Chapter 37

Serves you right for being meddlesome. Luobi was still harboring resentment over Jiang Zhu's insincere advice earlier, and she seized the opportunity to make things difficult for him.

Jiang Zhu, having been scolded by his cousin, became more subdued and no longer had time to chatter aimlessly. He silently entered a working state, his movements even outpacing Luobi's. Luobi blinked her eyes; Jiang Zhu was just asking for it, and now he was being quiet, wasn't he!

Wu Yue, having destroyed a high-grade medicinal plant, had no other thoughts. Coincidentally, customers were coming in one after another, so he didn't bring up the matter of Luobi becoming his apprentice assistant again.

Luobi lowered her head, working while her mind wandered. She had a feeling that something would happen soon. After work, she went home and, while Guan Zhuting was setting the table, she went upstairs to check on the spirit plants. She was worried that they would lose their spiritual energy if not used in time.

Luobi had a bit of OCD; psychologically, she couldn't tolerate even a tiny bit of spiritual energy loss from the spirit plants. Fortunately, each plant was still fresh and green, with the same amount of spiritual energy as when they were first bought.

To nourish Luobi's mental and soul energy, Guan Zhuting used first-grade nutritious ingredients from their own garden to make a separate dinner for Luobi. Luobi sat at the dining table, looking at the two clearly different meals, frowned, and silently ate them.

After dinner, as Luobi was about to return to her room, Feng Ling's call came through. She clicked to answer, and Feng Ling said, "Are you at home?"

"Um, yes, I'm at home."

"Don't go out unless you have to during this period."

"Why?" Luobi was a bit puzzled.

Feng Ling explained, "You awakened with dual abilities, even though they are mixed in nature. Dual awakening is rare. Your father and elder brother are not at home, and I'm worried someone might have designs on you."

Luobi was startled, and her heart began to race after Feng Ling's reminder. She had considered this possibility but thought she was overthinking it. Now, it seemed she wasn't. She informed Feng Ling, "I went to work at the Wu family pharmacy this afternoon."

"It's fine, just be careful. Don't go to work tomorrow." Feng Ling gave some instructions and then hung up.

Luobi's heart was still racing, and she didn't sleep well that night. In the early morning, she went to the study to continue guiding the fire source.

Half an hour later, Luobi looked at the red flame she had guided and decided to try refining medicine. After reviewing the recipe for the blood-stopping powder, Luobi placed the spirit medicines she had prepared the day before in the cauldron. She used her mental energy to guide the fire source and her soul energy to envelop the surface of the spirit plants. Then, she controlled the size and temperature of the flame, gradually refining the spirit plants.

Luobi's soul energy was fully activated, tightly enveloping the spiritual energy of the spirit plants, not letting a single bit escape. However, she couldn't control her mental energy well, and the flame fluctuated in size. She knew that continuing like this would likely lead to failure, but the refining process had already started. Continuing might still give her a chance to succeed, but if she stopped the fire halfway, it would only end in failure.

When a burnt smell came from the cauldron, Luobi knew this attempt had failed. Just as she was about to stop the fire, there was a loud "bang," and everything turned chaotic. Objects flew in all directions. Luobi was stunned for a few seconds, only then realizing she had encountered the legendary cauldron explosion.

She turned her eyes and saw that the study was in a terrible state. The walls, tables, and floor were all covered with a layer of black substance. The air was filled with a burnt smell, making her throat itch. Luobi coughed a few times and looked down to see that some black ash had splattered on her. She got up to find a mirror to see her appearance.

In the mirror, the background behind her was pitch black, but miraculously, her face and body were not very dirty. What was going on?