As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the lingering darkness, painting the silent mountains in soft gold, Xiao Yao stood alone on a narrow path just outside the valley. The wind, cool and gentle, whispered through the trees, brushing past him as though offering a quiet farewell. He had already watched Xiao Yi Xian's figure disappear into the misty morning, but his heart still lingered, unwilling to let her go.
A dull ache welled up in his chest, but along with it came a deep sense of respect. He couldn't help but admire her unwavering determination. She had chosen a path full of danger and loneliness, yet not once had she hesitated.
"Xiao Yi Xian… be safe out there," he murmured under his breath, clenching his fists. His eyes shone with resolve. I'll get stronger. I'll catch up to you, no matter what.
Recently, Xiao Yao had stumbled upon a method that allowed communication across vast distances. The catch? It required the strength of a Dou Zong to activate—a realm that, for now, was nothing more than a distant dream.
His own cultivation had hit a frustrating bottleneck. No matter how hard he trained, progress was painfully slow. But instead of sinking into despair, Xiao Yao had shifted his focus. He threw himself into alchemy, knowing it was a path that could bolster his strength in different ways.
Thanks to the mysterious system within him, he had acquired a rare first-rank pill recipe. Its name might have been unremarkable, but its effects were exactly what he needed—it built a solid foundation and boosted Qi circulation. Perfect for someone like him who was just starting to carve his way forward.
The ingredients were odd: Blood Tempering Grass, Soul Eating Water, a first-rank fire-type magical core, and a handful of auxiliary herbs. Fortunately, he had already gathered everything, scraping together the last of his savings to buy a decent cauldron. It wasn't legendary like the Celestial Cauldrons of old, but it was still high-quality—capable of amplifying flames and responding smoothly to spiritual control.
---
Inside a quiet room of a luxurious inn in Qingfeng City, Xiao Yao sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor. The room was modest in size but tastefully decorated, and he had shut the windows to block out any distractions.
His eyes were closed, but his spiritual strength had already seeped out, weaving through the air like invisible threads. His mental force was no joke—strong enough to scan a ten-kilometer radius and sense anything nearby. Alchemy required a sharp mind, and in this, Xiao Yao was gifted.
He took a deep breath, and a flickering flame burst to life in his palm. It wasn't a Heavenly Flame—those legendary sentient fires that could melt mountains—but it was a Beast Flame he'd earned through the system, far hotter than regular Dou Qi fire.
With a smooth motion, he guided the flame beneath the cauldron. Instantly, the cauldron let out a low hum as the fire licked its base, sending waves of heat rippling through the room.
Shhh... shhhh...
The familiar sound of heat cycling through the cauldron filled his ears, and his expression sharpened. He remembered this sign well—it was straight out of the Refinement Beginning Guide, another gift from the system.
Xiao Yao steadied his breath, circulating his wood-attributed Qi to fine-tune the flame. A greenish aura wrapped around the fire, controlling its wild nature with precision.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed the first-rank fire-type magical core into the cauldron.
"Refine," he commanded, his voice steady and full of intent.
The flame surged in response, burning hotter and brighter. Sweat began to bead on Xiao Yao's forehead, but he didn't waver. His eyes, sharp and unblinking, stayed locked onto the cauldron as the magical core started to break down—hissing, bubbling, and finally melting into a glowing green liquid.
Time seemed to crawl as the green liquid churned, impurities rising to the surface and burning away under the relentless heat.
A thick medicinal aroma filled the room. Slowly, the swirling liquid condensed, its glow softening until it solidified into a faintly luminous pill. A delicate fragrance wafted from the cauldron, pure and clean.
Xiao Yao finally opened his eyes. His expression remained calm, but his heart swelled with pride.
He had done it.
With sheer determination, spiritual precision, and a sturdy cauldron, he had successfully refined his first real pill—the Body Tempering Pill.
His lips curled into a rare, genuine smile. "I really did it…"
Excited, he wasted no time. Knowing the pill was best used as a medicinal soak, he quickly prepared a small wooden bathtub and filled it with water. Carefully, he dropped the liquid pill into the tub. At once, the clear water glowed with a brilliant golden light, like liquid sunlight shimmering across the surface.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yao stripped down and stepped into the tub, submerging himself in the warm, radiant water.
A sharp, searing pain shot through his entire body the moment his skin touched the glowing liquid. He clenched his jaw, digging his nails into his palms. There was no secret technique to dull the agony—he simply had to endure it, letting the powerful medicinal energy temper his flesh and bones.
Hours passed, the pain relentless yet transformative.
When the effects finally faded, Xiao Yao climbed out, breathing heavily but brimming with satisfaction. He dried off and put his clothes back on, feeling lighter… stronger.
He had broken through.
[Status Panel]
Name: Xiao Yao
Age: 12
Dou Qi: Dou Zhe – 2-Star
Soul Realm: Spirit Realm
Attributes:
● Talent – 30
● Physique – 23
● Comprehension – 41
● Charm – 84
● Constitution – 15
● Perception – 50
• Dou Qi – 42
• Soul – 8
■ Bloodline – 0 (Unavailable)
■ Physique – None
■ Attributes – Fire (Trace of Wood)
Techniques: (Tap to View)
Skills: (Tap to View)
Origin Points: 17
Sky Points: 2,310,000
Rewards Unclaimed (Tap here to claim)
---
Seeing the panel, Xiao Yao's eyes lit up with joy. "Finally… I'm getting somewhere," he murmured, a grin tugging at his lips. "It's time to head back."
His breakthrough had been hard-won, especially without a proper Qi method, and his next goal burned in his mind—Yao Chen's ring. That treasure could change everything.
But before he could move, a sudden, crisp chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring the title Son of Destiny!]
[Son of Destiny – A rare title bestowed by Heaven itself. Enhances luck, reduces fatal risks, and increases the odds of a successful cultivation path. True recognition by the heavens is required to earn this title.]
Xiao Yao froze, eyes widening. Then, slowly, a fierce smile spread across his face.
"Son of Destiny… huh?" His heart pounded with excitement. "Looks like my real journey is just beginning."
.....
[Hey guys author here.I am planning to name Xiao Yao as Xiao Tian.Please comment.As i said,I like comments more than anything]