"Thank you, Master."
Laozi was in high spirits. Smiling, he led Jin Dan back into Eight Sceneries Palace.
"I consider myself to share something of a father-son bond with you."
"You were born from a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir, and my eldest disciple is named Xuan Du."
"From now on, you'll be called Xuandan."
Xuandan murmured the name, overjoyed, and hurriedly kowtowed to thank him.
"Thank you, Master, for granting me a Daoist title."
Laozi continued.
"Now that you've joined the Xuan Sect, I should explain the rules."
"I have two disciples under me, you and Xuan Du. From now on, you must live in harmony and care for each other. You must never harbor the slightest ill will."
Xuandan's expression turned solemn.
He had memories of the Prehistoric World, so he naturally knew that, had he not crossed over, the Ren Sect would have had only Xuan Du as its sole disciple.
It was said that Xuan Du had cultivated to Quasi-Saint by taking pills.
Regardless, Laozi treated his disciples exceptionally well.
And whenever he had something good, there was no competition over it.
That was unlike the Interception Sect, which had Myriad Immortals Come to Court. Forget magic treasures and pills—
Even when it came to listening to the Dao, its disciples couldn't meet the Sage in person and could only do so outside Biyou Palace.
The Interception Sect's many Outer disciples were practically green with envy.
Xuandan bowed respectfully, replying with a serious tone and attitude.
"I will heed your teachings, Master. I'll keep them firmly in my heart."
Just as Xuandan was thinking things over,
a mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.
[Ding! Benevolent System awakened!]
Xuandan jolted, clenching his fists, his heart swelling with even greater joy.
The golden finger every transmigrator needed had finally activated.
Along with his delight, Xuandan felt puzzled. He had no idea what the system did.
But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, the system's voice rang out again.
[Ding! The effects of pills refined by the host are increased tenfold!]
Xuandan's pupils shrank. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
After all, his Master was right there.
Laozi, however, merely thought Xuandan was excited for the normal reason: he had just become his disciple.
One had to understand how exhilarating it was to become a Sage's disciple in the Prehistoric World.
It was no less thrilling than Fan Jin's successful imperial examination, which had been celebrated for generations in later times.
Laozi stroked his beard, looking thoughtful as he wrestled with a decision.
"What cultivation method should I pass on to this child?"
Xuandan, meanwhile, was stunned by what the system said next.
[Ding! Along with the tenfold increase in pill effects, a random side effect will be added!] [Ding! Each time the host gives a pill to someone else, he will receive a random reward!]
Xuandan's mind had gone a little blank.
Getting random rewards for giving pills away was certainly a good thing.
But...
Random side effects?
This system was outright making things harder for him!
Just as Xuandan was pondering how best to make use of the system,
Laozi's eyes gleamed with a different light, and he was about to speak.
Golden Elixir Great Dao, Tianxin Pill, Turn into a Loli?
As Xuandan's thoughts wandered, Laozi suddenly spoke.
"Disciple, taking human form marks the beginning of cultivation."
"You were born from a pill, so it's only fitting that you inherit my Art of alchemy."
"Perhaps you'll even have the fortune to surpass your master."
As he spoke, Xuandan suddenly found a great many unfamiliar incantations in his mind.
They were Laozi's alchemical insights, accumulated over countless ages,
as well as a book on alchemy he had compiled, titled Taiqing Pill Formula.
Xuandan was overjoyed and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Master, for granting me the art of alchemy."
He had already been trying to find a way to ask for an alchemical formula.
But before he could bring it up, Laozi had given him one.
After Xuandan finished thanking him, Laozi continued.
"Having an alchemical method without any cultivation is no proper path, either."
"So I'll also grant you the Supreme Purity Golden Core Technique."
"This cultivation method leads directly to the Great Luo Dao Fruit. Be sure to cultivate diligently."
Xuandan was practically ecstatic.
His excitement was already showing on his face.
"I'll live up to your expectations, Master."
But as someone with a system,
he would naturally prioritize alchemy and treat the Golden Elixir Great Dao as secondary.
After all, with the system's gifts, alchemy itself already counted as cultivation.
Having received both an alchemical and a cultivation method, Xuandan didn't leave.
Instead, he gazed eagerly at Laozi, then glanced at the Eight Trigrams Furnace.
Xuandan was thrilled.
The Eight Trigrams Furnace—the prison that had held Sun Wukong during the Journey to the West Tribulation.
It had helped the Monkey King fully refine the medicinal power within his body.
It was good for refining not only pills but also magic treasures.
The famous Ruyi Jingu Bang, Nine-toothed rake, Purple Gold Bell, and Vajra Bracelet would all come from here in the future.
Noticing Xuandan's gaze, Laozi smiled fondly.
"Very well. What sense would there be in teaching a disciple alchemy without giving him a furnace?"
With that, Laozi casually produced a palm-sized furnace.
It had four legs and two handles, and was engraved with images of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.
Waves of Spiritual Power emanated from it.
As it landed in Xuandan's hands, Laozi explained,
"This is the Four Symbols Cauldron. It contains thirty-six Houtian restrictions and is a High-grade Houtian spirit treasure."
"It's more than enough for you to cultivate the Dao of alchemy."
Xuandan grinned from ear to ear, unable to stop smiling.
"Thank you, Master. Thank you for granting me this treasure."
When he looked up, he had already appeared outside Eight Sceneries Palace.
At the same time, Laozi's calm voice reached his ears.
"Find yourself a cave dwelling and settle in. Cultivate diligently, and don't go fooling around."
"In a thousand years, I want to see the results of your cultivation."
After Xuandan agreed, he happily wandered around nearby.
Kunlun Mountain was practically overflowing with treasures.
It was one of the top Blessed lands and grotto-heavens in the Prehistoric World.
As such, it had countless naturally formed cave dwellings.
Xuandan found one close by, nestled against a mountain and beside a stream.
He set up the simplest possible formation.
After all, this was Kunlun Mountain. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the safest place in the Prehistoric World.
The formation was merely to tell the other disciples on Kunlun Mountain that the cave dwelling already had an owner.
Sitting inside the cave, Xuandan stared at the Four Symbols Cauldron, then frowned and muttered,
"Come to think of it... did I forget to ask Master for alchemy materials?"
They said even the cleverest housewife couldn't cook without rice.
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