I, who was turned into a woman by the Jade Maiden Master, want to rebel against the Heavenly Gang.

"Soft as solidified fat, translucent as jade. It has no hands or feet but a head and a body. It can speak and move, and its form is no different from that of a human."

However, to cultivate top-quality living herbs, in addition to the ginseng mother being of the highest quality, it is also necessary to water it with precious "soul liquid" during planting.

The two plants that Qin Rufeng planted were left to their own devices. She had no way to obtain soul liquid to water them, so the fruit could only absorb the spiritual energy of the soil and the surrounding vegetation to grow on its own.

So once it matures, it resembles a plant even more. It can't move or speak, so it can probably only be called "dead grass." At most, it's just a root that has gathered spiritual energy.

Next, we'll dig up five more fiery ginseng plants...

According to the records in the Wood Chapter, when this thing is pulled out of the soil, its tentacle-like, slender leaves will burn.

Qin Rufeng wasn't afraid of this. She used her freezing energy to protect her hands and pulled the thing directly out of the soil. Once removed from the soil, the fiery ginseng's tentacles curled up, and the flames went out.

The root system of this "living grass" in the soil is even more human-like. It's practically a human lower body, incredibly realistic. And it can walk, run, and even burrow underground.

However, only one plant has two legs. The others are deformed, with four or even three legs. This is also due to improper watering and being allowed to grow wildly.

According to the records in the Wood Chapter, the fiery ginseng has a spirit and will recognize the first person who pulls it out of the ground as its master.

These things were now circling around Qin Rufeng. Although they looked somewhat cute, Rufeng knew that their attack method was self-destruction. She was still a little uneasy seeing them running around like this.

This thing is not to be kept as a pet, so Qin Rufeng quickly put it into his storage space.

Although the Fiery Ginseng can explode, it is ultimately born from wood, thus possessing both fire and wood attributes. Since wood overcomes earth, it can be used in earth-based escape techniques.

Once its feet leave the ground, it loses its vitality and becomes no different from an ordinary plant. It's safe to store it in a storage space.

As for the two living herbs, Qin Rufeng already had a plan... to refine them into pills.

The reason she was willing to take away her precious cultivation time to refine pills was because the "Living Herb Pill" made from living herbs might be able to raise her cultivation level to another level.

Moreover, the refining of Huocao Dan is not difficult and does not require any auxiliary materials.

Qin Rufeng's residence had once been a medicinal herb garden. She found a small alchemy furnace and basic introductory books on alchemy in the thatched hut.

Regarding fuel, Ru Feng found several options. She chose "methane hydrate." This stuff looks like the kind of alcohol blocks that are burned in restaurants on Earth.

According to the introduction to alchemy, the fire of burning ice carries the attribute of water. Water nourishes wood, making it perfect for refining wood-attribute elixirs.

After Qin Rufeng's actions, he completely ruined a living herb...

Fortunately, she reduced the amount of ice used the second time and simmered it slowly, and it finally worked. She sifted through the ashes in the furnace and found a brown, patterned pill. It looked like a bead from a cart.

Yes, I can feel the spiritual energy contained within the pill. A careful comparison with the description in the Wood Chapter confirms it was indeed a success. This is the "Living Herb Pill" refined from living herbs.

Qin Rufeng then swallowed the pill he had personally refined and immediately began to regulate his breathing...

The reason she wanted to refine the medicinal herb pills was to rekindle the embers of the fire spirit pill she had taken on the day of her bath.

This would not only save the second Fire Spirit Pill given by Liu Bailian, but also activate his own wood-attribute spiritual root, allowing him to generate heat on his own to resist the danger of the cold attacking his heart.

A moment later, Ru Feng's dantian began to heat up. Soon, it spread like wildfire, and her whole body felt like it was on fire. But she didn't panic. Instead, she tried to control the "fire" and let it burn gently within her body.

In this way, the situation where the cold energy was overwhelming and he couldn't continue practicing was greatly improved. Because of the existence of this "slow fire," Qin Rufeng could continue to cultivate to a higher realm of Jade Purity and Ice Clarity.

She was overjoyed; her method had actually worked!

Ru Feng was inspired while carefully reading about the effects of the "Living Herb Pill." This is because the Living Herb Pill can nourish the wood elemental root within the body, and wood can generate fire.

While the Fire Spirit Pill given to him by Liu Bailian could suppress the cold energy within his body, the scorching heat it brought also needed to be suppressed by water elemental energy. Both sides were fierce fire and fierce water, tormenting him to the point of near death.

Furthermore, the effects of the Fire Spirit Pill are depleted and cannot be sustained. As its effects weaken, the body's balance needs constant adjustment. With energy consumed in adjusting internal imbalances, cultivation efficiency will inevitably suffer.

The fact that the wind swallowed the wood-attribute living herb pill adds an important buffer and regulation system.

The effects of the Fire Spirit Pill are still lingering, and my Fire Spirit Root has been strengthened. After taking the Living Herb Pill to further enhance my Wood Spirit Root, I can use water to generate wood and then use wood to "transmit fire," thus continuing the effects of the Fire Spirit Pill.

This not only avoids intense clashes between water and fire, but also nourishes the three spiritual roots of water, wood, and fire at the same time.

Qin Rufeng: "I'm a fucking genius!"

Chapter 19 The Big Test is Coming

With this flame, Ru Feng wouldn't freeze himself while cultivating, allowing his cultivation to improve further.

Now one can cultivate deeper levels of the Jade Purity and Ice Clarity technique. One of the moves, "Bright Moon Silver Blade," gathers icy spiritual energy in the palm, transforming it into an ice blade.

Flowing Ice Rain is a ranged attack spell, and it requires a "casting" time to gather energy. Therefore, melee combat techniques are still necessary.

The Moonlit Silver Blade consumed more spiritual energy than the Flowing Ice and Flying Rain.

It wasn't because this move was more difficult, but because Qin Rufeng's "Flowing Ice and Flying Rain" was still at the beginner level, and it couldn't even be considered ice rain; it was just a small drop of water. The truly advanced Flowing Ice and Flying Rain was a violent storm, with thousands of arrows fired simultaneously.

Besides that, Qin Rufeng didn't give up the "Hehuan Jade Cauldron Technique." She even learned a new trick... seduction techniques.

Having experienced the carnage at the Spirit Appraisal Platform and being relentlessly pursued by demonic cultivators, Qin Rufeng has developed a severe phobia of insufficient strength.

Liu Bailian has actually been very kind to me, but she hasn't agreed to take me on as a disciple yet.

Even if he could become her disciple and receive her true teachings and more top-grade cultivation techniques from the Jade Maiden Sect, his own poor spiritual root aptitude and slow cultivation speed were undeniable facts. He couldn't possibly keep using pills to keep going.

Even if someone can use elixirs, others can too. One wrong step can lead to many more, a tiny difference can result in a huge error. Qin Rufeng had already deeply felt this when he was studying on Earth.

Therefore, you should learn anything that can help you, because it's always good to have skills.

However, even with a good master and abundant resources, one still needs to be capable. In this respect, Qin Rufeng was inherently lacking.

However, the cultivation method of the Hehuan Jade Cauldron Technique, which absorbs primordial yin, is completely different from other cultivation methods that absorb spiritual energy! This is a key element that can make up for Ru Feng's "weakest link" and therefore it is absolutely impossible to give up.

At worst, I just won't use it on my master. It wasn't intentional last time in the bath... and I felt some of my primordial yin was also drained away.

In fact, when Qin Rufeng was reading the later parts of "Jade Purity and Ice Clarity" during a break from cultivation, he discovered that almost all high-level cultivation techniques required the mobilization of primordial yin.

Yuan Yin, also known as True Water, is the root of all Yin fluids in the body. It has the function of nourishing the internal organs. Therefore, water-based spiritual root cultivation techniques that cultivate Yin and coldness, such as Jade Purity and Ice Clarity, cannot bypass the mobilization of Yuan Yin.

The more Qin Rufeng looked at them, the more he felt that the two seemingly contradictory cultivation techniques, "Jade Purity and Ice Clarity" and "Joyful Jade Cauldron Technique," were actually complementary and a perfect match.

Thinking of this, a thought suddenly popped into Qin Rufeng's mind... Did Liu Bailian appear at the Spirit Appraisal Platform on Qipan Mountain simply to wander around the lower realm and recruit a maid? Did she know about the tribulation?

However, Qin Rufeng didn't have the energy to indulge in idle thoughts right now. She cultivated day and night without daring to slack off in the slightest.

One morning, the jade bracelet on Ru Feng's wrist shone brightly again. Liu Bailian had summoned her; the day of the grand examination had finally arrived.

Ru Feng then rode the jade disc to the gate of Cui Xing Pavilion. Just as he was about to enter the main hall, a dark figure suddenly darted out from the forest behind him!

Although this thing walks on two legs, it is definitely not human. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a monster made of bamboo branches.

Although it had a human-like outline, its hands and feet were not very distinct. Its body was bound with many bamboo poles, making it look as if it were pierced by a hail of arrows.

This thing looked messy and disjointed, but it was surprisingly fast. In the blink of an eye, it was in front of Qin Rufeng, its arm acting as a bamboo spear as it thrust forward!

Qin Rufeng quickly dodged. The sudden attack caught her off guard, but she reacted quickly and used her lightness technique to create distance.

Ru Feng thought to himself, "How come there are monsters on my own territory? And it doesn't look like a spirit or monster, but more like a puppet that was made or summoned by humans."

Oh, I see... The exam has already begun.

Let's go for it!

Qin Rufeng continued to use his lightness technique to create distance. Although he could use ice blades, why risk close combat if long-range attacks could eliminate the enemy?

Although the bamboo puppet relentlessly pursued her, Qin Rufeng maintained full speed and gradually increased the distance between them. Then, she made a hand seal with her right hand, and water vapor condensed at her fingertips…

At the same time, Liu Bailian was standing on the terrace of Cuixing Pavilion, watching Qin Rufeng's performance below.

Standing beside Liu Bailian was another woman. She was dressed in red, draped in the glow of the sunset. Her features were exquisite, her lips like jade. She was a woman of unparalleled beauty.

If Liu Bailian is an ethereal white lotus by the clear water, then the one beside her is a fiery red rose.

She possessed a noble and elegant demeanor, and was poised and graceful. She wore a gold hairpin with dangling ornaments, a jade hairpin, a jade belt around her waist, and a robe embroidered with gold thread.

Most importantly, her breasts were bigger than Liu Bailian's and Qin Rufeng's... and she was also half a head taller.

Looking down at Qin Rufeng with admiration, she said, "What a beauty. She's exactly my type."

"It's just that her aptitude is too poor, and she's unlikely to achieve anything. You can just keep this beautiful woman by your side and cherish her. Aren't you afraid of breaking her by all this trouble?"

"You don't need to say anything more." Liu Bailian's attitude towards the woman beside her was rather cold. "I won't hold it against you for coming uninvited. Don't meddle in other people's business."

The woman in red wasn't angry at being rebuked. Instead, she smiled and said, "How could I have gotten in if my junior sister hadn't activated the formation? So it can't be considered uninvited."

At this moment, Qin Rufeng had already condensed the water droplets on his fingertips into ice crystals and flicked them towards the bamboo puppet. However, the ice crystals only shattered a section of the puppet's bamboo pole and did not cause much damage.

As the wind knows that water can nourish wood, it is definitely not appropriate to use water-attribute techniques to attack wood-attribute puppet monsters.

But it clearly pierced and shattered the stone before, and earth, which is supposed to overcome water, could penetrate it. Could it be because it was just an ordinary stone and this bamboo puppet possesses sentience?

Looking at Qin Rufeng's performance from the high platform, Liu Bailian couldn't help but shake her head and mutter to herself, "This level of flowing ice and flying rain is far from enough."

Qin Rufeng also realized this, but she only had the cultivation method of the water elemental root.

The five elements interact in a cycle of mutual generation and restraint. When water elemental energy attacks wood elemental energy, the spell's effectiveness is greatly reduced. The "Ice Crystal Shot" becomes simply throwing stones.

However, this pebble could easily shatter a section of bamboo pole, which shows that physical attacks can minimize the influence of the five elements.

That being the case...

Qin Rufeng immediately changed her spell, summoning the Moonlit Silver Blade. Holding the ice blade, she rushed forward and, with a single swift stroke, severed one of the bamboo puppet's arms.

Before she could even feel happy, several bamboo spears from the bamboo puppet came flying at her. She frantically tried to defend herself, narrowly escaping death. Only her lightness skill, allowing her to gain a slight advantage, managed to create some distance.

The bamboo puppet was made up of many bamboo poles, and it could change shape at will to unleash a flurry of bamboo spear thrusts. It seemed to have three heads and six arms, and Qin Rufeng's ice blade was completely unable to defend against it.

At the same time, the woman in red on the platform chuckled, "Haha, this little beauty is quite clever. But she doesn't know a single sword technique, so it's really cute that she's just slashing around randomly."

She looked at Liu Bailian and said, "Junior sister, stop tormenting her. Why don't you just give her to me? Just tell me what you want."

Chapter 20 has fallen again.

The woman in red's words immediately enraged Liu Bailian. She frowned, her face full of displeasure, and said, "Ji Xuelan! Don't be so insolent! If you dare to spout nonsense again, get out of here right now!"

"Yes, yes, it's really too much to steal someone else's love. Senior sister was wrong, junior sister, please don't be angry." The woman in red named Ji Xuelan hurriedly apologized to Liu Bailian, but her expression remained calm and playful.

She apologized, but she didn't shut up. Instead, she looked at Qin Rufeng, who seemed at a loss, and continued, "Although you gave me the Ice Soul, you only taught me the techniques for water-elemental puppets. How are they supposed to deal with wood-elemental puppets?"

"Although the puppet doesn't possess human intelligence or any magic, its cultivation level should at least be at the Foundation Establishment stage, right? This little beauty isn't even at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and judging from her approach, she's completely figured it out on her own. How can she possibly pass this test?"

"If you like her, why are you making things so difficult for her? Why don't you just stay by her side as a maid?"

"But if you say you didn't help her... you gave her Ice Soul, and you must have given her Dream-Entangling Wine and soaked her in Spirit Pool water as well."

Liu Bailian glanced at Ji Xuelan but did not say anything.

Ji Xuelan nodded as if she suddenly understood, a smile appearing on her lips. "I see... I understand now, you spoil her too much."

"Are you ever going to stop?!" Liu Bailian seemed increasingly displeased. "We've finished discussing the important matters; you could have left earlier."

"Hehehe." Ji Xuelan chuckled and said, "With you arranging the time so meticulously, how could I possibly leave? If I don't tease my bad-tempered junior sister at a time like this, when else would I have the chance?"

Liu Bailian stopped arguing with Ji Xuelan. At this moment, she was anxiously looking at Qin Rufeng below, calculating when to save her.

Although this scene was entirely expected, and although Ru Feng would obediently become her maid if she failed the test, Liu Bailian wasn't heartless. The thought that Ru Feng might be disappointed, the thought that she had given so much effort but still failed…

However, reality is cruel, and Qin Rufeng probably really won't make it... How perilous is the path of cultivation? Indulging her would only harm her.

"Hey!!" Ji Xuelan suddenly exclaimed. Her gaze was fixed on Qin Rufeng, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly. "How did her spiritual energy change?"

While Liu Bailian and Ji Xuelan were bickering and watching the battle from the high platform, Qin Rufeng, who was in trouble, was also constantly thinking of ways to defeat the enemy.

This bamboo puppet seems to have a high level of cultivation; using water to attack wood is definitely not a good idea. In close combat, that thing is like a three-headed, six-armed creature—we simply can't defeat it.

But what if there's a fire element? Wood can fuel fire, and fire isn't afraid of wood.

The fiery ginseng should work. But revealing such a method now would be impossible to explain to Liu Bailian. This is a crucial moment for becoming a disciple; I can't take such a risk.

After consuming the Living Herb Pill, Qin Rufeng's wood elemental energy surged, and since wood generates fire, her fire elemental energy is now also very abundant.

Using my own fire elemental energy is fine. But... how do I release it? I have fire elemental energy but no cultivation technique with a fire elemental root.

No... then that's fine. Can't we just use the Flowing Ice and Flying Rain technique and infuse it with fire elemental energy?

Using the icy spiritual energy of the Ice Soul as the source, one circulates their true energy throughout the body using the Flowing Ice and Flying Rain technique. Then, by using water to generate wood and wood to ignite fire, and connecting these into one unified energy, can one then use the Flowing Ice and Flying Rain technique to shoot out the fire spiritual energy?

Perhaps it wasn't that simple. But Qin Rufeng had no other choice at this point, so he did it anyway.

She forcibly merged the two opposing spiritual energies within her body, which were originally incompatible, through her meridians.

In real life, water that is extremely hot will feel cold. But a person who has suffered severe hypothermia will feel hot and may even take off their clothes.

Extreme fragrance becomes stench, and excessive licking becomes bitterness. Cold and heat, water and fire are not merely incompatible; fire elemental energy might actually be more suitable for water elemental roots!

Give it a try!

Qin Rufeng circulated her inner energy, and she could no longer feel whether she was cold or hot. The ice crystals that had formed on her fingertips gradually enveloped the blue-green flames.

Seeing the bamboo puppet rushing forward, Qin Rufeng raised his hand, pointed his sword, and shouted angrily, "Go!!" The ice crystal at his fingertip shot out with a blue-green tail flame, drawing a bright and straight line!

The blue flames struck the wooden golem, instantly shattering it into pieces. Simultaneously, the ice crystals themselves cracked, and the blue flames burst forth like dragon's breath, blasting directly into the forest behind, igniting a large area.