Setting Out to Gain Experience

Ever since Liu Xi reached an agreement with Instructor Zhang Yan, his life of study at Jia Nan Academy had become much more peaceful.

Although he was enrolled in Zhang Yan's Class, Liu Xi had hardly attended a single day of lessons.

By the time Liu Xi arrived at Jia Nan Academy, he had already broken through to the Nine-star Dou Shi level. Not wanting to attract too much attention at the time, he falsely reported himself as a One-star Dou Shi.

As Zhang Yan spent more time with Liu Xi, he had basically confirmed that Liu Xi was definitely more than a One-star Dou Shi. As for exactly how many stars he had reached, Zhang Yan was not too sure.

At first, Zhang Yan had wanted to properly teach Liu Xi and restore some of his dignity as an instructor in front of him. But once Zhang Yan confirmed that Liu Xi did not even need his guidance in Dou Qi cultivation, he could only cover his eyes, look up at the sky, and sigh. "Alas, my authority as an instructor is gone forever!"

So when Liu Xi proposed not attending classes, Zhang Yan could only agree. He honestly helped Liu Xi receive alchemy requests in the Outer Court, and even that alone allowed Zhang Yan to steal the spotlight among the other instructors and students.

Everyone who wanted Liu Xi to refine pills sought out Zhang Yan, pulling strings and bringing gifts. Zhang Yan ended up making a fortune, gaining both prestige and profit.

As for Liu Xi, during the day he was either refining medicine or seeking Elder Huo's guidance on higher-level alchemy. Elder Huo was equally generous, telling Liu Xi everything he knew about Third-grade Alchemists and Fourth-grade Alchemists.

These things were indeed greatly beneficial to Liu Xi's alchemy. Not only did he understand how a Third-grade Alchemist advanced to become a Fourth-grade Alchemist, but he also once again filled in the gaps in his foundations, learned quite a few interesting First and Second-grade Pill Recipes, and broadened his horizons considerably.

At night, Liu Xi had always replaced sleep with cultivation. He was diligent in his cultivation because he understood that no matter how high his alchemy skills were or how much respect he received, if someone truly bore him ill will, only his own cultivation could give him a sense of security.

Just like the licentious Liu Xi in the Original Work: although he had been highly respected by the Jia Lie Family because of his alchemy, no one had truly thought highly of him. In the end, Xiao Yan even killed him, leaving not even a corpse behind. Naturally, Liu Xi now had to take that as a warning.

However, Liu Xi had also realized his greatest problem at present: his path had been far too smooth.

He had possessed outstanding talent since childhood. Later, thanks to his talent as an alchemist, he had taken Xuan Hao as his master, and the Cultivation Method he practiced was the Mysterious Tier Intermediate Cultivation Method he had received from his teacher.

Throughout his subsequent cultivation, he had continuously consumed pills that assisted cultivation, causing his strength to surge to the Nine-star Dou Shi level. Yet Liu Xi could also feel that his Dou Qi was somewhat unsteady.

His only previous battles had been won by directly crushing his opponents with his realm. If he fought someone of the same rank, Liu Xi could not guarantee his own combat strength. This was not good at all—a perfect villain template, the kind easily killed by a protagonist fighting above his level.

His Dou Qi was not condensed enough, his use of Dou Techniques was awkward, and he lacked practical combat experience. Thinking of these things gave Liu Xi quite a headache.

Back in Lin City, his teacher had indulged him greatly and placed no demands on his Dou Technique training. His cultivation of Dou Techniques had relied entirely on his own initiative. With someone above him to protect him, and without the sort of disposition that constantly provoked trouble everywhere... alas, to put it bluntly, he simply lacked combat!

It was the same now. The students of the Outer Court were still too immature. Fighting them felt like an adult bullying children. As for the instructors, when Instructor Zhang Yan sparred with him, he basically went easy on him as well.

After breaking through to the Dou Grandmaster Realm, Liu Xi planned to request some leave from the academy and go to the Black Corner Region to gain some experience.

Within the Black Corner Region, the relationships among the major powers were tangled and complex. Beneath them were various small and medium-sized factions, along with many fugitives from elsewhere. Naturally, Liu Xi did not dare act recklessly and wander into places that were too dangerous.

Liu Xi planned to train in some border cities near Jia Nan Academy, properly tempering his Dou Qi and Dou Techniques while gaining practical combat experience—especially the kind of deadly fighting filled with killing intent.

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed. During this time, Liu Xi had consciously begun continuously tempering his Liquid Qi Cyclone and improving the quality of his Dou Qi.

The first thing to break through was actually Liu Xi's alchemy, as he successfully advanced to become a Fourth-grade Alchemist. Once the timing was right, Liu Xi directly refined a One-pattern Green Spirit Pill for himself.

After making thorough preparations, Liu Xi swallowed the One-pattern Green Spirit Pill and smoothly broke through to the Dou Grandmaster Realm. At this point, the Qi Cyclone within his Dantian completely transformed into a solid crystal. With a thought, Dou Qi surged from his body and formed a bright yellow suit of Dou Qi Armor.

Liu Xi drew his treasured sword and experimentally slashed it against the armor. A metallic clang rang out between them, yet not a single mark was left on the Dou Qi Armor. Liu Xi smiled in satisfaction and nodded. "This Dou Qi Armor formed from externalized Dou Qi really has excellent defensive power. I'm looking forward to this training journey even more now."

Once his realm had stabilized, Liu Xi applied to Zhang Yan for leave to gain experience. Zhang Yan and several elders of the Outer Court had initially disagreed. But when Liu Xi displayed his Dou Grandmaster Realm cultivation, he thoroughly shocked them, and his leave was naturally approved.

Having obtained his leave, Liu Xi put on a somewhat plain black robe. With a Storage Ring filled to the brim with pills and Gold Coin on his hand, a treasured sword at his side, and an expectant smile on his handsome face, he set out.