Chapter Seventeen: Let's Talk After You Get Dressed

The newcomer had snow-white hair and beard, his skin as fair as a newborn's. Dressed in a black robe, if it weren’t for the bright daylight, Zhou Qi would have thought he’d encountered a ghostly figure.

“Hello, Zhou Qi. I am Liu Ruicai,” the old man said with a smile.

“Greetings, Elder.” Though Liu Ruicai intended to take Zhou Qi as his personal disciple, the formal ceremony had yet to occur. Calling him Master at this point seemed premature—what if he changed his mind?

“You’re gravely injured. Without prompt treatment, you may suffer lingering complications.” With those words, Liu Ruicai made no visible move, yet Zhou Qi found himself rising into the air, following the elder into his cave abode.

Once inside, Zhou Qi was stunned by the wonder within. A crimson sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm glow that did not scorch. Wisps of white cloud drifted across a cerulean sky, filling the heart with serenity.

Zhou Qi remembered that outside, the sky had been a cloudless blue, while here, clouds floated lazily by and the sun seemed different in both size and light. Was this, perhaps, a different sky altogether?

The ground was carpeted with countless spirit herbs and medicinal plants, their fragrance rich and sweet, clearly aged and potent. Spirit beasts played by the water’s edge, their strength unfathomable to Zhou Qi. A sparkling spring cascaded down, forming a pool of jade-green water, thick with spiritual energy.

By the small pond stood five thatched cottages. From one of them drifted the scent of rare medicines—it must be Elder Liu’s alchemy chamber.

Sensing Zhou Qi’s confusion, Liu Ruicai explained that this was a pocket world left behind by an ancient master, which he had acquired by chance and transformed into his cultivation retreat. Zhou Qi was the first person, apart from Liu himself, to set foot inside—not even Han Yuanzheng knew what lay within.

Zhou Qi’s heart pounded. From what he’d seen in dramas, learning such a secret usually meant one’s days were numbered.

On the Tianxuan Continent, acts of unsolicited kindness were always suspect.

“Elder, I am unworthy. There are many more talented than I. What virtue or merit do I possess to deserve your regard?” Zhou Qi decided not to speculate. Since he couldn’t figure it out, he might as well ask directly.

“Rest assured, you have nothing I covet. I simply find you pleasing to the eye. When I heard you picked spirit ginseng for the Fifth Star’s formation and were targeted by the other sects, yet still came for the sake of Zhengyi Sect, I was moved. In the tournament, your cleverness and indomitable spirit opened my eyes further.”

“You remind me of my younger self—cherishing the dream of cultivation, holding fast to your own principles. Such young people are all too rare in this world. I hope you can keep your heart true, and avoid the detours I took. In the end, that boy I once was is long gone.” Liu Ruicai sighed deeply, a past sorrow stirring in his heart.

“Your teachings will remain with me always, Elder. I vow to never stray from my path in cultivation, and to advance with unwavering resolve,” Zhou Qi replied.

“Very well. Let me tend to your wounds first!” With a wave of his hand, Liu Ruicai summoned a massive cauldron before them.

He gestured toward the cold pool, and the water gathered in a slender stream, filling half the cauldron before stopping. With another motion toward the medicine room, countless spiritual herbs and elixirs flew into the cauldron one by one. Liu Ruicai then produced several small bottles from his storage ring, each containing mysterious blood—black, red, gold. As he opened them, fierce auras surged forth, and he quickly poured the contents into the cauldron.

Zhou Qi watched with fascination as ingredient after ingredient was added. When everything was in, Liu Ruicai exhaled a plume of fire, engulfing the cauldron completely.

Was he about to refine a pill? Zhou Qi had once thought to learn alchemy to earn spirit stones, but seeing this spectacle, he decided it was more comfortable just lying low.

The fire wrapped the cauldron for an entire day, gradually unleashing the medicinal power. Fragrant aromas filled the air, invigorating Zhou Qi and easing his pain.

“Now!” Liu Ruicai shouted, and Zhou Qi, without control, was drawn into the cauldron.

What the—was he about to be stewed alive? Zhou Qi panicked, crying out, “Spare me, Elder!”

“Focus! I’ll teach you a body-refining secret art—‘The Nine Transformations of Tianxuan.’ You carry too many impurities, which will hinder your future path. Remember this well.”

As he spoke, a cultivation technique imprinted itself in Zhou Qi’s mind: the First Transformation of Tianxuan. Clearly, eight more transformations followed.

Falling into the cauldron, Zhou Qi felt no searing pain. Instead, waves of medicinal power surged into his body, healing his wounds in an instant.

Seeing him dazed, Liu Ruicai barked, “Circulate the technique! Don’t waste the medicine!”

Obeying, Zhou Qi began practicing the First Transformation. Whatever Liu Ruicai’s motives, such a formidable body-tempering art could only be beneficial. The elder’s seriousness left no room for doubt.

As he activated the technique, the medicinal power coursed through his body, opening blocked meridians and expelling impurities.

Five hours passed. Zhou Qi felt utterly transformed, his body brimming with strength. The potent medicine had refined his body to its core; if he’d had such a physique during the Five Sects Tournament, he could have fought toe-to-toe with pure physical might alone.

The Nine Transformations of Tianxuan truly lived up to its name, as awe-inspiring as the legendary Xuantian Scripture. With “Tian” and “Xuan” in its title, it was surely a peerless technique. This was only the first transformation—what unimaginable power would come with all nine? Zhou Qi wondered how Liu Ruicai had come by such a treasure.

Once he had absorbed all the medicine, Zhou Qi sat cross-legged in the cauldron, his body now gleaming and translucent, skin as soft and fair as an infant’s, his small frame hiding explosive power.

Opening his eyes, he leapt from the cauldron and bowed deeply. “Disciple Zhou Qi greets Master!”

Liu Ruicai beamed at him as though admiring a priceless artifact, circling around him and nodding in satisfaction.

Zhou Qi waited for a response, but none came. Only then did he notice that his robe had been destroyed, and he now stood completely naked. Seeing Liu Ruicai’s gaze, he tensed up—could the old man have untoward intentions?

Catching Zhou Qi’s expression, Liu Ruicai burst into hearty laughter.

“Put on some clothes before we continue.”

Thoroughly embarrassed, Zhou Qi used a movement technique to dart behind a thatched hut, hastily retrieving clothes from his storage pouch.

That footwork was intriguing, Liu Ruicai mused, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

After some time, Zhou Qi finally emerged from behind the hut and bowed once more to his master.

“Good. From this day forth, you are my personal disciple. In all my life, I have never accepted a disciple. I hope this time, I have not chosen the wrong person,” Liu Ruicai said, his expression complex.