Alchemy? Cultivation?
In the cramped space, Mo Fan was taken aback. The conversation outside gave him a preliminary understanding of this world.
Had he really come to a world where cultivation was possible?
Thinking of this, Mo Fan felt an inexplicable surge of excitement in his heart.
Cultivation was something he never dared to dream of before, but now he saw a glimmer of hope.
However, he quickly sighed helplessly.
Fing hell, he was about to be turned into a pill. He didn't even know if he could survive, let alone cultivate!
"No, I must escape, I have to escape!"
After a moment of despair, Mo Fan felt a strong unwillingness in his heart and began to encourage himself.
As time passed, he heard more conversations and learned that he seemed to be in some kind of Sect.
Moreover, he and two other unlucky fellows were currently trapped in a space called the 'Spirit Beast Pouch.'
"Bang! Bang!"
After an unknown amount of time, two more thuds were heard.
Mo Fan understood that the other two "Five Poisons," the scorpion and the gecko, had been thrown in.
Just as he was thinking, Mo Fan suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back, as if something had bitten him hard, but the next moment, the attacker let out a miserable cry, making a "jijiji" sound.
"Damn it, it must be that damn gecko attacking me!"
Mo Fan was furious. He kicked back with his hind leg, sending something flying with a "bang," followed by a series of wails.
"Hey, are you guys still fighting?"
At this moment, a childish voice sounded, and Mo Fan felt the world spin before his eyes brightened.
Had he been taken out of the Spirit Beast Pouch?
What a great opportunity!
Mo Fan's bulging eyes scanned the surroundings, seeing a bronze furnace about half a person's height and a little girl in a plain dress, around eleven or twelve years old.
As soon as the other four poisonous creatures appeared, they scattered and fled.
Mo Fan, however, remained still, lying in place, because he knew this seemingly harmless little girl wouldn't let them escape easily.
Sure enough, the little girl waved her hand, and the four poisonous creatures were pulled back, writhing in the air as if bound by an invisible force.
"Giggle... You little guys are so naughty, not as cute as this toad.
Although I really want to let you go, if I do, I won't be able to explain to my master, so you all have to go into the furnace!
Be good and turn into pills, making your last contribution!"
With the little girl's laughter, Mo Fan heard a crisp "clang" as she opened the bronze furnace lid, and the other four poisonous creatures were thrown in one by one.
Now's the time!
Mo Fan let out a low growl in his heart, using all his strength to leap out, desperately running towards the door.
"Huh?
Little toad, I just praised you for being good, but you're already trying to escape?
But you can't get away!"
Just as Mo Fan was about to reach the door, the little girl's voice reached his ears, shocking him.
The next moment, he felt a cool breeze envelop him, and his body tightened as if bound by something.
No... I don't want to die, I haven't even started cultivating, I haven't tasted swan meat...
"Croak, croak, croak..."
Mo Fan was devastated inside, but there was nothing he could do as the little girl sent him into the bronze furnace.
"Splosh!"
With a splash, Mo Fan found himself in a pool of water, but the pungent medicinal smell told him it was no ordinary pool—it was a medicinal pool!
He realized his predicament; he was likely inside the alchemy furnace!
Oddly calm, Mo Fan looked around, finding the inside of the furnace much larger than it appeared, spanning several meters!
Aside from the scorpion and gecko struggling in the water, the silver snake and red-backed centipede were desperately ramming the furnace lid.
But the lid was too heavy for them to budge.
"What to do... Am I really going to die here today?"
Mo Fan felt sorrowful, having finally been reborn into a mythical world, only to face such a humiliating death, being refined into a pill. It was unbearable.
Soon, the furnace's temperature rose, the walls turning red-hot, causing the silver snake and red-backed centipede to fall into the medicinal liquid.
The gecko and scorpion had long sunk to the bottom, the gecko's white belly visible, bubbles at its mouth as if poisoned.
The silver snake didn't last long, struggling in the medicinal pool before meeting the same fate as the gecko and scorpion, drowning.
Surprisingly, the red-backed centipede floated on the surface, using its wide legs to stay afloat.
But it moved aimlessly like a headless fly, trying to escape but failing, eventually stopping still, playing dead.
"Something's off, this guy... seems to be playing dead!"
Mo Fan observed the red-backed centipede, sensing a faint breath from it despite its stillness.
Mo Fan's eyes shifted, and he flipped over, exposing his belly to the surface, also pretending to be dead.
He was betting that once the furnace calmed down, an opportunity might arise.
But as the medicinal liquid grew hotter, Mo Fan grew anxious.
He knew this might be his last hope.
Perhaps sensing the calm inside, the furnace lid was soon lifted, and a jade-like hand tossed three fruits inside.
The red-backed centipede moved, trying to rush out, but with a "clang," the lid closed, thwarting its plan.
Mo Fan turned over, eyeing the three red fruits beside him.
"Aren't these the fruits from the Treasure Tree in the karst cave?
That woman called them Innate Spirit Fruits!"
As Mo Fan pondered, the red-backed centipede bit into one of the Spirit Fruits.
Seeing this, Mo Fan didn't hesitate, swallowing one of the Spirit Fruits himself.
As the fruit entered his stomach, Mo Fan felt a warm current rising, rushing to his head, clearing his throat.
"Ah... I'm... I'm transforming!"
A raspy, pained voice came from beside him, startling Mo Fan. He turned to see the red-backed centipede's head morphing irregularly as if about to explode.
"Fing hell, the centipede is talking?!"
Shocked, Mo Fan uttered a curse.
Then he froze, hearing his own voice, raspy but no longer the croaking of a frog, but actual human speech!
Though it wasn't the Chinese he knew, Mo Fan could understand it.
"Ah—!"
Suddenly, Mo Fan screamed as his head throbbed painfully, feeling like it would explode, as if forces were clashing in his mind, causing unbearable pain.
He had a strange feeling that if these forces broke through some barrier in his mind, he would truly be reborn!
But the forces seemed to be fading, alarming Mo Fan.
"Damn it, whether I can escape and taste swan meat depends on this.
Go for it!"
Mo Fan cursed inwardly, turning to swallow another Innate Spirit Fruit.
Instantly, a fiery sensation rose in his belly, currents rushing to his head, spreading through his limbs.
Meanwhile, a shrill cry came from beside him as the red-backed centipede's grotesque head transformed into a human one amidst black mist.
"Fing hell, the centipede really became a spirit?!"
Mo Fan exclaimed inwardly, watching the centipede glance at him before silently charging at the furnace lid.
"Bang!"
With a light sound, the lid flew off.
"Ah!"
Outside, the little girl screamed, then shouted angrily, "You damn centipede, how dare you steal the Spirit Fruit and transform!
I'll capture you today!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Mo Fan felt the barrier in his mind shatter.
Suddenly, his mind was clear, his vision and hearing sharper than ever, and he felt a great power within, along with a special memory.
But he couldn't dwell on it, glancing at the human face reflected in the medicinal liquid, then leaping out of the furnace.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan