Chapter 205: Alchemy!
Han Churan smiled warmly. "Chuxue, what's wrong? You seem a bit unhappy."
Han Chuxue responded coldly, "Nothing. Why did you have time to come back today?"
"The company wasn't too busy, and I heard from Grandpa that Zhao Dong was here, so I thought I'd come back to see."
Han Chuxue sneered, "What does Zhao Dong's visit have to do with you?"
Perhaps sensing the sarcasm in Han Chuxue's words, Han Churan didn't back down. "Of course, it has to do with me," she retorted, her tone growing sharp. "Zhao Dong is a guest in our home, so naturally, I should come to see him! Besides, I've admired Zhao Dong for a long time. Seeing him today, he truly has an extraordinary bearing!"
Han Churan watched Zhao Dong with a smile, intentionally provoking Han Chuxue.
As expected, Han Chuxue's face flushed with anger. Gritting her teeth, she shot Zhao Dong a look that could kill.
Zhao Dong gave an awkward smile, sensing the air crackling with hostility. He felt as if he were on pins and needles, not knowing what to say. Just then, Han Churan picked up a grape and offered it to him with a beaming smile. "Mr. Zhao, come, let me feed you a grape."
At this, Zhao Dong was completely stunned and at a loss for what to do.
Han Chuxue couldn't take it anymore. She shot to her feet and confronted her cousin. "Han Churan, what do you think you're doing? What does Zhao Dong have to do with you? He's my man!"
The living room fell silent.
Han Qingtian pretended not to notice, but a smile played on his lips.
Zhao Dong touched his nose and glanced at Han Chuxue. What's with her? She was so cold to me just a moment ago.
Han Churan also stood up, looking back at Han Chuxue defiantly with a mocking smile. "Cousin, you can't just say that. If I'm not mistaken, you don't even like Zhao Dong, do you? Grandpa also said you can't stand him, and you two barely have any contact. What gives you the right to claim he's your man?"
Han Chuxue gritted her teeth, flustered and furious. "What's it to you? He is if I say he is!"
Han Churan frowned, displeased. "Chuxue, when will you change that attitude of yours? You're being too selfish. What, just because you won't date Zhao Dong, you're not going to let anyone else date him either?"
Han Chuxue's chest heaved with anger. She glared at Zhao Dong and demanded, "Zhao Dong, tell her! Am I your woman or not?"
The corner of Zhao Dong's mouth twitched. Looking at Han Chuxue's beautiful, angry face, he felt an inexplicable urge to laugh. He cleared his throat, touched his nose, and finally said, "Well... I suppose so!"
"What do you mean, 'suppose so'?" Han Chuxue was so furious her glare alone could have killed him.
Beside them, Han Churan smiled faintly. "Chuxue, to win a man, you have to win his heart. You're looking rather desperate right now. Let me give you some advice: I've also taken a fancy to Zhao Dong and want to be with him. If you don't like him, don't force it."
"I..." Han Chuxue gritted her teeth, squeezing the words out. "I... do like him!"
Han Churan pursed her lips. "Fine. But I won't give up just like that. We'll compete fairly."
With that, Han Churan sat down and looked at Zhao Dong with a charming smile. "Come, Zhao Dong, have a grape."
As the grape neared his lips, Zhao Dong's face flushed. Faced with Han Churan's mature charm, he felt a bit embarrassed.
Han Churan smiled warmly, her expression alluring. "What, feeding you by hand isn't good enough? Then... should we try another way?"
Those teasing words made Han Chuxue's vision darken with rage. She ground out, "Zhao Dong, if you dare eat that grape today, I'm not done with you!"
Han Churan frowned. "Zhao Dong, eat it. Let's see what she can do!"
Zhao Dong was completely bewildered. After three seconds, he looked at Han Churan with a bitter smile. "I'll pass on the grape. I'm allergic to them."
Han Churan bit her lip, knowing full well he was making an excuse. She shot a glare at Han Chuxue before reluctantly putting the grape down.
A triumphant smile crept onto Han Chuxue's face, and she gave Zhao Dong a look of satisfaction. This guy... It seems my words actually have some effect on him.
Zhao Dong stood up and patted down his clothes. "Alright, Churan, Chuxue, Elder Han, I'm heading to the warehouse out back. I'll leave you to your chat."
With that, Zhao Dong left the villa. After all, his alchemy was important.
Elder Han personally saw Zhao Dong out, leaving the two cousins alone in the villa.
Han Chuxue looked at Han Churan smugly. "Cousin, I'd advise you to save your energy. You and Zhao Dong will never be together."
Han Churan frowned, annoyed. "I really don't get you. You don't even like him, so why are you doing this?"
Han Chuxue pouted. "It's true, I don't like him. But I don't want anyone else to have him either. So what?"
Han Churan was angry now. "You're truly selfish!"
"That's none of your business! Hmph! In any case, you can't steal Zhao Dong from me!"
Han Churan smiled sweetly. "Is that so? Well then, I guess we'll just have to see if I can. Chuxue, just wait until you're calling Zhao Dong your brother-in-law."
Finished speaking, Han Churan turned and left.
Behind her, Han Chuxue rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. Her beautiful eyes darted about as if an idea had just struck her...
「Meanwhile」
Zhao Dong arrived at the warehouse and took out the medicinal herbs he had prepared. Taking a deep breath, he readied himself to begin the alchemy.
The pill he was crafting this time was called the Heavenly Yuan Pill, which could elevate a person's cultivation realm and grant a significant surge of strength in a short time. Of course, the ingredients for such a heaven-defying pill were extremely expensive and rare. Zhao Dong had spent considerable effort to find them, so he was fully able to refine it.
He glanced at the remaining ingredients and saw he could also refine one Blood Replenishing Pill and three Life-Saving Pills. However, due to the nature of the herbs, the Life-Saving Pills could only save the lives of ordinary people; their effect on cultivators was limited. At best, they could temporarily stave off death from a severe injury, since the wounds a cultivator sustained were anything but ordinary.
Zhao Dong exhaled a turbid breath, steadied his mind, and began!
He positioned the alchemy cauldron, selected the herbs, and placed them inside. Then, he brought his hands together, forming a seal with two fingers, and began to refine the contents. He was using a fire of Spiritual Energy. The flame required for alchemy was unique and had to be enhanced with Spiritual Power. As the herbs were being refined, they had to be catalyzed and fused with Spiritual Energy. Only then could a pill be formed. This was why ordinary people and cultivators were unable to perform alchemy.
Soon, a terrifyingly hot, bluish-purple flame was roasting the cauldron. Sizzling sounds filled the air as the herbs began a wondrous transformation.
Beads of sweat formed on Zhao Dong's forehead, and his face grew slightly pale. The toll of alchemy was truly terrifying. Before long, the fragrance of a pill filled the air, but Zhao Dong's expression only grew more solemn.
The herbs inside the cauldron had melted into a pool of medicinal liquid. Next came the most crucial step—Pill Solidification