Chapter Forty-Nine: The Second Transformation of the Mysterious Heaven

The great battle between the Immortal Companions Sect and the Gate of Life and Death had finally begun. The war among the lower sects had not lasted long before the Immortal Companions Sect took the initiative to launch an attack on the Gate of Life and Death.

Both sides had prepared for far too long. The moment war broke out, they fought with all their might, staking their lives on the outcome. In such a grand conflict, low-level cultivators were of no use; both factions had formidable battle formations and high-grade spiritual artifacts. Sword arrays formed by thousands of Nascent Soul cultivators could entrap even Soul Transformation experts, leaving them with bitter regret. The highest-level combatants on either side numbered no more than five or six Soul Transformation cultivators, so the true protagonists of this battlefield were Nascent Soul and high-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Countless cities were reduced to ashes in the crossfire between the two factions. No one knew how many perished beneath the powers unleashed by both sides—a perfect illustration of the saying, "When immortals wage war, mortals suffer."

Zhou Qi made a fortune profiting from the war. Toward the end, the Gate of Life and Death accepted anyone without reservation; they had no energy to care about the source of alchemical pills. If someone had them, they would buy them, no longer bothering to question how a mere Qi-Refining disciple could supply so many pills.

With little to do and Liu Ruitai out on the battlefield, Zhou Qi turned his attention to refining higher-grade pills. The three laborers had already mastered second-grade pills; it was time to raise their expectations.

One portion of herbs could yield a single second-grade pill, but third-grade pills required five portions for a single attempt. The key to third-grade pills lay in purifying the medicinal liquid—the higher the purity, the better the quality, demanding precise control over the flames. Second-grade pills only required the herbs to be refined into medicinal liquid, but third-grade pills needed further purification of this liquid.

Take the Spirit-Returning Pill for example: the second-grade version was only suitable for Qi-Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators. For Golden Core and above, its efficacy plummeted; swallowing one was slower than absorbing ambient spiritual energy. The third-grade pill, however, could restore seventy percent of a Golden Core cultivator’s spiritual power, or forty percent for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

For this reason, third-grade pills were worth more than ten times the price of second-grade ones.

Different purification methods yielded different success rates. Zhou Qi diligently studied the Medicine Immortal’s legacy, learning the techniques of purifying medicinal liquids. After several failures, he succeeded and set about teaching the three laborers.

Upon hearing that the Medicine Immortal was about to teach them the method for refining third-grade spiritual pills, Xiao Hui, Xiao Ti, and Xiao Qi were overjoyed. Their hard work was not in vain. If they survived and could make third-grade pills, they would become honored guests of major sects, never lacking for spirit stones or artifacts.

Zhou Qi taught them the refinement method and supervised them personally. After wasting a considerable amount of herbs, the three finally mastered the art of third-grade pill refinement. Although their success rate was lower than Zhou Qi’s, being able to produce pills at all was enough.

With the matter of pill refinement settled, Zhou Qi began cultivating with the Mysterious Heaven True Art.

One day, Liu Ruitai returned, looking exhausted and grievously wounded. Zhou Qi hurried to meet him.

Liu Ruitai’s face was pale, his injuries severe. Zhou Qi, alarmed at his weakness, quickly asked, “Master, what happened to you?”

“I… I was ambushed by two Soul Transformation cultivators. If I hadn’t paid a terrible price, I might not have made it back,” Liu Ruitai replied weakly. “Though it’s a bit early, I’m afraid I don’t have enough time. Go fetch these herbs from the pharmacy.” He handed Zhou Qi a slip of paper.

Phoenixfire Spirit Fruit, Sulfurflame Spirit Mucus, Blood Python Branch, Water Immortal Jade Bone…

Zhou Qi gathered more than twenty types of herbs as listed, only to find that Liu Ruitai had already raised the great cauldron, filling it with spiritual spring water. When Zhou Qi emerged, Liu Ruitai said, “Put them in.”

Obediently, Zhou Qi watched as Liu Ruitai added all manner of rare treasures, followed by countless unknown bloods. The scene was oddly reminiscent of his own body-forging experience. Was his master about to undergo body tempering as well?

Liu Ruitai summoned flames, refining the mixture until a thick medicinal aroma wafted forth. “Quickly, get in,” he commanded Zhou Qi.

Was it really meant for him?

“Master, I am apprehensive. Please, recover from your injuries first,” Zhou Qi protested.

Seeing Zhou Qi’s reluctance, Liu Ruitai spoke kindly, “My wounds are not serious. I need only seclude myself to recover. But I fear this retreat may last too long, so I have decided to help you complete the second transformation of the Mysterious Heaven art first, lest a good opportunity passes while I am away.”

Helpless, Zhou Qi leapt into the cauldron. The method for the second transformation had already been imprinted in his mind. Liu Ruitai sealed the lid and inscribed a formation.

“He’s about to show his true colors. The formation is a binding spell. Be wary—he’s likely planning to seize your body,” warned the Mysterious Heaven True Lord.

Zhou Qi was shocked. So there really was no such thing as a free lunch. “True Lord, what should I do?”

“Relax and focus on the body-tempering. You have the Divine Sunfire within, and I am here. What is there to fear? In fact, I hope he does try to seize your body,” the True Lord said, unconcerned.

Reassured by the True Lord’s composure, Zhou Qi settled his mind and activated the second transformation. Soon, he felt his flesh dissolve in the medicinal liquid, a pain so excruciating it drilled into his bones. He hadn’t expected this tempering to be so ruthless.

He maintained clarity, gritting his teeth, as the liquid scoured and refined his bones, healing hidden injuries left by a Golden Core cultivator. With the art’s circulation, flecks of golden light appeared on his white bones, like stars scattered across his skeleton. Zhou Qi silently savored the sensation, feeling his bones grow ever stronger.

At length, his flesh regenerated. Zhou Qi now stood tall and resolute, his skin even fairer and smoother, a subtle fragrance clinging to his body. Beneath his firm muscles, explosive strength simmered. A surge of power filled him with the realization that his body could now withstand attacks from lesser spiritual artifacts.

“Master, I’m ready,” Zhou Qi transmitted.

Liu Ruitai lifted the lid. Zhou Qi tried to leap from the cauldron, but a pale blue barrier rose around it, forcing him back inside.

“Master, why is this?” Zhou Qi asked.

Liu Ruitai’s expression was complicated. After a long silence, he said, “Don’t blame me for being ruthless. My lifespan is running out—only a little more than two centuries remain. I am not resigned. I have just reached Soul Transformation; how can I die so soon? I searched for many candidates but none met my requirements until I saw you. I thought I’d try, to see if I could break through Soul Transformation within two hundred years. You are my only hope.”

“Master, was your kindness to me all a lie? Was it all for yourself?” Zhou Qi asked in anguish.

“Otherwise, what did you expect?” Liu Ruitai laughed.

Zhou Qi fell silent, unable even to find an excuse for the other man.

“I know you are kind and loyal, so much so that you would help mere mortal children and risk your life to fight for Righteous Unity Sect. Rest assured, I will honor your wishes, strive to act as you would. Are you satisfied?” Liu Ruitai asked with a smile.

Zhou Qi did not answer. He hadn’t realized he’d been under surveillance the whole time. Now, words were useless; only one could survive.

Seeing Zhou Qi’s silence, Liu Ruitai continued, “You possess the Medicine Immortal’s legacy, don’t you? Otherwise, Long Chengye wouldn’t pursue you so relentlessly.”

“Rest easy. Long Chengye has a secret ability unknown to all but me: he can sense the final moments of his closest kin. You killed Long Feiyu, but he said nothing. That can only mean you have gained control of the Medicine Immortal’s Sacred Mansion, and thus had the power to kill Long Feiyu.”

Zhou Qi was horrified; he had never imagined Long Chengye possessed such an ability. Had he known, he would never have returned.

As Zhou Qi’s mind wavered, Liu Ruitai’s soul transformed into a beam of light and, in a flash, dove into Zhou Qi’s sea of consciousness.