Fifth-grade Qi Whirl Pill

Lin Che smiled calmly. "Miss Xun'er, rest assured. I am merely a traveler who enjoys drinking and making merry. The rest is all trivial."

Xiao Xun'er nodded gently, then cupped her hands in return. "Then I must trouble you, Senior, to heal Brother Xiao Yan. Once it is done, if Brother Xiao Yan truly regains his former strength, this junior will certainly reward you generously."

"As for what happened tonight, I hope Senior will not mention it to Brother Xiao Yan."

Lin Che nodded.

With a flicker of light and shadow, Xiao Xun'er's figure vanished from the room like a ghost.

At dawn the next day, the rooster crowed.

Warm sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, scattering tiny patches of light across the tidy room.

Lin Che followed Xiao Yan to the back mountain of the Xiao Family.

The place was lush with life, surrounded by rolling mountains.

Across the cliff face, clouds and mist swirled. Beneath them lay the perilous Monster Mountain Range.

Below the cliff was a bottomless abyss, with only a single narrow path leading into this place.

This was where Xiao Yan had trained in the past. From childhood to adulthood, day after day and year after year, even when his cultivation declined rather than improved, Xiao Yan had never given up on training here.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and asked softly, "Senior, how can I restore my strength?"

The main reason he could not condense a Dou Qi vortex was the ring belonging to Old Yao. Without its absorption over the past three years, Xiao Yan's strength would likely have been close to breaking through to the Great Dou Master realm.

Such talent would have been extraordinary anywhere.

Lin Che said, "Give me your ring."

Xiao Yan froze for a moment before removing the Storage Ring from his hand and offering it with both hands. "This is a relic my mother left me. It has stayed by my side all these years."

Lin Che took the Storage Ring. The moment dense Dou Qi flowed into it, the ring erupted with a blinding white radiance.

That white light carried a faint chill. The ground beneath them visibly formed a thin layer of frost.

Xiao Yan's face was filled with astonishment.

What was happening?

Lin Che knew full well that a Dou Zun expert lived inside: Yao Chen, known as Old Yao.

Over the past few years, it had been Yao Chen absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi to sustain his soul. Otherwise, with his frail state, he would have long since vanished between heaven and earth.

"Leave this ring with me for now." Lin Che spoke softly. Then, so Xiao Yan would not suffer a loss, he took out a pill and handed it over. "This is called the Qi Whirl Pill, a Fifth-grade Pill. Throughout history, those capable of refining this pill have been as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

"Of course, more importantly, the materials required for this pill are exceedingly precious. One of them alone is enough to leave alchemists across the world in awe. This pill's effects are not overpowering, so it will not cause anyone below the Dou Zhe realm to explode and die. However, it can allow a cultivator in the Dou Qi realm to break through into the Dou Zhe realm within three days."

"What?!"

The moment those words fell, Xiao Yan froze where he stood.

The expression on his face was utterly spectacular. A moment later, his hurried breathing sounded through the area like a windmill spinning wildly.

In Xiao Yan's understanding, the only pill that could allow someone at the Dou Qi stage to break through to Dou Zhe was Qi Gathering Powder, and one had to reach the Ninth Stage Dou Qi first.

Qi Gathering Powder could guarantee that someone at the Ninth Stage Dou Qi advanced to Dou Zhe. Yet this Qi Whirl Pill could allow a Dou Qi cultivator to rise directly into the Dou Zhe realm.

That was far too heaven-defying.

The pill had been a system reward for Lin Che. He had thought he would never need it, so he had tossed it into his Storage Ring to gather dust.

Now that it could be used today, perhaps it truly was fate.

Xiao Yan's throat bobbed as he stared at the pill glowing faintly gold in his hand. He felt an urge to swallow it immediately.

"Take it. If you cannot break through to Dou Zhe within three days, I will personally help you break through."

With one hand behind his back, Lin Che turned around. "I will come to the Xiao Family in three days. I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."

Xiao Yan snapped out of his daze. Just as he was about to speak, he discovered that the Senior from before had already disappeared.

After standing there dumbly for a long while, Xiao Yan no longer cared whether the Storage Ring had been taken away. As long as he could become stronger, even if the Storage Ring was truly gone, what was there to fear?

As the pill entered his mouth, it instantly transformed into a warm current that swept through Xiao Yan's limbs and bones. Surging Dou Qi energy gathered wildly, even warping the surrounding space.

Wutan City, Mite'er Family Auction House.

Only after making inquiries in many places did Lin Che learn that there was an herb here, an essential ingredient for brewing wine. Adding it would elevate the wine's flavor by another level.

As the Drunken Sword Immortal, how could Lin Che miss such a fine opportunity?

The Mite'er Auction Hall was the largest auction venue in Wutan City. It also belonged to the Mite'er Family, the wealthiest family in the Jia Ma Empire.

When Lin Che entered the auction house, there were not many people inside because it was still morning. Only a few auction house staff members were cleaning.

Seeing a stranger arrive, a maid walked over and asked softly, "Sir, is there something you need?"

"Is the owner of this auction hall here?" Lin Che swept his gaze over the spacious, resplendent hall and asked quietly.

"Miss Ya Fei is still organizing the auction items. If you have no urgent business, please come back tonight."

Auctions opened at night, so the place was closed during the day. Outsiders generally did not come here.

"You came so early, Sir. Might I ask if you have some business here?"

A soft, bone-melting voice came from nearby. An alluring woman slowly approached.

A seductive smile rested on her delicate face. She wore a vivid red, form-fitting brocade robe, exquisitely crafted and luxurious, perfectly outlining her captivating curves.

The glimpse of her dazzlingly fair long legs beneath the robe stirred a burning impulse in one's heart. A silver sash cinched her slender waist, emphasizing its exquisite grace to the fullest.

She was Ya Fei, the Mite'er Family's chief auctioneer.

Nearly everyone in Wutan City knew of this beauty. Her mature, seductive charm had made countless men fall at her feet.

As Lin Che looked at Ya Fei, known as an enchantress, he became even more certain that the rumors were not baseless.

She was an absolute temptress among temptresses.

No wonder so many men had fallen for her. There was clearly good reason for it.

"My name is Ya Fei. I am from the Mite'er Family and also Wutan City's chief auctioneer. May I ask whether you wish to auction a treasure, Sir, or have one appraised?"

Her soft, seductive voice was utterly intoxicating, enough to make any man who heard it feel as though his bones had gone weak.