Activate the copper bell with your divine sense directed at the Wanjuan Pavilion, and the bell will guide you. The pavilion has floor restrictions.

Ordinary disciples can only enter up to the third floor, but with your Hell Path heavenly-level token, you should be able to access the fourth floor.”

Access to the fourth floor!

Qin Ruqing twisted her fingers, preparing to use her sweet-talking skill: “Director, you are so kind. I will make sure to perform well in the Four Hells and not disgrace you~”

Fifth Lingyu’s eyes flashed: “I’m kind? Isn’t it you who called me flamboyant and a rotten carrot?”

Hey, let’s keep some things unspoken, okay?

After finally seeing off this great figure, Qin Ruqing entered the house.

The windows were open, and it seemed servants had already cleaned the place, knowing she was moving in.

Qin Ruqing’s first reaction was to thoroughly inspect the room, checking for “cameras,” surveillance arrays, or anything of the sort.

Once she was sure it was clear, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She walked to the window, where there seemed to be a “waterfall” with lively flowers, birds, fish, and insects.

Reaching out to touch the waterfall, she found it was not water but some kind of gas.

Inhaling it made her feel refreshed and clear-headed.

Qin Ruqing chuckled, “A five-star hotel, really not bad!”

She sat on the bed and took out her communication jade slip, starting to catch up with her messages.

She had been in the Four Hells for about three days, accumulating quite a few unread messages, which she now went through all at once.

After she had returned to the other side of the Five-Colored Sea to report her safety last time, the anxious Tang Zifeng had finally relaxed.

Little Cow Tang: “It’s good you’re safe.”

But then asked again.

Little Cow Tang: “Are you sure you don’t need me to come see you?”

Lu Wei seemed to be quite concerned about Qin Ruqing and paid close attention to the jade slip messages, so her replies came quickly.

Simple Weiwei: “Don’t worry, Brother Tang. Qingqing said she’s busy reaping benefits, so she should be in a good mood. She might have entered a trial ground for the Fifth Celestial Family or something similar.”

After that, Qin Ruqing didn’t send any more messages.

Tang Zifeng began reporting his daily activities like a robot.

Little Cow Tang: “Today, I’m refining a Golden Grade elder’s personal artifact. The amount of spirit stones is not much, but there are many tasks. I provided three versions of the design, but none were satisfactory. When I got to the fifth version, he chose the first one. I don’t understand.”

Little Cow Tang: “I was about to refuse his order, but Master Minghua said that this Golden Grade family has significant influence and is a long-term partner of the Artifact Association. I had no choice but to tolerate it.”

Another day passed.

Little Cow Tang: “Still his order. However, the final payment for the previous order has arrived, totaling 80,000 spirit stones.”

Lu Wei was stunned.

Simple Weiwei: “Brother Tang, I didn’t know you were so wealthy…”

As for Qi Rong, there was only one brief message from him saying, “Still cooking in the pot,” and then he went silent, leaving everyone unsure of his status.

Qin Ruqing finished reading and burst into laughter before starting to reply to messages.

Miracle Qingqing (First Female Immortal of Nanling Village): “Is Qirong still cooking in the pot?”

To Third Sister: “The people involved in artifact refining are all very wealthy!”

To Tang Zifeng: “Big brother, please send me money soon!”

Song Clan Territory.

A massive cauldron, nearly as large as four grown men could embrace, was over a blazing fire.

Inside the cauldron, an unknown deep green liquid was boiling, with green onion slices occasionally floating to the surface.

Qirong was sitting in the cauldron, his small face turning red from the heat.

He used all his strength to pry open his eyelids and glanced at Third Elder Song , who was leisurely sitting in a recliner nearby.

Qirong weakly said, “Elder, could I please see the communication jade slip?”

Chatting and complaining to his sister and others was Qirong’s last mental refuge.

Third Elder Song’s recliner was next to a small table covered with many jade slips, all containing newly acquired celestial materials from the Huicui Tower.

Third Elder Song was busy selecting usable scenes and starting to edit them, adding soft light effects to some of the celestial footage that required it.

He seemed very absorbed in his work.

In the midst of his busy schedule, Third Elder took a moment to glance at Qi Rong, smiling warmly. “No way, it has to be boiled for a total of forty-nine days, and you’re just getting started!”

Seeing Qirong’s face turn despondent, Third Elder added, “Alright, how about this: hang in there for three more days, and I’ll let you take a peek.”

Qi Rong brightened up and nodded. Clinging to the edge of the large pot, he hesitated before asking:

“Elder, why do we need to add green onions, ginger, and garlic to the body refining potion?”

Third Elder replied matter-of-factly, “To get rid of the fishy smell and improve the flavor!”

“Body cultivators like you tend to have quite an odor, so you need a thorough wash!”

He also reminded Song Xinwu, who was watching nearby, to add more wood to the fire.

Qirong’s face turned as red as a freshly picked tomato.

He wanted to protest that he didn’t smell at all!

Having grown up around fragrant sisters, he had always been meticulous about cleanliness!!

But seeing Song Xinwu adding wood and the basket full of green onions, ginger, and garlic, he decided to keep quiet.

---

In the holy city of alchemists, Danxin City.

Lu Wei was likely in a study, with a long desk covered in scrolls piled into pyramids on both sides.

Besides these, there were several other pyramid-shaped piles of scrolls on the floor.

Lu Wei appeared serene, holding a scroll and following the text with her eyes. A purple sandalwood incense burner on the desk was emitting white smoke.

After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, she finished the scroll, put it down, stretched, and muttered to herself, “Master asked me to read through these ancient formulas and annotate them.”

“To finish all these scrolls in this room will take at least a month.”

“I’ll finish the three rooms first before heading to the nine-story pagoda.” Her tone and demeanor suggested she was enjoying the process.

She took out a green jade slip, glanced at the message, and smiled with some surprise, “Qingqing is out.”

Her message, however, didn’t quite match her elegant demeanor.

Sunny Weiwei: “How’s the plucking going?”

Miracle Qingqing (The No. 1 Female Immortal of Nanling Village): Very well. I feel that coming to Penglai was the right decision!

I went to a place called the Four Hells, which is the Fifth family’s ancient trial ground.

It seems to hold great inheritance (rooster crow!). Though their inheritance might not have much to do with me, I can still gain some benefits! I swear, I’ll finish the Four Hells before the Ruins open!

Lu Wei smiled: “Then good luck, you have five years.”

---

On an independent hidden island.

Tang Zifeng sat in a secret room, with soft light from an upper-right skylight evenly spreading across his dark blue refining robe.

His expression was calm, his eyelashes casting a shadow on his eyelids, his features sharp and clear, exuding a sense of sculptural tranquility.

A young boy opened the door, respectfully delivered the needed refining materials, and quietly closed the door.

Tang Zifeng’s expression remained unchanged.

After finishing the refining diagram, Tang Zifeng decided it was the final version and cut off communication with the elder unilaterally.

After doing all this, he habitually took out the jade slip and saw a line of text. His expression softened a bit as he used his spiritual sense to engrave a reply:

“Alright, keep the spirit stones. I’ll make you a divine artifact. Also, the Artifact Association has received a batch of high-grade forging materials. I’ve picked out a few that you can use.”

To this, Miracle Qingqing replied with a screen full of dazzling “ha” characters.

After sending the “ha” characters, Qin Ruqing’s eyelashes fluttered with excitement. Tang Zifeng was being too polite.

She was just joking around, but he took it seriously.

Putting away the communication jade slip, Qin Ruqing took out the five-color attribute crystal and the Celestial token she had obtained in the Hell Path.

The crystals reflected colorful light in her eyes. “Well, I’ll focus on digesting the gains from the Hell Path during this period!”

“When I passed through the Five-Color Sea before, I felt some changes in my divine power of fire. I wonder if absorbing all five attribute crystals will bring about a qualitative change…”

Saying this, Qin Ruqing set up a barrier and closed her eyes with peace of mind.

No need to go elsewhere.

The residence Fifth Lingyu had selected for her was like a five-star hotel, already an excellent place for cultivation.

Thus, ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Fifth Lingyu had come by once.

Seeing the golden barrier outside, he smiled with his hands behind his back.

“She really is always on guard against me.”

He noticed that the barrier was not defensive but rather a sentry-type.

As long as someone touched the barrier, the person inside could quickly sense it and wake up.

He didn’t linger and left soon after.

On the tenth day, Qin Ruqing opened her eyes, her first reaction was to look outside.

“There’s a human presence. Who is it?”

“It smells a bit showy. Fortunately, the barrier didn’t make any noise. He should leave soon.”

Qin Ruqing extended her palm, observing the golden flame appearing on it. It looked like smoke or mist, with no apparent difference from before.

But upon closer inspection, the mist around the golden flame was white and frosty, which would freeze anyone who got close.

“My innate fire really seems to have gained an ice attribute.” Qin Ruqing murmured.

Her eyes sparkled with amazement.

Fifth Lingyu had mentioned that these were ancient attribute. Now that she absorbed and refined them, they seemed to naturally align with her fire.

Qin Ruqing could feel that the alignment was not with the previous heavenly fire but with her original Dao Physique’s flame.

Qin Ruqing had some peculiar associations in her mind but, since they couldn’t be confirmed, she chose to set them aside for now.

“And it seems the flame has also gained a new skill, able to freeze the soul? Not sure, I’ll test it in actual combat.”

“The Death and Life Will in the token is already very faint… It’s time for a new round of benefit gathering.” Qin Ruqing’s gaze turned toward the direction of the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion of the Fifth Celestial Family.

“Before entering the First Hell, it might be a good idea to visit the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion.”

Qin Ruqing sat up straight, her eyes bright with excitement.

—She might find the method to advance to the third stage of her Dao Physique in this celestial realm’s repository of books!