Pepper Removes Fishy Smell

Wanhua Ridge, Li Xingtian's residence.

Li Xingtian lay silently in a makeshift iron bucket, fashioned on the spot by Chu Xingchen, wearing nothing but a pair of loose shorts. Beneath the bucket, a firewood blaze crackled.

The boiling water inside the bucket churned relentlessly, dispersing the pungent aroma of medicinal herbs into the air.

As a cultivator at the Nascent Soul realm, ordinary flames couldn’t harm him in the slightest, let alone mere boiling water.

And yet… he couldn’t shake the illusion that he was being cooked alive.

Li Xingtian lifted his head, his gaze settling on his master, who was casually rummaging through his spatial ring before tossing herbs into the bucket with an air of nonchalance.

There didn’t seem to be any precise measurements involved—in fact, it almost looked like the herbs were being thrown in at random.

Still, trusting his master implicitly, Li Xingtian held his tongue and remained submerged, allowing his teacher to work his methods.

Before long, however, the overpowering medicinal scent made him feel as though he were being marinated. His eyes flicked upward again just in time to see Chu Xingchen toss in another ingredient. Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Master… is Sichuan pepper really part of the bone-refining process?"

Chu Xingchen glanced at the casually sprinkled peppercorns, then at Li Xingtian’s slightly horrified expression—as if to say, Master, are you sure you’re not just trying to cook me?

"Of course not," Chu Xingchen replied with perfect composure.

Li Xingtian blinked. He hadn’t expected his master to deny it so bluntly—but that very bluntness only deepened his suspicion.

Was this not a bone-enhancing ritual at all, but some kind of joke?

"Then… why add Sichuan pepper?" he asked, voice laced with doubt.

Chu Xingchen sighed softly.

"To neutralize the fishy smell, of course."

"…What?!" Li Xingtian’s expression nearly cracked.

Chu Xingchen patted the side of the iron bucket reassuringly.

"I know you dislike reeking of blood, but your bone structure is what it is. This refinement might seem like it’s intensifying that aspect, but in truth, it could very well change things, freeing you from reliance on blood-based techniques."

"These are just ordinary peppercorns—they won’t interfere with the medicinal effects. But I added them as a gesture of goodwill, a blessing for your hopes."

Li Xingtian fell silent for a moment before bowing slightly. "My apologies, Master. I spoke out of turn."

Indeed, his master had always treated him with kindness—why would he play such a cruel prank now?

Chu Xingchen nodded approvingly—then casually tossed in a few slices of ginger.

"This is also for neutralizing the smell."

"…Thank you, Master." Li Xingtian eyed the ginger, suppressing a twitch before adding, "These two should suffice. Let’s leave out anything unnecessary."

If his master started throwing in star anise or cinnamon, he’d start feeling like a braised dish.

He appreciated the thought, but some things were better left to fate. The peppercorns and ginger were already more than enough.

"Tch. Can’t even handle this much? Fine, if you don’t appreciate my kindness." Chu Xingchen shook his head. "How do you feel now?"

Li Xingtian closed his eyes, focusing inward before answering uncertainly,

"Like… nothing’s changed."

"Good. That means the herbs haven’t fully integrated yet. What you need now is the supreme marrow-reforming elixir, personally refined by your master—a peerless alchemy grandmaster!"

With that, Chu Xingchen retrieved a pitch-black pill from his spatial ring, nearly the size of a child’s fist.

Li Xingtian stared at the pill for a long moment. Still, he had long since steeled himself—he’d consumed plenty of his master’s concoctions over the years.

Chu Xingchen’s pills were undeniably potent, but their side effects bordered on unbearable.

Many times, Li Xingtian had been forced to purge the effects prematurely. Yet through relentless endurance, he’d tempered his willpower far beyond that of ordinary cultivators.

He reached out, accepting the pill, then took a deep breath before asking cautiously,

"The peppercorns and ginger… they won’t fuse into my body, will they?"

The last thing he needed was to emerge smelling like a walking dish—so thoroughly "de-fished" that even genuine demonic cultivators would sneer at him.

Chu Xingchen arched a brow. "Of course not. Don’t underestimate your master or his creations. Just take it. Once you do, you’ll understand the heights of my prowess."

"After swallowing, focus solely on digesting the medicinal energy. Leave the rest to me."

Hearing this, Li Xingtian hesitated no longer. He opened his mouth and took a decisive bite of the pill.

Who else could he trust if not his master?

Down it went!

Chu Xingchen watched impassively as Li Xingtian devoured the pill in a few hearty bites.

Li Xingtian’s bone refinement was fundamentally different from Li Yingling’s Fortune’s Blessing upgrade.

Luck was intangible—even if Li Yingling’s fortune improved, she might not notice.

But Li Xingtian’s case was entirely different. His Bloodbone True Physique, originally a purple-tier trait, was now ascending to gold-tier.

Forget mystical phenomena—such a drastic enhancement would undoubtedly bring unmistakable sensations.

Excruciating pain, bone-deep restructuring—anything was possible.

After all, an orange-tier trait’s prestige was beyond question.

Rather than letting Li Xingtian overthink things or forcing awkward explanations, it was better to be direct.

The system’s existence was best kept secret—for everyone’s sake. Some truths were better left unspoken.

Chu Xingchen’s gaze remained fixed on Li Xingtian’s resolute expression. Moments later, the latter’s brows suddenly furrowed in discomfort.

The medicine had taken effect!

Without delay, Chu Xingchen upgraded Li Xingtian’s Bloodbone True Physique.

[Target: Li Xingtian]

[Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul]

[Gold Trait: Reborn One]

[Orange Trait: Primordial Blood Physique]

[Purple Trait: Ruthless Resolve]

[Blue Trait: Loyal Heart]

[Blue Trait: Dungeon Savvy]

[White Trait: Mild Tact]

Chu Xingchen studied the Primordial Blood Physique trait and fell silent.

As much as he wanted to argue otherwise, the trait’s description made it clear—this was no escape from blood-tinged techniques.

Still, it was undeniably an orange-tier trait.

Seemed his peppercorn-and-ginger deodorizing method hadn’t quite hit the mark.

Maybe he should have added star anise and cinnamon after all. If Li Xingtian still reeked of blood, surely eighty percent of the blame lay with the man himself?

His gaze shifted back to Li Xingtian, whose brows remained tightly knit as he wrestled with the pill’s potency.

Now… the only hope was that after this upgrade, the blood aura would at least be subdued enough for Little Baiqing’s enchanted robes to mask it.