Another Cliché Cultivation Story

“I’ve outdone myself.”

Ji Xian look at his juniors and admired his work while thinking about how a simple haircut and styling could improve one’s look.

Starting from the first “volunteer”, Tu Wei, his man bun was gone. His hair had become a lot shorter and with his sides short and top long, his haircut looked cleaner and more modern. Earth modern.

Mu Zhen’s hair was messy and uncombed. Throughout the years of traveling around the Southern Continent, his hair was never the priority. As the oldest, he had to ensure the safety of the group. Why would he care about how he looked? Now, with a little trim and a wash, his hair looked healthier. His slicked-back hair reached down to his shoulder.

Yan Lian, Jin Xue, and Shui Que are girls so even though their looks weren’t their top priority while journeying outside, they still kept up with their appearance to a certain extent. Yan Lian no longer tied her hair up and let it down, Shui Que had bangs and two strands of hair hanging down beside her ear. Jin Xue was insistent on having a high ponytail as it allow her to fight with no obstruction. Ji Xian said nothing and tied her hair making her shy. It was a simple look but she gave off a heroic aura, different from when Yan Lian had her hair in a ponytail.

Mu Zhen and Tu Wei saw how beautiful their Sisters look and couldn’t help but stare with their mouths open.

The girls didn’t notice Mu Zhen and Tu Wei’s stare. They were still mesmerized at how pretty they looked, feeling a little narcissistic.

Clap!

“Alright, enough staring, keep up with your appearances from now on. You not only represent your sect but more importantly, you represent me.” Ji Xian sat down on his chair and said.

The group nodded.

“We won’t embarrass you, Senior Brother!”

“Good, now then, let's move on to why you’re here.”

Ji Xian flipped his hand and five bottles appeared in his palm.

“These are the Five Element Pill. Or more specifically: the Ruinous Fire Pill, the Tempered Water Pill, The Deep Root Earth Pill, Peerless Metal Pill, and Immortal Wood Pill. Each of you will take it according to your respective element. These pills will allow you to strengthen your physique.”

“Just from their names, you can tell they will have earth-shattering effects.” Tu Wei said, at the same time thinking if the names correlate to the effect the pills will have.

The other four were on the same train of thought.

Ji Xian knew what they thinking.

“The names mean nothing, I just thought of it while introducing it to you.”

“…Oh.”

Ji Xian waved his sleeve sending the bottle towards their respective owner.

“Take it, I’ll watch over you so you do not need to worry. After you take it try to hold out for as long as possible. You won’t die with me here.” Ji Xian casually said

The five of them looked up. Die? Why would Senior Brother suddenly bring that up? What kind of pill is this?

Ji Xian said nothing and looked away.

Calming themselves, the five sat down in a circle and opened the bottle containing the pill. They looked at one another and nodded. They took the pill out and swallowed it simultaneously.

The pill instantly melted in their mouths and dissolved into a warming liquid, spreading from their throat to their stomach. The feeling continued to spread throughout their body. Before finally, it consumed them.

Yan Lian’s entire body exploded into a fierce flame! The flame grew larger, allowing one to see it even from a distance away. The snow in the surroundings melted and a part of the sky turned red.

A cold aura spread out from Shui Que’s body. Her body glowed blue with occasional black streaks. Her body condensed into a ball that resembles a droplet. It hovered in the air and rose above the cloud, its vibrant color shined through the clouds.

Jin Xue became a blinding silver light that was painful to look at. A silhouette of a sword can be seen and a sharp aura can be felt from the light.

Tu Wei responded quickly after feeling the potent elemental energy from the pill. He turned to look at Ji Xian, he wanted to call out but felt his throat stiffen. No words came out as the feeling spread throughout his body. The only part he had control over was his eyes but it wasn't for long. He used all the strength he could muster and looked down at his body only to see it had turned to stone. Slowly, as if standing on quicksand, his body sunk into the ground and he could be seen no more. A second later, an earthquake shook the area, and cracks appeared like snakes on the ground! Golden rays shot up from below.

Similar to Tu Wei, Mu Zhen’s body also stiffened. His body glowed green. Shockingly, his head and legs stretched upwards to the sky. His arms stretched outward and split like branches. His body grew and thickened. He became a tree that covered the heavens!

Thankfully, Ji Xian had let out a strand of his essence earlier to cover the entire cliff to prevent any aura from leaking and the damages from spreading. This event would’ve caused all eyes in the Mortal Haven World to look in their direction.

He watched their transformations calmly.

Seeing that the five had reached their limits, Ji Xian’s eyes shined with subtle clear light. He made a hand sign with one hand and his other arm reached out. He spread his palm. A strong mysterious suction came from it and the potent elemental energy from the five that was beginning to leak out from their bodies paused.

Ji Xian made another hand sign.

As if responding to a call, the excessive elemental Qi slowly seeped out of the five’s bodies and was pulled into Ji Xian’s hand, which was like a bottomless pit. This process required Ji Xian to be meticulous because if he pulled and took away too much Qi, the effect of the pill would lessen. If he pulled too little, then the five may not be able to handle the amount of Qi in their bodies, which may result in them exploding!

Ji Xian was currently pulling in five strands of Qi, infused with different elements at the same time while controlling the amount he needed to take away. He was curious to see who would last the longest.

What surprised him though, was that after a while, the amount of essence he was taking from the five was still the same!

The pure elemental Qi from the pills allowed the five to absorb it to increase their cultivation but the main purpose of it was to soak their bodies. This would not only wash their meridians and strengthen them but would increase their affinities to the elements. This process was painful and Ji Xian could see instability in the forms they manifested, but he did not care, power comes with a price. This would only benefit them and they may even gain something if they're lucky.

After nine hours, the five reached their limit and Ji Xian devoured the last of the remaining elemental Qi.

After another hour, the Qi infused with fire, water, earth, metal, and wood leaked from the five but then stopped. As if time was being reversed, it returned to the source. The five glowed brighter until they lost their elemental form and became a ball of energy. A blinding five-colored light flashed before fading away.

The five of them returned to their original position, standing in a circle, then simultaneously they opened their eyes!

Their eyes flashed with their respective colors.

“Sigh, these idiots are going to make me colorblind.” Ji Xian joked.

Yan Lian looked at her hands and then down at her legs. Her skin glowed like jade, smooth and spotless.

She felt powerful! Taking a deep breath, she could feel her Qi passing through her body with no obstruction. She could also feel and faintly see the True Essence of the world. Unfortunately, she couldn't absorb it yet at her level.

The other also felt the same way.

“Senior Brother Mu Zhen your eyes are green!”

Hearing Tu Wei’s sudden shout, the four looked at Mu Zhen. His eyes were like emeralds!

“So pretty.” Shui Que said.

“Ah! Senior Sister Shui! Your eyes are blue!”

Shui Que shook, she reached into her spatial pouch which somehow managed to survive the transformation process and threw out a large mirror. Shui Que looked at her sparkling sapphire blue eyes with amazement.

The others also gathered and looked at themselves in the mirror. They were shocked! Their eyes had changed colors!