Third-Grade Warm Nourishing Pill

Xiao Zhan's expression turned solemn upon hearing this.

"Elder, rest assured. The Xiao Clan will spare no effort in supplying Yan'er's cultivation resources!"

"Mm."

Xiao Chen watched that departing figure, a trace of gratification flashing through his eyes.

"This kid's temperament is getting steadier and steadier."

There were still several months until the Three-Year Agreement.

Over these months, the winds in Wutan City had long since changed.

The Xiao Clan Apothecary stood unrivaled, backed by the City Lord's Mansion, while the Jia Lie Family had bowed their heads. The entire city had begun to feel faintly like the Xiao Clan's domain.

And during these months, Xiao Yan had broken through all the way to Da Dou Shi Mid-Stage!

This day.

Xiao Chen took a stroll through the back mountain and heard bursts of whistling fist winds coming from the training room from afar.

When he pushed open the door, he saw Xiao Yan bare-chested, driving punch after punch into an iron post. Every blow landed with a dull boom, sending shattered stones flying!

The iron post was as thick as a bowl's mouth, yet Xiao Yan had forcibly blasted several cracks into it!

Wherever his fist wind passed, the air gave off deep, explosive rumbles!

"Good kid..."

A flicker of approval passed through Xiao Chen's eyes.

"Uncle Xiao?"

Hearing the movement, Xiao Yan turned, wiped away his sweat, and grinned. "What brings you here?"

"I came to take a look at you."

Xiao Chen patted his shoulder, his gaze falling on Xiao Yan's hands.

His tiger's mouths had long been rubbed raw with blood blisters, yet he did not care in the slightest.

"Da Dou Shi Mid-Stage. Your progress is even faster than I expected."

"That's all thanks to Uncle Xiao's pills feeding me so well!"

Xiao Yan scratched his head.

"Uncle Xiao, there are only a few months left until the Three-Year Agreement. I always feel like I'm still lacking an explosive trump card."

"Oh?"

Xiao Chen raised a brow, a smile tugging at his lips.

"What do you mean?"

"My Dou Techniques are all meant for prolonged fights."

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, unwillingness flashing through his eyes.

"But Nalan Yanran has the Misty Cloud Sect behind her. She must have profound Dou Techniques in her hands. If we clash head-on, I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?"

Xiao Chen cut him off.

"Little Yan, remember this: no matter how powerful a Dou Technique is, it still depends on who uses it! Let your uncle give you a saying: there are no useless Dou Techniques, only useless Dou Shi!"

"Nalan Yanran has lived in comfort and luxury in the Misty Cloud Sect for the past three years, while you climbed out of the mud step by step. In ruthlessness and fighting spirit, she cannot compare to you."

Xiao Yan's entire body trembled, and he nodded heavily.

"Uncle Xiao is right!"

After a moment of silence, he raised his head again and said earnestly, "Uncle Xiao, if not for you over these past three years, I, Xiao Yan, would probably have rotted away in the mud long ago. I'll remember this kindness for the rest of my life."

"On the day of the Three-Year Agreement, not for Nalan Yanran, not for the Xiao Clan's honor, but for this kindness from Uncle Xiao, I must win!"

Xiao Chen looked at the blazing fire in the youth's eyes, and his heart warmed slightly.

"Good kid..."

"Alright, enough with the sentimental stuff."

He smiled and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "Just focus on training. Your uncle's backup plan is already on the way."

"Remember this: for the Three-Year Agreement, it isn't enough to win. You have to win beautifully—make those people from the Misty Cloud Sect never again dare look down on the Xiao Clan of Wutan City!"

"Rest assured, Uncle Xiao!" Xiao Yan clasped his fists heavily, battle intent blazing in his eyes.

"On the day of the Three-Year Agreement, I, Yan'er, will give it my all and show the Misty Cloud Sect that the Xiao Clan of Wutan City is not to be bullied!"

"Good! With that spirit, you've already won half the battle!" Xiao Chen laughed heartily.

After seeing Xiao Yan off, Xiao Chen returned to the courtyard.

"Ding! Detected that the gifted target, Xiao Yan, is about to reach a critical juncture: the Three-Year Agreement!"

"System prompt: If the host gifts the target the opportunity he needs before the Three-Year Agreement, a critical juncture critical-hit return will be triggered!"

"Current recommendation: Xuan Tier High-Grade Dou Technique · Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler | medicinal spirit herb for nourishing meridians ×1"

"Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler!?"

He softly repeated the name, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.

"A Xuan Tier High-Grade Dou Technique. With one swing of the ruler, flames and waves soar into the sky... If Xiao Yan can master this move, he'll have a sure chance of victory in the Three-Year Agreement!"

"As for the medicinal spirit herb that nourishes the meridians, he has trained bitterly every day for the past few months. His meridians are already riddled with hidden injuries, and they need proper nourishment."

That night, the lights in the Xiao Clan Medicine Hall remained lit the entire night.

Xiao Chen first brought out a pill furnace and refined the medicinal spirit herb for nourishing meridians into a batch of Warm Nourishing Pills.

He spent a full three hours refining that batch. When the pills were complete, their fragrance filled the room, and every pill shimmered with a gentle glow!

"Hiss—what a rich pill fragrance!"

"The quality of these Warm Nourishing Pills is probably far better than anything the Xiao Clan Medicine Hall has ever sold!"

The Xiao Clan disciples on night watch all followed the pill fragrance with stunned faces.

Xiao Chen, however, paid them no mind. He merely inspected the pills in the furnace carefully and nodded in satisfaction.

"Third-Grade Warm Nourishing Pills... excellent quality."

"With this fire affinity, my pill refining has indeed improved once more."

He carefully put away the batch of Warm Nourishing Pills, then took out a jade bottle and placed the pills inside one by one before sealing its mouth.

"With this bottle of pills, the hidden injuries in that kid Xiao Yan's meridians can be healed by seventy or eighty percent."

"Before the Three-Year Agreement, I must ensure that he enters battle in his best condition."

"This Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler hinges on the word 'flame.' Use Dou Qi to stir the flames, turn the ruler into waves, each wave rising higher than the last..."

"Though he won't be able to cultivate it to full mastery, it will still be enough for Xiao Yan to shine brilliantly at the Three-Year Agreement!"

The more Xiao Chen thought about it, the more excited he became.

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful!"

"The circulation method of this Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler actually complements that kid Xiao Yan's Flame Mantra perfectly!"

"Tomorrow, I'll give all of this to that kid."

The next morning, Xiao Chen handed both items to Xiao Yan together.

"Little Yan, I've seen all your progress during this time."

He patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and said solemnly, "Go into seclusion and properly absorb this Dou Technique."

At that moment, the system notification suddenly rang in his mind—

"Ding! Detected that the host has gifted [Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler] + [Third-Grade Warm Nourishing Pill] to the Child of Fortune, Xiao Yan!"

"Gift successful!"

"Congratulations on receiving cultivation infusion! Realm increased to Peak Dou Ling!"

A gleam flashed through Xiao Chen's eyes, and the corners of his lips slowly curled upward.

"Not bad! Truly not bad!"

"Uncle Xiao!"

Xiao Yan gave him a deep bow, nearly bending his waist to the ground. "In this life, Xiao Yan will never let Uncle Xiao down!"

"On the day of the Three-Year Agreement, I, Yan'er, will make everyone in the city see that the boy raised by Uncle Xiao is no worse than anyone!"

Xiao Chen's heart warmed, and he patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "Go. Your uncle will wait for the day you emerge from seclusion."

With reddened eyes, Xiao Yan accepted the two items, turned, and entered the seclusion chamber without looking back.

Bang—

The door shut closed.

Xiao Chen looked at the tightly closed door, his heart filled with both anticipation and a trace of unease, a complicated mixture of emotions.