Chapter 9: Qi Gathering Powder – Why Doesn't Anyone Want Me?
"I already said I didn't want it, and yet they forced it on me."
Inside the room, Xiao Yuan looked helplessly at the jade box on the table containing the Qi Gathering Powder as he muttered to himself.
As expected, Xun'er also had no interest in the so-called Qi Gathering Powder refined by Dan King Gu He.
In the end, this thing was still shoved into his hands by Father.
To be honest, he really didn't need it.
Because his cultivation method was different from the conventional methods on the Dou Qi continent, he didn't need to condense any Dou Qi vortex.
To him, the Qi Gathering Powder was, at best, a source of relatively abundant energy.
Suddenly, Xiao Yuan's eyes lit up as he stared at the Qi Gathering Powder on the table and exclaimed:
"What a rusty brain! Although this Qi Gathering Powder is meant to help a 9th stage Dou Qi cultivator condense a Dou Qi vortex with a 100% success rate, the medicinal energy it contains is abundant enough to be incredibly useful for me at this stage!
Using this stuff could speed up the filling of my Five Yuan Qi Chambers, helping me advance to Dou Zhe faster. Only then would I truly begin my journey on the path of Dou Qi cultivation!"
Realizing this, the excitement in Xiao Yuan's eyes returned, but he didn't immediately consume the Qi Gathering Powder.
After all, given the current strength of his meridians, if he recklessly consumed something meant for someone at the 9th stage of Dou Qi, he might very well go from "opening the dragon spine" to "gutting a shrimp" in a heartbeat!
According to the five-colored scroll in his soul sea, advancing through the realms of Dou Zhe, Dou Shi, Da Dou Shi, Dou Ling, and Dou Wang didn't require the same complex materials as opening the Qi Chambers had.
He just needed to strengthen the Qi Chambers in his liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys in the proper order as he advanced.
The scroll noted that the five organs didn't function independently but formed a complete and interconnected system. Thus, the Qi Chambers they produced were also linked. In early cultivation, once one Qi Chamber overflowed with Dou Qi, it would naturally spill into the others to maintain balance.
If, during cultivation, one unintentionally absorbed too much of a single elemental attribute, the excess could be redirected using a special circulation method to other Chambers.
In abstract terms, it worked like a communicating vessel system.
So for now, to advance to Dou Zhe, Xiao Yuan needed two things: first, to absorb a large enough amount of energy—one Qi Gathering Powder wouldn't be enough; and second, to find specific materials to strengthen the Green Wood Qi Chamber of the liver.
He needed two Rank 1 Wood Attribute Magic Cores and one Qingmu Vine.
Another hefty expense.
Xiao Yuan frowned slightly. Over the past three years, though he'd made quite a bit of money from managing the marketplace, most of it counted as public revenue—funds he couldn't use personally.
Although he had also earned a decent amount for himself and was by far the most financially comfortable among the younger generation of the Xiao family, a portion had been used to buy magic cores, another portion to purchase special casting materials, and yet another to build connections and reward his subordinates.
As a result, most of his savings over the past three years had been spent. He didn't even buy the most basic storage ring.
Fortunately, his income sources weren't limited to the marketplace. When it came to making money, someone else was even more skilled than him!
So, it was time to go pay a visit.
Looking at the grand and luxurious building in front of him, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
This was the largest auction house in Wu Tan City—the Miteer Auction House!
Behind it was the Miteer family, one of the most prominent clans in the Jia Ma Empire, with a long history and hundreds of years of development. Their connections were intricate, and according to rumors, this wealthy family even had ties to the royal family of the empire.
Of course, that connection wasn't all that important—after all, the Miteer family was destined to become the Xiao family's best friend in the future.
His purpose for this visit was to seek out the "person of interest" he'd mentioned earlier to Nalan Yanran.
Miteer Ya Fei!
"Mr. Xiao Yuan!"
The guards at the door had seen Xiao Yuan more than once, so not only did they not stop him, they even greeted him respectfully.
"Mm, thank you for your hard work."
Xiao Yuan nodded slightly in response, offered a few words of thanks, and then walked into the auction house, smoothly navigating to an office on the second floor.
After waiting for a while, Xiao Yuan stood up and reached for the tea set on the table to pour himself some tea.
Just then, the door opened.
A beautiful woman in a red dress, with a curvaceous figure, walked in. She paused upon seeing Xiao Yuan, then smiled and spoke in a seductive, bone-softening voice:
"Little brother Xiao Yuan? What brings you to big sister's place today?"
"Sister Ya Fei, have some tea first."
Xiao Yuan handed her the freshly poured cup with a bright smile.
"Hehe!"
Ya Fei chuckled behind her hand, then took the teacup from Xiao Yuan and downed it in one go.
"I just finished hosting an auction and was parched. You really are thoughtful, little brother Xiao Yuan."
She closed the door behind her and came over, handing the empty cup back to Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan took the cup, filled it again, drank it, and then said with admiration:
"I suppose I'm just offering flowers in Buddha's name, but to be honest, Sister Ya Fei's tea is very soothing."
Hearing this, Ya Fei looked at the young man in front of her, who had shed much of his youthful immaturity compared to two years ago and was gradually maturing into a handsome and composed youth. She couldn't help but be momentarily dazed.
Even more handsome now!
And all grown up—he even dares to tease me like this.
But she didn't feel repulsed at all. After all, the young man before her really was handsome, and over the past two years, he had been her only real friend in Wu Tan City. A little playful banter was no big deal.
"Alright, tell me—why did you suddenly come to see big sister?"
Ya Fei sat on a nearby sofa and asked with a smile.
"Ah, just short on money, that's all! Last night I suddenly gained the ability to cultivate, so I was thinking of gathering some cultivation resources. And when it comes to professional matters, of course they need to be handled by professionals—so here I am, turning to you for help, Sister Ya Fei."
Xiao Yuan's tone turned slightly serious as he sat beside her, looking mildly troubled.
"Really? You can cultivate now, little brother Xiao Yuan?"
Ya Fei was surprised at first, then immediately smiled with joy:
"That's wonderful! Whatever materials you need, just tell me. I'll have them arranged immediately."
"It's all here. Sister Ya Fei, please prepare everything on this list for me. It's not urgent—once it's ready, have someone let me know and I'll come find you."
As he spoke, Xiao Yuan pulled out a list he had already prepared and handed it to Ya Fei.
(END CHAPTER)
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