BTTH: Auto Cultivation System

Time flowed like a river, and two weeks had quietly passed since Xiao Hua fell into his deep slumber.

After Su Qian issued the decree forbidding entry to the forest, Li Mei and Ming Cheng approached him with a heartfelt request. They sought permission to remain within the forest, wishing to guard Xiao Hua and monitor his condition personally.

Understanding the bond they shared with Xiao Hua, Su Qian granted their request. He allowed them to stay within the forest’s boundary, their eyes ever watchful over Xiao Hua’s fate. In addition, Su Qian summoned Elder Huo, Xiao Hua’s master and a renowned fifth-tier alchemist. With the forest teeming with dense spiritual energy, Su Qian believed it would not only aid Elder Huo in nourishing his soul but also offer a rare opportunity for him to ascend.

Though the difference between a fifth-tier alchemist and a sixth-tier alchemist appeared to be merely one rank, the chasm separating the two was vast, like heaven and earth. Yet, with the profound spiritual energy surrounding them, the barrier that held Elder Huo back from breaking through seemed but a fleeting concern.

While awaiting Xiao Hua’s awakening, Xiao Xun Er and the others constructed a small pavilion, knowing that his slumber might last for a long time.

Behind the pavilion lay a vast and expansive garden, teeming with life—lush greenery and small animals thrived under the tender care of Xiao Xun Er. She found solace here, her heart at peace amidst the serene atmosphere and the beauty that surrounded her.

Near the open expanse of the garden, a pagoda stood gracefully beside a large pond, where a few koi fish swam leisurely, their movements calm and undisturbed. In this tranquil setting, three figures—one man and two women—sat at a table, with three cups of warm tea gently steaming before them.

"How is she?" Ming Cheng asked in a low, somber tone, his eyes remaining closed.

Li Mei, after taking a delicate sip of the tea brewed by Xin Yu, responded quietly, "No matter how much she tries to hide it, her confusion is becoming more apparent. She is struggling with her feelings."

Xin Yu sighed, concern etched across her face. "Sadly, there's nothing we can do. This is a matter between the two of them." Her gaze shifted eastward, her eyes narrowing as she stared into the distance. "I only hope the boy awakens soon. This needs to be resolved before it's too late..."

Her words prompted Ming Cheng and Li Mei to exchange solemn looks, each quietly acknowledging their own helplessness in matters of the heart.

Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy rippled through the air. The source was unmistakable—Xiao Hua, at the heart of the forest, in the midst of cultivation.

Sensing the shift, Xiao Xun Er's body swiftly moved towards the center of the dense forest, followed closely by Li Mei and the others, their hearts racing as they knew that Xiao Hua was about to be awake.

The massive surge of energy rippled throughout the Inner Academy, causing Elder Huo to halt his cultivation abruptly. His eyes shot open, and without hesitation, his figure blurred as he vanished from his place. He knew all too well where this surge originated—from the heart of the forest. His disciple, Xiao Hua, was finally on the verge of awakening.

Far away, within the depths of the 'Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower,' Su Qian also sensed the powerful fluctuation. However, with the 'Fallen Heart Flame' sealed beneath the tower, he could not afford to leave his post. His responsibility weighed heavily on him, but something caught his attention. The flame, usually restless and ferocious, constantly thrashing against its seal, was now strangely quiet. In fact, it seemed... afraid.

"It has been like this ever since Xiao Hua's breakthrough..." Su Qian murmured, stroking his white beard thoughtfully. His gaze turned towards the direction of the forest where Xiao Hua resided. "Could it be that the boy's lightning, flame, and ice are so fearsome that even the 'Fallen Heart Flame' trembles in terror?"

He pondered this possibility for a moment but knew he could not investigate further. Nevertheless, a sense of relief washed over him. The passive behavior of the flame had lightened the burden on his shoulders. For as long as he could remember, the 'Fallen Heart Flame' had relentlessly assaulted the seal, always seeking escape. Su Qian was well aware that if it ever succeeded, its first target would be Jia Nan Academy—a disaster he could not allow, even at the cost of his own life.

Xiao Xun Er and the others descended gracefully, landing a short distance away from the crevice. Lowering their gazes, they beheld a sight that had remained unchanged for two weeks—a radiant glazed lotus, its petals tightly closed, encircled by a shimmering white mist. Inside the lotus, the faint silhouette of a child could be seen, surrounded by five distinct colors—green, gold, blue, purple, and white—flowing gently around the figure.

For the past two weeks, the glazed lotus had been silent, devoid of any signs of life. But now, powerful ripples surged outward from it, the very same energy that had shaken the entire Inner Academy. Naturally, this could mean only one thing—the person within was beginning to awaken.

"Ke ke, it seems the boy will awaken soon."

A raspy, aged voice echoed behind them. Yet, Xiao Xun Er and the others showed no sign of surprise. They had long anticipated the arrival of this individual, especially when it concerned his most cherished disciple.

Turning, they saw the familiar white-haired old man stroking his beard—Elder Huo, just as expected. Without hesitation, they cupped their hands respectfully and greeted him in unison. "Elder Huo."

The elder gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, his gaze shifting toward the crevice. His eyes focused on the glazed lotus, its once serene surface now brimming with activity. Xiao Xun Er and the others followed his gaze, their hearts quietly filled with anticipation as they observed in silence.

Time passed, and at last, their patience was rewarded. The glazed lotus quivered ever so slightly, a movement their sharp eyes did not miss. Slowly, the lotus began to unfurl, its radiant petals revealing the figure that had been cocooned within for the past two weeks.

Despite the passage of time, the figure showed no sign of wear. His skin was flawless, untouched by dirt or impurity, and his robes were immaculate, devoid of even a speck of dust. They could sense the pulse of Qi coursing through his body, rhythmic and steady, like the beating of a powerful heart.

The boy slowly stood, his movements calm and measured. Taking in a gentle breath, he exhaled softly, his expression serene. In that instant, the Dou Qi within him surged forth like a tranquil river, swiftly coursing through his Qi Paths. A wave of strength washed over him, filling every inch of his body with newfound power. He could clearly sense it—his strength had soared to unprecedented heights.

Having confirmed his immense progress, he gathered his Spiritual Strength at the center of his brow. Suddenly, a soul-shaking sound erupted from him, reverberating through the crevice. The very air around him seemed to distort, twisting as an invisible force surged out. A radiant, unseen light burst forth and hung suspended in the air above, while a tidal wave of overwhelming Spiritual Strength swept outward like a monstrous storm.

This vast and boundless Spiritual Strength surged in every direction, as fierce and unstoppable as a flood. Within moments, the entirety of the Inner Academy was enveloped. All who felt its force trembled under its weight. Students across the academy fell unconscious, overwhelmed by the crushing pressure. Even the elders, their expressions strained, could barely stand against the immense force. Only Su Qian, with his Dou Ancestor-level strength, managed to resist, though his eyes were filled with unease.

With a tense expression, Su Qian narrowed his gaze towards the center of the forest, where the invisible light still shimmered in the sky. His voice was low as he muttered to himself, "So this is the Spiritual Pressure of one who has reached the Soul State... This is what it feels like when they unleash their Spiritual Strength?"

Though he had resisted the immense pressure, a faint sense of dread lingered in Su Qian’s heart. Despite the difference in their cultivation levels—three ranks in his favor—the sheer might of Xiao Hua's soul was unfathomable. Even if hundreds of him stood together, they would pale in comparison to the monstrous soul power Xiao Hua now wielded.

The river-like surge of Spiritual Strength continued to ripple outward for several minutes before gradually receding. As the pressure dissipated, an invisible light began to materialize before the eyes of Xiao Xun Er and the others.

The light shimmered, scattering into fragments, and slowly, the vague outline of a human figure appeared within it. Upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably Xiao Hua. However, his current form seemed ethereal, his body faint and illusionary, like a phantom.

"Elder Huo... is this his soul?" Wei Jie’s voice trembled with awe as he stared at the translucent figure of Xiao Hua suspended in the air. The startling sight shook him to his core, and he couldn’t help but ask Elder Huo in a hushed tone. Yet, even Elder Huo, seasoned as he was, could only remain silent, unsure of the answer.

The concept of the soul was something elusive, even to the experts of their era. It was formless, without shape, and difficult to comprehend, let alone interact with. Spiritual Strength itself was an enigma—colorless and invisible, detectable only by the most skilled cultivators. Few had ever witnessed a soul manifest in human form, and even among the elite Dou Venerates, shaping a soul into such a stable and visible figure was a feat rarely achieved.

The illusionary Xiao Hua in the sky trembled slightly before lowering his gaze. It looked down upon Xiao Xun Er and the others standing at the edge of the cliff, its expression distant and unreadable. Then, its eyes shifted, sweeping over the small figure lying within the crevice below. As his gaze locked onto the figure, recognition flickered in his ethereal eyes—his physical body lay beneath him.

As Xiao Hua's physical body lifted its right hand, the ethereal form of 'Xiao Hua'—manifested by his soul—mirrored the gesture and began to move toward the body. With each step, the spiritual figure diminished, growing smaller until, by the time it reached the actual body, it had condensed into a palm-sized cluster of radiant, invisible light. This glowing essence floated gently before settling onto Xiao Hua’s forehead, vanishing into his body.

At the moment his soul returned, Xiao Hua’s body trembled slightly, and the immense spiritual pressure that had filled the sky dissipated in an instant.

Standing on the ground for a moment, Xiao Hua’s deep-crimson right eye and clear-cyan left eye flickered as he regained full consciousness. He took a deep breath, exhaling softly, and in a flash, his figure soared upward, landing gracefully on the cliff where Xiao Xun Er and the others stood.

"Master. Xun Er. Sisters. Brothers," Xiao Hua greeted them with a gentle smile, his voice filled with warmth.

"Ke ke," Elder Huo chuckled, his eyes glinting with pride. With a faintly excited grin, he reached out and ruffled Xiao Hua’s hair. "Brat, it seems you've gained far more than what the Inner Academy could offer you!"

After a moment, Elder Huo continued, explaining that, thanks to the abundant and dense Spiritual Strength in the forest, he had ascended to the rank of a sixth-tier alchemist and was already nearing the breakthrough to the seventh-tier. After sharing a few more words, he bid farewell, mentioning that he had been away from the Alchemist Department for far too long and knew Xiao Hua and his companions needed time to catch up.

Once Elder Huo departed, Li Mei and the others quickly began inspecting Xiao Hua's condition, their eyes scanning him for any signs of weakness or harm. Only after confirming that everything was normal did they collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

Xiao Hua watched their concern with a soft smile. Despite the relatively short time they had spent together, the bond they had forged was undeniably strong. Their genuine care touched him deeply. His voice was gentle as he spoke, "Sisters. Brothers. How long have I been in retreat?"

"You've been in retreat for two weeks," Li Mei replied. She gestured toward a direction and began explaining what they had been up to in his absence. "While waiting for your return, we stayed in the forest and built a small pavilion home for ourselves."

"As much as we’d love to show you around right away, we need to first explain the sudden energy surge to the elders cultivating in the forest," Ming Cheng added, pointing toward the path that led back to the Inner Academy. "They’ve been drawn here ever since you flooded this place with Spiritual Energy and Dou Qi. Of course, we’ve been negotiating a price for their stay."

Xin Yu chimed in with a playful smile, "Sometimes they give us medicinal ingredients, other times, pills. But most often, they offer us 'Fire Energy.' We’ve been saving it and will use once you came out of your retreat. For the medicinal ingredients and pills, I ask Wei Jie and Mei Ling to stored it properly."

"Anyway, we should be heading back," Wei Jie said, grinning mysteriously as his gaze shifted toward Xiao Xun Er. "As for the tour, I think we should leave that to our little sister here. After all, there’s much the two of you need to catch up on."

Ming Cheng, Li Mei, Xin Yu, and Mei Ling exchanged knowing glances, each nodding in agreement. Without a word of disagreement, they understood the situation perfectly. Xiao Hua and Xiao Xun Er had matters to settle—unspoken yet crucial. With a silent consensus, they left the two alone, giving them the space they needed.

----

After parting ways with Li Mei and the others, Xiao Xun Er led him to the small pavilion house they had spent the last two weeks building. The courtyard, kitchen, and medicinal storehouse stood in order—places where Wei Jie and Mei Ling gathered and carefully preserved medicinal ingredients from the wild.

"This is your room, Brother Xiao Hua," Xiao Xun Er said softly as she guided him to his quarters, her hands gracefully coming together in a clap. "Feel free to explore. In the meantime, I will prepare tea and bring it to you."

With a final elegant gesture, she left the room, her fleeting figure disappearing into the hallway. Xiao Hua watched her departure with a faint smile before turning his attention to the door before him. He opened it with quiet deliberation, his indifferent expression betraying nothing as he surveyed the simple yet serene space. His gaze eventually settled on the closed window.

Walking over, he unlatched it, pushing it open gently. Warm sunlight streamed in, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow, breathing life into the quiet corners.

("So, it seems you've chosen to confront this unique bond between you and that little lass...")

A voice echoed from deep within his mind. Xiao Hua remained calm, already knowing the source—there was no one else it could be but her.

("If not now, it will only become more strained in the future, Sister Azure,") Xiao Hua responded calmly. ("This relationship should have ended long ago...")

("Indeed,") Lady Azure agreed, her nod barely perceptible in the depths of his consciousness. Even she, with her vast wisdom, could not predict the fate of this fragile bond between the two. What she did know was that their connection would either strengthen or unravel. Whether it would blossom into a deeper relationship or fade into the distance of estrangement was yet unclear.

Sensing Xiao Xun Er's approach, Lady Azure chose to remain silent, deciding it best to observe. This matter could only be resolved by those involved—no one else could intervene until the two took the first steps themselves.

Xiao Hua turned and seated himself on the bed, his calm gaze fixed on the door. Moments later, it opened softly, and Xiao Xun Er entered, carrying a tray with a teacup and a kettle of warm tea. Her movements were graceful as she set the tray on the table before turning to face him.

"Xun'er, let's remove the mask."

Xiao Hua's voice was steady, his eyes closed as if bracing himself for the painful truth he was about to unveil. Xun Er, who had been ready to greet him with her usual warmth, froze mid-step. The gentle affection that typically colored her gaze was gone, replaced by a stillness that echoed in the air between them.

"Stop pretending," Xiao Hua continued, his tone cutting through the silence. "We both know what I mean. Let me see the real Xun'er—the one who hasn’t fallen in love with me, the one who created a false persona to deceive everyone."

For a moment, Xun Er’s expression remained calm, but the warmth she had always shown him was now absent. She let out a soft sigh, dropping the affectionate tone she had used so effortlessly. “So, you knew all along, Xiao Hua. You knew about the mask I’ve been wearing.” Her voice was gentle, yet there was a sharp edge to it, like a blade hidden beneath a silk scarf. “Tell me, when did you figure it out? When did you realize that I wasn’t just fooling you, but everyone around us?”

"The morning after that night in your courtyard," Xiao Hua replied, his tone stripped of any pretense. "With Ling Ying informing you of everything, there was no reason for you to fall for me. The mere fact that you even considered it was already suspicious, as if you were trying to convince yourself to love me. And when you wept just because Ya Fei and I visited a well-known couple's spot… The Xun'er I know, or rather, the one you've created, wouldn’t cry over something so trivial."

"A girl can easily fall for a man who has risked everything to save her," Gu Xun Er countered, her head tilted as if pondering what she had done wrong. "Isn't it normal for a girl to feel lonely and shed tears in such a situation?"

"Yes, a normal, naive girl might," Xiao Hua said, his gaze sharp as he looked at her. "But you, Xun Er? With your background, you’re anything but naive. You've dealt with calculating elders all your life. With the persona you've crafted, you would have confronted Ya Fei instead of crying to me, trying to gain my pity, knowing full well that I would never abandon you."

Gu Xun Er nodded slowly, acknowledging her mistake. "Indeed, I failed to consider my own background. I am far from being a naive little girl, and I miscalculated how to handle Ya Fei's situation. But are you sure about taking off your mask, Xiao Hua? After all, aren’t you practically saying that everything that has happened in the past was just a facade, that you’ve been pathetic all along?"

"Wrong, Xun'er." Xiao Hua shook his head and gazed downward, a melancholic shadow crossing his features. He raised his head and stared deeply into her autumn eyes, his lips curving into a small, almost sorrowful smile. "I have never faked my pathetic behavior. That night, when everything unraveled, I truly understood just how weak I am. After all, that fruit was priceless, and with its power, I could have easily become the strongest in Wu Tan City."

Gu Xun Er's brows furrowed in confusion. The significance of the fruit’s value eluded her. She remembered Xiao Hua telling her that it was a stash left by his deceased parents. Seeing her puzzled expression, Xiao Hua let out a quiet sigh, realizing she wouldn’t understand, but he pressed on.

"I knew you would survive that disaster with your luck, yet I still made that decision—not out of kindness or guilt, but for something that one might call ridiculous. Adding to that, I ordered Ling Ying to act out of sheer desperation, without knowing if it would even help. All of this was because I needed to survive in this blood-spilling world. I knew I could die at any moment, especially living within the Xiao Clan, where cultivation is not just a path, but an obligation."

"I see. To survive, huh? It is indeed something I cannot fully grasp, especially your obsession with surviving..." Gu Xun Er sighed softly, a melancholic note threading through her voice. She looked at Xiao Hua, her eyes reflecting the sadness that had settled between them. "So, what is it that you wish to know?"

Xiao Hua’s eyes bore into hers, filled with a mix of pain and determination. "Why did you create this fake persona?"

Gu Xun Er sighed softly, her gaze drifting into the distance as she began to speak. "Since you said all that, Xiao Hua, you must have known the truth about me, right? That's why you stopped Xiao Yan from entering my courtyard that night." She paused, gathering her thoughts as memories flooded her mind. "As you know, I was born with a special destiny. It feels as if fate has dictated my path, from beginning to end, without my consent. Everything about me was predetermined—my life, my emotions, my fate. When Xiao Yan appeared, I knew immediately that fate intended for us to be bound together. I knew he would endure hardships, lose something precious, and embark on a difficult journey that would transform him into a great figure. But there was one problem with that fate."

"You despised it," Xiao Hua interjected, his voice low, filled with a deep understanding. "Since everything about you was predetermined by fate, you lost something essential—your emotions. To cope with this, you created a false persona, convincing yourself that you loved Xiao Yan, fooling even yourself."

As he spoke, Xiao Hua's eyes narrowed, realization dawning on him. He had always felt that Gu Xun Er, despite being the type of girl he should be drawn to, had never truly captured his heart. Now, he understood why.

'Just because Xiao Yan snuck into her room and used his Dou Qi to strengthen her bones, it didn’t make sense for Xun'er to develop feelings for him. Unlike other young ladies, she had dealt with countless cunning and ruthless elders who plotted her marriage, future, and life. Yet, she fell for Xiao Yan just because he strengthened her bones? And where was Ling Ying, who usually kept a close eye on her? It wasn’t luck that allowed Xiao Yan to enter her courtyard. She orchestrated it. She must have done something to Ling Ying to let Xiao Yan in.'

"Indeed," Gu Xun Er murmured, a small, bitter smile playing on her lips. "I manipulated Ling Ying, sending him into a temporary daze to ensure he wouldn’t interfere. I despised my fate, but I couldn’t fight it. So, I loosened my control over my Heavenly Flame, waiting for Xiao Yan’s arrival. But when you intervened, something changed. For the first time, I saw a glimmer of hope—a chance to escape this sickening predetermined fate. In that moment, I thought perhaps the world could be beautiful after all."