Dou Shi

"But you can't neglect your own cultivation. Don't wear yourself out making pills for them."

"Don't worry. I know my limits. Besides, you're right here with me."

"Mm!"

The next day.

Wu Bai spoke with Han Yue's mentor for a while and returned with enough ingredients for six Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills.

Finished Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills commanded astronomical prices, often upwards of a million gold coins each. Yet all six sets of ingredients had cost just over three hundred thousand gold coins. If he made two pills, the difference would be more than a million gold coins!

Pills that could directly raise one's cultivation without side effects were valuable anywhere, the kind of commodity money alone could not buy.

Without knowing an Alchemist, one would have to attend a particularly high-end auction, and even spending millions of gold coins might not be enough to win one.

Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills were not too difficult for Wu Bai.

Six months ago, he had successfully refined one while he was not at his best. Now that he was stronger and in better condition, there was no reason he should fail.

Han Yue sat by the window, watching the room next door through the glass.

About an hour passed before a pale violet glow lit up her view. Purple, pill-scented mist drifted through the room.

More than an hour later, a brilliant violet light bloomed in the night once again.

Knock, knock, knock!

Wu Bai put the pills away and went to the door with a yawn.

"You're here. Haven't you gone to bed?"

"I came to check on you. I didn't want to disturb you earlier. Get some rest tonight."

Han Yue's gaze settled on his visibly weary face, her voice full of genuine concern.

Wu Bai opened his mouth to reply but yawned again. He knew how much the night's work had taken out of him. He really did need a good rest.

After all, he was only a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, and his body still had its limits. Only his exceptional Soul Power and the vast reserves of Dou Qi granted by his Low Earth Tier Cultivation Technique had made this possible.

"Mm. I'll sleep in a bit. Hold on to these two pills for now, and give them back in three days."

"Let's make it a week. Otherwise, once word gets out, you won't have much time left to cultivate."

Han Yue changed his deadline. He was her boyfriend; if she did not look out for him, who would?

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Wu Bai nodded and did not argue.

A few minutes later, Wu Bai lay in bed and gave the young woman sitting beside it an odd look.

"I'm not a child. Go get some rest. I'll be asleep in no time."

"All right. Just make sure you sleep soon."

"Mm. You should get to bed too. It's been a long day..."

"I'm a Dou Shi. I'm fine."

Back in her room, Han Yue reflected in silence.

More importantly, the day's cultivation had been nothing much for her. It had barely drained her energy.

Wu Bai, on the other hand, had been refining pills, and that took a tremendous toll.

After months without truly sleeping, Wu Bai woke from the previous night's deep slumber feeling wonderfully refreshed, his energy fully restored.

Suddenly, the Dou Qi Vortex inside him stirred. Wu Bai quickly cleared his mind, sat cross-legged, and looked inward.

"You're about to break through to Dou Shi. While circulating your Cultivation Technique, use your Soul Power to compress the Dou Qi Vortex and make it spin faster."

As the saying went, an elder at home was a treasure.

At that moment, Wu Bai understood just how true those words were.

He hurried to follow his teacher's instructions, using his powerful Soul Power to compress and accelerate the Dou Qi Vortex.

As the Cultivation Technique circulated through his meridians, more and more Dou Qi poured into the vortex.

With the help of Wu Bai's formidable Soul Power, the vortex was soon compressed and spinning at its limit.

Minutes later, the gaseous Dou Qi began to condense into liquid. Like rain, it fell and formed a little puddle in his dantian.

As the vortex grew smaller, the rain grew heavier, and the little puddle slowly became a broad pond.

At last, the vortex, reduced to a fraction of its original size, collapsed completely under the pressure of Wu Bai's Soul Power. It burst into countless tiny droplets that splashed across his organs, bones, meridians, blood vessels, and every inch of his flesh.

"Don't stop. Keep circulating your Cultivation Technique and replenish the Liquid Dou Qi you're missing."

Wu Bai gave an almost imperceptible nod. Drop after drop of Liquid Dou Qi fell into the ever-widening pond.

Fifteen minutes later, Wu Bai jumped out of bed and stretched. A string of sharp cracks sounded throughout his body.

He threw a couple of punches. Even without using Dou Qi, he heard the dull thud of his fists striking the air.

He gave two light hops, and before he had even put any strength into them, his head nearly brushed the four-meter-high ceiling.

"So this is the power of a Dou Shi?"

The next instant, a thin veil of crimson flame appeared around Wu Bai.

It was the Dou Qi Gauze Robe, the signature ability of a Dou Shi. Its defensive power was immense; an ordinary Dou Zhe could not break through it at all.

Even if a Dou Zhe had mastered a powerful Dou Technique and managed to pierce it, the Dou Qi Gauze Robe would still absorb much of the damage.

Unless that Dou Technique was of an exceptionally high grade and overwhelming power, fighting above one's level was no easy feat.

Wu Bai soon dismissed the Dou Qi Gauze Robe. He was only a One-Star Dou Shi. There was nothing to show off about.

More important was his aptitude for cultivation.

The Pill Formula his teacher had given him to improve his aptitude was a Fifth-grade Pill Formula, and the pill it produced was among the most difficult Fifth-grade Pills to refine.

Wu Bai knew his own limits, so he had not wasted his efforts attempting it while he was still a Dou Zhe.

Now that he was a Dou Shi, he had improved considerably in every respect. He finally had some confidence he could succeed.

First, I'll buy the ingredients. Then I'll spend a few days getting into top form and adjusting to my new strength before I start refining.

With a plan in mind, Wu Bai did not hesitate.

But just as he stepped out of his room, the door next door opened.

It was Han Yue, carrying a food box.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Wu Bai returned to his room. He watched Han Yue take out breakfast one item at a time, all the things he ordered most often.

"Not long... About two hours."

Han Yue had been about to brush it off, but when she saw the earnest look in his eyes, the truth slipped out.

Wu Bai accepted the breakfast and said softly, "I'm sorry."

Han Yue said nothing. She simply watched him eat.

As soon as he finished the last bite and raised a hand, a cup of cold water was placed in it.

Han Yue's Ice-attribute Dou Qi really was useful. One cup of ice water, and Wu Bai instantly felt much better.

"Let's go for a walk."

Wu Bai took Han Yue's slightly cool hand and led her out of the room.

The campus was unusually quiet.

Most of the students were in class, not out wandering around.

Feeling the warmth of his hand and his newfound confidence, Han Yue began to suspect something.

"Did you break through to Dou Shi?"

"How did you know? I thought I was keeping my aura well hidden."

"I only broke through to Dou Shi six months ago. Besides, we're standing so close. How could I not sense it?"