Loubing eyes turned cold, her hands folding into a clenched.
"That I will be hunted down. If I ever reveal it.."
Qi Ran smiled as he turned to face the door. "Your eyes are far too lovely to let them be taken by another person. Child of Dragons.."
Loubing faced the doors as well, wondering what they meant.
Qi Ran clapped his hands together, like he had just remember a crucial information.
"These doors you see here. Are filled with wonderful gifts. By cultivating, you can unlock all the doors you see here and get the gifts inside.." he gestured at Loubing to following him.
They took the stairs, climbing all the way to the first door.
"This door is always open. Within it, is a starting gift. One, that will most likely help you begin your journey. You may open it if you please.."
Loubing stared at the door knob, if I open this door, whatever I find will help me start my journey. I hope it is good.
The moment her hand touched the door, it's disappeared.
Whoosh!
A wave of spiritual energy flowed into her and within its wake, were three items.
Qi Ran smiled, interesting choice of path.
"Well, what are you waiting for? You have some interesting rewards.."
Loubing gave him a glance, before stepping up.
Before were two manuals and a sword.
She picked both books up. They were a bit bulky.
"This, this is exactly what I need right now. 'The Art of Chaotic Heart Refinement'.. "
Qi Ran smiled, knowing the first door often provided what one needed, paving a clearer path through their rocky future.
Then she looked at the second manual. She raised a brow, Apothecary?
"It's an apothecary manual? Is it saying, I'm destined to go down the path of apothecary? I haven't thought about that before.."
Qi Ran clasped his hands behind his back, thinking for a second. "It merely a suggestion? It's left for you to decide if you want to follow it.."
Loubing looked at the title"True Scripture Of The Pill Dao, by Li Mingzhu.."
-_-
Her eyes widened, the Li Mingzhu? How was that even possible? Many practitioners had spent years looking for this book? But none could find it.
But here it was, sitting at her doorsteps.
"I'm surprised you know how to read.."
-_-
Loubing's lips twitched, education was free in the heavenly realm, but due to her poor background she was often bullied by other children.
"Education is free in the heavenly realm. While I did get it, I was often looked down on for being weak.."
Qi Ran shook his head. They were living in a dog eat dog world after all.
Placing the two book back, she grabbed the sword. It looked heavy but it was surprisingly light.
Qi Ran stepped forward, now it was time for him to explain these treasures she had uncovered.
"The sword in your hand right there, is called the Azure Dragon Sword.." Qi Ran said, his eyes resting on the faint shimmer along its edge. "Do not be fooled by its level. It was forged for the young descendants of great bloodlines, meant to awaken potential rather than overwhelm it. Its edge resonates faintly with dragon Qi. With it, you will learn control."
Loubing gave it a light swing, the hum running up her arm. "It draws in Qi on its own. Is that safe for me?"
Qi Ran's lips curved faintly. "Safe enough. It will amplify your fire and lightning without pushing you past your limits. Your root is chaotic, too much power running too fast will shatter you. This sword tempers the flow instead. Think of it as reins on a wild horse."
Her eyes lowered. "So even my weapon has to restrain me."
"No.." Qi Ran said softly. "It guides you. If you wish to be pitied, then throw it aside. If you wish to command, then learn to make even restraint serve your will."
She fell quiet, tracing the leather-wrapped hilt, before setting the sword down beside the two manuals.
Qi Ran's gaze lingered on the first. "The Art of Chaotic Heart Refinement. Written by Qian Mo, a man whose root was shattered from birth. The world cast him away, yet he clawed out a path through despair. His methods are not merciful. If you follow this book, you will break and rebuild yourself a hundred times over. But if you endure, your chaos will no longer devour you. You will master it, just like he did.."
Loubing ran her fingers over the cover, feeling the faintly disordered pulse that made her skin prickle. "And if I fail? Will there be any consequences?"
"Then you will die.." Qi Ran answered. "There is no gentler truth."
She bit her lip. Dangerous… yet it stirred something fierce in her chest.
"And this.." he continued, turning to the second tome, "is the True Scripture of the Pill Dao. The lost work of Li Mingzhu, the immortal alchemist. You know the name."
Her eyes widened. "How's that impossible. People searched lifetimes for it."
Qi Ran's gaze sharpened. "And yet it sits before you. Do you know why? Because for one with your root, pills will not be luxuries. They will be salvation. The scripture does not bind you to the path of apothecary, but it offers you the means to survive. Heal when you are broken. Advance when your Qi stagnates. With this, you will no longer beg others for medicine, you will create your own."
Loubing's hand hovered over the book. "It sounds less like a gift… and more like the heavens telling me what I must be."
Qi Ran's voice dropped low, steady as thunder. "The heavens give tools, not orders. A sword, a manual, a scripture. Others may call them chains. You can make them keys. It depends only on you. Loubing, you are the sole master of your fate.."
Loubing looked at the items, she had never received such opportunities in her life before.
Maybe she hadn't thought about alchemy before. But with these gifts, she would use them to the fullest.