"Heh."
Song Wanníng was tired of listening already, yet the Xi Rang still wasn't done talking? How ridiculous.
Her gaze remained calm as she stared at the Xi Rang sealed inside the bottle. "I've already made up my mind, and I told you as much before, didn't I?"
Without another word, she carried the bottle to the furnace.
When the Xi Rang saw her moving in earnest, it finally believed her. This woman really meant to refine it! "You—you… what are you doing? Let me go, now!
I can form a contract with you, just don't refine me!
I mean it, you don't even have to beg me, I'll do it!
Did you hear me? I truly agree, I promise I won't go back on my word. Just let me out, alright?
Refining me won't do you much good, but if you keep me, I can cultivate spiritual herbs. You saw that medicine field, didn't you? As long as you keep me, you can have one just like it!
Aren't you an alchemist? I'm actually very useful! Let me out now!" The Xi Rang was babbling in panic, spewing out every sweet promise it could think of.
Regret twisted through it like a knife. It should never have fallen for a human's tricks in the first place. Had it just stayed put, nothing would have happened. And now, its life was on the line.
"Hey! Did you hear me? I can help you, you have to believe me! I was just joking with you before! I'll sign the contract!"
Human, beast, or spirit—everything feared death.
While alive, there was always hope. Once dead, nothing remained.
But the Xi Rang's pleas stirred no sympathy in Song Wanníng.
From beginning to end, she listened with the same faint expression, her hands never pausing. To keep it from escaping, she had prepared the furnace lid with only a single opening—just wide enough to fit the bottle's neck.
She tilted the bottle downward, positioning the mouth over the hole, completely covering it. If the Xi Rang came out, it would be trapped inside instantly, with no chance to slip away.
"Ah—!"
The bottle flipped, and the Xi Rang let out a sharp scream before tumbling into the furnace. Inside, restrictive seals sealed its fate. No matter how frantically it dashed about, it couldn't break free.
The only exit was back through the bottle.
Feeling the heat pressing in, the Xi Rang lunged toward it in desperation. But Song Wanníng pressed her hand firmly over the neck and slapped a talisman over the hole, sealing it shut. Its only way out was gone. The Xi Rang was now completely locked inside the furnace.
"No—!"
It rushed about like a headless fly, fear flooding its eyes. The searing heat was unbearable, and the liquid below seemed to glare at it with predatory intent.
"Let me out! I'll contract with you right now! Just let me out! I'm serious, believe me!"
Its cries echoed again and again, but Song Wanníng ignored them. She intensified the alchemic flames, her full attention fixed on fusing the materials.
The Xi Rang was a innate spirit treasure—refining it was no easy task. At the very least, it would take half a month. She frowned slightly, pulling out a Soul-Replenishing Pill and swallowing it. Her depleted spiritual power quickly filled again.
The flames roared higher.
Inside the furnace, the Xi Rang's frantic thrashing began to weaken, its proud head finally lowering.
"I was wrong! Please, I'm begging you, let me go! I'll help you grow all manner of things, herbs especially! I'm begging you, don't refine me!"
Its voice cracked, and to its own humiliation, it began to cry like a child. Never had it imagined a human would choose to destroy it rather than keep it alive. It was worth far more living than dead. How could anyone turn that away?
Now, it lowered its pride entirely, clinging to the hope she would relent. But no matter how it begged, Song Wanníng did not waver. Her world narrowed to the furnace in front of her.
She poured in another vial of spiritual liquid. The contents churned violently, bubbling like boiling water.
Pop—
A bubble burst.
The Xi Rang's composure shattered along with it. The heat grew more and more unbearable. It cried out as it leapt about, but the liquid began creeping upward, eating away at its space. Soon, there was nowhere left to hide. It pressed itself flat against the furnace lid.
"Save me! Save me!
I'll be obedient, I swear it! Just let me out!
I'll never curse you again, I promise! I was wrong, please!"
It battered itself against the lid, desperate to break free. But the array above held firm, blocking every attempt. The liquid rose higher, swallowing it bit by bit.
"No—! Let me out! I was wrong—!"
The pounding and wails echoed inside the lid, loud enough to make one's ears ring.
Song Wanníng's eyes grew cold. She pushed the flames harder and pressed the lid down.
"Ah—!"
The Xi Rang gave one last cry of terror and despair before it was submerged entirely.
The liquid wrapped around it, binding it tight.
It thrashed wildly, but the flames only grew hotter.
At last, under the relentless alchemic fire, the Xi Rang's movements slowed, then ceased. Its form melted into the liquid, disappearing completely. Its intelligence had been burned away long before.
Silence finally returned. The hard edge in Song Wanníng's expression eased.
Following the method for forging a clone, she moved with slow precision, every gesture cautious. The most critical stage was only beginning. Any mistake now would ruin everything.
…
In the secluded Feng Family grounds, the Feng Patriarch, Feng Jinchuan, stood behind a formation master, his expression grave.
Some time ago, these formation masters reported that the great seal was loosening. Since then, Feng Jinchuan had devoted himself entirely to the matter.
Once the seal was broken, the Feng Family could leave this place. The land could then be used as a training ground, giving their people access to rich resources and the chance to ascend—a perfect plan.
As for life outside, he was fully confident.
With the Feng Family's strength, they could walk the world without fear. He had already bought the loyalty of many factions, and no coalition could stand against them.
Everything was ready. Only the breaking of the seal remained.
As he pondered, the formation master in front of him suddenly sighed. "Strange. Just days ago, the seal was clearly loosening. Why is there no reaction now?"