Leaving the Market District, Entering Seclusion

The shopkeeper's smile broadened, and he pointed at the three magic cores on the wooden tray.

"You have a fine eye, young master. All three are first-tier magic cores of excellent quality. The Wind Attribute and Earth Attribute cores are five hundred Gold Coins each. This Fire Attribute one is a little more expensive, at five hundred and fifty Gold Coins."

"That comes to one thousand five hundred and fifty Gold Coins altogether. If you're serious about buying them, young master, I'll knock off the remainder. One thousand five hundred will do."

In Wutan City, first-tier Magical Beast Crystal Cores were already in short supply, with most reserved in advance by alchemists and weapon shops. Had it not been for the reputation Xiao Yuan had earned by gravely injuring Jia Lie Ao just now, he could never have secured this price.

Xiao Yuan quickly ran through the figures in his mind.

The Storage Ring he had just seized from Jia Lie Ao held plenty of Gold Coins, more than enough to buy these three magic cores.

With a thought, he took a heavy bag of Gold Coins from the seized Storage Ring tucked inside his robes, hefted it twice, and handed it straight over.

"There are sixteen hundred Gold Coins here. Consider the extra fifty a thank-you for your trouble."

The shopkeeper hurriedly accepted the money bag with both hands. Its weight filled his palms, and his face blossomed with delight as he thanked Xiao Yuan again and again.

"Thank you, young master! Thank you!"

Xiao Yuan casually gathered the three magic cores from the wooden tray and put them all into his own Storage Ring.

Even through the Storage Ring, his fingertips could still faintly sense the restless, surging energy within the magic cores.

Beside him, Xiao Xun'er watched him buy the three magic cores without hesitation. Her dark brows remained tightly knitted as she gently urged him.

"Xiao Yuan, are you really going to take this risk? The energy in magic cores is no laughing matter.

"You'd better find a secure chamber. I can stand guard beside you."

She still could not set her worries aside. The violent energy in magic cores was no joke. Even if Xiao Yuan claimed his cultivation art could neutralize it, the slightest mishap could have unthinkable consequences.

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan turned to look at her in surprise. He could not help feeling puzzled.

Wait, aren't I the one absorbing them? Why do you look even more nervous than I am?

Puzzled though he was, he gave Xiao Xun'er a faint smile.

"Don't worry. I know my limits. I won't gamble with my own life.

"Once we get back to the Xiao Clan, I'll find a stone chamber for secluded cultivation and try refining these magic cores. Let's see if their power can help me break straight through the barrier to Two-Star Dou Zhe."

After the battle just now, he remained at the peak of One-Star Dou Zhe, with only a thin membrane separating him from the second star. Relying on ordinary Dou Qi cultivation would take at least several days of patient grinding.

But if the Ten Thousand Transformations Source-Dividing Art could fully convert the immense energy contained in these three first-tier magic cores, he might well achieve his breakthrough in one stroke.

With the magic cores put away and their tour of the Market District nearly finished, the aching weakness left by his exertions in battle grew increasingly pronounced. Waves of dizziness washed over his head from time to time.

Xiao Yuan decided not to keep gathering supplies.

"We've bought everything. Let's go, Sister Xun'er. We're heading back to the Xiao Clan."

"Coming."

Xiao Xun'er answered softly from behind a display counter, then poked her little head out.

While Xiao Yuan had been choosing magic cores, she had idly browsed a few Beast Hide scrolls on the shelves. Absorbed in them for a moment, she had fallen a little behind.

Xiao Xun'er peered ahead with her large eyes, searching. Once she spotted Xiao Yuan, she hurried over to the youth at a light jog.

Xiao Yuan glanced down and saw that her hands were empty. Remembering what Xiao Xun'er had said before they left, he could not resist teasing her.

"Sister Xun'er, didn't you say you were coming to the Market District to buy some things too? What did you buy?"

Xiao Yuan had expected her to fumble for an excuse or change the subject in embarrassment. Instead, Xiao Xun'er smiled gently.

A faint light flashed at her fingertips, and she calmly took an emerald-green beaded bracelet from her Storage Ring. Its design was exquisite, with a green magic core set at the top, making it look worth a fortune.

"I don't dawdle like you. I finished my shopping ages ago."

Although buying things in the Market District had only been an excuse to observe Xiao Yuan, she had to carry the act through to the end. As luck would have it, she had spotted this green bracelet at a roadside stall while wandering around and bought it on a whim.

Xiao Yuan's gaze settled on the bracelet, and he raised his brows slightly.

"Who would've guessed you were such an efficient shopper, Sister Xun'er? That bracelet doesn't look cheap."

At his words, Xiao Xun'er raised her brows slightly, looking rather pleased with herself.

Their visit to the Market District over, the two bid farewell to the shopkeeper, stepped out of the magical beast shop, and joined the stream of people heading through the Market District toward the Xiao Clan.

Quite a few pedestrians on either side of the street still recognized Xiao Yuan. They cast awed, curious glances his way and murmured about the fierce battle at the street entrance.

Xiao Yuan turned a deaf ear to them. His mind was already mapping out his secluded cultivation: once back in the stone chamber, he would circulate the Ten Thousand Transformations Source-Dividing Art, devour the magic cores, and attempt to reach Two-Star Dou Zhe.

They walked all the way back to the Xiao Clan estate, where people came and went through the vermilion gates.

At the courtyard entrance, Xiao Yuan stopped and turned to Xiao Xun'er beside him.

"Sister Xun'er, I won't stay and chat. I intend to enter seclusion right away."

"Remember, you absolutely mustn't push yourself too far."

Xiao Xun'er's delicate brows drew together slightly. Without drawing attention, she took a crimson Dragon-Pattern Jade Pendant from the rubbish with her right hand and pressed it into Xiao Yuan's palm.

"Take this. Wear it during your secluded cultivation. It can steady your mind. If anything happens that you can't suppress, call out immediately. I'll be nearby in the outer courtyard."

The jade pendant felt smooth and warm in his hand. As his fingers brushed the dragon-patterned marking, he could faintly sense waves of dragon roars coming from within.

Holding the cool, smooth jade pendant, Xiao Yuan felt a slight stir in his heart and nodded.

"Understood."

After a brief farewell to Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yuan carried the cloth bag of Spirit Herbs and hurried back to his own courtyard, the three restless first-tier magic cores lying quietly inside his Storage Ring.

Once inside, he shut the door behind him, then moved a wooden cabinet over to brace firmly against it.

The light in the room dimmed slightly.

Without delay, Xiao Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed.

He had yet to fully recover from the depletion of blood and vitality caused by the battle in the Market District, and waves of fatigue still coursed through his body. Yet the barrier at the peak of One-Star Dou Zhe was already within reach, its membrane as thin as a cicada's wing.

This time, he intended to use the vast energy of three first-tier magic cores not merely to break through to Two-Star Dou Zhe. If there was enough energy, he would attempt Three-Star Dou Zhe as well.

Xiao Yuan took out the Spirit Herbs and Magical Beast Crystal Cores all at once, arranging them in order on the bed before him.

"Let's start with the Fire Attribute one."

Fire was one of his two attributes. Absorbing energy of the same attribute would not only yield better results, but also make the process much easier.

Xiao Yuan drew a deep breath, tucked the Dragon-Pattern Jade Pendant into the pocket over the left side of his chest, and closed his eyes, sinking his awareness into his Consciousness Sea.

The Ten Thousand Transformations Source-Dividing Art quietly began to circulate, and an overpowering devouring force slowly awakened within him.