After Ayanduin's visit, there was only one thing left to do in this world: the meeting with Lord Gu Chen. Before that, they had a few preparations to do. First of all, curing Yasenia of her poison.
Kali was in the alchemy room with Yasenia, Flora, and another three maids who specialized in alchemy. They were all, Kali included, tasked with a supporting role in this pill's creation. The leading alchemist was none other than Valeria herself.
Yasenia was slowly taking out the essence of a few herbs and asked. "By the way, where did Valeria go?"
Kali hummed. "I think she went to talk with Ayanduin? I am not sure, though."
The dragoness extracted the essence perfectly and poured it into a vial, wondering. "Why did she go? Any idea?"
"To be honest, I don't." Kali waved her hand, lighting a small fire under the cauldron to warm it up. "Yasenia…"
The dragoness asked with a hum. "Yes, Honey?"
Kali sighed. "Are you really ready to forgive him? I can understand why, as this situation is extremely similar to Tengliu's. However, we were not completely helpless against him, right? He is infected by my parasite."
Yasenia smiled faintly. "You are right. Killing him was not impossible. However, some of us would've died."
Kali blinked. "Really? Even with Valeria's full support, you still think so?"
"Yes." Yasenia sighed. "I think you are underestimating his strength, Kali. What if he has an [Intent Domain] that he has not revealed yet? Even if it is a Level 1 Intent Domain, the results of facing him would've been devastating. One of us dying in exchange for what? The treasures that we could get with my other tactic, risking no one's life? It's not worth it. My maids and you are my family. I refuse to sacrifice any of you for petty revenge that can be settled without those risks."
Kali hummed. "So, unless you are completely sure that you can kill without any casualties, you prefer to settle revenge in a different manner?"
"And if it affects any of you, then forgiveness is almost impossible as well~." Yasenia added with a laugh.
"I see." The fox kin nodded. "But I won't easily forgive him."
Yasenia acknowledged. "I know. You have seen me suffer for a few years; I can guess how much your hatred for him has grown. Probably, it won't be resolved in a lifetime. Regardless, being able to listen to me and give this path a try is more than enough."
Kali smiled softly, and then, the door opened. "Sorry, children. It took a bit longer than I expected~."
Kali looked over to the tall woman who appeared and smiled, her tails wagging. "Welcome back, Valeria. How did it go?"
"Better than expected~." Valeria laughed and added. "From our conversation, he looks like he does intend to be honest about that contract, Yasenia."
The dragoness nodded. "As long as people don't betray my trust, I don't mind giving them mine back. I said it in the past: I'd rather trust and regret than never trust and later regret that choice."
Valeria agreed. "Let's start the concoction. It's not hard, so just listen to my words, and before you realize it, we'll have the antidote. It is also a blessing, to be honest. Well, you'll understand once you absorb it."
Then, they all started the concoction of the pill. First things first, Valeria took over the alchemy fire control and perfectly managed it. "Flora, throw in the [Seeking Rose Petal Vine] and [Gold Clover Leaf] essences. Kali, wait four seconds and add the [Phantom Tree Stump]. Yasenia, please add the first batch of supporting herbs."
Her voice flowed constantly and clearly as she gave everyone instructions and poured ingredient after ingredient into the cauldron. The flames danced around like waves, raising and falling together with Valeria's spiritual use.
Inside the cauldron, the herb essences evaporated, and the solid ingredients became dust-like. With the supporting herbs, Valeria caught the impurities released from the ingredients. Then, she gathered them at the edge of the cauldron, creating a black wall of smoke that never mixed with the gorgeous and complex movement of medicine in the middle.
Finally, Valeria added the [Soul Anchoring Algae] as the last ingredient and placed the cauldron's lid on the cauldron. Following that, her spiritual pressure rose, and the Alchemy Flames changed to a gorgeous emerald green color, which surged upward like a beautiful forest.
Kali and the other alchemist looked in awe while Valeria created a genuine Transcendent Realm pill.
After half an hour, Valeria focused and moved her hands. Her fluid movements were imitated by the emerald flames, creating a vortex-like movement around the cauldron. Then, Valeria stepped forward and palmed the cauldron.
Clang~.
A deep metallic sound echoed, and a shockwave pushed the flames away. Valeria exhaled and then returned to a neutral stance. "Done~."
She took the lid off the cauldron, and a deep black cloud sprung outward. Kali asked in disbelief. "You have not created a perfect pill, have you?"
Valeria laughed softly. "Creating a Transcendent Pill with one hundred perfect purity without being in the transcendent realm is impossible. You must dig deeper into the ingredients and extract more impurities than we did."
A perfectly round white pill with complex patterns floated upward. Around it, there were green curly veins that looked like plants were growing on its surface. Its aura was hypnotic, as it appeared like it could dissolve with the surroundings. Valeria nodded. "This is the [Soul Anchoring Pill]. It is a powerful pill that can heal any kind of affliction of the soul for mortal cultivators. Not only that, the pill nourishes the soul to the limits of the mortal realms. After eating this pill, your soul strength will become several times stronger."
Yasenia looked at the pill that hovered in front of her and extended her hand to grab it. "It honestly looks appetizing."
Valeria snorted a laugh. "You find powerful things appealing, and this pill is no exception. Sadly for you, it is mostly tasteless." Then, she commented. "By the way, if you want the pill's effects to be the best possible, remember to try and expose as much of your soul as possible. Allow it to dig deep, allow it to nourish everything."
The dragoness frowned. "Valeria, what about the Moon Goddess and Sun God? Won't they benefit from it, too?"
The Nature Queen shook her head. "No. They can't benefit from this kind of low-level pill. This will only nourish your soul."
The dragoness nodded and looked at Kali with a smirk. "Love, plan our meeting with Gu Chen while I absorb this pill. You are in charge~."
Kali blinked twice, her fox ears straightening. "Ha?"
Yasenia pecked her lips and then walked away while humming.
Once the door to her room closed, Kali looked at the rest and saw them looking at her. Flora asked with a smile. "What are your orders, Madam?"
Kali groaned and sighed. "Gather everyone first…" Kali walked toward the biggest room they had while rubbing her forehead. "How do I even plan something against a Transcendent Realm cultivator when we are going to visit him in his own house and have less than a week left?"
Once inside her room, Yasenia approached the formation at the center and sat cross-legged on it. This formation was something she had back in Distancia. Selena was in this world with her, and since she was the most talented maid formation-building-wise, she could recreate most of what she had back in Distancia.
Once she sat cross-legged, she placed a few hundred Sunderials instead of using the purple crystals and began gathering energy inside her room.
It took less than three hours to gather enough energy to make it slightly visible, as if it were mist. Moreover, thanks to Yasenia's expertise in liquifying energy in her Dantian, she could increase the energy concentration enough that some droplets fell occasionally.
With that done, Yasenia took out the pill and swallowed it. The pill easily dissolved when it touched her tongue and flowed downward like a refreshing spring that was quenching a thirst she didn't know she was carrying.
The revitalizing sensation caused Yasenia to subconsciously close her eyes in comfort and focus her spiritual sense on herself. The energy spread into her meridians and traveled all around her body, increasing her body's strength even when it was a soul-related item. The reason for this was simple: [Celestial Yin and Yang Body].
Her constitution was the ultimate regulator, the ultimate balancing mechanism. So, with it, the pure soul energy flowing around could be gently morphed to help her physical body. Of course, even with the [Celestial Yin and Yang Body], the transformation was minimal, as most of it went toward the soul.
Not because the constitution was not able to transform more, but because Yasenia's body was much more developed thanks to the Body Cultivation Technique.
As the soul energy poured into her, Yasenia realized something. Her soul was large and strong, incredibly so for someone at her level. However, it was just that—large and strong.
She had a massive weapon, but she had been swinging it around without a single shred of control like a barbarian. When it hit, its effects were horrifying. Yet, if she ever faced someone who knew how to wield the soul, her soul attacks would probably be easily defeated or nullified.
So, what the [Soul Anchoring Pill] did was different from what she expected.
First of all, it tackled the poison and reversed its effects. All the damage on her soul began to heal at a terrifying rate while the substance that was previously damaging her became nourishment.
Then, the pill spread around her soul and started compressing it. Yasenia's gigantic soul began shrinking, and at the same time, it became more refined. 'Shrinking my soul but increasing the density… I see.' Yasenia pondered. 'Perhaps Soul Cultivation is not what I expected? At first, I guessed that Soul Cultivation would be about making your own soul as large and strong as possible while being able to control it. However, what if it is not like that? What if it is the opposite?'
Yasenia's mind entered a deep thinking state, not quite achieving enlightenment, but being quite close to it. 'I need to refine my soul like a weapon, like my body. Bigger muscles don't always mean more strength. Stylize my soul, give it a shape, give it… a purpose.'
With those thoughts, time flew by, and a week quickly went by. Kali waited outside of Yasenia's room with a frown. "Why is she not out yet? You told me that absorbing the pill would take around three days or so, no?"
Valeria looked toward the room with thoughtful eyes. "Yasenia's soul has… changed."
Kali's face dropped. "What do you mean changed? Did the poison affect her so badly that her personality changed?"
The soul was a delicate matter, and any changes in it usually came with changes to a person's mentality, personality, and sometimes even feelings. Valeria relaxed Kali. "Don't worry. It's not a change in that sense. How to say it… Her soul feels more… refined. And she should be done in a few hours. Have you sent a letter to Gu Chen?"
Kali nodded, sighing. "I told him that we would be late because Yasenia is in the middle of a breakthrough. He will probably understand."
Valeria smiled. "I hope-"
RUMBLE!
BANG!
Thunder was followed by a massive lightning bolt piercing the sky and landing into Yasenia's room. Valeria was baffled. "Huh? Wasn't this World's Heaven almost dying?"
Kali's eyebrow twitched. "Do they hate her so badly that even when they are on their deathbed, they bother to shoot lightning bolts at her?"
The door toward Yasenia's room opened, and the dragoness came out with a large smile, even when her skin was badly burnt. "Refreshing~."
Kali almost slapped her to the ground. "What's refreshing about nearly being burnt alive!? And what the hell did you do to get smitten by an almost dead Heaven!?"