Time passed by quickly enough.

Li Ao’s hectic schedule made him feel like he was drowning in a marsh. Two days he suffered under Fan Yueyin’s brutal tutelage, and another day he suffered under his own training regime. Other days he read through the mountain of books in his spatial ring, and some others he spent teaching Lei Jin formations.

The continuous strain on his body and mind was almost unimaginable.

The burden might have made him collapse if he hadn’t experienced so much in this world.

Still, there was consolation to be had from his gains.

Soon, he reached the realm of a Journeyman Forger, and could deliver Earth-grade weapons in bulk. Most of his works still fell short of 7-th grade, but for the folks around the First Capital such quality was still pretty good.

Through Lei Jin’s help for his formation lessons, Li Ao sold the useless ones to their shops for a good amount of money. Each weapon brought him around five to ten mid-grade spirit stones, and these he used to buy more formation materials to study.

He set a small portion of the money to buy pills, as he had long reached the Fourth-layer of Bronze Body and was making headway into the Fifth-layer, Skin Tempering. The increase in realm brought him a Fleshly Power equivalent to the 8-th level of Qi Condensation Cultivator.

He could break boulders with his fists and raise a few hundred kilograms without any strain now. Such an increase also aided in his practice for Scarlet Path.

Unfortunately, the progression of Scarlet Path remained quite slow. He could restrain the flames beneath his feet and take multiple steps, but the Path underneath him still couldn’t take any form.

Apart from that, all was well.

After another month, Li Ao paid a visit to the Alchemy Competition in the Central Square and witnessed Zhu Qiu emerge as the best among them. There was a huge uproar when he concocted a 7-th grade Bone Strengthening Pill, something even Core-Formation Cultivators might benefit.

Such a talent before 50 years of age was an unimaginable genius for the whole dynasty. After all, there were no Alchemy Masters in the Imperial Lands below the age of 70!

Yet, Zhu Qiu had reached the realm before his late thirties!

Even if Bone Strengthening Pills were barely 7-th grade pills, the difference between each grade was like heaven and earth. It wasn’t an easy task to breach the barrier between each grade, regardless of profession.

The attention drawn to Zhu Qiu reached such a level that one of the Imperial Relatives in the First Capital invited him to their estate. Zhu Qiu happily obliged, then Li Ao didn’t see much of him for another month.

Only, every week there would be a bottle of pills sent to him through Riri with a note on how to use it.

Li Ao didn’t know how to feel about the whole matter, but he deeply appreciated Zhu Qiu’s gesture.

‘Does that mean I am no longer needed here?’

Sitting on his bed, Li Ao looked at the bottle of 8-th grade Blood Replenishment pills in his hand. The bottle itself was of jade, as was the standard, and contained ten crimson pills that emanated a bloody odor.

‘Since he is with an Imperial Relative, he should be safer than anywhere. His new status as an Alchemy Master is another strong shield for him.’

Sighing, Li Ao put the bottle alongside the others. Zhu Qiu had sent him three more bottles, two of them also Blood Replenishment pills.

Last one, although stored in a bottle, didn’t have much in it.

It was a single, sparkling brown pill that spread out a spiritual pressure around it. Three lines ran through its surface that seemed similar to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s aura.

This was a Foundation Establishment Pill, another 8-th grade pill of high quality. It could help others without enough potential to step into the Foundation Establishment Realm. It also had a small chance to increase the grade of a cultivator’s Foundation by one stage.

A bronze foundation could become a Silver foundation, and a Silver Foundation could become a Golden Foundation.

Considering this, the Foundation Establishment Pill was extremely precious even among higher-grade pills. This particular pill’s purity reached 60%.

One had to know that with each increase in pills’ grade, the rate of purity also decreased.

A Grandmaster Alchemist that could make 85% purity 9-th grade pills could at most reach 70% in 8th-grade pills.

7th-grade pills’ difficulty spike decreased the purity by another %30 for Grandmasters.

Hence, one could see Zhu Qiu’s true realm wasn’t just a new Master, but one that was destined to be Grandmaster in a few decades. Within the Bai Dynasty, or even The Great Wei Dynasty, his future was limitless.

‘I’ll just continue what I do.’

For the foreseeable future, Li Ao had nothing to do except wait. The mission would solve it by itself once the Imperial Ancestor arrived...

Another two months passed.

After spending so much time with his senior disciples and master, Li Ao could notice the minute differences in their moods. So he recognized his master’s displeasure at a moment when she frowned at his hammering.

‘’What’s wrong, master?’’

Fan Yueyin seemed to have not changed at all. She still wore her black leather armor upon a loose robe, with her hair in a bun and her brows down in a frown. Except, she wore an amethyst armband, a purple bracer, and an orange-gemmed ring on one arm at all times.

The first month had been a little embarrassing for the disciples, as their master didn’t seem to take their gifts off for a second. Now, they regarded it as her open show of affection for them.

‘’That old monster is on his way.’’ She said and crossed her arms. ‘’You know, the one your ‘Elder Cousin’ wanted to meet.’’

Li Ao stopped, then looked at his master with incredulous eyes. ‘’What?’’

‘’Who told you to stop!?’’

Slapping himself, Li Ao returned to hammering at the piece of wide metal. It was intended to be a square shield for the city guard’s commander. A personal commission that promised fat pay.

‘’But that doesn’t matter.’’

Planting her feet onto the ground, Fan Yueyin shouted. ‘’There will be other grandmasters coming with him!’’

‘’Other grandmasters? You mean...’’

‘’Xin Xiayou, Qin Tangshou. Those two old fools...’’

Li Ao knew a little about his master’s past with these two.

Before she became Sun Zhongyan’s apprentice, Fan Yueyin tried to make a shop of her own at the current capital of the Bai Dynasty. Her talents had gathered quite a bit of customers, and she enjoyed a period of wealth and fame that few apprentices could imagine.

However, the attention gathered by her disturbed these two grandmasters—or to be more precise, their eldest disciples. When Fan Yueyin refused their invitations to become Xin Xiayou and Qin Tangshou’s disciples, these disciples conspired her fall to ruin.

Not only was she robbed of her store and fame, the duo also attempted to steal her methods, then her life to hide the fact. She fought tooth and nail to escape and only survived because one of her customers happened to be an Imperial Relative himself.

‘I thought she taught them a lesson?’

If Li Ao remembered it right, Fan Yueyin had returned to the capital when her cultivation reached Core Formation and executed the two eldest disciples. The imperial relative that aided her before also ensured she didn’t incur punishment.

‘’I taught them a lesson, indeed.’’ As if reading his thoughts, Fan Yueyin cast a deep glance at him. ‘’But are they buddhas or saints? Do you think those two Grandmasters don’t hold any grudge for their own disciples?’’

‘’Masters and mothers are the most unreasonable creatures in this world. Even if it was their disciple who attempted at my life, for them I still had no right to retaliate.’’

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

‘’Since they are grandmasters and all...’’ She said this with a loud, ridiculing laugh.

With a twisted smile, she slapped Li Ao’s back and sent him reeling.

‘’Well, just as it happens, I have some capable disciples of my own this time.’’

Li Ao seemed to glimpse at something, but Fan Yueyin shooed him off before he could ask anymore.

He wanted to visit Sun Jian and Qing Yan to ask more, but both of them were in isolation training for some reason, which further made Li Ao anxious to know.

When he was on the way to the brothel, he found Riri hailing him. The old attendant pulled his sleeves.

‘’Master Xu, there are news.’’

Li Ao saw some urgency, so he nodded and followed Riri back to Fragrant Grass. They ascended to the fourth floor, where Master Jian stomped around in an anxious manner in his room.

‘’Ah, Liao! How have you been!?’’

The old man showed a wide, toothy smile and embraced him. With twitching lips, Li Ao pushed him away and took a seat without askance.

Truly, these duo had turned out like Zhu Qiu described them. Before, Master Jiao wouldn’t even glance his way.

When he became Fan Yueyin’s disciple, the guy treated Li Ao like he was a god!

Master Jiao even made use of his name to increase trade with Sun Family members...

Fortunately, most of the Sun Family had an approving opinion of Li Ao, and Zhu Qiu ensured none of them suffered as customers. After all, his identity as Li Ao’s ‘Elder Cousin’ had to be perfected after Fan Yueyin came into picture.

There were also a lot of people that wanted to make contact with him through Zhu Qiu and master Jiao. However, Li Ao had no interest in those people.

He only cared for the people he loved, and the people who were of use to him.

For Master Jiao, it was just another blessing brought by Li Ao.

‘’Qiu’er sent a message.’’

Taking out a jade slip, Master Jiao put on a serious expression. Jade slips were a little too precious for simple messages.

He received it , then sent his divine sense into the jade slip.

Right away, Li Ao heard a voice echo in his mind.

‘I have good news.’

‘Imperial Ancestor is almost back from his inspection. There are two Grandmaster Forgers, three Grandmaster Alchemists, and a Sect Elder of Two-Fold Sect with him! ‘He’ has also gathered dozens of masters of all professions, who are en route to the First Capital.’

‘Sir Bai Chengyun informed me that I would gain an audience within my abilities as soon as two years, so consider yourself free. But do not hurry to leave yet. There is a great opportunity to be had with their coming.’

‘Do you remember the Heaven’s Children that came before us? It seems all of them were in secluded training inside the Imperial Ancestors palace. Now, they are all about to come out of seclusion. There will be a great banquet for them, then a never-seen before competition to choose the best of the Bai Dynasty Youth right here, in the First capital!’

‘There will be four competitions, Fighting, Forging, Formation, Alchemy! If you can reach a good standard within any of them, you can gain unimaginable rewards! While nothing is certain, I can assume there should be Spiritual Tools and Precious Materials to be in bulk.’

‘I am still investigating certain things, like why such a decision was taken, and I also need to ascertain what risks there are to show your capabilities, which I know are far greater than any unassuming young masters and ladies.’

‘I doubt with your master’s help, there are many things for me to do for you. Still, if you need anything you can’t tell your master, come find me. Tell this news to your senior brother and sister, if you wish, but do not let them spread the news for now. There are still a few months to prepare.’

‘Train hard, stay well. Your friend and brother, Zhu Qiu.’

Master Jiao and Riri stood around him with bright eyes, expectant of what news had arrived. Ever since these duo arrived, they only benefitted, and as such had long considered them gold laying chickens to be cared for.

Looking at Li Ao’s bright yet serious expression, Master Jiao cleared his throat.

‘’Well, is there anything good—I mean, important for us to know?’’

Li Ao put away the jade slip and stood up. ‘’Can you find 8th-grade Blood Replenishment pills for me?’’

‘’That is easy enough!’’ Master Jiao flicked his sleeve like a general. ‘’How many do you need?’’

Li Ao thought for a moment.

He knew that a Heaven's Child was a special existence.

First, many of them had cross-realm fighting power. At least, any Heaven’s Child could fight someone two small stages above their own, many even daring to cross Major Stages to challenge the heavens themselves.

Now, he didn’t consider himself a lesser of them. With his dual Spirit and Physique cultivation, there was no one under Foundation Establishment that could defeat him.

Therein laid the problem.

How high was the cultivation of these Heaven’s Children?

Surely not above Qi Condensation? They might have special Magical Arts with them, or some mysterious grandpas and grandmas that helped them master a weird Martial Art. Even heaven-defying weapons weren’t out of question.

But none of them was as important as cultivation levels.

Finding himself unsure, but then again thinking of his master’s words, Li Ao cast the most serious look he had at Master Jiao.

‘’How many can you supply?’’

A faint color drew away from Master Jiao’s face. ‘’Uh...well, fifteen of them?’’

‘’A week?’’

‘’A...month...’’

‘’Then what about 7th-grade Blood Enhancing Pills?’’

‘’7-7th grade!? What am I, a god!?’’

Riri clasped Master Jiao’s mouth before a curse rose, then made a deep bow to Li Ao.

‘’Master Xu, I’m afraid it isn’t so easy to—’’

‘’Just take this.’’

Swiping his hand, a few hundred mid-grade spirit stones appeared over the room. They made a small hill that let out a rich, revitalizing aura.

These were the rewards he gained from selling his side-products and completing personal commissions. If not for his tight schedule, just by forging Li Ao could have gathered over a thousand spirit stones.

Taking a deep sniff, Master Jiao beamed like the Sun itself descended on him.

An usual Blood Replenishment Pill cost 10 to 15 mid-grade Spirit Stones, around three times pricier than pills of the same grade. After all, few people cultivated Physique, and even fewer people searched for its ingredients. It was more of a luxury good for people that wanted to have a longer night with their special ones...

With this many, he could procure around seventy to eighty pills.

If he made a few ‘miscalculations’, the returns would be much greater.

‘’I’m afraid the 7-th grade pill won’t be easy with these.’’ Riri shook his head again. Still, Li Ao saw him lick a few of the stones without Master Jiao noticing.

‘’I will advertise your store.’’ Li Ao said.

A twinkle appeared in the duo’s eyes, who cast a look at each other, then bowed again. ‘’May I ask, to whom?’’

‘’Not someone you have the right to hear.’’

Glee overcame them at a moment. After all, Li Ao wasn’t someone who ever lied to them, nor had any reason to lie. Also, he was their customer this time, and if Master Jiao knew one thing right, it was that the customer was God!

Since Li Ao made a promise, they wouldn’t hold back any support. Master Jiao let out a wild laugh at the thought of gaining some Great Noble as his customer, all the while patting his chest.

When he noticed Li Ao’s disgusted gaze, he stopped and cleared his throat.

‘’Ahem! Anyway, I will try my best to get them to you, Master Xu. I just hope you deliver on your words.’’

Sighing, Li Ao left them to their own devices and returned to the brothel. Sitting cross-legged in his room, he took out the bottles of Blood Replenishment Pills, his formation flags, and constructed a Fifth-grade Gathering Formation.

Five pills spread a bloody stench around him as he gathered their essence and swallowed. Just as he did, his blood pumped within his body in a mad dash, extending all over his limbs and toes. A flush spread around his cheeks.

Concentrating, Li Ao gathered the bronze aura around him and merged it with his skin. Underneath the white exterior, most of his skin glistened with deep, dark bronze. A terrifying strength emanated from it, which, when resonated with Qi, felt like it would tear apart the space in front of him with but a swipe.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. Every bout of infusion brought about a pain that made him shiver. However, Li Ao didn’t stop.

In a few hours, the bronze aura depleted, and his rushing blood slowed down. Just as it did, he took out five more pills and resumed cultivation.

He didn’t go out for an entire week, but no one came looking for him.

At the end of the week, a faint boom echoed inside his room. The bed and the ground quaked, but the sound couldn’t escape from the formations he set up around him. Only a few people noticed the ground shake, then forgot about it.

Sitting on his bed, Li Ao let out a putrid breath and smiled.

With a thought, a boundless bronze aura escaped from his pores, forging the image of a giant behind him. The giant had nothing weird about its looks; it was humanoid, with a proper set of arms and legs and feet, but only its skin was bronze and released a deep pressure equivalent to the tenth-stage of Qi Condensation.

‘I finally reached the threshold.’

Wiping his forehead, Li Ao clenched his fist. Another boom echoed that rattled the closed windows.

‘This feels...amazing!’

This feeling of endless strength and vitality was something worth being addicted to. Li Ao finally understood why Physique Cultivators liked to wrestle and punch everything in their way.

As he leapt and ran around the room, making very minute changes in his postures, Li Ao noticed his entire being rise to a new level. His reflexes and speed surpassed another realm, and he became like a shadow without any trace, blinking from one corner to another.

The rush of his blood, the exertion of his muscles—everything brought a feeling of satisfaction that couldn’t be described.

Now, even without his thirteenth-level Qi Condensation Cultivation, he felt like he could fight off the Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Last Bulwark.

As for the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Li Ao still had his doubts.

‘If I use both Physique and Spirit Qi, then I should stand a chance. Only...’

His Scarlet Path didn’t seem to improve any further.

Sighing, Li Ao took back the aura into his body.

‘At least it doesn’t look like poop anymore...’

Not waiting any longer, Li Ao left the brothel to find his master.

There were a lot of things he wanted to discuss.