At this moment, Master Danyang paid no attention to Li Huowang's thoughts; he was busy lecturing his terrified disciples.
"If any of you ever harbor treacherous intentions in the future, remember what you saw today!"
Master Danyang's words made everyone's hearts tighten, the fear in their eyes intensifying. He clasped his hands behind his back and strode before his disciples, his eagle-like gaze sweeping across each of their faces.
"Let me tell you, helping another ascend to immortality is a deed of great merit. If I, your Daoist Master, become an Immortal, I will certainly not forget your contributions. But if anyone dares to ruin my great undertaking... hmph!"
As his voice fell, he suddenly stopped in front of Li Huowang, scrutinizing the young man whose demeanor differed so starkly from the other disciples.
You're just an illusion—am I supposed to be afraid of you? You're nothing but a thought in my head! As Li Huowang thought this, his eyes calmly met the gaze of his scab-headed Master.
When Master Danyang raised his right hand, its fingernails caked with filth, the atmosphere in the cavern grew tense. All eyes darted toward their senior brother who had dared to offend their Master, waiting to see how he would be dealt with.
Unexpectedly, Master Danyang's expression softened. He placed his raised hand on Li Huowang's head and patted it a few times, instantly dissipating the heavy atmosphere without a trace.
"Last night, those traitors invited you to leave with them. Why did you refuse?"
Though phrased as a question to Li Huowang, it was, in fact, a form of praise.
Just as Li Huowang was about to speak, he saw Master Danyang raise his hand again.
"Spare me the empty pleasantries. Although you failed to report to me in a timely manner, you are already a vast improvement compared to those treacherous disciples with ill intentions."
He lowered his hand and continued, "I can see you have potential. You no longer need to work in the ingredient room. From this day forward, you are my registered disciple."
Li Huowang was stunned. A promotion? He quickly realized that with so many people dead in the cave, the man was simply short on help.
"Right. Since you have become my disciple and joined my sect, you cannot go without a Daoist title. From now on, your name shall be Xuan Yang."
Li Huowang glanced toward the round opening in the corner of the cavern. The gruesome fate of the previous Xuan Yang flashed through his mind. Damn, this name is seriously unlucky.
Although Li Huowang was indifferent to this change in status, the others from the ingredient room stared with eyes full of envy. Becoming a registered disciple of Master Danyang meant they wouldn't have to die.
But in Master Danyang's view, this wasn't enough. A stick had to be followed by plenty of carrots to keep people hooked. "Xuan Yang, since you've just joined the sect, it is only right for this Daoist Master to give you a welcoming gift."
Hearing his new name, Li Huowang quickly walked to his side. Judging by the tone, he was about to receive something.
Master Danyang poured five dark Elixirs from the gourd at his waist and placed them into Li Huowang's palm.
"Take these. These five are Immortal Elixirs refined by me. Consuming them will not only grant you ten years of Yangshou, but also temporarily bestow upon you mighty Divine Skills for self-preservation."
Li Huowang frowned, looking at the Elixirs in his hand. This stuff... don't tell me it was made from people too?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Li Huowang suddenly saw one of the Elixirs in his hand twitch, its shape shifting from a sphere to an oval as if something inside was trying to squirm out.
But when he focused his gaze on it again, the Elixir was perfectly still and unchanged.
Shit, am I losing my mind? Why do I even care about things in an illusion? It's all fake. I absolutely cannot get sucked into this again. Li Huowang slapped his own head in frustration.
Master Danyang ignored Li Huowang's odd behavior, turning instead to the remaining disciples. "Do you see? Opposing your Daoist Master is a dead end. But those who help your Daoist Master will be rewarded, and rewarded generously!"
Everyone's gaze flickered nervously between Master Danyang and the Elixirs, their minds churning with thoughts known only to themselves.
Seeing that he had achieved his objective, Master Danyang waved his filthy long sleeve, dismissing everyone to continue their work.
Li Huowang no longer had to return to the ingredient room. Now that his Daoist title was Xuan Yang, everything that belonged to the previous Xuan Yang was his—status, Daoist Robe, and even that private, smaller cavern.
But at this moment, he couldn't care less about what happened in this illusion. He was far more concerned with what he had obtained.
He crossed his arms, staring at the two items lying on the white sheets of his hospital bed: the Jade Pendant and the Elixirs.
My God... I actually brought them out.
Now Li Huowang was in a bind. An old question resurfaced, one he could no longer avoid.
If I can take these Elixirs out of that place, and they actually have an effect when I eat them, then is that place really an illusion? What the hell is happening to me?
He had been diligently following his doctor's advice, staunchly treating everything over there as a hallucination. But now, with these items undeniably real before him, his conviction began to waver.
If this was truly an illusion, then what caused these things to become tangible? What harm could they pose to him?
And if that other place was another world, then...
The crazed senior sister refined into Elixirs by their Master, the previous Xuan Yang being devoured by the black cauldron—all sorts of horrifying images flashed through his mind, causing his breath to quicken.
"Argh! This is so frustrating! There's no one I can even talk to about this!" Agitated, Li Huowang raked his hands through his hair.
After venting his frustration, Li Huowang knew he had to face reality. He thought for a long time before finally settling on a course of action.
Regarding that other place, regardless of whether it was real or fake, he would continue to play along as before, treating it as if it were entirely real.
If it turned out to be real, he could protect himself and survive.
If it was fake, he wouldn't suffer any real loss.
For now, he decided to first verify the authenticity and value of these items he had brought out before making any further plans.
With his strategy in place, Li Huowang took a deep breath, pinched an Elixir between his thumb and forefinger, and held it up to his eye.
No, it's too risky for me to eat it myself. His gaze drifted toward the patients sunbathing in the garden outside.
After a brief, one-second internal struggle, he slumped in defeat. They were pitiful souls just like him; how could he possibly make them test the medicine? He would have to find a way to get a lab rat later.
Next, Li Huowang turned his attention to the round Jade Pendant. Compared to the Elixirs, this would be much easier to deal with.
"Out with it. What's so important? I had to climb the wall to get out of here. If this is some kind of prank, hmph!" Yang Na clenched her small, fair fist, threatening Li Huowang.
"Yang Na, I only asked you to come over because I had no other choice. You know I can't leave this place."
As he spoke, Li Huowang walked to the door of his hospital room, shut it tight, and drew the curtains closed.