The next morning, Xiao Jian sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.
His hands formed intricate mudras before him as his chest rose and fell with steady breaths. White Qi flowed gently from his mouth and nose, circulating through his body in a perfect cycle.
The energy was divided equally among his five Qi Mansions, nourishing each of them.
After a while, he opened his eyes and examined the Dou Qi accumulated in each Qi Mansion.
A faint look of disappointment crossed his face as he muttered softly:
"Alas… Even with the residual energy from the five magic cores and half an hour of absorbed Dou Qi, each of my Mansions has only reached the third tier."
Still, his spirits lifted quickly. After all, he had started last night with no Dou Qi at all. If he had suddenly advanced too far in a single night, it would have drawn unwanted attention. Third tier was perfectly fine.
Moreover, now that the five Qi Mansions were formally opened, the soul-bound scroll seemed to reveal more.
It described a secret technique....Five Qi Unification....which allowed the energies of four Mansions to be temporarily channeled into a single one, granting a short-term surge in strength.
Of course, the method came with risks. First, since Xiao Jian was still weak and new to the technique, some Dou Qi would inevitably be lost in the process.
Second, his Mansions could only endure the power of three combined.
If he poured the energy from all four into one, the Mansion could explode before he could even take advantage of the boost, potentially causing internal injuries or even death.
Finally, any aftereffects of the technique would worsen depending on how many Mansions' energies were merged.
Despite all this, Xiao Jian was satisfied.
Even as a mere third-tier Dou Qi user, he now possessed a technique capable of temporarily maxing his current potential.....something most cultivators would envy.
"Too bad… it might still be a bit short for today's challenge."
He rubbed his temples, still sticky from last night's sweat.
"No matter. Pressure is what drives progress. If necessary, Xiao Yan and I can take on the Yunlan Sect together.
But for now, a good bath is needed to get myself in order."
He cleaned up the discarded soil and useless materials, leaving them by the door to throw away later.
Then he changed into fresh clothes and took a hot bath, emerging refreshed and dressed in a spotless white robe.
He combed his hair neatly and placed a silver-white crown upon his head.
Just as he was ready, a familiar, raspy voice called from the door:
"Third Young Master, the Patriarch requests your presence in the main hall."
"Alright."
Xiao Jian straightened his robe, gave a satisfied glance in the mirror, and opened the door. Smiling, he greeted the housekeeper:
"Let's go, Housekeeper Mo."
Although Housekeeper Mo had watched Xiao Jian grow up, the boy's extraordinary handsomeness combined with his ethereal white robe still made him marvel silently.
If only Third Young Master could cultivate… even the princesses of the Kamar Empire might wish to make him their consort!
"Please proceed first, Third Young Master. I still need to fetch the Young Master Xiao Yan."
"Oh, I'll go get him myself."
Xiao Jian waved Mo to wait and quickly made his way to Xiao Yan's room. Just as he was about to knock, a sharp expletive rang out from inside:
"My Dou Qi… it's disappearing again… dammit!"
A smirk tugged at Xiao Jian's lips. He rapped lightly on the door and called out:
"Xiao Yan, we have distinguished guests at home. Father asks that we go to the main hall."
Thud!
Something dropped inside, followed by a slightly embarrassed reply:
"Got it, Brother! I'll change clothes, wait for me!"
A short while later, Xiao Yan emerged in clean attire, his eyes slightly unfocused.
"Heh, let's go."
Xiao Jian didn't tease him, instead patting his brother's arm in habit before leading the way toward the main hall.
"Alright!"
Xiao Yan exhaled quietly and quickly followed.
Escorted by Housekeeper Mo, the two brothers passed through the backyard and stopped outside the grand reception hall.
After politely knocking and receiving permission from Xiao Zhan, they pushed the doors open gently.
The hall was spacious. At the far end sat Xiao Zhan with three expressionless elders, each wielding considerable power within the clan.
Beneath them were influential elders and some promising younger members.
On the opposite side, three unfamiliar individuals awaited...the distinguished guests.
Xiao Jian's gaze swept over them swiftly. One wore a moon-white robe, smiling confidently.
His small but sharp eyes gleamed with intelligence, and on his chest was embroidered a silver crescent moon surrounded by seven glimmering stars.
A Seven-Star Dou Master.
Two stars above his father. Not a threat now, but in the future… he wouldn't pose a challenge.
The one beside him, a mere Five-Star Dou Master who looked far less impressive, could be ignored.
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