BTTH: Auto Cultivation System

 

 

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Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er made their way toward the study of Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan. As they reached the entrance, they spotted Ming Cheng and the other four disciples standing on the open ground in front of Hu Gan's study, waiting in silent anticipation.

“Little Brother Xiao Hua, you’ve finally arrived!” Wei Jie called out with excitement, his eyes lighting up as he approached with eager steps, followed closely by Ming Cheng.

At the same time, Li Mei and two other girls rushed over to Xiao Xun Er, their voices bubbling with excitement as they chatted and caught up. They had been apart for the past two days, each focused on practicing the Dou Techniques they had recently received.

This dedication to training was shared by Ming Cheng and Wei Jie, who had returned to their own secluded areas to master the newfound skills and treasures they had obtained.

To their surprise, Li Mei, Ming Cheng, and Xin Yu had each secured a Dou Technique scroll from the 'Book Collection Hall,' and all of them were Di Class Dou Techniques. Wei Jie and Mei Ling, however, had acquired something even more mysterious—a fifth-tier pill formula. They had kept this acquisition secret, not sharing it with anyone, and Xiao Hua understood their caution.

Xiao Hua knew well the significance of such secrecy. The presence of a medicinal formula within the 'Book Collection Hall,' let alone two, was indeed surprising. As a fellow alchemist, Xiao Hua recognized the profound importance of these formulas, which were never to be carelessly revealed.

In the world of alchemy, a medicinal formula was more than a simple recipe. To use it, an alchemist had to infuse it with their own Spiritual Strength, diving deep into the intricate layers of the formula to extract the critical refining details—such as the precise quantities of ingredients and the exact flame temperatures required. These details were the essence of an alchemist's painstaking efforts and unique techniques, and thus were closely guarded secrets.

Creating a medicinal formula was an arduous process, far from the simple act of jotting down a recipe. An alchemist had to use their own Spiritual Strength as ink, carefully inscribing the formula with their essence. Only then could they produce a legitimate and effective medicinal formula.

No matter how skilled an alchemist was, without such detailed information, they would face countless trials and errors before successfully refining the pill described in the formula. This trial process often resulted in the destruction of rare and precious medicinal ingredients—a loss that was both irreplaceable and immense.

"Xiao Hua, I just heard something amusing from Xun Er," Mei Ling said, approaching the group of men with a teasing smile. As she drew closer, she mused, "It seems you swore to do something rather ridiculous, didn't you?"

“Ah… I knew I wouldn't escape her teasing…” Xiao Hua’s face twitched in annoyance as he heard her words. Cursing inwardly, he realized that whatever was coming next would only bring him trouble, so he decided to make a quick escape. However, Mei Ling was relentless, chasing after him with an impish grin.

After catching up with him, Mei Ling dragged Xiao Hua back to where Li Mei and Xin Yu were waiting. The three girls took turns teasing him until they were satisfied. Despite the playful torment, something weighed on Xiao Hua’s mind, prompting him to ask, “You all know about Xun'er’s background, don’t you?”

“She didn’t need to tell us directly. We already had our suspicions that she belongs to one of the Ancient Clans,” Mei Ling replied with a knowing smile.

Li Mei nodded slightly, adding, "We’re from the Central Plains and only came to the North Western Region for a tour. We happened to register in one of the cities during Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment period."

"Hehe, we quickly got to know each other because of our similar circumstances," Xin Yu chimed in.

Xiao Hua tilted his head in confusion. “But aren’t the Eight Ancient Clans supposed to be hidden factions in the Central Plains? How did Sister Li Mei and the others know about them, or am I missing something here?”

“True, they are extremely hidden,” Li Mei responded, clarifying his doubts. “But there are still records and rumors about them in the Central Plains.” She glanced at Xiao Hua and sent him a thought transmission, saying, “Although we initially heard only rumors, our suspicions were confirmed after speaking with Xun Er. From then on, we grew closer, and she became our little sister. At the same time, we were informed about the relationship between her clan and yours. Rest assured, we’ll assist you in gaining her clan’s approval for your endeavors.”

"I see… If that's how it is, I have no complaints," Xiao Hua said, nodding with a serious expression. He had never expected Xiao Xun Er to reveal her background to anyone, as she had always been so reserved about it. However, now that he thought about it, it was likely that the Elders of Jia Nan Academy, or at least the First Elder, were already aware of her true identity.

"Hmm… Now I feel a bit left out, Li Mei," Wei Jie remarked, pouting as he placed his hands behind his head.

"That just shows how big of a secret it is, Wei Jie," Ming Cheng sighed in response, feeling a headache coming on from dealing with him.

"Well, it’s related to our cute little sister's background," Xin Yu giggled, amused by Ming Cheng's exasperation with Wei Jie. She mused, "If Xun Er gives her permission, she’ll tell you about it herself."

"We don’t mind," Ming Cheng replied, shaking his head to assure Xin Yu. His sharp eyes swept across Li Mei and the others, and he smiled. "For some reason, I have a feeling that all of us here will be together for a long time."

"Hoo… The feeling is mutual," Xin Yu replied softly, smiling back.

"So, what exactly did our little brother say to make you all so curious?" Wei Jie asked with a teasing grin. The girls exchanged glances and began to explain, careful to omit any mention of the Eight Ancient Clans, as that would require Xiao Xun Er's permission.

Xin Yu walked behind Xiao Hua, placing her hands on his shoulders, and quietly added, "That's why we were so surprised by what Xun Er told us last night. To think he swore to become stronger just to gain the approval of her clan—it’s like something straight out of a story, isn't it?"

Xiao Hua nodded and smiled wryly at the irony of her words. After all, they were indeed living within the tale of a certain young boy on his journey to reach the pinnacle of strength after losing his Dou Qi and gaining an expert as his master...

Despite everything, Xiao Hua was content knowing that Xiao Xun Er had found such devoted sisters. He resolved to help them as well using the A-C System. However, his enthusiasm dampened whenever he browsed the System's Shop. The prices were so exorbitant that he felt a wave of disgust every time he looked at them.

‘It seems I’ll have to rely on the treasures of the world. I just hope I have the luck of a protagonist,’ Xiao Hua thought to himself. He knew that he had already received a significant amount of luck due to Xiao Xun Er’s status as the main heroine in the story of "Battle Through the Heavens," but that didn’t stop him from desiring the fortune and blessings that typically accompanied a protagonist.

"Ke ke! As his big brothers, we can’t let Xin Yu and the others be the only ones helping him!" Wei Jie declared, glancing over at Ming Cheng, who stood beside him.

Ming Cheng nodded in agreement. "Naturally, we’ll help him as well."

"I’ve always wondered, but when and how did you all become brothers?" Li Mei asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. Mei Ling and Xin Yu exchanged perplexed looks, clearly sharing her curiosity.

"During the two-day break, we visited him frequently to talk and deepen our bond," Ming Cheng explained with a kind smile. He then looked at Wei Jie and added, "Especially Wei Jie. This guy was practically pestering him for insights."

"Insights? On what?" Xin Yu inquired.

"Alchemy. You all know that Mei Ling and I obtained medicinal formulas from the 'Book Collection Hall,' right?" Wei Jie asked.

"You both mentioned it. Even now, it’s surprising that the 'Book Collection Hall' had such treasures just lying around..." Xin Yu replied, her voice filled with amazement.

"Our little brother here is a seventh-tier alchemist and has refined tier-seven pills," Wei Jie announced casually, raising a finger with a smug expression. "In case you doubt me, I asked Elder Huo, and he confirmed it!"

"""What?!""" Li Mei, Xin Yu, and Mei Ling exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with shock. They were stunned by this revelation—how could they not be? The idea that Xiao Hua, at the mere age of six, had already become a seventh-tier alchemist was almost unbelievable.

If it weren’t for the fact that Wei Jie mentioned Elder Huo’s name, they would have completely dismissed the credibility of his words. Elder Huo was someone they deeply respected, and with his status, there was no reason for him to lie about something so significant. Additionally, they doubted the other elders would remain ignorant of such a remarkable achievement.

("Well, it’s all thanks to Sister Azure teaching me alchemy...") Xiao Hua thought as he subtly observed Li Mei and the others, who had approached Wei Jie with intense curiosity. Sensing the shift in their attention, Xiao Hua sent his consciousness into his mental world to speak with the lady residing within his body.

("Perhaps, child. But even with my guidance, refining tier-seven pills is no simple feat that can be accomplished with mere knowledge and observation alone,") Lady Azure responded, though even she was impressed by his exceptional talent.

("In alchemy, that 'mere' knowledge and observation have helped me far more than simply following the instructions in a medicinal formula, Sister Azure,") Xiao Hua replied softly, shaking his head. It was thanks to her teachings that he could accurately follow instructions and even create a few original medicinal formulas. However, the process had not been without its challenges—he had destroyed many rare medicinal ingredients during his experiments, resulting in enormous losses that still made his heart ache whenever he recalled them.

As the excitement built among the group, the tightly shut door of the study creaked open. Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan and a few elderly men slowly emerged. The seven students, seeing their arrival, quickly composed themselves, letting their excitement cool as they became quiet and respectful.

They cupped their hands and bowed deeply. "Deputy Headmaster, Elders."

After greeting Hu Gan and the Elders, Xiao Hua turned to Elder Huo, cupping his hands. "Master."

Hu Gan’s gaze swept across the seven students standing on the open ground. Noticing their disciplined behavior, he nodded with satisfaction. Taking a step forward, he spoke clearly, "Today marks the day when the seven of you will officially enter the Inner Academy. Allow me to congratulate you once more. Your hard work and dedication have finally borne fruit. I was initially concerned that the training methods in the Inner Academy might not suit you, as it’s a place where one’s potential is pushed to its limits. Ke ke, I’m not exaggerating when I say that a year in the Inner Academy will utterly transform you... However, it seems my worries were unnecessary. You seven are proving to be the greatest batch we’ve ever had."

Xiao Hua and the others responded with polite smiles. They understood that, despite their current strength, they were still far from the top within the Inner Academy. They had encountered students who had only been there for a year but had already achieved impressive growth.

"Deputy Headmaster, what about the others?" Ming Cheng raised his hand and asked. Based on past experience, he knew that the top fifty students were usually sent to the Inner Academy. Yet, here in the open ground, only the seven of them were present.

"That’s exactly what we wanted to discuss with you," Hu Gan said, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. He raised a finger and continued, "As you all know, this year’s competition was particularly challenging for the participants. All seven of you are peak Dou Grandmasters. Given your overwhelming strength, we have decided that it’s appropriate to conduct another selection, albeit at a later date... However, those who already secured a spot in the top fifty will retain their positions. The new preliminary round will simply fill the seven spots left open by your advancement."

"So, no rewards for them, huh? They really are in a pitiful situation..." Wei Jie said with a wry smile, feeling a pang of sympathy for his friends who had struggled in the competition.

"Ke ke. If you think their situation is pitiful, then I couldn't wait to hear about yours." Hu Gan laughed as he said those words with amusement smile. However, before they can asked for more information, he raised his head and eyed the distant, blue sky. At that spot, three black shadows were flying over. A moment later, the black shadows gradually became bigger. 

"A flying boat...?" Xiao Hua muttered in disbelief as he gazed up at the sky, watching the black shadows gradually become more distinct. He was stunned by the sight, as both the novel and the manhua depicted the journey to the Inner Academy as being on the backs of magical beasts, specifically Griffins.

'I never expected to see elements from the Donghua here, aside from the character designs... Even Ya Fei, who should have had black hair, instead has auburn-colored hair,' Xiao Hua thought, recalling the subtle changes from the novel in the Donghua adaptation. 'Fortunately, the Donghua stays mostly true to the novel and doesn’t deviate too much, unlike the manhua.'

Hu Gan waved his hand toward the flying boats in the sky. Immediately, the dark shadows began to descend slowly toward the ground. Finally, the three boats landed in an empty spot not too far away, accompanied by a gust of wild wind. Everyone’s eyes scanned the boats, noticing that there was a single person on each deck, steering the vessels.

"Fufufu. Let’s leave the lovebirds alone, shall we? The rest of us can split into boys and girls," Xin Yu teased, giggling as she glanced at Xiao Xun Er, who blushed deeply and nodded in agreement. The others had no objections and made their way to the Flying Ships, not before throwing a few more teasing remarks at the couple, which prompted Xiao Hua to mutter curses under his breath.

"Hahahaha. Youth," Hu Gan chuckled, his face creasing with happiness as he watched his disciple and her lover. All that was missing was his granddaughter to complete the picture of youthful exuberance and romance.

By now, the elders were well aware of the relationship between Xiao Xun Er and Xiao Hua. However, those who knew of Xiao Xun Er’s background could only sigh at the treacherous path Xiao Hua would need to navigate for their relationship to be accepted.

Elder Huo, however, held a deep belief in his disciple. He was confident that Xiao Hua would succeed in breaking through the hard-headed and traditionalist elders of Xiao Xun Er's clan and gaining their approval. After all, he doubted that anyone, even among the younger generation of the eight ancient clans, could match Xiao Hua's talent and determination.

Once everyone was aboard, Hu Gan and Elder Huo exchanged glances and nodded to each other. With a wave of his hand, Hu Gan signaled the departure to the Inner Academy. He and three other elders moved swiftly, flashing into midair as four pairs of radiant Dou Qi wings unfurled from their backs. The wings flapped gracefully, suspending their bodies in midair, drawing envious gazes from those below.

The ability to condense and form Dou Qi wings to fly freely had always been a dream cherished by many cultivators.

"Indeed, being able to form Dou Qi wings and soar through the skies is the aspiration of every cultivator. No wonder our little brother wanted the Flying Dou Technique. The thought of flying freely is truly exhilarating," Wu Jie murmured softly, his eyes filled with envy as he watched the wings of Hu Gan and the other elders.

"Hmm... I doubt it’s for him," Ming Cheng replied. Wu Jie raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the remark. Ming Cheng continued, "With his cultivation speed, I doubt he’ll even need a Flying Dou Technique."

"True. By the time he obtains that technique, he might already be a Dou King or even a Dou Emperor," Wei Jie agreed, crossing his arms as he looked up thoughtfully. "So, who is it for, then?"

Ming Cheng shrugged, indicating that even he didn’t know. Whoever it was, they were indeed fortunate to garner the attention of someone like Xiao Hua.

"We will escort you to the Inner Academy," Hu Gan announced, his voice carrying down from the sky. He descended gracefully, landing on the deck of Xiao Hua's flying ship, while the other elders took their places on the other two ships.

Wu Jie raised his brows and asked in a puzzled tone, "Is there any particular reason for you to fly up if you were just going to land on the deck, Deputy Headmaster?"

"Ke ke. I just wanted to see my granddaughter before leaving, that's all," Hu Gan said, a warm smile spreading across his face.

Hearing this, everyone turned to see a little girl standing on a cliff, watching them intently. Noticing their attention, she quickly hid, her face flushed with embarrassment, but soon peeked out again. Xiao Hua, spotting her, waved gently with a kind smile, and she responded with an excited wave of her own.

Hu Gan nodded, then waved his sleeve. The flying boats gave a gentle shake, their two metallic wings, adorned with beautiful, shiny blue feathers, began to flap. Slowly, the massive vessels lifted off the ground, the shadows beneath them shrinking as they ascended into the sky.

"Xiao Hua, Xun Er, we wish you the best! When you get some time off after showing an outstanding performance in the Inner Academy, don’t forget to visit the clan!" A voice suddenly called out from below as the flying boats rose higher. Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er hurried to the back of the ship and looked down. It was their two cousins, Xiao Yang and Xiao Tao, waving enthusiastically.

As the flying boats’ wings flapped more swiftly, the figures below grew smaller and smaller, until they were mere specks. From this height, the entire Jia Nan Academy unfolded below them, every location visible in their sweeping view.