“Young Master Xiao Jian, these are the items you requested.
They are all in the storage ring!” The middle-aged man respectfully handed a black ring to Xiao Jian.
Low-tier storage rings don’t have a recognition function; they can be used simply by injecting Dou Qi.
Xiao Jian quickly checked, and the items were mostly complete.
Given Mittel’s reputation, they wouldn’t shortchange him.
“Alright, everything is here!
Card payment!” He took out a purple card and handed it to the middle-aged man.
The man took the card from Xiao Jian’s hand and said, “Excuse me, Young Master Xiao Jian, please wait a moment longer.”
…Upon returning to the Xiao Family, it was almost dark.
Xiao Jian took out the storage ring from his chest; he understood the principle of not revealing wealth.
He wasn’t afraid of trouble, but avoiding it was always best.
Closing his room door, Xiao Jian took out some medicinal herbs and a medicine cauldron one by one.
The Dou Qi flowed into the medicine cauldron, forming a green flame.
“Perceive that trace of wood attribute within your body, then inject it into the medicine cauldron.” A third-rank alchemist wasn’t as good as Yao Lao, but what he taught was better than Yao Lao’s teaching in that he received everything, including some alchemy methods and problems that could only be discovered after prolonged alchemy.
He knew it all.
As that trace of wood attribute was injected into the medicine cauldron, the originally violent flames slowly calmed down.
According to the settings of the Dou Qi Continent, a person can only possess one attribute, but a very small number of people can possess a second attribute.
Xiao Jian was different from them; he had all attributes in his body.
This meant he could cultivate any attribute’s cultivation method and Dou Technique without any hindrance.
His soul power probed in, carefully sensing the changes happening inside the medicine cauldron, and Xiao Jian slowly began to place medicinal herbs into the medicine cauldron.
“Wisteria Flower, White Fruit, Alum Grass!” What he was refining now was an ordinary healing liquid, with the effects of stopping bleeding and accelerating healing.
Wisteria Flower, a very tenacious vine that can grow from a seedling to dozens of meters long in just one year.
Alum Grass has a hemostatic effect, while White Fruit is used as a neutralizer to fuse the two medicines.
It can combine the two medicines, integrate their advantages, and form a medicinal liquid.
Sizzle!
As the sound came out, the medicinal materials in the medicine cauldron also turned into a pile of ash.
“The flame is too big!”
Sizzle!
“White Fruit wasn’t roasted long enough!”
Sizzle!
“Fusion was too hasty!”
Xiao Jian failed again and again.
But each time he failed, he could accurately state why he failed.
This continued until the thirty-second time.
Xiao Jian happily looked at the green liquid in the bottle.
“Hahaha!
I knew this wasn’t that difficult!”
“According to current prices, this small bottle can sell for at least two hundred gold coins!
Alchemists…
as expected, they are the wealthiest profession on the Dou Qi Continent!
Continue!”
As a transmigrator, Xiao Jian’s spiritual power was not weak; at least, it was definitely not inferior to Xiao Yan’s.
…The next day!
Xiao Jian watched the light stream in through the window, then looked at the medicinal liquid on the table.
He closed his eyes and continued to cultivate.
His Dou Qi was almost depleted, and his spirit was very tired, even after taking a break midway.
However, all of this was worth it.
After thirty-two failures, he only failed five more times, which could be said to be a very low failure rate.
At this rate, it was estimated that in three or four days, he could officially start trying to refine first-rank medicinal pills.
This was also why he received the complete inheritance of a third-rank alchemist; as long as he failed, he could find the reason and correct it, which gave him the capital to rapidly improve his pill formation rate in alchemy.
By the time he felt his Dou Qi and spirit had fully recovered, almost two hours had passed.
“It seems I should follow Xiao Yan’s example and find a secluded place!”
Although his current location was quiet, it was still in the center of the Xiao Family.
It might have been fine before, but for alchemy now, he needed to find an even more secluded place.
“The back mountain of the Xiao Family leads directly into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
It seems I can go take a look!”
However, since he was going out, he needed to procure some more supplies; going empty-handed wouldn’t do.
Collecting all the medicinal liquid back into his storage ring, Xiao Jian walked towards the Xiao Family market, and after acquiring all the necessary items, Xiao Jian began heading towards the Xiao Family’s back mountain.
…To be honest, there were quite a few cliffs in the Xiao Family’s back mountain.
He found a cliff about thirty to forty meters high, took out a rope, tied it to a tree, and slowly climbed down.
When he was about halfway down, Xiao Jian held the rope with one hand and took out his sword with the other.
Swish, swish!
With a few strikes, he carved out a platform large enough for a person to stand on, then continued to carve with his sword.
Soon, he had carved out a space of thirty to forty square meters, leaving only a one-meter opening at the entrance for concealment.
With a strong pull, the rope slid down.
He had used the rope earlier in case of emergencies, but now that there shouldn’t be any problems, he didn’t need it anymore.
Keeping it would only make him easily discovered.
Blocking the cave entrance with nearby branches, Xiao Jian sat cross-legged on the stone bed and began to cultivate.
Then, in the evening, he started refining medicine again.
He progressed very quickly, and on the fourth day, he successfully refined a first-rank medicinal pill.
Although he only refined one, it was still quite good.
However, there was now a problem: he was running low on medicinal ingredients.
Food wasn’t a big issue; every day when he went out to practice sword fighting, he could “pick up” some wild beasts and such.
“It’s time to go out; staying away for too long isn’t good.” He hadn’t notified anyone when he left, so if he didn’t return soon, the Xiao Family would probably send people to look for him.
Xiao Jian packed his things, ready to go back, but as he walked not far from his courtyard gate, he saw someone standing at his doorstep.
Xiao Jian walked over.
“Xiao Mu, what are you doing here?”
Xiao Mu had also changed a lot compared to three years ago, but his relationship with Xiao Jian had always been good.
In the Xiao Family, besides Xiao Yan, Xiao Mu was his best friend.
As for the other members of the Xiao Family, they were just so-so.
When Xiao Mu saw Xiao Jian, he immediately said happily, “Big Brother Xiao Jian, you’re finally back!
I haven’t seen you for days and thought something had happened to you!” After speaking, he awkwardly scratched his head.
Xiao Jian smiled and said, “What could happen to me!
I just went out to cultivate for a few days!
No need to worry!
Come on, let’s go inside and sit!”
“Mm!”
The two entered the house and sat down.
Although he hadn’t lived there for several days, the room was still clean, indicating someone had cleaned it for him.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Mu?
Is there something you need me for?”
“Well, actually, it’s nothing much.
I just haven’t seen Big Brother Xiao Jian for a long time, so I wanted to come and see you!
I really envy Big Brother!
You’re already at Dou Force Stage Eight, and it shouldn’t be long until you break through to Dou Zhe!
Unfortunately, I’m only at Stage Five, so far behind Big Brother Xiao Jian!”
Xiao Jian saw the deep envy in his eyes.
However, Xiao Jian couldn’t help him.
It wasn’t that there were no medicinal pills that could be used before Dou Zhe, but he didn’t have any.
As for other cultivation methods and such, they could only be cultivated after reaching Dou Zhe.
He could only comfort him, saying, “You’re not bad either; you’re even better than some of your peers in the Xiao Family.
If you keep working hard, you might still catch up to me!”
Hearing Xiao Jian’s praise, Xiao Mu awkwardly scratched his head again.
Big Brother Xiao Jian was the person he admired most; he was both talented and intelligent.
“Big Brother Xiao Jian, I will work hard!” Xiao Mu said earnestly.
“Then I shall wait and see!
How about this?
When you break through to Dou Zhe, I’ll give you a gift!”
“Big Brother Xiao Jian is going to give me a gift?
Great!
I will work even harder!”
Xiao Jian quite liked people like Xiao Mu, who were honest and didn’t have many ulterior motives.
Unfortunately, in both his previous and current lives, such people generally didn’t fare too well unless they had incredibly good luck.
The two chatted for a while, from recent interesting events to some rumors in Wutan City that weren’t true, then moved on to ideals and the future.
After about an hour, Xiao Mu bid farewell and left.
By this time, it was almost afternoon, and Xiao Jian no longer continued to cultivate.
Instead, he went to the Xiao Family market.
“Boss, one large bowl of mixed grain noodles!”
Upon reaching the market, Xiao Jian went straight into a noodle shop and chose a window seat.
This noodle shop was the best-tasting noodle shop in Wutan City, at least he thought it was quite delicious.
“Alright!
One large bowl of mixed grain noodles!” The waiter skillfully shouted to the kitchen, then brought a pot of tea.
The tea wasn’t particularly good, but it was drinkable.
Speaking of which, the cuisine on the Dou Qi Continent was no less than in his previous life.
Although there were fewer varieties, the ingredients were superior.
Even a single grain of rice here was much more fragrant than in his previous life.
If cultivation wasn’t the mainstream, Xiao Jian would have wanted to open a hotpot restaurant here.
Pouring a cup of tea, he slowly waited for his noodles.
There were many people today; all ten-plus tables were full.
At this moment, two more people walked in, a man and a woman.
The man was dressed in green, and the woman was wearing a red dress.
Looking at the woman, she wasn’t old, but her figure was quite good.
The two were indeed young master and young lady of the Xiao Family, Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei.
As soon as they entered, the waiter greeted them.
He asked, “Two guests, this way…” He was about to say “this way, please,” but his eyes scanned the room and found no empty tables.
“Excuse me, two distinguished guests, there are no available seats at the moment!
I wonder if…”
Before he could finish, Xiao Ning interrupted him.
Pointing at Xiao Jian’s table, he said, “No need, we’ll just sit there!
Is that alright, Xiao Jian?”
“Suit yourselves!” Xiao Jian didn’t care.
Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei sat down and ordered their food.
Looking at the guy sitting across from him, a surge of anger rose in his heart; it was this guy who always suppressed him.
Xiao Mei also saw through Xiao Ning’s thoughts.
Just then, Xiao Jian’s noodles arrived, and she rolled her eyes, scoffing, “Xiao Jian, only eating noodles?
Are you out of money?
Do you want us to lend you some?
We’re all surnamed Xiao!
Don’t be shy!”
Children are really childish, but Xiao Jian didn’t bother to argue with them.
The future was different; there was no need.
He calmly said, “No need!
I’m not that short on money.
However, if you’re short on money, you can ask the person next to you!”
After speaking, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and began to eat his noodles as if no one else was there.
“You!” Xiao Mei also understood what Xiao Jian meant, and her brows furrowed.
Although she did indeed have that intention, being told directly by Xiao Jian wasn’t so comfortable.
Xiao Ning saw Xiao Mei being put in a difficult position.
He didn’t mean to stand up for Xiao Mei, but instead said, “Xiao Jian, when do you have time, let’s have a match!”
“You want to spar with me?
Then, Young Master Xiao Ning, don’t cry if you lose!
As for the time, let’s make it the next Dou Qi test!
I think Young Master Xiao Ning also wants to defeat me then, right?” Heh heh!
Although he didn’t care about these two little brats’ provocations, Xiao Jian didn’t want to humor them.
“Good!
Then the next test!
Don’t you dare not show up!” Seemingly having achieved his goal, Xiao Ning’s face now showed joy.
He had already imagined the scene of Xiao Jian being defeated by him.
He wanted to tell everyone that he was the strongest genius of the Xiao Family.
“Mm!
Don’t worry.” He perfunctorily replied, and Xiao Jian began his great noodle-eating endeavor.
Bullying rookies was not as important as eating his noodles.
Watching Xiao Jian’s retreating figure, a flicker of worry crossed Xiao Mei’s eyes.
Was Xiao Ning really this guy’s opponent?
No, no, Xiao Ning had mastered Dou Techniques for longer and had broken through earlier than this guy; he couldn’t possibly lose.
After leaving, Xiao Jian first went to buy a black robe.
He was going to the Mittel Auction House to deal with the medicines he had refined these past few days.
Exposing too much at once was not a good thing.