Pre-paying Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid

After quickly finishing dinner in the Dining Hall, Chen Xiao headed straight for the Xiao Family's Back Mountain under the cover of night.

There were always people moving around his residence, so it clearly wasn't suitable for doing anything private.

He chose a clean bluestone and sat down, his consciousness gradually sinking into his mind.

The pre-pay information for Yan Return Strike was still there, proving everything earlier hadn't been an illusion.

[Pre-pay?]

"No!"

Suppressing the throb in his heart, Chen Xiao refused without hesitation.

For one thing, its follow-up condition required him to stop Xiao Yan from climbing over Xiao Xun'er's wall.

But so far, Xiao Xun'er hadn't even come to the Xiao Family yet. He probably wouldn't be able to complete the follow-up anytime soon, so there was no need to waste his only pre-pay chance.

For another, a Mystic High-Rank Dou Skill was far too advanced for the Dou Zhi Li stage. Even if he pre-paid it and got it, he wouldn't be able to practice it.

"Does this pre-pay have limits? And if I complete the follow-up, will it refresh?"

Chen Xiao realized this was probably the so-called golden finger. It was just that this pre-pay had appeared too abruptly, and it didn't come with any instructions, so for now he could only explore it slowly.

Recalling the scene that had triggered the pre-pay earlier, Chen Xiao had a few guesses.

At once, Chen Xiao calmed his mind and focused, thinking in his head about the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that Venerable Yao had prepared for Xiao Yan.

On the Dou Qi Continent, cultivation during the Dou Zhi Li stage was extremely slow. Because the meridians were too fragile and for other such reasons, outside objects generally couldn't be used to assist cultivation, so one could only draw in qi and accumulate it day after day.

However, there were exceptions to everything. Some colossal factions and sects, and some revered alchemists, were able to develop corresponding medicines to speed up cultivation during the Dou Zhi Li stage.

Venerable Yao's Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid belonged to this category.

If he could have the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid to assist him, Chen Xiao's cultivation during the Dou Zhi Li stage would undoubtedly speed up greatly, saving him a huge amount of time.

Just as he was thinking this, the pre-pay information in his mind suddenly changed.

[Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid: Tier Two pill, can be pre-paid!]

[Pre-pay follow-up: Become friends with Xiao Yan.]

[Current available pre-pay count: One!]

[Pre-pay?]

Even physical objects could be pre-paid?

Chen Xiao gradually figured out the condition for this pre-pay to appear. It seemed that as long as he desired something, it could be triggered.

But he still hadn't figured out the so-called follow-up. Why was the follow-up for pre-paying Yan Return Strike stopping Xiao Yan from climbing over the wall, while pre-paying the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid required him to become friends with Xiao Yan?

He had some guesses, but he wasn't certain.

Still, it didn't matter. The night was long, and Chen Xiao had plenty of time to study it slowly.

For the moment, he restrained the urge to directly pre-pay the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and once again chose no.

"Dou skills work, pills work, then what about cultivation methods? The Flame Mantra that Han Feng yearned for so badly?"

[Flame Mantra: Yellow Rank Low-Level cultivation method, can be pre-paid!]

[Pre-pay follow-up: Revive Yao Chen!]

It really worked?!

Chen Xiao's eyes lit up, feeling extremely pleasantly surprised by how powerful this pre-pay was.

The Flame Mantra—that was the foundation on which Xiao HuoHuo had achieved his Dao.

How tempting it was went without saying.

However, Chen Xiao still refused.

At the Dou Zhi Li stage, a cultivation method was useless.

Moreover, its follow-up was far too difficult. Even if everything went smoothly, it would be impossible to accomplish without eight or ten years.

Besides, Chen Xiao didn't even know what attribute he would have in the future. There was no need to waste his pre-pay chance on it.

"Great Heaven Creation Palm?"

Chen Xiao's thoughts shifted, and he thought of a Dou Technique that had left a very deep impression in his memory.

[Great Heaven Creation Palm: Heaven Rank Dou Technique, cannot be pre-paid!]

"As expected, there are limits. Heaven Rank doesn't work, then what about Earth Rank... Three Thousand Lightning Movement?"

[Three Thousand Lightning Movement: Earth Rank Low-Level Movement Dou Technique, cannot be pre-paid!]

Earth Rank didn't work either!

Chen Xiao tried again several more times with Earth Rank cultivation methods and Dou Techniques that had left a deep impression in his memory, as well as Tier Six and higher pills. As expected, none of them worked.

Case closed. The limitation of this pre-pay was that it could only pre-pay cultivation methods and Dou Techniques below Earth Rank, as well as pills below Tier Six.

"The follow-up for pre-paying Qi Gathering Powder is joining the Misty Cloud Sect and performing outstandingly... I think I understand!"

Through attempt after attempt, Chen Xiao finally figured out some of the patterns.

This so-called advance draw was somewhat like reversing cause and effect.

Joining the Misty Cloud Sect and performing well—by normal logic, there did seem to be a chance of receiving Qi Gathering Powder as a reward.

Stopping Xiao Yan from climbing over the wall would inevitably be discovered by Xiao Xun'er and her Guard, Ling Ying. He would then draw their attention, and it was not impossible that he might receive a Mystic High-Rank Dou Skill as thanks.

And reviving Yao Chen would involve countless hardships and dangers. If he could truly accomplish such a thing, his friendship with Yao Chen would definitely be deep, and with such a great favor added on, there was some chance he might obtain the Flame Mantra.

"I just wonder whether the restrictions on this advance draw will change as my strength increases, or as I grow older—and whether the number of uses will increase?"

And most importantly, could completing the follow-up refresh the number of advance draws?

Chen Xiao weighed it for a long time before finally making up his mind.

"Advance draw Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid!"

Practice was the sole criterion for testing truth!

Try it once, and everything would become clear.

As for why he did not seize this chance to advance draw something of higher value, there was simply no need.

If the number of advance draws could be refreshed, that went without saying.

Even if he could only advance draw this one time, Chen Xiao still felt that benefits he could actually get his hands on were more useful than those Mystic-rank methods and Dou Skills that he could not use for the time being.

Having awakened the memories of his previous life, foresight was already his greatest advantage. As long as he could quickly get through the Dou Zhi Li stage, whether he went to the Misty Cloud Sect or Jia Nan Academy, he would have plenty of chances to obtain things of this grade.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Chen Xiao felt something pressing awkwardly against his chest. He reached into his clothes, and when he pulled his hand out again, there were already three cold jade bottles in it.

Something out of nothing—was it really this mysterious?!

Chen Xiao was amazed.

He opened one jade bottle, and in an instant, a fresh medicinal scent rushed into his nose.

Recalling the information about Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, this item was only useful to those below Dou Zhe. By dripping this spirit liquid into clear water and then soaking the body while cultivating, one could speed up cultivation, but the medicinal effect could only last for two months.

"This is three portions, which means half a year's worth?"

Holding the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid in his hand, Chen Xiao checked the advance draw information again.

[Follow-up: Become friends with Xiao Yan.]

[The next advance draw can only be opened after completing the follow-up. Current available advance draws: zero!]

Seeing this, Chen Xiao smiled in satisfaction.

This follow-up should not be difficult!

Putting away the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, Chen Xiao got up and moved the bluestone he had been sitting on back to its original place, then returned to his residence with light steps.

After that, he brought over a wooden tub, filled it with clear water, and poured in one bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. The clear water in the tub immediately turned into a green spirit liquid!

Sitting cross-legged in the tub, Chen Xiao joined his hands together and formed a strange seal in front of him. His eyes were tightly shut, and his breathing was steady and powerful.

As his cultivation began, the green water in the wooden tub gradually emitted faint wisps of vapor. The vapor carried a slight green tint, slowly rose, and finally followed Chen Xiao's breathing into his body.

In that instant, Chen Xiao felt that compared to before, his cultivation speed had increased severalfold!

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

Early morning.

Chen Xiao opened his eyes in the wooden tub. Sensing the Dou Qi within his body, which had grown several times more abundant, joy appeared on his face.

"It hasn't even been a month since my last breakthrough, yet I've already reached the fourth stage of Dou Zhi Li. At this pace, before this portion of spirit liquid completely loses its medicinal effect, I might even be able to charge into the fifth stage of Dou Zhi Li!"

Over these ten days, aside from completing his daily tasks, Chen Xiao had spent almost all his time cultivating.

Day after day, only then came progress!

As for Xiao Yan's side, Chen Xiao was not in a hurry.

Xiao Yan was no ordinary child. He could not approach him too deliberately, or it would only backfire.

Because of that, each day, Chen Xiao would only greet him when they happened to meet in the square, making it seem like a casual coincidence, and thus at least became a familiar face.