The Grind Begins

"This is called Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. When you return, fill a basin with clean water and pour it in..."

After briefly explaining the usage, purpose, and effects of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, Xiao Yun gave everyone a bottle and dismissed them.

Clutching the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, the group immediately ran excitedly out of Xiao Yun's small courtyard without a hint of reluctance.

After returning to his residence, Xiao Yan promptly filled a wooden basin with water, stripped off his clothes, and jumped in.

The moment he dripped in the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, the previously clear water was instantly dyed green.

Sitting cross-legged in the basin, Xiao Yan formed a strange hand seal with both hands. Before long, his breathing settled into a rhythm, clearly indicating that he had entered cultivation.

Not long afterward, the Dou Qi between heaven and earth began steadily flowing into Xiao Yan's body. He could feel that his absorption speed was much faster than yesterday's. This was clearly the effect of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

"Good stuff!" Xiao Yan exclaimed in delight as he opened his eyes.

"Of course. Whose item do you think it is?" Yao Lao said smugly beside him.

The same scenes unfolded one after another throughout the Xiao Clan. Everyone who received the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was stunned by its effects.

In the days that followed, a cultivation craze swept through the younger generation of the Xiao Clan. They all shut themselves indoors and began cultivating Dou Qi with all their might.

Cultivation during the Dou Qi Force stage was extremely difficult. Previously, they could only cultivate bit by bit, relying entirely on slow and painstaking effort. It took a great deal of time for little return.

Sometimes, even after cultivating for an entire year, their Dou Qi Force might not increase by a single stage. But things were different now. With the boost from the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, their cultivation became absurdly efficient. Nearly every trace of Dou Qi that entered their bodies was absorbed!

After becoming accustomed to the lonely grind, cultivation had suddenly become so easy. How could they not go crazy over such a benefit?

Moreover, once one's Dou Qi realm reached the Dou Practitioner level, cultivation speed would increase drastically. Before becoming a Dou Practitioner, one might fail to advance even a single stage in a year, but after becoming one, examples of gaining three or four stars in a year were everywhere across the continent.

Everyone now had only one goal: become a Dou Practitioner as quickly as possible!

After all, there probably was not much of such a valuable item. If they missed this opportunity because they wanted to play around, it would be a terrible loss.

Thus, they all entered a routine of cultivating during the day and sleeping at night, neither going out nor visiting others.

They might have enjoyed their cultivation, but the Xiao Clan's higher-ups suffered because of it.

To ensure that the younger generation could continue using the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and break through to Dou Practitioners as soon as possible, the Xiao Clan's higher-ups emptied the clan's stockpile of first-tier Wood-Element Magic Cores and continuously purchased Magic Cores from outside, spending a considerable sum. Yet after one year, a problem still arose.

"We're out of Magic Cores!" Xiao Yun was shocked when he heard the news Xiao Zhan brought him.

Xiao Zhan said helplessly, "Yes, Second Brother. The Magic Cores in the clan, as well as the first-tier Wood-Element Magic Cores on the market in Wutan City, are all gone!"

Xiao Zhan had not expected that, as more and more youngsters began using the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, their supply of Magic Cores would be depleted so quickly.

"Sigh, those little brats are grinding harder than the next. One of them even cultivated for five days and five nights straight without closing his eyes once."

Recalling an earlier report, Xiao Zhan found it somewhat outrageous. "A twelve-year-old child actually stayed awake for five days and five nights just to cultivate!"

"..."

Xiao Yun felt oddly amused. So grinding knows no boundaries? Even another world is this competitive!

"Second Brother, your big brother is truly out of options. Help me think of something."

If he had any other choice, Xiao Zhan would not have come to Xiao Yun. The remaining Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid probably would not even last those grind maniacs half a month.

If they ran out of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid after half a month, the cultivation speed of the Xiao Clan's younger generation would inevitably decline.

"All right, I'll think of something." Xiao Yun had nothing to do these past few days and was quite willing to help Xiao Zhan out.

After Xiao Zhan left, Xiao Yun immediately began considering a solution.

First-tier Magic Cores were not particularly precious. Many Magical Beasts could drop them, but going out to hunt monsters for loot right now would be a waste of time.

Besides, Xiao Yun truly had no interest in seeking out and slaughtering a bunch of first-tier Magical Beasts. Given his strength, the Magical Beast Mountain Range behind Wutan City was not far away; he could gather a huge pile in just a few days.

"To obtain Magic Cores quickly, I can either hunt Magical Beasts or buy them."

"Buy..."

Xiao Yun quickly came up with a plan. He left the small courtyard and headed toward the largest auction house in Wutan City.

The Mittel Auction House was the largest auction house in Wutan City. To reach such a position, it naturally relied on a powerful force behind it.

The Mittel Family was the wealthiest family in the Jia Ma Empire. With a history spanning several centuries, it was immensely powerful, and no one in the entire Jia Ma Empire dared provoke it casually.

The Mittel Auction House was backed by the Mittel Family. That was why it had expanded so extensively, with branches throughout the Jia Ma Empire, yet hardly anyone dared set their sights on it.

Now that Xiao Yun needed Magic Cores, the Mittel Auction House was the best possible choice.

With the Mittel Auction House's capabilities, it could certainly gather a large number of first-tier Magic Cores for him in a short time.

At the entrance, people clad in black robes constantly came and went. This was one of the auction house's distinctive features.

Though it was not absolute, many people who came to auction houses did not want others to recognize them, so they concealed their appearances and builds.

Xiao Yun glanced at the black-robed figures passing by before walking straight into the auction house.

It was the height of summer. The moment he entered the auction house, the scorching heat was shut outside. It was Xiao Yun's first time visiting an auction house, so he looked around curiously.

The interior of the Mittel Auction House was magnificent. After all, its owners certainly did not lack money.

Its style was luxurious, and so was its decor. It was even more extravagant than the Xiao Clan's main hall. The Mittel Auction House before him was merely a branch, not the main establishment.

"Wait, I seem to have no money!"

Gold coins were the currency of this world. Only after entering did Xiao Yun suddenly realize that he did not seem to have any gold coins on him!

Xiao Yun never carried money with him. It was not because he had none, but because he hardly ever came into contact with gold coins.

Within the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yun held a high status. When he was young, his father Xiao Lin had made all the arrangements, and now Xiao Zhan did the same. He never needed to worry about food, clothing, shelter, or travel, so he had never had any dealings with gold coins.

Even when he had previously left home to train, in pursuit of better rewards, Xiao Yun mostly lived in mountain forests rich in Dou Qi. When there was wind, he drank from the wind; when there was water, he lived off the water. Gold coins were even further beyond his reach.

As for the system's daily rewards, they consisted of things like Cultivation Methods, Battle Skills, heavenly treasures, cultivation experience, and so on. Gold coins had never appeared at all.

Xiao Yun took a deep breath, only now realizing the situation.

"I... have become disconnected from society!"