Chapter 435 Dongfang Feihong

Zi Linling stayed at the Yue Lai Inn until the afternoon of the third day before Qin Mingyue and Qin Mingfei finally arrived.

The moment Qin Mingyue took the Blood Spirit Pill, her trembling hands betrayed her excitement.

"Thank you, Commander Zi. This is a small token of appreciation from my sister and me. Please accept it!"

Qin Mingfei said, handing over a spatial storage bag.

Zi Linling did not accept it.

"No need! We agreed that I would refine the Blood Spirit Pills for you, and in return, you would give me the remaining Blood Spirit Ginseng as payment. Now that the remaining Blood Spirit Ginseng is in my hands, there's no need for any further payment!"

A transaction is a transaction.

Taking advantage means incurring more karma.

Zi Linling was, by nature, a person who disliked trouble. Therefore, she did not wish to be entangled with too many people.

Especially since behind Qin Mingyue and Qin Mingfei was the Qin family.

Zi Linling did not want excessive dealings with the Qin family, which was why she refused.

"Commander Zi, this..."

"No 'this' or 'that.' I have important matters to attend to and truly have no time to entertain the two of you."

Qin Mingyue had intended to persuade her further, but Zi Linling interrupted and directly asked them to leave.

Helpless, the two could only take their leave.

The Qin family's attempt to win Zi Linling over thus fell through with their departure.

However, the Qin family head, Qin Xuri, did not harbor any resentment. Instead, he sternly warned the Qin family disciples that they were absolutely forbidden from making an enemy of Zi Linling.

At the same time, he specifically instructed Qin Mingyue and Qin Mingfei to maintain a good relationship with Zi Linling.

No one with a functioning brain would dare to offend a Grandmaster alchemist.

After the two left, Zi Linling set up a barrier outside her room.

She summoned Elder Du and instructed him to guard the room. Meanwhile, she re-entered the Goddess Hall and took out the Dragon Scale Fruit, Seven-Colored Lotus, Blood Spirit Ginseng, Soul Nurturing Wood, and Golden Sun Grass, all of which she had gathered, to prepare to refine the Golden Sun Pill.

The Moon-Colored Glaze within Ye Lingyuan's body was extremely peculiar; it could not be expelled merely by having high cultivation.

Therefore, besides refining the Golden Sun Pill, there was no other way.

And since the Golden Sun Pill was an Emperor-grade pill, she had to break through to become an Emperor-grade alchemist before she could refine it.

In the following days, Zi Linling secluded herself in the Goddess Hall, refining pills day and night.

Fortunately, with the "Human Emperor's Pharmacopoeia" in her possession, she only needed to continuously accumulate experience to break through to become an Emperor-grade alchemist naturally.

Day after day, Zi Linling had been in the Goddess Hall for a full month, which was equivalent to three days in the outside world.

During this period, her alchemy skills advanced by leaps and bounds, skyrocketing like a rocket, nearing the Emperor-grade alchemist realm.

However, no matter what, she could not break through.

Zi Linling knew that she needed a breakthrough opportunity, something that could not be achieved by simply sitting there refining pills. It required some enlightenment.

That was why she emerged from the Goddess Hall for some fresh air.

As soon as she stepped out, a visitor arrived at the Yue Lai Inn.

The man was in his early twenties and quite handsome. His sword-like brows, almond-shaped eyes, thin lips, and high nose gave him an air of gentle refinement.

Especially the dark golden dragon robe he wore, which lent him an imperial presence.

This person was none other than the Crown Prince of the Azure Dragon Empire's royal family, Dongfang Feihong.

Dongfang Feihong entered the Yue Lai Inn and went directly to Zi Linling's room. He stopped outside the barrier and announced in a clear voice, "Dongfang Feihong, by order of my father, the Emperor, invites the Patriarch of the Zi family and His Highness the Underworld King to the palace for a discussion!"

Zi Linling raised an eyebrow, asked Elder Du to return to the Nine Spirits Ring, then dispelled the barrier and opened the door.

She looked up at Dongfang Feihong and said faintly, "You are the Crown Prince of the Dongfang Imperial Family?"

The moment Dongfang Feihong saw Zi Linling, he froze. The astonishment in his eyes was unconcealed.

"Beautiful! So beautiful! Exquisitely beautiful! A beauty like jade, a peerless vision!"

A string of praises flowed from Dongfang Feihong's lips, yet they carried no hint of lewdness.

In his astonishment, he had completely overlooked Zi Linling's question.

Zi Linling frowned slightly and asked again, "Dongfang Feihong? The Crown Prince of the Dongfang Imperial Family?"

Dongfang Feihong finally came back to his senses and smiled faintly, "That is I! I was momentarily stunned by the Patriarch Zi's peerless beauty and did not intend any disrespect. I beg the Patriarch Zi not to mind!"

Zi Linling's brows relaxed, and the slight displeasure in her heart dissipated.

She responded with a faint "Oh," and said, "May I ask why the Crown Prince Dongfang graces me with his presence and what advice you have?"

Dongfang Feihong was taken aback, clearly not expecting Zi Linling to shift the topic so abruptly.

However, being a crown prince, he quickly recovered.

"Patriarch Zi speaks with such candor that it almost leaves me trailing behind your thoughts."

Dongfang Feihong offered a gentle smile and continued, "I have come for two reasons: first, to apologize, and second, to invite."

"Oh?"

Zi Linling's expression remained blank as she said, "Apologize? We are strangers; from what does this apology stem?"

A hint of awkwardness flashed in Dongfang Feihong's eyes, but his smile remained as it was.

"Although this is our first meeting, a few days ago, that scoundrel Hai Sixian misinterpreted my father's intentions and caused displeasure to Patriarch Zi. That scoundrel has since been punished by my father. Therefore, I, Dongfang Feihong, dare to beg Patriarch Zi to overlook past transgressions."

As expected of a crown prince, his words were watertight and devoid of arrogance, making them very pleasant to hear.

Such a humble demeanor fully displayed the magnanimity of the imperial family, leaving Zi Linling with no reason to pursue the matter further, even if she wanted to.

Zi Linling smiled faintly, "Crown Prince Dongfang is too polite! I am a person who never holds grudges, because grudges... I settle them on the spot. Therefore, Crown Prince Dongfang need not trouble himself with this matter, nor should he apologize for it."

Dongfang Feihong smiled, "If that is the case, then I thank Patriarch Zi for her broad-mindedness!"

Zi Linling smiled shallowly, "You are too kind!"

"Mm!"

Dongfang Feihong nodded and said, "My father heard that the Patriarch Zi and the Underworld King have arrived in Azure Dragon City, and thus wishes to invite the two of you to the palace for a discussion. I implore Patriarch Zi and the Underworld King not to refuse!"

A glint flashed across Zi Linling's eyes as her mind raced.

Soon, she had guessed Dongfang Xiongqi's intentions with about eighty to ninety percent accuracy.

She smiled faintly, "Crown Prince Dongfang arrives too late. His Highness the Underworld King has temporarily returned to the Tianqi Kingdom on urgent business and is not here. I, however, have some time and am willing to accompany Crown Prince Dongfang!"

Zi Linling knew that this trip to the palace was inevitable; it was only a matter of when.

Therefore, she agreed so readily.

Dongfang Feihong was slightly taken aback.

He had not received any news of Ye Lingyuan leaving the Azure Dragon Empire, nor could he ascertain whether Zi Linling's words were true.