Bab 22: [Bonus chapter] A Big Change

As the moonlight bathed her body, she couldn't help but notice that her reflection appeared quite different. Her eyes widened with astonishment as she took in her new appearance. Seraphina's once-black hair had taken on a silver glow, cascading down her back in gentle waves.

Her eyes, which had been amethyst-colored, had a deeper color. Her pupils were now golden and cross-shaped. As she focused her attention, Seraphina discovered that her golden cross-shaped pupils had an uncanny ability to perceive the traces of Qi around her. It was as if her eyes had been refined to a higher level of sensitivity, allowing her to see the invisible threads of energy interwoven in the world.

Curiosity got the better of her, and Seraphina experimented further. She observed the energy patterns in the trees around the lake and could make out faint traces of vital qi.

The ginseng's transformative power had not only revitalized her body but also bestowed upon her a beauty she had never imagined.

Her skin was now flawless and radiant, with a natural luminosity that seemed to emanate from within. Facial features had taken on a delicate refinement, giving her an otherworldly allure that captivated the eye.

Seraphina reached up to touch her face in disbelief, her fingers tracing the contours of their new appearance. She had always been an attractive woman, but this transformation was beyond anything she had ever dreamed of.

Her once slender figure had evolved into a graceful yet muscular build. Her arms gained a subtle definition, a testament to the power that now flowed through her meridians. Her legs felt more agile and powerful. Seraphina flexed her fingers and felt the strength in her grip, marveling at the transformation. The experience of nearly dying and being cleansed had not only changed her body structure but also honed a vessel capable of harnessing immense power.

She got out of the water and changed into new clothes, matching her new look. The attire was designed to allow freedom of movement while exuding a sense of grace and sophistication. It was form-fitting, a sleeveless top and knee-length rob that fluttered gently with her every step. She also wore a wide sash made of dark silver fabric, neatly tied in a decorative knot at her side.

'Ah, this Custom Clothing is sure convenient. I don't need to worry about these little things~' She mused as she settled back into her camp.

The fire was still crackling, but the moons moved further away from the center of the night sky.

'Strange, usually these transformations take days or weeks to complete.'

It was indeed abnormal for the process to be this fast, but she did not factor in her unique constitution. The Seven Emotions Constitution helped her with the processing part of the transformation. Otherwise, she may not have survived or gained this many benefits.

Still feeling refreshed from the surge of energy, she decided to head out to the nearest town, Serenity Peak City.

[Serenity Hollow, around the time of Seraphina's transformation]

Butler Chen tracked down the Malevolent Qi to Serenity Hollow. He carefully examined the ground for signs of disturbance, looking for any traces left behind by Isolmeda or the ginseng. Faint hints of Malevolent Qi seemed to linger in the air, guiding him toward a house in the village.

His sharp eyes caught sight of a peculiar marking on the ground. It seemed like a faint symbol etched into the dark, barely visible amidst the dimly lit place.

He approached the markings and searched around, soon finding a secret chamber where a lot more Malevolent Qi was prevalent.

Examining the room, Butler Chen recognized it to be Isolmeda's laboratory.

'Tsk, what a crazy bitch! Killing the whole village during broad daylight!'

Chen thought as eyes scanned the chamber, searching for any signs of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng. And then, in the corner, he spotted something familiar - a small wooden box. There were still small whisps of vital energy infused into the wood.

'Hm, she must have placed the ginseng here. But from the looks of it, someone took it from her.'

Butler Chen's suspicions grew since he knew that Isolmeda wouldn't betray them as the Fallar family had taken precautions against dealings with rogue cultivators like her. While the room looked messy and decrepit, he could make out traces of a fight here. To confirm his suspicion, he utilized a Scanning Mirror to scan the room for unique blood traces.

Most of the blood in the room was from the villagers and had no value, so the mirror didn't react, but after walking around with it for a little bit he got a reaction.

The mirror lit up in a green light. 'Hm, it seems our Isolmeda has perished here.'

Butler Chen's suspicions were now confirmed. A Scanning Mirror would only light up in green if the blood was from a Core Creation Stage cultivator. This treasure was one of the prized possessions of the Fallar family and could detect unique substances up to the Core Harmonization Stage.

The family butler tried to find more clues about what happened there but couldn't. The perpetrator was good. He or she sealed away most of the traces, and only something like the Scanning Mirror could detect something out of order.

Butler Chen's heart sank as he realized the gravity of the situation. Isolmeda's death meant that the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng was now in the hands of someone else, someone who might pose a significant threat to the Fallar family's plans.

With a heavy heart, Butler Chen carefully collected the Scanning Mirror and made his way back to Serenity Peak City. He knew he had to report the news to Young Master Claude, even though he dreaded the young master's reaction.

As he traveled back, his mind raced with thoughts of who could be behind Isolmeda's demise and the theft of the ginseng. He couldn't rule out the possibility of a rival family or a rogue cultivator seeking to disrupt the Fallar family's dominance in the region.

Upon returning to the Fallar family estate, Butler Chen sought an audience with Young Master Claude. The young master was in his study, poring over ancient scrolls and maps, his face etched with concentration.

"Young Master Claude," Butler Chen began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. "I regret to inform you that Isolmeda has met an unfortunate fate in Serenity Hollow. The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng is no longer in her possession."

Young Master Claude's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the news. His grip on the quill tightened, and a flicker of anger flashed across his features.

"Explain," he demanded, his voice icy.

Butler Chen recounted the events of his investigation, detailing the clues he had discovered in Isolmeda's laboratory. He presented the Scanning Mirror as evidence of Isolmeda's demise at the hands of a Core Creation Stage cultivator.

"Young Master, it appears that someone took advantage of Isolmeda's delay and ambushed her," Butler Chen concluded.

The young master's face contorted with rage, and he slammed his fist on the table. "Courting death! I entrusted her with a simple task, and she failed me! Now, the treasure is in the hands of our enemies!"

Butler Chen bowed respectfully. "I take full responsibility for not ensuring Isolmeda's safety. However, the perpetrator had some expertise in covering their tracks. We must proceed with caution in our next steps."

Claude Fallar took a deep breath, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "You are right, Butler Chen. We cannot act impulsively. We must gather more information and tread carefully. Find out who could have been behind this, and be discreet in your investigations."

Butler Chen nodded. "Yes, Young Master. I will do everything in my power to uncover the truth."