C8 So It Was You Who Was Causing Trouble!!

The Immortal Cauldron underwent a transformation, its divine glow withdrawing inward. The Void Mist cleared, leaving the cauldron ancient and majestic, yet only the size of a palm, cradled in the mouse's hand.

"Ah!" Kallisto shrieked, her hands covering her face, which flushed a deep pink.

"Hehe, true to my disciple indeed. It's huge, absolutely huge!" Clements chuckled, his eyes narrowing into slits as he unabashedly ogled the mouse's lower body.

The mouse stood there, stark naked, with a gaze that was alive and bright. His thick black hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his body pulsed with Divine Sense. His bones, even, glistened with a radiant light, making him resemble the most exquisite work of art.

Caught in his nudity, the mouse was mortified. He dashed into the house at breakneck speed, his face in his hands, running as if his life depended on it.

Post-lunch, Kallisto tidied up the kitchen. Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Ratty and Clements sat cross-legged, facing each other.

"How could this happen?" Clements, grasping the mouse's arm, extended his Divine Sense to probe Ratty's body.

"What's the matter?" the mouse inquired, puzzled.

"With a hundred Faewort, the heartblood of the Songbird, the essence of the Tree of Eternity, and even the heartblood of Old Golden Roc, how could the effects be so minimal?" Clements's brow furrowed in bewilderment.

Since his fall from grace three years prior, Ratty's Qi Condensation Stage had stagnated at the Fourth Heaven.

Clements had devised an alternative method, using rare treasures to refine Ratty's physical form, bypassing the Qi Condensation stage and emulating the path of demons.

Once the Baihui point was opened, one could store air in the dantian, using it to forge a stronger body and wield Qi as a weapon.

The reason ninety-nine percent of mortals never embarked on this journey was simple: their frail physiques couldn't endure the relentless Qi Condensation process.

Ratty, however, had taken a leaf out of the demon's book. With his enhanced physique, reaching the Ninth Heaven of Qi Condensation was a breeze. History was replete with prodigies who had trodden this path successfully.

"Damn it, after consuming such an array of rare treasures, all I've managed is a One-Mountain physique!" Clements exclaimed, smacking Ratty on the head in a mix of frustration and tough love.

Tears welling in his eyes, he rubbed the large lump on his head. Ratty grimaced and muttered, "What's it got to do with me? I didn't even want to eat it."

"Damn it, I've ingested so many rare treasures and haven't managed to take a single crap." Clements seemed infuriated as he turned on his heel and stormed off.

Ratty was left standing there, dumbfounded.

After a moment of deep thought, he rose to his feet in a huff and made his way toward the dense woods behind the courtyard.

With a blade of Dog Tail Grass clenched in his teeth, Ratty wandered aimlessly beneath the trees' canopy.

"Damn it, just poop already!" Ratty flipped off the sky and collapsed to the ground with a heavy sigh.

He was well aware that Clements had nearly depleted all his savings to forge Ratty's body, setting him on the path of demons.

But why had the rare treasure, potent enough to form a Tri-Mountain, only resulted in a One-Mountain for him?

Ratty was sorely tempted to curse his fate.

The most baffling part, which even Clements couldn't figure out, was why his One-Mountain had collapsed three years ago, causing his cultivation to plummet to the Fourth Heaven of Qi Condensation in a single day.

There had to be a sinister reason behind such an anomaly!

"Go f*ck yourself!" Ratty exploded with curses.

The sect appeared tranquil, yet it was fraught with peril. Clements pondered the whereabouts of his parents and the chaos that was soon to come, which he had to face for Kallisto's sake.

Ratty sighed and couldn't resist pulling out the handkerchief his parents had left him.

Gazing at the Divine Dragon and Divine Phoenix embroidered on the pure white fabric, a gentle look crossed Ratty's eyes. "It's about time I went back to the village for a visit."

With a sigh, Ratty draped the handkerchief over his face, inhaling the delicate scent unique to a woman, and lamented, "What the hell is my name? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Who the hell can tell me?"

"I can tell you!"

"Who's there?" The sudden voice jolted Ratty to his feet, his expression darkening as he scanned his surroundings.

"Stop searching! Your mother's about to show up!" As Ratty gaped in astonishment, a cloud of black mist erupted from his body, and a strikingly handsome young monk materialized before him.

With a benevolent countenance, rosy lips, and pearly teeth, the monk's allure was almost otherworldly. Ratty was overwhelmed, his 'little brother' paying rapt attention to the Flower Monk.

"You... emerged from my rear?" Ratty was astounded.

"How should I speak to your mother? Alas, I intended to apologize for my actions over the years. But seeing your disrespectful demeanor, I think better of it." The little monk pressed his palms together, grinning.

"Apologize?" Ratty's expression faltered, and after a moment, his face darkened like a storm cloud: "All these years, the Qi vanishing from my body, my collapses, and today's absorption of those rare treasures—it was all you!"

"Indeed, you can be taught!" The small monk's smile widened, his eyes nearly disappearing into thin lines.

"To hell with you!"

Ratty seethed with rage, his eyes nearly bursting. The scorn and derision he had endured for three years had all been orchestrated by this meddling monk.

"Die, you little pest!" A Cobra Strike swept through the air, and Ratty stumbled, crashing to the ground.

The showy Cobra Strike passed right through the small monk's body. Overexerting himself, Ratty fell and ended up with a mouthful of dirt.

"Don't be so upset, my child. Don't you wish to know about your past and present lives?" The monk's hands came together again, his expression one of benevolent compassion.

"Out with it! If you don't dazzle me with your tale, I'll show you why the flowers are so brilliantly red!" Ratty spat out the dirt and cautiously backed away ten meters from the monk before halting.

"My Daoist name is Zopyrus!"

"Buzz off! Don't think I can't recognize you just because you've changed your appearance. Shave your head and stick to chanting Amitabha!"

Ratty was at a loss for words. Suddenly, his pupils shrank, and his legs shook as if he had seen a ghost.

"What did you say your name was?"

"Amitabha. I do not lie; my name is simply Zopyrus!" The small monk's hands remained pressed together, his smile unwavering.

"Zopyrus!" This time, Ratty was truly taken aback.

"No, this won't do. I'm Zopyrus, and you're also Zopyrus? That's preposterous." Ratty's eyes darted about as he spoke with an air of superiority.

"Well, it seems someone covets even my only pastime. You may call me Ah Fei," the small monk sighed, his demeanor one of sorrow for the sorrows of the world.

"Hey, you jerk, stop dodging the question. Tell me, why did you drain my qi?" Ratty placed his hands on his hips, looking like he was gearing up for a street brawl.

"I'm injured, and my memory is impaired. I can't reveal too much to you."

"The only thing I can tell you is that there's a great Bodhisattva slumbering within you." Ah Fei grinned, driving Ratty to the brink of madness.

"Damn it, do you think my body's a pigsty?" Ratty swore furiously.

"How can this kid devalue himself so?" Ah Fei's face was brimming with mirth, but to Ratty, it was nothing but sheer mockery.

Ratty slipped off his shoes, ready to fight tooth and nail: "I'll take you down first!"

"Do you aspire to be powerful? Young man, bow down to me!"

Ratty put his shoes back on and walked away.

Confronted with this seemingly innocuous monk, Ratty was seized by a fear that crept up from the depths of his soul, his instincts screaming not to provoke this character.

"Don't tail me. Now that I know why my qi vanished, with my natural gifts, pfft, those who mock me will get theirs," Ratty declared, striding off without dragging his feet.

"Aren't you curious about your past and future? Don't you want to know where your parents are now?" Ah Fei's words were laced with allure.

"Fine, as long as you don't make me out to be all high and mighty, I'll let you flourish in romance!" Ratty hung his head low and trudged back to Ah Fei's side, utterly deflated.

"It's quite simple. Once the fellow inside you awakens, he'll fill you in!" Ah Fei chuckled.

"You have no clue?" Ratty's face darkened once more, as if a storm was brewing.

"Heh, having absorbed a drop of the Supreme's heart's blood, I've revived. And that guy? He doesn't need your qi. You're free, young man!" Ah Fei said with a laugh.

"And who is this 'guy'?" Ratty asked, his face overcast. The thought of harboring two pigs within him weighed heavily on him.

Ah Fei's smile took on a mysterious edge: "You'll find out in due time. He's a Bodhisattva so immense that not even this universe can contain him!"

"Why have you taken refuge in my body?" Ratty inquired.

"The great Bodhisattva has awakened, and with that, every enigma will unravel!" Afei declared, eyes narrowing.

"So what you're saying is, you're utterly useless?" Ratty bellowed.

"You're mistaken; I can empower you!" Afei's grin shone brilliantly, his pearly whites nearly blinding Ratty.

"How strong?" Ratty's eyes widened with a voracious gleam.

Pointing to his nose, Afei proclaimed, "This is the divine sense of smell!"

He lifted his right hand and announced with pride, "This is the left hand of the gods!"

"Come on, big guy, that's your right hand! What are you trying to prove?" Ratty was itching to give this unreliable character a piece of his mind, but his instincts vehemently advised against it.

"I've just awoken and am still quite drowsy. I need to rest a bit more. Meanwhile, feel free to cultivate to your heart's content. I won't be spying on your body; we can talk when I'm up."

Suddenly, a chill breeze swept by, and Afei, in a peculiar fashion, dissolved into a black mist and seeped back into Ratty's body.

"Damn it! Are you a monk or a priest, anyway?"

Ratty was elated, finally free from the detestable and nauseating presence of Afei, who had been a constant, shameless nuisance.

Now he could cultivate without interruption and perhaps even uncover his origins and learn everything about his parents. Ratty was overjoyed.

With a thunderous roar, his face flushed with excitement!

There's a saying that joy brings vitality, and Ratty was feeling exactly that—energized and powerful. He was convinced that at this moment, he could take down nine bulls with a single punch!