Chapter 113: The Immortal of Boundless Emptiness

Upon hearing this, Yan Chixia wasted no time and immediately agreed, rushing toward the alchemy chamber alongside Qingxu Zhenren.

………………………………

She Meier employed the “Gentle Breeze Escape” technique to leave Zixia Palace and instantly appeared in a small town at the foot of Mount Li.

This town was called Qingfeng Town.

It was afternoon, with the slanting sun shining warmly, and the town bustled with people.

On the right side of South Street stood “Sun’s Apothecary,” a shop specializing in various ingredients for pill concoction, a place She Meier frequented.

At that moment, She Meier appeared beside a weeping willow in front of the apothecary and then briskly entered.

The shopkeeper was absent; only the assistant, Xiao Shunzi, stood behind the counter. With no customers, he was dozing off, leaning against the counter with his eyes closed. Seeing this, She Meier greeted him loudly:

“Hey! Xiao Shunzi, dreaming away?”

Startled, Xiao Shunzi quickly opened his eyes and, upon seeing She Meier, became alert and greeted her with a smile:

“Miss She, welcome!”

She Meier smiled warmly and nodded. “Just you here… where’s Master Sun?”

“He went to a wedding banquet. Today, his second nephew’s eldest niece’s old maid is getting married—to the eldest nephew’s younger aunt’s son,” replied Xiao Shunzi in a convoluted manner.

She Meier frowned, confused. “Oh? So complicated?”

He chuckled, unsure how to explain, then shifted the topic back. “Miss She, what medicinal ingredients are you looking for today? I’m at your service!”

She Meier glanced over the colorful herbs arranged in the cabinets and said:

“Three catties each of orpiment and copper sulfate; two catties each of cinnabar, realgar, and borax; one catty each of flower bud stone, mica, red ochre, green talc, sea-floating stone, magnetite, and hematite; and one bottle of mercury—just these today.”

“Right away, Miss She. Please wait a moment…” Xiao Shunzi cheerfully replied and swiftly began preparing the order.

In no time, he weighed each herb precisely, packed them into small white cloth bags, tied them neatly with hemp rope, and placed them on the counter. Then he fetched a bottle of mercury from the lowest shelf and set it beside the bags. Smiling, he said:

“Miss She, all your requested herbs are ready. The total comes to eight hundred and sixty-five copper coins.”

She Meier nodded and murmured an incantation, storing the herbs into her “Storage Ring.” Then, she silently summoned a string of coins from the ring and placed them on the counter, saying:

“Xiao Shunzi, here is the full payment. After deducting the eight hundred and sixty-five coins for the herbs, keep the remaining one hundred and thirty-five as a tip.”

Xiao Shunzi hastily waved his hands:

“No, no! Miss She, if I take your tip, Master Sun will scold me when he returns…”

“Hmph,” She Meier interrupted with a cold laugh, speaking with righteous confidence, “This is my money. If I want to give it to you, it’s none of anyone else’s business. Xiao Shunzi, take it or leave it; if not, toss it outside… I’m leaving.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Xiao Shunzi called out happily after her retreating figure:

“Thank you for the tip, Miss She! Take care…”

She Meier paid no heed and was about to use the “Gentle Breeze Escape” to return to Zixia Palace when a brazen voice rang out:

“Ah! Such a beautiful young lady, truly a visage to shame fish and birds, a face to eclipse moon and flowers…”

Before the words finished, a figure suddenly appeared before She Meier.

Startled, she steadied herself and looked closely.

The man was tall and slender, appearing in his thirties, dressed as a Taoist priest. His face was pale, clean-shaven, with refined features. Though handsome and elegant, an underlying sinister aura radiated from him.

She Meier frowned and asked coldly:

“Who are you? In broad daylight, blocking my path—what do you intend?”

“Hahaha… well asked! I am the abbot of Huifeng Temple on Mount Emei, Taoist name Wuji Zhenren,” he said greedily eyeing She Meier’s delicate face. “Young lady, I have always cherished beauty, especially women of your exceptional charm! Meeting you here today must be fate that brings us together. How about we become Taoist partners?”

“You…” She Meier’s anger flared. Without hesitation, she focused her internal energy into her right hand, clenched her fist, and violently struck Wuji Zhenren’s chest.

Now at the “Golden Core” cultivation stage, her internal energy was formidable, and fueled by rage, her punch was unstoppable. Had Wuji not dodged, a large hole would have appeared in his chest. But to her surprise, he did not evade; her powerful fist struck his chest but elicited no reaction, as if hitting cotton.

“Ah? How can this be?” She Meier gasped, about to retract her fist, when Wuji Zhenren smoothly caught her in his arms and mockingly said:

“Dear lady, so obedient! We haven’t even become partners, and you’re already throwing yourself into my embrace! Stay still, let me touch your lovely face…”

As he spoke, his left hand reached for her peach-blossom-like cheek.

She Meier was furious and humiliated, trembling with rage, longing to smash him with a punch! But knowing he was far stronger, she understood she couldn’t win. To avoid further disgrace, she had to escape his clutches quickly. Instantly, she used the “Gentle Breeze Escape” technique and vanished.

“Ah?” Wuji Zhenren’s face changed in shock. “The ‘Gentle Breeze Escape’? Could she be a disciple of the Nine Heavens Fairy? Trouble… I mustn’t linger here. I’ll retreat to Huifeng Temple immediately.”

Without delay, he used the “Earth Escape” technique, burrowing underground and fleeing in haste.

Though appearing youthful, Wuji Zhenren was actually over one hundred fifty years old. He lived in seclusion at Huifeng Temple on Mount Emei, cultivating for many years and now at the late stage of the “Out-of-Body” realm.

Originally, he had come to “Sun’s Apothecary” to purchase alchemical ingredients, but now, seized by fear, he forgot his mission and fled recklessly.

………………………………

At Qingxu Temple on Mount Zhongnan,

Inside the alchemy chamber, Yan Chixia was using the “Ruyi Alchemy Furnace” to concoct the “Great Rejuvenation Pill.”

Qingxu Zhenren stood nearby, watching intently…