Capítulo 21: A Wild Ginseng has appeared!

Seraphina stood there, her expression cold and unyielding as she gazed upon the lifeless body of Isolmeda. The battle had been fierce, and the weight of the souls Isolmeda had stolen still burdened Seraphina's heart.

As she took a deep breath, Seraphina felt a surge of conflicting emotions swirling inside her. The dark aura of Malevolent Qi dissipated into the air, leaving behind a haunting silence.

Seraphina turned her attention to Isolmeda's study. The room was filled with ancient scrolls, books, and artifacts, hinting at the dark cultivator's knowledge of forbidden arts.

What caught her eyes was a small wooden box. She could feel it exuding an unending amount of vitality. Curious, she made a Containment Seal around it in case it was something dangerous. One can never be too careful with dark cultivator possessions.

She extended her hands and brushed her fingers over the surface of the box, feeling an unusual warmth beneath her touch. A delightful aroma filled the air as she carefully opened the lid. It was a valuable ginseng root, radiant with vibrant energy. A dark powder was ejected from the inside of the lid, but the contents were quickly contained by the seals she had placed beforehand.

'Oh my, Isolmeda! How predictable!' Seraphina thought as the took a good look at the contents after the black powder cleared away.

Her eyes widened in awe as she recognized the rarity of the ginseng. It was no ordinary herb. This one was a bit shriveled but still better than nothing. Seraphina looked around the room for more but found nothing else of value.

'Well, it was a good haul. A shriveled 10-year-old ginseng probably … Let's see if I can find a place to absorb it~'

[Around the same time]

In a hidden cave shrouded in darkness, a hooded figure stood, patiently waiting. The air around them seemed to thicken, and an even darker aura of Malevolent Qi exuded from their very being.

The figure's identity was concealed behind a black mask, making it impossible to discern their appearance.

As the minutes ticked by, the cave's atmosphere grew heavier. Finally, after two hours of waiting, the hooded figure had enough.

"Butler Chen!"

Following the call, a shadow darted forward.

"You called, You Master Claude?"

Butler Chen's voice was calm and respectful, his eyes fixed on the hooded figure.

The young master let out a low growl, the Malevolent Qi around him crackling with intensity. "I entrusted her with a simple task, and she dares to delay me? Unacceptable! Go and investigate what's causing this delay!"

Butler Chen's expression remained composed, though he knew better than to challenge the young master's anger. "Young Master Claude, I shall look into the matter and ensure she arrives with the ginseng promptly!"

"See that you do, " the young master hissed, his eyes gleaming with a hint of madness being the mask. "The Power of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng must not elude me. With it, the Fallar Family will dominate this region! I'll get rid of the pesky peasant families that claim to be in the top five in Serenity Peak City!"

Butler Chen nodded, his loyalty unwavering. "As you wish, Young Master. I will not fail you!"

Claude Fallar turned away, his mind consumed by the thought of the forbidden ritual he planned to perform. The ginseng was the final piece of the puzzle, the key to producing Core Creating Stage puppets.

[Inside the surrounding forest of Serenity Hollow]

Seraphina set up a camp around a lake at a clearing she had discovered. She put down her sleeping bag and used some firewood from her inventory to start a comfy fire. The forest in this area was not dangerous as most beasts roaming around are at most comparable to the Essence Attainment Stage. Just as a precaution, she set up an array of trap and barrier formations. She felt that using seals as her primary weapon brought a lot of other benefits just as she had predicted.

This was her first time camping out again after her first life ended. Seraphina looked at the slowly darkening sky above the clearing. The fact that there were three moons told her that she was in a different world. The serenity of the forest calmed her mind. She recalled her past months after arriving in this world.

'Ah, how lucky to be alive again! Being a villainess in a novel was really for stuck-up people! This freedom is much better~' She thought and took out a small bottle of plum wine she had previously stolen from Elder Nyra and sipped away.

'Puh~ This is refreshing! No wonder Elder Nyra always hid her stash away!'

The sourness of the wine made her remember her past life as the nefarious demonic villainess.

'Hm, I wonder if the demon stuff has any meaning here? Since I did come here with my real body.'

As Seraphina sat by the crackling fire, the memories of her past life floated through her mind echoing from another time. She took another sip of the plum wine, savoring its tangy taste and reveling in the freedom of her new life.

The three moons above cast an ethereal glow over the cleaning, illuminating the lake's standstill surface. Seraphina felt a sense of tranquility wash over her as she gazed at the center moon, its radiance captivating her like a guiding light.

In her past life, she had been trapped in the confines of a fictional story, playing the role of a cruel and heartless character. But now, in this new reality, even though still inside a novel, she was free to be herself, unburdened by the constraints of a predetermined plot.

'I'll make the most of this second chance,' she vowed to herself, her voice filled with determination.

Seraphina used her inventory to take out the ginseng, she couldn't help but marvel at the vibrant beige color and the sense of vitality that emanated from it.

Without hesitation, she decided to consume the ginseng, believing its benefits would aid her.

As the effects of the ginseng intensified, Seraphina's body began to react in ways she had never imagined. The vitality and power contained within the ten-thousand-year-old herb were potent. At first, she felt a surge of energy coursing through her, invigorating her cells and meridians. But as the process continued, the intensity became overwhelming, and she began to grasp for breath, her heart racing with unprecedented force.

She clutched her chest, trying to steady herself as the transformative power of the ginseng pushed her body to the limits. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she fought to maintain her control over her Qi and prevent it from spiraling out of control.

At that moment, she realized the true potency of the ginseng and the potential danger it posed to an unprepared body.

'Damn, this shriveled little shit gave me a wrong impression of its potency. It must be at least a thousand years old or so!'

Seraphina thought as she ground her teeth. She started to see black dots in her vision and felt her body becoming weaker and weaker from overworking.

'Shit! I cannot pass out here! I need to stabilize my pathways to make the flow of Qi faster and able to absorb all the vitality of transformation!'

Summoning all her willpower, Seraphina focused on stabilizing her Qi and guiding the ginseng's energy to harmonize with her own. Every second she struggled to survive the ordeal.

In the depths of her mind, she called upon the seals she had mastered, relying on them to create a barrier of protection around her core and vital organs. The seals formed a delicate dance of intricate patterns, working in tandem to shield her from the overwhelming force of the ginseng.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the process began to subside. The energy surges gradually abated, and Seraphina's breathing steadied. She lay on the ground, gasping for air, her body drenched in sweat and impurities, and her clothes clinging to her skin.

Though she had come close to death's door, Seraphina knew she emerged victorious along with benefits.

She tried to stand up but she underestimated her new body, which resulted in her falling into the lake.

'Damn, my body feels way too light …' Seraphina thought while putting her clothes back into the inventory as she decided to wash away the impurities.

Doing so reminded her of her first bath in this world. A sense of nostalgia hit her as she looked at the water. She stopped moving and the ripples soon came to a standstill.

Under the moonlight, Seraphina looked at her reflection in the water.

"Wait … Who is this?"