Foundation-Building Spirit Liquid

A scorching wind carrying dust and sand swept past, and Rob's blazing body fell silent, his miserable screams abruptly cut off.

In the end, only scattered specks of ash slowly drifted down, mingling with the sand and soil below.

It was an incredibly shocking sight. Rob, a four-star Da Dou Shi, had died without even a trace left behind.

"Mission: Kill four-star Da Dou Shi Rob completed. Reward has been issued to the inventory."

Wiping the blood from the corner of his lips and flexing his aching hands, Mu Chen picked up the Inkshadow Heavy Sword and gave it a light flick. The Storage Ring on the severed arm was pulled into his hand and stored in his inventory.

A dark gleam bloomed across the black blade as it split apart once more into two light black swords. Mu Chen spun both hilts in his hands, and with two sharp clangs, inserted them precisely into the scabbards behind his back.

Mu Chen swept his gaze over the crowd, whose faces were filled with greed. He remained calm, but he knew that now these people had learned of his Heavenly Flames, trouble would certainly come knocking sooner or later.

However, Mu Chen was not afraid. As long as a Dou Zong did not come, no one could possibly keep him here.

Let's see how many people dare to step forward. It would be best if a few Dou Wangs came. After killing them, I probably won't have to worry about resources for the Purple Wheel anymore.

Mu Chen was not afraid of others coveting his Heavenly Flames. Anyone who could not resist acting out of greed was an enemy, and he would not feel the slightest pity when killing enemies and taking their wealth.

After taking a few steps, Mu Chen reined in his killing intent and walked over to Qing Lin. He had originally intended to comfort her, since the blood and corpses scattered everywhere were quite frightening.

But Mu Chen froze for a moment. Qing Lin was only looking at him with concern. When she saw that he was unharmed, a beautiful smile immediately appeared on her delicate little face, while her large emerald eyes showed not the slightest fear toward the corpses on the ground.

Looking at Qing Lin clutching the corner of his clothes, Mu Chen could not help rubbing her green hair. He asked curiously, "There are corpses everywhere. Aren't you afraid, Qing Lin?"

"I'm not afraid. They bullied Young Master and Qing Lin. They all deserved to die!"

Qing Lin answered without the slightest hesitation, her voice full of anger. Three tiny green dots unexpectedly appeared in her emerald eyes. After only one glance, Mu Chen felt his head spin, as if even his soul were about to leave his body.

However, as Mu Chen circulated his soul power, the dizziness came quickly and vanished just as quickly. When he looked again, the three green dots had disappeared from Qing Lin's eyes.

From the looks of it, even without the stimulation of a life-and-death crisis, Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils will gradually awaken. It really makes one envious. This kind of heaven-given advantage is enough to make countless people cough up blood in frustration.

Mu Chen swept his gaze over the crowd again, his eyes carrying a stern warning. The murderous aura he released fiercely intimidated everyone around him, instantly jolting them awake as traces of fear appeared in their eyes.

Although this handsome young man might possess the legendary Heavenly Flames, it was not something ordinary people could covet.

Rob's miserable fate of being reduced to ash was still a bloody example. Even if they harbored greedy thoughts, they had to carefully weigh whether they had the strength for it.

Once they provoked him, judging by the youth's ruthless methods when fighting Rob, it would surely become a fight to the death. Looking across all of Stone Desert City, there were probably few who could survive the frenzied strikes of that terrifying black heavy sword.

As Mu Chen and Qing Lin's figures disappeared into the distance, a pair of eyes hidden within a pavilion quietly withdrew. Several people within the crowd below also hurried away.

Before long, several messenger birds of varying sizes tore through the air, soaring into the sky and turning into black dots as they flew in every direction.

Within a spacious courtyard, Mu Chen lightly patted the lid of a cauldron, and a streak of jade-green light flew into a fine jade bottle in his hand.

"Clap, clap, clap! Young Master is amazing!"

Qing Lin, who had been waiting nearby, clapped her fair little hands, her emerald eyes filled with sparkling stars.

"Haha, little Qing Lin, this is something good for you."

Smiling, Mu Chen handed the jade bottle to the somewhat puzzled Qing Lin. Her delicate little face made him unable to resist giving it a light pinch. Then he raised his brows and said, "The thing inside this jade bottle is called Foundation-Building Spirit Liquid. Just add a drop to a basin of clean water, then soak yourself in it and absorb the medicinal liquid. It will speed up your cultivation during the Dou Qi stage."

"Once little Qing Lin's cultivation catches up, I'll prepare even better things for you," Mu Chen said, stroking his chin.

"Ah..." Upon hearing that it had been refined for her, Qing Lin's eyes were filled with confusion, and her small face was utterly dazed.

But when she heard that the contents of the jade bottle could accelerate Dou Qi cultivation, the mature-for-her-age Qing Lin immediately shook her little head like a rattle drum. She hurriedly said, "No, Young Master has already been so kind to Qing Lin. This is too precious. Qing Lin can't accept it."

"Uh, I was actually refused..." Mu Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry. However, seeing Qing Lin's earnest little face and eyes as pure as green crystal, he gently nodded.

Qing Lin had suffered bullying since childhood. Because of her background, she was extremely self-conscious around others. Yet she possessed a pure heart. She would remember for a lifetime anyone who treated her well. By now, Mu Chen had become the person closest to her heart.

"Little Qing Lin, this Foundation-Building Spirit Liquid was specially refined for you. How can my maid have no strength at all?" Mu Chen could not overcome Qing Lin's stubbornness, so he could only accept being called "Young Master," though he did not truly take that title to heart.

Mu Chen sighed. "This world has always respected strength. If you are strong, others will only fear you. No one who thinks themselves superior will mock your origins.

"Because when they meet you, they will be so frightened that they lower their heads to the ground and dare not look up."

Qing Lin's long-standing habits had made her accustomed to feeling inferior. Mu Chen had to correct her way of thinking, and the best way was to increase her strength.

There was another reason. Qing Lin was already fourteen years old, yet she only had four stages of Dou Qi! Before her physical foundation fully solidified, this was the best time to temper her Dou Qi. Mu Chen believed that with his help, at most one year would be enough for Qing Lin to become a Dou Zhe.

Mu Chen stroked his chin. Qing Lin had, after all, missed many years of the best opportunity to build her foundation. Although her potential could gradually be developed later, the sooner it was done, the better.

However, the Dou Qi stage focused on tempering the muscles and bones and nourishing the body. She could not be pushed too hard, or Qing Lin's potential would be ruined.

Damn, I'm also a latecomer when it comes to cultivation. I only understand bits and pieces. Perhaps... I should find Qing Lin an experienced teacher. A graceful figure appeared in Mu Chen's mind...

"There is a fourth-tier medicinal pill that can slowly improve one's physical foundation, but I'm still missing two main ingredients. I can't refine it yet."

While Mu Chen was thinking, Qing Lin scrunched up her delicate little face. His words had deeply moved her. She clasped her fair hands together and thought, Young Master saved me from those bad people and treats me so well. Qing Lin truly has no way to repay him. I must be a good maid and repay him properly.

After greeting Mu Chen, Qing Lin ran into the room with her little face flushed red to begin cultivating.

Mu Chen gathered his thoughts. After his battle with Rob, his Dou Qi had become restless, showing signs of a breakthrough.

After pondering for a moment, Mu Chen took out a jade bottle containing Companion Purple Crystal Source. This was all he had left. It was also one of the few rare natural treasures he possessed, capable of providing an enormous amount of Fire Attribute energy.

Sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, Mu Chen did not hesitate. The moment he swallowed half a bottle of Companion Purple Crystal Source, the violent energy immediately flushed his face red.

Steadying his mind, Mu Chen formed hand seals with both hands and swiftly used the Origin Qi Manipulation Art to guide the scorching energy into the Fire-Attribute Space. Only after refining and purifying it did he transform it into his own Dou Qi, steadily increasing his cultivation.