First Day, First Terror

Because of the late night duel, and perhaps the side effects of all the pills he had taken, Junming slept longer than expected.

Han Yueru's eyes lit up. She slipped away from Lu Zhi's side and quickly approached Junming.

"Are you the one who got first place?" she asked.

Junming paused, blinking at her sudden approach. His eyes flicked to the three green stripes on her robe, then he smiled politely. "Yes. Senior Sister, my name is Shen Junming."

Lu Zhi, watching from a distance, clicked his tongue and turned away, his mood clearly sour.

The two-green-stripe disciples who had been buzzing, now leaned in with wide eyes.

"Is that the new disciple Senior Sister was waiting for? Isn't he the one with a Heaven-Grade Spiritual Root?"

"I-I take back what I said earlier… he was definitely worth the wait!"

"Yeah! How could someone like that not be late? He probably descended from the heavens just now."

"Should I go introduce myself? Maybe ask him about pill refinement!"

Han Yueru ignored them completely.

She clasped her hands together. "Let me show you to the Alchemy Hall, explain how things work. But..." She glanced behind him, tilting her head. "I don't see any luggage. You do know you'll be staying here, right?"

Junming raised his left hand and showed the storage ring on his finger, a rare item only the wealthy could afford. "No need to worry, Senior Sister. I've packed all the essentials inside. And I understand I cannot leave the sect grounds except for training, missions, or family emergencies."

Han Yueru's eyes widened, then she clapped her hands together with delight. "Correct! Very good, Junior Brother. Let's go."

They began walking toward the Alchemy Hall.

The path took them across a stone bridge where spiritual fish swam beneath the clear stream, their scales shimmering with qi. Not far from there, they passed a training field where Sword Hall disciples practiced under the rising sun.

"That's the Sword Hall's east training field," Han Yueru explained. "They start training before dawn. Very strict, but not as elegant as our pill arts, don't you think?"

Junming simply smiled.

As they neared the outer grounds of the Alchemy Hall, Han Yueru glanced at him again. "By the way, Junior Brother…"

"Yes?" Junming replied.

"Are you from the Shen Clan? The one that's part of the Twelve Great Clans?"

Junming hesitated for a breath, then gave a sheepish smile. "Yes. But I'm just from a branch family."

Han Yueru's face lit up even more. "That's great too! Even a branch of a Great Clan is still better than what most of us have. You're really amazing."

They finally arrived at the Alchemy Hall.

The main building was large and shaped like a crescent moon. The air was filled with the scent of herbs and pill smoke.

Inside, disciples in similar black robes were busy at work, each hunched over cauldrons of different shapes and sizes, some as small as a bowl, others as large as a bathtub.

More deeply inside, the hall became quieter. Han Yueru guided him past several corridors until they stopped at a large redwood door. A golden plaque above it read:

Hall Master's Room.

"This is it," she said. "You'll need to first report in. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me, Junior Brother."

Junming gave a respectful nod. "Yes. Many thanks, Senior Sister."

Han Yueru gave him one last smile and walked away, her steps slow and graceful.

Junming watched her go, then looked at the door. His expression turned thoughtful.

'As the sages once said... It's best to stay away from a flower with too many thorns.'

He stepped forward and placed his hand on the door. It slid open smoothly.

Inside, the room was quiet and filled with a gentle herbal fragrance. Books lined the walls. Sitting behind the table was a woman with long white hair and faint wrinkles, Hall Master Qiao Lian.

Sitting opposite her, dressed in dark red with golden trim, was Elder Lin Yuehua.

Junming bowed deeply. "Shen Junming greets Hall Master Qiao, and Elder Lin."

As soon as he looked up, he found Lin Yuehua's face far too close to his own.

She smiled sweetly, her eyes wide and unblinking. "Why did you choose the Alchemy Hall? A non-martial hall? Are you mocking me? Do you think the opportunity I gave you was a joke?"

Junming felt a cold sweat run down his back. "I... Elder, I didn't mean—"

Before he could finish, she flicked her sleeve.

In the next breath, Junming was hanging upside down, his feet bound to the ceiling by white threads.

Lin Yuehua leaned in, her voice deadly. "If you can't give me a satisfactory answer within ten breaths... then be prepared to be eaten by my darling~"

Junming's heart skipped a beat. Something moved against his leg.

He looked down—or rather, up—and his eyes widened in horror.

A gigantic spider stared back at him with gleaming crimson eyes.

The spider crept closer, its sharp legs tapping across the ceiling. Its fangs dripped with venom, and a thick drop of drool landed on Junming's foot, sizzling faintly on contact.

His heart pounded. His mind raced. He had expected Elder Lin Yuehua to come for him eventually, but not this soon.

He forced himself to take a steady breath.

"Elder. Please first check my cultivation realm."

"Hmph." Lin Yuehua scanned him with her spiritual sense. Her eyes widened for a brief moment, shock flashing across her face.

"You were at the sixth stage… How did you reach the eighth overnight?"

The shock in her eyes faded, replaced by a cold glint of suspicion.

"Did you use some kind of forbidden—"

Junming quickly shook his head. "Absolutely not, Elder. Actually... I have a unique constitution."

She raised a brow. "Constitution?"

Hall Master Qiao Lian, who had been sipping tea calmly, glanced at Junming for the first time.

Junming continued. "Yes. My body can absorb seventy to eighty percent of any pill's effects."

There was a sharp crack. Hall Master Qiao's cup broke in her hand, qi leaking from her fingers.

She stood and walked over.

"Can you take responsibility for what you just said?"

Junming swallowed. "Y-yes."

"Yuehua. Bring him down."

Lin Yuehua looked at Junming for a moment longer. Then she waved her hand.

The threads snapped away, and the spider hissed once before vanishing into the shadows.

Junming dropped to the ground, landing stiffly. He let out a quiet breath of relief.

Qiao Lian turned to a nearby cabinet, opened it, and took out a pill. She placed it on the table.

"Consume this pill."

He stepped forward and picked it up.

A system screen appeared before his eyes.

Item: Yin-Yang Dragon Pill (Earth-Grade)

Effect: Increases Qi by twofold, enhances elemental affinity

Junming's eyes widened.

"Two-fold... Wouldn't that push me to Core Condensation Realm's eighth stage?"

Lin Yuehua leaned closer, her head lightly brushing his shoulder. "So, you do know alchemy... Is that why you chose this hall?"

Before Junming could respond, Qiao Lian cut in, her voice steady and firm. "Yes. If you take this, you'll break through. But if your body can't withstand it, you'll suffer qi deviation."

Her eyes glowed, white qi flames rising from her pupils.

"So if you are lying, this is your final chance to admit it. Such a constitution doesn't exist."

Junming's heart tightened.

'Did she figure out I made it up? No. If she knew, she wouldn't test me with a real pill. She's watching for something. Her anger… it's not just because of my words.'

He tightened his grip on the pill. 

His voice low. "Consume."

Another screen appeared.

Error: Host's cultivation level insufficient. Consumption denied.

Junming froze.

His hand trembled.

His face went pale.

His mouth opened, but no words came out. Cold sweat rolled down his brow. The pill in his palm felt heavier than a mountain.

'No… this can't happen now...'