Return to the Hao Family
The great gates of the Hao Family estate stood tall like two silent guardians, bronze hinges gleaming faintly under the afternoon sun. As Hao Xuan—whose true soul was Bai Xuan—stepped through them, the servants and guards bowed low, not daring to meet his eyes. His steps were steady, his robe fluttering softly, yet every movement carried a natural authority that made the onlookers tremble.
He did not slow, nor did he greet anyone. Like a shadow, he slipped past courtyards and corridors until at last he reached the grand main hall.
Within the hall, only one figure remained seated: the Hao Family leader, a man of middle age, stern-faced, yet his eyes were sharp with wisdom and caution. He sat alone upon the high throne, while the seats of the elders stood empty, waiting for council that had not yet been called.
When his gaze fell upon Hao Xuan entering, the leader's expression changed at once. His breath hitched, and before the young man even spoke, he hurried down from the throne. With solemn respect, he bent his body in a deep bow.
"Lord Hao Xuan," he said, voice steady yet laced with reverence, "your return brings light to this hall."
Bai Xuan, wearing Hao Xuan's face, lifted a hand lightly. His tone was calm, but an unseen weight pressed through his words.
"Rise. Such courtesy does not suit this moment."
The leader straightened slowly, eyes lowered, as though he feared meeting the other's gaze.
Without another word, Hao Xuan drew out a folded slip of paper and a thin jade list. He placed them into the family leader's waiting hands.
"Prepare a quiet chamber for me. And in that chamber, I will require an alchemy furnace of the finest quality your Hao Family possesses. As for these—" he tapped the list, "—the materials must be gathered without delay. I am going to refine some pills."
The leader received the list with both hands, his arms trembling slightly under the invisible pressure that came from Hao Xuan's presence.
"Yes, Lord. This old one shall see to it immediately."
With that, Hao Xuan turned and walked away. His figure was like a lone mountain drifting through the clouds—unapproachable, yet unshakable.
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Hao Xuan's Silent Thoughts
As he left the hall, a shadow of a smile tugged at his lips.
Three days from now, I will meet Yang Kai. If I can secure at least seventy percent control over this body, things will be far easier to manage. Yang Kai, you are not truly my enemy… but you carry treasures I cannot allow to slip through your hands. If you surrender them willingly, I may spare you suffering. If not… then fate shall be merciless.
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Alchemy Chamber
That evening, a special chamber within the Hao Family estate had been emptied and sealed for him. The walls were carved from black stone, engraved with lines of ancient script that pulsed faintly with defensive power. In the center sat a grand alchemy furnace, polished bronze with dragon carvings winding around its surface, its lid shaped like the open mouth of a beast breathing fire.
Hao Xuan sat cross-legged before it, eyes half-lidded in meditation. When he opened them, his gaze was sharp as blades.
With a flick of his sleeve, herbs and minerals rose into the air—Sweet Sprite Grass, Fire Lust Herb, and dozens more rare ingredients. Each one carried its own fragrance, its own essence.
"Begin," Hao Xuan whispered.
He cast them into the furnace one by one. His fingers danced through seals, and the arrays he had prepared earlier shimmered into being. The flames responded to his will, rising and lowering with delicate precision.
Inside, the herbs melted into shimmering liquids—blue, purple, orange, red—colors glowing like gemstones under moonlight. Slowly, steadily, he merged them, letting their essences intertwine.
The liquid roiled, turning into a rich pink hue. It pulsed faintly, as though alive. Hao Xuan divided the liquid into ten equal portions and began condensing them into pills.
But he did not use ordinary fire.
From his palm, a strange flame blossomed—its color a faint silver-blue, frost spreading wherever it touched. This was the Ice Fire, a flame that burned not with heat, but with cold. When it touched the pink liquid, the substance hardened rapidly, yet immediately clashed with the earlier hot flames.
The furnace trembled violently. A lesser alchemist would have panicked, but Hao Xuan remained calm. His eyes narrowed, and he summoned yet another flame—a gentle emerald-green fire, the Wood Flame. He fed it into the heart of the furnace, letting it balance the extremes.
One side burned with searing heat, the other froze with piercing cold, and in the middle, the Wood Flame nurtured harmony between them.
Sweat glistened upon Hao Xuan's forehead, yet his hands never faltered.
Hours slipped away.
At last, the furnace released a low hum. Hao Xuan exhaled, opening the lid. Ten pills floated out, glowing faintly. Their color was soft pink with streaks of white—pill veins, signifying perfection.
"Love Soul Print Pills," Hao Xuan murmured. "At last."
Relief softened his expression for a moment. He leaned back, his thoughts drifting.
"Pill refining is nothing short of torment. For a fifth-grade pill, one must sit for endless hours, every breath focused like a blade. It is like performing a delicate operation. In medicine, if the surgeon loses focus, the patient may die. But in alchemy—if the alchemist falters—he himself may be consumed. In truth, this path is harsher than surgery itself."
Originally Hao Xuan not a doctor but he only thought it remembering his earth doctor condition.He have knowledge in medical science and see surgery of his relative's.In making pill difficulties is remembered his memories.
Still, he did not stop. For hours more, he repeated the process, pushing himself further. When he had finally refined one hundred pills, his hands slowed, and he set the furnace aside.
Exhaustion touched him, but satisfaction lingered stronger.
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The Leader's Arrival
Outside the alchemy room, a servant had stood faithfully for hours, trembling at the faint roars and hums that echoed from within. When the door finally opened, Hao Xuan stepped out, his aura calm yet sharper than before.
The servant dropped to his knees and hurriedly called for the family leader.
Within moments, the leader arrived, robes flowing as he bowed deeply.
"Lord, I trust the refinement was successful?"
Hao Xuan gave a faint nod. "It is done."
The leader's lips curled into a relieved smile. He straightened slightly, yet still kept his head respectfully lowered.
"You must be weary after such labor. And surely hungry as well. I have arranged a banquet in your honor, filled with the finest dishes and wines our Hao Family can offer. Would you do us the honor of attending?"
Hao Xuan's gaze lingered on him for a moment. Finally, he nodded lightly.
"Very well. Lead the way."
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Toward the Banquet
The two walked side by side through the lantern-lit corridors. Servants lined the path, bowing as they passed, not daring to breathe loudly. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers drifting from the gardens, mingling with the lingering scent of herbs clinging to Hao Xuan's robes.
The family leader glanced sideways, voice respectful yet careful.
"Lord Hao Xuan, the pills you have refined—shall we prepare storage for them? Or do you wish to keep them within your own safekeeping?"
"They will remain with me," Hao Xuan said firmly. "For now, no one is to touch them."
"As you command."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then the leader spoke again, voice soft.
"In truth, ever since your return, the hearts of my Hao Family have been steadied. Many feared you lost. Yet seeing you walk among us again… it is as if the heavens themselves have granted us blessing."
Hao Xuan's lips curved faintly, though his eyes remained unreadable.
"Blessing? Perhaps.You old people really twins nature in mouth you said it is blessing but I know you are frightening about your clan future condition. Only time will decide."
The leader shivered faintly at the words, but said nothing more.
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