Transformation Diagram: Starting as a Skinny Dog

Qin Sifan said, "If this pill were given to me, wouldn't it be a waste? But in your hands, it can indeed manifest its intended divine effects."

Although Chen Ku had long known that the Store Manager was not the best fighter, but rather the best at managing, he still felt the need to be somewhat modest in the face of such a generous reward. "It's my master, Yang Luochen, who truly deserves this sole 'Five Elements Great Rejuvenation Pill.'"

"It's different. Even Elder Yang himself admitted that his prime has long passed. Even if he were given the pill, it would only be enough to elevate him from the initial period of the Five Internal Strong Realm to the peak of the Martial Realm at most."

Cao Shouxiong said, "But you're different. You're already at the initial period of the Third Realm Jade Skin. By the time you break through to the 'Array Veins' of the Sixth Realm and consume this pill, it might just open up all your body's meridians in one go, aiding your growth and benefiting the future of our Medicine King Hall."

"Furthermore, the rule about only the Store Manager consuming the Five Elements Great Rejuvenation Pill hasn't been broken, because..."

Qin Sifan slowly smiled and said, "After last night's battle, today we have collectively nominated you to several Owners at the 'Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association' in the Prefecture City for the position of 'Honorary Shopkeeper' at Medicine King Hall in the future."

"Honorary Shopkeeper?" Chen Ku asked. "What is that?"

It sounded like being given a title without real power. Seemingly not very useful.

"The reason we nominated you as 'Honorary Shopkeeper' is because we also asked several Owners to recommend you to the Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association and give you the opportunity for advanced study in the Prefecture City," Qin Sifan said with a smile. "Unless, in the future, you are unwilling to develop in that much larger world of the Prefecture City, we would indeed be willing to keep you in Baojiao County. I could step down and let you take over as the Store Manager; that wouldn't be out of the question."

"Of course, I'm willing to go to the Prefecture City," Chen Ku immediately said.

He hadn't forgotten the reminder from his elder brother, Chen Xin; Baojiao County was not a place to stay long, and now he had faintly noticed many signs of major storms brewing.

Moreover, there, he wouldn't have to worry about starting from scratch. With a shop recommending him, he would directly be like a transfer student and might even receive a stipend.

"In that case, say no more. Take this pill," Qin Sifan handed the Pill Box to Chen Ku.

Chen Ku finally accepted it.

Cao Shouxiong cautioned, "Remember, only consume this pill when you break through to the Sixth Realm. That's when it will be most effective. Taking it in the Jade Skin Realm would waste it, and the same goes for the Meridian-Opening Realm. Even in the Inner Strength Realm, the effects aren't optimal because it is a Sixth Realm Elixir specifically suited for the 'Array Veins' of the Sixth Realm."

Now, it was Chen Ku's displayed qualifications and potential that might allow this pill to exert its greatest power. The previous eight pills had all been wasted. After all, Baojiao County had not seen a Martial Practitioner of the Sixth Realm in centuries.

"Chen Ku will remember this," he said. Without needing Cao Shouxiong's reminder, he had no intention of consuming it immediately. His Third Realm Jade Skin status, boosted by the Erlang Transformation, was undergoing daily changes. Naturally, he would not waste such a precious pill.

A Sixth Realm Elixir, he estimated, would be a supremely expensive and valuable treasure even in the Prefecture City.

"There are also these two items. Didn't I mention earlier about giving you three rewards? These two pieces of silk contain Medicine King Hall's other two Ultimate Skills, 'Medicine King's Pursuit Fist' and 'Five Elements Qi Needle'..."

Zhang Yuanhai said, "Last night, word was that you displayed the Furious Ape Mighty Staff and Piercing Sound Step. You even achieved Minor Achievement with the Sky Eagle Eight Arrows. This shows your martial arts talent is sufficient to fully assimilate five of the six Ultimate Skills of Medicine King Hall. As for the remaining one, 'Wild Bear Mountain Opening Axe,' it was taken to the Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association by a previous Shopkeeper. If you go there later, you might be able to reunite them."

Chen Ku saw that even the Third Shopkeeper, who had previously held reservations about him, was now actively coming forward to reward him.

He had already faintly sensed it. Medicine King Hall was now fully treating him as a candidate for intensive cultivation. Their expectations for him were not limited to the small confines of Baojiao County; they hoped he would attain a very high position in the Three Emperors Organization Meeting! In a sense... they were making early and unreserved comprehensive investments in him.

"Rest assured, Shopkeepers. Chen Ku has received great kindness from the Hall and will repay it tenfold, a hundredfold in the future!"

Chen Ku wisely expressed the assurances that satisfied the three Shopkeepers.

Indeed, upon hearing this, smiles appeared on their faces.

After receiving the inheritance of the three treasures, Chen Ku went to pay respects to his master and explained the situation. Yang Luochen and Monk Yunfang were already aware of it. Looking at Shang Yunfang's arm, Chen Ku couldn't help but want to say, "Master, your arm, with the Five Elements Great Rejuvenation Pill, can..."

However, before he could finish, Shang Yunfang sternly said, "Hold your tongue! This pill is only for you to use when you break through to the Sixth Realm in the future. Even if both my arms and legs were crippled, if you gave me this pill, I would not take it. You must understand, everything comes with a price, especially this pill. If I dared to use this pill to treat my severed arm and forsake helping a once-in-a-century prodigy of Medicine King Hall push further on his path, I would rather smash my head against a wall and die!"

Chen Ku fell silent.

"Alright, alright, don't be so serious. It's just an arm. Your second master won't die from this, nor is it a big deal. So he can't use his left hand to hold a knife—it's not like he's left-handed. Go and regulate your cultivation. After last night's fierce battle, don't let any underlying issues linger," Yang Luochen said, holding his pipe.

Chen Ku's heart felt warm and a little sour; these two old men were truly good to him.

From now on, he would treat them as his closest kin.

With a multitude of emotions, Chen Ku returned to his courtyard. His sister-in-law and old mother were already cooking.

Chen Ku greeted them. Seeing that his family had managed their emotions from the night before, he felt somewhat relieved and went to his own room.

WHOOSH. He let out a long breath, expelling a mouthful of Dirt Qi. After being busy all night and half a day, it was finally time to thoroughly review the Evil Qi harvested the previous night.

[Diagram Master: Chen Ku]

[Diagrams Awakened: 5]

[Transformations Mastered: Hui Dragon Transformation, Flower Fox Mink Transformation, Centipede Snake Change, Fire Beak Pot Transformation, Volcanic Crow Transformation, Erlang Transformation, Red-Tailed Bee Transformation...]

[Variable Evil Qi: Four Realm Evil Energy (2 strands), Third Realm Evil Qi (18 strands), Second Realm Evil Qi (234 strands), First Realm Evil Qi (1928 strands)]

The two strands of Four Realm Evil Energy belonged to Xie Qingfeng and Xie Qi.

The Third Realm Evil Qi came from the Divine Force Crossbowmen and some high-level practitioners from the Firewood Iron Shop that Chen Ku had killed with targeted shots, which also included some Second Realm experts.

The majority of the Second Realm Evil Qi came from Fire Evil Qi, and nearly all the First Realm Evil Qi was from that swarm of Red-Tailed Bees.

Let's see what Xie Qingfeng can transform into, Chen Ku muttered to himself. Then, he disassembled the fifth diagram's transformation and shouted, "Transform!"

[Xie Qingfeng Transformation!]

[Xie Qingfeng Transformation · Shape Shifting]

[Transformation Part: Weapon Refining Technique (Great Achievement)]

Chen Ku was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed.

After so many attempts at opening blind boxes, I never hit the jackpot. This time, I've finally gotten exactly what I needed most!

He immediately looked at the other Evil Qi. He planned to combine it into a 'Weapon Forging Master' after the Erlang Transformation. This way, he would no longer need to use the now rather shabby-looking 'Refined Iron Dragon Stick'. Instead, he could use the Ruyi Stone, weighing over twenty thousand pounds, to forge a handy weapon of at least Famous Weapon Level, one that could also transform.

「That afternoon」

While Chen Ku was engrossed in transforming the Evil Qi, an invitation arrived at the main hall of Medicine King Hall.

"Grandmaster Qin Yuxian and County Magistrate Shangguan Yun cordially invite Medicine King Hall to be guests in the back hall of the county government office, and they specifically request the presence of Young Shopkeeper Chen Ku?"