Five years later.
The Medicine Valley in autumn was full of life. The flowers, grass, and trees here showed no signs of wilting, as if it were spring.
"Bang!"
In a pavilion, an exquisite censer emitted an explosion, as if it were about to resound throughout the entire Medicine Valley.
This was followed by an enraged voice: "Damn little beast, you've ruined my alchemy furnace again!"
The next moment, a fluffy, snowball-like creature rushed out of the smoke-filled medicinal room and rolled to the stone table.
Following it out was an old man with white temples and a long goatee.
He was currently holding a handful of ruined pills, his face covered in soot, and he scanned his surroundings with gritted teeth.
Until his gaze fell upon the figure curled up beneath the stone table, the old man, filled with righteous anger, lunged forward: "Pay for my pills."
Seeing this, the snowball creature shrunk its head and quickly tried to move away.
"Xiao Zhao, did you go to the medicinal room to cause trouble again?"
At this moment, a clear, melodious, and slightly helpless female voice sounded from behind.
The snowball creature shook its fur, and a head with small blue horns emerged. Its two eyes, like lustrous blue gems, rolled towards the direction of the speaker.
The woman was in a flowing long dress, her face covered by a white veil. The half-visible face beneath the veil hinted at a delicate outline.
The upper half of her face revealed eyebrows like verdant jade, with the tail slightly upturned. Her bright peach blossom eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water, captivating the heart.
She walked slowly, and the silver bracelet with two bells on her right wrist jingled with a clear and pleasant sound in the breeze as she moved.
Seeing the woman approach, the snowball creature revealed its limbs and trotted on its little hooves to her side, rubbing its furry body against her leg with an extremely docile demeanor.
Old Man Xu pointed at the snowball creature, which was acting docile beside the woman, and said indignantly: "Look, look. Ning He, this beast only dares to act so presumptuously in the Medicine Valley because you always protect it. How many alchemy furnaces and pills has it already destroyed?"
Feng Ning He helplessly glared at Xiao Zhao, who pouted and gazed at her with wide, wronged eyes.
Xiao Zhao's original form was a White Jade Qilin. In its past life, it was her contracted spirit beast, with a mischievous and extremely curious nature.
Before it reincarnated with her, everyone in Lin Country knew that the White Jade Qilin, the contracted spirit beast of the Empress, was a little devil who caused chaos.
A white light flashed in Feng Ning He's hand, and she held a jade slip, which she tossed to Old Man Xu: "This is the formula for the third-grade pill 'Ju Ling Dan,' considered compensation for your losses today."
Old Man Xu eagerly took it, holding the jade slip as if it were a treasure.
At this moment, there was no trace of his previous anger. He was clearly overjoyed and no longer bothered to fuss with Xiao Zhao, who had destroyed his alchemy furnace and pills.
"A formula for a third-grade pill. You can't find three of these in the entire Li Country. Two of them are even kept in the Li Country's imperial palace. Feng Laoda, where on earth did you find so many rare treasures?"
Feng Ning He raised the corner of her eyes and gave Old Man Xu a half-smile.
Old Man Xu shivered and immediately dared not ask further.
Five years ago, he had encountered Feng Ning He, covered in wounds and battered, at the Myriad Beast Cliff.
He had intended to take the opportunity to capture her and use her as a medicinal subject, but unexpectedly, he, a peak Golden Core cultivator, was killed by a girl in her early teens!
However, Old Man Xu was certain that although he couldn't sense any spiritual energy fluctuations from Feng Ning He, and she usually appeared unremarkable, her cultivation must be above his.
At such a young age, to possess such cultivation.
And every now and then, she would casually give him rare treasures that would undoubtedly cause a stir in Li Country, as if they were ordinary items.
Such demeanor was not something Old Man Xu felt he could afford to provoke.
Meanwhile, Feng Ning He held Xiao Zhao in her arms, her slender white fingers tapping its forehead: "You, if you continue to be so mischievous, my entire fortune will be squandered by you."
Although she said this, Feng Ning He knew in her heart.
Her spiritual bracelet contained nearly half of the Lin Country's imperial palace treasury. Even if she compensated him daily, it would take years to deplete it.
Xiao Zhao rubbed its furry head against Feng Ning He's palm and whimpered twice.
Master, don't be angry. Xiao Zhao will definitely do bad things in secret from now on.
Feng Ning He: "..."
Just then, a medicine boy approached and respectfully said to Feng Ning He: "Master, a group of people have arrived outside, claiming to be from the Feng family of Li Country and requesting that Immortal Xu treat the First Prince. This is the token they gave."
Upon hearing this, Old Man Xu, before Feng Ning He could reply, waved his hand impatiently: "What kind of miscellaneous people are these? Even if the Jade Emperor himself came, I wouldn't treat them. Send them back!"
Old Man Xu was revered by the world as 'Immortal Xu' because he could bring the dead back to life and command the wind and rain.
In Li Country, his alchemy skills were considered peak.
Since he came to the Medicine Valley, visitors had been endless, but he had refused to see them all.
"Wait."
Feng Ning He spoke. She casually took the token, and upon seeing it, her eyes instantly darkened, and a chill rose.
She slightly clenched her fair hand, and the token turned to ash in her palm, scattering in the wind.
The Feng family?
Feng Ning He's alluring lips curved slightly: "Old man, the Medicine Valley accepts this commission."
After such a long period of silence, she was eager to meet the members of the Feng family...
Over the years, she had single-handedly established the Medicine Valley and accumulated strength.
In a short period, the Medicine Valley had become a sensation in Li Country.
Furthermore, under the guise of 'Immortal Xu,' its fame had soared.
The world believed that Immortal Xu was the Valley Master of the Medicine Valley, but little did they know that the Valley Master was only twenty years old, once called a useless person with no cultivation foundation in Li Country—Feng Ning He.
At the entrance of the Medicine Valley, a luxurious carriage was parked quietly.
The woman inside the carriage had lost her patience and leaped out of the carriage. She was adorned in opulent clothing and her hair was decorated with numerous jewels, giving her an air of nobility.
She was the third young lady of the Feng family, Feng Tong Tong.
"When will Immortal Xu finally appear?"
Feng Tong Tong impatiently turned to the medicine boy guarding the entrance of the Medicine Valley: "The First Prince is poisoned and in critical condition. If Immortal Xu doesn't appear soon, and the First Prince has any accident, Li Country will surely send troops to flatten the Medicine Valley!"
The medicine boy's expression remained unchanged, and he replied politely: "Please wait patiently, young lady."
Feng Tong Tong stomped her foot in anxiety, her face flushing with anger: "That is the First Prince! Your Medicine Valley cannot afford to be negligent! If the First Prince has even the slightest accident, the entire Medicine Valley will have to pay with their lives!"
She deliberately raised her voice, glaring at the medicine boy.
The medicine boy's attitude remained consistent: "Young lady, you are mistaken. Even if the Emperor himself were to visit, Immortal Xu might not agree to see him."
"Insolent!"
Feng Tong Tong was furious. She wanted to force her way in but was blocked by the medicine boy at the entrance.
In her rage, she slapped the medicine boy across the face: "A mere gatekeeper dares to stop me? Today, you have offended not only the First Prince but also the Feng family!"
*Slap!*
Suddenly, a crisp slapping sound echoed through the air again.
Feng Tong Tong was sent flying several meters away, landing heavily on the ground. Her cheek swelled visibly, leaving a long red imprint.
Her ears buzzed, and her cheeks burned. A figure now stood before her.