BTTH: Auto Cultivation System

A year had passed since Xiao Hua's breakthrough into the Dou Grandmaster realm, an event that drastically altered the landscape, transforming the surrounding forest into a desert.

Now six years old, Xiao Hua has reached the level of an 8-Star Dou Grandmaster. He deliberately slowed his cultivation to ensure a stable foundation, focusing instead on Alchemy for the past few months.

After meeting Lady Azure and striking a deal with her, she began teaching him Alchemy as a token of gratitude for agreeing to her outlandish terms. She imparted several techniques and shared her insights into the art of Alchemy.

While the Enlightenment State grants Xiao Hua heightened comprehension, deeper insights, and a stronger connection to Alchemy, it also poses a risk. Without a solid foundation, the profound truths he grasps during this state could be misinterpreted or improperly applied, leading to disastrous consequences.

Essentially, the Enlightenment State facilitates the acquisition of knowledge, but progression requires a firm foundation. Xiao Hua was grateful for Lady Azure’s guidance, realizing that without it, he might have misinterpreted the truths he gained during his enlightenment.

Thanks to the Enlightenment State, once his foundation was secure, he was able to apply Lady Azure’s alchemy techniques more effectively. He now creates Tier 4 Pills with high success, marking his ascension to a Tier 4 Alchemist. According to Lady Azure, Xiao Hua’s rapid growth suggests he might reach Tier 7 by the time he turns ten.

However, she warned that the next Heavenly Lightning strike would aid in increasing his Spiritual Strength. If he could fully refine this lightning, his soul would advance to the Soul State, the second of the four Spiritual States.

The soul is the essence of life; no living being exists without it. The strength of the soul is categorized into four levels known as Spiritual States.

The first is the Mortal State, the most common and basic state, characterized by limited Dou Qi control and strength. Most of the population on the Dou Qi Continent and all alchemists below Tier 7 reside in this state.

The second is the Soul State, where one’s soul can bestow spirituality upon medicinal pills. However, to achieve this, one's soul must be filled with sufficient spirituality. Without a special method to train the soul, this spirituality cannot be sensed.

The third is the Heavenly State, which is subdivided into four stages: Initial, Intermediate, Advanced, and Perfect. Upon reaching the Perfect Heavenly State, the soul becomes as tangible as the physical body, allowing the soul to fight alongside the body. This cooperation makes one nearly invincible, with strength soaring exponentially.

In this state, one essentially gains an additional companion with unmatched synergy once their Spiritual Strength reaches this level.

The final stage is the Di State. It has been so long since anyone reached this state that its full capabilities are unknown. However, it is rumored that achieving the legendary Di State renders the soul indestructible. Even if shattered, the lingering soul seed can gradually gather, enabling rebirth.

At the Di State, mistakes in pill refinement are rare. Any changes are detected early and corrected under the keen observation of a Di State soul.

Among the three "Di"—Dou God (Dou Di), Di Tier Medicinal Pill, and Di State Soul—the Di State Soul is the most attainable given the current conditions of the continent, as it doesn't require the absorption of a specific energy that has long since disappeared.

Xiao Hua only knows three individuals who have truly reached the Di State:

First is Xiao Yan, the main character.

Second is Gu Yuan, the head of the Gu Clan and Gu Xun Er’s father.

Lastly is Hun Tiandi, the main antagonist, head of the Hun Clan, and the hidden force behind the Hall of Souls.

"Brother Xiao Hua, are you okay?"

A sweet voice chimed in, pulling Xiao Hua from his thoughts. He turned to his left and saw Xiao Xun Er smiling, her head tilted in a curious yet adorable manner.

At the moment, Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er were in a carriage, slowly making their way back to Wu Tan City. Just two days earlier, Jia Nan Academy had granted its students a four-week break, allowing them to return home.

With Xiao Hua having temporarily slowed his cultivation and Elder Huo advising him to take a break from Alchemy, he found himself with nothing to do. Curious about the state of the Xiao Clan and concerned that his presence might cause unforeseen changes, he decided to return to Wu Tan City to assess the situation.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Xun’er. Don’t worry, I was just thinking about Alchemy and the things I did at Jia Nan Academy,” Xiao Hua reassured her.

Xiao Xun Er giggled and teased, “You sound like an old man, Brother Xiao Hua. But I do agree, it was a chaotic year.”

“Huh? What made it so chaotic, Cousin Xun Er?” a voice asked curiously.

They both turned to see Xiao Tao and Xiao Yang, the siblings who had passed the Academy's admission test alongside them. When they heard that Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er were planning to return to the clan, they decided to tag along, concerned for their safety since they were still children.

Additionally, the two siblings had been tasked with looking after Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er, so it was only natural that they would accompany them to ensure nothing went wrong.

The one who asked the question was Xiao Yang. He was puzzled by the notion of chaos at Jia Nan Academy, as his time there had been mostly peaceful and uneventful, aside from a few enjoyable outings to hunt Magical Beasts.

“Fufufu. We were talking about when Brother Xiao Hua was accepted as Elder Huo’s disciple,” Xiao Xun Er explained.

“Ah, right… That was pretty chaotic,” Xiao Yang nodded in agreement, then turned to his brother. “What do you think, Brother Tao?”

“It was just the instructors overreacting,” Xiao Tao sighed. “I still remember some of the elders screaming in regret for not approaching Cousin Xiao Hua sooner, and grumbling about Elder Huo.”

Xiao Hua shook his head with a weary tone. “Master definitely deserved some of that. I saw how he kept gloating in front of the other instructors. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them punches him in the face one day.”

“Hahaha!”

They all burst into laughter, understanding exactly what Xiao Hua meant. Just then, the coachman announced their arrival at Wu Tan City. Nodding to one another, the four of them exited the carriage, offering their thanks and paying the coachman before heading into the city.

"Hey! They’re back! Our geniuses!"

As Xiao Hua and the others approached the gate of the Xiao Clan, the guards who spotted them walking through the market area under Xiao Clan's control excitedly announced their arrival to the entire clan.

The moment people inside heard the announcement, they rushed to the front gate, engaging in excited discussions.

“Look! Aren’t those the two who reached Dou Practitioner when they were only four?”

“Yeah! They’re the ones who surpassed the Third Young Master in talent. It looks like they’ve gotten even stronger after attending Jia Nan Academy.”

“Pah! It’s not just talent where Nephew Xiao Hua excels. His temperament is also different from our Third Young Master’s. I wish he would learn a thing or two from Nephew Xiao Hua.”

“What are you talking about? The Third Young Master is still only six! He’s just at that mischievous age. Besides, I think Nephew Xiao Hua and Nephew Xiao Xun Er are simply exceptional.”

“Anyway, what strength do you think they’ve reached? Peak Dou Practitioner? Or have they already become Dou Masters?”

“Let’s wait for the Patriarch and the Elders’ announcement. It looks like they’re heading to the Council Hall to report and pay their respects.”

Listening to the chatter, Xiao Yang laughed mischievously. “Cousins, it seems everyone’s curious about your progress. I can’t wait to see their reactions once they hear the Patriarch and the Elders’ announcement.”

“That’s true,” Xiao Hua replied with a hint of irritation. “But unlike you, I don’t enjoy this attention. Let’s meet the Patriarch and the Elders quickly so I can get some rest.”

Xiao Xun Er and the others giggled at Xiao Hua's words. Though they shared his sentiment, wanting to quickly finish their report and rest. Their journey had been dull, and constant vigilance against bandits and magical beasts had prevented them from getting proper rest.

Naturally, they were eager to hit the bed as soon as they were done with the Patriarch and the Elders, finding the idea of rest even more appealing after their mentally exhausting journey.

---

Once they were led to the Council Hall of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Hua and the others saw the Patriarch and the Elders waiting for them with welcoming smiles. The Patriarch sat in the center, with the Elders flanking him on either side.

“Welcome back, all of you!”

“Hahaha! You’ve all grown stronger in just a year. As expected from our geniuses!”

Xiao Zhan was about to speak, but the First and Second Elders beat him to it, stealing his words.

‘Haaa… Once again, these old sly foxes got the jump on me,’ Xiao Zhan thought irritably.

He then turned to Xiao Yang and Xiao Tao. “Congratulations on advancing to 9-Star Dou Practitioner within a year. Such talent is rarely seen, even within the Xiao Clan.”

“Thank you, Patriarch. However, much of this is thanks to our little cousins, Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er.”

Xiao Tao and Xiao Yang cupped their hands and expressed their gratitude to Xiao Zhan, as well as to Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er. It wasn’t a lie; their favorable treatment at Jia Nan Academy was largely due to the two younger geniuses.

Moreover, Xiao Hua had generously shared medicinal pills and Dou Techniques with them, greatly aiding in their cultivation and strength.

Xiao Zhan nodded. “Indeed. Thanks to your letters, we’ve kept informed about the situation at Jia Nan Academy. But remember, Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er are still children. Ensure their safety should anything go wrong.”

“Yes, Patriarch!” Xiao Tao and Xiao Yang responded in unison, their voices filled with vigor.

This brought relief to Xiao Zhan, as he had entrusted these two with protecting Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er, who he believed would become future pillars of the Xiao Clan.

“Now then, to our little geniuses,” Xiao Zhan said, shifting his attention to Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er.

“Xiao Xun Er, I was astonished to hear from Xiao Tao that you’ve become the disciple of Elder Hu Gan, the Deputy Headmaster of the Outer Academy at Jia Nan Academy. Naturally, you deserve congratulations for such an achievement. Congratulations, Xiao Xun Er."

"Thank you, Clan Head," Xiao Xun Er replied with a respectful bow.

“I’ve heard from Xiao Yang that Elder Hu Gan has a granddaughter. Though she may be mischievous, I hope you’ll befriend her and get along well,” Xiao Zhan advised.

“Understood, Patriarch,” Xiao Xun Er responded.

Xiao Zhan nodded and then turned to Xiao Hua. “As for you, Xiao Hua, we were the most surprised by the news in Xiao Tao’s letter. Your talent in Alchemy is remarkable, and becoming the disciple of Elder Huo, a Tier 5 Alchemist and Head of the Alchemy Department, speaks volumes about your potential. You have a bright future ahead.”

“Thank you, Patriarch. If Master permits, I will send a few batches of medicinal pills to the Xiao Clan in the future,” Xiao Hua said.

Xiao Zhan and the Elders couldn’t hide their excitement at his words. Even though they knew the pills might be ones Xiao Hua no longer needed, they would still greatly bolster the strength of the Xiao Clan.

The First Elder laughed in excitement. “Hahaha! Good kid. It seems our efforts in nurturing you weren’t in vain, Xiao Hua.”

However, many people raised their brows and shook their heads at his shamelessness.

‘Since when did you nurture him? All you did was allow him to attend Jia Nan Academy. This old man’s skin gets thicker by the second,’ most of them thought inwardly.

Even the Elders in his faction couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by his words. Everyone knew that ever since Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er displayed their talents, they hadn’t been nurtured by the clan or anyone else.

Sensing an opportunity, another Elder chimed in, “Indeed! Unlike certain other boys who waste their talent on pranks and mischief.”

“And who exactly are you referring to, Second Elder?” Xiao Zhan asked, his tone cold.

Xiao Zhan knew exactly who the Second Elder was targeting, and his words fueled Xiao Zhan’s anger. Since the passing of his wife, Xiao Zhan had sworn to care for and love his three children, especially his youngest, Xiao Yan.

“I wasn’t referring to anyone in particular, Patriarch,” the Second Elder replied, gloating as he saw Xiao Zhan’s anger. The others in the room also understood that he was talking about Xiao Yan and couldn’t help but shake their heads.

Xiao Hua, growing tired of the bickering, coughed loudly to draw their attention. “Clan Head, we’ve traveled a long way, so we’ll take our leave to rest. If there’s anything else, please call for us later.”

Xiao Zhan, feeling slightly embarrassed, coughed lightly. “You’re right. I was about to mention this before a certain fox decided to complain. Since you’ll be practicing Alchemy, we’ve agreed to give you a private courtyard.”

“Thank you, Clan Head. Thank you, Elders,” Xiao Hua said, expressing his gratitude.

He was genuinely appreciative of the private courtyard, as his refining technique, learned from Lady Azure, was unique, and he preferred to keep it private.

“Hahaha! No problem,” Xiao Zhan laughed.

As Xiao Hua left the Council Hall with an indifferent demeanor, Xiao Zhan and the Elders couldn’t help but shake their heads at his maturity. They truly felt he was too mature for his age, displaying a temperament more akin to an experienced adult than an innocent child.

Xiao Zhan sighed inwardly, comparing his son to Xiao Hua. ‘Yan’er has indeed become a bit naughty since Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er left. After all, no one else in the clan can match his talent now that they’re gone.’