Night fell.
Liu Xi sat cross-legged atop the Green Lotus Platform, his eyes calm and focused. With a flick of his finger, a jade bottle appeared in his hand—inside rested a single, faintly glowing lotus seed, pulsing with pure fire energy.
He gazed at it for a moment and murmured, "As expected of the so-called essence of fire spirits—the Earth Flame Lotus Seed truly is pure beyond compare."
Without hesitation, he uncorked the bottle and tilted his head back, swallowing the lotus seed whole.
Instantly, a torrent of fiery energy erupted within his body, surging through his meridians like molten lava. His body trembled slightly as he circulated the Nine Nether Ghost Flame Technique, refining the wild energy into gentle streams of Dou Qi that gradually merged into the azure Dou Crystal within his dantian.
As the lotus seed's energy continued to fuse, Liu Xi's inner flame became purer—its aura increasingly similar to that of the Green Lotus Core Flame. His control over the Heavenly Flame deepened with each breath.
By the time dawn approached, the energy of the Earth Flame Lotus Seed had finally been exhausted. Liu Xi slowly opened his eyes and exhaled, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Not bad," he said softly. "Refining just one Earth Flame Lotus Seed saved me a full month of cultivation. So there is a shortcut after reaching the Dou Wang realm."
He rose lightly and pushed open the door.
Outside, Qing Lin was already waiting with a basin of clear water and a towel. Seeing him emerge, her gentle smile brightened her delicate features.
"Young Master, good morning!"
With her careful attention, Liu Xi felt his mood lift. 'Qing Lin is so obedient and thoughtful—both guardian and attendant… truly a treasure.'
After washing up, he and Qing Lin went out for breakfast—a simple desert meal—before heading once again to Hai Bodong's map shop.
Inside, under the faint glow of moonstones, the old man sat behind the counter, completely absorbed in his work, scratching intricate lines across a parchment map.
Liu Xi smiled faintly. 'Perhaps after losing most of his strength, Hai Bodong picked up this map-making habit to pass the years. Once, the proud Ice Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire… now reduced to this.'
He stepped closer and said calmly, "Old man, hand over the ingredients you've prepared. Also, get me a quiet room—I'll start refining the Breaking Adversity Pill today."
Hai Bodong's hand froze mid-stroke. The pen slipped, gouging a long scar across the half-finished map. With a heavy sigh, he lifted his head, hesitation flickering in his eyes.
"Perhaps," he said slowly, "you should study the pill recipe a little longer. I can wait."
Liu Xi chuckled softly. "No need. I'm ready. Besides, I'm not about to go hunting for another Sand Datura if this fails."
That silenced Hai Bodong's doubts. With a resigned nod, he flicked his wrist, and several dozen high-grade medicinal ingredients appeared on the counter.
Many of them were rare—materials that would never appear on the open market, only at exclusive auctions where major factions and high-tier alchemists bid fiercely for them.
Liu Xi carefully inspected every herb, ensuring nothing was missing. Some had even been prepared in duplicate or triplicate—excellent insurance.
Satisfied, he waved his sleeve, and the herbs vanished into his storage ring.
"Let's see the refining room," Liu Xi said. "And remember—this will take at least two or three days. Once I begin, no one disturbs me. Not even you. If anything interrupts the process, you can forget about ever regaining your Dou Huang strength."
Hai Bodong nodded solemnly and led him down a dim corridor at the back of the shop. They stopped before a solid wooden door.
"This way."
He pushed it open. The room beyond was simple but spotless, its lighting steady and bright. Liu Xi swept his gaze around, then gave a small nod.
"Not bad."
Hai Bodong smiled faintly. "Then I'll guard outside. You'll have all the peace you need—no one will disturb you."
Liu Xi simply grunted in response. The old man closed the door softly behind him and took a seat in the hallway, too anxious to return to his counter.
Inside the room, Liu Xi's Spiritual Power spread outward, blanketing the chamber to ensure no disturbances. Through the wall, he could sense Hai Bodong waiting just outside, motionless.
He chuckled. "How diligent."
Then, with a flick of his wrist, a crimson cauldron appeared, its surface etched with ancient flame patterns. The moment it touched the ground, the room's temperature rose.
He laid out the herbs neatly before the cauldron, then summoned the Green Lotus Platform—his secret weapon to increase success rate and reduce energy loss during refinement.
Settling atop it, he pressed his palms together. A flicker of Green Lotus Core Flame danced to life in his hands, flowing into the cauldron's fire inlet.
The azure fire surged to fill the interior, licking the cauldron's walls with gentle pulses of heat.
Liu Xi dropped in the first ingredient—a stalk of blazing-red grass. The flame enveloped it instantly, burning away impurities and condensing its essence into liquid.
He proceeded methodically, refining each herb one by one.
Hours passed. The cauldron brimmed with glimmering liquid essences of varying hues. When the final ingredient—the lone Sand Datura—was fed into the fire, Liu Xi's concentration sharpened to a razor's edge.
At last, the last trace of the herb dissolved into a viscous golden extract. He exhaled in relief. "That's the hardest part done."
Though he'd stumbled thrice along the way, the spare materials had saved him. The Sand Datura, of which only one existed, had been flawlessly refined—no small victory.
Exhausted after an entire day's work, he swallowed a recovery pill and meditated atop the lotus platform, restoring his Spiritual Power and Dou Qi.
An hour later, feeling renewed, he turned back to the cauldron. Inside, the liquefied essences floated within the dancing flames, separated yet balanced.
He took a deep breath, formed a hand seal, and guided the fusion.
Different energies began to collide, merge, and twist. The cauldron trembled faintly, faint ripples of invisible power spreading outward.
Gradually, the chaotic swirl condensed into a single form—a faintly purple, thumb-sized pill embryo.
A subtle fragrance drifted through the air, light but lingering.
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "Just a bit more… as long as nothing goes wrong, this Breaking Adversity Pill will succeed."
---
But outside, in the distant streets of Stone Desert City, a group of strangers had just arrived.
They were not desert folk—their bearing, clothing, and aura gave that away instantly.
At their head was a stern-faced old man whose eyes glinted like steel. Suddenly, he halted mid-step.
A faint crimson energy rippled from his body, filling the air with the stench of blood.
He closed his eyes, as though sensing something, then slowly turned toward the east.
When he opened them again, his lips curved into a cruel, eager smile.
His gaze locked precisely on the direction of Liu Xi's residence.
Where, at that very moment, only one person remained—
Qing Lin.
(End of Chapter)
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