Initial Refinement of the Dao Robe, a Small Universe in the Sleeve!

"Dao robe?"

Old Daoist Liu cast the youth before him a sidelong glance and said sarcastically:

"What? Does Lord Chen think coarse cloth and hemp garments are beneath your status now?"

"What nonsense."

Chen Yan shot him an irritated glare. Unable to speak plainly about Earth Fiend: Pot Heaven, he could only answer vaguely:

"Don't ask. It'll be useful, that's all."

Old Daoist Liu rolled his eyes and shook his head. Then he lightly flicked his sleeve. A brocade pouch within it could vaguely be seen flashing, and two robes along with a brocade box appeared out of thin air. He said:

"Every Flying Fish Guard of the Heavenly Supervision Department receives two sets of Flying Fish Robes upon taking office. They may not be top-grade Dao robes, but they are still woven from silk spun by spirit silkworms."

Chen Yan accepted them curiously. What he saw was an exquisite Dao robe of deep black, split at the hem and pleated at both sides, its edges outlined with woven golden auspicious clouds.

At the center of the robe was a Flying Fish pattern—a dragon's head, a fish's body, and a pair of wings beneath its belly. It looked so lifelike it seemed ready to leap from the fabric, adding three parts majesty.

His fingertips lightly brushed the surface of the robe. It felt smooth and cool in his hands, its texture distinct. Even the finest silk ribbons could not compare.

"What a fine Dao robe!"

Chen Yan's eyes lit up. After just one glance, he could not help but praise it.

Unable to wait any longer, he immediately put on the Black Brocade Flying Fish Robe.

The instant the robe settled over him, Chen Yan's entire bearing seemed renewed.

The youth stood tall and straight, his facial features deep and sharply defined, his lines as resolute as if carved by blade and axe. Beneath his slightly raised sword-like brows, his bright eyes shone like stars, carrying a steady, composed gleam.

The Black Brocade Flying Fish Robe lent the youth three more parts of heroic majesty. With a long saber at his waist, anyone who saw him would have to praise:

What a handsome young man!

Even Old Daoist Liu, seeing how greatly the youth's appearance had changed, could not help saying sourly:

"Quite the fine face you were born with."

Chen Yan rolled his eyes, happily inspecting himself from top to bottom, too pleased to bother arguing with Old Daoist Liu.

Then he pointed at the other brocade box and asked:

"What's this?"

"All-Encompassing Great Tonic Soup."

"There are ten doses in there. One dose a day, once at midnight. Remember not to steep it for too long."

Chen Yan opened it and found premium century-old ginseng, deer antler, musk, cordyceps, and more, along with some rare flowers and herbs he did not recognize.

Just looking at it was enough to show how precious the brocade box in his hands was. Calling it worth a thousand gold would be an understatement.

"Thank you."

Chen Yan expressed his gratitude.

Old Daoist Liu waved a hand. "You earned all this with your own merits. It has nothing to do with this old Daoist. All right, if there's nothing else, hurry up and get lost. Don't disturb this old Daoist's cultivation."

"Yes! This junior will take his leave!"

The youth replied with a grin, leaving the County Yamen amid the old Daoist's laughing curses.

He returned to the small courtyard in Ping An Fang.

After closing the door, Chen Yan immediately began refining the Dao robe, unable to wait any longer.

At its highest realm, Earth Fiend: Pot Heaven could swallow the sun, moon, stars, heaven, earth, and the vast firmament. He did not dare dream of that for now, but a Small Universe in Sleeve capable of holding Magic Tools, talismans, miscellaneous items, and more was already excellent!

Facai was nowhere to be seen at the moment. Recently, it seemed to have begun unifying the entire animal kingdom of Shanxi Town and was busy beyond measure.

After swallowing the Great Return Pill, Facai was no longer a match for ordinary Blood-Changing Martial Artists. Even against a Skin-Peeling Puppet, it could still flee if it could not win, so Chen Yan was not overly worried.

Returning to his room, he sat cross-legged on the bed, gathered his thoughts, and quickly entered meditation.

Then, following the treasure-refining formula described in Earth Fiend: Pot Heaven, Chen Yan circulated the Magic Power in his dantian and began refining the Black Brocade Flying Fish Robe he wore, joining the Dao robe with his mind and spirit.

This was the most crucial step in using Sleeve Universe, as well as the foundation for storing objects.

Though refining a Dao robe as described in the Pot Heaven Technique was exceedingly simple, Chen Yan's current cultivation was clearly not high enough for it to be so easy.

The creator of the Pot Heaven Technique likely had never imagined that one day, it would be cultivated by an Essence Cultivation youth who had only just stepped onto the path of cultivation.

As Magic Power continuously poured into the Dao robe, the robe was like a stone sinking into the sea, showing not the slightest response.

His already pitifully scant Magic Power was nearing exhaustion, and his first refinement was about to end in failure.

At last, Chen Yan gritted his teeth and actually mobilized the power of his Blood Qi, pouring it into the Dao robe.

Unexpectedly, the power of his Blood Qi was also perfectly compatible with the Dao robe. Perhaps because both had originated from Chen Yan, it merged into the robe without the slightest discomfort.

Secretly letting out a breath, Chen Yan held his breath and focused his mind, circulating the power of Blood Qi through his meridians with utmost concentration.

Compared to his feeble Magic Power, Chen Yan's Blood Qi, with his Third Blood Qi Realm nearing completion, was vastly more abundant.

Whoosh!

Surging Blood Qi rushed endlessly, flooding toward the Dao robe.

From the outside, Chen Yan's skin had turned crimson from the rapid circulation of his Blood Qi, like a boiled shrimp. Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, while great clouds of white mist rose from the top of his head.

As time passed, more and more Blood Qi flowed into the Dao robe.

Gradually, Chen Yan began to sense feedback from the Black Brocade Flying Fish Robe.

The feedback was faint, but it was an excellent beginning, filling Chen Yan with delight.

Finally, when the Blood Qi within his meridians gradually began to fail, the energy contained within the Dao robe seemed to have reached the limit of what it could bear.

It flowed back into his body through his limbs and bones, forming a cycle between inner and outer heaven and earth.

After the cycle completed forty-nine revolutions, the Black Brocade Flying Fish Robe thoroughly merged with Chen Yan's mind and spirit.

Upon the surface of the Dao robe, a sun-and-moon pattern gradually appeared, flickering with faint red light before swiftly fading back into the robe.

At this moment, Chen Yan could clearly sense every thread and every strip of silk in the robe he wore, just as he sensed every meridian while cultivating.

"Success!"

Chen Yan opened his eyes. Though his face was somewhat pale, his eyes were brimming with delight.

At this point, Sleeve Universe had completed its initial refinement. Next, once his cultivation rose, he could continue refining the Dao robe, even inscribing formations and talismans within it to enhance its power.

But that was still too far away for Chen Yan. For now, the Small Universe in Sleeve with its storage function was more than enough.

Unable to contain himself, Chen Yan began testing the effects of the Small Universe in Sleeve.

He reached out and swept a hand across the table before him. In an instant, the table vanished from the room, yet Chen Yan could clearly sense that the table, far larger than his sleeve, was resting within it in absurd contrast.

He looked at his sleeve. There was nothing inside, yet Chen Yan could indeed sense the table within.

Then, with a thought from Chen Yan, the table automatically reappeared in the middle of the room, as though it had never vanished.

"What a fine treasure!"

Though his Small Universe in Sleeve was separated from the Sleeve Universe of ancient great powers by the gulf between heaven and earth—even fit to be called trash—Chen Yan was already immensely satisfied.

Compared to the storage bags of other cultivators, Chen Yan's Small Universe in Sleeve was far more convenient. It was a space opened by Chen Yan himself; even if the Dao robe was damaged, the items within would not be affected. He only needed to refine a new Dao robe to open it again.

Of course, since it had only undergone initial refinement, the Small Universe in Sleeve was not particularly large—only around three zhang square—but it was already sufficient for Chen Yan's current needs.

This was only its first function. Once Chen Yan's cultivation improved later, he could refine a second formation into the Dao robe. At that time, it could store living things and bewilder souls and spirits.

However, to refine the second formation, Chen Yan felt that relying solely on the power of Blood Qi would not be enough. At the very least, he would need to wait until his realm reached Fetal Breathing, or even Dao Foundation.

This matter could not be rushed.