A Fresh Start
It was no wonder Chixiao Peak always said Li Qingran’s cultivation was slow.
How could a water spirit root cultivate a fire-based technique like the Chiyun Jue at a normal pace?
They probably just wanted to recruit her, without ever considering whether she had a suitable cultivation method.
No wonder she struggled.
No wonder she fell behind.
Now, all of that was in the past.
Chen Huaian had just the right solution.
The battle rewards from earlier had gifted him the “Chaosheng Jue”, a water-element technique perfectly suited for Li Qingran.
A solid foundation method—just what she needed after dispersing her cultivation.
And yet…
By the time he finished deciding, Li Qingran had already completely erased her own cultivation.
She stood there timidly, but smiling sweetly, looking at Chen Huaian with clear determination in her eyes.
She had no idea there was already a new cultivation method waiting for her.
For any cultivator, dispersing one’s power meant throwing away years of effort.
No one would do it lightly.
And yet, Li Qingran had done so without hesitation.
All because she wanted to help him.
Not just with words.
But with action.
She gave up everything… for his sake.
Master and Disciple
Chen Huaian took out the jade slip, its surface rippling like flowing water.
“This is the Chaosheng Jue.”
“It’s a water-element cultivation method.”
“Since you no longer have a technique, you’ll cultivate this from now on.”
“Once you master it, I’ll give you an even better one.”
Li Qingran didn’t take the jade slip right away.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her bright eyes filled with expectation.
“Senior… are you accepting Qingran as your disciple?”
Chen Huaian froze.
“Huh?”
His brain short-circuited.
Him? A Master?
A fake in the Spirit Transformation Realm?
Of course, he didn’t doubt himself completely.
After all, as a pay-to-win player, he was bound to become a powerhouse sooner or later.
If he accepted a disciple now, what if he got exposed later?
Maybe he should wait…
Become stronger first…
Seeing his hesitation, Li Qingran’s smile faded slightly.
“I see…”
She lowered her head, speaking softly.
“Senior already has over a hundred female disciples who depend on him.”
“It’s only natural he wouldn’t have time for one more.”
Chen Huaian: “???”
One hundred?
Female disciples?
Crying for food?!
What the hell is this rumor?!
When did I become some kind of perverted sect leader?!
“I don’t have any disciples!”
Before he could say more, Li Qingran suddenly knelt down.
“Master, please accept my disciple’s greeting!”
Chen Huaian: “…”
Wait, wait, wait—
Did she just change her wording on the spot?!
He hadn’t even agreed yet!
If he refused now…
The favorability would definitely plummet.
She might even cry!
With a deep breath, Chen Huaian quickly switched gears.
His expression turned serious.
He stroked his nonexistent beard, adopting a wise, dignified tone.
“Then from today onward…”
“You are my last disciple.”
“I will teach you carefully.”
“You must train hard, improve your realm, and extend your lifespan.”
“Live a long life and do not disappoint me.”
Li Qingran’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, Master!”
“Qingran will remember!”
Their smiles met—one full of warmth, the other full of relief.
And in this simple mortal-world restaurant, a bond spanning two worlds was formed.
Returning to Reality
“Everything in the world is bound by fate.”
“And it is through fate that people draw closer together.”
As Chen Huaian took off the VR helmet, this thought lingered in his mind.
What a strange thing.
Their apprenticeship ceremony wasn’t grand—just a simple cup of spiritual tea borrowed from the restaurant.
When asked how she would explain this to a new sect, Li Qingran had simply replied:
“Master is Master.”
“The sect is the sect.”
Many sects didn’t enforce strict master-disciple rules.
Most disciples didn’t even have personal masters, learning instead from the sect’s library and daily lectures.
After handing Li Qingran all his Thunder and Fire Talismans for self-defense, Chen Huaian logged out of the game.
Li Qingran’s next stop was Lingxi Valley.
Looking at the game map, he confirmed that all Lingxi Valley cultivators in Tianquan City were marked in green—meaning they were completely friendly.
It was the safest option.
Other sects, like Yuling Sect, Zen Sect, and Corona Pavilion, had mixed yellow and green markers—a sign of potential danger.
Meanwhile, Jian Pavilion had only one recruit spot…
How pitiful.
What kind of sect recruits just one person?!
“Alright. Qingran is going to join a sect, and I should start making money.”
Chen Huaian checked the time.
Late already.
After changing clothes, he quickly made a bowl of rice for his cat, Baji.
But just as he opened his door…
Two packages were sitting outside.
He looked down.
One package read: [Thunder and Fire Talismans]
The other: [Qingran’s Spiritual Tea]
Chen Huaian paused.
Slowly typed a question mark.
“Wait… the talismans from the quest reward… were meant for me?”
“But what the hell am I supposed to do with them?!”
If he stuck these on his door…
“Wouldn’t people think I’ve gone insane?!”
Decorating with Talismans
Chen Huaian opened the package and saw ten Thunder and Fire Talismans neatly arranged inside.
They were exquisitely crafted, the faint scent of cinnabar lingering on their surface.
“Hmm… just ordinary talismans.”
He had been expecting something more powerful, but these were nothing more than standard decorative charms.
With a sigh, he pasted them on the windows and doors, pairing them with the Black Scale Sword hanging on the wall.
Now, the luxury hotel room had an odd, otherworldly atmosphere.
“Not bad… It actually has a nice aesthetic.”
Though the power wasn’t impressive, he still felt oddly satisfied.
A Cup of Warm Tea
Next, Chen Huaian opened the second package.
He had assumed it would contain tea leaves, but instead, it was a pre-sealed cup of tea.
A thin vacuum film covered the lid, keeping it fresh and warm.
As he peeled back the seal, steam gently wafted into the air.
“Holy crap! Are they delivering this fresh?!”
In ancient times, Guan Yu warmed his wine before battle—and now the game was warming tea for its players!
The level of dedication from the developers was insane.
Chen Huaian didn’t hesitate.
He lifted the cup and took a deep sip—
“Sluuuuurp.”
The moment the warm tea entered his body, his mind became strangely refreshed.
His body felt lighter.
His thoughts sharpened.
“Incredible! This really is high-quality tea.”
Unbeknownst to him, inside the game interface, notifications began flashing like crazy.
A Strange Notification
[You have 45 days left to live.]
[You have 84 days left to live.]
[You have 79 days left to live.]
The numbers jumped back and forth, fluctuating wildly like an erratic heartbeat.
Finally, it settled on:
[You have 78 days left to live.]
A Miraculous Recovery
Chen Huaian put the cup down and took a step forward.
Something felt… off.
His legs felt different.
Stronger.
Lighter.
He looked down.
He bent his knees.
Then he removed the cast around his injured leg.
“Wait a second…”
His fractured bones had fully healed!
Not only that—his legs actually felt even better than before.
“Hiss… this isn’t normal!”
For a patient like him, with advanced osteosarcoma, recovery should take months—if not result in permanent disability.
Yet here he was, standing perfectly fine.
His mind raced.
Was it the Spring Needle treatment?
Or maybe some kind of miraculous self-healing mutation?
“Wait… am I turning into a superhuman?”
A Quick Test
Without hesitation, Chen Huaian grabbed a blade and made a small cut on his finger.
A bead of blood surfaced.
But within seconds, the wound clotted and sealed itself.
His eyes widened.
Then—
“Hahahaha!”
“I’m turning into Superman!”
With his hands on his hips, he threw his head back and laughed.
“I AM SUPERMAN!”
Baji’s Escape Plan
A pair of glowing cat pupils peeked out from a shoebox nearby.
Baji, the black cat, watched Chen Huaian’s sudden burst of excitement with deep suspicion.
[Hiss… Something is seriously wrong with this guy!]
[All he did was circulate spiritual energy, and now he’s acting like he unlocked some divine power?]
[He has a magic sword, a bunch of talismans, and yet he doesn’t even know the basics of self-recovery?]
Baji’s tiny fur bristled.
This place was getting too weird.
He had just been reborn—he couldn’t afford to die here so soon!
Danger! Extreme danger!
He had to escape.
If he waited for this lunatic to leave, he could slip out unnoticed.
Then, he could roam freely, eat all the delicious food, and become stronger.
Yes… one day, he would grow into an unparalleled existence!
As he fantasized about his glorious future, a sinister grin curled on Baji’s tiny face.
“Hehehe…”
