No wonder the people from Chixiao Peak said Li Qingran was slow at cultivating.
Using a fire-based cultivation method with a water-type spiritual root—how could that possibly be fast?
They probably only thought about getting her into Chixiao Peak, without considering whether their techniques suited her.
Coincidentally, Chen Huai'an had just received a reward from the cultivation battle pass for reaching the peak of Qi Refinement—a water-element technique called Tidebirth Scripture. It was a perfect match for Li Qingran and ideal as her foundational method.
While Chen Huai'an was deep in thought, Li Qingran had already dispersed her cultivation.
She stood there timidly, like a stubborn little flower, smiling brightly at him.
For any cultivator, dispersing one's cultivation is a devastating decision—years of effort wiped clean.
No one would do that lightly.
Li Qingran had no idea the Tidebirth Scripture was waiting for her.
She simply wanted to help Chen Huai'an, not just in words, but in immediate, concrete action.
There is order in all things—what is given will be returned.
Chen Huai'an took out a jade slip etched with flowing wave patterns.
"This is Tidebirth Scripture, a water-based cultivation method. Now that you've lost your inner technique, you should start cultivating this. Once you reach the peak, I'll give you an even better one."
But Li Qingran didn't take it.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Senior… are you taking me in as your disciple?"
"Uh?" Chen Huai'an was momentarily stunned.
How could a fake Nascent Soul cultivator like him become someone's master?
Though to be fair, he didn't completely doubt his qualifications—after all, he was a pay-to-win player. With enough money, he'd rise up sooner or later. He had originally planned to take Li Qingran as a disciple once he had achieved more, when he could stand tall with confidence.
"Senior hesitated…" Li Qingran lowered her head and smiled wistfully.
"Of course. Senior already has over a hundred hungry female disciples. It's only natural you wouldn't want to take on another little one like me…"
Chen Huai'an slowly typed out a question mark.
A hundred? Female disciples? Hungry??
When did this happen!?
"I don't have any disciples," he said.
Li Qingran immediately knelt down and bowed deeply, her voice clear and resolute:
"Master, please accept your disciple's bow!"
Chen Huai'an: "…"
So she just… changed the title without even waiting for his answer?
What if his cover gets blown later?
Still, it was too late to refuse now. With her affection level already at 80, rejecting her would mean losing everything.
"Very well." Chen Huai'an straightened his face and stroked an imaginary beard.
"From today onward, you are this one's final disciple—the official and personal heir. I will teach you with all my heart. You must cultivate earnestly, improve your cultivation and lifespan, and live long—don't disappoint me."
"Yes, Master! I will remember this always!"
The two exchanged a smile.
And just like that, in an ordinary inn in the mortal realm, a contract spanning two worlds was forged.
…
"All things in the world are tied together by cause and effect—and it is through this karma that we are drawn closer to one another."
Removing his VR headset, Chen Huai'an couldn't help but think of that phrase, shaking his head and chuckling to himself.
The apprenticeship ceremony hadn't been grand.
Li Qingran had simply brewed a cup of spiritual tea using the inn's supplies and offered it in respect.
When asked how she could join another sect while already having a master, Li Qingran simply said:
"A master is a master. A sect teacher is a sect teacher."
In the Cangyun Realm, most sects didn't have strict rules on this.
Disciples with personal masters usually weren't taught core techniques by the sect.
Joining a sect didn't always mean getting a teacher. Most disciples didn't have one, nor did they qualify for one.
Their learning mostly came from the sect's scripture libraries and rotating lectures from elders on the training fields.
Chen Huai'an gave Li Qingran all the Thunderfire Talismans for self-defense and logged out of the game.
Li Qingran's target was Lingxi Valley.
On the map, all the cultivators in Tianquan City associated with Lingxi Valley were marked with green—absolute friendliness.
A sect like that could be trusted.
Other sects like Beast Spirit Sect, Zen Sect, and Solar Dome… not so much.
Their members had mixed yellow-green markers—clearly not easy to deal with.
The only other green-marked sect was the Sword Pavilion, but they were only recruiting one person, which looked rather stingy.
"Qingran's off to join a sect… Time for me to go make money."
Checking the time, Chen Huai'an saw it was getting late.
He changed clothes, poured a bowl of plain rice for kcid, and opened the door—
There were two packages outside.
[Thunderfire Talismans], [Qingran's Spirit Tea]—these were the labels.
Chen Huai'an was speechless and typed out another question mark.
So… the main quest's Thunderfire Talismans were meant for him?
But what use were they to him?
If he stuck them to the door, people would think he had a screw loose!
Opening the package, he found ten finely crafted Thunderfire Talismans with an actual smell of cinnabar ink.
"Lame. Just mortal-grade junk."
Still, he stuck one to the window, another to the door. With his Blackscale Sword on the wall, the hotel room now looked… a little spooky.
"Not bad. Kinda got the vibe now."
Despite his complaints, he was clearly pleased.
Next, he opened the spirit tea package—expecting tea leaves, only to find an actual cup of freshly brewed tea, sealed in vacuum plastic.
When he tore it open, the tea was still warm.
"What the hell? Are they living next door to me or something?"
Ancient warriors warmed wine to slay enemies.
Now, the game devs warmed tea to deliver items.
All for the ultimate 1-on-1, VIP-level pay-to-win experience.
Respect.
Without suspicion, Chen Huai'an raised the cup and downed the tea in one go.
As he brought it close, he caught a scent—identical to the charms and talismans he'd seen before.
"Damn, that's detailed."
Even if the tea had been plain, the immersive experience made him feel refreshed, clear-headed, and relaxed.
Meanwhile, the game was flashing alerts wildly:
[Remaining lifespan: 45 days]
[Remaining lifespan: 84 days]
[Remaining lifespan: 79 days]
The numbers bounced like a heart monitor.
Eventually, they stabilized at:
[Remaining lifespan: 78 days]
Finishing the tea, Chen Huai'an stashed the cup under his pillow.
Taking a few steps forward—he froze and looked down at his leg.
"I… I can walk?"
He moved it. Removed the cast.
Yup. He could walk.
The bone had fully healed—and it even felt stronger than before.
"Wait… Something's wrong…"
Chen Huai'an rubbed his chin.
Was it the acupuncture? The spirit needle? Some gene-boosted cancer cell reaction?
Did cancer cells mutate him into a super-healing vampire?
He grabbed a razor blade, made a small cut on his finger—
The blood flowed, but quickly clotted and scabbed.
His eyes widened, and then he laughed.
"Holy crap, am I becoming Superman?!"
"Hahahahahahaha! I! Am! Superman!"
…
A shoebox cracked open slightly.
kcid, the black cat, peeked out, feline eyes glinting.
[Something's wrong… What's this guy so happy about? It's just spiritual energy circulating and accelerating healing. He has a divine weapon and a spiritual longsword, doesn't he know the basics?]
[No good. I need to get out of here. There may be fortune here—but there's also a dark, dangerous aura…]
[I just awakened—I can't die here…]
As a baby gluttonous beast who had possessed a newborn kitten,
kcid could grow stronger just by eating.
He'd thought following this guy meant getting tasty treasures.
But all he ever got was plain rice.
And now this guy seemed borderline insane—possibly undergoing qi deviation.
Too dangerous. Way too dangerous.
He had to run.
If he didn't, he'd die here.
His eyes locked on the door.
Once this human left, the world would be his to roam.
As long as he kept eating, he'd grow into a peerless being one day.
Jie jie jie!
He could already imagine it—
The gluttonous beast's smile curled at the edges, full of sinister charm.