Chapter 4: Requirements

Five months later.

“The Primordial Origin is where the vital energy has yet to divide; chaos is one, the beginning of all vital energy. Vital energy is born within chaos, bright on the outside, dark on the inside.”

Lu Xiaotian sat cross-legged on a straw mat in the open space before the cave dwelling. He silently circulated the techniques from the *Primordial Origin Sutra*, calming his breath and focusing his mind. After guiding that sliver of vital energy through its second major cycle, he exhaled a breath of stale air. Before reaching the first level of Qi Refining, the air Lu Xiaotian exhaled would simply dissipate. Now, however, the air shot from his mouth like a short arrow.

It had taken Lu Xiaotian nearly four months to reach the first level of Qi Refining, and he had spent this past month consolidating his progress.

“Oh no, I almost forgot to feed the little green ants their Beast Spirit Pills.”

Lu Xiaotian slapped his forehead. The spiritual energy outside the cave was more abundant, which had caused his meditation to run a bit long. Realizing this, he scrambled up from the ground, his short legs moving quickly as he ran into the cave. The large black bear lying at the entrance opened its eyes, but seeing it was only Lu Xiaotian, it closed them again, listless, and continued to snore loudly.

Lu Xiaotian ran skillfully to the dark room of the alchemy chamber and retrieved a small white bottle. He then went to the spirit beast room within the cave. In the relatively spacious room, a jade pool about a square zhang in size was scattered with the leaves of White Glow Grass. White Glow Grass was a low-grade spiritual herb, its leaves shimmering with a faint white luster. From time to time, slight movements could be heard among the leaves.

Lu Xiaotian took a dozen black pills that emitted a strange fragrance from the small white bottle and sprinkled them onto the leaves.

*Hiss, hiss.*

The jade pool immediately erupted with sound. More than twenty green ants, five or six times larger than normal ants, crawled out from the leaves and scrambled to chew on the Beast Spirit Pills.

“One, two...”

While the little green ants were eating, Lu Xiaotian counted them repeatedly. Finding that none were missing, he finally let out a sigh of relief. Over the past six months, the old man in the black robe had been going out more and more frequently. Aside from cultivating, Lu Xiaotian was responsible for taking care of these little green ants for him.

These little green ants were low-grade spirit insects and were not easy to raise. It had taken nearly half a year to raise these twenty-some survivors. If they lacked sufficient food, the ants would kill and eat each other.

Two months ago, because Lu Xiaotian hadn't fed them in time, two of the ants had been killed and devoured by their stronger kin. For that, Lu Xiaotian had received twenty lashes from the old man in the black robe, suffering so much he nearly died and needing three days of rest before he could even walk. After that lesson, Lu Xiaotian was always exceptionally careful.

Lu Xiaotian plugged the white bottle with its peach-wood stopper. Suddenly, a long, narrow shadow appeared on the ground. Lu Xiaotian’s heart tightened, but he quickly relaxed. He turned around, and sure enough, it was the old man in the black robe.

“Elder Geng!” Lu Xiaotian bowed to the old man.

“You knew it was me?” The old man was somewhat surprised. His cultivation was far higher than Lu Xiaotian’s, and he had only just appeared at the entrance of the spirit beast room; yet, Lu Xiaotian seemed to have sensed him already.

“There was a faint shadow on the ground, and since the black bear is guarding the cave entrance, only Elder Geng could enter the cave without making a sound,” Lu Xiaotian replied truthfully.

“Not bad. To have such presence of mind at such a young age is truly outstanding among your peers.” The old man nodded slightly, thinking to himself that it was a pity the boy’s spiritual root potential was poor; he had been practicing the *Primordial Origin Sutra* for nearly half a year with little progress. In the past, he might have taken him as a disciple, but ever since the Earth Fire Palace was destroyed, the very word “disciple” left a bitter, gloomy look on his face.

“You’ve fed the Shadow Ants well. Here is a Qi Gathering Pill as a reward for you.” The old man took a pill bottle from his person and held it out; the bottle floated toward Lu Xiaotian.

Lu Xiaotian took the bottle and opened the lid. A refreshing, fragrant scent of medicine wafted out. He couldn't help but beam with joy. The Qi Gathering Pill was used by cultivators in the early stages of Qi Refining and was effective from the first to the third level. For someone like him, who was only at the first level, this single pill was worth three months of bitter cultivation.

“Many thanks to Elder Geng for the reward.” After carefully putting the pill away, Lu Xiaotian thanked him hurriedly.

“As long as you do your job well, I will not be stingy with rewards.” The old man nodded and took out a small jade gourd. “I may be spending even less time in the cave from now on. If the Shadow Ants in the jade pool grow to maturity and I haven't returned, put the mature ones into this jade gourd.”

Only then did Lu Xiaotian learn that these little green ants were called Shadow Ants. However, his expression turned troubled. These ants were low-grade spirit insects; while their lethality wasn't high, they possessed a potent paralyzing effect. Two months ago—the time he hadn't fed them in time—he had accidentally stuck his hand into the jade pool and been bitten. His movements had become sluggish, and he had collapsed on the animal skins, sleeping two hours longer than usual. When he woke up, the ants were already cannibalizing each other.

“Elder Geng, when I was bitten by a Shadow Ant before, I was paralyzed for nearly a day. Without any preventative measures, I fear I might fail the task you’ve entrusted to me.”

Lu Xiaotian spoke cautiously, fearing he might displease the old man.

“This bottle contains an antidote for the Shadow Ants’ paralyzing toxin. You only need to take it before handling them.” The old man gave Lu Xiaotian another small medicine bottle.

“Yes, Elder Geng.”

After taking the antidote, Lu Xiaotian thought to himself that it was no wonder the old man, who usually treated him with cold indifference, had rewarded him with a Qi Gathering Pill—he wanted him to do this manual labor. Even with the antidote, being bitten by the ants was still incredibly painful. But with the old man’s arrangements, he had no room to refuse.

“I am leaving tomorrow, and I will be taking the alchemy furnace with me,” the old man said.

“If the Beast Spirit Pills run out and you haven't returned, I’m afraid I won't be able to take care of these Shadow Ants,” Lu Xiaotian said truthfully.

“I have another small alchemy furnace here. It’s not much, but it’s enough to refine Beast Spirit Pills.”

The old man took out a small, pitch-black furnace that looked like it was made of mysterious iron. Judging by its quality, it was far inferior to the one the old man usually used. Lu Xiaotian didn't mind, as he had no other recipes or spiritual materials. However, he worried that he still had no means of self-defense. From the old man’s conversations with others, he knew that cultivators didn't just need cultivation techniques; they also needed to practice spells or combat skills to possess real fighting power.

Back at the Thunder Blade Sect, Brother Shi Qingshan had told him that after practicing internal energy, one had to practice martial arts to be considered a true warrior. Thus, Lu Xiaotian figured that warriors and cultivators had some things in common.

The old man’s absences were growing longer each time. After a moment of thought, Lu Xiaotian gathered his courage and said, “Elder Geng, if you don't return in time and I have to go out to gather herbs for the Beast Spirit Pills, if I take the black bear with me, what if a demonic beast breaks into the cave and destroys your things? If I don't take the bear, it’s a small matter if I encounter danger outside, but if I can't return, I fear I will fail your expectations regarding the Shadow Ants.”

“Are you trying to ask me for a favor?” The old man gave a gloomy smile, his triangular eyes glinting with a cold, snake-like light.

“No, I wouldn't dare.”

Cold sweat broke out on Lu Xiaotian’s forehead. The pressure from the high-level cultivator made his legs tremble; it was a feat in itself that he hadn't collapsed to his knees.

The old man’s expression flickered. The spiritual items discovered in the valley were things he was determined to obtain, and the Shadow Ants were one of his trump cards. However, their individual lethality wasn't high, and most had been destroyed in several battles with disciples of the Spirit Firmament Palace. This little guy still had some use. If things really went as Lu Xiaotian described, it would indeed be troublesome.

After a moment of consideration, the old man’s expression softened, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. He tossed a small, ancient silver ring and a booklet to Lu Xiaotian. “This is a Spirit Beast Ring, and the booklet contains the art of beast taming. You can take the black bear out and subdue a low-grade spirit beast.”

“Thank you, Elder Geng.”

Lu Xiaotian finally let out a sigh of relief. He felt an instinctive fear of the old man, and if not for necessity, he would never want to endure such pressure. But with the old man leaving, he would have to go out alone to gather herbs, which was far too dangerous. For the sake of his own life, he had no choice but to act this way.