Reading all that, I had only one thought in mind: I’m fucked. Royally fucked.

Blood thumped from my heart and into my body, eyes twitching. Things just got out of hand, and I wasn’t ready, not in the least. So, with that happening, I put everything at the back of my mind. I had only one thing in front of me now, and I’d be working on doing it so I could be at some peace if a war were to occur.

Noodles stirred from sleep—she’d been sleeping way too much but I blamed it on her small size, maybe she was a kid. She hissed, coiling around my arm, most likely sensing my pulse. Quite alert, is she? I smiled bitterly and patted her head; I had no intention of dying and I was sure as hell not going to.

Noodles looked at me with those big yet small eyes of hers, and I couldn’t help but stare. They had a peculiar but mesmerizing pattern etched into them, and innocence I hadn’t expected from a snake, ever.

I imagined how she’d be, how she’d react when she grew up. Biscuit was already growing up; I could see the signs of her intelligence increasing. That could only mean that my System had some sort of effect on my Disciples, specifically animal ones. If Biscuit had significant boosts in intelligence this fast, Noodles was bound to, as well.

Suddenly, I felt quite embarrassed at giving them weird names. Biscuit and Noodles… I really should start naming animals well, and yes, I intend to get more animals. They’re more loyal.

As Noodles retreated back into my sleeve after confirming that I was alright, she stopped her movements and most likely drifted off to sleep again. Shaking my head, I put the bomb of a scroll in my Inventory and grabbed the elixir scroll I’d gotten from the Archivist.

Slamming it on the bed, I spread it open, and quickly made mental notes of the items I needed to make the elixir. However, as I’d expected, there was more to this than just an elixir. So, without further ado, I delved deeper into the scroll and forgot my surroundings.

The recipe for the elixir appeared quite simple but I knew better than to trust that part. It’d be hard as fuck. Welcome back curses, live rent-free in my fucking head as long as I’m stressed, thank me later, cunts.

Despite the scroll being rather small in length, I lost track of time as I used every possible brain cell to analyze and think about how to make this as efficient as possible.

The recipe itself was simple enough, and I had those materials in the mansion. This place had been for an Elder, so it of course had resources. Resources I had been giving to Renji and Kai so they could further their Cultivation. Though it was a different matter I had denied them the use of any elixir, pill, or any Xianxia drug bullshit of the sort.

Their growth had been good for the time I’d been away, Cultivation usually took way more time than that, so I was happy with their progress.

It was already morning by the time I let the scroll down, already having memorized of its contents and the way I needed to make the elixir. I’d need help from Renji and Kai, though, possibly Biscuit, too, if she had the ability and processing power to, well, process minute changes in the use of Gu.

Wait, processing power? I chuckled, patting Biscuit who had arrived in the room during the night and was asleep silently beside me at the moment. She looked quite well, her fur a bit disheveled though. I needed to wash her. I knew not what had taken over her, but I knew it’d been a bit much for her small brain. Although she appeared alright at the moment I was worried about her mental health.

Yeah, a cat’s mental health. I shook my head, how the times have changed.

When she woke up, I washed her and dried her up. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any of her usual cat drama and playfulness. She was just… silent. Although worried, I called Renji and Kai and explained what I wanted them to do.

“I’m going to be making something for you two.” They blinked their eyes. “And I want you to help me with Gu.”

They nodded, and before they asked any questions, I told them the lie I had thought of, “I could very well be doing this myself, but I wanted this to be an exercise for you.” Which wasn’t wrong per se, as such minute fine-tuning was quite extensive on the body. “On my instructions, you will lower, increase, and expand your Gu. If you mess up anything, then that’s over.”

“Yes, Master!” Both intoned, “We won’t disappoint!”

“Now, follow me,” I said, and walked out of the room, trudging through the halls and walking into an underground tunnel that led to a set of doors with pillars standing erect on the sides. Inside, there was a cauldron hovering on top of a special stone imbued with Gu that made it, well, hover. There were a bunch of herbs, ingredients, and the like, and I immediately grabbed what I needed.

Hundred Years Old Heavenly Dragon Ginseng, Stellar Lotus Petals, Demonic Serpent Pearls, and Essence of the Silver Moonstone.

Grabbing them from appearance alone, I still made sure to check with [Identify] and make sure that I chose the right ones.

Yeah, I wondered who had gotten this, and more importantly, how. I had some suspicions that we might have had some people working in the Holy Land, but I had no clue who it might be. Otherwise, getting this had to be difficult. Possible only by either sneaking in—which was highly unlikely given you’d be found out really quick—or, well, war.

Yep, no clue what that is.

Now that I was sure these were the ingredients I needed, I sat beside the cauldron and gestured for Noodles to get out and sit beside me. Although Biscuit stiffened and hissed, she snorted and remained in her place. Noodles, on the other hand, retreated behind me, sneaking glances at Biscuit, Renji, and Kai.

Ignoring them, I began by grinding the Thousand-Year-Old Heavenly Dragon Ginseng into a fine powder. I soaked it in a bowl of water, allowing its essence to meld with the liquid, while in another bowl filled with water, I put the Stellar Lotus Petals.

The petals melted in seconds and their color got mixed with the water. A fragrant floral smell wafted into my nose and I sniffed it, enjoying its scent for a moment before I began grinding the Demonic Serpent Pearls into a crimson dust and gently toasted it over a candle flame. It sizzled and I let it for a moment before plucking the final petal and throwing it in.

All the ingredients ready, I gestured for Renji and Kai to pour their Gu.

“Start slow,” I instructed and saw as they infused Gu into the stone below the cauldron, igniting a red fire that immediately started a reaction when I poured the bowl with the powder of the Thousand-Year-Old Heavenly Dragon Ginseng. As a sweet smell wafted into the air, I grabbed the remaining bowls and tipped them inside the cauldron.

A loud explosion erupted inside the cauldron and my heart sank, “Lower the Gu!”

Renji and Kai started lowering the Gu, and when I saw that it was enough, and the cauldron no longer shook, I heaved a sigh and told them to maintain a constant supply of Gu.

They nodded. I could see a bead of sweat rolling down Renji’s forehead, “You guys are doing good!”

As the concoction brewed in the cauldron, I observed for the moment it reached that specific point mentioned in the scroll.

The liquid started changing colors, from red to blue, yellow, brown, and then green. When it finally settled into a golden color, I grabbed the bottle which had the Essence of the Silver Moonstone, and plucked it open before pouring its contents inside. An overwhelming heat struck my hand and I gritted my teeth to stop myself from crying.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!

Grinding my teeth, I waited until the bottle was empty before yanking my trembling hand behind. Fuck this world’s lack of equipment. I growled, cradling my hand for a moment, moving back as the cauldron started shaking violently.

The cauldron’s violent trembles increased, and it started twitching midair. Sweat poured down my face due to the heat. “Renji, Kai! Make sure you keep the push and pull at a balance. You must be feeling it now. Wrestle it; don’t let it fall apart.”

“Yes, Master!”

“Yes, Master!”

They said, wrestling with the uncontrollable forces within the cauldron.

Failure here was not an option; it would seal my doom, a slow and agonizing death courtesy of the curse that clung to my soul.

The mansion, my pets, my very existence—all of it teetered on this very moment, and there was no turning back.