Chapter 27: Contracting the Jade Dragon Spirit and Consuming the Marrow-Cleansing Pill

Although Ziji was generous, offering a pile of treasures for Yun Zhi to choose from, most of the formation disks and magical artifacts required significant soul power to operate. Yun Zhi’s current mental strength was only slightly better than that of an ordinary person, so she couldn't use them even if she took them.

The body-tempering technique Ziji practiced was similarly demanding; it required not only a specific diet but also the long-term use of Spirit-Nurturing Body Pills to avoid internal injuries, making it unsuitable for her as well. The Spirit-Nurturing Body Pills themselves were also inappropriate for Yun Zhi, as they contained "Spirit-Suppressing Grass," an ingredient that stifled soul strength.

In the end, there were only a few items that a mortal without cultivation could use:
A medium bottle of Longevity Pills (twenty pills), each extending life by ten years, limited to one per person.
A medium bottle of Beauty Pills (twenty pills), each delaying signs of aging by ten years.
A large bottle of Detoxification Pills (fifty pills), effective against most common poisons.
A large bottle of Hemostatic and Flesh-Regenerating Pills (one hundred pills), which accelerated the healing of wounds.
A large bottle of Soul-Confusing Powder; a small amount inhaled or ingested would cause immediate unconsciousness. Depending on the dosage, the victim would remain unconscious for anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, but they could be awakened immediately by splashing water on them.
Ten Peace Talismans, each capable of blocking one ordinary attack. They were single-use items. If the damage exceeded the talisman's capacity—such as a severe car accident or an explosion—the user would still be injured.

Ziji explained, "I refined these pills back when I was in the Qi Refining stage. My nineteenth senior brother told me these were the easiest to sell because they were useful to both low-level cultivators and mortals, so I made quite a few."

Yun Zhi asked in surprise, "Aren't you a sword cultivator? You know how to refine pills too?"

Ziji grumbled, "I had a fourth senior brother who was excellent at alchemy and medicine, but he insisted on turning everything into incredibly bitter medicinal soups. I had no choice but to teach myself alchemy."

"Also, while the monthly allowance for direct disciples is quite high, it wasn't enough for me. I often got into fights, which consumed a lot of pills, and I had to constantly repair my spirit sword... so I ended up learning artifact refining as well."

"Ever since I mastered alchemy and artifact refining, I’ve never lacked spirit stones! I just handed the finished products to my nineteenth senior brother to sell, and I just collected my share."

Yun Zhi: ...
She had thought this guy was a bronze-level player, but he turned out to be a true King! Beyond his raw strength, he was a master of both alchemy and artifact refining. Unfortunately, in this world, he had no platform to showcase his talents.

Ziji sighed, "I kept some of these for myself after refining them, thinking I might encounter mortals during my travels and they might come in handy. Later on, as my cultivation rose to the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages, I stopped taking low-level missions involving mortals, and I forgot to clear them out since my storage ring was so large. I never expected to actually have a use for these 'junk' items gathering dust at the bottom of my storage!"

Yun Zhi certainly didn’t mind that these items were considered "low-grade" by his standards.

Ziji continued, "These Peace Talismans, which don't require spiritual power and can be used by mortals, were probably sourced by Lu Zijie. There are twenty in total. I’ll keep ten, and like the pills, I’ll give you half!"

Lu Zijie had previously told Yun Zhi that if she needed anything, she should ask Ziji. It was clear that Ziji, whether he was Lu Zijie’s past or future self, shared the same generous nature despite their differences in personality. He didn't even wait for Yun Zhi to ask before splitting everything she could use right down the middle.

Being friends with a generous tycoon was truly a joy!

Yun Zhi had originally planned to minimize contact with Ziji once he fulfilled the "two favors." Even with her golden finger, she was still a mortal unable to cultivate, and clearing her debts only left her with a little pocket money. Ziji was a Golden Core powerhouse and the heir to a top-tier wealthy family. There was a significant gap between them, and they wouldn't have interacted at all if not for the transmigrator chat group.

However, having received so many favors, she felt guilty about taking everything without giving back. How could she bear to watch such a generous person end up with a shattered soul because he refused to undergo the love tribulation?

Trying to force him into a romance wouldn't work. After spending time with him, she realized that while Ziji was easy to get along with, he possessed a rebellious streak. He was easygoing with trifles but stubborn regarding major decisions. The more she pushed, the more he would resist.

As Yun Zhi pondered how to repay him, Ziji seemed to guess her concerns. "You don't need to listen to what Lu Zijie says about me dating. I haven't met anyone I like, and if I’m nagged too much, I’ll just get annoyed. If you want to thank me, just invite me along whenever you find something good to eat or play!"

Yun Zhi twitched her lips—he knew himself quite well! He was right; he hadn't even had normal friends before, and he hadn't even adapted to this new world yet. Being urged to find a girlfriend would be annoying for anyone. The task had an eighty-year deadline; there was no rush. In ten or eight years, when everyone around him was married, he might naturally develop the desire to settle down.

With that thought, Yun Zhi stopped worrying about the "urge Ziji to date" mission and nodded. "No problem! I'll share all the good food and fun places with you! We'll go out for meals whenever we’re both free."

Ziji said awkwardly, "Well, if you encounter any danger or trouble you can't solve, you can come to me. After all, if you have an accident and die, it won't be convenient for Lu Zijie to send me things in the future. The Spirit-Nurturing Body Pills he prepared for me are limited; they only last a year because one of the ingredients is hard to find."

Yun Zhi: ...
It was meant to be an expression of concern for her safety, but coming from him, it just didn't sound very charming!

Yun Zhi, who had initially treated Ziji more as a client, began to genuinely accept him as a new friend. He wasn't just a fair-weather friend; he was willing to help when she was in trouble. Whether or not she would actually need his help was secondary—the gesture was precious. It was far better than her old friends, who were only there for the good times and mocked her when she fell on hard times.

After splitting the items, Ziji explained the precautions. The Longevity and Beauty Pills, unless stored in a high-level storage ring with spirit-locking functions, would lose their potency after about a year in jade bottles. The other pills could last about three years. Even the Peace Talismans had a five-year shelf life, with their protective power fading as the spiritual energy dissipated over time.

In short, she should use them and not be stingy. Once they were gone, he would just have Lu Zijie get more.

Yun Zhi had initially thought the Peace Talismans were similar to the "Substitute Doll," but it seemed the Doll was more reliable. Mu Xue had mentioned that the Doll would remain effective for decades if not intentionally damaged. Still, a talisman was better than nothing, and it should be enough for her parents.

After putting Ziji’s gifts into her personal space, Yun Zhi took out the mutton-fat jade dragon ornament. "Ziji, is there anything special about this? Brother Lu asked me to show it to you!"

Ziji didn't dislike Lu Zijie every time he was mentioned; he was quite happy whenever the problem was something Lu Zijie wasn't good at. A smug smile appeared on his handsome face. "I knew it! It takes me to solve this!"

After examining the jade dragon, Ziji said, "It's an old artifact that has developed a spirit. In a world with so little spiritual energy, it's quite a rare treasure."

"The spirit's function is a bit niche—useless to me—but it can help you. Once you gain its recognition, you can use your mental strength to command it to possess someone with weaker mental strength, forcing them to speak their true thoughts."

"It's like a 'Truth Talisman,' except it doesn't require spiritual power, just mental strength. You know how to use mental strength, right?"

Yun Zhi nodded. "Yes, I do!"

She asked curiously, "Why is this useless to you?"

Ziji replied, "Because my soul power is so strong that no one can lie in front of me if I don't want them to." However, hearing too much truth wasn't always pleasant. When he used his soul power at the Lu family, everyone—from his grandfather to his cousin and servants—would involuntarily speak their minds, all hoping that after "waking up," he would return to his former "wise and mighty" self.

Moreover, Ziji could keenly sense whether someone was lying. For instance, Yun Zhi was hiding some things from him, but she harbored no malice, and what she did say was true. To Ziji, that was enough.

Yun Zhi: ...
Alright, a powerhouse is a powerhouse! You think they’re useless without combat strength, but they have so many skill points!

Yun Zhi happily touched the jade dragon. "How do I make it recognize me as its master? Also, it's so big, it's not very convenient to carry."

Ziji said, "Don't worry. Once it recognizes you, it will absorb a small amount of your mental strength to maintain its vitality, so it won't need to reside in this large ornament anymore. You can wear any jade pendant, bracelet, ring, or earring, and it can inhabit that."

With Ziji's help, the jade dragon spirit signed an equal soul contract with Yun Zhi, the only constraint being that neither could harm the other. The goal was mutual benefit. Once the contract was signed, Yun Zhi could clearly sense the spirit's thoughts.

A milky, childish voice echoed in her mind: "Master, I am Jade Dragon. It’s fine for you to change my residence, but I like dragon shapes or things with dragon patterns."

True to its name, it really loved dragons!

Yun Zhi: ...
Fine, if you want the horse to run, you have to feed it grass. She would prepare small jade items with dragon patterns later.

Jade Dragon continued, "Also, I'm used to living in this big house. I don't mind changing my residence to follow you when you need me, but don't sell my old home. I need to come back and stay here often."

Yun Zhi: ...
She had learned something new: to the spirit, the ornament was a mansion, its happy home!

Yun Zhi reassured it, "Don't worry, I won't sell your old home; I'll just give you more new ones." The Jade Dragon was satisfied.

After confirming that the ornament felt comfortable in her space, Yun Zhi put it away. Next was the Body-Cleansing Pill.

Ziji said, "Your current physical fitness is stronger than most ordinary people on Earth, so taking the pill should be fine. Just eat it!"

Yun Zhi didn't hesitate and put the pill in her mouth. It instantly turned into pure energy, flowing through her meridians, flesh, and marrow. Intense pain followed; she felt as if every inch of her body was being torn down and rebuilt. Her face turned pale.

While she could still move, she stumbled into one of the rooms. Ziji hadn't expected the pain to be this severe. He had taken the pill in his past life during the Qi Refining stage when his body was much stronger, so the pain had been manageable. Fearing she would fall, he caught her, picked her up, and laid her on the bed, forgetting his usual aversion to physical contact with women. In his eyes, Yun Zhi was just his friend, and he didn't want her to suffer more.

Ziji frowned, checked her pulse with a sliver of soul power, and verified that while the pain was great, the pill’s healing speed exceeded its destructive force. He breathed a sigh of relief. Fearing she might bite her tongue, he placed a folded, light-purple handkerchief in her mouth—a defensive artifact that would automatically expand if it sensed danger.

After waves of pain, Yun Zhi’s body expelled a large amount of dirty blood. In her semi-conscious state, she felt Ziji feeding her sweet water—it was the "Hundred Flower Nectar," which Lu Zijie had prepared to ease the pain of the monthly pills. It was a rare, low-spiritual-energy nectar that mortals could consume in small amounts. Lu Zijie had only managed to collect a small bottle, enough for ten doses.

Ziji fed her the nectar with precise control. As he pinched her chin to feed her, his fingers brushed against her fair skin, and seeing her soft, pink lips up close made him feel a strange curiosity about how they would feel.

*Wait! What am I thinking?* He shook his head. *Yun Zhi is my friend! My first friend! I shouldn't treat her differently because of her gender.* He recited a Heart-Clearing Mantra, and when he looked at her again, his heart was calm. He was completely unaware that he had just nipped his first budding romantic feelings in the bud.

...

When Yun Zhi woke up, it was the following afternoon. She took a shower, feeling refreshed. Ziji had already left, leaving a message on WeChat: "My grandfather is looking for me, so I’ve returned to Haicheng. Let’s hang out again when I'm free. Contact me if you need anything!"

Yun Zhi replied, "Thank you for looking after me!"

Ziji replied, "Don't mention it! [Grinning Emoji]"

He sent a photo of a private jet: "I'm on the plane, talk later!"

Yun Zhi: "Okay, let me know when you arrive!"

Ziji: "OK"

It had only been two days, and the person who didn't even use punctuation before was now using common English. It seemed Ziji wasn't as resistant to Lu Zijie’s memories as he thought.

After eating, Yun Zhi felt the changes in her body. She felt light, and her strength had increased several times over—she could now lift a 1.8-meter bed with ease. Her five senses, agility, and reaction time had all significantly improved, and her mental strength had increased from fifty meters to five hundred. It was no wonder Lu Zijie said she would become a martial arts expert.

Her appearance had also been optimized; her skin was more radiant and fair, though she was already beautiful before. Now, she simply looked more refined and ethereal.

As for the Longevity and Beauty pills, Ziji said she didn't need them; the cleansing pill already contained century-old longevity herbs and beauty-preserving herbs suitable for mortals.

She checked out of the hotel and returned to the villa.

*

Yun Zhi gave her parents the Longevity and Beauty pills, along with a Peace Talisman, Hemostatic pill, and Detoxification pill in small red pouches, insisting they carry them at all times. They asked where she got them, but she simply said the source was legal and they should just use them. Seeing that she had kept her own share, they complied to put her mind at ease. They sensed something unusual about their daughter, but they chose to be "deliberately ignorant," grateful that she was protected by the talismans.

The next morning, Yun Zhi set out to handle Tang Panpan’s request. After investigating with the hacker "Little Wine," they had narrowed down the primary suspect: Zhang Huiyu, the wife of Tang Panpan’s estranged older brother.

Tang Panpan’s mother’s property and her own shop, which were slated for redevelopment, had been inherited by her brother, who had never contacted her in seventeen years. Zhang Huiyu had been at the mountain where Tang Panpan was pushed on the exact day of the accident.

"I never imagined my sister-in-law would try to kill me for money," Tang Panpan lamented. "I want to know if my brother knew about this, or if he was involved too!"

Yun Zhi comforted her, "Don't worry, Panpan. I have the ability to protect myself now. I’m going to Q City to uncover the truth. If Zhang Huiyu did this, I’ll make her pay, and your brother won't escape either!"

If they couldn't use the law, they could always ask Mu Xue for help. As for Mu Xue, her own mission regarding the "See-Ghost Talisman" had officially concluded the previous night. Having seen the downfall of those who harmed her through the "Self-Judgment" dungeon, Mu Xue finally found peace. Yun Zhi learned that those two hadn't just harmed Mu Xue—they had committed far greater evils, having conspired to take the lives of other innocent people in the past.