C8 Going Home to Cultivate.

After Hsiao Rann reached an agreement with the Soong family, he immediately decided to check out of the hospital. Godly Doctor Gu wasn't taken aback by his decision at all.

Being well-versed in the Medical Dao and even capable of spotting errors in his treatment plan, it was clear Hsiao Rann no longer required hospitalization.

With Godly Doctor Gu's assistance, Hsiao Rann's discharge process went incredibly smoothly. A single word from the doctor allowed him to bypass numerous formalities and leave the hospital directly.

Once he had located Hu Chuan and bid farewell to Godly Doctor Gu and the Soong family, Hsiao Rann finally stepped out of the hospital, exhaling a deep breath of relief.

"I'm finally out of the hospital!"

Since inheriting the Pill Sovereign Lineage and mastering the Qi Gazing Technique, Hsiao Rann's sensory abilities had greatly enhanced. Inside the hospital, he could constantly sense an overwhelming pressure—the presence of death and calamity. Now, free from the hospital walls, he felt an immense sense of relaxation wash over him.

But Hu Chuan, still with cotton stuffed in his nostrils, was evidently preoccupied with the day's earlier events.

He mulled over their departure from the hospital, sensing that something was amiss.

"Hsiao Rann, do you have some connection with those two elders? They were exceptionally courteous as we left. Why is that?"

Hu Chuan hadn't overheard the conversation between Hsiao Rann, Godly Doctor Gu, and the Soong family in the ward, but the respectful send-off from Elder Gu and Elder Soong had struck him as odd.

"Those two elders?" Hsiao Rann replied with a casual smile. "I merely did them a small favor earlier. I didn't expect such graciousness in return."

"In this world, good deeds often find their reward."

Despite lingering doubts, Hu Chuan tentatively accepted Hsiao Rann's explanation. Yet, as his gaze fell upon the cotton in his nose, memories of the ward's incident came flooding back, prompting him to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Hsiao Rann, how did you come to learn the art of predicting someone's destiny by looking at their face?"

"What?"

Reminded by Hu Chuan, Hsiao Rann was suddenly struck by the memory of having let slip his possession of a secret technique. An unnatural expression fleetingly crossed his face, but he quickly masked it.

"You mean when I said you'd be in danger?" Hsiao Rann asked.

"That was just me throwing a casual curse because you seemed too smug. But to my surprise, it turned out to be true. I don't predict people's fates by looking at their faces."

Hsiao Rann's excuse was feeble, yet Hu Chuan believed him, much like his father, both men of faith in destiny. At the mention of a curse, a grave look passed over Hu Chuan's features.

"Hsiao Rann, don't make such jokes in the future. My dad always said curses could come true."

Despite feeling somewhat resigned, Hsiao Rann acquiesced to Hu Chuan's concern.

"Fine, I won't say it again. Happy now?"

As he spoke, a glint of sharpness flickered in Hsiao Rann's eyes. He discreetly employed the Qi Gazing Technique and, upon seeing the dark aura on Hu Chuan's face had vanished, he felt a wave of relief.

Blood Qi gathered on Hu Chuan's face, giving him a healthy glow that might signal good fortune. Yet, only Hsiao Rann, versed in the Qi Gazing Technique, could discern the potential Evil Aura lurking within Hu Chuan's Blood Qi—a harbinger of misfortune.

Thankfully, it seemed Hu Chuan was only up against a minor setback. Otherwise, Hsiao Rann wouldn't have been able to rest easy.

With Hsiao Rann's concession, Hu Chuan's demeanor lightened.

Then, with a smile, Hu Chuan jangled the keys on his finger and said, "That's better. You've just bounced back from a serious illness. Let me take you out to clear the air." Hsiao Rann understood immediately that Hu Chuan was suggesting a trip to the bar.

Though the Hu family's enterprise was primarily in energy, Hu Chuan's father had his hands in more than just that sector. Hsiao Rann was aware that the Hu family owned three bars and a nightclub in the heart of the city, joint ventures with other investors. These spots had become Hu Chuan's regular haunts for pleasure and relaxation.

Despite being close friends, Hsiao Rann and Hu Chuan had vastly different interests. Hsiao Rann had no interest in those places whatsoever.

"I'm not going," Hsiao Rann said, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm good. You go ahead and have fun if you want. I've missed three days of school already. The counselor's probably worried sick. I need to figure out how to explain my absence to her."

Hu Chuan looked at him with surprise. "Isn't your counselor that old spinster? You're actually afraid of her?"

The truth was, even though Hsiao Rann and Hu Chuan attended the same university, they were in different departments. Hu Chuan had heard tales of Hsiao Rann's counselor, a single female doctor past the age of thirty-five with an odd personality.

With a resigned smile, Hsiao Rann said, "I'm close to graduating, and I don't want to risk any punishment from her."

For Hsiao Rann, securing a job after graduation was paramount. He didn't want to stir up any trouble that might jeopardize receiving his diploma.

Seeing Hsiao Rann's firm stance, Hu Chuan dropped the subject of going out for fun. "Are you heading back on your own, or should I give you a lift?"

"I'll make my own way back," Hsiao Rann replied.

Though they were great friends, Hsiao Rann's recent hospital stay had already been an imposition on Hu Chuan, and he didn't want to be a burden any longer.

Hu Chuan always respected Hsiao Rann's decisions. Without further ado, he pulled his car out of the parking space and drove off from the hospital alone. Once Hu Chuan was gone, Hsiao Rann boarded a bus bound for home.

Hsiao Rann's home was in the suburbs, on the outskirts of the city.

Nationally, Xilin City was considered a major urban center with a booming tourism sector, yet its suburbs remained run-down.

The modest house, a stark contrast to the bustling city life, was where Hsiao Rann had grown up.

Pushing open the weathered anti-theft door, coated with over a decade's worth of rust, Hsiao Rann stepped into the most familiar place in the world to him—his home.

The furniture scattered throughout the house was all the rage two decades ago. Now considered passé, Hsiao Rann often pondered over these pieces, speculating about the kind of people his parents were. Possessing such furnishings back then was a clear sign of a well-to-do family.

The home left to Hsiao Rann by his parents was modest, yet it was ample for him alone.

As soon as he entered, Hsiao Rann made a beeline for his bedroom. He flung open the closet and shoved the clothes on the hangers aside, revealing an old-fashioned wooden box. The sight of the box, still in perfect condition, made Hsiao Rann breathe a sigh of relief.

This wooden box was the heart of the home for Hsiao Rann. Within it, he hoped to find the sole connection to his parents.

Specifically, nestled inside the small wooden box was a purple ring, its band encrusted with an unidentified gemstone.

For nearly twenty years, Hsiao Rann had safeguarded this ring, its once brilliant sheen now dulled with time.

After toying with the ring momentarily, Hsiao Rann carefully returned it to its resting place in the box—a daily ritual that brought him a whisper of solace amidst his solitude.

Securing the wooden box back in the closet, Hsiao Rann whispered wistfully, "Dad, Mom, when will I ever find you?"

But his sorrow was fleeting; he knew there were more pressing matters at hand, like delving into the Pill Sovereign Lineage.

Hsiao Rann was a man of duty; he was determined to cure Xiao'er's ailment.

He had unraveled the mystery behind the illness and even discovered a cure. Yet, what he lacked was the status of a true Qi Refiner.

The secrets to becoming a Qi Refiner lay within the teachings of the Pill Sovereign's legacy.

So, after freshening up, Hsiao Rann settled cross-legged on his bed, stilled his breathing, and once again guided his consciousness into the Pill Hall. There, amidst the ethereal stillness, ghostly tomes brimming with ancient wisdom floated serenely in the void.

Hsiao Rann entered the Pill Hall once more to determine what additional preparations he needed to become a Qi Refiner, beyond acquiring the Vitality Nurturing Pill.

Aware of the pill's critical role in his transformation, Hsiao Rann exercised caution, concerned that unforeseen factors might impede the fulfillment of his prior commitment.

His spiritual consciousness swept through countless ancient tomes until he located the essential volume: Basics of Qi Refining.

Opening the tome, Hsiao Rann grasped that Qi Refining was the transformative journey from mortal to cultivator.

After eight hours of study, he mastered the text. Though weariness crept over him, a surge of excitement prevailed.

"Qi Refining is certainly no simple task," he whispered to himself.

Within the pages of Basics of Qi Refining, Hsiao Rann discovered not only the intricate process of crafting the Vitality Nurturing Pill but also identified what he was missing to fully become a Qi Refiner—a robust physique.

The cultivation-generated Vital Energy was the cornerstone of his physical strength.

Despite his current physical shortcomings, Hsiao Rann remained undaunted. The Basics of Qi Refining also presented a solution to his dilemma: the Body Refining Chart.

This chart detailed a straightforward regimen for physical conditioning, depicted in clear illustrations. Relying on the Pill Sovereign's recollections, Hsiao Rann estimated that with dedicated practice, he could condition his body to withstand the Vitality Nurturing Pill within a week.

"No time to waste—time to train!"

Though the late hour beckoned for sleep, Hsiao Rann compelled himself out of bed.

He knew that intensifying his efforts could expedite his journey to becoming a Qi Refiner, increasing the likelihood of possessing the means to heal Xiao'er's ailment within a fortnight.

Hsiao Rann was a man of his word, never one to procrastinate—a commendable trait he had long upheld.

In the modestly sized bedroom, barely spanning ten square meters, Hsiao Rann began his cultivation journey. Bathed in the faint glow of the dim light, he resembled an elf dancing through the darkness, meticulously adopting the myriad stances outlined in the Body Refining Chart.