A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

Gao Yi stood there, like a volcano about to erupt.

His eyes lit up for a moment as he looked at Ji Kun, who was beaten into a pulp in the pit.

The young girl, with her initial Foundation Establishment cultivation, was able to defeat his eldest disciple so decisively that he was powerless to fight back.

It is clear that his talent far surpasses that of Ji Kun, and he has other plans in mind.

Besides, that girl has always been sensible and well-behaved, and has never caused him any worry.

Gao Yi looked at Bai Jie, who had her head down, shoulders trembling, and eyes red.

The anger in my heart rose even higher.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm, and said to Bai Jie.

"Girl, don't be afraid, and don't say such silly things again."

Gao Yi's voice was deep and resonant. "My disciples are not entitled to repay kindness in this way."

He turned around, his eyes turning into sharp thorns that plunged deep into the pit.

"The future of the Butler's Hall does not need a successor with a wicked mind."

That's a harsh statement.

Ji Kun shuddered violently, ignoring the pain that made his body feel like it was falling apart.

"Master, it's not like that, please listen to me..."

He was so anxious that he shouted himself hoarse.

His face was covered in blood and mud; he looked incredibly miserable.

And just like that, my words were interrupted.

"shut up!"

Gao Yi didn't even look at his miserable state, and slapped him from a distance.

The solid palm wind grazed Ji Kun's ear and slammed into the bluestone slab next to his head.

The stone slab shattered instantly, and fragments of stone flew into his face.

Ji Kun's face turned pale, and he swallowed the rest of his words, frozen there, not daring to move.

"The evidence is irrefutable; how can you possibly deny it?"

Gao Yi's eyes were icy cold. "If I hadn't arrived in time, what other shameful things would you have done?!"

"And look at your junior sister, she'd rather suffer in silence than utter a single word of complaint to me!"

A chill permeated the air.

Ji Kun knew that his master was truly angry and convinced that he had designs on Bai Jie.

No!

We can't accept it!

If you admit it, everything is over!

Elixir!

The pill was given to me by Luo Fan.

Even though the plan went wrong, we can still throw the dirty water on that good-for-nothing's head!

That would give him a chance to escape!

"Master, please understand! I am innocent! I have never had any improper intentions towards Junior Sister Bai!"

He spoke rapidly, as if afraid of being interrupted, "What happened tonight must be due to a problem with the elixir!"

That medicine was given to Junior Sister Bai by Luo Fan!

He harbored resentment towards his disciple and tampered with the elixir.

This caused my junior sister to lose control of her spiritual power and become delirious!

He spoke with increasing conviction, as if he himself believed it. "I was framed by him, Master! You must do justice for me!"

Gao Yi didn't speak, he just stared at him coldly.

He is waiting.

Bai Jie understood immediately, took a light breath, and raised her face.

Her face was still wet with tears, and her eyes were red; it was heartbreaking to see.

"Master, what my senior brother said makes sense. It's best not to misunderstand Senior Brother Ji."

She pursed her lips and wiped away her tears. "I never expected it was Junior Brother Luo who was trying to sow discord between us."

It seems Junior Brother Luo was just faking it; he actually has real skills, and we've all been fooled by him.

"What do you mean?"

Gao Yi frowned deeper and deeper, looking at Bai Jie with a puzzled expression.

Bai Jie looked at Ji Kun, her eyes devoid of their usual gentleness, replaced by icy coldness.

"Reporting to Master, this pill has never left my side since Senior Brother Ji gave it to me."

She turned to Gao Yi and replied, "Junior Brother Luo Fan is merely a Qi Refining cultivator, yet he was able to tamper with things right under the nose of Senior Brother, a Foundation Establishment expert. What else could he be but someone who is truly hiding his true abilities?"

That's a really hurtful question.

Upon hearing this, Ji Kun's face turned pale.

The words and sentences did not defend Luo Fan, yet they were much simpler and more practical than directly defending him.

She was guiding her master's thinking, making him guess the answer in his mind.

He hadn't realized that his seemingly simple-minded junior sister was actually so highly skilled.

Not only Ji Kun, but even Luo Fan, who was hiding in the shadows, couldn't help but give Bai Jie a thumbs up.

His future wife was much smarter than he had imagined.

It seems I don't know Senior Sister Bai well enough yet; I must find time to get to know her better.

Only then can one truly understand the situation.

"But how could my senior brother suffer such an injustice? And what about our master's reputation?"

Bai Jie continued speaking while gazing at Gao Yi's multicolored face.

The only difference was that instead of protecting their master's reputation, they were now trying to clear their senior brother's name.

She added, "My senior brother is just too kind-hearted, which is why he was schemed against and taken advantage of."

Although it's unclear what Bai Jie will say next.

But he only had one feeling about Ji Kun.

That is, please, stop talking, he's afraid he won't see the sun rise tomorrow.

Bai Jie glanced sideways at his mournful face, her red lips slightly upturned.

"Junior Brother Luo Fan is ungrateful. Senior Brother forced him to refine pills out of good intentions, but he not only did not appreciate it, but also took advantage of the situation."

That wouldn't have been so bad, but after encountering danger in the market, she held a grudge against my senior brother and even plotted against me.

She gave a coquettish snort, "Poor senior brother, he worked so hard to protect me, but I hit him because I didn't know the truth."

Ji Kun cried at this moment.

If conditions allowed, I would love to cry my heart out.

All I could think was, please stop talking, please fucking stop talking!

He could feel the cold air on his neck!

What's even more suffocating is that Bai Jie didn't say a single bad word about him.

And then, word by word, he was pushed to the edge of the fire pit.

"By the way, Master, after I took the medicine, I experienced a strange fluctuation in my spiritual energy."

She frowned, as if recalling something, "It seems to contain something that makes one feel restless and weak, unlike the effects of a rejuvenating elixir."

She raised her head, her eyes clear and sincere.

"My spiritual energy has not yet recovered. Perhaps we can ask the elder of the Pill Hall to check for any remaining pills in my body."

Bai Jie's eyes were resolute. She clasped her hands in a fist salute, "To clear my senior brother's name, I humbly request Master's permission!"

boom--!!!

The lightning struck Ji Kun on the top of his head, turning his face as pale as paper, devoid of any color.

The Soft Fragrance Powder is a unique item of the Steward's Hall.

It was just developed and is intended for use in dealing with monsters in the future, so that one can escape if one is unable to defeat them.

There's only one bottle in the entire Deacon Hall, and it's still on him. If this is detected, he's completely finished!

Even if he wanted to shout that Luo Fan had framed him, he couldn't utter it.

All the suspicions and all the evidence were used without a single wasted; they were all slapped in the face.

He opened his mouth several times, but could no longer utter a single word in his own defense.

He could only watch helplessly as Gao Yi's eyes changed from cold to utter disappointment and disgust.

Finished!

It's all over!

Gao Yi stopped looking at him, his gaze as if he were looking at a pile of garbage.

He paused for a moment, then took out a jade bottle, uncorked it, and poured out a pill.

The cinnabar pattern was refreshing, and the fragrance of medicine filled the air. It was a top-grade Yellow-rank Rejuvenating Pill, which he had originally requested from the Pill Hall for Bai Jie.

"Take it."

Gao Yi flicked his finger, and the pill traced an arc before landing in Ji Kun's arms.

Ji Kun was stunned, then looked up at his master, his eyes suddenly bursting with unbelievable joy!

He knew that his master still valued him and wouldn't abandon him.

He is Master's eldest disciple and the future of the Hall of Affairs. How could Master possibly abandon him for a female disciple?

The joy of escaping from a desperate situation!

With trembling hands, Ji Kun grabbed the pill, didn't even look at it, and stuffed it into his mouth.

The elixir melted upon entering the mouth, its medicinal power surging throughout the body.

The broken bones are healing, and the scattered spiritual energy is gathering again.

Comfortable.

so comfy.

"Thank you, Master..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Gao Yi's cold voice interrupted him.

"Tonight, go to the Discipline Hall and receive a thousand Soul-Severing Whips."

Ji Kun's gratitude froze in an instant. He wondered if he had misheard and stared blankly at Gao Yi.

Gao Yi remained expressionless. "If you dare to use your internal energy to resist, the number of lashes will double!"

Boom!

Ji Kun's world collapsed once again.

The color that had just returned to his face due to the medicine vanished completely in an instant, leaving him even paler than before.

The Spirit-Severing Whip is a punishment specifically for cultivators. The whip is engraved with spirit-breaking runes, so it won't tear the skin or cause any damage when it hits.

but!

With one lash, spiritual energy is scattered, and the soul trembles!

The spiritual energy regrouped, only to be scattered again.

It caused no injury, but was extremely torturous, equivalent to slow slicing, but even more cruel.

This is truly a form of torture involving being cut into a thousand pieces!

He won't lose a piece of skin or flesh, but he will have to endure an extreme pain that is a hundred times more painful than losing skin or flesh!

"Girl, let this matter end here. With your master here, this wretched child will never dare to disturb your peace again. Besides..."

Gao Yi turned to Bai Jie, his tone much more relaxed, "Tomorrow, go to Danfeng and see Luo Fan."