“Reborn with the Violet Bloom”

Chapter :7 Reborn with the living medicine cauldron

A faint, dreamlike fragrance drifted through the darkness.

Soft music echoed as if from a distant memory. In the hazy glow of amber light, a graceful female silhouette moved slowly, her steps light and fluid, like mist carried by a gentle breeze. Layers of translucent fabric fluttered around her, revealing only hints of her form—never fully clear, never fully concealed.

The air itself seemed enchanted.

Nie Kong watched, his consciousness caught between wakefulness and sleep. The scene stirred something deep within him—desire, curiosity, longing—but before his hand could reach out, the figure blurred.

The warmth vanished.

The fragrance shattered like glass.

Nie Kong jolted upright, his breath uneven.

Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the familiar outlines of his room—wooden table, simple chair, folded bedding. Silence reigned.

“It was only a dream…”

He exhaled slowly and rubbed his brow, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

“Looks like my mind hasn’t rested these past few days.”

Just then—

A clear, resonant chime echoed within his consciousness.

Not a sound, but a sensation—like a bell struck deep inside his soul.

A stream of information unfolded naturally, as though something long dormant had awakened.

The Violet Illusion Fragrance had evolved.

Its spiritual essence had condensed, stabilizing into a higher state.

At the same time, a hidden inner space expanded, responding to the growth of their bond.

New instincts. New understanding.

Nie Kong froze.

He turned his awareness inward, toward the spiritual nexus at the center of his body—the Jade Pool, nestled between his three spiritual apertures. There, the once-dormant seed had grown into a delicate sprout.

A slender stem rose gracefully, bearing a single leaf tinted faint violet at the edges. Fine tendrils extended downward, anchoring themselves firmly into the surrounding spiritual pathways.

The little sprout trembled with joy as it sensed his attention, radiating gentle waves of vitality.

“So you’ve finally grown up,” Nie Kong murmured, genuine delight in his voice.

Two days earlier, after absorbing a massive amount of medicinal essence, the sprout had fallen silent. He had feared something had gone wrong. Yet now, not only had it awakened—it had advanced.

As calm returned to his mind, fragments of inherited knowledge surfaced naturally, no longer rigid or mechanical, but woven into instinct and intuition.

This stage marked the first true awakening of a bonded spiritual companion.

At this level, the sprout—now bearing a name of its own—could begin sharing its nature.

Xiangxiang.

Some abilities remained incomplete, echoes of a greater power yet to come. Others, however, had fully taken root.

Among them, one stood out.

A living cauldron.

Not an object.

A manifestation.

A fusion of spirit and purpose.

Before Nie Kong could explore further, a cheerful pulse brushed against his thoughts.

“Ai-ya~”

Xiangxiang’s presence was light and playful, brimming with energy.

Along with it came a clear understanding:

Illusionary Body of the Medicine Cauldron

Xiangxiang could temporarily assume the form of a spiritual cauldron, assisting in the refinement of medicinal substances.

The manifestation was limited by its current growth and by Nie Kong’s own strength.

“Only twice a day…” Nie Kong mused, quickly grasping the rhythm of the ability. “That’s already impressive.”

Unlike artificial constructs, this ability did not draw upon abstract energy. Instead, it consumed the medicinal essence Xiangxiang had accumulated over time. Without sufficient reserves, the transformation would simply fail.

He felt no urge to rush. Power that matured naturally was far more reliable.

His attention shifted to another inherited imprint—one far more dangerous.

A floral pattern bloomed briefly in his mind, crimson and overwhelming, before collapsing inward.

A fragment.

A seed of devastation.

A terrifying technique whose complete form lay far beyond his current reach.

Nie Kong’s breathing grew shallow.

Even in its infancy, the resonance of that power was unmistakable.

“It’ll take time,” he muttered. “Rushing it would only get me killed.”

Suddenly, another realization struck him.

The inner storage.

He focused.

A pale, misty space unfolded within his consciousness—silent, orderly, vast enough to store several objects. It was not bound to his physical body, yet responded instantly to his intent.

Carefully, he directed his will toward the cloth pouch resting on the table.

The pouch vanished.

A heartbeat later, it appeared within the inner space.

“Incredible…”

Nie Kong’s eyes lit up.

This was no mere convenience. In a world where spatial artifacts were legends whispered among elites, such an ability was priceless.

Testing it repeatedly drained him faster than expected.

Before long, dizziness crept in, and he collapsed onto the bed with a dry laugh.

“So even miracles have a cost.”

Circulating his cultivation method, he gradually steadied his breathing. Warm currents flowed through his limbs, easing the strain. By dawn, strength returned—though faint fatigue lingered like a warning.

When the first rays of sunlight touched the window, Nie Kong rose again.

It was time.

Focusing his mind, he reached inward.

“Reveal yourself.”

Xiangxiang responded eagerly.

A soft cry echoed within his body.

In an instant, the sprout transformed.

A miniature cauldron formed—pale green, etched with faint violet patterns—resting within his spiritual core. It was no larger than two fingers, delicate yet unmistakably real.

Nie Kong stared.

“…That’s it?”

The cauldron pulsed indignantly.

“Ai-ya!”

He sighed, both amused and resigned.

“So I’m still too weak to bring you out.”

Understanding flowed between them effortlessly. At this stage, the cauldron could not manifest externally. Any refinement would have to rely on internal circulation—his body acting as conduit.

Crude.

Inelegant.

But possible.

After some thought, Nie Kong’s mind settled on a familiar formula.

Rejuvenating Dew.

Simple ingredients. Infamous difficulty.

Perfect.

“If I can refine this…” His eyes gleamed. “Then I won’t owe anyone anything.”

Time was limited.

Calculating quickly, he dressed and rushed out.

“Sister-in-law, good morning!”

Hua Mei, sweeping the courtyard, barely had time to react before he vanished in a blur.

Moments later, he returned, properly dressed, face faintly red.

“I’ll be back for dinner!”

Watching him leave, Hua Mei shook her head, a helpless smile blooming on her lips.

Throughout the Nie Family compound, murmurs followed his passing.

Too fast.

Too different.

At the Spirit Medicine Hall, even the elders paused.

Yesterday, he had been weak.

Today—

The stone guardian responded.

Its markings flared briefly.

Gathering Spirit — Fifth Rank

Shock rippled through the entrance.

Nie Kong walked on without looking back.

Low-key survival was a lie.

In this world, only visible potential bought safety.

And this time—

He intended to make everyone watch.