My senior sister sent someone to deliver me some perks.

She moved with light, lotus-like steps, and as her figure swayed, a rich yet overbearing fragrant breeze entered Lin Yuan's nostrils. Her voice was so sweet it could drip honey, and she spoke almost right next to Lin Yuan's ear.

"This is wonderful! Junior Brother, you truly are a timely rain. The frontline lacks everything, but what it needs most is a precious talent like you!"

She blinked her alluring eyes, her breath fragrant like orchids.

"This isn't the place to talk. All Junior Brothers, follow me. I, your Elder Sister, will personally arrange your accommodations!"

Everyone followed her as she descended to the ground.

Underfoot was dark red earth, soft yet firm when stepped on, as if it were seeping blood. The air was filled with a unique, heavy scent mixing rust and gore.

It was perpetually overcast and rainy here. The rainwater mixed with the red earth, converging to form the Blood River that stretched across the plain.

To the north bank of the Blood River lay the State of Yan, belonging to the Misty Immortal Sect.

To the south bank of the Blood River lay the Zhao Kingdom, belonging to their Yin Corpse Sect.

The buildings in the city were all made of rough black stone, the style compact and oppressive, like a silent giant beast.

The Yin Corpse Sect Disciples coming and going all had stern expressions, hurried movements, and carried a thick, lingering Evil Qi. Their eyes were filled with vigilance and numbness.

Su Meiniang led the group to an area in the center of the city, where several independent black stone courtyards were situated—considered the best residences in the city.

She first pointed to the courtyard with the most abundant Spiritual Qi and the best location, smiling sweetly at Lin Yuan, her voice growing even more charming:

"Junior Brother Lin, this city was built temporarily, and the conditions are simple, so please don't mind it. You take this courtyard first. If you lack anything, just tell your Elder Sister."

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Lin Yuan cupped his hands and spoke, his expression calm.

Afterward, Su Meiniang turned to look at Bai Yixuan and Shi Tai, casually pointing her slender jade finger at the courtyard next to Lin Yuan's, which was noticeably smaller. Her attitude had become much cooler.

"Junior Brother Bai, Junior Brother Shi, the courtyards are limited, so the two of you will have to squeeze in together."

The two of them would share one small courtyard.

The smile on Bai Yixuan's face froze for a moment, but he still cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the arrangement, Senior Sister."

However, he was furiously complaining internally: the treatment of an Alchemist was truly a world of difference!

After Su Meiniang settled everyone, she specifically winked her seductive eyes at Lin Yuan before leaving, her red lips parting slightly.

"Junior Brother, you've had a long journey. Rest well first and restore your spirits..."

"Tomorrow, Elder Sister will come to find you again to discuss Alchemy matters in detail."

She enunciated the words "discuss in detail" with particular clarity.

After she left, Lin Yuan closed the courtyard gate, blocking out all external sight.

He flicked his wrist, and dozens of Formation Flags silently sank into the ground.

Buzz!

A layer of thin, barely visible mist instantly enveloped the entire courtyard. The swirling mist isolated all Divine Sense probing from within and without. The Lesser Nine Nether Soul-Bewitching Array he had just improved was so effective that even the Divine Sense of a Late Core Formation Stage Cultivator would not easily penetrate it in the slightest.

Having finished all this, Lin Yuan stretched, yet there was no trace of sleepiness in his eyes; instead, they sparkled with calculating shrewdness.

"With Old Ancestor Xuan Yin personally overseeing things, it seems the Blood River Spirit Mine is a must-have."

"War means consumption, but it also means tremendous opportunity."

"Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts are hard currency. That Su Meiniang, a Late Core Formation Stage Cultivator, is the person in charge here. She seems to be a crucial figure."

"High-Grade Spirit Stones... they will be indispensable for my future Breakthroughs. This time, I must make a killing!"

Not far from Lin Yuan's small courtyard, inside another more elegant black stone dwelling.

Su Meiniang was pouring Spirit Tea with her slender hands, the steam misting her charmingly seductive face.

Gu Zheng picked up her teacup: "Elder Sister, how exactly is the situation on the frontline?"

"What else can it be? I'm managing the entire Blood River Frontline alone; supplies are desperately short, and there are Nascent Soul Old Monsters from the Misty Immortal Sect eyeing us fiercely. I'm worried sick, my hair is turning white."

Su Meiniang's eyes shifted, and she lightly tapped the tabletop with her finger.

"Fortunately, Junior Martial Uncle is here, otherwise, I really wouldn't be able to hold on."

She changed the subject, giggling as she leaned close to Gu Zheng, her breath fragrant like orchids.

"However, what I'm more concerned about are the potential Dao Companion candidates Junior Martial Uncle found for you! Bai Yixuan, Shi Tai, and that newly arrived Alchemist Lin... which one caught your eye? Tell your Elder Sister, and I'll help you consult!"

When this was brought up, Gu Zheng's face instantly turned cold as frost.

"You already know Bai Yixuan and Shi Tai. I have no feelings for them."

"Li Xinghe is my Junior Brother; I only see him as a younger brother."

"As for that Lin Yuan..."

An uncontrollable anger seeped into Gu Zheng's voice. "He already has someone in his heart! As soon as he arrived in Tianyuan City, he couldn't wait to secretly meet his old lover! He completely ignored me!"

Su Meiniang covered her mouth and chuckled, her body trembling slightly from the laughter.

"My silly little sister, you're done for."

She extended a fingertip painted with bright red Nail Polish and poked Gu Zheng's forehead.

"Look at how puffed up with anger you are. Dare you say you haven't developed feelings for that Alchemist Lin?"

"I haven't!"

Gu Zheng immediately retorted, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, but the tips of her ears were turning red.

"I'm just indignant! Where exactly am I, Gu Zheng, inferior to that Woman Named Mu? Why does he have no feelings for me!"

"Men, they're all like that."

Su Meiniang stopped smiling, her eyes becoming meaningful. "Sometimes, the more unattainable something is, the more it makes them itch with desire."

She lowered her voice, leaning close to Gu Zheng's ear, her tone seductive.

"Your Elder Sister has a plan that will guarantee that Alchemist Lin reveals his true nature in front of you."

Gu Zheng's eyelashes fluttered: "What plan?"

"It's simple. Find a woman who understands men better and is more seductive than his old lover to test him. If he is tempted, it proves he's just a common man and not worth your attention. If he isn't tempted... then that would be interesting, and it would also serve to curb your arrogance."

A blush appeared on Gu Zheng's pretty face: "This... isn't appropriate."

"What's inappropriate about it? You just want to prove your charm; it's not like you actually intend to do anything serious." Su Meiniang raised a seductive eyebrow. "Coincidentally, it's time for my Disciple to temper her state of mind. Let her go test him."

Just as her voice fell, a set of light footsteps sounded outside the door. A beautiful figure with a seductive physique, dressed in a Blood-Colored Gauze Skirt, appeared at the entrance. The skirt was slit extremely high, faintly revealing a pair of jade legs.

"Disciple Xue Linglong greets Master and Junior Martial Uncle Gu."

The newcomer naturally possessed endless charm in her features; every movement and smile seemed to hook one's soul, and her voice was utterly intoxicating... The next day.

As soon as the sky grew faintly bright, Lin Yuan was already sitting cross-legged.

Without the slightest slackness, he immediately took out a Pill Furnace and skillfully refined a batch of supreme grade spirit gathering pills.

Once the Medicinal Pill entered his stomach, the pure spiritual power instantly dissolved, and he immediately focused on Cultivation.

The frontline was dangerous, and strength was the only foundation for survival.

Breaking through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage sooner would greatly enhance his self-preservation ability.

Just as he finished refining all the medicinal power of one Medicinal Pill, Su Meiniang's utterly charming voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Junior Brother Lin, are you there? Elder Sister has come to see you."