The warm sunlight seeped through the cracks in the window, speckling the tidy room with a mosaic of light. In the room, a young man, naked, sat cross-legged in a wooden basin, his hands forming a strange seal in front of him. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady and strong. The wooden basin was filled with a blue liquid, which, when slightly jostled, reflected an odd, shimmering glow. The young man’s chest rose and fell rhythmically, and as he continued to train, the blue liquid in the basin began to emit a faint, blue-tinged vapor. The vapor slowly ascended, following the young man’s breath, and entered his body.
As the vapor filled his body, the young man’s youthful face suddenly glowed with a lustrous, jade-like sheen. Sensing the increasing abundance of Dou Qi within him, a faint, contented smile spread across his face. Relishing the sensation, the young man did not stop. His eyes remained closed, his fingers immobile, and he focused intently, maintaining his optimal state of cultivation, greedily absorbing the gentle energy from the blue liquid. The blue liquid, touching his skin, seeped through his pores, nourishing his bones and cleansing his meridians. As the young man continued to draw upon the liquid, more and more vapor emerged from the basin, eventually enveloping his naked body in a faint, ethereal mist.
Time passed, and the sunlight dimming through the window gradually weakened, and the scorching temperature slowly cooled.
In the wooden basin, the young man, with his eyes still closed, drew in the last wisp of vapor, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. Moments later, his dark eyes abruptly opened. A white light flashed in his pupils, this time tinged with a hint of pale blue. Slowly exhaling a mouthful of stale air, the young man blinked, his eyes sparkling with vitality. He then stood up, letting the cool water droplets cascade down his body. Stretching lazily, he felt the abundant Dou Qi within him, and murmured in a dazed voice, “At this rate, it might only take two more months to reach the fifth stage of Dou Qi…”
Since fully preparing everything, Xiao Yan had been holed up in his room for over half a month. During that time, aside from eating, drinking, and basic necessities, he lived a reclusive life dedicated to cultivation. Although such a life was monotonous, it was nothing compared to the three years of ridicule and mockery he had endured. Those three years taught him the importance of strength in this world.
Though the days were hard, the progress he made in cultivation filled him with joy. The medicinal liquid concocted by the Pharmacist Elder was far more potent than even Xiao Yan or the elder had anticipated. Initially, they thought it would take at least a month to reach the fourth stage of Dou Qi, but he managed to cut that time in half.
Even the Pharmacist Elder was surprised by Xiao Yan’s efficiency, though it may have been partly due to his previous experience. Cultivating Dou Qi, especially at the foundational stages, is extremely difficult. It’s not uncommon for people to spend ten or even twenty years to reach the tenth stage of initial Dou Qi. However, once one becomes a true fighter, their cultivation speed significantly increases. Before becoming a fighter, it might take a year to advance one stage, but after, they could potentially advance several stages in a single year.
Given this, Xiao Yan’s performance over the past half-month was indeed impressive.
Unconcerned, Xiao Yan climbed out of the wooden basin and glanced at the slightly lighter blue liquid, now depleted of much of its energy. Shaking his head, he muttered, “Will this be enough to support another month and a half of cultivation?”
Drying off, Xiao Yan donned a clean robe and climbed onto his soft bed. From under his pillow, he pulled out the black iron plate. The rust had been carefully cleaned off, and it now shone with a mysterious, faint glow. Over the past half-month, aside from his intensive training, Xiao Yan had focused on the low-tier Xuan level Dou Technique inscribed on the plate. Under the guidance of the Pharmacist Elder, he gradually mastered the essence of the suction technique, though he had yet to see any tangible results due to the thinness of his Dou Qi, which was somewhat disappointing.
Holding the iron plate between his palms, Xiao Yan closed his eyes, allowing his spiritual perception to flow into the black plate. As his breathing steadied, the room fell silent once more.
After a long, quiet moment, Xiao Yan’s eyes suddenly snapped open. His right palm, curled slightly, formed a claw. The thin Dou Qi within him, guided by his will, rushed through specific meridians and acupoints, culminating in a burst of suction force.
*Bang!*
A blue-and-white vase on the table shook, then crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces with a crisp sound.
“Ah, the Dou Technique is indeed Xuan level, but my Dou Qi is too weak. It can’t unleash much power,” Xiao Yan muttered, disappointed. “To create enough suction to pull a person, I’ll probably need at least the seventh stage of Dou Qi.”
“Whatever, I’ll go to the family’s Dou Technique Hall and see if there are any more suitable low-tier techniques. This suction technique isn’t very useful in the short term. Now that I can cultivate Dou Qi, I can’t just continue to train blindly like before…”
Sighing, Xiao Yan got off the bed, gave a quick glance to the unresponsive black ring on his finger, and walked to the door, pushing it open. Squinting his eyes, he adjusted to the bright, hot sunlight before closing the door carefully. Leisurely, he strolled along the pebbled path towards the backyard.
Green willows lined the pebbled path, their lush greenery invigorating. Turning a corner, a burst of laughter from a group of girls echoed from another path.
The sudden noise disrupted the tranquility, and Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed. He turned his gaze to the group of giggling girls. Among them, a beautiful, charming girl named Xiao Mei was laughing, her allure causing the other, more innocent girls to feel inferior.
Xiao Mei was the same girl who had drawn attention at the test square. Glancing at her, a flicker of derision crossed Xiao Yan’s youthful face. He shook his head, turning away without a second look.
As he reached the end of the path, Xiao Mei’s laughter faded. She noticed the young man standing nearby.
The setting sun cast a captivating glow on the young man, his arms behind his head, his face serene. Her eyes, entranced, locked onto the approaching figure, observing the slight, indeterminate curve on his face—a mix of mockery and a smile. Suddenly, Xiao Mei felt a strange, inexplicable daze. Three years ago, that boy’s lips often held a similar, intoxicating curve.
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