Chapter 9.
...
Chapter 9: Beyond the Cauldron
"Congratulations, Shang Di; you've impressed all of us today." Master Yao said, his tone positive and a smile on his face.
"Oh, it's too much praise for me, master Yao." Shang Di responded with an artificial smile.
'Imagine I would've lost, then you wouldn't have been so nice to me, huh?' Shang Di knew that these people were all fake.
As long as they could gain benefits, they would do anything; therefore, he simply thanked everybody and excused himself.
"I think after this exciting day, I need to take some rest, Master Yao."
"Of course, Of course." Master Yao and his following elders then left the stage.
…
Later that day, Shang Di sat cross-legged in his quiet room, staring blankly at the silver badge sitting neatly on his table.
It was shiny.
It was prestigious.
And it didn't feel like it belonged to him.
He grabbed it, flipped it once in his hand, then set it down again.
"Alright, I got the badge. I got the recognition. The Circle knows my name," he muttered. "So why does this feel… hollow?"
No one answered.
Except the system, of course.
[System Notification]
Alchemy Trial Passed.
+150 SP
+Rare Alchemy Technique Ticket
[Tier 2 Shop – Unlocked]
"Oh? Now that's something."
Shang Di straightened up, cracked his knuckles, and brought up the shop.
...
[Tier 2 Shop – Interface Displayed]
SP Available: 880
Tickets: 1x Rare Alchemy Technique Ticket
[Available Options]:
...
Essence Refiner's Bundle – 600 SP
Contents:
– 3 Pill Recipes
– 2 Alchemy Techniques
– 1 Alchemy Tool
Rarity Distribution:
– Common (C): 45%
– Uncommon (UC): 30%
– Rare (R): 20%
– Epic (E): 4%
– Super Rare (SR): 1%
Includes: Basic utility and mid-tier alchemy content.
Draw Method: Fixed contents per purchase – total of 6 items.
...
Spirit Contract Box – 1000 SP
Contents:
– 1 Spirit Beast Contract Pull (Beast-Type Summon)
Rarity Distribution:
– UC: 60%
– R: 30%
– E: 7%
– SR+: 3%
Includes: Tamable or bondable beasts. Beast can be spiritual, elemental, mutated, or hybrid.
Warning: Beast may reject contract if host power is insufficient.
...
Flame borne Scripture Box – 600 SP
Contents:
– 1 Flame-Type Technique or Manual
Rarity Distribution:
– R: 70%
– E: 20%
– SR: 9%
– UR: 1%
Includes: Fire path manuals, flame refinement scriptures, and advanced control techniques.
Draw Method: Single pull per purchase.
Shang Di stared at the Spirit Contract Box.
"…Tempting. But I'm broke."
He scrolled up and tapped on the Essence Refiner's Bundle.
[600 SP Deducted]
[Opening…]
A sequence of six cards hovered before him, each spinning slowly with colored edges.
"C'mon, system. Don't embarrass me today."
First card flipped—
[Pill Recipe (C): Spirit Moisturizing Powder]
"…Moisturizing."
Second—
[Alchemy Technique (UC): Steady Flame Breathing]
"That sounds like a glorified breathing exercise."
Third—
[Pill Recipe (UC): Skin Toning Essence Mix]
Shang Di stared blankly.
"…I'm building a skincare line at this point."
Fourth—
[Alchemy Technique (R): Balanced Qi Funnel Method]
"Alright, finally something useful. One out of four."
Fifth card—
[Pill Recipe (R): Minor Beast Communication Pellet]
He raised a brow. "Beast communication, huh… foreshadowing?"
Final card—
[Alchemy Tool (UC): Low-Grade Ashen Ember Cauldron]
He slowly closed his eyes.
"…Of course."
He sat there in silence for a long moment.
Then he muttered, "Why do I feel like I just lost a ten-pull on a mobile game?"
...
[Rare Alchemy Technique Ticket available. Redeem now?]
"Sure, why not? Let's see what the gacha gods have planned."
A single golden card floated before him, glowing faintly.
[Alchemy Technique (R): Internal Flame Rotation Cycle]
"Could be worse, I guess…"
...
Still sitting, Shang Di stared up at the ceiling.
The pulls were underwhelming, sure, but they weren't what was bothering him.
It was the badge on the table.
The Circle had welcomed him. He could have stayed. Gotten promoted. Gained resources. Influence.
But…
It wasn't his goal to become an alchemist.
Not really.
...
That evening, he walked through the outer market, ignoring most of the stalls. Until one caught his eye.
Shang Di stopped by a quiet stall near the end of the outer market.
It was run by a slouched old man sitting on a simple chair, surrounded by stacked scrolls and jade slips.
"Updated maps?" Shang Di asked.
"One gold coin," the man grumbled, not bothering to look up.
"Includes borders, known beast zones, city routes, and major sect territories. Last revised seven weeks ago."
Shang Di flipped him a coin.
The vendor handed him a sealed jade slip without a word. And then gave him a nod of approval and added.
"Press this against your forehead; information will then surge into your brain."
Shang Di thanked him for his advices, bowed slightly and left. He then found a quiet bench nearby, sat down, and pressed the slip against his forehead.
A wave of information surged through his mind—hot, dense, and overloaded with names.
Cities. Empires. Ruins. Beast lands. Sect territories. Travel gates.
It took a few seconds to even process.
"…Damn."
...
[World Map – Onyx Empire Region: Eastern Quadrant]
The Onyx Empire rules over the eastern lands. It spans dozens of cities and provinces, each under the influence of regional governors, cultivation clans, or spiritual organizations.
At the top sits the Heavenly Crown Court — the imperial cultivator court that governs with both political and spiritual authority. It is led by seven Immortal Officials, all said to be at least Soul Shattering Realm and above.
Beneath them: Four Pillars of Power.
...
The Four Pillars of the Eastern Region:
1. Constellation Alchemy Circle
– Based in Four-Star Constellation City
– Focuses on high-grade pill refining, healing arts, and spirit flame cultivation
– Politically aligned with the Empire
2. Azure Radiance Temple
– Centered around the Sky-Woven Lake
– A sacred pilgrimage sect known for water Dao, healing, and body purification
– Neutral to politics, but extremely feared
3. Threefold Sword Sect
– Dominates the Velveta Plains and nearby territories
– Houses three sword peaks, each mastering a separate sword path
– Often recruits from rogue tribes and independent dueling clans
4. Black-Robe Collective (Unrecognized)
– A secretive faction tied to forbidden beast experiments and formation corruption
– Hunted by the empire
– Rumored to control pockets of rogue cities and underground ruins
…
Notable Locations:
• Four-Star Constellation City
– Alchemy-centered, stable, trade-rich.
• Obsidian Root City
– A border city near a broken spiritual valley
– Beast dens, ruined sect halls, mercenary guilds
– Known for its chaos, cultivation duels, and unclaimed ancient legacies
• Sky-Woven Lake
– Blessed region under Azure Radiance Temple
– Pure water energy flows across the land
– Entry is restricted to those with verified spirit purity
• Velveta Plains
– Endless open plains filled with dueling tribes and sword cultivators
– Dueling zones are sacred; duels to death are permitted by law
• Cracked Heaven Divide (Borderline Forbidden)
– A spiritual fault line filled with unstable rifts and failed ascension zones
– Rumored to house remnants of the Realm Shattering trials
– Entry is forbidden unless Soul Core Realm or higher
…
Shang Di let out a low whistle.
"This world isn't just big… it's fractured."
For a moment, he realized how small Constellation City really was.
"System, any recommended direction?"
[Current System Path: Obsidian Root City — Recommended]
Strategic Region: Moderate Chaos
Opportunities: Medium
Beast Activity: High
Risk: Elevated
Ancient Formation Residue Detected
Probability of Spirit Beast Path Trigger: 73%
He raised an eyebrow.
"So that's where the real game starts."
A place of chaos, opportunity… and power.
"…That's more my style."
…
Back at the Circle gates, someone waited.
Lian Feng.
He stood quietly, arms folded, as Shang Di approached.
"You're leaving," he said, not a question.
Shang Di nodded.
Lian looked at him for a moment, then handed him a scroll.
It was bound in black ribbon and marked with a silver character.
"From Master Yao," Lian said. "He said you'd need it."
Shang Di took it with both hands.
"He said you're not meant to stay. And he respects that."
"…Tell him I thank him."
Lian gave a faint smile.
"You've stirred the pot here. And you made enemies. Be careful on your way out."
"I always am," Shang Di said. "Sort of."
…
[System Quest Triggered]
Quest: "Beyond the Cauldron"
Objective: Reach Obsidian Root City
Optional: Survive a wilderness ambush
Reward:
+300 SP
Unlock Spirit Beast Path
…
He packed light.
A few pills. The scroll. His ring. A formation stone and two talisman slips. No badge.
He left the badge on the table. Maybe someone else would want it.
No one stopped him at the gate.
One guard squinted. "Weren't you the one who—"
"Yeah," Shang Di interrupted. "I'm the guy."
And he walked past.
…
"He didn't take the badge with him right?" A figure said, however, this figure was talking to another man who seemed to be his direct underling.
"No he didn't." The other figure replied and then added.
"Well, I guess he's not someone we could've controlled anyways."
…
Outside the city, the trees loomed tall, and the forest trail stretched endlessly east.
The air was cool.
The wind was clean.
And for the first time since transmigrating—
He wasn't following the system.
He was following himself.
To be continued…
...