Senior and junior disciples? The Mystic Water Pill and Sacred Dragon Creation Pill! (Bonus update for monthly votes)

Heaven Dou City.

Yu Xiaogang sat cross-legged on his bed, slowly drawing back his circulating Soul Power. Luo Sanpao lay beside the bed and immediately lifted his head with a cry at the sound of movement.

"Luo, luo!"

Yu Xiaogang looked down at him and reached out to stroke his head. "What is it? Hungry again?"

Luo Sanpao blinked, then turned his head toward the door. Yu Xiaogang could not help looking over as well.

Since Li Qingshan had left, Yu Xiaogang had spent his days cultivating, reading through the notes he had taken lately, and caring for Sanpao according to his teacher's instructions.

But after several days without his teacher returning, he could not help worrying a little. "I wonder if Teacher found the medicinal herbs..."

Yu Xiaogang murmured and was about to stand when a familiar voice suddenly came from outside.

"Xiao Gang."

Yu Xiaogang paused, then his eyes lit up. He exclaimed excitedly:

"Teacher?!"

He hurried off the bed and strode to the door to open it.

Li Qingshan stood outside. Seeing him emerge, he smiled and asked, "Finished cultivating?"

Yu Xiaogang quickly nodded, looking his teacher up and down. Only after seeing that he looked as usual did he relax.

"Teacher, you're back."

Only then did he notice the green-haired man and boy standing behind Li Qingshan. The father and son bore a clear resemblance to each other, and both were looking at him.

Yu Xiaogang briefly froze, then stepped aside to clear the doorway. "Teacher, who are these two?"

"Let's talk inside." Li Qingshan stepped into the room. Luo Sanpao had already run over from beside the bed and circled halfway around the hem of his robe.

"Luo, luo!"

"You still remember me, then."

Li Qingshan bent down with a smile and stroked his head before looking at Yu Xiaogang, who stood to one side.

"Let me introduce you. This is Dugu Bo, the disciple I took in during this trip to the Sunset Forest. The boy beside him is his son, Dugu Xin."

"A new disciple?" Yu Xiaogang instinctively looked at Dugu Bo, surprise growing in his eyes.

Whether in appearance or bearing, the green-haired man before him was clearly much older than he was.

And although the man had not deliberately released any Soul Power, his mere presence gave Yu Xiaogang a faint sense of pressure. He was his teacher's new disciple too?

Li Qingshan saw his confusion and smiled faintly. "Disciples are ranked by when they join. Since you became my disciple first, you are naturally the senior disciple."

As he spoke, he turned to Dugu Bo.

"This is Yu Xiaogang, whom I told you about."

Looking at the young boy before him, Dugu Bo still felt somewhat unaccustomed to the situation.

When his teacher had mentioned him earlier, he had known this senior disciple was young. Only now, seeing him in person, did he realize that Yu Xiaogang was barely older than his own son.

Still, since he had already acknowledged his teacher, he would certainly not go back on the rules of seniority now.

Dugu Bo cupped his hands slightly and said:

"Senior brother."

Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment, then hastily raised his hands to return the greeting.

"J-junior brother."

Even he felt awkward saying those words.

Beside them, Dugu Xin looked at his father, then at Yu Xiaogang. He quickly understood their relationship and followed with a respectful bow.

"Greetings, senior martial uncle."

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, momentarily unsure which of them to answer first.

His teacher had only been away for a few days, and upon returning, he had given him not just a junior brother, but even a martial nephew?

Seeing this, Li Qingshan could not help laughing. "All right, you'll have plenty of opportunities to spend time together. You can get acquainted in a moment."

He motioned for them to sit, then took a jade bottle from his Storage Soul Tool and placed it on the table.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze followed it.

"Teacher, what is this?"

"A pill I prepared for you." Li Qingshan pulled out the stopper, and a faint, fresh fragrance immediately spread through the room.

Luo Sanpao, who had been crouching nearby, twitched his nose and immediately leaned his head closer.

Li Qingshan pressed a finger against his forehead and gently pushed him away. "Your master gets this one first."

"Luo, luo..."

Luo Sanpao gave a cry and had no choice but to crouch back down, though his eyes remained fixed on the jade bottle.

Li Qingshan poured out a pale blue pill, held it in his palm, and offered it to Yu Xiaogang.

"This is called the Mystic Water Pill."

"Your Innate Soul Power is lacking. Although your constitution has improved lately, your foundation is still insufficient. This pill was prepared to address that. Taking it will raise your Innate Soul Power by one rank."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up. His teacher had indeed found a solution for him on this trip!

But before he could speak, Li Qingshan set the Mystic Water Pill aside and picked up a second jade bottle.

"However, this is not the only pill I prepared for you this time."

The stopper came out.

A medicinal fragrance richer than the first immediately spread through the room. Luo Sanpao, who had been lying at Yu Xiaogang's feet, suddenly twitched his nose.

Then the little fellow jerked his head up, staring straight at the jade bottle in Li Qingshan's hand.

"Luo, luo!"

He sprang to his feet, placing both forepaws against Yu Xiaogang's calf, his cries carrying a note of urgency.

Yu Xiaogang briefly froze.

As Luo Sanpao's master, he could sense that Sanpao's reaction was different from when he smelled beast meat. This was a far stronger longing.

It was as though whatever lay inside the bottle held an immense attraction for him.

"Teacher, Sanpao..."

"He sensed it?" Li Qingshan glanced down at Luo Sanpao, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He poured the pale golden pill into his palm and held it before Yu Xiaogang.

"This is called the Sacred Dragon Creation Pill. It is another gift I prepared for you on this trip."

Looking at the pill, Yu Xiaogang unconsciously softened his breathing.

"Sacred Dragon..."

"I took portions of singular velvet sky chrysanthemum, nine-grade purple ganoderma, aromatic silk beauty, and several other immortal-grade herbs, then combined their medicinal power to refine this pill."

Li Qingshan explained slowly:

"The singular velvet sky chrysanthemum will strengthen your constitution, the nine-grade purple ganoderma will help you break through your cultivation bottleneck, and the aromatic silk beauty will drive your Martial Soul's evolution."

"The other herbs will supplement your foundation and nourish your meridians, allowing you to withstand the changes Sanpao is about to undergo."

At the words "Martial Soul evolution," Yu Xiaogang's hands involuntarily clenched on his knees. He looked down at Luo Sanpao, who was still staring at the pill, then raised his head again.

"Teacher, you mean..."

Li Qingshan looked at him and nodded earnestly. "The beast meat, beast blood, and Soul Rings from before were all merely laying a foundation for Sanpao."

"This time, I will use this Sacred Dragon Creation Pill to help your Martial Soul fully complete its evolution."

As soon as he said this, the room fell silent.

Yu Xiaogang gazed at Li Qingshan. His lips moved, but for a moment, no words came out. Since becoming his disciple, he had already witnessed many changes in Sanpao.

Even so, he still had no idea how long he would have to cultivate before Sanpao could truly become the Golden Sacred Dragon his teacher spoke of.

Now that hope had actually been placed before him. It was only a single pill, yet who knew how much thought and effort his teacher had poured into it?

"Teacher..."

Yu Xiaogang's voice tightened.

Seeing this, Li Qingshan raised a hand and gently patted his shoulder. "Don't get excited just yet. There's still plenty for you to endure."

"Cleansing your sinews and remaking your marrow, evolving your Martial Soul-none of it will happen without you feeling a thing. Especially once Sanpao truly begins to change, you, as his master, will have to bear it alongside him."

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, but there was not the slightest trace of retreat in his expression. He said solemnly, "I'm not afraid. As long as Sanpao can complete his evolution, a little suffering is nothing."

Li Qingshan smiled and nodded, then handed him the Mystic Water Pill.

"Good. Take the Mystic Water Pill first to purge your impurities and condition your meridians. Once you've fully and safely absorbed its medicinal power, take the Sacred Dragon Creation Pill."

"I'll be right beside you, keeping watch."

P.S. At present, you generous patrons have actually cast a little over 500 monthly votes. Today's bonus update is already out!

The total of over 2,000 votes came from me tipping my own work 10,000, which added 2,132 monthly votes. I wanted to push up the rankings and gain exposure, so those definitely don't count toward bonus updates.

Keep voting, everyone. If we reach 600 votes tomorrow, I'll post another bonus update!