Tang Wutong's Purple Demon Eye's closed as she digested the morning Purple Qi from the rising sun as relaxed atop Nuoding's main building so she could absorb the energy for as long as possible.
After a long moment Tang Wutong opened her eye's with a slight frown crossing her face. "Long Tian... Is he like me as well? Alchemy is a barely touched concept in this world, yet he is able to make some kind of body refining poison elixer?" She muttered.
Tang Wutong was both slightly worried and confused about her fellow disciple at this point. Whether he was a threat was irrelevant currently with his current strength and abilities especially due to how he hadn't even gotten his first soul ring.
However... If he was actual alchemist, that would change as she was well aware of poisons made by true Alchemists that could make even the poisons used by the Tang Sect into jokes!
On the other hand, if he was also a reincarnated alchemist having his aid to help in this lives cultivation would save years of effort.
'At the very least I need to keep an eye on him.' Tang Wutong thought as she exhaled with her eye's still closed as she continued to refine the purple qi.
Then after finishing digesting the qi, she opened her eyes... With her face hardening as she muttered. "And if he is a true alchemist... Maybe he can help mother heal from that bastard's actions!"
Tang Wutong then got up as it was time for her to return to her master's lessons... As although he claimed that Long Tian would be treated the same, the private lessons she had on spirit mediation told her very differently.
-
Day's passed by in quick sucession before turning into two weeks passing by as I tried my best to be active and do what I could in order to get the best Soul Ring I could for my first Soul Ring, meanwhile I was getting closer to Tang Wutong and especially Xiao Wu who had seemed to have latched onto me a good bit.
"Tian Lung, Master has called for you." That very Tang Wutong spoke from the door to the small reading room I had taken in the library.
I looked up from my book that listed the Spirit Beast's and natural herbs and treasures commonly found in the western mountains and asked. "Oh? Did he say why?"
After two weeks, my initial rush to get my first spirit had been tempered with the reality that it was actually fantastic that I didn't get in the first few days.
As with all my efforts over the last couple of weeks. I had trained my body and in establishing the first stage of the Flame Emperor's Body. I was almost sure I could withstand a Thousand Year cultivation Spirit Ring for my first Spirit Ring.
Which to say the least would put me far above my peers even the most talented of them from the very start of things.
Tang Wutong gave a small smile and said calmly. "His friend finally arrived to help you get your first Spirit Ring. Come with me to meet them."
I blinked as I wondered who would be helping me... Was it someone from Shrek? Was it someone from fucking Spirit Hall?
When it came to Yu Xiaogang, I coudn't be sure honestly.
I followed Tang Wutong across Nuoding Academy's campus until we reached the teacher's living area and once we entered Yu Xiaogang, apartment we were welcome to the sound of loud laughter that was most certainly not our teacher.
"My beloved disciples." Yu Xiaogang spoke with a wry smile as he waved us over but still, sitting on the couch on the other side of the room was a short 'mountain' of a man.
"Ha? So this is the brat you need help getting a thousand year soul ring for huh? He doesn't have six arms, let alone three heads." The large man spoke with amused teasing as he took me in.
Knowing this guy was likely friends with Yu Xiaogang at least to some extent, I gave him a martial salute as I said respectfully. "Disciple of the Grandmaster greet's this senior."
The large man hummed in aknowledgement before he gave me and Tang Wutong another look over before he nodded and clapped his hands on his knees as he grinned and spoke.
"Good! You at least have manners haha! Now, my name is Zhao Wuji! Otherwise known as the Motionless Bright King to some circles. So, Xiaogang, little Lung, what kind of spirit beast you looking for?" He asked.
Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat before he said calmly. "Xiao Lung needs a fire attribute Spirit Beast. In particular, I would prefer if we could get a thousand-year spirit ring from either a Fire Lance Beetle or a Fire Blossom King."
The fire beetle was something we already discussed would be the optimal Spirit Beast to get a Spirit Ring from due to their steady lance of fire ability. Likewise, the Fire Blossom King was actually a fire/spirit-based moth that was known for it's ability to also output a steady stream of flames.
Zhao Wuji gave a thoughtful nod before he said with a hand going to stroke his chin. "Hmm, neither should be an issue. Though finding the Fire Blossom King can be annoying as they are hiding between the leaves of the tallest tree's to absorb sunlight."
"Heh, on the other hand... So little man, supposedly you have a talent with alchemy and making medicine is that right?" Zhao Wuji spoke leadingly to me.
I blinked at the sudden turn before nodding and saying firmly. "Yes!"
To which Zhao Wuji looked to Yu Xiaogang with a heavy look who took a breath before he said. "Good, another reason it took my friend a while to get here. Is because he ran to the southern sea where he hunted a five thousand year whale."
I perked up instantly as I realized what he meant... But then I paused before I said a bit helplessly. "A five thousand year whale gel... That is going to be a big thing."
Zhao Wuji snorted and I felt his spiritual energy as he huffed. "Just a mere five thousand year old spirit beast. Even if I had to deal with it in it's home turf it wasn't an issue!"
Instead I coughed and said a bit awkwardly. "No sir, I didn't mean that. I meant that the medicine power in a five thousand year cultivation whale gel is too much for my body. I am too young to digest that much yang energy frankly... I will need to split it into at least two seperate doses."
Yu Xiaogang then looked to Tang Wutong and he asked slowly. "So you could share with your sister disciple then? Actually beyond raising the bodies natural limits in spirit ring absorbtion what other effects did the whale gel elixer have?"
I cleared my throat and then quickly explained how the elixer would strengthen the body of the soul master in all aspects. It would also enhance the muscles and bones of the soul master to make them physically stronger. It increases the capacity of the soul master's meridians to allow them to channel more Soul Power.
So it was an all-encompassing elixir basically.
But sharing the elixir was needed, as I was only expecting to get a thousand-year whale gel to be honest.
'Getting too strong a massive influx of yang energy can poison me with Ma Hongjun's issues... Imagine going to whorehouses at my age every day to cure my so-called evil fire. Yeah hell no!'
"Hmm, then do you need anything to make the elixer Xiao Lung? It would be the best if you took this elixer before we go get your spirit ring after all." Yu Xiaogang spoke firmly.
I shook my head and took in the herbs and other natural 'treasures' I collected from the nearby surroundings of Nuoding City before I said. "Nope! I just need a couple hours to prepare the elixer in the spare bedroom."
Yu Xiaogang knowing I had my own secrets merely nodded with Zhao Wuji grunting before he pulled out a gleaming golden whale gel that was clearly part of the whale's brain before handing it to me.
"Good, I am curious to see how you will overturn the Soul Master world with this elixer boy. Maybe I will even owe you a favor and will need your help with Shrek's own students." Zhao Wuji said with a grin.
Though I could see an odd expression cross Yu Xiaogang's face at the mention of Shrek Academy... All the while I held in my own reaction at the school's name as it wasn't like I was supposed to know anything about the school.
Still I went into the next room and after making a bunch of 'elixers' in the room over the last few weeks with the help of a fire place that had a vent outside. I got to work over the large cauldron that would host the elixer.
'The whale gel goes in at the very start... It needs to be liquified under great heat, especially extreme heat due to the fire being a normal mortal fire at that.' I mused as I brought the fire to life and then even began using some bellows to heat it up even further.
Which made the room especially hot but thankfully the window was open. For all that it did, but still after a good bit of work and bringing making the bottom of the refined iron cauldron start to take on a ruddy color. I finally could stop pumping the bellows.
As the whale gel was audibly breaking apart and melting into a golden honey like glaze that filled the bottom of the cauldron.
"Now... I gotta add the yin modifers to protect the mind from contamination." I muttered as I took several herbal sedatives. And a bottle of mercury that was then added to the concoction, which hissed with the mercury breaking down and fusing with the now glowing glaze.
Now normally, mercury was fucking stupidly poisonous obviously. But this was a magical cultivation land, and mercury was an element of extreme yin that could restrain the soul and minds of those it touched with soul energy.
So instead of just giving someone mercury poisoning when they consumed the elixer soup, the mercury was being used up in to break down any residual thoughts and issues within the whale gel itself.
From there I added a couple dozen more herbs over the course of an hour before I had to just stir the elixer in special manner to make sure all the essence was evenly congealed. While all the impurities were burnt away over the next hour.
And then finally, the elixir soup was done. It glowed with a golden luster with crimson blood like tears that slowly and hypnotically swirled within the golden base of the elixer's liquid.
"Alright... Time to give Tang Wutong hers I suppose." I muttered as I wiped some sweat off my brow, as it took me a lot of effort to make this elixer with everything I needed to take care of, and account for.
I scooped up Tang Wutong's serving into a large plated silver bowl and brought it out to here with everyone looking at the elixer soup with various levels of curiosity.
However, Tang Wutong's face on the other hand was a clear surprise as the extremely rich elixer's scent hit her nose. "This... Is a potent elixer indeed!" She said with clear desire as she looked ready to take it from my hands and could barely hold herself back.
I carefully put the large bowl on the table and said rather firmly. "There is still a lot of Yang energy in the elixer. So you may want to take it into the spare room for some privacy."
Tang Wutong and Yu Xiaogang knew what I meant with Tang Wutong nodding and carrying the soup into the house's spare bedroom while the other two men looked at me with clear interest and anticipation.
"Give me a minute to get mine... I know you won't be happy if you don't see me personally take it." I said helplessly with both men shamelessly nodding at my completely factual statement.
After getting the rest of the elixer, I came back and sat in front of the two with both watching in great interest as I tipped the bowl back and just chugged the elixer with myself shivering as the rich yang energy burned within my body.
"Yup... It's working!" I muttered with a shiver as my body began running a powerful fever even with my Candle Body that gave me a resistance to Yang energies' effects.
My face took on a ruddy hue and I began sweating heavily as I could feel the elixir remolding my body as I just closed my eye's and entered meditation to help the medicine.
But with the Flame Emperor's Body technique I was very well suited for absorbing medicine effects and even though I could have even used Tang Wutong's dose as well...
It would have left me with that very same 'Evil Fire' issues and would have prematurely jump-started my hormones, basically, as my body would take a few months to digest all the rest of the medicine energy.
"I can even see his veins and meridians expanding from under his skin! His skin's pores are even changing to absorb soul energy as well!" Zhao Wuji spoke but his words barely registered to me.
I vaguely heard Yu Xiaogang going to check on Tang Wutong after a bit but our teacher quickly closed the door as she said something I coudn't hear.
And after a good half an hour of my body being remolded rather painfully as I could literally feel that I had grown a good couple of inches in height with all the nutrition I had gotten.
I gingerly held up a hand that was rather sore from how all my muscles had been enhanced. And I said quietly. "Forget a basic thousand year spirit ring. I can definetly deal with up to a spirit ring with two thousand five hundred years of cultivation!"
Both older men looked doubtful but then Zhao Wuji shrugged and looked at Yu Xiaogang and said. "I can already see the brat hurting himself. But it's up to your Xiaogang, you want to chance the boy and his theories?"
And that final sentence. 'Trusting a man and his theories.' That cut the Grandmaster deep, and his expression became cool and he said calmly. "Of course. My theories are of course true and with the training and elixer's help, Xiao Tian will for sure be able to accept over a thousand year spirit ring!"
Thus my fate was sealed... Though I did very much notice Yu Xiaogang crediting himself with my elixers, and special cultivation manuals effects on my body.
Still it was time for me to go get my first spirit ring. And with it, my path to true cultivation in this world would begin!