32 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Web Novel Chapter 32 The seeds of the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine weren't fully activated yet. They required a few more infusions of poisonous blood and wood spiritual energy. Only when the seeds regained their plump and rounded appearance could they truly be considered alive. At that point, it would be possible to begin attempting to establish a life bond with the seeds. Previously, when she completed the task of He Sheng's death, she was rewarded with five Wood Spirit Stones. Yan Zhu Guang calculated that she might have to use all of them. However, if it was for the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine, she wouldn't feel reluctant spending these stones. Unfortunately, the most urgent matter wasn't the Wood Spirit Stones, but that her backpack's stock of poison had been exhausted. Even if she wanted to continue cultivating the seeds, it was impossible. Regretfully, Yan Zhu Guang placed the seeds back into her backpack. She needed to figure out a way to gather more toxins. Despite her thoughts, Yan Zhu Guang didn't take immediate action. She wasn't impulsive; collecting poisons was a task that had to be approached gradually. Yan Zhu Guang set aside these thoughts and took out a Marrow Cleansing Pill. This was the entry gift for inner disciples of the Fenghua Sect; a yellow-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill was significantly better than the beginner Marrow Cleansing Pills from the System's welcome package. "Host," the System explained, "after all, it's just a new welcome package, so most hosts use it before they've started cultivating, hence the beginner pills are more suitable." Not every host was like this one, taking so long to evaluate the System before signing a contract. Its previous hosts would consume the Marrow Cleansing Pill immediately upon receiving it, effortlessly expelling toxins from their bodies. Yan Zhu Guang wasn't dissatisfied with the System. "I don't need that beginner Marrow Cleansing Pill. Can I exchange it?" The Marrow Cleansing Pill was something a person could only use once in a lifetime; its effects would greatly diminish the second time. With this yellow-grade pill, the one in her backpack was unnecessary. The System apologetically replied, "New welcome package items and task rewards are bound and cannot be exchanged. The host can only obtain exchanges through external channels. However, this pill is an unbound item, and can be exchanged." If things could be casually exchanged, there'd be no need to modify rewards before claiming them; tasks could be completed directly using items from the backpack. Yan Zhu Guang nodded. It meant that the System's items couldn't be exchanged with each other, but items from the outside world could be traded with the System, and vice versa. Understanding the rules, Yan Zhu Guang didn't delay. She stood up, changed out of her formal robes into a more durable outfit, sat on the ground, and swallowed the yellow-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. Originally, she could have taken the pill earlier, but her health then wasn’t suitable—taking the pill forcefully would've been a burden. So, she endured until now. Her wood spirit energy had nurtured her body significantly, making it the right time to take the Marrow Cleansing Pill. After consuming the pill, Yan Zhu Guang's expression remained unchanged. However, over time, black spots appeared on her skin, accumulating and forming patches, giving her a somewhat miserable appearance. These were the accumulated toxins from Yan Zhu Guang’s original body. Once these impurities were expelled, her cultivation could progress even faster. After about two hours, Yan Zhu Guang moved. She opened her eyes, sniffed disdainfully at the odor from her body, took out a Purity Cleansing Talisman, and placed it on herself. Instantly, all the grime vanished. Afterward, she took out two Water and Fire Talismans, cleansing and drying herself, before changing into a new set of clothes. She then cast a fire spell to burn the old outfit. Yan Zhu Guang made these Purity Cleansing and Water and Fire Talismans in her spare time. Without an affinity for water or fire spiritual energy, converting her wood spirit energy was somewhat wasteful for her at the fourth level of Qi Refinement. So, she crafted these basic talismans for unexpected needs, which now came in handy. Once her toxins were expelled, Yan Zhu Guang felt noticeably lighter. The previous dullness she couldn't remove faded, and her skin transformed from ordinary fairness to a lustrous jade white. "Wow, the host has become even more beautiful!" The System, ingratiatingly, conjured a virtual mirror, projecting her image. After recuperating on the Chocolate Peak of the Fenghua Sect for more than a month, Yan Zhu Guang shed her malnourished appearance and began to grow. The reflection in the mirror showed large, bright eyes with subtly upturned corners tinged in a faint red, adding an alluring charm to her already striking features. Yan Zhu Guang blinked, her thin lips curving slightly, her clear black eyes deepening, transforming from an innocent girl into an enchanting night siren. The System silently exclaimed in adoration, "The host is incredibly beautiful!" showering her with praise. Yet, the smile didn't last long as Yan Zhu Guang retracted her aura, returning to her demure demeanor in front of Yun Mi Xue, with all allure and seduction shifting back to innocence and vivacity. Yan Zhu Guang quickly lost interest in the reflection. She had seen this face for years in her previous life and was long past being amazed by it. Compared to this dazzling face, she had a greater fondness for Yun Mi Xue's gentle demeanor. "Enough, I need to cultivate." The System obediently put away the mirror, and Yan Zhu Guang sat cross-legged on the bed to begin practicing the Qingmu Rejuvenation Technique. As she started cultivating, she noticed something unusual. The cultivation speed in this room was faster than in her previous chamber. Upon investigating, she discovered the anomaly came from the bed she sat upon. This bed seemed crafted from special materials that accelerated the absorption of spiritual energy for those cultivating on it. Yan Zhu Guang, possessing a robust wood spiritual root and a wood spirit body, combined with the bed's assistance, found her cultivation speed formidable. Adjusting her mood, Yan Zhu Guang silently remembered the kindness she received from her Master Sister. She planned to repay it someday. The spiritual energy around the Glittering Snow Peak converged toward the icy dwelling. Though negligible in the vast spiritual landscape of the peak, this almost perceptible flow was astonishing. Unfortunately, the Glittering Snow Peak was Yun Mi Xue's domain, and registered disciples rarely came without her orders. She had no direct disciples, so the spiritual energy fluctuation went unnoticed. As clouds swirled and time flew invisibly, the recruitment gathering had already passed a year. In the cultivation world, a year isn't lengthy; it might be just a brief retreat for some cultivators. For Yan Zhu Guang, however, it was enough time to grow from a ten-year-old girl to a young sixteen-year-old woman. Yan Zhu Guang mostly spent her time cultivating, not because she lost herself in it and forgot her Master Sister, but because Yun Mi Xue spent much of the year away from the Fenghua Sect. The investigation into the former Zhang Men's demise had made progress. The sect's high-ranking members collaborated and eventually discovered the site of Zhang Men's fall. Zhang Men needed to oversee the Fenghua Sect, leaving Yun Mi Xue and several steward elders to investigate. Yan Zhu Guang wished to accompany Yun Mi Xue but lacked the qualifications and strength. Yun Mi Xue didn't bring it up with her. Even though System had informed Yan Zhu Guang about it, she refrained from mentioning it to Yun Mi Xue to avoid unnecessary suspicion. Throughout the year, Yun Mi Xue occasionally returned to update Zhang Men on the investigation and would take time to visit Yan Zhu Guang at Glittering Snow Peak. But she couldn’t stay long and would soon depart. Their meetings were brief, barely enough to converse and secretly check if she was poisoned before they parted again, much to her regret. Determined to be by Yun Mi Xue's side, Yan Zhu Guang pushed herself harder in her cultivation. Just moments ago, she successfully established her foundation, reaching the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. This meant she could leave the Fenghua Sect for training, having met the minimum requirement for free travel. Sitting lotus-style on the bed, Yan Zhu Guang opened her eyes, a dark light flashing in her deep, black eyes, adding a bewitching edge to her presence. The light quickly subsided, her tense body relaxing, and the turbulent spiritual energy from her recent breakthrough calmed down. "Congratulations to the host on successfully establishing your foundation." The System showered her with a small celebration. "I've exchanged your Foundation Establishment side mission reward for equivalent poisonous materials and placed them in your backpack." "Hmm," Yan Zhu Guang replied softly. The System felt its non-existent heart flutter. Her voice, once sweet as a child, had matured, shedding its youthful innocence to reveal a lower, tingling cadence, soft enough to melt hearts. The System felt hopelessly enchanted. Yan Zhu Guang retrieved the last Wood Spirit Stone and took out the poisonous materials she had accumulated from recent side missions. Just like the previous four times, she concocted a bowl of toxic blood, dropping the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine seed into it. The seed's devouring ability had become even more formidable. For the last time using her own blood to refine the toxic blood, Yan Zhu Guang utilized a year’s worth of gathered poisons. Yet, for the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine seed, it was consumed in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, the once withered seed had, after five infusions of toxic blood, become plump and round. The seed of the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine was now fully reactivated. It was finally time to establish a life bond with the spiritual plant. Uncertain about how to contract with such a fierce plant, the System watched its host's actions with curiosity. Yan Zhu Guang lightly drew a line over the wound that had been used previously for bloodletting, which still hadn't fully healed. The cut reopened, and with nimble fingers, she swiftly inserted the seed into the wound. The System's virtual mouth formed an "O" shape in surprise, recalling that Yan Zhu Guang had said the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine would release toxins upon contact with blood and devour any living creature. Was this a reckless act? Yan Zhu Guang definitely wasn't being reckless. At the moment the seed touched her blood, her complexion turned pale as a potent toxin spread from the seed, swiftly coursing through much of her body. However, Yan Zhu Guang was not one to be trifled with. She possessed a poison spirit root. Although she had not yet contracted a life-bound toxic entity and hadn’t completely transformed her poison spirit root, her cultivation of wood spiritual energy had also been increasing her internal poison spirit energy steadily. Before the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine's toxin could fully spread through her body, her poison spirit energy erupted, quickly enveloping the toxin and beginning to absorb it voraciously. The seed of the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine waited for its toxin to reach every part of its prey for a grand feast, but was surprised to find its toxins completely absorbed in a blink. Reluctantly, it continued to release more toxins, but Yan Zhu Guang's poison spirit energy, not yet saturated, repeatedly absorbed all the blood-borne toxins. No matter how fierce the Blood Sacrifice Spirit Vine, it was still just a seed at this stage. After releasing toxins several times, it became weakened. This was the moment when Yan Zhu Guang infused a drop of her essence blood, intertwined with her wood and poison spirit energy, forcefully into the seed. The seed trembled, gradually shifting from resistance to obedience. The emerald seed spun leisurely in Yan Zhu Guang's heart. She clenched her fist, and when she opened it again, the seed had vanished. The initial life bond with the spiritual plant was successfully forged. What followed would be steady communication and cultivation; it couldn't be rushed. Yan Zhu Guang rose from her bed, her joints cracking audibly. "Is Master Sister still in Tianyu City?" "Yes, host," the System confirmed. Yan Zhu Guang patted her pristine dress. "Let's go find her." She had been out of her sight for too long, and Yan Zhu Guang could hardly stand it anymore.