“Wow…” Yù Quán was surprised to open up the cargo and count everything. He ended up with 1,000 black pills, 1,500 beads of assorted colors, and a detailed box that seemed to be made of a blackish purple rock and decorated with luminescent blue gems. Yù Quán made a fortune. But he had no idea what any of it was.
“Dead Dantian Pills and refined cores.” Rèn Chāngmíng said with disgust.
Yù Quán was slightly surprised by his reaction but didn’t let it show. Smuggling? Wouldn’t it just be some overpowered pills that sent you down the demonic path or something like that?
“What are they?”
Rèn Chāngmíng began to explain. “Dead Dantian Pills quickly increase the size of one dantian, in turn increasing the amount of qi you can hold and use without having to regain it. Refined cores are used to help to speed up the creation of a core. They come in different types so you can use one that matches the affinity of your cultivation.”
Yù Quán was taken aback; these were good things. But, there was no free lunch in the world. He knew immediately what to ask next. “What’s the catch?”
Rèn Chāngmíng answered almost immediately. “There is none.”
Now Yù Quán was visibly surprised. How could such heavenly resources exist in this world? However, before Yù Quán could think too long, Rèn Chāngmíng spoke again. “Not for the user anyway.”
Yù Quán looked confused. Rèn Chāngmíng clenched his teeth, then relaxed and sighed. “Both of these use people as ingredients.”
“What?”
“Yes, they’re refined from people. Dead or alive. Refined cores are taken from cultivators and refined into these tiny little beads. For those who aren’t cultivators or haven’t formed one and have no use, they are refined into Dead Dantian Pills.”
Yù Quán mirrored Rèn Chāngmíng’s look of disgust from earlier. These were genuinely evil practices, especially from Dead Dantian Pills. While it was cruel, if the person was killed for another reason, they can only blame their own weakness. But, with this amount, that wasn’t likely. And that wasn’t all. From how Rèn Chāngmíng spoke, he implied that some mortals would be refined into Dead Dantian Pills.
Yù Quán assumed that getting involved in the world of mortals as a cultivator was taboo. Not only that, but it went against his personal beliefs. Treating living people as livestock didn’t sit well with him. Yù Quán sighed, then began walking toward the items.
“What are you going to do with them?” Rèn Chāngmíng asked.
“I’m going to use them.”
“Huh!” Rèn Chāngmíng was surprised. Is this the man he admired? Why would he save his life if he used such evil cultivation tools?
“What’s your name, kid?”
“Rèn Chāngmíng”
Yù Quán picked up a pill and a core and started twirling them in his hand. “I cannot bring these people back to life, and I refuse to deliver these resources to those who fund and support this. Sure, I can destroy them, but what will that do?”
Rèn Chāngmíng was speechless. He was right. As much as he admired him, he wasn’t strong enough to stop all of the creation and trade of this item. Selling them on the black market would only support it. Destroying it wouldn’t do anything; this was only one shipment of countless. But he still didn’t understand why he wanted to use such things.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“But, if they go unused, what did these people die for? Their souls were freed, but are they content? If it were me, I would be restless, cursing and haunting the people who caused it. To avenge these people, I need to get stronger, and they can help me do that…”
Yù Quán turned and showed Rèn Chāngmíng the pill and core in his hand. “...with these.”
Buzz~
Rèn Chāngmíng was enlightened. He was right. This way, at least they died for a purpose they would support. This was vengeance. This was what he desired. This was the path he wanted to follow. This was the path that he needed to follow.
Yù Quán saw as Rèn Chāngmíng went wide-eyed, then his eyes shut, and he began to float. His body seemed to be moved independently, falling into a lotus, surrounded by an aura of heavenly energy. He seemed to enter a trance-like state immediately. Yù Quán could sense the energy attacking his meridians from all sides. He had no idea what was happening, but it seemed he was flying through the levels of the Heavenly Gathering Stage.
But that wasn’t all; there was an energy mixed in with the heavenly energy. Yù Quán was ignorant in this field, and his system couldn’t help, so he had to deduce it. Yù Quán said something he had learned from his life on Earth. Why not use it if it already happened and could help you avenge them? It was sad and controversial, but it was what he felt was the most moral.
“Was he enlightened?”
Yù Quán thought this had to be the answer. There were few other possibilities he could think of. What he said must have aligned with his belief, unlocking his observation path. What was around him must be a particular type of qi. Or maybe qi with an intent. Revenge intent. Since his body couldn’t accept qi yet, heavenly energy is extracted from it. Although it’s much weaker, it’s still an excellent opportunity for someone who hasn’t cultivated far. Especially since the energy seemed different from the ambient energy Yù Quán had gathered the previous day. The revenge intent most likely affected the energy.
“This kid will most likely walk the path of vengeance in the future. Tch… what luck.”
…
Rèn Chāngmíng went through most of the Qi Focusing Realm to the peak of the Core Forming Stage before falling out of the trance. When he awoke, he felt weak but saw Yù Quán cultivating there next to him.
“Ah, you’re awake. So, how does it feel?”
Rèn Chāngmíng was mentally tired, but he could still move his body. It felt strong. It felt different. There were things he didn’t remember. It felt like a chamber in his body, but it wasn’t really there. Like it was in the middle of the physical and spiritual realms. Surrounding it was a crimson-red orb with a black design that resembled smoke. It was a core.
“I’m… almost past the Qi Focusing Realm?”
Yù Quán laughed. “You have great luck to run into me today. You’ve earned freedom and an opportunity. What a fortuitous encounter.”
Yù Quán jumped up to his feat. “So, what will you do now?”
Rèn Chāngmíng didn’t know. What would he do? He didn’t know his mother's location and had no friends or family—just himself and this new cultivation path. Rèn Chāngmíng knew his goal: vengeance for himself and all the innocent people the Hēi Family had wronged. But where would he go? What would he do now? What was his first step?
He looked to Yù Quán, who had saved him from his life as an enslaved person and enlightened him, seemingly accidentally. He wouldn’t have this new chance at life without him. Thinking of that, a large grin appeared on his face.
“I’ll follow you!”
Yu Quan looked at Ren Changming, confused. “Huh?”
Ren Changming didn’t repeat himself. Instead, he started walking. After a few meters, he looked back to Yu Quan. “Where are we heading, Master?”
Yu Quan, “...”
…
Yù Quán
Realm: Qi Focusing Realm
Stage: 3rd Level Heavenly Energy Gathering
Main Cultivation Art: [Stolen-eyed Mùmùlián Body](Level 1)
Techniques:
[Mùmùlián Eye Stealing](Level 1)
[Mùmùlián Eye Refining](Level 1)
Attributes:
[Star Gazing Eyes](Level 1)