触摸柔软的皮肤

In a hidden cave abode at the back of Elixir Peak, a secret room suddenly opened.

Amidst the fragrance of pills, Jin Sumian walked out in a disheveled state.

There was still a fresh bruise on her cheek, but her eyes were filled with passion as she held a pearl-like pill in her hands.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw a woman sitting cross-legged on a futon not far away.

The woman sensed her movement and slowly opened her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Jin Sumian’s appearance and a hint of disdain appeared in her light purple eyes. “Why are you like this every time? Hurry up and clean up!”

“Cousin, why are you here?” Jin Sumian asked, her surprise quickly turning to excitement. “You’re here at the right time. Look at what this is!”

As she spoke, she quickly handed the pill to the other party.

“Who doesn’t know how to plant jade pills?” Her cousin, Jin Sutai, said casually, “It’s not that I want to criticize you, but you... Huh?”

Before she could finish, Jin Sutai’s gaze turned cold. She snatched the jade pill and sized it up carefully. “The color is like jade. It’s translucent and flawless. The fragrance of the pill is rich and refreshing... Is this a superior-grade jade pill?!”

“That’s right.” Jin Sumian raised her chin proudly. “It’s a superior jade pill!”

Jin Sutai was surprised and delighted. Her originally gloomy mood lifted. She said, “Good, good, good! You’re indeed the pride of the family. It has only been a few days since you refined the superior-grade Essence Enhancing Pill, but you can actually refine a superior-grade jade pill now... In time, our Jin family will definitely be like a tiger that has grown wings, reaching a higher level.”

“It wasn’t that fast at first,” Jin Sumian hurriedly said. “Speaking of which, a few days ago, when I was selling pills at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, I picked up a superior-grade Bone Tempering Pill. Its refinement technique was exquisite and ingenious! The disciple who sold it didn’t know his stuff, so I only spent a few dozen inferior-grade Spirit Stones to buy it.

I originally wanted to find out who refined it and ask for guidance, but after I returned, I only studied it for one night before I was enlightened.

Over the past few days, I’d used nearly a thousand furnaces of materials to refine this superior jade pill.

And that disciple took out 12 superior-grade Bone Tempering Pills.

It can be seen that compared to that master, I still have many shortcomings.”

“You’re still young, so you don’t have to belittle yourself.” Jin Sitai was very satisfied. She advised with a smile, “Besides, the use of refining Jade Pills is not something that Bone Tempering Pills can compare to.

You have to know that the cultivation of the Holy Sect’s Bone Forging Art is divided into three levels: iron bone, essence bone, and jade bone. And each level is divided into four grades: upper, middle, lower, and supreme-grade. There’s nothing much to say about the lower and middle levels, but when a superior-grade or supreme-grade iron bone transforms into an essence bone, as well as when a superior-grade or supreme-grade essence bone transforms into a jade bone, additional help is needed.

Otherwise, it will be difficult to complete this transformation purely with one’s spiritual power.

In order to protect itself, the body will instinctively resist promotion.

In ancient times, there were no Bone Tempering Pills. There are people with great perseverance who can rely on their willpower and talent to cultivate the Bone Forging Art. However, without refining jade pills, superior-grade or supreme-grade essence bones, they will be stuck at the sixth level of Qi Refinement for the rest of their lives and won’t be able to transform into jade.

Therefore, although they are both superior-grade pills, refining jade pills is more important than Bone Tempering Pills.”

Jin Sumian smiled and said, “Cousin, I know. And I feel that the enlightenment from that superior-grade Bone Tempering Pill is far more than just this superior-grade jade pill. After I accept the Cold Marrow Fire mission you mentioned and absorb the fire into my body, my alchemy skills will definitely improve.”

She was still immersed in the joy of refining the superior jade pill and did not notice the ugly expression on Jin Sutai’s face when she heard this. She asked with a smile, “Oh right, Cousin, I can go to the bottom of the Gu Abyss at any time. When are you free?”

“...” Jin Sutai was speechless for a moment before she sighed. “I came here this time to tell you this: the Cold Marrow Fire is gone.”

Jin Sumian was stunned. “No? Why is it gone?”

“Because the Double Mulberry Faction forcefully snatched the mission,” Jin Sitai said. “Originally, I wouldn’t have let the matter rest. However, recently, there are rumors in the sect that core disciple Li is about to come out of seclusion and that her cultivation level has improved greatly... Even core disciple Zhou is tossing and turning because of this. Our Stone Realm Faction can’t fall out with Zheng Jingshan over this.

I can only settle this score in the future.”

Seeing her cousin’s disappointed expression, Jin Sutai’s heart ached a little. She hurriedly comforted her, “However, Stone Realm Faction is one of the Middle Five Factions after all. Zheng Jingshan is only from the Lower Five Factions. Even with the reputation of core disciple Li, it’s impossible for him to snatch your opportunity without paying a price.”

As she spoke, she flipped her hand and took out a small clay jar. “This is the compensation from Zheng Jingshan. It’s a portion of the Nine Nether Cold Spring Water. Like the Nine Nether Fire, the Nine Nether Cold Spring Water comes from the ground, but it’s a grade higher than the Nine Nether Fire. In terms of rarity, it’s actually comparable to the Cold Marrow Fire. This water can cleanse the body and clear the soul. In terms of body tempering, it’s better than the Cold Marrow Fire.”

Jin Sumian said dejectedly, “Cousin, you know that I want the Cold Marrow Fire not to temper my body, but to refine pills.”

“Sigh, I’ll find you another set of immortal fire in the future.” Jin Sutai also felt that it was a pity, but since things had come to this, she could only advise her cousin, “Once core disciple Li forms the Nascent Soul, she can even compete for the position of our sect’s Saintess and future sect master! It’s really not worth it to risk offending her for a mere eighth-grade immortal fire.”

“Cousin, you’re right.” It was not that Jin Sumian did not know the severity of the matter. It was just that she thought that she had lost something all of a sudden and could not even seek justice. She could not help but feel a little emotional.

After pondering for a while, she adjusted her mindset and said, “Alright, it just so happens that my cultivation has improved after refining this pill. Later, I’ll use this Nine Nether Cold Spring Water to temper my body. I should be able to break through to the eighth level of Qi Refinement in one go.”

Seeing this, Jin Sutai heaved a sigh of relief and reminded her, “Although the body tempering process of the Nine Nether Cold Spring Water is slightly better than absorbing fire into your body, it is still very dangerous. You must be careful. No matter how painful the body tempering process is, you must guard your mind and stay awake. Otherwise, the backlash from the Nine Nether Evil Qi will be unimaginable. Do you understand?”

Seeing her cousin nod, she was still a little worried. “Forget it, I’ll stay and protect you.”

“There’s no need, Cousin.” Jin Sumian immediately shook her head. “It’s just the Nine Nether Cold Spring Water. There’s no need to make such a big fuss over it. If I don’t even have this little ability, why would I talk about longevity in the Great Dao back then? Why would I want to absorb fire into my body and pursue higher alchemy?

Without the Cold Marrow Fire, I’m already one step behind. If I don’t even dare to face the Nine Nether Cold Spring Water alone, what right do I have to compete with those true geniuses in the future?”

Jin Sitai frowned slightly. She wanted to persuade her further, but on second thought, her cousin was arrogant and might not listen.

Moreover, judging from Jin Sumian’s appearance, if she insisted on staying, it would probably hinder her mental state.

Therefore, she could only leave the Nine Nether Cold Spring Water behind and leave.

After her cousin left, Jin Sumian’s expression instantly darkened as she snorted coldly. “Zheng Jingshan... I remember that he once absorbed fire into his body. In that case, did he snatch my Cold Marrow Fire for someone else? Hmph, you better not let me know who it is...”

With the care of her cousin, Jin Sutai, and her outstanding alchemy talent, Jin Sumian had never suffered such a loss since she entered the Deep Sea Sect!

She was furious for a long time before she finally calmed down. She took out a jade bathtub from her storage bag and poured the Nine Nether Cold Spring Water into it. This cold spring water seemed to be a small can, but in fact, there was a world in the can. It filled 80% of the huge bathtub.

Jin Sumian first formed hand seals to get rid of the dust and dirt on her body. Just as she was about to undress and start tempering her body, a talisman suddenly floated into the air on the table in the cave abode and ignited on its own.