Repair

Late at night, a figure quietly lurked in the darkness, its movements as ghostly as the wind.

"I've been to several places tonight, but none lasted long. Could it be that the Chaos Cauldron cannot be replenished tonight?"

Qi Yuan hid in the shadows, listening to a husband's murmured apologies inside a house, then shook his head helplessly. Silently, he left and moved on to the next dwelling.

He had crafted many intermediate magical weapons, such as the Five Poison Needles, but his stock of the Seven Aperture Bleeding Divine Pearls was running low. To continue reproducing them, he needed to replenish his Yin and Yang energies.

However, the cultivators of Huangfeng Valley seemed strangely weak tonight. After absorbing only a few strands of energy, his cauldron refused to take in more.

"How can my grand plans for infinite growth continue like this?" he muttered.

Qi Yuan longed to leave the valley, but for now, he had no such opportunity.

"I hope this one will give me a surprise."

Turning a corner, he approached another house. With his keen hearing, he discerned the sounds of a quarrel—a couple arguing fiercely.

A flicker of relief crossed his face. "Hold on, brother. Just a little longer. If this fails, I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

---

As dawn approached, Qi Yuan returned to his quarters, disappointed. He waved his hand, summoning three small flags and setting up a basic magic circle to ensure his privacy.

With a thought, the Chaos Cauldron emerged from his soul. Its glowing patterns flickered, yet parts of it had dimmed.

Sighing, he resigned himself to making another round to gather Yin and Yang energies. Troublesome, yes, but necessary for the future.

Lying on a soft couch, he studied the cauldron. Something about it seemed off—it felt like it held deeper secrets.

Over the past months, he had tested its capabilities. Besides being made of an extremely durable material, its only known function was generating resources. But what if there was more?

"Grow. Repair. Accelerate."

The words suddenly echoed in his mind. He sat up straight and retrieved a bottle of unrefined Huanglong Pills from his storage bag.

Pouring out a waste pill with a murky, uneven surface, he tossed it into the cauldron, hoping for a miracle.

Nothing happened.

Qi Yuan frowned. Then he smacked his forehead in realization. "Idiot! The cauldron is under my control—it won't work unless I activate it."

Focusing his mind, he willed the cauldron to respond.

The engraved patterns shimmered. Wisps of black gas swirled from the cauldron, blending with the surrounding air.

A spark of hope ignited in his chest. He intensified his focus. Ten breaths later, a perfectly refined Huanglong Pill lay quietly at the bottom of the cauldron. The once-murky pill now gleamed, its impurities completely erased.

"It can repair elixirs?!"

Excitement surged through him. "If it can restore pills, can it also repair other treasures?"

The possibility thrilled him.

And what about acceleration? Could it speed up the growth of spiritual herbs, cultivating millennia-old plants in mere days?

Unlike Han Li's legendary little green bottle, which condensed liquid to enhance growth, the Chaos Cauldron seemed different.

He needed to test it.

Rushing outside, he gathered some wild grasses, roots still clinging to the soil, and placed them inside the cauldron. Activating it, he watched expectantly.

A puff of white smoke rose.

Qi Yuan peered inside. Nothing remained but a pinch of black ash.

Frowning, he tried again. Each attempt ended in failure.

"Why?"

Then it hit him—the weeds lacked spiritual essence. That must be why they couldn't grow.

Unfortunately, his annual pass to leave the valley had already been used. He would have to wait until next year to test proper spiritual herbs.

---

Seasons passed. Three years later, Qi Yuan's cultivation reached the eleventh level of the Qi Training stage. Now, it was time to prepare for Foundation Establishment.

With the Huanglong Pill and the Golden Marrow Pill, his progress had significantly accelerated.

During this time, he also learned that Han Li had entered Huangfeng Valley.

The golden brick talisman, the wild Chen Qiaoqian, and Nangong Wan in the Bloody Forbidden Land—it was time for these events to unfold.

Qi Yuan frequently visited Hong Fu's cave to seek spiritual guidance. Over time, he dispelled her initial prejudice, and her attitude toward him improved.

Recognizing his diligence, she rewarded him with a top-tier magical weapon, the "Soul Binding Rope." Even more importantly, she promised to accept him as her disciple after his Foundation Establishment.

Qi Yuan was elated. He clung tightly to this golden opportunity, tears of gratitude in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Dong Xuan'er grew increasingly displeased. Watching Hong Fu's favor shift toward Qi Yuan, she seethed. Determined to expose his true nature, she secluded herself to practice the Huachun Jue, aiming to seduce him and reveal his weaknesses.

---

**Wanbao Tower**

Qi Yuan stepped inside again.

The same attendant from last year recognized him instantly, hurrying over with a fawning smile.

"Sir, are you looking for treasures today? I can show you the finest quality."

Ignoring the flattery, Qi Yuan handed over a list. "Fifty-year-old spiritual herbs—each one listed here."

The attendant quickly scanned the list. The required age was modest, but the quantity was substantial—definitely a good business deal.

"Please wait a moment, sir. I will prepare them immediately."

"Go ahead," Qi Yuan replied calmly.

A short while later, the attendant returned, setting the herbs before him. "Sir, please inspect your order."

Qi Yuan used his spiritual sense to verify them, then promptly paid and stored them away. Exiting the market town, he wandered the Taiyue Mountains, making sure he wasn't being followed.

Yet, an unsettling feeling lingered.

"Strange... I feel like someone is watching me."

Flying low through the forest, he repeatedly scanned his surroundings, but detected no threats.

Still, the creeping sensation persisted—from the moment he left the market town to now, deep in the mountains.

"I may be in trouble."

His reckless spending at Wanbao Tower must have drawn attention. Looking ahead, he spotted an open clearing and landed instantly.

"You've been following me for a while. Shouldn't you come out and chat?"

A cold chuckle echoed through the trees. "You're quite cautious. Wandering the mountains for days without lowering your guard."

A shadowed figure emerged from the darkness, its presence menacing.

Qi Yuan frowned, sensing a familiar aura. "A disciple of Huangfeng Valley?"

The figure smirked. "Qi Yuan, you guessed correctly, but I won't reveal my face. You'll never know who killed you."

Qi Yuan chuckled. "Somewhat clever."

Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist, releasing a dozen Five Poison Needles. The air shimmered with purple fluorescence as the deadly projectiles shot toward the intruder.

---

*(End of Chapter)*