Unexpected Pill Effect

Only the rustling of the trees and the soothing breeze accompanied them on the desolate path down from the library.

"You think you could match me with my major weapon?"

Li Chen was dumbstruck. Was Xiu Ying even his character anymore?

That entity, which he gave the title of a co-author, had ripped almost everything he had in mind when creating Xiu Ying.

[Can you tell me the reason you still use it?]

Xiu Ying kept walking, her eyes twinkling, before she paused and turned to him. "Because it's the only way to hide. I have enemies and the only way to hide from them is to get rid of my former identity." 

[And using a sword does that?]

"I provoked the Sea Dragon clan and Feng Lanxi, which caused a scar on my arm and almost my life. Doesn't that prove my love for the sword?" 

Li Chen's eyes narrowed into slits.

How in the world did that entity turn a complete average arc that introduced Xiu Ying into the plot into this?!

'I would have sworn I just wanted to introduce a poisonous beauty who would eventually get a miserable death but this. This is big.' Li Chen gasped.

"That's why I haven't treated you badly, Old Cat. I need allies and who else is better than a man tied to my fate?" 

[We could just marry and finalize everything.] Li Chen snickered to himself, forgetting his words would always appear.

"W… what?" Xiu Ying's eyelashes fluttered and she tilted her head.

Seeing his mistake, Li Chen tightened his grip around his sword. 

[Are we going to fight?]

"I'm in a good mood so no." 

Sighing in relief, he strolled to her side. [Let's go.]

"Sure." 

Hearing Xiu Ying's excited tone, Li Chen knew something was wrong but it was already too late.

This time, Xiu Ying didn't lower her powers. She grabbed his ear and walked down while he hissed.

"I don't care what kind of genius you think you are. I'm older than you and stronger so have some respect." 

[You think so proudly about your looks!] 

"Of course. Even if I'm ugly, I still have a face." Xiu Ying scowled.

[You…!]

"Old Cat, let me show you my major weapon."

****

She led him to the outer disciples archery range. It was located at the edge of the mountain and their targets were the butterflies perched on the flowers of grass that stretched to the expanse.

From the top of the mountain, three cultivators knocked their bows aimed at the butterflies, three hundred meters away!

The runic inscriptions etched on the arrowheads glowed as energy swirled around them. 

SWOOSH—!

SWOOSH—!

SWOOSH—!

Li Chen's eyes were glued to Xiu Ying's pale hands wrapped around his wrist. As she left him, his eyes flickered.

Lifting his head, his gaze cruised her figure as she picked up a bow.

Li Chen crossed his arms. 'You're competing with outer disciples, huh?' 

Many disciples were stunned to see an inner disciple on their training grounds. Although the sun had set, her beauty was still radiant.

Staring fixedly at Li Chen, she released the arrow.

SWOOSH—!

The arrow vanished into the clouds, stunning the crowd.

Li Chen's eyes slowly narrowed as the arrow emerged from the clouds over 700 meters away.

800 metres…

900 metres…

1 kilometre…

The arrow pierced through an innocent butterfly about to perform its daily duties and a golden energy suddenly swirled around the arrow and...

BOOM—!

"Senior sister, you destroyed a portion of our field!" Someone yelled.

"It was a mistake." Xiu Ying said, faking an apologetic face that won the men's hearts. Though other girls around her felt she was lying, they weren't willing to provoke an inner disciple.

While leaving, Li Chen couldn't help but feel that Xiu Ying was a bit different than usual. She was more happy.

[Does your master know?]

"She does."

[She flew to the selection grounds to get you. Do you two know each other?]

"I met when I was much younger." 

[Oh.]

While they chatted, a disciple approached them and cupped his fist. "Junior sister Xiu Ying, touring the outer disciple district isn't proper."

"Who are you?" 

"My name isn't required. I just came to inform you that fairy Mo Xueyi, your master, asks if you have gotten your techniques and if you have, you are to meet her immediately." The man flashed a tiny smile and walked away.

'The gaze of that man next to her is like that of Zhao Pan but not as ruthless and sharp. By any chance, has he accomplished an intent?' the man thought.

Xiu Ying sighed and turned to Li Chen. "Here," she summoned the Eternal Jade Heart—a 4-star immortal-grade artifact—and stretched it towards him. 

Seeing Li Chen stare at the sword for a prolonged period of time, she scoffed and threw it to him. 

"That useless mortal-grade sword in your hand won't give you any advantage against others."

[Thank you.] Li Chen cupped his hands, bowed softly, turned, and walked away.

Xiu Ying's gaze followed his departing figure. 'Grow fast, Old Cat.' 

Entwining her fingers behind her, she turned and walked away. 

'Ah! I miss the feeling of my long hair bouncing against my back.' she sighed.

****

Time passed and the moon took the sun's place. Basking under her silvery light was Li Chen.

His chest was open as he sat in a lotus position atop his bed.

After circulating his energy for a while, he opened a container, held a pill, and froze. 'I forgot my mouth can't appear,' he realized.

Gathering the pills, he wrapped his energy around them, causing the pills to float. They burst into a powdery mist and he drew everything to his bare skin.

The expected cooling sensation did not appear. Rather, he felt he was inside a pot, being cooked!

Unable to endure the pain, Li Chen began cultivating his diamond body technique. He kept circulating his energy and unbeknownst to him, the blue tint from the powdery mist dissolved into his pores.

His skin changed from white to red and smoke billowed off him!

'Ahh! It burns! I'm on fire!!'

-----

First Quest: 1 review remaining!

Reward: Extra chapters!!

Second Quest: 500 powerstones!

Reward: Extra chapters!!