The disciple hall was a sprawling structure of white marble and gold, bustling with activity. Thousands of disciples moved like ants, exchanging contribution points for resources, turning in missions, or gossiping in clusters.
As Tianmo stepped through the grand archway, the noise level dipped noticeably. Eyes turned towards him, whispers spread like wildfire, and a path instinctively cleared for him.
Everyone noticed his presence. He was like a celebrity. Everybody knew that he was a genius and the direct disciple of the Great Elder.
He walked up to the main counter, where an inner disciple with a bored expression was sorting through jade slips. The disciple didn't even look up. "Name and business."
"Wang Tianmo. Personal disciple of Elder Xuan Ji," Tianmo said, his voice calm but carrying an icy edge. "Here to collect my monthly resources and select a cultivation manual."
The inner disciple paused, his hand hovering over a slip. He slowly looked up, his eyes widening as he recognized the face that had been the talk of the sect for the day.
"Y-Young Master Wang!" The disciple shot up from his seat, bowing so low his forehead nearly hit the counter. "I... I apologize for the disrespect. I didn't recognize you."
Tianmo waved his hand dismissively. "Spare the pleasantries. I want what is mine."
"R-Right away!" The disciple scrambled to the back, returning moments later with a luxurious storage bag and a thick, ancient book.
"This is the stipend for a Personal Disciple," the disciple said, placing the items on the counter with trembling hands. "10 High-grade spirit stones, 30 best Qi Condensation Pills, and a bottle of Body Tempering Ointment. And this..." He tapped the book. "This is the catalog of black-grade manuals available to direct disciples. Usually, one requires contribution points to exchange for them, but as a new direct disciple, you are granted one free choice."
Tianmo picked up the storage bag and inspected it. 10 High-grade stones was equivalent to 100,000 Low-grade stones. A fortune for an outer disciple, but pocket change for him.
He opened the catalog. It listed 23 manuals.
Cultivation manual generally means breathing technique and cultivation technique means martial and spiritual arts.
He quickly chose one. He wouldn't use any of these breathing techniques to practice, but he can give them to Liu Ruyan.
The disciple quickly pulled out the blue scroll. It was the manual chosen by Tianmo.
"Black-grade manual: 'Jade Heart Sutra'," the disciple read aloud, his tone respectful. "It is a high-tier manual within the black grade."
Manual/technique ranking: Red, blue, purple, violet, black, earth, Saint, heaven, emperor, immortal.
Red was the lowest, usually meant for wandering cultivators or menial disciples. Black was the standard for elite sect disciples, while Earth-grade was the stuff of legends, guarded tightly by Sect Elders.
Above that, finding manuals and techniques is extremely hard.
Tianmo took the blue scroll, his fingers brushing against the cool, textured paper. The Jade Heart Sutra was a perfect fit for Liu Ruyan.
As for his sister, he will give her a better black grade manual. It's not recommended to give higher manuals to a Qi-refining realm cultivator.
Tianmo tucked the blue scroll into his sleeve.
However, just as he was about to leave.
Five disciples blocked the exit.
They were dressed in the fine silk robes of Inner Disciples, each exuding the aura of someone who had stepped into the Foundation Establishment realm.
At their head stood a tall, broad-shouldered young man with a sharp, hawk-like nose and a sneer that seemed permanently etched onto his face.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My humble self is Zhao Bai, the eldest son of the Zhao family, one of the four great clans supporting the Azure Cloud Sect."
Zhao Bai stepped forward, his chest puffed out like a strutting rooster. He flanked by four other inner disciples, all of whom looked at Tianmo with a mixture of jealousy and barely concealed malice. They were blocking the exit, creating a wall of hostility in the middle of the bustling hall.
The surrounding disciples quickly scrambled back, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. The air grew heavy with the pressure of their combined Foundation Establishment auras.
All of them were clearly trash. Even at the bone age of 50, they remained merely at the foundation stage. And this Zhao Dog, he is at the seventh stage of the foundation realm despite being over 50 years old.
"And?" Tianmo didn't even bother to stop walking. He continued forward at a leisurely pace, his hands still clasped behind his back, as if the five men blocking his path were merely annoying shrubbery in his garden.
Zhao Bai's sneer faltered slightly. He expected fear, he expected deference, but he didn't expect to be treated like air.
Presumption!!!
"And?" Zhao Bai repeated, his voice rising in pitch. "And you should learn some manners, junior brother! In the Azure Cloud Sect, seniority is law. We are Inner Disciples in the Foundation Establishment realm. You are a new recruit who hasn't even dried behind the ears. When you see your seniors, you bow!"
"Kneel and apologize for your rudeness, and maybe I'll let you off with just a few slaps."
Zhao Bai didn't care about this guy being a direct disciple of the Great Elder.
Sect hierarchy is divided into: menial disciples, outer disciples, inner disciples, core disciples/guest disciples, direct disciples, Holy son/holy maiden, elder, great elders, sect master, and Ancestors.
Direct disciples were technically higher in rank than Inner Disciples. They were the successors of the Elders, the future leaders of the peak.
But in the cultivation world, strength was the only truth that mattered. A genius who couldn't fight was just a sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
Zhao Bai and his lackeys were banking on the fact that Tianmo, despite his talent, was still a novice. A newborn tiger was no match for a pack of wild dogs. It's the truth.
Tianmo stopped just a foot away from Zhao Bai. He looked up at the taller man, his expression devoid of fear, his eyes holding a depth of coldness that made Zhao Bai shiver involuntarily.
"Manners?" Tianmo repeated softly, the word rolling off his tongue like a poisonous snake. "You speak to me of manners while blocking my path like a common bandit?"
"Bandit?!" Zhao Bai's face turned the color of a bruised plum. The veins on his forehead bulged dangerously. "You dare insult me in the Hall of Law? I am teaching you the rules of the sect! Since you are ignorant, I will beat them into your body!"
Crack!
The air pressure in the hall spiked as Zhao Bai unleashed his Qi.
A layer of faint, brown light—Earth Qi—coated his fist. He didn't hold back; he threw a heavy punch directly at Tianmo's face, intending to shatter that arrogant nose and send the boy flying into the wall.
The surrounding disciples gasped, some covering their eyes. A Foundation Establishment cultivator attacking a Qi Refining novice? This wasn't a spar; it was a public execution.
Tianmo didn't move... At least, he didn't seem to move. Just as the fist was inches from crushing his nose, a blur of motion intercepted it.
Slap!
A crisp, ear-splitting sound echoed through the silent hall, silencing the gasps instantly.
Zhao Bai froze.
His fist was caught in a pale, slender hand. Tianmo held the punch effortlessly, his grip like an iron vice around Zhao Bai's wrist. The yellow Earth Qi coating Zhao Bai's fist shattered like glass under Tianmo's touch, dissipating into harmless sparks.
"What...?" Zhao Bai's eyes bulged. He tried to pull his hand back, but it was as if he had embedded his arm into a mountain. He couldn't move an inch.
Impossible. Impossible. Impossible.
How could this be?
He is a foundation establishment realm cultivator. His bones, muscles, blood, and Dao foundation are far more powerful than a greenhorn like Tianmo.
How could his punch be easily blocked?
"You are too loud," Tianmo said, his voice bored. "And your Qi is trash. It feels like muddy water."
"Impossible!" Zhao Bai grit his teeth, sweat pouring down his face. He channeled his Dantian with all his might, circulating his Foundation Establishment Qi to break free. "I am at the 7th stage! You are just a—"
Crack!
Tianmo twisted his wrist.
"AHHHHHH!"
Zhao Bai's scream pierced the air as his wrist bent at an unnatural angle. Bone snapped and tendons tore. Tianmo didn't stop there; with a casual flick of his arm, he threw the two-hundred-pound man across the hall as if he were a bag of trash.
Boom!
Zhao Bai crashed into a stone pillar, cracking it. He slid down to the floor, cradling his mangled hand, his face pale and gasping for air.
The four lackeys stood frozen, their mouths agape. Their leader, a 7th-stage Foundation Establishment expert, had been swatted away like a fly by a boy who looked like he had never fought a day in his life.
Is this a dream?
How could a foundation-stage cultivator be beaten by a Qi Qi-refining cultivator?
"Who's next?" Tianmo asked, dusting off his sleeve where he had touched Zhao Bai. He looked at the four remaining men, his gaze cold. "I have a short temper. If you don't move, I will assume you want to join him on the floor."
The four disciples looked at each other, terror written all over their faces. They swallowed hard and scrambled to the side, bowing deeply, their knees knocking together.
"W-We are sorry, Senior Brother! Please, forgive us!"
Tianmo stepped over the spot where Zhao Bai had been standing, walking out of the hall as if nothing had happened. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, not out of respect, but out of sheer terror.
Most of them were even happy seeing Young Master Zhao being beaten. Hmph, he deserves it. He used to bully others with his status and steal their cultivation resources. This time, he struck the iron wall.
Tianmo didn't look back.
He had made his point. In this world, the strong did what they wanted, and the weak suffered what they must. He was strong, and he would ensure everyone knew it.
As he walked down the stone path, the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Host, Dragon bloodline unsealed: 1.3% ]
Tianmo smirked internally.
1.3%?
Just a casual slap was enough to increase it? Indeed his blood was boiling when that trash blocked his path.
In the original novel, Tianmo never crossed paths with Zhao Bai.
He was a minor villain who would later bully the male lead, Li Chen, in the outer sect. Li Chen would then endure the humiliation, only to later cripple Zhao Bai during the sect tournament, gaining a loyal follower in the process.
But now?
'I hope he will follow the plot and never cross paths with me...' Wang Tianmo thought. If you are in Rome then think like Rome.
He wouldn't mind wiping Zhao family and using the women of the Zhao family as playthings.
Wang Tianmo returned to the Purple Bamboo Peak before noon, carrying the bag of resources and the Jade Heart Sutra. He was in a good mood. After his casual show of strength, the entire sect was buzzing with rumors about the "Violet Extreme Disciple" who could defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single hand.
Tianmo walked into the pavilion. Ling'er was practicing her sword forms in the courtyard, her movements clumsy but earnest. She was a bit sweaty, but her face was flushed with excitement, not exhaustion.
"Brother!" she chirped, sheathing her wooden sword and running to him. "I've been practicing! Did you see?"
"Your form is terrible," Tianmo said, not mincing words. "You look like a dying duck. But you've only just started. It's expected."
Ling'er pouted, crossing her arms. "Then teach me! I want to be strong like you."
Tianmo sighed. He had no intention of wasting his time teaching basic sword forms. But he had promised her resources, and he didn't want her to starve herself.
"Fine," he said, tossing her the storage bag. "Eat these. The pills and use these spirit stones to stabilize your Qi."
Ling'er caught the bag, her eyes widening as she looked inside. "Brother, this is too much! I can't use all of this!"
100 Qi condensing Pills and 20 High-grade spirit stones?
20 High-grade spirit stones!?
"Yes, you can," Tianmo replied. The Qi-condensing pill he gave her was of better quality with pill intent and pill clouds, directly purchased from the system shop. And he decided to give her 20 high-grade spirit stones as well.
However, it's very likely she can only absorb 1 high-grade stone a month even with top-quality Qi-condensing pills.
He took the blue scroll from his sleeve and handed it to her. "And practice with this."
Ling'er unrolled the scroll, her eyes widening as she read the title.
"Heavenly Way-I? B-Brother... Is this a black-grade breathing technique? Where did you get this?"
"Does it matter?" Tianmo said, taking the scroll back and putting it in her hands. "It's yours now. Don't waste it."
Ling'er hugged the scroll to her chest, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Thank you, Brother! I promise I'll work hard and make you proud!"
Tianmo nodded, then turned to go inside. "Ruyan!"
The maid girl appeared in the doorway, her head bowed low. "Yes, Master?"
"Come with me," Tianmo said, walking into the main hall of the abode.
Ling'er watched them go, a complicated expression crossing her face. She looked at the scroll in her hands, then at Ruyan's retreating figure. A seed of jealousy planted itself in her heart, but she pushed it down.
After all, a cauldron was just a tool. It wasn't as if her brother would ever see a maid as a person.
**
"Master?" Ruyan asked softly as she followed Tianmo into the bedroom.
He was sitting on the bed, his expression unreadable.
"Come here," he ordered, patting the spot next to him.
Ruyan hesitated, her heart pounding. She knew what had happened the last time she was alone with him. But the Soul Binding Brand on her wrist pulsed brightly, reminding her of the consequences of disobedience.
She walked to the bed and sat down next to him, keeping a respectful distance.
Tianmo reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small jade bottle. "Open your mouth."
Ruyan obeyed, opening her mouth. Tianmo tapped one drop of liquid onto her tongue.
Instantly, her mouth was filled with a bitter, earthy taste that made her want to gag. But before she could spit it out, the liquid dissolved into a warm, comforting energy that spread through her body.
"Swallow," Tianmo said.
Ruyan swallowed. The warmth in her chest turned into a gentle glow, spreading to her limbs, her fingertips, and even the tips of her hair.
"What... what was that?" she asked, her voice breathless.
"Body Tempering Ointment," Tianmo replied, recorking the bottle. "It will help you recover from last night. You should be able to walk without pain now."
Ruyan's face turned a deep shade of pink. She looked down at her hands, unable to meet his gaze. "Thank you, Master," she whispered.
Tianmo nodded, then tossed her the blue scroll. "This is for you. It's a breathing technique suitable for your physique. Memorize it."
Ruyan caught the scroll, her eyes widening as she read the title. Jade Heart Sutra? Wasn't this a black-grade manual?
"Thank you, Master," she said, bowing low. "I... I will work hard to cultivate and repay your kindness."
"Kindness?" Tianmo scoffed. "This isn't kindness. This is an investment. I expect returns."
Ruyan's face paled slightly. She knew what he meant. She was his cauldron, his cultivation partner. She was here to help him break through realms, not to become a cultivator in her own right.
She swallowed hard. "I understand, Master. I will not disappoint you."
"Good, take this..." Tianmo said throwing a High-grade spirit stone.
He stood up, walking to the door. "I have matters to attend to. You are free to explore the peak. Just don't cause any trouble. Also, cultivate hard... Next time, don't faint so easily."
Ruyan bowed deeply, keeping her head down until she heard the door slide shut. She was alone again, the weight of the scroll and the memory of last night's events heavy on her mind.
She opened the scroll, reading the intricate characters. The Jade Heart Sutra was unlike anything she had ever seen. Well, it's not like she has seen breathing techniques anyway.
It was a complex, poetic guide to cultivating one's inner energy, written in a style that spoke of elegance and grace.
She could feel it. This scroll was worth more than her entire village. It was a treasure that could change her fate.
But at what cost?
She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. She was just a slave, a maid. She had been bought, used, and now she was being trained to serve an even darker purpose.
She didn't want to be a cauldron. She didn't want to be used.
But what choice did she have?
The brand on her wrist glowed faintly. It was the cruel reminder of her status. She had no freedom, no future, no hope.
But then, she thought of Tianmo's face. His cold, arrogant gaze that looked at her as if she were nothing. His touch, which was both painful and pleasurable. His words, bon were sharp as knives.
He was a monster, a devil in human skin. But he was also her only hope.
If she wanted to survive in this world, she had to please him. She had to become the perfect cauldron, the perfect maid.
She wiped away her tears, her expression hardening. She would cultivate with all her might. She would serve him faithfully.
Because in this world, loyalty was the only currency that mattered.
And she would do anything to stay alive.
Yeah!!!
Also, he isn't that bad. He even gave her a High-grade spirit stone.
No! No! No!
He is bad, bad, bad... He is a devil.
Ah, she can't help but blush even more. She can only recall his naked form. Oh heavens... Cleanse her mind from all impurity.
***
3 days passed by.
Wang Tianmo, who was sitting crossed-legged opened his eyes.
He has reached the foundation stage.
He could feel his muscles, bones, and blood getting stronger.
He can also cultivate muscles, bones, and blood.
It's basically circulating Qi into muscles, bones, and blood instead of the Dantian and strengthening them.
Muscle cultivation is divided into: body tempering, Flesh Transformation: Stone Body, Iron Body, Golden Body, Diamond Body, void Body, and Spiritual Body.
Bone Cultivation is divided into: Bone Forging, Bone Tempering, Bone Condensing, Bone Transformation: Golden bones, Diamond bones, Void bones, and spiritual bones.
Blood Cultivation is divided into: Blood Purification, Blood Condensation, Blood Refinement, Golden Blood, and spiritual blood.
They aren't divided into sub-realms, but cultivating each muscle and bone is a long journey.
When all flesh reaches the flesh transformation stage, he can awaken the Immortal Dao body physique.
When the bone reaches the bone transformation stage, supreme dao bones can be awakened.
Luckily, one can tell which bone is Supreme Dao bone and focus on cultivating that specific bone first.
As for blood, cultivating blood is hard.