BOOM, !
The thunderous explosion echoed throughout the manor.
In the living room, the girls exchanged knowing glances and smiled before returning to their conversation. They'd long since grown accustomed to these interruptions.
"Another failure, I see."
"How many times is that now?"
"If I remember correctly, it's the forty-third time."
"Sister Shinobu, you're slightly off. I've been keeping count, it's the forty-fourth," Kurumi corrected with a playful smile.
"Is that so?"
"Seventeen successes out of forty-four attempts... that's a failure rate even I can't match," Tsunade admitted with a rueful shake of her head.
The basement door slowly creaked open, releasing a thick cloud of acrid smoke.
Victor emerged first, followed by a thoroughly soot-covered Miyabi.
"I'm sorry, Master. I've failed again." Miyabi's voice was quiet but determined. "Perhaps I truly lack the talent for alchemy."
"Don't say that. Failure is just part of the learning process." Victor gently ruffled her hair, his expression warm despite the frustration gnawing at him. "You'll get there with enough practice."
Internally, though, he couldn't help but feel exasperated. Who would've thought that his disciple, so extraordinarily gifted in cultivation, would be this abysmal at alchemy? She struggled even with the simplest low-level pills, failing repeatedly on formulas that should've been straightforward.
Even Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue, neither of whom specialized in alchemy, had shown far more natural aptitude than Miyabi.
But she was his disciple. He refused to let her confidence crumble.
Fortunately, Miyabi wasn't the type to give up easily. Despite knowing she lacked talent in this area, she persisted with unwavering determination. She couldn't bear to disappoint Victor, not after he'd supported her so consistently. Giving up now would feel like betraying his faith in her.
Victor wiped a smudge of ash from his face and spoke gently. "Let's call it a day. We'll try again tomorrow."
Miyabi nodded. "I'll go wash up," she murmured, heading toward the bathroom.
Victor made his way to the living room.
Seeing him approach, the girls naturally shifted aside, creating space for him in the center of the couch.
He waved them off. "Thanks, but I need to step out for a bit. I might not make it back for lunch."
"Which world are you visiting today?" Shinobu asked, her curiosity piqued.
She glanced at the chat group interface, but there were no new requests from any of the members.
"I'm heading to the Spirit Hall Continent to restock herbs from the medicine garden," Victor explained. "Miyabi's burned through most of my supply of low-level materials. If I don't gather more, she won't have anything to practice with."
Since advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, Victor rarely refined low-level pills himself. The spiritual herbs he'd collected during his Golden Core days had nearly run out.
"Master! I want to come with you!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up the moment she heard their destination. She bounced to her feet eagerly. "Please?"
"What's the reason?" Before Victor could respond, Xiao Wu's mother, Arou, interjected.
"I want to see Da Ming and Er Ming! And the others too." Xiao Wu's voice took on a wistful tone. "It's been years since I last saw them. They don't even know I'm with Master now. I need to let them know I'm okay."
"Alright, you can come along," Victor agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Wu beamed, immediately latching onto his arm.
"Master, may I join you as well?" Qian Renxue stepped forward. "I'd like to check on Grandpa and let him know I'm safe."
"Of course. You're welcome to come."
"Thank you, Master!"
After bidding the others farewell, Victor opened a dimensional gate and led Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue through to the Spirit Hall Continent.
The moment they emerged, Victor sensed a familiar aura approaching, peak Foundation Establishment stage.
A heartbeat later, Gu Yuena materialized before them.
"What brings you here so suddenly?" Her gaze flicked to Xiao Wu clinging to Victor's arm. "Are you dissatisfied with this little maid? Planning to return her?"
Xiao Wu's grip on Victor's arm tightened instinctively.
Victor chuckled. He hadn't expected the once-stoic Gu Yuena to develop such a sharp sense of humor.
"Quite the opposite, I'm very satisfied with her," he replied smoothly. "In fact, if you have any more like her available, let me know."
"Of course!" Gu Yuena said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "So if you're not here for after-sales service, what's the occasion?"
"I need to gather some herbs," Victor explained. "And these two wanted to visit their families while I'm here."
"In that case, I'll leave you to it." Gu Yuena gave a slight nod before vanishing as swiftly as she'd appeared.
Victor allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The girls in the chat group were becoming more diligent in their cultivation, a promising development.
Pushing the thought aside, he turned to Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue. "I'm giving you both five days of free time. Go wherever you need to. Meet me back here in five days, and I'll take you home."
"Yes, Master!" Both girls chorused, their voices a mix of excitement and reluctance.
After they departed, Victor made his way to the cottage where Dugu Bo resided.
"My lord, what brings you here?"
Dugu Bo had been deep in meditation when Victor's presence registered. His eyes snapped open, and he immediately rose to greet him.
"I need you to gather these herbs for me." Victor handed him a list filled with the names of various spiritual plants.
"At once, my lord." Dugu Bo didn't hesitate. He transformed into a streak of green light and shot toward the vast medicinal fields dedicated to growing low-level spiritual herbs.
With nothing pressing to do, Victor found a comfortable spot beneath a large tree and settled in to enjoy the afternoon sun.
An hour later, Dugu Bo returned, a ring-shaped spatial storage device in hand.
"My lord, all the spiritual herbs you requested are here."
Victor accepted the ring and swept it with his spiritual sense, confirming everything was accounted for. Satisfied, he nodded and took his leave.
Over the next five days, Victor devoted himself to teaching Miyabi the art of alchemy.
This time, he'd come prepared with an abundance of low-level spiritual herbs, ensuring she had plenty of materials to practice with.
As it turned out, persistence paid off.
After five grueling days of nonstop practice, Miyabi finally began to grasp the alchemy techniques for most low-level pills. Her success rate had improved significantly.
"Alright, you can continue practicing on your own from here," Victor said, a note of pride in his voice. "I need to go pick up my two little maids."
With that, he opened another dimensional gate and returned to the medicine garden in the Spirit Hall Continent.
However, upon arrival, Victor frowned.
Only Qian Renxue was waiting for him. Xiao Wu was nowhere to be seen.
"What's going on?" Victor muttered, his brow furrowing. "Did that girl lose track of time while playing around?"
Qian Renxue shook her head. "Little sister wouldn't forget something this important, would she?"
Victor's frown deepened. Xiao Wu was many things, but careless wasn't one of them. Something felt off.
He extended his spiritual sense, sweeping across the surrounding area in search of her aura.
Nothing.
A cold thread of concern began to coil in his chest. Where could she have gone?