Shen Yuan sat cross-legged on the stone floor of his modest cave dwelling, the flickering light of a flame illuminating his thoughtful expression. A faint breeze carried the cool scent of damp earth as he gazed at the glowing interface of his system panel, deep in contemplation.
The problem before him was simple, yet monumental: he needed a medicinal cauldron. Without it, refining pills was nothing more than a pipe dream. But in a world where alchemists were revered and their tools were priceless treasures, obtaining a cauldron was no easy feat.
Two ideas surfaced in his mind, each as audacious as the other.
The first was inspired by the legendary alchemist Yao Lao and his successor Xiao Yan, both of whom had forged cauldrons from pure fire essence. Such a method was undoubtedly powerful, but Shen Yuan hesitated. He had neither the skill nor the cultivation base of those two titans. Attempting to replicate their feat would most likely end with him being burned to ashes.
The second idea was simpler, albeit equally daunting in its own way: buy one from the System Mart.
"System, open the Mart," Shen Yuan commanded, his voice steady but laced with anticipation.
A soft chime echoed in his mind as a translucent blue panel materialized before him.
---
[Ding! System Mart opened.]
Mart Points: 000000000
Recommended Items:
Chaos-Refining Cauldron – 380 Million Points
Primordial Flame Essence – 500 Million Points
Heaven-Tier Alchemy Manual – 1 Billion Points
---
Shen Yuan's eyes twitched. His current balance of points was... nonexistent.
He clenched his fists, suppressing the bitterness rising in his chest. It wasn't the system's fault—he had yet to accomplish any major feats in this life, much less earn points. But seeing such exorbitant prices was a blow to his fragile ego.
"System, show my points again," he muttered, half hoping the number had miraculously changed.
[Mart Points: 000000000]
The cold, mechanical voice of the system was devoid of any sympathy.
For a moment, Shen Yuan stared blankly at the panel. If anyone else saw this, they would likely burst out laughing. What kind of protagonist starts their journey with a cheat-like system but not a single point to their name?
Still, he refused to despair. Having the system itself was a blessing—without it, he would have already perished in this cutthroat world.
"Focus," he told himself. "I have goals in this life, and giving up isn't one of them."
He closed the panel and leaned back, his mind wandering. His ambitions were clear, though they sometimes felt impossibly distant.
To reach the pinnacle of cultivation and become a Dou Di. To marry Cai Lin, the beautiful Queen Medusa of the Snake-People tribe. To have a daughter, whom he would lovingly name Shen Shen. To one day step into the Great Thousand World, where legends were born and gods walked among men.
But none of that would happen if he couldn't even refine a basic pill.
Shen Yuan exhaled sharply. "System, show the details of the Chaos-Refining Cauldron."
The panel reappeared, and a new window popped up.
---
Item: Chaos-Refining Cauldron
Grade: Heaven-Tier
Description: A legendary cauldron capable of refining even the rarest of ingredients into pure medicinal essence. Its unique properties ensure a 20% increase in pill success rate.
Price: 380 Million Points
---
Shen Yuan grimaced. The description was as enticing as it was unattainable. Converting points to gold, this cauldron would cost a staggering 3.8 billion gold coins. The thought made his head spin.
"System," he said, a trace of sarcasm in his tone, "any chance I can pay in installments?"
[Payment plans are not available.]
He sighed. It was worth a shot.
Yet, the more he considered it, the more convinced he became that the Chaos-Refining Cauldron was worth the effort. With a tool of such caliber, he could rise above the average alchemists, attracting both wealth and influence.
Still, how was he supposed to gather 380 million points?
"System," Shen Yuan said after a pause, "open the Sell Items tab."
[Ding! Sell Items tab opened.]
The panel shifted, revealing a glowing red button labeled "Sell Any Item".
---
Note: Items sold to the system will be evaluated based on rarity, utility, and condition.
---
Shen Yuan rubbed his chin, scanning his surroundings. His possessions were meager: a few worn robes, some low-tier cultivation manuals, and a rusty sword he'd picked up from a bandit's corpse.
None of it seemed remotely valuable.
"System, how much for this sword?"
A beam of light scanned the weapon.
[Evaluation complete: Rusted Iron Sword. Value: 1 Point.]
Shen Yuan's lips twitched. "One point? Are you serious?"
[Item quality is poor. Value cannot be increased.]
Suppressing the urge to toss the sword at the system panel, Shen Yuan sighed and set it aside. Clearly, selling junk wasn't the solution.
His mind raced. If he wanted points, he needed to achieve something significant. The system rewarded him for progress—cultivating to higher realms, defeating powerful enemies, or discovering rare treasures.
"Looks like I have no choice," he muttered. "Time to start grinding."
---
For now, the first idea—the fire cauldron—was his only viable option. If he could harness the essence of flame, even a crude cauldron would suffice for basic alchemy.
Sitting cross-legged on the stone platform, shrouded in an ethereal glow, he gazed at the shimmering amethyst spirit flame dancing at his fingertips. His expression was serene but focused, like a master craftsman sculpting a masterpiece. The flame pulsed with an ancient rhythm, carrying within it both chaos and harmony.
As he exhaled deeply, the flame responded, folding inward and morphing under his meticulous control. Sweat beaded on his brow, but his hands remained steady. Slowly, the flame condensed into a shape—a peculiar, intricate geo-circular structure much like a cauldron. When the transformation was complete, he opened his eyes, filled with both expectation and unease.
Before him hovered the newly-formed cauldron, its surface glistening with faint runic engravings. Its presence exuded a modest yet unmistakable energy—a product of the Earth Grade.
"Earth Grade?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Far below my expectations."
His hand reached out to touch the cauldron, his fingers brushing against its surface. The warmth of the spirit flame still lingered, but the resonance felt... incomplete. His heart sank slightly. To achieve his ambitions, nothing less than a Heaven Grade artifact would suffice. For a moment, frustration flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by calm contemplation.
He closed his eyes, delving into the recesses of his mind. His thoughts churned like a stormy sea.
There must be a way to elevate it. But how?
Suddenly, inspiration struck—a realization so profound it sent shivers down his spine. His eyes snapped open, gleaming with renewed determination.
"System," he commanded, his voice firm, "upgrade this cauldron to max level!"
A chime echoed in his mind, the signature response of the enigmatic System bound to his soul. Almost instantly, the cauldron before him began to glow, its modest aura intensifying into a radiant brilliance. Strange symbols, ancient and unrecognizable, emerged from the cauldron's surface, pulsating like a living entity. The glow shifted through a spectrum of colors, finally settling on a deep golden hue.
The System's panel materialized before his eyes, its familiar interface filled with cryptic details:
---
[Spirit Flame Cauldron]
Grade: High Divine
Attributes:
Amplifies alchemical potency by 500%.
Resists degradation from flames up to Heavenly flame level.
Self-repair capability activated.
Status: Fully Upgraded.
---
The sight of the updated panel left him momentarily speechless. He could feel the immense power emanating from the cauldron, far surpassing his expectations. High Divine Grade—the pinnacle of mortal creation and the threshold of the celestial realm. A wave of satisfaction coursed through him, replacing the earlier disappointment.
He extended his hand toward the cauldron, and it responded as if alive, rotating gently before landing in his palm. The weight was negligible, yet it seemed to anchor him to an unseen vastness.
"A High Divine artifact," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Perfect. With this, my path forward becomes clear."
Note:Divine grade is a new grade.