"Hah… I thought I'd jump straight into battle, but it turns out… I have to swallow vegetables first. Fun, isn't it?" he muttered, a mocking tone laced within his words.
He bent down, pulling out the root of Angel's Breath with nimble fingers before plucking the leaves of Moonshade. Every movement was calculated; not a single step wasted. His body might be nothing more than an ordinary human now, but the sealed cosmic demon aura within him allowed him to sense the surrounding energy, guiding every choice with precision.
"Like an animal… but one far smarter than any predator," he added inwardly as he placed the herbs on a broad leaf, grinding them with a stone. Thick green liquid dripped from the edge, its sharp scent filling the air.
Tian Yu carefully prepared the first few crude pills, adjusting the ratio of each powder. No spark of energy, no flash of light only meticulous care and flawless precision.
"Hmm… this should give at least one percent… just one percent," he murmured, a thin smile curling on his lips. With his frail hand, he placed the first raw pill into his mouth. A bitter taste spread across his tongue, the coarse texture scraping against the roof of his mouth.
"Oh, I'm like an animal now. Eating raw herbs… but yes, this is the foundation," he added, his tone still a mix of mockery and self-awareness. His mortal body moved quickly, his heart beating steadily, but his mind though partly sealed flowed like a rushing river, guiding the untapped energy.
He chewed the second pill more carefully this time, feeling every thread of energy seep inside. Though the effect was faint, he could sense subtle changes within: a touch more flexibility in his muscles, a keener sharpness in his senses, and a slight closeness to the power that should have been his.
Tian Yu let out a long breath. The morning mist thinned, and sunlight pierced through the gaps in the trees. He looked at the herbs still before him, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"At the very least… the first step has begun. And who says beasts can't become kings?"
From afar, birds cried out sharply, as if heralding the awakening of something sealed. Tian Yu raised the third pill, studying it for a moment before speaking, his tone a blend of mockery and resolve:
"If I have to swallow all this just to revive a fraction of my strength… so be it. At the very least, I am still Tian Yu… the fastest, most cunning beggar this world has ever seen."
Tian Yu slowly opened his eyes. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling upon his pale yet satisfied face. The subtle changes in his body were undeniable: his breathing felt lighter, his steps steadier, and his mind sharper.
"Not bad… for cattle feed," he muttered, patting his stomach lightly.
He reached for the remaining herbs, weighing them one by one. Green-glimmering leaves, vein-streaked red roots, and tiny blossoms with a bitter scent ingredients that would normally require a furnace and spiritual flame. Tian Yu merely stared at them for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.
"If I waited for a furnace, this tree would have aged another thousand years. So… my tongue shall be the furnace instead."
He mixed two plants together, grinding them on a flat stone until they became a thick paste. The viscous liquid dripped to the ground, releasing a pungent odor. He lifted it close to his nose, inhaled deeply, then nodded with satisfaction.
"A mild poison… but enough to speed up blood circulation. Perfect. I just have to endure a little pain."
Without hesitation, he swallowed the paste. His tongue went numb, his throat burned, and his heartbeat quickened at once. The veins in his hands bulged, his body trembled—yet Tian Yu only smiled, savoring the pain coursing through him.
"Ah… finally, this body begins to learn what it means to live. Pain is the best reminder."
He sat cross-legged on a stone and closed his eyes. The faint energy of the herbs spread within him, seeping into muscle and bone. It was far from his original power, but enough to ignite a tiny spark within the darkness.
Moments later, he opened his eyes again, gazing at the river flowing nearby. The water shimmered, reflecting his fragile-looking face. He grinned.
"Fragile on the outside, cunning within. The world always judges by appearances, doesn't it? Good. That just means I can cut them down from the shadows."
Tian Yu stared at the remaining green herb in his hand. The bitter taste lingered on his tongue as if refusing to leave. He let out a long sigh.
"Pathetic… a cosmic demon like me chewing leaves like a goat. If those sect disciples saw this, they'd die laughing," he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
But when he closed his eyes, his body responded differently. A gentle warmth crawled from his stomach to his chest, then spread into every muscle. There was no flow of qi, no meridians but his mortal body trembled slightly, like a dry seed suddenly drenched with water.
"...Hah. At least this body knows how to be grateful." His lips curved, half in mockery at himself.
He walked deeper into the forest. The mist thickened, the damp air blending with the scent of wet earth. The farther he went, the clearer he felt a faint pulse an almost-hidden natural aura swallowed by the fog. His cosmic-demon instincts stirred.
He stopped before a rocky crevice. From a crack in the stone grew a small plant with pale-blue flowers whose petals gave off a faint, moonlike glow.
Tian Yu squinted.
"...Moonlight Orchid. Hahaha… even low-level gods would fight over this. And now it grows in front of a 'beggar' with no meridians."
He crouched and touched a petal. It was cool almost freezing. Its energy wasn't wild but pure perfect for calming a fragile body that rejected qi.
Tian Yu plucked it gently and held the flower up to his eyes. His smile widened, full of derision.
"If this mortal frame can withstand one bite… maybe I can laugh even harder than tonight."
Casually, he bit half a petal, letting the cold seep across his tongue. His body stiffened instantly; his teeth chattered. Fine veins at his neck darkened, but his eyes flashed sharp.
"Ugh… ha… this… hahahaha! It's really like a snake swallowing ice."
He gave a small laugh, a low sound mixed with a groan. Inside his mortal body, the cold collided with the lingering heat from the previous herb. The two opposing forces tore at the weak muscles, then stitched them back stronger.
Tian Yu dug his nails into the earth. Despite that, a smile remained on his face.
"Good. Good… this body is beginning to learn. Little by little, I'll force you… to become a vessel for the cosmic demon once more."