My System Devours Immortals

The Alchemist's Debt

Master Qin was dying.

Cris found him pinned beneath a fallen tree, blood seeping through his robes. The old alchemist's breathing was shallow. His qi flickered like a dying candle.

"Help," Qin rasped. "Please."

Joe grabbed Cris's arm. "Leave him. He's from the Verdant Pill Sect. They're neutral. Not our problem."

Cris pulled free. "He's an alchemist."

"So?"

"So alchemists make pills. Pills make cultivators stronger."

He knelt beside Qin and lifted the tree. The old man screamed as his ribs shifted. Cris didn't stop. He dragged Qin free and laid him flat.

"He's badly wounded," the system said. "Internal bleeding. Multiple fractures."

"Can I devour the wounds?"

"No. Devouring only takes. It cannot heal."

Cris reached into his robe. Esther's healing pills. He had three. He used one.

Qin's breathing steadied. His qi stabilized. He looked up at Cris with watery eyes.

"You saved me."

"I need something in return."

Qin laughed weakly. "Of course. Nothing is free."

"I need pills. Cultivation pills. Qi Gathering pills. Foundation Establishment pills. Anything you have."

Qin studied him. "You're Foundation Establishment. Young. Too young. How?"

"Not your concern."

The old man reached into his storage ring and pulled out a small jade bottle. "Three Qi Condensation Pills. They'll speed your cultivation. Take them."

Cris took the bottle. "That's not enough."

"It's all I have. The rest were stolen."

"By who?"

Qin's face darkened. "A disciple. Crimson Blade Sect. He attacked me when I entered the realm. Took my ring. My herbs. My pills. Left me to die."

Cris stood. "Where did he go?"

"North. Toward the black mountain. But you can't—he's Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer. You're only—"

"First Layer."

Qin stared. "You're insane."

Joe stepped forward. "He's reckless. There's a difference."

Cris looked at Joe. "You don't have to come."

"I know." Joe sighed. "But if you die, I won't get to kill you myself."

---

They found the Crimson Blade disciple at the base of the black mountain.

He was tall. Scarred. His robes were red and black. He was counting pills from Qin's ring when Cris and Joe stepped into the clearing.

He looked up. Smiled.

"More corpses for the pile."

He stood. His qi surged. Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer. The air grew heavy.

Joe drew his sword. Cris raised his fists.

The disciple laughed. "Two against one? Still unfair. For you."

He moved.

Fast. Faster than Zhao Lei. His blade cut toward Cris's throat. Cris dodged. Barely. The blade sliced his ear.

Joe attacked from the side. The disciple blocked without looking. Kicked Joe in the chest. Joe flew back, crashing into a tree.

Cris grabbed the disciple's arm. The ring flared.

"Devour."

He pulled. Qi flooded into him—strong, pure, delicious. The disciple screamed.

"What—what are you—"

Cris didn't answer. He pulled harder. The disciple's cultivation drained. His qi dimmed. His body aged.

"Foundation Establishment Second Layer. Third. Fourth."

Cris released. The disciple collapsed. Alive. Barely. His cultivation was gone.

"You didn't kill him."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because dead men can't answer questions."

Cris knelt beside the disciple. "Who sent you to kill the alchemist?"

The disciple spat blood. "Go to hell."

Cris pressed his palm to the man's chest. The ring pulsed.

"I can take memories. But it will hurt."

"Do it."

The disciple screamed. His eyes rolled back. Images flooded Cris's mind. A meeting. A shadowy figure. Red eyes.

"The Hollow. He hired this man. He's hunting alchemists. Anyone who can make pills that heal."

"Why?"

"Because he's preparing for something. Something big."

Cris stood. The disciple was unconscious. Joe limped over, holding his ribs.

"What did you see?"

"A Hollow. Same as before. He's hunting alchemists."

Joe's face paled. "Why?"

"I don't know. But we're going to find out."

---

They returned to Master Qin. The old man was sitting up, breathing easier. He saw the disciple's storage ring in Cris's hand.

"You killed him?"

"Drained him. He's alive."

Qin stared. "What are you?"

Cris tossed him the ring. "Someone who repays his debts."

Qin caught the ring. He opened it. His herbs. His pills. His equipment. All there.

"Why?" Qin asked. "You could have kept this. You could have killed me. Why give it back?"

"Because you're useful. And I need allies."

Qin studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded.

"I have a hidden valley. A laboratory. When you leave this realm, find me. I'll make you pills. Strong ones. In exchange for protection."

"Deal."

Qin reached into his robe and pulled out a small map. "There's a tomb. Deep in the forest. Older than the sects. I found it years ago but couldn't open it."

Cris's heart stopped. "A tomb?"

"Yes. Why?"

Cris pulled out Elder Han's pendant. The symbols matched the map.

Qin's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"

"An elder. He said it was a key."

"It is." Qin's voice dropped. "But you should know—the tomb isn't a tomb. It's a prison. And whatever's inside is still alive."

The pendant burned against Cris's chest.

"The Devourer," the system whispered. "It's calling us."

Cris looked north. The black mountain loomed.

"Then let's go wake it up."