Blood Between the Brows, Purple River Rebirth Pill

"These things are all too good, I'm really not used to it."

After tossing and turning in bed for a long time, Luo Bei finally couldn't help but let out a wry smile and sat up.

On an unnamed peak in Luofu, Luo Bei's living quarters were very simple: a hard wooden bed, padded with dry grass, and covered with animal furs. Although a whole beast hide would be worth a lot of money outside the mountains, the simply processed furs weren't very comfortable to sleep under. Now, in the room provided by the Purple Micro Daoist Temple, the bed was a carved rosewood grand bed, with a fine cotton mattress, covered by a thin silk quilt. The sheets, the lining of the quilt, and the quilt cover were all made of smooth, black silk, which looked understated and fit the ethereal atmosphere of the Daoist temple. It also felt cool and refreshing in this weather.

Beneath the small shrine in front of the bed, a plate of purple Agarwood Incense was lit. This incense was made from dozens of spices and medicinal herbs, including Du Heng, Moon Scale, Spikenard, Styrax, Agarwood, Sandalwood, Borneol, and Ambergris, which brought peace and tranquility to those who smelled it. However, this incense was also extremely expensive, essentially affordable only for wealthy officials and families, with one plate costing as much as a common family's monthly expenses.

This incense was so expensive, and its effects were naturally good, but it was already past midnight, and Luo Bei simply couldn't sleep.

On the table not far from the bed sat a white, delicate porcelain pot the color of ivory, filled with Osmanthus Dew. Luo Bei had tasted it; it was a sweet and slightly sour, very delicious drink. Perhaps to prevent Luo Bei from getting hungry at night, a plate of exquisite pastries of various kinds was placed beside it.

These conditions were far better than those in Luofu, no wonder so many people wished for their children to become disciples of the Purple Micro Daoist Temple. Yet, Luo Bei's mind was filled with thoughts of his time in Luofu.

"If Master wanted fine clothes and delicious food, wealth and honor, it would be as easy as lifting a finger. But too much comfort would make one complacent and hinder progress, which is not conducive to focusing on cultivation. Our Luofu Sect's choice to reside in the remote and harsh Luofu also carries the intention of facing challenges head-on."

Luo Bei sat in a daze, and suddenly thought of the horse-faced Daoist priest on the mountain road of the Medicine King Sect, who was instantly turned to ashes along with his magic treasure by Yuan Tianyi's world-destroying Six Paths Purgatory Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

"This Purple Micro Daoist Temple seems to be affiliated with officials, but the convoy that Daoist priest was in seemed even more powerful. His food and lodging should have been even better than this, yet his cultivation level is far inferior to Master's."

"I wonder what kind of cultivation technique Master taught me."

Luo Bei mused for a while. As soon as he thought of the Eternal Life Sutra of Delusion that Yuan Tianyi had taught him, those profound diagrams and cultivation methods suddenly appeared clearly in his mind.

This cultivation technique only absorbed pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, unlike the Mahākāla Secret Method which required absorbing True Sun Fire. Therefore, there were no restrictions on cultivation during day or night.

He couldn't let anyone know he was a disciple of Luofu, nor could he reveal any of Luofu's cultivation techniques. In that case, cultivating at night would be more suitable.

As soon as this thought arose in Luo Bei's mind, he carefully reviewed the cultivation techniques deeply imprinted in his mind. "Master's technique of direct transmission is truly miraculous." Luo Bei soon discovered that not only did he remember them clearly, but he also had no difficulty understanding the profound diagrams and cultivation methods. After going through them once, their meanings became clear.

"I just don't know what divine abilities this cultivation method will grant after it's practiced."

However, in the memories deeply imprinted in Luo Bei's mind, there was no record of what divine abilities or techniques the Eternal Life Sutra of Delusion would grant after cultivation. "Although this place isn't located on a spiritual vein and the spiritual energy is thin, I can't sleep anyway. Might as well try cultivating and see." With this thought, Luo Bei simply sat up in bed in the posture prescribed by the technique.

"What's that smell?"

The first step of the Eternal Life Sutra of Delusion was entering tranquility and internal observation. But as Luo Bei closed his eyes, slowly exhaled and inhaled, and before he could fully calm his mind, he suddenly smelled a faint, strange odor. "It's the smell of blood!" Luo Bei suddenly realized and abruptly opened his eyes. At first, Luo Bei thought it was a hallucination from his cultivation, but after opening his eyes, the smell of blood not only didn't disappear but actually became stronger, so much so that even the scent of the Agarwood Incense couldn't mask it.

"How can there be such a strong smell of blood in this Daoist temple?" Luo Bei found it strange, couldn't help but put on his clothes, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Luo Bei's room was located in the central area of the entire Daoist temple, a small courtyard built in the style of a quadrangle, symbolizing completeness and harmony. Three almost identical rooms and a round archway formed the entrance, with a delicate Taihu stone rockery in the center, and sparse Xiang Bamboo planted beside it. Compared to the decorations inside the room, it appeared more simple and elegant. As soon as Luo Bei opened the door, he was startled.

True Master Qingxu, wearing a Purple Gold Daoist Crown and a Black Daoist Robe, stood opposite Luo Bei at the entrance of the round archway.

"You're awake? Are you wondering why there's such a strong smell of blood in the Daoist temple?" True Master Qingxu showed no surprise upon seeing Luo Bei emerge from the room. He merely smiled slightly and turned around, "Follow me."

"There were so many people in this Daoist temple during the day, why is it so quiet now, as if there's no one around?"

"Why is he taking me here in the middle of the night?"

Luo Bei followed True Master Qingxu into the room where True Master Qingxu performed his daily cultivation. When he saw True Master Qingxu press a mechanism, revealing the secret chamber of the Purple Micro Daoist Temple, Luo Bei felt that something was strange. But looking at True Master Qingxu's graceful demeanor, Luo Bei knew very well that even if he didn't want to follow, he wouldn't be able to resist. "Since I'm here, I'll accept it. Let's see what's going on." Luo Bei was naturally brave, and after the encounter with Kunlun's Seven-Colored Dragon Boat at the graveyard, everything he had seen and heard had been incredibly bizarre. Coupled with Yuan Tianyi's deliberate training, Luo Bei's true heart was already more resilient than that of ordinary cultivators.

In the long corridor, just half a day ago, when Luo Bei was first brought to the Purple Micro Daoist Temple by True Master Qingxu, the Yin-Yang Purple River Carts on both sides of the corridor had all disappeared. However, the closer they got to the secret chamber, the stronger the smell of blood became.

"What is that?!" By the time Luo Bei entered the secret chamber, the smell of blood was so thick that he felt nauseous, and the first thing that caught his eye upon entering was an alchemy furnace connected to the earth fire.

The alchemy furnace was now blazing, with flames reaching the ceiling. If anyone accidentally touched it, they would likely be charred to a crisp in moments.

And the thick smell of blood was emanating from this alchemy furnace!

"You...!" Before Luo Bei could get a closer look at the alchemy furnace, he suddenly heard an incredulous exclamation.

Following the source of the sound, Luo Bei saw the figure hanging on the wall, like a dried corpse!

This exclamation came from the corpse-like figure, and at this moment, his gaze was fixed on Luo Bei, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"How is it, junior brother, aren't you also amazed by such aptitude?!" At this moment, True Master Qingxu let out a thunderous laugh that was completely inconsistent with his usual demeanor and status.

"Beast!" The figure like a dried corpse on the wall let out an even more furious roar, as if the corners of his eyes were about to split open. "With such aptitude, if properly taught, it might not be impossible for our Purple Micro Daoist Temple to gain prestige! And yet you still do such an unforgivable thing!"

"Unforgivable?" True Master Qingxu sneered, "In all our years of cultivation, what 'heavenly principles' have we seen! I only know that no matter how carefully taught, it's not as safe as undergoing the Purple River Rebirth and living another life with memories, cultivating it personally!"

"You beast!" The corpse-like figure struggled, the chains clanking.

"Junior brother, why bother struggling in vain." True Master Qingxu ignored him and turned to look at Luo Bei, his eyes emitting a gentle glow, like warm jade. "Luo Bei, your ability to remain calm and composed even now truly shows that your talent is extraordinary."

Luo Bei felt that something was wrong from the conversation between True Master Qingxu and the corpse-like figure on the wall. But seeing True Master Qingxu's leisurely expression, Luo Bei knew that resisting with his own strength would be futile. So he just looked at True Master Qingxu and retorted, "You didn't really want to take me as a disciple when you brought me to the Purple Micro Daoist Temple?"

"After today, you will be me, and I will be you." A fanatical light flashed in True Master Qingxu's eyes. After saying this, he suddenly pointed at the blazing alchemy furnace, "Junior brother, just watch the Purple River Rebirth Pill I've refined!"

With a boom!

The lid of the alchemy furnace suddenly flew open! The scorching blast of air almost made Luo Bei lose his balance, and even the shelves holding Daoist magic tools in the secret chamber were knocked over with loud bangs.

"What is that Purple River Rebirth Pill?"

Luo Bei looked up and saw that what shot out from the top of the furnace was a dark red, gelatinous-looking sphere, about two feet in diameter, seemingly twisting and writhing in the air!

"After exhausting my thirty years of effort, I have finally gathered all the materials and refined this Purple River Rebirth Pill!" At the same time, True Master Qingxu's face seemed to have become distorted in the roaring blast of air, completely devoid of any Immortal Bone Daoist Aura!

Staring intently at the distorted, gelatinous Purple River Rebirth Pill, True Master Qingxu's peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Luo Bei collapsing to the ground, seemingly having fainted from fright.

"A child from the wilderness is still a child from the wilderness after all. He's finally fainted from fright! This will save me some trouble."

"Don't blame me. Most children from the wilderness like you would die in the wild. If I achieve great things in the future, everyone will admire you!"

True Master Qingxu flicked his long sleeves, the air crackling. With a flick of his right fingers, the Purple River Rebirth Pill suspended above the alchemy furnace seemed to sprout two tentacles, one reaching towards Luo Bei, the other towards True Master Qingxu. True Master Qingxu's left hand held a shining, sharp silver needle, pricked a drop of blood from his own glabella, and then bent down to prick Luo Bei's glabella.

As long as the blood from both their glabella and the Purple River Rebirth Pill were used as a catalyst, True Master Qingxu could merge his own life essence and Primordial Spirit with Luo Bei's body. At that time, Luo Bei's Primordial Spirit and soul would be extinguished, and the former Luo Bei would cease to exist!

"Someone like you, who tries to reach the heavens in a single step, no matter how good their aptitude, will always be subservient. Greedy and deluded without self-awareness, you are not worthy of discussing the Dao!" At this moment, an extremely cold voice suddenly rang out in the secret chamber of the Purple Micro Daoist Temple.