Lucas sat cross-legged on the floor, carefully arranging the ingredients before him. Lira had already ground the herbs into a fine paste using a stone mortar, her delicate hands working with surprising diligence. The aroma of crushed lotus petals and spirit ginseng filled the room, mixing with the faint scent of burning incense from the small brazier in the corner.
With steady hands, he picked up a vial filled with a translucent golden liquid—one of the base elixirs needed for strengthening meridians. He poured a few drops into a small ceramic bowl and then added the mashed herbs, stirring slowly with a jade spoon. The mixture thickened slightly, taking on a deep crimson hue.
Next, he reached for a blank talisman paper and dipped a thin brush into black ink infused with spiritual energy. With smooth, precise strokes, he began inscribing runes onto the paper, his mind completely focused on the task. The runes glowed faintly as he chanted a low incantation, his voice steady and deliberate.
"By the ancient laws of alchemy, let the energies merge… By the balance of Yin and Yang, let the body be fortified… By the will of the heavens, let this elixir bring strength."
As the last rune was completed, a faint golden shimmer passed over the talisman, indicating that the energy had successfully been sealed within. Lucas placed it aside and turned his attention back to the elixir, watching as the mixture settled.
Lira, who had been silently observing, couldn't hide her amazement. She had never seen anyone perform such intricate alchemy before, let alone someone who was supposedly recovering from a coma. Her hands trembled slightly as she handed him another set of herbs.
"My Lord… how do you know all these things?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas chuckled lightly, his fingers deftly crushing a sprig of moonflower between his thumb and forefinger. "I've studied a lot," he replied simply, though the truth was far more complicated. His knowledge came from a future era where cultivation had evolved into a science, where scholars and warriors alike spent their lives deciphering ancient techniques. Compared to what he had once known, this era was still in its infancy.
As he worked, a thought crossed his mind, and he glanced at Lira. "Lira… you can't cultivate, right?"
Lira hesitated before nodding. "No, my Lord… my meridians are too weak for cultivation." Her tone was quiet, almost resigned.
Lucas sighed, shaking his head as he poured another vial into the bowl. "Such a pity, dear," he murmured, his voice laced with genuine regret.
Lira said nothing, only lowering her head as she continued following his instructions.
Then it happened.
She reached for another elixir, mistaking a nearly identical vial for the one Lucas had requested. The liquid inside had the same golden hue but carried a different energy. Before Lucas could stop her, she poured it into the mixture.
The reaction was immediate. The contents of the vial hissed as the mixture boiled violently, the ceramic bowl trembling from the sudden surge of unstable energy. A low hum filled the air, and the temperature in the room spiked.
Lucas' instincts kicked in instantly. In one swift motion, he grabbed Lira and pulled her toward him, shielding her small frame with his body. His back faced the exploding vial just as it shattered with a deafening BANG!
The force of the blast sent them both flying backward, slamming into the far wall. Lucas gritted his teeth as shards of glass tore into his back, the burning sensation spreading through his skin. Smoke and the scent of scorched herbs filled the air.
Lira's body trembled against his chest, her breath coming in rapid gasps.
"My Lord!" she gasped, eyes wide with horror. She pushed herself up, her hands frantically patting his shoulders as if checking for injuries.
Lucas let out a low grunt, wincing as pain flared through his back. He could feel the warmth of his own blood trickling down his skin, mingling with the burn marks left by the explosion.
Lira's hands hovered over his back, visibly shaking. "I… I… I'm sorry, my Lord! I didn't mean to—" Her voice cracked with panic.
Lucas exhaled slowly, steadying himself. He reached out and placed a hand on her head, gently brushing back the strands of hair that had fallen over her face. "It's alright, Lira," he said, his voice calm despite the pain. "It was a mistake. Just… be more careful next time."
Tears welled up in Lira's eyes, but she quickly blinked them away, bowing deeply. "I swear, my Lord, I won't make such a mistake again!"
Lucas gave her a weak smirk. "Good. Because if we keep blowing things up, my father might throw me out of the estate."
Lira let out a nervous giggle, though guilt still lingered in her expression.
Lucas forced himself to stand, ignoring the sharp pain in his back. He needed to treat his injuries before they got worse. More importantly, he needed to reattempt the elixir process… this time, without interruptions.
Lucas sat on a small wooden stool, his muscles tense from the lingering pain of the explosion. His robe was loosely draped over his shoulders, exposing his injured back. Lira knelt beside him, her delicate hands trembling as she dipped a small towel into a bowl of warm water. The rippling surface distorted her reflection, but she didn't care. Her chest was heavy with guilt.
She carefully wrung out the excess water and pressed the damp towel against Lucas' wounds, wiping away the dried blood. As she worked, she spotted several tiny glass shards embedded in his skin. Her fingers shook as she picked up a pair of small tweezers and started pulling them out, one by one. Each time she removed a shard, fresh blood welled up, making her heart sink even further.
A tear slipped down her cheek, landing on the back of her hand. She quickly wiped it away, but Lucas had already noticed.
"It's really okay, Lira," Lucas said, his voice surprisingly gentle despite the sting of his injuries. "It was just a rookie mistake. I made a lot of mistakes when I was learning too. It's nothing new."
Lira sniffled, nodding slightly as she continued working. "Okay, my Lord," she whispered, though her guilt remained.
Once she had removed all the shards, she soaked another towel in the herbal-infused water and dabbed it across his wounds, washing away any remaining impurities. Then, she reached for a small clay jar filled with a cooling balm made from silver lotus and spirit grass. She scooped a small amount onto her fingers and gently rubbed it into his burned skin.
Lucas exhaled as a refreshing coolness spread over his wounds, soothing the pain.
When she finished, she wiped her hands clean and stood up. "All done, my Lord."
Lucas rolled his shoulders slightly, testing the pain. It still hurt, but it was manageable. He gave her a nod of approval. "Let's continue what we were doing."
Lira's eyes widened in concern. "But, my Lord, your wounds—"
Lucas raised a hand, cutting her off. "I'm not going to let a few cuts slow me down."
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Understood."
They turned their attention back to the worktable. Fortunately, only a few of the vials had been destroyed in the explosion. Lucas quickly replaced the damaged ingredients and re-mixed the elixirs, this time handling the unstable components himself. Lira remained silent, carefully observing his every move to ensure she wouldn't make another mistake.
After nearly an hour of careful preparation, the vials and talismans were neatly arranged on the table, each one holding a different purpose. Lucas exhaled in satisfaction.
"Now we put it to the test, Lira," he said, picking up a vial filled with a deep golden liquid.
Lira nodded. "Okay, my Lord."
Without hesitation, Lucas uncorked the vial and drank it in one go. The thick liquid slid down his throat, leaving behind a slightly bitter aftertaste. A second later, a scorching sensation erupted inside his body. It was as if fire had been poured directly into his veins.
His meridians trembled as a surge of Qi flooded through them, expanding them beyond their natural limits. The pain was intense, but Lucas gritted his teeth and bore through it. He knew this was necessary.
Wasting no time, he dropped into a cross-legged position and entered a meditative state, guiding the surging Qi through his meridians. His breathing became steady, his focus razor-sharp. He could feel his cultivation rising, the blocked pathways in his body breaking open one after another.
Five hours passed in what felt like minutes.
When he finally opened his eyes, a deep glow flickered within them, like embers smoldering in the dark. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the newfound strength in his body. He had broken through the Novice Rank and entered the Adept Rank—a level that would have taken an ordinary cultivator months, if not years, to reach.
"My Lord, you're finally done with the process?" Lira's soft voice pulled him back to reality.
Lucas turned to her and saw the excitement shining in her large blue eyes.
"Yes, Lira," he replied, stretching his limbs. "I feel… stronger. Much stronger."
He focused inward, examining his meridians. To his surprise, they weren't just healed—they had been enhanced. He could now gather three times the amount of Qi an average cultivator of his rank could. This meant his future growth would be even faster.
A smirk tugged at his lips. Good. But this is just the beginning.
His gaze shifted toward the table, where another vial sat waiting. He picked it up and turned toward Lira.
"It's your turn, Lira. Drink this."
Lira's eyes widened in shock. She immediately shook her head and took a step back. "No, my Lord… I cannot."
Lucas frowned. "Why not?"
"Servants like me are not allowed to cultivate," she said quietly, lowering her gaze. "You know this, my Lord."
Lucas scoffed. "I don't care about those rules." He stepped closer, holding out the vial. "I'm not treating you like a servant. From now on, you're my apprentice." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "So don't disobey me. Take this."
Lira hesitated, biting her lip. She had always dreamed of cultivating, but she had accepted long ago that it was impossible. Yet here was her Lord, offering her a chance that no one else ever would.
She swallowed hard and reached out with shaking hands, taking the vial from him.
With a deep breath, she drank.
The moment the liquid entered her system, a sharp cry escaped her lips. A burning sensation spread through her body, unlike anything she had ever felt before. Her hands clenched into fists as her meridians, which had been weak and dormant all her life, suddenly awakened.
Lucas quickly guided her down into a seated position. "Close your eyes," he instructed. "Focus on refining the Qi. Don't resist it—let it flow naturally."
Lira obeyed, her breathing uneven as she struggled to control the raging power inside her. Lucas placed a hand on her back, helping to stabilize her circulation. He watched as the tension in her face slowly eased, her body adjusting to the foreign energy.
Satisfied that she was managing, Lucas turned back to the table. His eyes landed on the last vial—the one that would help him stabilize the Dual Cultivation Technique energy.
He picked it up, rolling it between his fingers.
"This is it," he thought, his heart pounding with anticipation.
This was power.
With his knowledge and abilities, he wasn't just going to survive in this world—he was going to rise. He was going to carve out a position of authority, and conquer everything that stood in his way.
Including the world's most powerful beauties—because for the Dual Cultivation Technique to be truly effective, he needed partners of immense talent and strong Yin energy.
His lips curled into a smirk.
"This era doesn't know what's coming."
.