c3: The Heavenly Bottle?
After careful consideration, Xiao Se realized he currently lacked two crucial things: Qi Gathering Powder and a suitable cultivation technique.
The former would ensure his smooth breakthrough from the ninth stage of Dou Zhi Qi to the tenth stage, allowing him to condense a Dou Qi vortex within his body and officially step into the Dou Zhe realm.
The latter was even more essential, as only after becoming a Dou Zhe could one cultivate a proper Qi Method, circulate Dou Qi efficiently, and unleash true Dou Techniques.
As for the Xiao family's publicly available Yellow Rank cultivation methods, Xiao Se had no intention of choosing them. Of
course, even if he wanted to, based on his current displayed strength of only the fifth stage of Dou Qi, the clan would not grant him access to better techniques.
Having made his decision, Xiao Se took out two jade bottles from his robes and placed them gently on the stone platform. These were items he had previously discovered within the hidden cave.
Originally, the bottles contained medicinal pills, but after years of neglect, their medicinal effects had completely dissipated, leaving them worthless to any cultivator.
Since they had no remaining value, Xiao Se had repurposed them, cleaning them thoroughly and using them to store simple seasonings, occasionally used while training in the back mountain area.
"System, exchange this jade bottle." Xiao Se raised the jade bottle filled with seasoning and spoke inwardly, his gaze fixed on it.
[Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully exchanging for the Palm Heaven Bottle from the storage of Han Li.]
"Holy crap!"
"Holy crap!"
"Holy crap!"
Looking at the light green, slender-necked round bottle now in his hand, with several lifelike dark green leaf-shaped patterns engraved along its surface, Xiao Se couldn't help but curse repeatedly in shock.
The Palm Heaven Bottle, this was the greatest opportunity belonging to Han Li. With this treasure, an ordinary mortal was able to rise step by step within the cultivation world.
Slowly pulling out the stopper, a bean-sized drop of emerald-green liquid could be seen faintly glowing within the bottle.
Seeing this, Xiao Se's breathing grew heavier, his heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably.
"A slender neck, a light green surface, leaf-like patterns, and that distinctive green liquid... there's no mistake. This is indeed the Palm Heaven Bottle from A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality. Even if the former owner were to search across worlds, reaching the Dou Qi Continent would be nearly impossible."
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Se gradually suppressed the excitement in his heart, forcing himself to calm down.
"The Palm Heaven Bottle can absorb moonlight, condense spiritual liquid, and accelerate the growth of medicinal herbs. If this works in the Dou Qi Continent as well..."
Muttering softly, Xiao Se's eyes flickered with anticipation as he prepared to test the bottle's effects.
Having made up his mind, Xiao Se's gaze swept across the stone chamber, finally spotting an unidentified plant sprout growing faintly in a damp corner near the square stone platform at the center.
He carefully dripped the bright green liquid onto the sprout; at first glance, the sprout showed no immediate change, remaining as ordinary as before.
Xiao Se wasn't discouraged, because even treasures like the Palm Heaven Bottle required time to display their effects, especially in a world governed by Dou Qi rather than spiritual energy.
After putting away the Heavenly Bottle into his storage belt, Xiao Se picked up another jade bottle containing salt, his expression gradually turning serious.
"Whether I can obtain the Qi Gathering Powder depends on this attempt. If I fail, then for the last two chances, I must exchange for a cultivation technique. Otherwise, even if I step into the Dou Zhe realm, without a Qi Method, I won't be able to properly circulate Dou Qi."
Xiao Se clearly remembered that in Doupo Cangqiong, Qi Gathering Powder was described as a fourth-grade medicinal pill, emerald green in color and roughly the size of a longan, refined by alchemists.
To increase his chances, Xiao Se deliberately poured out the salt, then searched nearby and found a patch of green wild grass within the cave, crushing it to extract its juice.
Mixing the green juice with the salt, he carefully kneaded it together, shaping it into a round pellet about the size of a longan, mimicking the appearance described in the records.
After finishing, he placed the green pellet into the jade bottle, sealed it tightly, and took a deep breath.
"System, begin the exchange!"
At the same time, Xiao Se lowered his head, closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, and muttered half-jokingly, "Heaven and earth, ancestors, whoever's listening... just give me Qi Gathering Powder this time."
...
Meanwhile, in another world,
Han Li, also known as Han Laomo, had just concluded a dangerous expedition, eliminating his enemies and obtaining a considerable harvest.
He found a secluded location and set up a simple concealment formation, suppressing his aura to avoid unwanted attention.
Afterward, he prepared to cultivate his newly acquired spiritual herbs, intending to use the Palm Heaven Bottle to accelerate their growth to a thousand-year level.
A faint ripple suddenly passed through his storage pouch, and a jade bottle quietly appeared in his hand.
Han Li paused slightly, sensing something unusual.
Opening the bottle, he immediately frowned, his expression darkening as he muttered, "Which fool replaced my treasure with something like this?"
.....
[Ding, congratulations host, you have obtained a bottle of medicinal pills from the storage ring of Gu He.]
Hearing the system notification, Xiao Se's eyes instantly lit up. He hurriedly opened the jade bottle, and a rich medicinal fragrance surged out, quickly filling the entire stone chamber.
"Emerald green color, longan-sized, and such a dense medicinal aroma… this is exactly as recorded… Qi Gathering Powder!"
"There's no mistake. This is truly Qi Gathering Powder, just like those refined by alchemists within the Jia Ma Empire."
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Xiao Se quickly sealed the bottle and stored it carefully within his storage belt.
Now that he had obtained Qi Gathering Powder, the next step was to secure a suitable cultivation technique.
Making up his mind, Xiao Se didn't linger. Taking advantage of the early hour, he quickly left the cave and headed toward the Xiao family residence.
After obtaining the Qi Gathering Powder, Xiao Se did not attempt an immediate breakthrough. Instead, he returned directly to his residence, because he still had two remaining exchange opportunities that needed to be used before they expired.
Without a cultivation technique, even if he broke through to the Dou Zhe level, his cultivation speed would be severely limited, far inferior to those with proper Qi Methods.
Back in his modest residence, Xiao Se rummaged through his belongings and finally found a worn-out scroll tucked away in a corner.
"System, begin the exchange."
[Ding, exchange failed!!!]
"Damn… this is my only scroll. Do I really have to go out and purchase another one from the market or the clan's resource hall?"
Just as Xiao Se was deep in thought, a knock suddenly sounded from the door.
"The door's unlocked, come in," Xiao Se said calmly.
The door opened, and a tall young girl dressed in a tight red outfit stepped inside, her figure well-proportioned and full of youthful vitality, giving off a bold and straightforward aura.
"So slow. You little rascal." The girl crossed her arms, her tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
Without needing to guess, Xiao Se already knew her identity.
She was Xiao Yu.
Within the Xiao family, she was one of the few people who could be considered somewhat familiar with him; after all, most others either ignored him or kept their distance.
As for the old steward who had raised Xiao Se, he had already passed away half a year ago due to old age, leaving Xiao Se to rely on himself completely.
"I've said it before, my name is Xiao Se, not 'little rascal'," Xiao Se replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
"Hmph, you don't even call me cousin properly, what else should I call you?" Xiao Yu snorted, clearly displeased, though there was no real malice in her tone.
"By seniority, we're barely related, and besides, I don't have time to argue over such trivial matters," Xiao Se said lightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips as he looked at her.
...