"Ten-Complete... Great Replenishing Porridge?"
Qin Gengyun looked down at a big pot of purple unknown goo, feeling somewhat uneasy, and asked Qiu Zhihe:
"Taoist Friend Qiu, you sure like adding things to your porridge, don't you?"
Qiu Zhihe nodded, speaking earnestly:
"I added antler, Locking Yang Grass, Epimedium, leek seeds, cistanche, seahorse, Dodder Seed, polygonatum sibiricum, Ligustrum Seed, and cinnamon, to make Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Porridge."
Qin Gengyun was stunned: "Are all ten nourishing herbs? Then, why is this porridge purple?"
"I also added half a plant of Essence Firming Grass,"
Qiu Zhihe said.
Essence Firming Grass is a low-grade spirit grass, used in crafting passion burning powder, a First Grade pill.
It has the effects of strengthening the foundation and nourishing the essence, and nourishing Yin and Yang.
Together with these ten nourishing ingredients, the potency is truly terrifying.
However, the taste was indeed a bit overwhelming; Qin Gengyun pinched his nose and cautiously said:
"Taoist Friend Qiu, why don't we drink it together?"
"No, I can't drink." Qiu Zhihe shook his head.
"Why not?" Qin Gengyun was not convinced.
Qiu Zhihe replied seriously: "If I drink it, the Ice and Fire Two Layers of Heaven inside me will intensify, and you won't be able to last thirty breaths."
"..."
Qin Gengyun's face darkened, letting out a sigh.
Fine, let's treat it as preserving a man's dignity.
Qiu Zhihe went into the kitchen and returned with a large wooden ladle for serving soup, handing it to him.
Qin Gengyun took it, scooped up a spoonful, and drank it with a frown.
He quickly chewed a few times, trying not to taste the flavor, and soon swallowed.
"Ugh."
Qiu Zhihe frowned: "Not tasty?"
Qin Gengyun handed the spoon back to her: "You try?"
Qiu Zhihe looked at him indifferently, Qin Gengyun helplessly withdrew his hand, scooped another spoonful, and painfully drank it.
"Ugh."
In the narrow rental room, a charming woman in a black dress sat with a disinterested expression opposite the man who was retching while drinking porridge, in a strange yet peaceful harmony.
After half an incense stick later, this pot of "Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Porridge" was finally mostly consumed.
Qin Gengyun really couldn't drink any more, so Qiu Zhihe carried the pot back to the kitchen.
"This time it didn't burn."
Qin Gengyun was no longer retching, he stuck out his thumbs and praised.
Qiu Zhihe paused, sat down, and didn't say anything.
Qin Gengyun suddenly remembered something, curiously asked: "The other herbs are common, but Essence Firming Grass is a spirit medicine, a single plant costs one Spirit Stone, did you buy it?"
Qiu Zhihe silently pointed to the bottom of the bedstead, and only then did Qin Gengyun notice a blue flower pot that had been placed there unbeknownst to him, with talisman carvings on the pot body.
"Spirit Plant Pot?"
Qin Gengyun was somewhat surprised, looking at Qiu Zhihe: "Why do you have this thing?"
In this realm of cultivation, beyond spiritual power cultivation, there are seven major skills: Alchemist, Talisman Master, Spirit Plant Master, Array Master, Artifact Refiner, Spirit Beast Master, Puppet Master.
Among them, Spirit Plant Masters can cultivate various spirit grasses and spirit flowers, high-grade Spirit Plant Masters can even nurture heavenly materials and earthly treasures bearing spiritual sense.
The Spirit Plant Pot is a tool for Spirit Plant Masters to cultivate spirit grasses and flowers, much like the Pill Furnace or Spirit Fan is for Alchemists.
What puzzled Qin Gengyun was, how did Qiu Zhihe possess such a tool?
Could she be...
"I am a Spirit Plant Master."
Qiu Zhihe sat quietly, stating calmly.
"You're actually a Spirit Plant Master?"
Qin Gengyun was pleasantly surprised, quickly asking:
"Which tier?"
Among Alchemists, there's a saying:
"An Alchemist's greatest dream is to marry two wives, one a Spirit Plant Master, and the other an Array Master."
Because the largest resource costs for Alchemists are herbal materials and upgrading the Pill Furnace.
A Spirit Plant Master can cultivate various spirit medicines, marrying a Spirit Plant Master wife would reduce herbal costs by more than half.
And upgrading a Pill Furnace is about the inner spirit gathering array more than the material.
The reason a Spirit Gathering Furnace is more expensive than a basic bronze furnace is because it has a spirit gathering array inside that can vastly enhance alchemy efficiency.
Thus, having an Array Master wife to upgrade your Pill Furnace freely is what all Alchemists dream of.
At that moment, hearing that Qiu Zhihe was actually a Spirit Plant Master, Qin Gengyun's mind was filled with visions of freely picking herbs and tossing them into the Pill Furnace without cost.
That truly is... so wonderful!
"Just reached First Tier."
However, Qin Gengyun soon heard Qiu Zhihe's cold voice.
"Uh..." Qin Gengyun awkwardly chuckled: "First Tier is also nice, hehe."
First Tier Spirit Plant Masters are just barely beginners, and can cultivate extremely limited spirit flowers and grasses; producing Essence Firming Grass, the lowest grade spirit grass, is already their limit.
As for Clear Spirit Grass which contains more spiritual energy, it's likely quite difficult.
Qiu Zhihe turned to look out the window, her expression indifferent:
"It's late."
"Uh."
Qin Gengyun's lower abdomen tightened inexplicably, watching her cautiously.
Though he also wanted to quickly enhance his cultivation, last night was six times, it's impossible not to rest today or he'd perish under his wife's skirt before dying from Pill Poison.
"Let's rest early."
Qiu Zhihe stood up, walked to the bed, and undressed, climbing under the covers.
She pulled up the blanket, turning her back to Qin Gengyun.
Before long, her breath became calm, as she fell asleep.
Phew... Qin Gengyun relaxed.
It seemed the continuous exertion of the last two days was too much for her too.
After all, she was newlywed.
With a feeling of relief, Qin Gengyun put away the pots and bowls, carrying them into the kitchen. Looking at half a pot of remaining Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Porridge, a sliver of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Yesterday's porridge was burned black, today whilst still lacking in flavor, at least it wasn't burnt.
She truly did put effort into making the porridge.
Qin Gengyun walked out of the kitchen; moonlight resembled water, pouring onto the ground, Narrow Rain Lane was silent.
Indeed, it was time to rest.
Qin Gengyun undressed, climbed into bed quietly, pulling up half the blanket, resting sideways.
With a relaxed mind, he closed his eyes.
He could feel the warm sensation in his abdomen, the Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Porridge did indeed have some effect. Resting well today, tomorrow night he vowed to assert his masculine dignity.
"Have you slept?"
A crisp voice came from behind, instinctively Qin Gengyun turned over:
"Hmm?"
As soon as he spoke, an enormous pressure descended upon him, those cold apricot eyes, reminiscent of a nightmare's monster pupillary stare, closing in upon him.
"Taoist Friend Qiu, you... ah!"
The room shook and swayed, the moonlight outside trembled gently.
Thirty breaths later.
[Couple intimacy level: 5/100. Intimacy level too low, no bonus]
[Spiritual practice points gained this time: 2]
Unwillingly, Qin Gengyun stared at the illusory text before him, addressing the already turned Qiu Zhihe:
"Taoist Friend Qiu, didn't you say to rest early? Why did you now...?"
Qiu Zhihe's voice was cold: "It's just thirty breaths, it doesn't disrupt rest."
"What did you say? Taoist Friend Qiu, you... ah!"
Thirty breaths later.
[Couple intimacy level: 5/100. Intimacy level too low, no bonus]
[Spiritual practice points gained this time: 2]
"Taoist Friend Qiu, wait, you, you're too heavy... ah!"
That night, moonlight was bright, and the breeze gentle.