At this moment… He was developing Mystic Water Pills. But he wasn't just making one. He was making nine. Three for himself, three for Ning Rongrong, and three for Zhu Zhuqing. It was an audacious, exhausting task. Each pill required perfect control, a flawless execution of dozens of steps.
After the Mystic Water Pills, shimmering like captured pieces of the sky, were carefully stored in jade boxes, he moved on. The Spirit Ascension Pills were simpler, a recipe he could almost produce in his sleep now. He created a batch of two dozen, their gentle milky-white glow promising a clean, effortless boost in power.
When the last pill was sealed away, a profound silence fell over the laboratory. The bubbling ceased, the forge cooled. Zhang Tian stood amidst his creations, a deep sense of satisfaction washing over him. The tools were ready.
He tidied his workbench, stripped off his work-stained robes, and walked to his personal quarters, a spacious suite connected to the lab. He felt the bone-deep weariness of his month-long endeavor, but it was overshadowed by a keen anticipation.
He summoned a passing sect disciple with a quiet word. "Please find Young Miss Ning and Miss Zhu. Tell them I request their presence in my rooms. It is a matter of some importance."
The disciple, accustomed to the strange requests of the sect's new resident genius, bowed and hurried away.
Zhang Tian waited. He didn't have to wait long. A light, excited knock echoed, followed by the door swinging open. Ning Rongrong practically bounced into the room, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Zhu Zhuqing followed a step behind, her usual cool composure betraying a hint of questioning in her gaze.
"Zhang Tian! You're finally out of that stuffy lab!" Ning Rongrong chirped, her eyes scanning his suite. "We were starting to think you'd turned into a mushroom in there!"
Zhu Zhuqing offered a small, soft smile. "It is good to see you."
"It's good to see you both," Zhang Tian replied, his own voice warmer than it had been in weeks. He gestured for them to sit. "I've been busy. I have something for you."
He placed three small, exquisite jade boxes before each of them. Then, he added a larger pouch containing the Spirit Ascension Pills.
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "Presents? For us?" She eagerly opened one of the small boxes. Inside, nestled on a bed of silk, was the translucent, water-blue pill. A gentle, pure light seemed to pulse from within it.
"What is this?" she breathed, mesmerized.
"It's called a Mystic Water Pill," Zhang Tian explained, his tone calm but his eyes fixed on their reactions. "It has two primary effects. First, it will cleanse your body of impurities and expand your meridians, making future cultivation faster. Second, and more importantly, it will permanently enhance your innate talent."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Each pill will raise your innate spirit power by one full level. And most importantly… below the Thirtieth level, it can allow your Spirit Power to rise by one level."
The room fell silent. Ning Rongrong stared at the pill, then at him, her mouth slightly agape. Even Zhu Zhuqing's composure cracked, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief.
"One… one full level?" Zhu Zhuqing whispered, her voice barely audible.
"It is," Zhang Tian confirmed. "But it's only effective for the first three pills and so I've made three for each of us. You should consume one each day for the next three days. The first pill will have the most dramatic effect on cleansing your body. The subsequent two will have a diminished, but still significant, impact on your talent."
He then pushed the pouches towards them. "These are Spirit Ascension Pills. They are milder which makes their medicinal energy easier to absorb, and they will provide a direct boost to your spirit power."
He explained, "Even after you reach Level 30, the energy from the Spirit Ascension Pills won't be wasted. It will accumulate in your body, giving you a significant head start once you acquire your third spirit ring."
Ning Rongrong looked from the miraculous pills to Zhang Tian, her heart swelling with an emotion she couldn't name. It was more than gratitude. It was a profound sense of being cared for, of being cherished.
"Zhang Tian… You are too… much of a genius," she said softly.
"I am," He replied simply. "Take the first Mystic Water Pill now. The process will take a few hours. We can do it together."
With a shared look of determination, the three of them each took one of the water-blue pills. They placed it on their tongues and swallowed.
The pill dissolved instantly, a cool, refreshing stream that flowed down their throats and spread throughout their bodies. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a gentle warmth began to build from within, a comfortable, soothing heat that permeated every cell.
They sat in silent meditation, allowing the pill's miraculous energy to work its magic. Hours passed. The initial warmth slowly intensified, becoming a persistent, deep-seated heat. It was not painful, but it was pervasive, as if a gentle fire was burning away unseen dross within them.
The process continued for nearly three hours. The room was silent, save for the sound of their soft breathing. Then, a new scent began to permeate the air. It was a faint, sour odor at first, but it quickly grew stronger, becoming a thick, unpleasant stench.
Ning Rongrong's nose twitched, and her eyes fluttered open. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ugh, what is that smell?" She sniffed her own arm and her face turned a deep shade of red. "It's... it's me!"
A thin, grey-black film of grime was being expelled from the pores of her skin, carrying with it all the impurities that had been hidden deep within her body.
Zhu Zhuqing also opened her eyes, her expression one of faint distaste as she noticed the same phenomenon happening to her. Even Zhang Tian, to a much lesser degree, had a slight sheen of this filth on his skin.
"It is the impurities being cleansed from your body," Zhang Tian explained calmly, though he too was aware of the rather pungent aroma that now filled his luxurious suite. "It is a sign that the pill is working perfectly."
Ning Rongrong stood up, looking mortified. "We stink! We need to wash, right now!" Her eyes darted around the room, and a mischievous glint appeared in them, overriding her embarrassment. Her gaze landed on a door at the far end of the room.
She turned back to them, a brilliant blush coloring her cheeks, yet her voice was surprisingly bold. "Zhang Tian... your bathroom is the biggest one in this wing. The tub is enormous..." She trailed off, biting her lip. "I think... I think we should all bathe together. To save time!"
Zhang Tian was momentarily taken aback by the suggestion. He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, who had a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. They had bathed together many times in private, and this was hardly the most intimate situation they had been in.
Zhu Zhuqing's agreement was swift and smooth. "That is a very practical idea, Rongrong. It would be inefficient to wait for each other."
Zhang Tian maintained an innocent expression, though a warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with the pill. "If you both insist," he said, his voice even. "It is, as you say, the most efficient solution."
Soon, the three of them were standing in the opulent, steam-filled bathroom. The tub was a massive, sunken creation of polished white marble, easily large enough to be a small pool.
The girls, with a shared, unspoken understanding, turned their backs to him to undress, a gesture of decorum that was immediately undermined by the playful glances they shot over their shoulders. Zhang Tian did the same, and soon they were slipping into the hot, steaming water.
The atmosphere was charged, a mixture of shyness and burgeoning intimacy.
"Alright, this was my idea," Ning Rongrong declared, taking charge with a bubbly confidence that masked a hint of nervousness. "It's only fair we help wash all this gross stuff off. Zhang Tian, why don't you sit in the middle?"
He complied, settling between them in the enormous tub. The moment he did, both girls moved in, their intentions clear. They were going to 'serve' him.
Ning Rongrong, armed with a soft cloth and fragrant soap, began to gently scrub his back, her touch light and careful. Zhu Zhuqing, however, was far bolder. She moved to his side, her own cloth in hand, and began to wash his chest and shoulders.
'She's not even trying to be subtle,' Zhang Tian thought, a smile playing on his lips as he felt the soft, heavy pressure of Zhu Zhuqing's large breasts pressing against his arm under the guise of reaching across his chest. She moved with a liquid grace, her body brushing against his with a deliberate slowness that sent shivers down his spine.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation, the feeling of being cared for by these two incredible women. He reached out, his hands finding their waists, pulling them closer into a gentle hug in the warm water.
"Let me," he murmured, taking the cloths from their hands. "It's only fair I help you both as well."
He began with Zhu Zhuqing, his hands moving with a tender reverence as he washed the grime from her flawless skin. She leaned into his touch, her head resting on his shoulder, a low, contented purr-like sound vibrating in her throat. When he moved to wash her back, she shifted, sitting directly in front of him, her impossibly curvy buttocks pressing intimately against his groin. A jolt went through him, and his body responded instantly, his erection hardening against her soft flesh.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't flinch. Instead, a small, triumphant smile touched her lips, a silent acknowledgment of her effect on him.
Ning Rongrong watched this exchange, her eyes wide. Her gaze drifted down into the water, and for the first time, she saw the clear, hard evidence of his arousal. A deep crimson blush flooded her face, but it was mixed with a spark of competitiveness. She wasn't going to be outdone by Zhu Zhuqing.
'Her chest is so big…' Ning Rongrong thought with a pang of envy, glancing down at her own more modest, though still perfect, budding curves. 'But I can't lose!'
She moved closer, pressing against his other side. While Zhu Zhuqing was bold and direct with her body, Ning Rongrong used her hands. Her touch was soft, inquisitive, as she took over washing his front. Her small, gentle hands lathered his chest, his stomach, and then, with a shy hesitation that quickly melted into determination, her fingers brushed against his rigid length under the water.
Zhang Tian's breath hitched. He looked at Ning Rongrong, whose face was flushed but whose eyes were filled with a playful, teasing light. He was caught between two fires, one cool and seductive, the other bright and mischievous.
He felt no desire to take advantage, only an overwhelming sense of affection and a romantic, thrilling excitement. He hugged them both tighter, burying his face in their fragrant, clean hair. The dirt was gone, replaced by a deep, profound connection.
The next two days followed a similar pattern. Each day, they would consume another Mystic Water Pill. The physical cleansing effect was far less dramatic, but they could feel the change on a deeper, more fundamental level. It was like their very souls were being polished, their connection to the world's spirit energy becoming clearer, sharper.
By the end of the third day, the transformation was complete. Their skin glowed with a healthy, vibrant light, and their eyes seemed brighter. More importantly, they could feel the change in their cultivation. The spirit energy they absorbed flowed more smoothly, more quickly through their newly expanded meridians. Their innate talent had been forcibly elevated by three full levels.
Their spirit power had also surged. Zhang Tian and Zhu Zhuqing, who were both at Level 28, felt their power skyrocket. After the first pill, they both reached Level 29. After the second and third pills, they officially broke through the bottleneck, reaching the thirtieth rank. They could feel their power solidifying, compressing, building up behind the dam.
Ning Rongrong, who had been at Level 27, also advanced rapidly. The first pill pushed her to Level 28, and the second to Level 29. After taking her third and final pill, she felt the push bring her right to the edge, but not quite over.
"I'm still not quite there," she said, a little pout on her lips after their morning meditation.
Zhang Tian smiled and produced one of the Spirit Ascension Pills. "This should take care of that."
She took it without hesitation. The pill's energy was much milder, a gentle wave that washed through her. It was the final push she needed. A soft golden light enveloped her, and the aura of her spirit power shifted, solidifying as she officially broke through to the thirtieth rank.
"I did it!" she cheered, jumping to her feet.
Zhang Tian and Zhu Zhuqing also took a Spirit Ascension Pill. For them, there was no breakthrough, but they could feel the potent energy settling within them, a reservoir of power waiting to be unleashed.
'With this accumulation,' Zhang Tian calculated, 'once we get our third rings, we should jump directly to Level 32, maybe even 33. This is a massive advantage.'
A week after their seclusion began, a summons came. Bone Douluo wished to see them.
They found him in one of the main courtyards, standing like a withered tree. Gu Rong was a truly terrifying sight. His face was a death mask, his skin stretched taut over his skull, his eye sockets like deep, dark caves. What little hair he had was a few sparse wisps of grey on an immense cranium. He stood nearly two and a half meters tall, a skeletal giant whose mere presence was suffocating.
When he spoke, his voice was a dry, hoarse rasp that scraped the air. "Little Rongrong. You didn't come to see your grandpa in this week at all."
His sunken eyes scanned them, and a flicker of surprise, a minuscule shift in his features, was the only sign of his shock.
"Your spirit power…" he rasped. "You've all reached the thirtieth rank. It has been barely a month. How?"
Ning Rongrong beamed, unable to contain her pride. "It was Zhang Tian! He made us some miracle pills!"
Zhang Tian stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Grandpa Bone. I was fortunate to combine some principles from different alchemy traditions, including that of the Breaking Clan. I managed to create two new types of pills."
He proceeded to explain the Mystic Water Pill and the Spirit Ascension Pill, detailing their effects on innate talent and spirit power accumulation.
"I intend to provide the formulas to the sect," Zhang Tian concluded. "They are most effective for Spirit Masters under the thirtieth rank, but they could significantly accelerate the growth of the sect's younger generation and strengthen their foundation."
For a long moment, Bone Douluo was silent, his skeletal form unmoving. Then, a dry, rattling sound escaped him. It was a laugh, a sound of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Good! Very good!" he rasped, placing a heavy, bony hand on Zhang Tian's shoulder. "Fengzhi will be ecstatic. This is a gift beyond measure. It will change the future of our sect."
He looked at the three of them, a strange light in his deep-set eyes. "Once Fengzhi and that old sword return, we will take you to hunt for your third spirit rings. With your current foundation, you deserve the best."
As they walked away, Zhang Tian's mind was already racing ahead. 'The rings are the next step. But to get the best rings, they need stronger bodies. Especially for their fourth ring. I want them to have ten-thousand-year rings, but their bodies can't handle that through normal means.'
His thoughts drifted to a peculiar commodity he knew of from his past life's knowledge, an item misunderstood in this era.
'Whale Gum. In this age, the nobles use it as a high-end aphrodisiac, completely ignorant of its true purpose. When prepared correctly, it tempers the physical body, making it resilient enough to absorb spirit rings far beyond normal limits.'
He knew he had to acquire it. But asking the sect to buy up massive quantities of a known aphrodisiac for him, a young boy who was near his teenage years, would be… awkward.
'No,' he decided firmly. 'This is a discussion for Uncle Ning. It would be inappropriate to ask anyone else. I'll wait until he returns.'
Three days later, a powerful, twin aura descended upon the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo had returned.
When Zhang Tian and the others were summoned to the main hall, they found Ning Fengzhi radiating a power that was fundamentally different from before. His Eighth Spirit Ring, a brilliant, flashing black, circled him quietly. But it was the defensive aura it projected that was truly astonishing.
A translucent, eight-colored shield of light shimmered around him. This was the Eight Treasure Light Protection, an ability so potent it could withstand a full-power attack from a Spirit Sage's Spirit Avatar. It was a qualitative leap in his defensive capabilities.
Bone Douluo was already there, informing a shocked Ning Fengzhi and a stoic Sword Douluo of the trio's sudden advancement.
"...and he is offering the formulas to the sect, Fengzhi. Without wanting anything in return," Bone Douluo finished, his hoarse voice filled with pride.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze fell upon Zhang Tian, and it was filled with a complex mixture of shock, gratitude, and profound admiration. "Zhang Tian," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Zhang Tian stepped forward and bowed. "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Uncle Ning. You becoming a Spirit Douluo is a historic achievement for the sect."
Ning Fengzhi waved a hand dismissively, though his smile was wide. "This achievement is as much yours as it is mine. Without your ideas and assistance, I would have remained trapped at Level 79 for the rest of my life."
His eyes softened. "And now, you offer us another priceless gift. These new pill formulas… I cannot thank you enough. Please, tell me if there is anything, anything, the sect can provide for you."
Zhang Tian met his gaze. The time was right. "For now, Uncle Ning, I have all I need. However, there is one thing I would like the sect to procure for me."
"Name it," Ning Fengzhi said without hesitation.
"I need Whale Gum," Zhang Tian said, his voice steady. "Specifically, thousand-year-old and ten-thousand-year-old Whale Gum. I would like the sect to buy as much as possible, from every available market, without causing too much of a stir."
The atmosphere in the hall shifted. Ning Rongrong blushed, while Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluos exchanged confused, slightly uncomfortable glances. Whale Gum was not something discussed openly.
Before anyone could form the wrong conclusion, Zhang Tian continued, his tone turning serious and clinical.
"The world misunderstands the true purpose of Whale Gum. Yes, it has a great aphrodisiac effect, but that is merely a surface-level property, a waste of its true potential."
He looked at each of them, ensuring he had their full attention. "Its real function is to temper the physical body. When the gum is heated until soft and then consumed, it dramatically strengthens a Spirit Master's physique, increasing their resilience and endurance. This allows them to safely absorb spirit rings of a much higher age than they normally could."
The hall fell into a stunned silence. The implications of his words began to dawn on them. It wasn't just a matter of faster cultivation; this was a method to fundamentally increase the quality and power of a Spirit Master from their earliest stages.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes, always sharp, now blazed with understanding. "You mean… we could give our disciples stronger rings? From the very beginning?"
"Precisely," Zhang Tian confirmed. "It's most effective for those below the fortieth rank. With it, I am confident Rongrong and Zhuqing can acquire third spirit rings of at least three thousand years, and a ten-thousand-year ring for their fourth is not an impossibility."
The collective gasp was audible. A ten-thousand-year fourth ring was the stuff of legends, a feat only the most monstrous geniuses from the Spirit Hall were said to achieve.
Ning Fengzhi's expression was one of absolute seriousness. The awkwardness was gone, replaced by the sharp focus of a Sect Master who had just been handed a key to ultimate power.
"I understand," he said, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "I will dispatch agents immediately. We will use our affiliated clans, our merchant networks… we will quietly buy every last piece of thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Whale Gum available for sale in the world. I will hand you all if you need it."
Zhang Tian held up a hand. "It is not all for me, Uncle Ning. I only need enough for the three of us. The rest… the rest should be a new strategic resource for the sect. Use it to cultivate your most promising young talents. This is how the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect will truly become unshakable."
Ning Fengzhi looked at the young man before him, no longer seeing a boy, but a visionary whose wisdom and generosity were as terrifying as his talent. He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of profound respect. "The sect is in your debt, Zhang Tian."
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon