Shi Yu smiled. “Then I will come again tomorrow.”
She had heard Master Ji mention earlier that the President, Vice President, and several elders of the Alchemist Association had traveled together to Hengze Prefecture—the central city of Changyuan Prefecture—to participate in the Alchemy Exchange Conference.
They had been gone for over a month now, and she wondered if they had gained anything from the trip.
Out of curiosity, she asked, “Master Ji, what is this Alchemy Exchange Conference all about?”
Master Ji stroked his beard and paused in thought before speaking. “The Alchemy Exchange Conference... though called an exchange, it is actually a competition among the younger generation of newly risen alchemists. There is a minor competition every three years and a major competition every ten years.”
“Every time it is held, alchemists from all seventy-nine prefectures across Changyuan Prefecture gather together.”
“Occasionally, alchemists from other prefectures in the East Continent come to join in the excitement as well. It can truly be called a grand gathering for alchemists, especially the decennial major competition.”
Shi Yu asked, “Then the one the President and the others attended this time was...”
“You girl, I don't know where you popped out from—how are you completely ignorant of these things?” Master Ji gave Shi Yu a strange look. “This time was naturally the triennial minor competition. Next year will be the decennial major competition.”
Saying that, he let out a sigh. “Our Lingtai Prefecture Alchemist Association hasn't produced any young talents in many years. Every time we participate in the exchange conference, our results are dismal.”
“Just watch tomorrow. When that group gets back, their faces will definitely be as black as the bottom of a wok.”
However, once everyone returned and learned that such an remarkably talented girl as Shi Yu had joined the association, they would surely be overjoyed.
Just as he was about to say more, his gaze shifted and finally landed on the spirit robe Shi Yu was wearing. Letting out an exclamation of surprise, he stood up and walked around her twice, examining it closely.
“Girl Yu, this spirit robe of yours... was it made using those two bolts of Mist-Cloud Silkworm silk I gave you?”
Shi Yu nodded and blinked playfully. “Does it look good, Master Ji?”
“It looks great!” Master Ji praised repeatedly. “Tsk-tsk, Little Yu'er looks marvelous in this.”
He was not merely being polite. The young girl’s sleeves fluttered softly, and the delicate radiance emanating from the spirit robe bloomed around her like a magnificent cloud, truly making for a gorgeous sight.
The saying 'clothes make the man' was sometimes true; while Little Yu'er wasn't stunningly breathtaking, wearing this outfit made her look so endearing at first glance that she could truly be called pretty and charming.
The spirit robe was matchlessly elegant, with an exquisite yet dignified style. What was particularly rare was how harmoniously the combined spiritual materials fit together. Looking at the brilliant spiritual light and flowing restrictions upon it, one could tell at a glance that it was no mere showpiece, and its quality was quite extraordinary.
He clicked his tongue in wonder and asked in confusion, “Which old fellow from the Refinement Association refined this?”
With such delicate and intricate craftsmanship and such high finished quality, Master Ji racked his brain but still couldn't guess who had made it.
For the group of old fellows in the Refinement Association he knew, refining a Tier-2 spirit robe wasn't difficult, but for them to produce such a flawless Tier-2 spirit robe would be challenging and require a bit of luck.
“It wasn't refined by any old fellow,” Shi Yu chuckled softly, pausing a moment before saying, “a little guy made it.”
“A little guy?!” Master Ji asked, bewildered. “Could it be that the Refinement Association has also produced a little monster like you recently? I haven't heard anyone mention this.”
Master Ji could never have imagined that the weapon refiner herself was the very Shi Yu standing right before him.
Amused by Master Ji's bewildered expression, Shi Yu remembered the other purpose of her trip down the mountain and asked, “By the way, Master Ji, I have something I'd like to ask you.”
“Hmm?”
Recalling that spine-chilling, soul-crushing terror she had felt back in Changxu Village, Shi Yu parted her lips slowly. “Do you happen to know... about a spirit beast called the Nightmare?”
“Nightmare?” Master Ji's brows furrowed. “Why are you asking about that?”
“Do you know of it?” An expectant look appeared on Shi Yu's face.
Master Ji nodded, though he remained silent for a moment.
Under Shi Yu's gaze, he deliberated over his words for quite a while before speaking slowly. “The Nightmare... this type of spirit beast is extremely rare. It can weave illusions to drag people into endless nightmares, cycling endlessly until their physical bodies crumble and their divine souls dissipate.”
“Whatever thoughts, desires, obsessions, or longings lie in a person's heart become weaknesses before a Nightmare beast. Thus, once trapped in an illusion woven by a Nightmare, escape is nearly impossible, and even Golden Core Realm experts are no exception.”
“However, if one encounters a Nightmare beast near the end of its lifespan, it might actually turn out to be an opportunity.”
Shi Yu's interest was piqued. “How so?”
“After a dying Nightmare beast weaves its final illusion, the illusion will vanish several months or years later, leaving a temporary secret realm in its place, complete with its own opportunities.”
After hearing this, Shi Yu told Master Ji about what had happened in Changxu Village. Master Ji was rather surprised that a Nightmare—a creature existing almost purely in legends—would appear nearby.
“I will keep an eye on this matter, but you must absolutely not go back there rashly. That place remains extremely dangerous until the illusion vanishes and turns into a secret realm.”
“I understand.”
Seeing that it was getting late, Shi Yu stood up and bade farewell to Master Ji.
...
Since the President and elders of the Alchemist Association would be returning tomorrow, her Tier-2 alchemist certification assessment would likely be put on the schedule soon.
After returning to her cave dwelling, Shi Yu intended to carve out some time to refine a new pill furnace.
Her previous pill furnace was a Tier-1 pill furnace she had refined a long time ago, and it was no longer very handy to use now.
Just as she was thinking about this, a paper crane formed from gathered light fluttered its wings outside her cave dwelling and flew up to her.
Someone had knocked on the knocker at the entrance of her cave dwelling, transmitting a message inside.
Shi Yu raised her hand to take the paper crane, and a familiar voice echoed from within: “Little Yu, I have come to visit with my father to pay our respects and request an audience. Please forgive our intrusion.”
It was Zhou Yang outside, and he had brought an elder with him.
Unsurprisingly, after discussing it with his family, they had reached a consensus and come to request her to refine the Lesser Longevity Pill.
Shi Yu stood up and went to open the entrance of the cave dwelling.
Rate on N.U.
