Ancestral Massage

"Since you've learned both Dou Techniques, you can keep practicing them for a while," Xiao Tian said to Xiao Yi Xian.

"What are you going to do?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.

"Do you," Xiao Tian blurted out instantly.

"Do what?" Xiao Yi Xian looked utterly baffled.

"Ahem, going to refine medicine," Xiao Tian said with a light cough.

"Can I watch you refine medicine? I've never seen pill refining before."

"You can. Once I start, you have to stay quiet and not make a sound, because refining medicine can't be disturbed. Otherwise, the pill will be ruined."

Xiao Yi Xian looked delighted and made a zipping motion over her mouth. "I promise I won't make a sound. I'll just watch quietly."

Xiao Tian went to the cliff beside the Dense Forest and opened up a simple cave dwelling. After the two of them walked in, Xiao Tian sealed the entrance, leaving only an air hole.

Xiao Tian went to the center and sat down. Xiao Yi Xian stood quietly five body-lengths away from him.

With a thought from Xiao Tian, a half-man-tall Medicine Cauldron appeared on the open ground before him. The Medicine Cauldron was mainly purple-black, accented with violet-gold patterns. Its body was engraved with images of the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, rare treasures, and strange beasts. It was exceedingly magnificent.

Xiao Yi Xian was also drawn in by the Medicine Cauldron's allure. "It's so beautiful. Can I touch it?"

"Go ahead."

Xiao Yi Xian reached out and touched the Medicine Cauldron. "It feels warm, like warm jade. So comfortable. What kind of cauldron is this? It's so amazing."

"This Medicine Cauldron of mine is called the Purple Abyss Cauldron. It ranks third on the Heaven Cauldron Ranking," Xiao Tian said.

"Heaven Cauldron Ranking?"

Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's question, Xiao Tian smiled and explained the Heaven Cauldron Ranking to her. "The Heaven Cauldron Ranking consists of the thirteen best Medicine Cauldrons on the current Dou Qi Continent. Every single one of them has a charm that countless Alchemists would go mad for. Most importantly, these Medicine Cauldrons can increase an Alchemist's success rate in forming pills."

"Then with this one being third, even Pill King Gu He would drool if he saw it." Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the Purple Abyss Cauldron with bright eyes. "You're way too lucky. You have Heavenly Flames, and you even have such a precious Medicine Cauldron. You sound like heaven's illegitimate child. But you have to be careful. Don't flaunt your wealth, or others might start coveting it."

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian care about him so much, Xiao Tian smiled and nodded.

"I'm going to start refining medicine. Move back to the side first."

Xiao Yi Xian obediently walked to the side and stayed there quietly.

With a wave of Xiao Tian's hand, a pile of poisonous medicinal herbs appeared on his right. After sorting all the herbs, Xiao Tian placed his hand at the Medicine Cauldron's Fire Inlet and activated his Heavenly Flames. In an instant, the Heavenly Flames entered the Medicine Cauldron.

Xiao Tian carefully controlled the Qilin Burning Sky Flame, steadily raising the temperature and heating the furnace cauldron.

Xiao Tian threw the larger pile of medicinal herbs into the Medicine Cauldron. Under the burning of the Heavenly Flames, the medicinal herbs quickly turned into powder and juice. Xiao Tian carefully controlled the flame's temperature, and under the roasting of the Heavenly Flames, the powder and liquid continuously fused together.

The medicinal liquid gradually merged into one large mass. Xiao Tian immediately controlled the Heavenly Flames to divide the medicinal mass into small clumps.

Under the continuous scorching, the medicinal liquid gradually formed one black Poison Core after another.

Xiao Tian opened the Cauldron Lid, withdrew the Heavenly Flames, and controlled the pills to fly out. One warm pill after another flew into the jade box in Xiao Tian's hand.

He closed the jade box and tossed it toward Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly caught it with both hands.

Xiao Tian summoned the Heavenly Flames again, threw the remaining pile of medicinal herbs into the Pill Furnace, and began refining them, his fingers dancing as he controlled the Heavenly Flames.

At the side, Xiao Yi Xian watched Xiao Tian's serious expression, then looked at the jade box in her hands. A happy smile appeared on her face, and the slight curve of her lips carried a heart full of joy.

About half an hour later, Xiao Tian took out a purple-black pill from within and placed it into a Jade Bottle. Then he extinguished the Heavenly Flames and put away the Medicine Cauldron.

Seeing Xiao Tian extinguish the Heavenly Flames and stop refining medicine, Xiao Yi Xian came to his side and used a handkerchief to wipe his face before asking, "What pill is this? It smells so good. A pill refined from poison is actually fragrant too. That's unbelievable."

"This is the Purple Fiend Poison Spirit Pill, a Fourth Grade Pill. If you use it, you might be able to break through by more than two levels. Take it now. I'll protect you," Xiao Tian said, handing the Jade Bottle to Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian took the Jade Bottle, poured out the Poison Core, held it in her hand, then placed it into her mouth.

After taking the pill, violent poison mist appeared around Xiao Yi Xian, constantly spreading outward. Seeing this, Xiao Tian hurriedly used the Heavenly Flames to surround his body.

The poison mist gradually filled the entire small Mountain Cave. Only the small area around Xiao Tian was somewhere the poison mist did not dare approach.

About fifteen minutes later, Xiao Yi Xian's body trembled. Her body gradually absorbed the poison mist back in, and her realm also continued rising. After it was all drawn back in, Xiao Yi Xian's realm stabilized at the level of a Four-Star Dou Master.

Seeing the poison mist disappear, Xiao Tian also withdrew the Heavenly Flames from his body and said with a smile, "Congratulations on breaking through to Four-Star Dou Master."

Xiao Yi Xian ran over and hugged Xiao Tian, excitedly kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you, Xiao Tian."

"Haha, with that box of little poison pills just now plus the ones I gave you before, judging by the amount of poison, once you finish eating them, you should be able to reach around Eight Star Dou Master. But you have to eat them slowly, or it's easy for problems to appear, and you might overdraw your life force. Your realm could also become unstable. Over the next few days, I'm going to train you properly and help you completely solidify your foundation," Xiao Tian said after sensing Xiao Yi Xian's physical condition.

"Mm-hmm. Then I'll have to trouble you."

In the Dense Forest.

"Smack, smack, smack!"

The sound of blows landing on flesh kept ringing out.

"Too slow. Move faster. And connect your Dou Techniques better. This vine of yours is too slow. If it's not fast enough, how can it trap the enemy? Other people won't obediently stand still either."

Words of guidance kept spilling from Xiao Tian's mouth. The branch in his hand continuously broke through her Dou Techniques and struck every part of her body.

The two of them had already sparred in this Dense Forest for three whole days.

Xiao Yi Xian had improved greatly as well. Xiao Tian had now suppressed his cultivation to Nine-Star Dou Master Peak, yet Xiao Yi Xian could still hold her own against him at that level without losing.

"All right, let's stop today's sparring here. How is it? Does it still hurt? Want me to rub it for you? My massage technique was passed down through my family. I guarantee it'll feel good." Xiao Tian looked at Xiao Yi Xian as she clutched her backside and spoke.

"Hiss... no need. Save it and massage yourself. You did that on purpose." Xiao Yi Xian gently rubbed her own backside, only to immediately suck in a breath from the pain.

"I was only being a little ruthless so you could grow. It's not like I did it on purpose." Xiao Tian stubbornly refused to admit it and said, "Your Dou Qi is already very stable now, and it won't feel unsteady anymore. We've stayed here for several days too. Get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll head to a new place and begin a new journey."

"Mm-hmm, I'll listen to you." Xiao Yi Xian said. In any case, she had already chosen Xiao Tian. Wherever he went, she would go too. As long as he was there, anywhere was fine.