Chapter 198 Bai Yuting appears, Xuan Lao gives instructions

Space fluctuated, and dense Formation patterns emerged on the previously smooth mountain wall, then rippled like water, revealing a hidden entrance.

"Who dares trespass here!"

A cold female voice came from inside the cave, followed by several figures flashing into view at the entrance, led by a young woman in white.

The woman had a beautiful and refined appearance, with a gentle and jade-like temperament, but at this moment, there was a hint of weariness in her brows. Behind her stood several Cultivators, all bearing injuries, clearly having just experienced a fierce battle.

"Lei Ming?"

The woman visibly relaxed after seeing who it was. "Why are you here?"

"Bai Yuting?" Lei Ming also recognized the other party, a look of surprise on his face. "So it's Fairy Bai of the Dan Clan! What a coincidence!"

Bai Yuting, the most outstanding Genius of the Dan Clan in this generation, was already a Saint-grade Alchemist at a young age, renowned among the younger generation.

Although the Dan Clan belonged to the Low Grade among the Imperial Clans, its status was extraordinary; even the three Upper Clans were unwilling to easily provoke the Dan Clan.

After all, every Alchemist had an astonishing network of connections, let alone the entire Dan Clan.

"This is?"

Bai Yuting's gaze fell on Zhou Chen, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She knew Zhou Chen, having met him previously when he was with Ji Wuming, but she had never formally spoken to him, so she asked a bit more.

She could only sense that Zhou Chen's cultivation was unfathomable at this moment, and when Lei Ming stood beside him, he subtly deferred to him, which greatly surprised Bai Yuting.

One must know that Lei Ming was a member of an Imperial Clan, always arrogant, and there weren't many people who could command such respect from him.

"Oh, this is Brother Zhou Chen!"

Lei Ming enthusiastically introduced him, "This is my good brother Zhou Chen; Brother Zhou has given me a new lease on life!"

Bai Yuting's beautiful eyes widened, looking at Zhou Chen in disbelief.

She had known Lei Ming for so many years, and this was the first time she had seen him so enthusiastically introduce someone, and he even called him a brother?

What kind of concept was that? Lei Ming was an Imperial Clan Prodigy!

He actually acknowledged a "Loose Cultivator" in their eyes as a brother?

"Zhou Chen of Taichu Holy Land, greetings, Fairy Bai."

Zhou Chen cupped his hands slightly, his demeanor neither servile nor overbearing.

Bai Yuting recovered and quickly returned the greeting: "Bai Yuting greets Young Master Zhou. Since you are Brother Lei's friend, then you are my friend. Please come inside, both of you; this is not the place to talk."

As everyone entered the溶洞, Zhou Chen realized there was a world of its own inside.

The溶洞 was large, set up as a temporary resting place. A dozen Cultivators sat or lay, most of them injured. The air was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance, and a Pill Furnace stood in a corner, its flames burning brightly.

"It seems, Fairy Bai, that you've encountered trouble?"

Zhou Chen asked.

Bai Yuting gave a bitter smile: "To be frank, Young Master Zhou, we were ambushed by Evil Spirits three days ago. Although we fortunately escaped, our losses were heavy. We are currently recuperating here, and I am also refining Medicinal Pills for healing."

"Evil Spirits?" Lei Ming's expression changed. "Fairy Bai also encountered Evil Spirits?"

"Yes, and quite a few of them, at least a hundred."

Bai Yuting's expression was solemn. "Those Evil Spirits are extremely strange; not only are they difficult to kill, but they also devour Cultivators' vital blood and Divine Soul. If we hadn't run fast, we would probably have been wiped out."

Zhou Chen and Lei Ming exchanged glances; it seemed the situation was more serious than they had imagined.

"By the way, what brings you two here?" Bai Yuting asked.

"We are looking for Formation nodes." Zhou Chen did not hide anything, telling Bai Yuting about the Evil Spirits' plan to set up the Myriad Spirits Blood Sacrifice Formation.

After listening, Bai Yuting's face turned pale: "An Evil Spirit in the Quasi-Emperor Realm? And it wants to revive its true body? This… this is too terrifying!"

As a member of an Imperial Clan, Bai Yuting clearly knew the horror of a Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit; if things went wrong, everyone would perish here.

"So we must find all the nodes as soon as possible and disrupt its plan," Zhou Chen said in a deep voice.

Bai Yuting was silent for a moment, then suddenly got up and walked to the side, taking out several jade bottles and handing them to Zhou Chen: "Young Master Zhou, these are the Mind-Calming Pills, Spirit-Restoring Pills, and healing medicine I just refined. The Mind-Calming Pills can resist the mental erosion of Evil Spirits, and the Spirit-Restoring Pills can quickly restore spiritual power. They are all Low Grade Saint-tier Medicinal Pills. Your journey will be dangerous, and these might come in handy."

"This is too generous."

Zhou Chen was a little surprised; he hadn't expected Bai Yuting to be so generous. Although Han Li had given him more and better quality Medicinal Pills, one could never have too many Medicinal Pills.

"Young Master Zhou, you are too polite."

Bai Yuting shook her head and said, "If that Evil Spirit succeeds, none of us will escape. These Medicinal Pills are my small contribution to everyone's safety."

The moment Zhou Chen took the jade bottles, Elder Xuan's voice suddenly rang in his mind.

"Oh? This little girl's Alchemy technique has indeed inherited some of the true essence of the Dan Clan. Her control over the heat and the Fusion of medicinal properties is quite灵性, but her cultivation is a bit weak, and her Divine Sense is slightly insufficient when controlling the fire, wasting a little medicinal power. However, at this age, it is still rare."

Elder Xuan rarely took the initiative to comment on others, but this time he actually gave an evaluation of Bai Yuting's Alchemy skills. Although there was a hint of pickiness in his tone, the fact that she could catch his eye already showed that Bai Yuting's talent was indeed extraordinary.

"Boy, look at that bottle of Spirit-Restoring Pills."

Elder Xuan continued, "Although it has reached the Low Grade Saint-tier, it lacks a supplementary medicinal herb, dendrobium grass. If dendrobium grass were added to neutralize the medicinal power with its pure spiritual Qi, it would not only reduce the volatile nature of the Medicinal Pill but also make the medicinal power more gentle and lasting, and the Medicinal Pill's grade could at least be raised to Medium Grade Saint-tier."

Zhou Chen opened the jade bottle and carefully observed the Medicinal Pills. Indeed, as Elder Xuan said, although the Medicinal Pills were of good quality, there was still room for improvement.

"Fairy Bai's Alchemy technique is truly impressive."

Zhou Chen praised, "However, if this Spirit-Restoring Pill could incorporate dendrobium grass, the effect should be even better."

Bai Yuting was stunned, then her brows furrowed slightly: "Dendrobium grass? Although this auxiliary medicine has the effect of purifying Qi, its medicinal properties are cold, conflicting with the main medicine of the Spirit-Restoring Pill, Red Sun Grass. Rashly adding it might affect the success rate of the pill."

Although her tone was polite, there was a hint of disapproval in her eyes. She was a Dan Clan Genius, immersed in the Dao of Alchemy since childhood; how could she not know about the combination of medicinal ingredients?

Zhou Chen saw through her thoughts and did not argue, just smiled slightly: "It's just a personal, shallow opinion; Fairy Bai doesn't need to mind."

Bai Yuting nodded, but still secretly kept the suggestion in mind.

Although she thought it unlikely, Zhou Chen's ability to command such respect from Lei Ming surely indicated his extraordinary qualities, and his suggestion might hold some deeper meaning.