The brilliant glow within the alchemical furnace gradually receded.
After the last clear hum dissipated, the entire room fell into a strange silence.
Under Bai Zhi's nervous yet expectant gaze, the furnace lid slowly, automatically, rotated open.
An aroma of medicine, a hundred times more potent than before, instantly burst forth, filling every corner of the room.
Just a whiff was enough for Bai Zhi to feel her mind, tired from alchemy, instantly return to its peak, and even her thoughts became clearer and sharper.
She eagerly peered into the furnace.
Three dragon eye-sized, perfectly crimson and smooth pills lay quietly at the bottom of the alchemical furnace.
The surface of the pills was as warm and lustrous as jade, emitting a faint, precious glow.
And on the crimson surface of the pills, a circle of intricate and profound golden patterns was clearly visible, as if they were imprints personally branded by the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
One-revolution pill patterns!
And, in a single attempt, she had refined three!
"I... I succeeded!"
Bai Zhi's breathing almost stopped at that moment.
Immediately after, an indescribable surge of ecstasy rushed to her head.
She felt like she was an alchemical prodigy, one in ten thousand years!
Her first attempt at alchemy had produced top-grade pills with pill patterns!
Who would believe it if she told them?
"I, Bai Zhi, am indeed a genius among geniuses!"
She carefully picked out the three Nine Revolutions Heart-Cleansing Pills and placed them into a pre-prepared jade bottle.
Looking at the three perfect pills in the jade bottle, Bai Zhi's mind began to stir.
Getting three at once was a complete surprise.
That dog villain, Lu Cheng, definitely wouldn't know.
I'll use his pill formula, his money, to refine pills, and then use these pills to enhance my own strength!
This is simply a perfect plan!
Just then, she remembered Xiao Fan, the Son of Destiny she had met at Returning Spring Hall.
That guy seemed foolish and impulsive, but he was one of the protagonists of this world after all.
He also seemed to really need that dragon blood vine.
Should she... try to send him one?
After all, it's all about opposing Lu Cheng; the enemy of my enemy is my friend!
The more Bai Zhi thought about it, the more flawless her plan seemed, and she felt a surge of pride in her foresight.
Just as she was immersed in her fantasy of "strategizing from within the command tent."
"Knock, knock, knock."
The door was knocked, neither too lightly nor too heavily.
Bai Zhi's heart gave a sudden leap, like a little mouse caught stealing food, and she subconsciously snatched the jade bottle containing the pills, hiding it behind her back.
She cleared her throat and asked, feigning composure.
"Who is it?"
From outside the door came Lu Cheng's voice, gentle with a hint of a smile.
"Miss Bai Zhi, it's me."
"Congratulations, it seems your experiment was very successful; I can smell this refreshing fragrance all the way in the corridor."
The door was pushed open.
Lu Cheng's face, with its gentle smile, appeared at the doorway.
Bai Zhi's heart tightened, her entire body tensed, and she watched him warily.
"What do you want to do?"
"I'm telling you, these pills were refined by me! They are the fruit of my labor! You can't even think about taking them!"
Lu Cheng looked at her adorable, protective stance, and the smile on his face grew wider.
He ignored Bai Zhi's defensiveness, simply stepped inside, and his gaze swept around the room.
"Of course, I'm not a bandit."
He pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Bai Zhi, his movements calm and elegant.
"I'm just here to discuss a trade."
"A trade?"
Bai Zhi's eyes were full of suspicion.
Lu Cheng nodded, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing the weather.
"I didn't expect you could actually refine the Nine Revolutions Heart-Cleansing Pill; this proves you have great talent in alchemy!"
"How about this, I'll exchange a supreme alchemical treasure for one Nine Revolutions Heart-Cleansing Pill, what do you say?"
Alchemical treasure?
Bai Zhi's heart involuntarily stirred.
But she didn't want to let Lu Cheng off so easily; she still wanted to trick more treasures out of him.
As if seeing through her hesitation, Lu Cheng feigned regret, sighed, and shook his head.
"What? You don't need it, then?"
"Ah, that's a real shame. I offer you a treasure and you don't want it; it seems I'll just have to keep it for myself."
He stood up, making as if to leave.
"Wait!"
Bai Zhi panicked and quickly called out to him.
Lu Cheng stopped, turned his head, a perfectly measured hint of confusion on his face.
"Is there something else?"
Bai Zhi bit her lip; she knew this was a prime opportunity to fleece him, and she absolutely couldn't miss it!
But she still didn't want to give him the pill!
Just then, Lu Cheng added another sentence that almost broke her resolve.
"Actually, the main reason I want a pill is to test its toxicity for you."
"After all, this is your first time refining pills; what if there are impurities, or the medicinal properties are unstable, and you get sick from taking it?"
"Are you really that confident in what you've refined?"
These words made Bai Zhi pause.
Right, it was her first time refining pills!
Although it looked very successful, what if?
No, no, this dog villain is messing with her Dao heart again!
Just as Bai Zhi found herself in a dilemma, the familiar system popped up before her eyes once again.
"Ding! A major villain of destiny has initiated a trade with you. The system has determined that the host is facing a significant choice; please make your selection!"
"Option One: Sternly refuse! I painstakingly refined these pills; why should I give them to you? Protect your hard-earned results and never compromise with the villain! Reward: Title'Stingy Alchemist,' 100 system points."
"Option Two: Engage in moral blackmail! Tell him that if he's giving a treasure, he should give it for free, attempting to make him give the treasure to you without any cost to yourself. Reward: Skill 'Bargaining Master,' 500 system points."
"Option Three: Scheme with a tiger! Exchange one pill for the 'alchemical treasure' he mentioned! Seize spoils from the villain's hands, weakening his collection! Then use this treasure to refine even stronger pills to deal with him! Reward: Treasure Binding Authority, 5000 system points!"
Seeing the options... Option Two, although the reward was a skill, she wasn't confident she could convince this dog villain.
But Option Three... Yes!
The system was absolutely right!
This was simply a perfect plan!
I used the pill formula he provided, with the medicinal ingredients he paid for, to refine pills.
Then, I'll use one of these pills to exchange for another treasure from his collection!
This means I paid nothing and got an ancient supreme treasure from him for free!
And he only got a pill that he himself paid to refine!
With this move, I profit immensely! He loses immensely!
I, Bai Zhi, am simply a business genius, a logical prodigy!
At this thought, Bai Zhi's last bit of hesitation instantly vanished.
She raised her head, puffed out her chest, and looked at Lu Cheng with an expression that said, "I've got you."
"Good!"
"I'll trade!"
She poured out a Nine Revolutions Heart-Cleansing Pill from the jade bottle behind her; although her heart ached with reluctance, for the sake of the treasure, she endured!
"The pill can be yours, but where is your treasure?"
Lu Cheng looked at her, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing wider.
"A wise choice!"
"The treasure, I entrusted someone to look after it."
"I'll go get it for you right away."