For the next full month, Xia Li only went out once to purchase Fasting Pills. The rest of the time, he remained in seclusion in his bedroom.
The results were very gratifying.
After one month and over a hundred spirit stones, his cultivation had jumped directly to the fourth level of Qi Refining.
"Didn't expect to reach mid-stage Qi Refining so quickly..."
Xia Li couldn't help but marvel at his improvement speed. And this was even with his Spirit Core being somewhat lacking, preventing faster progress.
Because the conversion efficiency was low.
If conversion efficiency were higher, refining spirit stones would be faster too.
While mid-stage Qi Refining still wasn't enough to stand firm in Fenghe City, at least he now had some basic ability to protect himself.
"Time to go out."
Xia Li took his spirit stones. He was heading to Fenghe City's Myriad Treasures Pavilion to buy a pill furnace and spiritual herbs.
Half an hour later, outside Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
The moment Xia Li walked in, he cursed inwardly: "Damn."
There weren't many customers in the pavilion, but one of them happened to be his unreliable backer, Second Young Master Liu.
"Well, well, if it isn't Brother Xia? Haven't seen you at your stall for over a month. Did something happen?"
As Second Young Master Liu spoke, he glanced at the bulging spirit stone pouch hanging at Xia Li's waist.
He had been eyeing something but was short on spirit stones. How convenient that his wallet had delivered itself.
"Just secluded cultivation."
After a brief moment of alarm, Xia Li quickly regained his composure. He didn't need to fear Second Young Master Liu anymore. As long as his plan went smoothly, he could break free from Liu's control today.
"Then let me check your cultivation..."
"Cultivation..."
Second Young Master Liu instinctively released his spiritual sense to probe Xia Li. But Xia Li's energy fluctuations gave him a huge shock.
"Fourth level of Qi Refining? Weren't you only at the first level a month ago?!"
"Tell me!! How did you do it?!"
Second Young Master Liu's eyes immediately turned red.
This was too shocking. This rate of progress was something only geniuses in major sects could achieve.
For a rogue cultivator, it was nearly impossible. Xia Li must have some major secret for rapidly increasing cultivation!
"Secluded cultivation, obviously. Anything else? If not, I have shopping to do."
"Wait! I advise you to share your secret with me. Otherwise, you'll never have peace from now on. Before, people were eyeing you just for making talismans—imagine what it'll be like now."
"In Fenghe City, only my Liu family can protect you!"
Second Young Master Liu deliberately made a scene in Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Other customers naturally began eyeing Xia Li with predatory gazes.
One month from first level to fourth level of Qi Refining—that speed was terrifying.
"Not necessarily. My master can protect me too."
"Your master?"
Second Young Master Liu frowned. Did Xia Li have backing?
"Yes. Met him a month ago. My master thinks I have talent for alchemy. He not only helped raise my cultivation but also taught me the art of pill-making."
With that, Xia Li walked directly toward a counter displaying pill furnaces.
"Shopkeeper, I'll take this furnace."
Xia Li didn't bother being picky. Qi Refining-level furnaces were just makeshift tools anyway—what treasure could he possibly find?
"Thank you for your patronage! Do you need spiritual herbs?"
"Yes!"
Xia Li nodded, then immediately listed the herbs he needed. However, he didn't specify exact names—only the medicinal properties.
After all, Earth's pill formulas weren't compatible with this world's.
He could only select herbs with similar properties. With the Heaven Chip's help, deriving a formula from available herbs wouldn't be difficult.
"Xia Li, it seems you think... having a master means you don't need to respect me anymore?"
Second Young Master Liu noticed the disdain in Xia Li's eyes. This infuriated him. Someone who had begged him like a dog just a month ago was now looking down on him?
"Second Young Master Liu, I don't owe you anything. I've given you plenty of spirit stones. I hope you won't make a mistake."
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"Heh heh... then you'd better bring your master out right now! Otherwise..."
Second Young Master Liu wasn't stupid enough to believe everything Xia Li said. Even if Xia Li claimed the sky was falling, as long as he couldn't produce this master, Liu would make his move.
Even if Xia Li really had a master who later came to exterminate the Liu family, he'd accept it.
Cultivation was all about seizing opportunities. Before opportunity, everything could be sacrificed—especially an opportunity as great as Xia Li represented.
After seizing the opportunity, he could simply flee Fenghe City. Who cared about the family's fate? His own fate was most important! Xia Li's master could do whatever he wanted.
"Second Young Master Liu... you seem a bit extreme."
Xia Li took two steps back. The desperate look in Second Young Master Liu's eyes put immense pressure on him.
Something was wrong!
This wasn't what he had expected. Why wasn't Second Young Master Liu showing any fear? Did he really not care about his family at all?
Xia Li immediately looked toward the Myriad Treasures Pavilion shopkeeper, but the shopkeeper wore an expression of not wanting to get involved.
This was bad!
He had underestimated how much people in this world valued so-called "opportunities."
"Hand it over. I'll accept whatever your master does afterward."
"Hand over the secret! Or I'll kill you right now!"
Second Young Master Liu dared to gamble—to bet with his life, to bet with his whole family's lives!
Myriad Treasures Pavilion apparently had no intention of intervening, showing no sign of sending anyone to maintain order.
This made Xia Li angry too. Though he understood the principle of "innocence invites guilt when holding treasure," being repeatedly bullied was something no one could endure.
It seemed he had no choice but to take the second path.
Xia Li stood still, simply watching Second Young Master Liu. As expected, Liu couldn't hold back and attacked first, palm open, lunging at Xia Li.
He thought with his sixth-level Qi Refining cultivation, taking down fourth-level Xia Li would be simple.
But this was exactly what Xia Li was waiting for!
He needed Liu to strike first. Even if Liu's family was unreasonable later, when reason could be discussed, he'd have justification.
【Mind-Brain Overclock】
Xia Li immediately activated his Heaven Chip's Intellect Technique. This was his first real fight—he didn't dare be careless at all.
Time slowed in his perception. He moved to meet Second Young Master Liu, driving his right fist directly at Liu's open palm.
The opponent had probably used some technique too, but it didn't matter.
His right arm was a prosthetic—forged from refined steel and mystic iron. Why would he fear a Qi Refining cultivator's flesh and blood?
Activating the prosthetic's built-in technique...
Surge Fist!
"Overconfident fool!"
Seeing Xia Li actually daring to throw a punch to meet him, Second Young Master Liu sneered. How dare he?
He was using the Ice Claw technique. One grab and Xia Li's fist would shatter completely.
Then...
Fist met claw. Second Young Master Liu squeezed hard, but what he grasped wasn't flesh and blood at all—it was incomparably hard mystic iron.
What was happening?
Was Xia Li's arm made of iron?
In fact, Xia Li's arm really was made of iron.
Before Second Young Master Liu could figure out what was going on, a tremendous force transmitted from Xia Li's fist.
"Oh no—"
Second Young Master Liu realized something was wrong, but it was too late.
Surge Fist—a military combat technique, a method Earth's soldiers used to slay demons. Its specialty was destruction.
One punch, and the force surged into Second Young Master Liu's arm, twisting it into a pretzel.
"Ahhh!!"
"How dare you... I'll kill you!!"
Second Young Master Liu howled in agony. This immediately drew the attention of countless passersby outside Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and a crowd quickly gathered at the entrance.
