Wei's residence.
While walking through a long and narrow corridor, Wei Li's expression flashed with joy.
Initially, he thought that someone like himself who only has a (Peak) Mortal-Rank martial spirit would never have the chance to break through to the Qi Condensation realm.
Wei Li is already in his mid-fifty. With all those years spent fighting with the other families for dominance, his potential has long been exhausted.
By relying on his martial spirit alone, he didn't have the confidence to make a natural breakthrough to the First stage of the Qi Condensation realm.
Perhaps he could wait, but he didn't know how long it will take.
However, maybe heaven has taken pity on him; he was able to get his hand on a 500 years old Blood Ginseng. After he consumes it, the robust vitality within will replenish his lost blood Qi throughout the years.
From some insider information, Wei Li heard that during this month at the Rainbow Auction house, there would be a Qi Condensation Pill.
Qi Condensation Pill!
Such pills were remarkably rare in small places like Blue Lake Town. If he could successfully obtain it for himself, it would guarantee his breakthrough.
Hence Wei Li has preserved the Blood Ginseng for later and would only consume it with the pill for a more significant effect. He was confident that the pill would be his. After all, in this town, who would have more money than him, the town mayor?
'As for that Doctor Zhu, he is indeed an unknown variable, but a pill of this caliber shouldn't attract his attention.'
...
'Eh? Did the maid come in and clean without my permission?' Wei Lei frowned when he arrived before his study room. The door was slightly open and different from when he left it.
Wei Li was a cautious man by nature; every little detail like this wouldn't be able to escape his eyes.
Creak*
Stepping inside, his pupil constricted.
'My dream...My ambition...'
"WHO?... WHO IS IT?" A crazy thunderous roar reverberated through the entire Wei's resident.
"P-PUFFFFTTTT!" Standing inside what was once the treasure room, Wei Li's face was as pale as a corpse. He coughed out a mouth full of blood before losing consciousness.
__________
After getting back to Qiao's residence, Zhu Dingxiang calmed down. This little adventure tonight bought him much excitement. But remember about the sickening sight he witnesses in Wei Chao's room; he couldn't help but feel upset inside.
'Corrupted bastard couldn't even spare children.'
(・`ω´・)
Sitting in a lotus posture, Zhu Dingxiang began to meditate to calm his mind.
Sensing something, Little White opens her moon-like eyes; after noticing the familiar figure of Zhu Dingxiang, she closed her eyes and went back to rest.
While meditating, he had the [Divine Spiritual Tree] passively refining the 500 year Blood Ginseng.
Slowly, feeling pure energy flowing into his dantian, Zhu Dingxiang starts to condense them into many miniature spheres of nature Qi.
The refined Blood Ginseng didn't provide him with much energy.
The valuable thing about Blood Ginseng was its medicinal properties and its rich vitality that could rejuvenate Blood Qi and expanded the essence of a person. For Zhu Dingxiang, it was useless, like a drop in the ocean; it didn't help him much.
'It rose again... The nature Qi require for the next breakthrough has increased significantly.' He pondered helplessly.
Compare to ordinary cultivators; he required much more energy for each breakthrough.
In these past months, while cultivating, Zhu Dingxiang always feels that a part of his nature Qi disappears. Uncertain, he has confirmed it with Jarvis and knows the reason why.
The Wood-Origin Physique was the cause. It has been passively absorbing a portion of his nature Qi, improving itself. Knowing the reason, he wasn't discouraged. Instead, he feels that it's a blessing.
He understood it very well; even till now, he didn't have a suitable cultivation manual.
In this vast world, there are many powerful cultivation methods. Most of the powerful ones would usually require one to cultivate and mold the body from the beginning to accomplish something like Sword body, Dragon body, Immortal body, etc...
As his cultivation grew higher, it would be too late even if he finds a suitable method. However, with the Wood-Origin Physique that has the potential to develop into the Divine Rank, Zhu Dingxiang felt that it wouldn't be a problem in the future.
'For an average cultivator, a suitable Cultivation Manual could bring many benefits and increase their strength exponentially. However, for me having one or not wouldn't make much of a difference. After all, one cannot possess two different physiques at the same time...' [1]
Getting rid of distracting thoughts, Zhu Dingxiang continued to cultivate diligently.
__________
The next morning.
With the perfect sunrise, Zhu Dingxiang walked absent-mindedly under the golden shimmer.
A gentle ray of light sneaked through the gap between the white veil of the bamboo hat and kissed his delicate face.
"..."
'Hmmm?'
"Good Morning Doctor Zhu."
Awakened out of his trance, turning his head to looks, Zhu Dingxiang notices a gorgeous woman standing next to a carriage in front of the Qiao Family's gate.
"Good morning to you, Matriarch Qiao. I was lost in my thoughts, so I couldn't hear you for a moment." Looking at the carriage, he asked. "Were you about to go somewhere?"
"Yes, the monthly opening of the Rainbow Auction House is today. I was preparing to go there. How about you, Doctor Zhu?"
Hearing Xue Yuying's reply, he was a little surprised that they have the same destination. But considering that the monthly auction house was quite crucial to the five prominent families, it's only natural that as the head of the Qiao family, she would also go there.
"What a coincidence. I had heard about the Rainbow Auction House from the conversation of a few townspeople. I was going to walks there now." Zhu Dingxiang said with a chuckle under his bamboo hat.
(〃＾▽＾〃)
He was planning to walk there as he left Little White and Chibi back in the courtyard since Zhu Dingxiang didn't think they would allow her to go in, and he didn't want to leave her outside unaccompanied.
"Doctor Zhu, how about we go together? The auction house will open soon." Hearing that Zhu Dingxiang was also planning to go to the monthly auction house, Xue Yuying smile then suggests that they go together on the carriage.
(⌒‿⌒)
"Then I will be troubling you, matriarch Qiao."
(⁀ᗢ⁀)
...
Traveling together, they chatted along the way; Zhu Dingxiang sometimes asks some questions now and then as he already considered her to be his future mother-in-law.
__________
[1] In this world, people can cultivate once they manage to awaken their martial spirit. The cultivation manual is important but not mandatory.