Over the next three days, Zhou Kai completely switched into the role of a master actor.
He strictly followed the dull and uneventful routine expected of a Chen Family Guest Elder.
During the day, he appeared punctually at the Spirit Beast Garden.
Unlike before, when he merely strolled around perfunctorily, he now truly began working in earnest.
One moment he would inspect the fur quality of the Long-Tailed Rabbits, the next he would check on the rations of the Cloud-Stepping Antelopes. He even seriously discussed breeding techniques with several Chen Family tenant farmers responsible for feeding them.
He pointed at a sturdy antelope and said, “Xiao Liu, look at this Cloud-Stepping Antelope. It’s gained weight recently. Did you add soybean cake to the feed?”
Xiao Liu beamed. “Guest Elder Zhou has sharp eyes. We did add some. Just look at how glossy its fur is!”
Zhou Kai nodded approvingly, wearing an expression as if praising a teachable student, while quietly calculating the numbers on his system panel in his mind.
Occasionally, when he encountered Chen Muhui, who was equally idle, the two would gather to drink wine, listen to opera, and complain about reduced stipends or a Steward putting on airs. They blended perfectly into the background.
He performed his weakness, helplessness, and contentment with the status quo flawlessly. It was as if the near-death escape outside Hidden Beast Mountain a few days ago, and the subsequent interrogation by Chen Xingze, were nothing more than fleeting clouds, leaving no trace in his heart.
At night, however, his small courtyard presented an entirely different scene.
The night deepened, stars shimmering faintly.
Inside the room, a tender and intimate atmosphere rippled like water.
Chen Ziyi nestled obediently in Zhou Kai’s arms, breathing evenly, her cheeks flushed with satisfaction.
Holding her soft warmth, Zhou Kai watched the system panel in his mind refresh.
[Ding! Deep exchange with confidante Chen Ziyi. Exchange interaction points +8.]
[Ding! Deep exchange with confidante Chen Ziyi. Exchange interaction points +8.]
[Ding! Deep exchange with confidante Chen Ziyi. Exchange interaction points +8.]
…
A regular routine and regular exchanges brought steady growth in exchange points.
Without hesitation, Zhou Kai poured all the accumulated points from the past few days into Alchemy.
His consciousness sank into the system panel.
[Zhou Kai (damaged dantian)]
[Cultivation: 4th stage Qi Refining Realm (0/400)]
[Vitality: 2nd stage Meridian Awakening Realm (0/200)]
[Spiritual Roots: Metal (Low-grade 12/100), Wood (Low-grade 25/100), Water (Low-grade 17/100), Fire (Low-grade 23/100)]
[Hundred Arts of Cultivation: Alchemy (2nd grade 155/300)]
[Confidante: Chen Ziyi (Mortal, Favorability 88)]
It was time to resolve this cursed dantian problem.
Without hesitation, Zhou Kai took out the materials for True Condensing Pills he had purchased from the Treasure Prosper Pavilion.
Flames danced at his fingertips. The Scarlet Sun Furnace emitted a faint hum as the runes on its walls lit up one by one.
Rare medicinal herbs were placed into the furnace in a precise order. Zhou Kai’s expression was focused, his spiritual sense fully engaged as he carefully sensed every subtle change within the furnace. His hands formed intricate seals, constantly adjusting the flame’s temperature and intensity.
Second-grade pills were mostly used by cultivators in the Late stage Qi Refining Realm up to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Zhou Kai had just stepped into the 4th stage Qi Refining Realm, and the strain on his spiritual sense was immense. Although the system had elevated his Alchemy to the 2nd grade, precise control of spiritual power output remained a tremendous challenge.
Several times the furnace flames nearly spiraled out of control. During the fusion of the medicinal liquids, a brief rejection reaction occurred. Only by relying on his second-grade alchemy experience far beyond his current cultivation and the instinct granted by the system did he forcibly stabilize it. Sweat soaked through his back. One slight mistake would have reduced everything to useless slag.
Time passed slowly.
A strange medicinal fragrance gradually filled the furnace, clear and distant. It entered his nose and refreshed his mind.
At a certain moment, Zhou Kai’s eyes sharpened. His hands formed a final seal.
The Scarlet Sun Furnace lid sprang open. Several streams of light shot out and were swiftly caught by a jade bottle he had prepared.
With several crisp clinks, five pills settled inside.
Four were perfectly round, emitting a soft white glow and rich fragrance. They were mid-grade True Condensing Pills.
The final one was slightly larger, more lustrous, with a faint treasure-like glow flowing across its surface. Its fragrance was even more refreshing. Just inhaling it made his dantian feel warm. It was a top-grade True Condensing Pill.
Success.
Fatigue showed on Zhou Kai’s face, yet excitement could not be hidden.
From one batch of materials, four mid-grade and one top-grade. Even seasoned second-grade alchemists might not achieve such quality and yield. The system truly was reliable.
However, his spiritual sense was nearly exhausted. He could not refine a second batch.
He picked up a mid-grade True Condensing Pill and swallowed it without hesitation.
The pill melted instantly, transforming into a gentle yet vast current of warmth that surged toward his lower abdomen.
He let out a low breath of relief.
The tiny cracks along his dantian wall began visibly closing under the washing force of the medicinal power.
The faint stabbing sensation that once accompanied the circulation of spiritual power diminished significantly.
A warm, tingling sensation spread from deep within his dantian. It was the feeling of renewal.
The medicinal effect lasted for nearly fifteen minutes before gradually fading.
Zhou Kai carefully sensed the changes in his dantian, and ecstasy filled his face.
It worked. The effect was remarkable.
After briefly calculating, he muttered, “One mid-grade pill repairs about thirty percent of the damage. Two more, and by tomorrow my dantian will be completely restored.”
He clicked his tongue. “One batch of materials. One thousand spirit stones gone just like that. True Condensing Pills are not something ordinary people can afford.”
Without the system, such extravagance would have been unimaginable.
His gaze fell on the remaining pills, especially the top-grade one. A playful smile curved his lips. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“This top-grade pill… I certainly won’t sell it. I’ll let that Miss Wang have a look. She should understand the true value of this ‘promising stock.’ It will strengthen her resolve to keep investing.”
With Wang Qiaoqiao as a connection, future resource channels were secured.
Everything was moving exactly as he had planned.
…
The next day.
After refining the third True Condensing Pill, the last stubborn cracks were gradually smoothed and healed.
The final trace of obstruction along his dantian wall vanished completely.
Spiritual power flowed within his dantian without the slightest pain or resistance. It was smooth and harmonious.
The dantian damage that had troubled him for so long was finally completely healed.
Zhou Kai abruptly opened his eyes. An indescribable sense of relief swept through him. He almost wanted to shout aloud.
At last, he could cultivate like a normal cultivator, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on his own.
The system was powerful, but cultivating independently felt solid and real.
He exhaled slowly, calming his surging emotions, and looked at the system panel.
The forty exchange interaction points gained from Chen Ziyi the previous night rested quietly there.
The progress bars for his four low-grade spiritual roots—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire—stood lonely.
After brief thought, Zhou Kai made his decision.
“My dantian is fully restored. I can now absorb spiritual energy without hindrance. If I do not improve the spiritual root aptitude that directly affects cultivation efficiency now, when will I?”
“The Chen Family’s basic cultivation technique I practice is wood-attributed. In that case…”
“The Wood Spiritual Root has the best foundation already. I’ll choose that.”
[Ding! Consumed 40 exchange interaction points. Wood Spiritual Root aptitude increased.]
On the system panel, the number behind Wood changed instantly.
[Zhou Kai]
[Cultivation: 4th stage Qi Refining Realm (0/400)]
[Vitality: 2nd stage Meridian Awakening Realm (0/200)]
[Spiritual Roots: Metal (Low-grade 12/100), Wood (Low-grade 65/100), Water (Low-grade 17/100), Fire (Low-grade 23/100)]
[Hundred Arts of Cultivation: Alchemy (2nd grade 155/300)]
[Available exchange interaction points: 0]
From outside the door came Chen Ziyi’s anxious voice. “My master is refining pills and will not see guests. Please do not force your way in…”
Heavy knocking followed.