Xiao Ning's subsequent refining became even smoother after he succeeded for the first time.
Over the next seven days, he continuously refined the Blood Coagulating Powder and became more proficient in the process.
At first, he would only succeed twice in ten times; yet, later, this ratio increased to eight out of ten times. Furthermore, Xiao Ning also stabilized his 3-star Dou Practitioner cultivation base.
...
"There are only three days left for the Ceremonial test; it is time to return." Xiao Ning muttered while he stored all of the jade bottles in the storage ring. He couldn't wait to return.
With a single hand, Xiao Ning pushed the boulder aside and walked out of the cave. He then again covered the entrance with the boulder and strolled down the mountain.
...
Soon, he returned to the clan and walked straight towards his room. Xiao Ning decided to take a break and relax for the next three days.
There was no way he could break through the next rank in a short period. Moreover, training all the time would be counterproductive.
...
'Huh!' 'It must be Old Li,' Xiao Ning thought after looking at his cleaned room; anyway, he was already used to this.
Xiao Ning poured cold water into the wooden tub and jumped in after stripping off his clothes.
'Sigh' Xiao Ning took a deep breath and exhaled as the cold water came in contact with his body. Immediately afterward, he felt drowsy and slept in the wooden tub.
...
The next morning, Xiao Ning woke up refreshed. He got out of the wooden tub and wore a new set of clothes.
'I need a better medicine cauldron,' Xiao Ning thought as he tapped his finger on the table. He looked at the jade bottles in the storage ring and decided to gift a portion of it to the Primer Auction House in return for the storage ring and sell the rest to purchase a better cauldron.
After determining Xiao Ning no longer thought about it, he decided to visit his grandfather before going to Wu Tan City.
He stepped out of the room and walked towards his grandfather's residence.
...
"Ning'er, you are here." Xiao Ning heard his grandfather's voice as he walked in.
"Brother, you are here." At the same time, Xiao Ning heard another pleasant voice and smiled.
Xiao Ning walked forward and sat alongside the two of them. He glanced at the tall, beautiful girl beside him and asked, "Sister, when did you return?" Apart from his grandfather, Xiao Ning cared most for his sister.
"Today." Xiao Yu replied with a smile.
"Aren't you supposed to be studying at Jia Nan Academy? Don't tell me you bullied someone, and they expelled you." Xiao Ning teased her.
"You...Little brat! Do you dare?" Xiao Yu feigned anger and took out her sword.
Seeing this, Xiao Ning made a pitiful face and looked towards his grandfather for help.
"Okay, Okay! You two stop." The Old Man chuckled. He waved his hand to stop them.
The two immediately behaved like good kids and calmed down. At this moment, Xiao Yu curiously asked, "I heard you have broken through 2-star Dou Practitioner?"
Xiao Ning corrected her, "Sister, now it is 3-star Dou Practitioner."
Hearing this, both Xiao Ning's grandfather and his sister became shocked and couldn't speak for a while.
'He has finally grown up, but I will never lose to anyone,' Xiao Yu thought in her mind. She doted on her brother and not once thought of the reason behind his sudden increase in strength.
On the other hand, Xiao Ning's grandfather had a complicated expression on his face, yet he instantly hid it and put on a smile.
The three of them chatted for a while, after which the servant served the food.
...
Xiao Ning happily walked out of the clan and marched straight towards the Primer Auction House. "I should prepare a gift for sister." He muttered.
After a while, he reached the auction house and walked inside. Xiao Ning called a servant and asked him to call Gu Ni and Ya Fei.
The servent led Xiao Ning to one of the guest rooms before he left to inform Gu Ni and Ya Fei. After the last transaction, they had the servants immediately inform them when Xiao Ning comes.
...
"Nephew Ning, what brings you here?" Gu Ni asked after entering the room. He obviously seemed to be in a good mood. Next to him, Ya Fei stood with an annoyed face.
Xiao Ning did not reply immediately; instead, he looked at Ya Fei's unhappy face and thought, 'Did something happen?'
'Cough!' "Nephew Ning?" Gu Ni called out again.
His voice startled Xiao Ning; the latter looked back at Gu Ni, he waved his hand, and numerous jade bottles appeared in the room. He said, "Uncle Gu, this is the Elixir that I have refined."
Both Gu Ni and Ya Fei were shocked after hearing his voice. She could not believe that he succeeded in a month.
Gu Ni picked up a jade bottle, poured its content, and a dark-red paste floated on his palm. A medicinal fragrance spread in the entire room.
At a glance, he understood the Elixir's characteristics. 'Interesting, this Elixir is a grade better than Jia Lie Clan's Return of Spirit Powder,' Gu Ni thought.
Even though it was not a medicinal pellet, Gu Ni still believed that Xiao Ning was not far from being considered a 1-star Alchemist. He secretly raised Xiao Ning's potential by a level in his mind.
Gu Ni felt that Xiao Ning's potential alone was worth his investment, let alone the mysterious alchemist behind him.
...
He placed the Elixir back into the jade bottle and said, "Nephew Ning, I will purchase this batch of Elixirs from you. What do you think?"
Xiao Ning smiled after hearing this and said, "Thank you, uncle Gu." He had already kept a part of the Elixirs for himself and planned to exchange the rest for a new batch of medicinal ingredients.
"Uncle Gu, I don't want gold coins; instead, help me collect 500 Purple Leaved Bluegrass, 250 Bone washing flower, and 150 first-level wood attribute monster cores." Xiao Ning continued.
Suddenly, Xiao Ning thought of his sister and said, "Uncle Gu, do you have a good quality sword suitable for a woman?"
Gu Ni smiled after hearing Xiao Ning's words and said, "No problem, wait for a while; I will prepare the material."
After speaking, Gu Ni stored the jade bottles in his storage ring and left the room.
...
Xiao Ning walked over, hugged Ya Fei, and asked, "Fei'er, did something happen?"
Ya Fei did not answer his question and asked back, "Why do you need a sword suitable for a woman?"
After hearing her question, Xiao Ning rolled his eyes; he flicked her forehead and said, "It is a gift for my sister."
A small blush appeared on Ya Fei's face, and she lowered her head in shame.
Suddenly, Xiao Ning remembered something and said, "Fei'er, after two days, it is Coming of Age ceremony in Xiao Clan, and I want you to come."
"Why?" She asked in a small voice with her head buried in his chest.
"Of course, to let my grandfather meet his granddaughter-in-law." Xiao Ning calmly replied.
Ya Fei did not speak, but a smile bloomed on her face.