“I mean… I came here to find this!” Bai Shuo hastily pulled the book from her medicine pouch, flipping to the last page and pointing to the passage for Chong Zhao. “I knew the old turtle was lying about the coral sea, so I found this book in the library.”
She placed her finger on the handwritten note:
"South of Miao Miao, a celestial fire descended, burning the island and destroying all life. Only a single spring remains in the southeast of the island, now untouched for more than ten years."
Bai Shuo continued, “This note was left by the former Sect Leader. I think the reason he came here three years ago was because he was searching for something on this island. Maybe he wasn’t injured in a fight…”
“You mean…” Chong Zhao’s gaze shifted toward the white tiger in the distance. “It was the one that injured Master?”
“Yes, don’t forget—grade-one treasures are rare and usually guarded by a powerful spirit beast. Perhaps the Sect Leader was injured by this white tiger when he attempted to take the treasure from the spring. This would also explain why no one else on Miao Miao Island knew of this place. The Sect Leader understood its danger and kept it secret. But perhaps he left clues here, hoping that someone from our sect might discover this treasure one day when their celestial power was great enough,” Bai Shuo explained.
Chong Zhao listened with an angry expression. “So, knowing this treasure is guarded by a powerful spirit beast that even Master couldn’t defeat, you still came alone to this island with your limited power? Even if there is a treasure here, with our current strength, we wouldn’t be able to take it.”
“Well, even if I don’t have much celestial power, I’ve got this.” Bai Shuo tapped her head. “Don’t forget what I’m best at.”
With a grin, she pulled a small porcelain bottle from her medicine pouch and shook it. “I’m the best at making potions—especially ones for dealing with spirit beasts.”
“What’s… that?”
“Universal Drunk!” Bai Shuo laughed, seeing Chong Zhao’s confused look. She winked, “No surprise you haven’t heard of it—I just made it yesterday and came up with the name.”
Chong Zhao looked skeptical. “And you’re sure it’ll work on that?”
“Absolutely. It might not have top-tier ingredients, but I did add Beauty Fragrance. Even the old turtle couldn’t resist it.”
“What’s Beauty Fragrance?”
Bai Shuo chuckled, twisting the lid halfway open and leaning closer to Chong Zhao, “It’s…”
“What?” he asked, leaning in as well.
“Oh, you’re still too young to know all the details,” she teased, snapping the lid shut and holding it protectively. “Just know it works!”
“Now remember, cover your nose, and use your celestial energy to protect yourself—don’t breathe in,” Bai Shuo warned him as she moved forward. But Chong Zhao stopped her.
“Let me do it.”
Bai Shuo shook her head. “With your strong celestial energy, it’ll sense you coming right away. But it won’t notice me because I don’t have celestial energy. For the fragrance to work, I have to get within three meters.”
Even so, Chong Zhao didn’t let go of her hand until she looked up at him with uncharacteristic firmness. “A-Zhao, I need to do this to make that grade-one pill for you. Let go.”
Chong Zhao slowly released her hand. “Alright. But be careful.”
Bai Shuo nodded, then quietly crept toward the white tiger, porcelain bottle in hand.
The valley was eerily silent. Using the birdcalls as cover, Bai Shuo finally reached a cluster of flowers closest to the white tiger. Hidden in the grass, she cautiously opened the porcelain bottle just a crack, releasing a soft fragrance. It drifted through the air, mingling with the nearby flowers, until it reached the tiger’s nose.
The white tiger sniffed, oblivious, gradually inhaling the scent. After half an incense stick’s time, its eyes grew hazy, its head drooping as it sank into a deep slumber on the rock.
Bai Shuo watched it intently. Seeing that it was motionless, she slipped forward and playfully tugged on its tail. Watching from a distance, Chong Zhao was petrified. “A-Shuo, be careful!”
Bai Shuo just laughed, letting go of the tiger’s tail and placing her hands on her hips in triumph. “Done! I told you—there’s no spirit beast out there that my Universal Drunk can’t handle!”
She beckoned Chong Zhao over and eagerly moved toward the mystical spring behind the white tiger.
In just a few strides, Bai Shuo was standing at the edge of the spring. The water sparkled with an ethereal light, and nestled in the center was a pure white snow lotus, radiating such potent celestial energy that it seemed on the verge of bursting.
“A-Zhao, I found it! A grade-one treasure!”
Bai Shuo’s face lit up with joy as she reached out toward the snow lotus in the spring.
Suddenly, a flash of silver shot through the air, and powerful demonic energy hurtled toward her wrist. A chill surged through Bai Shuo’s heart, and before she could react, someone pulled her away from the spring.
The demonic energy struck the spring and exploded. Had Bai Shuo still been there, she would have been reduced to ashes.
Heart pounding, Bai Shuo patted her chest and glanced behind her. “Thanks, A-Zhao!”
It was Chong Zhao who had saved her. He stood protectively in front of her, his gaze cold and dark as he stared at a figure cloaked in red not far away.
Following his gaze, Bai Shuo looked over, only for her breath to catch in her throat as all remaining courage fled from her.
Oh no! That demon! Why was he here?
Standing beneath a tree, Fan Yue, dressed in red, had his arms crossed and was leaning casually against the trunk, his eyes falling lazily on Bai Shuo. He seemed slightly surprised as well.
Then, with a faintly amused smile, he looked directly at her.
“When did the Celestial Tribe start using our demonic charm to concoct potions?”
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