The Hehuan Sect cultivates alchemy; my senior sister helps me refine alchemy throughout the world.

Shen Yifei took out a piece of paper from his storage ring, quickly wrote down a few medicinal herbs, and handed it to Ao Ying. "Second Princess, these medicinal herbs are quite rare. I don't have them on hand. Could you please make a trip and deliver them to me tonight so I can refine medicine for His Highness the Crown Prince overnight?"

Ao Ying took the list and glanced at it. It listed some medicinal herbs, nothing particularly precious, but they were all antidotes, so she had no further doubts and nodded, "Okay, I'll deliver it personally tonight."

Shen Yifei was overjoyed to see that she agreed so readily. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Princess."

Ao Ying and Ao Ting bid farewell and left. Shen Yifei escorted them to the entrance of the inn before turning back to his room.

When Liu Mengli saw him return, she clicked her tongue twice. "Master, your trick is brilliant! Removing the veil during the day and then meeting alone at night—you're really good at this... truly good!"

"Hehe, how many beauties like this are there in the world? It would be such a pity to miss out. Besides, the Dragon Clan is such a powerful force, if we could win them over..."

"Master, she's a princess from the Dragon Palace. We're not a good match, and I'll have a hard time getting past her mother..."

"My father is Shen Changtian, my mother is the eldest princess of the Demon Clan, and I am the sect master of the Tianyan Sect... In the future, even the Dragon Clan will be my subordinates... As for that mother-in-law... Heh, I have my own methods! Xinghe, prepare a few prescriptions for me..."

All day long, Shen Yifei's mind was filled with Ao Ying's face.

Seeing that he was absent-minded, Liu Mengli occasionally chuckled mischievously, "Master, why don't you practice your sword some more? That would make you seem even more skilled with your sword."

Shen Yifei snapped out of his daze and chuckled twice. "What do you know? This is called love at first sight."

"Love at first sight?" Liu Mengli rolled her eyes. "You fall in love with every woman you meet. You fall in love with every woman at first sight."

"It's different from anything I've seen before... This feeling is like someone suddenly barging into your heart, making you want to give up everything... This dragon girl is truly beautiful; I've never seen such a beautiful woman in my life."

Liu Mengli pouted, "What about me? Aren't I prettier than her?"

As soon as I finished speaking, I realized that what I said was wrong, and that I was far inferior to others.

To be honest, this dragon girl's eyebrows and eyes are just so-so, her eyes are not as big as mine, her nose is not as straight as mine, and her lips look very ordinary. How come they all look so good together?

As night falls, the lights of the coastal city come on.

Shen Yifei sat by the window of the inn, holding a cup of tea in his hand, but his eyes were fixed on the direction of the street corner.

Liu Mengli lay sprawled on the table, munching on a spiritual fruit while glancing sideways at him. "Master, if Luo Qinghe and the others saw you like this, wouldn't they break your legs?"

Shen Yifei ignored her, and when he saw Ao Ying's figure, he hurriedly took Liu Mengli back.

Soon, there was a knock on the door. Shen Yifei had been waiting at the door for a long time, and he opened it as soon as the door was knocked.

Ao Ying changed into a white dress, still keeping her face veiled.

Seeing Shen Yifei's anxious look, he raised an eyebrow slightly. "Sect Leader Shen, I've brought you the medicinal herbs."

"Please come in, Second Princess." Shen Yifei stepped aside to make way, as attentive as an innkeeper's waiter.

Ao Ying entered the room, opened her storage bag, and neatly placed the medicinal herbs on the table; they all looked quite good.

Shen Yifei pretended to flip through them, "Not bad, not bad, all good stuff. Second Princess, you've worked hard."

"Sect Master Shen, can these elixirs really cure my brother's illness completely?" Ao Ying asked directly.

"Of course, I, Shen Yifei, swear to heaven that after taking the pills I refined, I will never again experience the symptoms I had a few days ago! However..."

"Hmm?" A flash of anger crossed Ao Ying's eyes. "What other conditions does Sect Leader Shen have?"

Shen Yifei hurriedly waved his hand, "Misunderstanding, Second Princess, you've misunderstood! I've just noticed some issues with your younger brother, and I'm not sure if I should say anything."

"What's the problem, Sect Leader Shen? Speak plainly!"

Shen Yifei hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have a few questions to ask first, so please don't hold back, Miss Ao!"

Ao Ying was taken aback. Why did he change his form of address after only a few words? Little did she know, this was Shen Yifei's usual trick; by changing his form of address, he was unconsciously closing the distance between them.

If you keep calling her "princess," it feels like you're inferior to her.

Shen Yifei had even prepared the next way of addressing him.

Shen Yifei noticed the subtle change in her face. He realized that this small step of his was also a test of her acceptance of him, and she didn't object!

"Miss Ao, you are second in rank, and Ao Ting is third. Who is first...?"

"My eldest sister, Ao Ling'er, failed to ascend to immortality more than fifty years ago, and she has vanished without a trace!"

When Shen Yifei heard Ao Ying say that her eldest sister had failed to ascend to immortality and her fate was unknown, he knew what had happened.

Yun Zhonghe once said that the so-called tribulation and ascension were all scams. Those who attempted the tribulation were taken away by a mysterious force and never heard from again.

Ao Ying's eldest sister is probably also in grave danger.

However, he doesn't plan to tell Ao Ying this secret yet. Firstly, their relationship isn't close enough, and secondly, the matter is too complicated. She wouldn't believe it if he told her, and it might even harm her.

"Miss Ao, regarding your sister... please accept my condolences." Shen Yifei feigned a sorrowful expression. "The path of cultivation is inherently perilous, and transcending tribulations is even more so, with nine out of ten chances of death. Perhaps your sister has gone to a better place."

Ao Ying shook her head. "You don't understand. On the day my eldest sister underwent her tribulation, the celestial phenomena lasted for three whole days, and the lightning tribulation was several times stronger than usual. My father said that it was because the heavens were jealous of talent, and that my eldest sister's talent was so extraordinary that even the Heavenly Dao could not tolerate her."

"Heaven's will not tolerate it?" Shen Yifei sneered inwardly. What Heaven's will? It was clearly some kind of divine punishment that was causing trouble.

But his face showed a sigh, "Your sister was exceptionally talented, but unfortunately, fate was jealous of her beauty."

Ao Ying remained silent for a moment, seemingly unwilling to discuss her eldest sister's affairs any further, then changed the subject, "Sect Leader Shen, what did you just say was wrong about my brother?"

Shen Yifei waved his hand and set up a soundproof barrier. After waiting a while and finding no external interference with the barrier, he moved closer to Ao Ying.

Ao Ying felt a little nervous when she saw him approaching, but she didn't move.

She thought to herself, "Let's see how you act. If you go too far and try to get physical, I might as well slap you twice."

She was at the peak of the Mahayana realm, and although she was only one realm higher than Shen Yifei, it was enough for her.

Shen Yifei maintained a safe distance from her and whispered, "Miss Shen, I've discovered a special kind of poison in Ao Ting's body!"

"What? Poison?" Ao Ying's expression changed. "What kind of poison?"

"A poison that has been dormant for many years! It was planted at least ten years ago, perhaps when Ao Ting was very young!"

Ao Ying didn't believe him at all, thinking it was just another trick by Shen Yifei. "Sect Leader Shen, do you have any evidence?"

Shen Yifei ignored Ao Ying's attitude and continued, "This medicine is extremely toxic. If the person controlling it activates the poison, the poisoned person will turn into a puddle of pus in no time!"

Shen Yifei moved his head closer. "I know Miss Ao doesn't believe me, and everything I've said is true. If you still don't believe me, will you save your brother's life or not?"