Li Profound Heaven frowned, rubbing his hands together — a habit that betrayed his nervousness.
There was no way around it: the kidney-tonifying pill was far too fragrant. If he had known its effect earlier, he would have dropped all pretence of pride and surrendered on the spot. What use was dignity compared to something this miraculous?
He could even feel his cultivation stir faintly. A few more of these pills, and perhaps he could break through a minor realm.
The surrounding disciples were just as stunned. None of them dared approach Li Qingchen now — if they did, he might be mobbed by admiration alone.
Even Li Daoyuan, watching from above, was intrigued. A simple tonic that could push the limits of a cultivator? Unthinkable. In theory, such crude medicine only worked for mortals. Yet here it was, overturning everything he knew.
He wanted one too, but with so many juniors watching, that would look undignified.
Meanwhile, Li Qingchen held his last remaining pill with the expression of a miser guarding his fortune.
"You're dreaming," he muttered. "If I'd known the effect was this good, I'd never have given you one. You made a profit — I made a loss!"
Li Profound Heaven stood frozen, embarrassed beyond belief. He'd come to provoke Li Qingchen, but somehow ended up the one apologising. Worse, he'd eaten his opponent's pill.
Before he could reply, Li Qingchen's eyes narrowed.
"But could you, maybe… put your clothes back on first? Your 'great treasure' is on full display."
Two seconds later, shrieks filled the courtyard. Female disciples screamed, hands covering faces — though one or two peeked through their fingers with scandalised curiosity.
Li Profound Heaven yelped, grabbing at what remained of his dignity, muttering hurried apologies as he fled, dragging Li Che along with him.
Watching the commotion, Li Qingchen sighed, shaking his head like a weary adult. "And they call me immature."
Soon, the courtyard emptied. The story would spread across the Li family by sunset — the Supreme Xuan-Yuan Sword still belonged to Li Qingchen, and none dared challenge him again.
Inside the palace, Li Qingchen clutched his pill jar as if defending his life savings.
"Grandpa, who robs their own grandson like this?"
Li Daoyuan didn't even blink. The moment the boy entered, he'd snatched the pill from his hands — and then another.
"Of course I take good things from my grandson," the old man said, puffing out his beard. "That's what grandfathers are for! Now, hand over another one."
Li Qingchen sighed, defeated. With genuine pain in his voice, he handed it over. "That's the last one! Promise you won't—"
But before he could finish, he swallowed the final pill himself, quick as lightning.
He waited. Nothing. No warmth, no aura surge — not even a tingle.
"Oh, come on," he muttered, jumping up and down. "Why does that guy's body light up like a lantern and I get nothing?!"
He poked his chest, frowned, then slumped.
"System, you're rubbish. I swear, all you give me are useless trinkets."
He forgot, of course, that both his Supreme Chaos Body and his Xuan-Yuan Sword had come from that same "rubbish" system.
With a sigh, he picked up his broom again. If fighting didn't work, maybe sweeping would.
"Let's see if sweeping the floor can get me something worthwhile."
He began humming as he swept. Dust swirled around him in lazy golden beams of light. For a fleeting moment, he paused — expression turning oddly thoughtful.
"Sometimes," he murmured, echoing a line he once overheard in the outer sect, "the road to enlightenment isn't in thunder or flame… but in sweeping dust no one else sees."
The broom glided forward.
Then —
Ding!
System Mission Released: Clean Li Xueruo's Boudoir.
Li Qingchen froze mid-sweep. "…You've got to be kidding me."
He looked at the sky with despair. "Is this revenge? I bad-mouthed you once and now I'm your janitor?"
He had no idea who Li Xueruo even was, but orders were orders. He sighed and trudged toward the hall entrance.
After a long search, he finally spotted a disciple and smiled his brightest, most innocent smile.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where—"
Before he could finish, the disciple screamed and ran.
"Hey! Wait— I just wanted directions!"
Another one fled. Then another.
Li Qingchen stood alone in the corridor, broom in hand. His jaw tightened. "For heaven's sake!"
He found a mirror nearby and examined his reflection — flawless skin, clear eyes, utterly adorable. He frowned. "No way it's the face."
Unbeknownst to him, everyone he'd approached had been there during his duel with Li Profound Heaven. They all knew what his sword could do. So when Li Qingchen walked toward them smiling… they ran for their lives.
Because when the Divine Child with the sword smiles — someone's day is about to end.