C2 Improving the Foundation!

Feeling drained, Xiao Yong returned to his cave. He had gone days without food and, even after eating half a dry cake, felt depleted from his recent fruit-picking endeavor. He sat down to recuperate, planning how to scale the cliff and get home.

The Suppression Cauldron spoke up, "While you're resting, why not study this cultivation technique? Every moment matters for a cultivator. Time waits for no one."

Intrigued by the cauldron's advice, Xiao Yong retrieved the book. "Dragon Scripture? What on Earth is this?"

"Don't underestimate this technique," the cauldron cautioned. "It's scalable. You could easily attain the level of a Martial Master with it."

"My ultimate goal is alchemy. Where will I find the time to delve into such cultivation?" Xiao Yong questioned.

"Listen, achieving greatness involves holistic advancement. A robust body is foundational for Qi and spirit. Besides, even alchemists need physical strength. Do you think a Martial Warrior couldn't defeat an alchemist? And who says a Martial Master is the highest pinnacle or that alchemists are all-powerful?" the cauldron countered.

"So what's your point?" Xiao Yong asked.

"Master the Dragon Scripture first, and the larger context will become clear to you," the cauldron concluded before going silent.

It wasn't entirely Xiao Yong's fault for his narrow perspective. In the Dragon Star Continent where he resided, the highest ranks he'd heard of were Martial Masters and Alchemy Masters. The strongest member in his Cloud Sword Sect was a fledgling Martial Master. His own mentor, Lau Daofu, was merely an alchemist. Aspiring to become an alchemy master already seemed like a lofty fantasy to most.

The broader environment shapes the grand scheme of things, which in turn determines one's viewpoint. And it's this viewpoint that guides one's thought processes. It's a dynamic interplay that should never be overlooked.

The Suppression Cauldron faced a challenging dilemma; it had to keep many things unsaid. It feared that revealing too much would either shatter Xiao Yong's self-confidence, make him overambitious, or too hasty in his actions.

"The Dragon Scripture speaks of the dragon lying dormant in the abyss and soaring through the heavens, looking down on the nine realms. Quite an expansive worldview," Xiao Yong mused as he slowly leafed through the booklet, absorbing each page.

Four hours later, after reading the final page, Xiao Yong closed the Dragon Scripture and sat in contemplation, his eyes tightly shut.

The Cauldron Spirit was uncertain about Xiao Yong's state. It didn't know if he had understood the scripture or not. Wanting to inquire, it hesitated, afraid to interrupt his thoughts.

Suddenly, Xiao Yong opened his eyes. Using his willpower, he enveloped the golden fruit and directed it towards his mouth.

Biting into the fruit, he drew its essence forcefully into his mouth, like slurping up a bag of liquid. Before he could even savor the taste, it had already flowed down his throat and settled into his stomach.

A surge of warmth radiated from his stomach. Following the visualization methods outlined in the Dragon Scripture, Xiao Yong focused on the Ren and Du meridians within his body.

The heat crawled through him like a multitude of ants—through muscles, bones, meridians, marrow, and blood. It was omnipresent and irritatingly itchy. Resisting the urge to scratch, Xiao Yong continued to focus on the Ren and Du meridians.

The Cauldron Spirit observed Xiao Yong's trembling face and jittering body, uncertain of what was transpiring. Nevertheless, seeing that his complexion remained normal and his mental state stable, it refrained from interfering.

Gradually, the itchiness lessened. A sensation like pins and needles emerged within the two meridians. Xiao Yong felt a momentary thrill, quickly regaining his composure, and resumed his focused visualization of the two energy channels.

Xiao Yong focused intently, visualizing the flow of energy within his body over and over again. As he did, the itchiness and tingling sensations in his meridians began to fade. Eventually, they felt completely normal, replaced by a warm, flowing sensation.

"Now that I've opened these two meridians, it's time to connect them through the node!" Full of anticipation, Xiao Yong directed his energy toward the crucial node. A sharp pain shot through him, causing him to feel momentarily dizzy and numb all over.

The spirit within the Suppression Cauldron observed Xiao Yong with astonishment. He had managed to unblock both meridians remarkably quickly and was now attempting to connect them through the node. Should he succeed, his cultivation speed would skyrocket, so long as he had a sufficient energy source. Advancing to the rank of Martial Master would be within easy reach.

With a soft but definitive click, the node finally opened. A wave of relaxation washed over Xiao Yong as the pain rapidly dissipated. A warm current of energy began flowing through the connected meridians, completing two full circuits before it abruptly vanished.

"Hmm, what's this foul smell?" Startled, Xiao Yong opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings.

"Kid, don't look elsewhere. Take a look at yourself," the cauldron spirit chided.

"Ah, why am I covered in this filth? It's like I'm coated in oil. I need to get out of here before I pass out from the stench," Xiao Yong exclaimed.

Quickly, he picked up his basket and untied the rope that secured it. When he reached the cave entrance and peered outside, he realized that the mysterious tree he had seen earlier had vanished. Though puzzled, he didn't dwell on it. Choosing a direction, he began scaling the cliffside with ease—his years of herb-gathering and rock-climbing had made him exceptionally skilled at it.

"As I climb, it's clear that my strength has increased substantially, and my coordination seems sharper, too. Wait, are you the spirit of the Suppression Cauldron? Why do you look so worn-out?" Xiao Yong pondered aloud as he reached the top of the cliff. He realized he had undergone significant changes—he could now perceive the Suppression Cauldron within his own sea of consciousness.

The spirit of the cauldron seemed a bit embarrassed but retorted defiantly, "So what if I'm worn-out? Do you realize I could crush you with a single blow? You should consider yourself fortunate to have encountered me; it's the luck of many lifetimes."

Before Xiao Yong could even hear the rest of what was being said, he stood up abruptly and left. "I need to get home immediately. What's the count now? How many days have gone by?"

"Fifteen days," came the reply.

"What? Another eight days have slipped by?" With a sense of urgency, Xiao Yong hoisted his basket onto his back and sprinted forward. Ignoring the precarious cliffs and the foot-wide narrow path, he rushed ahead at breakneck speed.

"Hey, slow down! The cliff on your left isn't a joke. It's nearly a hundred feet deep, maybe eighty at least. Plus, there are gaps along the way. If you fall, it's game over," a voice warned him.

"Forget that! You tricked me into practicing that damned 'Dragon Scripture.' If something happened to my sister, you're not off the hook!" Xiao Yong yelled as he leapt from rock to rock along the stony pathway.

Reaching the base of the trail, he quickly rinsed himself off under a small waterfall before dashing toward his home, basket still on his back, his clothes clinging to him, soaked through.

It took him less than an hour to cover the thirty-mile distance from the foot of the mountain to his hometown of Corbourne. Without stopping to greet anyone, he made a beeline for his home.

As he turned into a familiar alley, he caught sight of a little girl sitting at their doorstep. She was doodling aimlessly on the ground with a small stick and muttering to herself.

"Ying!" Xiao Yong's voice cracked as he called out to her, his eyes brimming with tears.

The little girl looked up, her face lighting up. "Brother!" she shouted. The stick flew out of her hand as she bolted towards him, closing the distance in an instant.

Scooping up Ying in his arms, tears poured down Xiao Yong's face. Ying's large eyes were also filled with tears. She busied herself, wiping away her brother's tears as she said, "Brother, where have you been? I haven't seen you in fifteen days. I thought you'd abandoned me."

Choking back a sob, Xiao Yong said, "How could I ever abandon you? You're my sister. I had to go somewhere far away on short notice and didn't have time to tell you. It won't happen again, I promise."

"Brother, why are your clothes so torn up? And they're damp, too."

"I was collecting herbs in the mountains; the place was full of thorns. I had to crawl through them, and my clothes got torn. I rinsed them off on the way here but didn't have time to let them dry."

"Brother, these past few nights, someone's been trying to open our door. I've been too scared to sleep, thinking it could be a ghost."

"Don't worry, Ying. It can't be a ghost. Maybe it's just some neighborhood kids playing pranks?"

"No, that's not it. Every night, I hear someone knocking on the door twice and then trying to open it. It's unsettling."

Xiao Yong's expression darkened slightly. "Get some sleep tonight, Ying. If you hear those noises again, I'll go out and handle whoever is causing them."

Once they got home, Ying tried to wriggle out of her brother's arms, saying, "Brother, I want to cook tonight. You've had a tough day; go rest."

With a warm laugh, Xiao Yong said, "Let me handle the cooking, Ying. You're still young; just watch and learn."

Ying chuckled and said, "Bro, guess what? I've learned how to cook. I've been doing it myself these past few days."

He opened the kitchen cabinet to find an assortment of leftover vegetable dishes. They were all noticeably overcooked and blackened. Rubbing his eyes and pinching his nose, he said, "Ying, let me take over for now. When you're a bit older, you can take charge of the cooking. Sound good?"

"Alright, but speaking of cooking, I've got a question," Ying said as she scooped rice from the jar. "The rice from the Liu family's shop has been getting sandier. Little Fatty told me he bought ten kilograms of rice and found a kilogram of sand. How come we never find sand in our rice?"

"We've just been lucky not to, I guess," he replied.

The Liu family ran the only rice shop in town. Initially, there were two shops, but the other had mysteriously closed last year and its family disappeared. Ever since, the quality of rice has deteriorated, with increasing amounts of sand mixed in.

People who had confronted the Liu family about the issue were told it was because of a drought affecting the harvest. But soon enough, those who questioned them often ended up with broken arms or legs, either at home or while returning from work.

The Liu family had two members in the Cloud Sword Sect. Liu Jihua was an outstanding disciple at the Vein Opening Stage and trained under the Great Elder, Wu Liangren. Liu Jiyuan was a top alchemy practitioner within the sect, slightly less skilled than Xiao Yong but still highly regarded. He was a disciple of Gou Changyi, the sect's alchemy elder.

After dinner, Xiao Yong looked at Ying seriously and said, "Ying, I've found a fruit that could be extremely beneficial for your health. But eating it will cause some discomfort. Would you be willing to try it?"

Ying looked into Xiao Yong's eyes and hesitated for a moment. A glint of determination flashed across her eyes as she nodded firmly.

Relieved, Xiao Yong told her about the Dragon Scripture and then shared his own experiences and insights in great detail.

Four hours had passed, and Ying had masterfully channeled the Dragon Scripture. Xiao Yong offered her the enchanted fruit to eat. Strangely, he noticed that Ying didn't seem to experience the same discomfort he had felt. Puzzled, he consulted the Suppression Cauldron, but it, too, was clueless about the reason.

Xiao Ying was deep in meditation within her room, as was Xiao Yong in his. He was engrossed in familiarizing himself with the Dragon Scripture. Meanwhile, he questioned the Suppression Cauldron about its origins. The cauldron remained mostly evasive, finally admitting that it was incomplete and had lost a significant portion of its memories. It would need high-quality materials for repairs in the future.

Frustrated, Xiao Yong said, "So you're just a broken cauldron! You can't fight, you can't refine pills, and you've given me a simplistic cultivation method. On top of that, I'll need to find high-grade materials for you in the future. What's so special about you? Get out of my consciousness; I have no desire to serve you anymore."

Defensive, the spirit within the cauldron retorted, "Who says I can't fight? Do you dare to use me in combat? Even unrepaired, I can smash a Martial Master to death without issue. Whether or not you can escape afterward, well, that's on you. Frankly, a mere mortal child could probably topple you."

"That's a bold claim," Xiao Yong shot back. "You say you can smash a Martial Master, the epitome of skill in the Star Continent. If you fail, I'll find a way to banish you."

"Listen, kid," the cauldron spirit said, softening its tone. "As long as you can find the right materials to help me advance, I sense there are even greater treasures within me. All of which will be yours in the future."

"Is this all you can offer right now? A flawed cultivation method?" Xiao Yong complained. "It may open meridians, but without a proper cultivation method, what's the point? If I tried to spar with someone, they'd probably send me flying."

Slightly embarrassed, the cauldron spirit admitted, "I don't have a full cultivation method to offer, but there is a set of refining tools that could be useful. You could train your body with them, and they would offer some protection."