"Just kidding, I'll get to it," Xiao Heng said. The valley had few trees, but enough for his needs. Unsheathed, his Crimson Dragon Fang sliced through wood with ease, crafting a new bed in moments. He placed it near the cabin's entrance. The small cabin had only two rooms with no partition, so his spot offered a clear view of Xiao Yi Xian's sleeping face. Perfect positioning, he thought, smirking.
"Xiao Heng, when can I absorb your sub-flame?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, handing him a bowl of water after he finished.
"My Devouring Blue Flame is still modest, so the sub-flame won't be too strong. You'll need a Spirit Container to carve a space in your body and a second-tier Meridian-Protecting Pill," Xiao Heng explained.
"Are the materials ready?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"I've got the Spirit Container already. Just need the second-tier Meridian-Protecting Pill. I've gathered the herbs for it, and this valley's perfect for refining, but…"
"But what?"
"I haven't tried refining second-tier pills yet, so you'll have to wait a bit," Xiao Heng admitted, a touch of embarrassment on his face.
"You're young—probably new to alchemy. No rush, I can wait," Xiao Yi Xian said with a reassuring smile.
"Two months at most. I should manage a second-tier Meridian-Protecting Pill by then. Meanwhile, keep consuming poisons to boost your strength. Don't worry about losing control—I can absorb any rogue poisonous Dou Zhi Qi," Xiao Heng said confidently.
"Deal. You handle my Calamity Poison Body, and I'll protect you," Xiao Yi Xian said, playfully waving her small fist.
The Calamity Poison Body's early cultivation speed was meteoric, rivaling a divine-grade Dou Di bloodline. But it slowed in the mid-stages. Xiao Heng's modified method should delay that slump, though high-tier herbs and poisons were rare and resource-heavy. Still a glutton for resources, he mused.
"How long will you protect me?" Xiao Heng asked, grinning.
"Until your strength surpasses mine," Xiao Yi Xian replied.
"Then I'll happily trail behind forever," he said, his smile sly.
"Silver-tongued rogue. This lady isn't so easily swayed," she huffed, her tone haughty yet playful.
"What's your star level now?" she asked.
"Nine-Star Dou Zhe, peak," Xiao Heng answered. No need to hide it.
"That strong? No wonder you survived the Magical Beast Mountain Range so long. Wanna bet?" Xiao Yi Xian proposed, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Name it."
"Let's see if I can outstrip your strength before you refine the Meridian-Protecting Pill," she said, smiling.
"Sure, it'll spice up our dull days," Xiao Heng agreed readily.
"What's the stake?" he asked.
"Loser washes the winner's feet," Xiao Yi Xian said, brimming with confidence.
"Fine by me. Hope you don't mind my smelly feet," Xiao Heng said, his grin wicked.
"Don't count your chickens yet," she shot back, certain of victory.
Unbeknownst to her, Xiao Heng had no intention of winning. Washing her feet? That's no punishment—it's a reward. She's too naive! he thought, chuckling inwardly.
"I'll handle dinner. Time to show off my cooking," Xiao Heng said, stepping outside.
"Getting ingredients?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.
"No meat in here. I'm no rabbit," he quipped.
"I'll have Xiao Lan take you," she said, reaching for her bamboo flute.
"No need. I can fly," Xiao Heng declined. Channeling his Dou Zhi Qi, the two-meter-wide Purple Cloud Wings materialized behind him. With a flap, he soared out of the valley.
"You can fly? That sneaky flirt! Once I'm stronger, you'll wash my feet daily—and drink the water!" Xiao Yi Xian huffed, then turned to her poison crafting, already picturing Xiao Heng's reluctant defeat.
___
Outside, Xiao Heng landed swiftly, hunting for dinner as usual. A first-tier Water Buffalo caught his eye and tearfully became his prey. He dressed it, wrapped it in broad Ba Tree leaves—a common plant in the mountains—and stored it in his ring. Enough for days, he thought.
With dinner secured, he sought second-tier beasts. Their energy droplets were richer, purer, and key to breaking through to Dou Shi. Lost in the hunt, night fell. "Damn, lost track of time!"
His Purple Cloud Wings flared, and he rocketed back, reaching the valley in under ten minutes. Luckily, Xiao Yi Xian was too absorbed in her poisons to notice his tardiness.
The scent of roasting meat finally wafted into the cabin, stirring her empty stomach. "Dinner's ready!" Xiao Heng called.
"Coming!" Xiao Yi Xian emerged, the aroma intensifying. Xiao Heng grilled skewers over a stone stove, using a technique she'd never seen.
"Your grilling's pretty good," she said, grabbing a skewer and biting in.
"Hiss!" She winced, burning her mouth.
"Starving ghost reborn?" Xiao Heng teased.
"Hmph, mind your own business!" she retorted, devouring skewer after skewer.
"Eat up. A bit of plumpness suits you," Xiao Heng said. She nodded, missing the playful jab.
___
Time flew. Xiao Heng's routine was set: mornings for cultivation, afternoons for alchemy, evenings hunting "lucky" beasts. Xiao Yi Xian immersed herself in poison crafting, unstoppable.
The Calamity Poison Body's poison-fueled growth was staggering, outpacing even his Devouring Blue Flame's efficiency. In one month, Xiao Yi Xian leaped from Dou Zhe to Dou Shi. Unleashed, that body's terrifying, Xiao Heng marveled.
After a month and a half—seven months since leaving Wu Tan City—Xiao Heng, fueled by droplets from second and some third-tier beasts, broke through to Two-Star Dou Shi. Xiao Yi Xian, meanwhile, rocketed to Seven-Star Dou Shi. Her rapid rise triggered a mid-stage Calamity Poison Body outburst, but Xiao Heng's flame snuffed it out halfway, starving it of toxins and energy. With me here, it can't build up enough to erupt.
Today, Xiao Heng began refining the second-tier Meridian-Protecting Pill. He brimmed with confidence after having successfully crafted a second-tier Ice Heart Pill the day before.
"You've got this!" Xiao Yi Xian cheered quietly from the side.
A half-meter-tall cyan cauldron landed before him. Xiao Heng summoned a blue flame, its heat raising the valley's temperature. He gently fed the Devouring Blue Flame into the cauldron, letting it burn steadily until the temperature stabilized. Then, the first main herb for the Meridian-Protecting Pill, Evergreen Flower, was tossed in. Xiao Yi Xian watched in silence, not daring to disturb him.
____
If you want advanced chapters and other stories: patreon.com/Caluem