Absorbing and refining the Nasal Opening pill took five hours. Throughout the process, his master stayed near him watching like a hawk. Sometimes accidents could happen during the process, but it was very rare and mostly due to outside influences.

  Nevertheless, her concern sent another wave of warmth to his heart. Ling Yun had decided to let go of his reservations and freely accept the care given by her.

  "It is done master."

  With a hint of a smile she approached him. "Then let's test it." Before he could realise what was happening, he again found himself buried in her bosom. A strong musk invaded his nose.

  "How does master smell Yun'er~ Is it good? Does it make your heart race~"

  She started shaking his head a little. His nose was rubbing and poking in her delicious softness. He cursed her robes for obstructing him from directly feeling it. Even though the texture was smooth showing the quality of the robe, he desired to rub his cheeks and savour the heat.

  Wait no good.. what am I thinking.. But it's so so soft.. ah I want to sink in them..

  The virgin sixteen year old Ling Yun was overwhelmed and his mind was getting feverish. With one last sane thought remaining, he chanted the Serene Ocean sutra clearing his mind.

  As the haze thinned he remembered his task. With a single minded focus he pushed his face deeper into the milky valley and took a deep audible sniff. Mu Feixue's breath hitched momentarily surprised by his boldness.

  He extracted himself and with a straight face gave the answer. "Such a rich and creamy sweetness mixed with a warm woody scent. I believe it's sandalwood."

  He looked at his master's wide open eyes and slowly the realisation struck him on what he had done. His face turned so red that steam started coming out of his face.

  Did I really perform such a vulgar act? I really behaved like a shameless pervert!

  Both were silent for a minute before Mu Feixue cleared her throat. "Looks like it is working properly. You should take this day to get used to your heightened sense of smell."

  "Yes master!"

  He was grateful for moving away from this topic. She took him to the library. There were many scrolls arranged on the shelves. An elderly woman was sweeping the floor in the corner.

  Before she could bow to master, she was ordered to clear the room and also tell the other servants to keep away from the library. Wanting to make some idle talk, Ling Yun asked a question.

  "Master how many servants do you have in this mansion?"

  "Six. All of them are members of the same family. During one of my travels I met them in a famine struck village."

  "Master is so kind. For them you must be a heaven sent saviour."

  "Kind? Well you could call it that. But my main purpose was to recruit a mortal family. Cultivators are greedy by nature but mortals have very little incentive and courage to betray me. I don't ever want to be betrayed again."

  Passing all the different shelves, she arrived at the corner of the furthest wall. She pricked her finger extracting a drop of blood. The drop of blood floated in the air and stained the wall.

  Different runes appeared on the wall and then it transformed into a cupboard. There were various scrolls on different shelves. "Yun'er, even though master is a lone cultivator, my inheritance comes from a long line spanning twenty generations. It is a nameless inheritance, its originator never left his name or even a title. The successors decided to take after him.

  "Although some of the previous inheritors have left their name with their contributions, most of us have chosen to respect the spirit of the ancestor and left our contributions uncredited. Even I don't know the names beyond my previous two predecessors.

  "The inheritors aren't bound by many rules and regulations. There is only one rule- to choose only a single disciple and pass everything to him. The rest is upto you. You can join a great sect or spend your years alone researching the Dao of alchemy or you can even choose to live a frivolous life of debauchery. Just take one disciple and pass everything to the future."

  Mu Feixue watched Ling Yun looking at it with contemplation. Slowly shaking her head, she lightly nudged him with her elbow. "Worry about it after you become a master yourself Yun'er. You've got a long way to go. Here take these scrolls. These contain information about ingredients required in refining of rank 1 pills. All their characteristics and their preparation process, you have to memorize it all."

  Ling Yun carefully held the three scrolls afraid of dropping and ruining them.

  She pointed to the second lowest shelf. "This shelf contains different cultivation techniques suitable for alchemists. Techniques related to wood or fire attribute spiritual root would be more efficient than what you are currently using. You can browse among them and pick whichever suits you the best."

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  Ling Yun just gave a cursory glance to the shelf. Unknown to Mu Feixue, Ling Yun mainly practices soul arts. The cultivation art he was currently using was 'The Nourishment of Soul and Qi' given by Brahma was more beneficial for soul arts. The divine technique simultaneously cultivates both Qi and soul. Also the speed of Qi cultivation was pretty good. He doubted he would be switching his cultivation technique soon.

  "All of these are important but the magnum opus of this inheritance is this." She picked out a red scroll that stood out among the others.

  "This is the 'Heart of flame' art. It has three stages. Yun'er I can only begin teaching you to refine pills after you reach second stage. Before that it will only be theory. You cannot practice alchemy before that.

  "Take this and study it properly."

  After storing the three scrolls, he took it in his hands and carefully examined it. Its case was a red background with a golden dragon coiling around it. This is the final obstacle between him and the path of the alchemy. He could feel the excitement coursing through his veins.

  I want to open and see it right now.

  But before he could, his body got surrounded by the familiar warmth. Mu Feixue had embraced him from behind, her hands going under his arms and wrapping around his waist.

  Ling Yun was only a little bit shorter than her, the top of his forehead reaching her nose but right now her lips were right beside his ears, her chin perched on his right shoulder.

  "Why are you in such a rush, Yun'er~" Each the word accompanied by her breath sent strange waves of sensation coursing through his ear, especially the way she said his name. Ling Yun didn't know his name could sound so hot.

  Her embrace loosened and her palms started caressing his sides. "First you have to serve your master, Yun'er~ Is this scroll more alluring than your master that you are staring it so intently? Hmmm~"

  Ling Yun quickly chanted the Serene Ocean sutra. Every time his master switches into this teasing mode, it made him a little uncomfortable. He doesn't know what to make of it but felt it would be inappropriate to call her out on this.

  Forget it I just have to adapt and get used to it. I know master means well. She is definitely a kind and carin-

  His racing mind instantly froze as he felt a wet sensation in his right ear. With the corner of his eyes, he saw the pink tongue of his master licking it. Her tongue was taking its time, exploring each and every nook and corner leaving a wet trail on the side of his face.

  Ling Yun felt a sudden heat in his lower region but more than an intense feeling of discomfort and itch travelled throughout his skin. His muscles tensed ready to push her away but perhaps due to confusion, fear or respect, he just stood still letting her do whatever she wants with his body.

  Finished with the exploration, her tongue flicked his earlobe twice before she playfully nibbled it. With a sweet giggle that now sounded terrifying to Ling Yun, she left giving a final command.

  "Come to my chambers. Master has got a lot to teach you, Yun'er~"

  Ling Yun was remained still as a statue. He slowly lifted his hand and touched his ear and brought his fingers before his eyes. There was a thin wet string between his fingers, her saliva.

  Rage exploded in his heart. The trust and respect he had for her was shattered in an instant, its shards piercing his heart.

  How can she do this? Is this her true nature, a filthy succubus deceiving vulnerable young men. She thinks she can take advantage of me? Let me show this bitch!

  "Come, Eternal Mourning Ra-"

  "Stop you idiot! What do you think you are doing?"

  Brahma's voice rang out disrupting his actions.

  "Why are you stopping me now? This bitch deserves to die!"

  "And you think you can do it." She scoffed at Ling Yun. "She is a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. Try as hard as you want and you wouldn't be able to harm a single hair on her head. But one wrong move from you, for her killing you would be like swatting a fly."

  His rage slightly abated at her logical answers. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right.

  "Is there any way to escape her mansion? She said all her servants are mortals so they wouldn't be much trouble."

  Brahma gave him an incredulous look. "Escape? What are you talking about? Why would you want to leave?"

  "Are you trying to act stupid on purpose!? I'm not in the mood of jokes right now." In this tense situation, he flared up at Brahma. He knew her common sense was a bit different from normal people but there was a time and place for such shenanigans.

  "The one who is acting stupid is you. Look at the scrolls in you pocket. Didn't you see her inheritance? The path of alchemy is straight ahead of you and you want to escape, you fool!"

  "But she wants to-" "Yes yes she wants your precious chastity. So do you practice any special arts that require you to be pure as a spiritual spring? Or are you engaged to the Jade Emperor's daughter who would kill you if you slept with another? Or are you one of those boy lovers?

  "She has given you so many precious things and has paved the way to become an alchemy master and all she wants from you to become her lover. I don't see a problem with any of that."

  Ling Yun's mouth was left hanging open. He could hardly believe the words coming from her mouth. Instantly the realisation struck and he shouted pointing a finger at her, "YOU KNEW!? YOU ALREADY KNEW AND DIDN'T TELL ME?"

  "Ofcourse I knew. Only idiots and blind people couldn't figure it out from the way her eyes were practically digging into you from the first meeting. I was wondering whether there was problem in your head with how long it was taking you."

  She gave out a long sigh and this time her tone was non confrontational and pacifying. "Think about it Ling Yun. You understand how difficult it is to become an alchemist right. This is a golden opportunity. Regardless of her character, I know she is the real deal and her desire to teach you is earnest, you know it. Everything is at your feet, just let her play with you in bed.

  "Looks like you have forgotten how difficult it is to move forward in cultivation. Hard work always doesn't result in success. Sacrifices have to be made. Remember that trash from the village."

  Chensha?! Remembering his name made his blood freeze.

  "Remember his desperation, his determination and what he was willing to do to move forward. How much he sinned, how many people he killed just to cultivate some trash blood path technique. Look at him and look at yourself. Have you forgotten that night?"

  Chensha pleading, Su Ning's cold glare, little Hua exploding in the rain of blood.

  "Remember your helplessness."

  Kneeling in the pool of vomit and her blood.

  "Didn't you promise to move forward?"

  With dull emotionless eyes, Ling Yun looked at the red scroll in his hand. The scroll leading to the first step of becoming an alchemist, becoming someone great. But his hand wa s uncontrollably shaking, wanting to drop this thing as quick as possible.

  "I've said everything I wanted to. The decision is yours."