A single drop of creation essence, indistinguishable from the earlier ones, clung to the cauldron’s base.


    Han was back at the martial hall now. Without hesitation, he tipped the drop onto his hand.


    Lu Qingmo was the strongest person he had access to. Within a month, he doubted he’d snag solar and lunar energies purer than hers. Yin God cultivators were out of reach, and as for the Black Mountain God’s trial and a potential audience with the deity? Even if it awoke this month, he wasn’t about to ask it for something so trivial.


    No point in waiting—use it now, reap the rewards sooner.


    The essence seeped into him silently, a verdant energy surging through every corner of his body. Warm currents looped endlessly.


    Lightness—pure, blissful lightness—washed over him, as if he’d shed a heavy burden. His body felt buoyant, almost transcendent.


    Something murky in his flesh and soul evaporated under the essence’s touch, leaving a crystalline clarity.


    The sensation clued Han in on one of the essence’s effects on living beings.


    Then, a low rumble stirred his six viscera. His vision dropped, and from his perfected stomach and small intestine emerged two faint humanoid silhouettes.


    The figures leapt out, sat cross-legged atop their respective organs, mouths moving in unison. Muffled voices hummed—too vague to decipher, yet solemn and sacred.


    Their faces mirrored Han’s, nine parts identical.


    In his other five organs and four viscera, faint stirrings hinted at more shapes flickering briefly.


    As the essence’s effect faded, the two figures retreated into the stomach and small intestine. Through the organs, Han could still faintly sense their presence.


    Shock and delight hit him. He hadn’t expected this from a single drop.


    The gods of his small intestine and stomach had manifested so vividly! Though they’d receded, their imprint lingered—a surefire sign he’d fully awaken them someday.


    He still had two divine pills up his sleeve.


    The other organ gods had stirred too. With higher cultivation and deeper self-exploration, he’d time the pills right.


    Confidence swelled like never before.


    Lu Qingmo had never seen anyone rouse the gods of all five organs and six viscera at this realm.


    Well, I’ll show her.


    On a whim, he tried a second drop—not for transformation, just to nudge those “gods” again.


    No dice. The essence’s one-use rule held firm.


    “It purifies the body, washes away impurities—basically a backdoor boost to your innate talent,” Han concluded, assessing his state.


    Crazy powerful—worthy of the “creation” tag.


    Everyone knew talent and foundation mattered. Items that enhanced them existed, sure, but they were ultra-rare treasures—unheard of for most, unseen by nearly all.


    Dragon or phoenix blood topped the fame list. Given a choice between a small talent boost or a minor realm jump, most would pick talent. A slight edge could mean a world of difference down the line—your future hinged on it.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    This essence would spark a frenzy if sold.


    Han wasn’t dumb enough to try, though.


    Still, the murk it cleared from his body was minimal—just a speck. With all the treasures he’d refined through, his flesh and soul were already near-pure, his foundation stellar, talent off the charts. Jumping from ten to a hundred offered room; ninety-five to a hundred, not so much.


    “I thought ripening plants meant the essence packed a huge energy punch,” Han mused. “But purifying pills and enhancing beings? It’s not about raw power forcing growth.”


    He’d felt it firsthand—its energy was wondrous, not overwhelming. It didn’t brute-force plants into maturity like some reckless growth spurt.


    What was this “creation” the cauldron bestowed?


    He shook his head. Who cares? It works for me—that’s enough.


    “One drop per person… I could whip up an excuse and share some with Senior Sister and the gang.”


    “Purging pill impurities—maybe I should offload my junk stash, trade for cultivation pills, speed things up.”


    Spirit plants were rare, but cultivation pills hit the market often—cheaper too.


    “Ripening plants… I’ve got a few unripe ones, but not many. To max this out, I’d need a stockpile. Not just spirit plants—regular herbs could work too. Seeds, even—I could source those.”


    Thoughts churned, plans clicking into place.


    This world didn’t just have spirit plants—plenty of herbs boasted supernatural traits. Unlike spirit plants, they weren’t edible raw for cultivation boosts. Their powers were wild, untamed—too harsh to stomach.


    Spirit plants evolved from ordinary flora—dogtail grass or pond weeds breaking limits through quirks of fate. Herbs, though, could be systematically farmed, refined into pills with supporting materials.


    Using spirit plants for pills? Extravagant—few bothered.


    Han stuffed Lu Qingmo’s harvested energies into the cauldron, dashed out of Heiyun Town, and returned later.


    Bai Ruoyue nabbed him on the way in. “What’s with all the in-and-out today?”


    “Open your mouth.”


    “Huh?” She blinked. “What’re you up to?”


    “Just do it—got something good for you.”


    His grin looked shady to her, but trust won out. She parted her lips, teeth glinting, waiting.


    Han leaned in, jade vial in hand, tilting it toward her mouth. From this angle, he caught her pink tongue twitching.


    Adorable. Wanna poke it.


    The thick essence hit her tongue, melting instantly.


    It couldn’t touch flesh or soul without triggering—plants, pills, beings, all the same. Avoid contact unless you meant to use it.


    Bai Ruoyue clamped her mouth shut, staring at him.


    “Hot—comfy—like I’m floating.”


    “What’d you give me, Little Brother?” she pressed.


    “Some rare juice I stumbled on,” Han dodged vaguely. “Just eat it.”


    He pulled out five more vials, handing them over. “One drop each. Give these to Second Brother and the rest later. Don’t touch the liquid—it’ll sink in right away. One drop per person, let them take it themselves.”


    “Got it,” she nodded, then paused. “Wait, the one you fed me—was that just one drop too?”


    “Yep, said extras don’t work.”


    “Then why didn’t you let me do it myself?”


    “…”


    Because my delivery’s got better vibes.


    “Savor the perks,” he tossed out, bolting before her flushed face could retort.


    No cauldron reveal—just “treasure juice.” Easy cover, and with their trust, no one’d dig deeper.


    Later, Bai Ruoyue and the crew tracked him down, buzzing with excitement.


    “Little Brother, after refining that juice, I feel lighter—like chains snapped off. Even my organ gods twitched!” she gushed.


    Shen Long and the others chimed in: “Ours hit harder—like a full-body cleanse. Totally different vibe now.”


    “Yeah, cultivation feels smoother too!”


    Watching their glee, Han sighed. “Jealous.”


    No lie—he meant it.


    Same drop, and Bai Ruoyue felt unshackled, the rest got a marrow-washing overhaul. Him? A nice shower, refreshed, but nothing wild.


    Jealous of you average-talent folks—so easy to level up with a little boost. Guess I’ll never feel that thrill. What a drag.


    That night, he slipped Lu Qingmo a drop.


    “Some treasure I nabbed a while back—needs refining to use. Yunjiang Dragon Palace could handle it, so I passed it to the Dragon Maiden,” he explained, fleshing it out for her.


    “Got the juice ready today. Give it a whirl, Aunt Mo.”


    “What kind?” Curiosity piqued, she inspected the vial—nothing special—then downed it.


    Han wouldn’t trick her.


    The moment it hit, her expression shifted, registering the essence’s magic.


    “Solid stuff—wasted on me, though.”


    “One drop’s the limit. More’s pointless for me,” he shrugged.


    While she refined it, Han tackled his own task.


    The artifact embryo still simmered—nurturing was passive, ongoing. Etching runes, though, took active effort.


    Shapeless yet, its bond with him grew through soul nurturing—a faint tether forming.


    What’ll the Immortal Tree visualization do? What powers’ll it unlock?


    Picturing the embryo tearing through foes, Han got to work.


    Runes carved onto it, lines multiplying—vaguely tracing a grand tree. As they took hold, the connection tightened, feeling like an extension of himself.


    Four limbs? Nah, I’ve got five now!