Advancing to Dou Zhe

Half a year later

Ever since taking a master, Liu Xi had naturally enjoyed smooth sailing. He had already been a renowned cultivation prodigy in Lin City, and now he had become an alchemist's disciple. In the future, he would also become an alchemist, someone others looked up to.

Over the past half year, Liu Xi had received even more cultivation resources from his master. He felt that he had already reached perfection at the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi.

The Dou Qi stored within his Dantian could no longer increase by even the slightest bit.

As for tempering his body, without a specialized body-refining Cultivation Method, relying solely on the constant washing of Dou Qi no longer had much effect.

"At the Dou Qi stage, I have already tempered myself to the limit. It is time to break through to Dou Zhe." Feeling the abundant power within his body, Liu Xi believed his foundation had been firmly tempered. It was time to advance to Dou Zhe and truly wield Dou Qi.

Liu Xi first told his Parents the news. Liu Ming and Li Yue were naturally overjoyed. Liu Xi was only nine years old, yet he was already able to advance to Dou Zhe.

After speaking with his Parents, Liu Xi went to his master's residence. For the sake of this treasured disciple, Xuan Hao had even purchased an estate in Lin City to make it easier to teach him in the future.

Upon arriving outside Xuan Hao Mansion, a servant naturally came to receive Liu Xi. A young servant dressed in black stepped before him, bowed, and said, "Young Master Liu Xi."

Liu Xi said to the servant, "I have come to see my master."

The servant respectfully replied, "Master is resting. Young Master, please follow me."

Liu Xi followed the servant to the main hall. After serving Liu Xi a cup of tea, the servant sent word, and Xuan Hao soon entered the hall.

Seeing his treasured disciple, Xuan Hao said with a smile, "Xi'er is here."

Seeing his master, Liu Xi smiled as well. "Master, I have tempered myself to perfection at the Dou Qi stage. It is time for me to advance to Dou Zhe, so I came to ask for your guidance."

Hearing that Liu Xi wished to advance to Dou Zhe, Xuan Hao was pleasantly surprised. His disciple's talent truly was outstanding. At the same time, he felt gratified by Liu Xi's respect for him.

"Xi'er's talent is indeed exceptional. Since that is the case, when do you plan to break through? Also, this is the Qi Gathering Powder I prepared for you long ago. It is just the right time to give it to you." As he spoke, Xuan Hao took a bottle of pills from his Storage Ring and handed it to Liu Xi.

Liu Xi did not decline. He accepted the jade bottle with both hands, his smile fading as he solemnly replied, "Thank you, Master."

Ever since Liu Xi had become Xuan Hao's disciple, Xuan Hao had never placed too many restrictions on him. He cared for Liu Xi deeply, granting whatever he asked for. No wonder Liu Xi in the Original Work had developed such a lecherous and arrogant personality. He had a master who was so protective of him.

Thus, Liu Xi had grown increasingly close to Xuan Hao, and the bond between master and disciple had deepened further.

There was no time like the present. Liu Xi asked Xuan Hao to choose a quiet room for him, intending to break through to Dou Zhe in one go today.

After entering the room, Liu Xi first adjusted his condition to its peak. There was a possibility of failure when advancing from the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi to Dou Zhe, and Liu Xi did not want to start all over again.

Once everything was ready, he poured the Qi Gathering Powder from the jade bottle into his hand. A rich medicinal fragrance rushed toward him. Without further hesitation, he swallowed the pill and formed the familiar hand seal for absorbing Dou Qi.

Surging medicinal power began spreading from his mouth. Violent Dou Qi flowed continuously through his Meridians, and all the Dou Qi within them gathered before streaming into his Dantian.

The Dou Qi stored in Liu Xi's Dantian had already reached its limit. How could it accommodate any more Dou Qi? Liu Xi did not hesitate. Soul power surged from between his brows into his Dantian and began continuously compressing the Dou Qi.

Under the constant pressure of his soul power, the amount of Dou Qi grew smaller and smaller, but its quality steadily rose, becoming increasingly viscous. At this point, the absorbed Dou Qi was actually beginning to fall behind the speed of compression.

Sensing that his absorption of Dou Qi had slowed, Liu Xi separated another strand of soul power. It surged into his Meridians, carrying the Dou Qi rapidly into his Dantian. At the same time, he used soul power to keep the compressed Dou Qi flowing continuously, strengthening its ability to absorb Dou Qi like a vortex.

Until the vortex-shaped mass of Dou Qi was compressed to the limit.

It formed a milky-white mass of Dou Qi that rotated without cease.

Liu Xi had successfully advanced to Dou Zhe. Through the inner sight that only Dou Zhe could obtain, he saw the Qi Cyclone within his Dantian. After succeeding in his advancement, Liu Xi exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, looking full of vigor.

He slowly rose to his feet and stretched his limbs. His bones cracked with a series of "crack crack" sounds, and a smile lifted the corners of his mouth. The Dou Qi surging in his Dantian was more than ten times stronger than before.

Hehe, becoming stronger still feels this wonderful. Thinking this, he walked toward the door. Right now, he wanted to find someone to share this joy with.

After leaving the quiet room, Liu Xi was fairly familiar with the place and headed straight for the main hall. Whenever he encountered servants along the way, they respectfully bowed to him.

Reaching the entrance of the main hall, he saw his master indeed sitting inside and drinking tea. He stepped forward and said, "Master, I successfully advanced to Dou Zhe."

Xuan Hao stroked his beard as he looked at the spirited Liu Xi before him, growing ever more satisfied.

Then he removed a Storage Ring from his hand and handed it to Liu Xi. "As expected of my good disciple. Inside this Storage Ring are the gifts I prepared for you, including the Cultivation Method and Dou Techniques for your future cultivation, as well as some Gold Coins. If there is anything you do not understand about the Cultivation Method or Dou Techniques, ask me directly."

"Thank you, Master." Liu Xi stared fervently at the Storage Ring before him as he spoke, reaching out to accept it.

Storage Rings were not cheap on the market. Liu Xi had wanted one of these spatial rings capable of storing items for a long time. Not to mention the Cultivation Method and Dou Techniques his master had prepared; their quality certainly would not be low.