How about… trying the Qi Condensing Pill?

The Qi Condensing Pill was a proper medicinal pill specifically designed for Qi Refining stage cultivators. Its price was said to be considerably more expensive than the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Generally speaking, Qi Refining stage cultivators needed to absorb spiritual energy from nature, then transform it into part of their own body through their cultivation art, storing it in the Dantian. When needed, they would use specific techniques to bring it out.

In this process, the density of spiritual energy in the external environment, the quality of one’s cultivation art, the cultivator’s talent, the Dantian’s storage capacity, and even the proficiency in executing techniques—all were crucial factors affecting the entire process.

The Qi Condensing Pill, on the other hand, was made by alchemists who, relying on the medicinal power of spirit plants, concentrated spiritual energy into the pill in advance.

When a cultivator used it, they only needed to break the medicinal coating of the pill, and the compressed spiritual energy inside would start releasing, thereby obtaining spiritual energy at a concentration tens or even hundreds of times higher than nature, making cultivation achieve twice the result with half the effort.

In principle, the Qi Condensing Pill merely condensed the spiritual energy of nature, so it was a beneficial medicine with no side effects. Only those low-quality pills produced by clumsy refining methods carried certain side effects.

Senior Ge Dan had given Bai Sui three Qi Condensing Pills in total and stressed to her some taboos when using them. The most important point was that only one pill could be taken at a time. This was because taking multiple pills together would release spiritual energy too overwhelmingly strong, which could instead harm oneself.

And from the perspective of avoiding extravagance and waste, one must also act within one’s capacity when using Qi Condensing Pills.

After thinking it over, Bai Sui felt an urge to try the Qi Condensing Pill.

She resolved to act upon the thought, a flash of determination in her eyes.

She was already a cultivator at the second layer of Qi Refining; presumably… the spiritual energy instantaneously released from the pill was something she could control quite well!

Thinking this, Bai Sui cheered herself on. Then she poured one Qi Condensing Pill from the porcelain bottle into her palm, stared at it for a moment, tilted her head back, and prepared to swallow it.

But at that exact moment, a faint noise suddenly came from outside.

“Who is it?” Bai Sui sharply detected it, immediately stopping her pill-swallowing action and putting away all the books and pills.

Not long after she had finished this, a call indeed came from the courtyard gate.

It was Uncle Tian’s!

Bai Sui walked over to open the door. Looking at Uncle Tian at the doorway, she asked, “Uncle Tian, is something the matter?”

Uncle Tian smiled at her. “Nothing major. It’s just that today the Crimson Sun Sect came to test the spirit roots of children of suitable age. We didn’t see you go over; perhaps we missed you, so we wanted to come ask how your test results turned out. Also, my family is holding a feast tonight, so I came to invite you over for dinner.”

“Oh, this thing.” Bai Sui suddenly understood. She showed a faint smile and told a well-intentioned white lie. “My results were all right. The disciple of the Crimson Sun Sect tested me and said I have metal, fire, and wood triple spirit roots, but the spirit values were just so-so, so I couldn’t join the Crimson Sun Sect.”

Hearing that Bai Sui had metal, wood, and fire triple spirit roots, Uncle Tian was surprised at first, then felt happy for her.

Triple spirit roots! Even if the spirit values were a bit low, it was still decent talent.

Heaven had opened its eyes; this lonely girl now had talent, could cultivate, and would finally have a skill to rely on in the future.

He thought for a moment and comforted her with earnest gravity: “Little Bai girl, even though you couldn’t join the Crimson Sun Sect, you mustn’t lose heart! Having spirit roots is always better than not having them. Metal, wood, and fire triple spirit roots are already decent talent, surpassing most people in the end. The road ahead is still very long; if you seriously build a good foundation, you’ll reap rewards in the future!”

“Mm, I know. By the way, Uncle Tian, did Brother Xiaodong also go for the test? How were his results?”

Bai Sui asked curiously.

Tian Dong was sixteen this year. By common standards, starting cultivation at that age was a bit late, but as the saying went, good things take time, and ambition does not hinge on youth. Among the famous figures of the cultivation world, not a few had started cultivating in their twenties! Even more extraordinary was a steward of the Crimson Sun Sect, originally a wealthy householder in the mortal world, already at the age of having many children and grandchildren.

He accidentally came into contact with a cultivation art, and who would have guessed he would attain enlightenment in one morning, stepping into the ranks of cultivation. Later, he was guided by a cultivator of the Crimson Sun Sect, eventually becoming a steward of the Crimson Sun Sect step by step, now at the Core Formation stage of cultivation.

So, whether Tian Dong was suited for cultivation had no necessary connection to his age.

Uncle Tian’s face broke into a smile, and he said happily, “Your Brother Xiaodong also went for the test. He does have spirit roots, though they are Five Element Spirit Roots. Although each individual spirit value is quite high, with all five elements complete, this path of cultivation may not be easy to walk. But no matter; if he can cultivate, he’ll cultivate. If he can’t, he’ll just be a hunter like me and his grandpa, at worst.”

Uncle Tian was quite open-minded in this regard. Bai Sui couldn’t help but feel admiration in her heart.

As the two chatted, Bai Sui closed the courtyard gate and accompanied Uncle Tian to the nearby Tian household.

At this moment, the Tian household was brimming with a lively atmosphere; the small courtyard was packed with over a dozen people. Old Man Tian and Tian Dong were both seated in the courtyard, with quite a few Tian family relatives around who had come to visit. Aunt Tian and several other female relatives were busy bustling in the kitchen.

Probably because of today’s testing event, quite a number of people had come to offer congratulations.

Don’t dismiss “Five Element Spirit Roots” as not real spirit roots; they at least carried the possibility of cultivation. What’s more, every single one of Tian Dong’s spirit values was very high, rumored to all be values above 80.

This kind of talent, placed in ancient times, might have been an excellent cultivation talent—after all, with all five elements complete, one could develop in all aspects evenly. But as cultivation grew increasingly secularized and utilitarian, this kind of talent, where the attributes restrained each other, there were no prominent highlights, and each realm was practically “a hurdle,” had already become what people called “chicken ribs.”

After all, resources were limited; this kind of talent that relied the most on the cultivator’s opportunity and perseverance was no longer in favor.

Of course, there was another saying: it was said that cultivators with all five elements complete held great advantages in the later stages. Others found it easy at first and hard later, whereas they found it hard at first and easy later—just the angle of emphasis was different.

Therefore, some ancient sects still followed the principle of “would rather go without than take anyone,” specifically accepting disciples with all five elements complete. These sects passed on their lineage to only a few people per generation, but each disciple’s character and perseverance were all within their consideration.

“Brother Xiaodong, congratulations on being able to cultivate.” Bai Sui came before Tian Dong, her small frame forming a sharp contrast with the other’s large build.

Seeing Bai Sui come over, Tian Dong was also very happy. “Not at all, not at all, I can just cultivate, that’s all.” Saying this, he hurriedly offered a stool for Bai Sui to sit.

Bai Sui naturally didn’t stand on ceremony; she plopped right down.

Then Tian Dong asked about her situation. Bai Sui, of course, repeated the conversation she had just had with Uncle Tian.

Tian Dong also felt happy for Bai Sui and wanted to say something to encourage her, but when it reached his throat, his clumsy tongue couldn’t find the words no matter how hard he racked his brain, his dark face starting to flush red.

Bai Sui found this very amusing, her bright eyes involuntarily narrowing.

It was already time to eat, interrupting the two’s exchange. Bai Sui took a seat as a guest, sitting together with several girls of the Tian family.

After the meal, the Tian family relatives gave parting gifts as a token of support, then left with their families. Bai Sui, Uncle Tian, Aunt Tian, Tian Dong, and Old Man Tian were left behind, continuing their chat in the main room.

“Little Bai girl, since both you and Xiaodong have the chance to cultivate, you must seize it! No matter what the future holds, I hope that you two will be able to focus in the days to come. A person won’t suffer a lifetime, but they will always suffer for a period. Many people, to avoid suffering for a period, end up suffering a lifetime. Don’t compare yourselves with others, either; recognize your own position.”

Uncle Tian thought for a moment and spoke with earnest weight.

Bai Sui and Tian Dong both nodded. Bai Sui was even a little surprised; it was truly hard to imagine that such philosophically rich words could come from Uncle Tian’s mouth.

But that was indeed the principle.

Never envy the surface splendor of others; in truth, everyone has their own inner bitterness. The fatigue of life comes, a small part, from survival, and a large part, from comparison.

Since their talent was lacking, they would just have to put in more effort than others.

“That’s right, tomorrow I plan to take Xiaodong to the market to buy some things needed for cultivation. Little Bai girl, if you’re free, you might as well come along.” Uncle Tian thought for a moment and extended an invitation to Bai Sui.

“Uncle Tian means… to Jade Pool Market?”

The only place nearby that could be called a market was Jade Pool Market.

Bai Sui felt a stir. Spirit Water Village was about a dozen or so li from Jade Pool Market, not very far. But honestly, having lived here for over two years, Bai Sui had still never been to that legendary “market”.

Legend had it that Jade Pool Market had a population of over three hundred thousand, with cultivators making up only half, the other half being servants of the cultivators. It was said to contain countless resources, with a high safety factor, a dream habitat for cultivators.

“That’s right, Jade Pool Market.” Uncle Tian smiled.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I last went to the market. Coincidentally, the family has gathered some good goods; we can go sell them along the way!”

“How about it, Little Bai girl, coming along?”

“Mm mm, sure.”

Bai Sui had no reason to refuse; she agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

“Great! Then it’s settled. Tomorrow morning, I’ll come by and call for you!”

Uncle Tian said happily.