Rong Xianyu, often called the "Crimson Witch," was infamous for her unorthodox methods, reminiscent of the Demon Sect. Among her eccentricities was her practice of dual cultivation, though it was more accurate to call her partners "cauldrons," as their energy was unilaterally drained by her.
Those who became her cauldrons rarely escaped unscathed. Most suffered severe losses to their life force, and many had their cultivation crippled, making future advancement nearly impossible.
Yet, due to her high status in the Rong family, few dared to oppose her. Blood ties were no obstacle, as most family members were distant relatives after generations of branching lineages. Rong Xianyu, with her power and beauty, was a figure who could command submission through inducements rather than threats.
To sweeten the deal, she offered her chosen partners generous rewards, such as precious spirit stones. For struggling cultivators, this was a tempting offer. Disciples with mediocre talent, like Rong Chuanwei—a pseudo-spiritual root cultivator with no hope of advancing—often desired her attention. However, Xianyu's standards were exacting, and most of these aspirants failed to meet them.
Rong Yu, with his rare but flawed lightning spiritual root, was someone Xianyu had long coveted. Initially protected by his status as the family's "great hope," Xianyu refrained from approaching him. But once the family abandoned him, she found her opportunity.
When Rong Yu's predecessor had exhausted all resources in his pursuit of alchemy, Xianyu presented her terms. Desperate and out of options, he agreed to her wager, borrowing 500 spirit stones in hopes of becoming a recognized family alchemist. His failure ultimately led to his death, leaving Rong Yu to inherit his body and predicament.
Now, with one month left on the bet, Rong Yu faced the grim reality of becoming Xianyu's cauldron.
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Rong Yu sat on a stone chair in the courtyard, staring at the alchemy furnace with a bleak expression.
"Even if I’ve traveled to another world, I’m still backed into a corner," he muttered, a hint of self-deprecating humor in his voice.
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Although he could still joke, the weight of his situation pressed heavily on his mind. Becoming Xianyu’s cauldron might not kill him, but it would shatter his path to immortality. Knowing the heights cultivators could reach—shaping mountains, parting seas, and extending their lives indefinitely—made the thought unbearable.
"If only there was a miracle..."
Rong Yu sighed, rising to his feet. He returned to the hall, now serving as his alchemy room. Scanning the room, his gaze fell on the small furnace and the five cracked pills scattered nearby.
Bending down, he picked up the pills, turning them over in his hands. They were the size of a little finger, emitting a faint fragrance that refreshed his senses. However, their imperfections were evident—cracks marred their surfaces, and their shapes were irregular.
These were [Qi-Boosting Pills], first-grade low-tier elixirs meant to enhance a cultivator’s magical power during the Qi Refinement stage. Each could sell for ten spirit stones—if they were intact. Unfortunately, these were failures. Despite being one step away from perfection, the gap in potency was vast.
The previous Rong Yu had struggled with this very issue. Refining pills consistently had eluded him, and his failures had cost him everything. The last batch of materials he’d scraped together had produced these flawed pills, sealing his fate.
As Rong Yu examined the pills, a sudden burning sensation flared on his right arm. Startled, he cried out and pulled up his sleeve. A long white mark, glowing faintly, appeared on his skin.
Before he could react, the mark flew from his arm in a burst of light, transforming into a floating scroll that radiated an otherworldly glow.
Rong Yu’s eyes widened in shock. The scroll looked eerily familiar. "Isn’t this... the antique I bought as decoration back on Blue Star?"
He remembered the day he had stumbled across it in a market. It had seemed ordinary, but something about it had caught his attention. Could this be the reason he had been transported to this world?
The scroll unfolded on its own, revealing a sheet of material that resembled animal hide. Intricate patterns swirled across its surface, making Rong Yu dizzy if he stared too long.
White light danced across the scroll, forming tiny runes that eventually coalesced into an image. Rong Yu leaned closer and gasped. The image depicted five pills, identical to the ones in his hand—light yellow, cracked, and irregularly shaped.
"What... is this?" he murmured, staring between the pills and the scroll.
The patterns shifted again. A white line extended from the pill image, forming another design below it—an illustration of various herbs.
Rong Yu’s mind raced. Was this scroll trying to tell him something? Could it hold the key to perfecting his alchemy?