Su Wanyin: "We've been traveling for a few days, so let's rest for a day. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the sub-tower to obtain an Alchemist badge certified by the Pill Tower."
"Alright."
Su Wanyin led the way, taking Xiao Li and Mang Tianchi to the courtyard where Yin Valley was located.
"What? The Pill Gathering can only be attended once?" On the way, Xiao Li was informed by Su Wanyin about the rules of the Pill Gathering. The age limit was very lenient; even old monsters could participate, but only once.
Su Wanyin nodded: "That's right. Didn't Senior Mang tell you?"
Bu Tianchi due to context, addressed as Dean awkwardly touched his nose. He had forgotten about this rule; after all, he wasn't an Alchemist, so it was normal for him not to know.
"It seems I'll have to work hard for this Pill Gathering and strive for a good ranking. I can't waste this one chance."
Xiao Li had originally planned to just go through the motions at this Pill Gathering and then show off at the next one. Now it seemed that wouldn't work. He couldn't waste his only chance; getting a bad ranking would be embarrassing.
Xiao Li and the others strolled through the outer region of the Pill Domain. It was bustling with people everywhere. Even though the Pill Gathering was still three months away, the place was already almost overcrowded.
Bang~
Suddenly, an old figure bumped into Xiao Li. The Old Mister's body uncontrollably fell backward, and Xiao Li instinctively reached out to steady him.
"Old Mister, are you alright?" Xiao Li asked with concern as he helped the Old Mister stand. He noticed that this Old Mister's cultivation was very low, only around that of a Dou Practitioner.
"Cough, cough, I'm fine, I'm fine. Thank you, young brother. This old man was blocking your Dao." The Old Mister wore ragged hemp clothes and looked somewhat like a beggar, but he didn't have any unpleasant odor.
Xiao Li didn't think much of it: "What's there to block? We're all people. It was I who didn't see the road clearly, Old Mister, I apologize."
The Old Mister clasped his fists in Reito Xiao Li before hurrying away. Xiao Li scratched his head and also left.
Bu Tianchi due to context, addressed as Dean, however, frowned: "Boy, why bother with such an ant? He's just a Dou Practitioner; is it really necessary to be like that?"
Xiao Li shook his head at these words, his gaze calm as he looked in the direction of the Old Mister who had long since left. His tone was gentle yet held an unquestionable firmness: "Everyone in this world Cultivates; it's merely that there are some differences in our cultivation Realms.
That was merely an accidental collision, not an intentional offense, so why be so aggressive? Bullying the weak by relying on one's profound cultivation goes against my original intention and is unhelpful for Cultivation."
Mang Tianchi shook his head: "Fine, have it your way. But you must remember that this world is one where the strong prey on the weak. The weak are destined to be eaten, and ants have no dignity whatsoever."
Xiao Li, hearing this, gently shook his head, his tone calm: "You can't say that. Cultivation has its highs and lows, and circumstances have their ups and downs, but this is not a reason for us to arbitrarily belittle others.
Today he is an ant, a weakling, but who knows if he won't have an encounter in the future? If today I were to lord it over him, or even kill him on a whim, just because my cultivation is a bit higher, what difference would that be from a beast in the mountains that only knows the law of the jungle?
Our Cultivation refines not just Dou Qi, but also our state of mind. The stronger the power, the more we should understand reverence, not arrogance. If I am strong today, I can bully him.
If in the future I encounter someone stronger than me, do I also deserve to be bullied, to be treated as an ant, without any dignity? This is not the Dao of the strong; it is merely a barbaric cycle.
The Dou Di who once shook the continent did not casually kill the living beings on the continent just because of his high cultivation.
If one doesn't even have this much tolerance, then this path of Cultivation will likely become narrower and narrower, and what one ultimately gains is merely an empty shell of power, like a lone wolf."
Xiao Li's words made Bu Tianchi due to context, addressed as Dean a little stunned. He then recalled the group of arrogant scoundrels in his clan, who relied on their Dou Di Bloodline, were complacent, and fought for power, looking down on everyone.
Bu Tianchi due to context, addressed as Dean shook his head and continued walking without saying anything.
Su Wanyin, on the other hand, savored Xiao Li's words. They had a strong flavor of Wang Ming. Back then, Wang Ming was also like this; even with a great hatred for Ice River Valley, he never implicated others, and because of this, she was injured multiple times. He truly was Wang Ming's Disciple; Cultivation first refines the heart.
Afterward, the group continued towards the courtyard where Yin Valley was located.
Meanwhile, the Old Mister who had bumped into Xiao Li earlier was now standing in Xiao Li's previous spot. At this moment, the Old Mister's hands were clasped behind his back, and his gaze was clear yet filled with a sense of vicissitude that saw through all things in the world.
He carried a peculiar aura, as if he himself was this very Heaven and Earth, completely out of place with the passersby.
"Haha, I didn't expect to return to the Pill Tower to take a look this time and encounter such an interesting little fellow. Such insight is truly rare! Dou Huang cultivation, Peak Mortal Realm Soul, almost touching the Spirit Realm. A bit interesting, perhaps..."
The Old Mister's aged voice came out, but the people around him didn't notice him. The next moment, the Old Mister disappeared, as if he had never existed.
Su Wanyin led Xiao Li and the others for half an hour, arriving at a rather grand estate. On the ancient plaque were written the two large characters: "Yin Courtyard."
This was the courtyard Yin Valley had purchased in Holy Pill City, and Xiao Li would be staying here for several months.
The sky was already beginning to darken; night was approaching. The starry sky of Holy Pill City was exceptionally brilliant, and Xiao Li gazed at the sky, somewhat lost in thought.
Presumably, that was where the Three Thousand Burning Flame was located, known as the Undying Fire. Unfortunately, I already have the Yin Yang Heart Flame. However, if I could get some sub-fires of the Three Thousand Burning Flame...
And let the Yin Yang Heart Flame devour them, I wonder if I could gain the undying characteristic of the Three Thousand Burning Flame? Xiao Li shook his head, feeling he was overthinking it. That fortunate escape from death was already a great blessing. With the Yin Yang Heart Flame, which was no weaker than the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, why would he need anything else?
Xiao Li watched the sky for a while, then suddenly felt a tremor in his Soul. He sat down cross-legged on the ground, and the moment he closed his eyes, a majestic Soul Power, like a tide, spread out from between his eyebrows.
The Soul Power spread across the sky like ripples, and that peculiar, spiritual feeling accompanied the diffusion of the Soul Power.
Xiao Li's Soul was undergoing a transformation, gradually giving birth to wisps of Spiritual Qi.
Mang Tianchi and Su Wanyin both noticed Xiao Li's movements.
Mang Tianchi: "This is truly outrageous. He can even achieve an Epiphany just by looking at the stars?"
Su Wanyin covered her mouth and smiled faintly.
Xiao Li's Soul Power was rising, but it suddenly stopped. Xiao Li found his previous feeling, and his Soul Power also began to contract. Just then, an ancient voice entered Xiao Li's ears.
"Peak of Soul, guide the stars into the orifices, gather stars to form spirit, absorb spirit to forge the Soul..."
"Which Senior is that?" Xiao Li asked in his mind.
"Calm your mind and focus, operate your Soul Power according to this incantation." Xiao Li heard the ancient voice again, confirming that he wasn't hallucinating. He then continued to silently recite this incantation. After reciting it three times, Xiao Li suddenly felt the presence of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi!
Spiritual Qi is an extremely mysterious energy. It doesn't possess the same power as Dou Qi, but for the Soul, it is an immense nourishment. However, Spiritual Qi is like Chaos, extremely difficult to sense.
In ancient times, Alchemists were able to sense the presence of Spiritual Qi and absorb it only because they possessed some special Soul techniques. But in the current era, those so-called mysterious Soul techniques have long since vanished, and very few Alchemists know how to sense and absorb Spiritual Qi.
When Xiao Li silently recited this incantation, he was able to absorb wisps of Spiritual Qi. This incantation was enough to drive all Seventh-Rank Alchemists mad!
Xiao Li continued to close his eyes and silently recite the incantation, then diligently absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Not far away, on top of a tall building, the Old Mister from earlier that day stood there. The Old Mister, with his hands clasped behind his back, looked towards Xiao Li's location with a faint smile.
"This child is teachable. Since he has such a connection with this old man, I shall help him. Let's wait until this Pill Gathering ends and see what he can achieve."
After the Old Mister finished speaking, he disappeared without any ripples in the surrounding space.
Xiao Li sat for an entire night. When the morning sun shone into Holy Pill City, Xiao Li's insights also came to an end. Xiao Li opened his eyes, feeling that everything around him had become much clearer.
A night of Cultivation left Xiao Li feeling extremely refreshed. Because he had absorbed wisps of Spiritual Qi, all the fatigue he had accumulated over the past few days was swept away. Xiao Li even felt that in this current state of clarity, he could even refine Peak Seventh-Grade Elixirs!
Mang Tianchi sat around Xiao Li, holding a wine gourd and looking at Xiao Li as if he were a monster.
"This kid, how did his Soul Realm go from Peak Mortal Realm to Half-Step Spirit Realm just by sitting for one night? Can looking at stars really have such an effect?
That's not right either. The stars in Holy Pill City, aren't they just that thing? How strange."
Mang Tianchi was utterly bewildered. He then stopped thinking about it and took a big gulp of wine. For him, the more outrageous the young fellow was, the more prestige he gained.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"