Changes in the Glazed Bottle

Hanyu was still hesitating outside the city when a sharp pain suddenly struck his mind.

He exited the city gates and found a place to close his eyes and check. The stinging sensation intensified.

In his mind, the Glazed Bottle continuously shook its body, as if urging him on.

The farther Hanyu moved from the city gates, the more violently the Glazed Bottle trembled. When Hanyu tried to move away, a pain so intense it nearly made him dizzy exploded in his mind.

The Glazed Bottle was truly urging him to go inside, with a considerable, strong desire.

This was the first time the Glazed Bottle had responded outside of midnight, and the first time it had actively contacted him.

"What's inside?"

Hanyu muttered to himself.

"If I don't go in, will you shake me to death?"

Hanyu asked tentatively, wanting to see the Glazed Bottle's reaction.

As a result, the Glazed Bottle merely continued to shake and tremble.

The Xiao family was considered a prominent clan in Minzhou City. They had been in business for generations, accumulating vast connections. Coupled with their usual good deeds, their reputation in the area was quite excellent.

Today, however, the head of the Xiao family's face was terrifyingly grim. He sat slumped in the main hall, with an opened letter on the table beside him.

Besides him, a group of clan elders had also been summoned to the hall for discussion.

"It's outrageous! This little girl thinks she's so important, trying to break off the engagement with just a letter."

One of the elders couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

"I opposed the marriage when the Qiu family shamelessly came to propose a child marriage back then. They weren't a good match. The insignificant Qiu family just wanted to latch onto the Xiao family's influence."

"The Qiu family has taken plenty of advantage over the years."

"I heard this girl has joined the Tianshui Sect. Her ambitions have grown, and she thinks our Xiao family is no longer good enough for her."

Discussions buzzed below the hall.

Dong!

The black dragon-carved walking stick struck the ground forcefully, and the noisy chatter instantly ceased.

An elder, bent with age, shuffled in. The skin on his face had loosened to the corners of his mouth. Yet, even for this old man on the verge of death, no one dared to show the slightest disrespect.

This was because he was the previous clan head.

"Does Shui'er know?"

The elder asked the head of the Xiao family, his eyes clouded.

The head of the Xiao family gave a wry smile and nodded. "He knew immediately. Because they've been childhood sweethearts, he's a bit..."

The elder interrupted him and continued, "Will he break it off?"

The head of the Xiao family nodded and said, "Shui'er said everyone has their own aspirations."

The elder remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Alright, I understand. Then have the Qiu family elders come speak to me personally to break it off."

The many clan elders in the hall were struck dumb with fear. The calmer the elder appeared, the more furious he actually was.

This matter would likely not end well.

"Senior Brother, they told me to have my family come and break it off in person."

Qiu Susu, dressed in a lovely green gauze dress today, looked charming and adorable. She now held the reply letter with a wronged expression, appearing quite pitiable.

Wang Xuanbei, naturally captivated, snorted upon hearing this. "Since they've already tried diplomacy and are being unreasonable, I'll take you there to break it off face-to-face right now."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Qiu Susu immediately beamed, giving him a sweet smile.

Hanyu sneaked into the city, afraid that a group of people in red clothes, young and old, would rush out from somewhere.

If some big shot with a red-clothes fetish appeared, he might have to make a run for it.

Suddenly, the Glazed Bottle trembled again, and a needle-like pain shot through his mind.

"Can't you use another method? Why are you constantly messing with my head?"

Hanyu clutched his head, his face full of misery.

After several attempts, the Glazed Bottle finally quieted down when he headed in the direction of a main street.

Hanyu followed the main road, searching, only to find a crowd gathered ahead, pointing and gesturing at a large mansion off to the side.

"I heard the Qiu family's daughter ran to our city to ask the Xiao family to break off the engagement."

"I know. My uncle is the Xiao family's doorkeeper. Apparently, the Qiu family's daughter became a cultivator and now thinks Young Master Xiao isn't good enough for her."

"Didn't the Qiu family beg for this marriage back then?"

The noisy crowd chattered, sharing what they knew, which allowed Hanyu to understand the situation.

The Glazed Bottle started acting up in his mind again.

Does it want me to go in?

This grand mansion, how could it be so easy to enter? Hanyu surveyed the outer walls and suddenly had an idea.

Inside the Xiao family's main hall.

Tensions were at a breaking point. Qiu Susu stood behind Wang Xuanbei, with Zhang Kui following beside them.

Besides the Xiao family head and a group of elders, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old young man stood in the hall. He was dressed in fine silk brocade, with a handsome face and a gentle demeanor.

Xiao Shui looked at the young girl below the hall with a complex expression, as if looking at a stranger.

"Susu, you shouldn't have taken things this far."

"Young Master Xiao, I just want to break off the engagement." Qiu Susu said softly from behind, her voice timid.

Xiao Shui's face turned pale upon hearing this. She used to call him "Brother Xiao Shui" in every sentence, but now she addressed him as "Young Master Xiao."

The Xiao family head's face darkened. He sternly rebuked, "I already said, if you want to break it off, you can, but you must have your family come to do it. Are you truly disregarding my Xiao family's reputation by doing this?"

Qiu Susu flinched, still somewhat intimidated by the Xiao family head's imposing figure. However, she still stubbornly said, "I've grown up, and I want to make my own decisions."

"You cannot make the decision," the Xiao family head roared sternly.

"If she cannot make the decision, how about I make it for her?"

Wang Xuanbei stepped forward at this moment, calmly observing the Xiao family members.

"I am the head disciple of the Tianshui Sect, Wang Xuanbei."

The faces of the Xiao family members present turned ugly. Bringing a cultivator to force their hand was a blatant act of disrespect towards the Xiao family.

Xiao Shui watched as Qiu Susu now looked at another man with affectionate eyes, and his heart turned completely cold.

At this moment, his blood surged, and he couldn't help but step forward. "So what if you're a cultivator? This is my family's affair, why are you interfering?"

Wang Xuanbei smiled coldly, waved his sleeve, and a stream of True Essence sent him flying.

"Because I'm stronger than you."

Xiao Shui slammed heavily against the wall and fell, spitting blood that stained his fine clothes. Yet, he stubbornly got back up.

He walked back, word by word, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. No one is eternally strong."

What a melodramatic scene!

The moment I climbed onto the wall, I saw a love triangle involving a broken engagement and a dramatic confrontation.

Hanyu, perched on the wall, watched the entire spectacle.

At this moment, the Glazed Bottle suddenly shook. Hanyu quickly checked it.

Pfft~

It spat out a pill.

Hanyu felt as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight; in fact, it was almost the same.

Today, the Glazed Bottle was too active, breaking many precedents.

It spat out a pill even before midnight.

Hexi Pill (Exclusive to Xiao Shui): Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Don't bully a young man for being poor. Taking this pill will lead you to the Shore Realm. Side effect: Depletes three years of luck.

Hiss!

Hanyu gasped. This pill was so potent, reaching the Shore Realm with a single dose.

No, based on the ratio of benefits to side effects, three years of luck... doesn't that mean this kid won't even need three years to reach the Shore Realm from the start?

This cultivation speed is simply astonishing.

"You're really something. The pills you give me are just hard lumps, but you give others, and their cultivation levels improve," Hanyu said sourly.

In his mind, the Glazed Bottle began to urge him, shaking incessantly.

Moreover, it was impatient to deliver the pill.

Hanyu helplessly shook his head and sighed, then flipped over and jumped down, laughing heartily.

"Young Master Xiao, why wait thirty years to go east of the river? If you wish, you can go west of the river now."

Hanyu's sudden appearance stunned everyone.

He strode quickly to Xiao Shui's side and then waved at the three people opposite them. "We meet again."

"It's you!"

Wang Xuanbei recognized him as well – the person who had fallen off a cliff while riding a bull that morning.

"Who are you?" the Xiao family head asked sternly.

Hanyu cupped his fists, grinned, and said, "I am the timely rain of the cultivator world, known as the helpful medicine deliverer. The Little Alchemist is me."

Unfortunately, the news from Yujin and Quantai hadn't reached here yet. Hanyu's self-proclaimed titles were completely unheard of, like casting pearls before swine.

"Noisy."

Wang Xuanbei saw Hanyu as unremarkable and sent a blast of True Essence, intending to take him down.

Hanyu didn't dodge, smiling as he let the True Essence hit his chest. He only took half a step back before patting his chest as if nothing happened and said, "So soft. I guess your cultivation was taught by your wife."

Wang Xuanbei's expression changed, and he roared in anger, "How dare you insult me!"

He drew his sword and slashed at Hanyu. Hanyu still didn't dodge, instead raising his fist to meet the attack.

After a few rounds, Hanyu's chest clothes were torn in a few places, while Wang Xuanbei was sent flying ten meters.

"How about it? Young Master Xiao, do you want to possess this kind of power?"

Hanyu turned to Xiao Shui and asked with a smile.

"I do, but I'm just an ordinary man..."

Xiao Shui's eyes were filled with envy since he saw Hanyu so casually defeat a high-level cultivator.

Hanyu smiled and took out the Hexi Pill. "Take this pill, and it will cost you three years of your luck. Then you'll be stronger than me."

"Impossible! How could such a pill exist in this world?"

No one would believe such a preposterous matter.

Wang Xuanbei walked back, clutching his chest, his face slightly pale. He sneered, "So you came here to toy with him."

Hanyu quietly looked at Xiao Shui and said calmly, "Young Master Xiao is a dragon among men; he should have his own ideas."

This matter was too absurd. Xiao Shui's mind repeatedly warned him, but his hand involuntarily reached out and took the pill.

"Shui'er, no! That pill's origin is unknown..."

Patriarch Xiao's face was anxious, and he quickly tried to stop him.

"Father, I want to try."

Xiao Shui's face was calm as he said softly.

Just as he was about to swallow it, Hanyu stopped him and said sternly, "No regrets when swallowing the pill. Three years of luck."

Xiao Shui, who had been feeling somewhat apprehensive, inexplicably felt his heart settle. Seeing Hanyu's solemn expression, he nodded with certainty, "Three years it is."

With the pill swallowed, everyone quietly watched Xiao Shui.

He closed his eyes in their gaze, and his body gradually grew warmer.

"It's getting a little hot."

A clan elder wiped the fine sweat that appeared on his forehead.

"Yeah! Our house has never been this hot before."

Another clan elder, holding a sweat towel, continuously wiped his forehead in agreement.

Boom!

Xiao Shui, who had been waiting in the center, suddenly changed. A pillar of flame erupted from his body, and the scorching heat instantly forced everyone to retreat.

As the flames flickered, they gradually converged, finally forming a red Fire Lotus around Xiao Shui.

"Innate Fire Spiritual Power!"

Wang Xuanbei looked horrified and retreated several steps.

After Xiao Shui successfully condensed the Fire Lotus, Hanyu felt a mysterious aura being continuously drawn from him and flowing into himself.

No, it was flowing into the Glazed Bottle. He felt the Glazed Bottle collecting these things.

Could it be the three years of luck being consumed?

If that were the case, wouldn't the side effect actually be nourishing it?

After collecting enough aura, the Glazed Bottle shook, seemingly urging him on.

This time, Hanyu understood without any feedback. He never sought recognition when giving people pills; he slipped away quietly while everyone was still astonished by Xiao Shui's transformation...

That day, a flame burned through the clouds above the Xiao family mansion, and a mournful roar echoed...

I saw the collection count still growing in the backend around 3 AM. It seems there are still a lot of night owls among my brothers staying up late. I'll do a quick update at midnight.