NOVEL NEXT Origin Qi
Inside Misty Cloud Sect's Main Hall.
Sect Master Yun Shan personally poured tea for Li Xiao, smiling warmly. "Pavilion Master Li, I apologize for any offenses caused earlier. I hope you won't take them to heart."
Li Xiao sipped his tea and replied, "Sect Master Yun Shan, you exaggerate. I am not one to hold grudges. Moreover, with my relationship with Yun'er, how could I blame you?"
Yun Shan chuckled. With no outsiders present, his attitude had taken a complete turn. "I am very pleased that Yun'er has found a man like you. As her master, I am gratified."
With a serious expression, Yun Shan continued, "Yun'er, from today onwards, stay by Pavilion Master Li's side. You represent not only yourself but also Misty Cloud Sect and me. Do you understand?"
Yun Yun's cheeks flushed with a sudden, unexpected blush. "I understand, Master."
Yun Shan, playing the matchmaker, smiled and said, "Pavilion Master Li, should you ever need my assistance, I will not refuse."
Earlier, Yun Shan had already learned everything about Heaven Ascending Pavilion from Yun Yun and knew that there were several Dou Venerate elites in the pavilion. This made him even more convinced that Pavilion Master Li was not from the northwest region but possibly from Central Plain. Hence, Yun Shan's demeanor was so relaxed.
"Sect Master Yun Shan, you are too kind."
In front of Yun Shan, Li Xiao pulled Yun Yun into his arms, causing her to blush even more. Despite her embarrassment, she did not resist, allowing Li Xiao to stroke her cheek.
At that moment, a cloud of black mist suddenly permeated the main hall, emitting a foul odor that made Yun Yun jump in alarm. She quickly drew her weapon. "Who dares intrude on Misty Cloud Sect? You have some nerve!"
As the black mist dispersed, a black-robed man appeared before them. He glanced at Yun Yun and chuckled, "Little girl, I am not a bad person."
"How would I know that?!" she retorted.
The black-robed man, Protector Wu, smiled faintly and then turned to bow to Pavilion Master Li. "Protector Wu of the Hall of Souls greets Pavilion Master Li!"
Seeing the intruder showing such respect to Li Xiao, Yun Yun relaxed. She had feared it was an enemy Dou Ancestor.
"No harm done," Li Xiao said softly. "Protector Wu, I heard you captured someone from the Xiao family. Is this true?"
Protector Wu did not hide the truth and nodded. "Yes, Pavilion Master Li. His name is Xiao Zhan. He has something valuable to our Hall of Souls, so I was sent to retrieve it."
"That item is now in my possession," Li Xiao said, making Protector Wu look up in surprise.
"You know what it is..."
"Naturally," Li Xiao replied, setting down his tea cup. "That item now belongs to Heaven Ascending Pavilion. If you are interested, you can bid for it at the next auction."
Protector Wu quickly said, "Pavilion Master, could you sell it to me directly? Name your price, and the Hall of Souls will not refuse."
He did not fully understand the importance of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade but knew it was crucial to his superiors.
Li Xiao replied coolly, "Since you know its value, you should also know that I do not engage in private sales. Hall of Souls does not yet have the standing to warrant such a transaction."
Protector Wu's expression darkened; he hadn't expected Pavilion Master Li to reject his request so directly. However, the next words from Li Xiao rekindled his hope.
"Don't worry. If I decide to auction the Tuo She Ancient God's Jade, I'll notify your Hall of Souls in advance. This will be enough to be claimed as your achievement."
Upon hearing this, Protector Wu's heart leapt with joy, and he could hardly contain his excitement. "Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Pavilion Master Li. Our Hall Master will certainly not disappoint you!"
Li Xiao chuckled. "That is a matter for the future." He swirled his tea before taking another sip. "Now, where is Xiao Zhan?"
Protector Wu did not dare to delay and promptly dropped the unconscious Xiao Zhan on the ground. "This is the patriarch of the Xiao family. However, I am curious why someone of your status would help the Xiao family."
"That's something you don't need to know."
The primary reason Li Xiao helped the Xiao family was their ancestor, Xiao Xuan. As the last patriarch of the Xiao Clan among the ancient eight clans, Xiao Xuan possessed formidable strength. He was a peerless genius of the Xiao Clan in the Jia Ma Empire, once ranked among the top five strongest on the Dou Qi continent a thousand years ago. He was at the peak of the late nine-star Dou Saint, just a step away from reaching the Dou God level.
Realizing that the Xiao Clan's bloodline was drying up, Xiao Xuan decided to gather the entire clan's bloodline to break through to Dou God realm and reactivate the Dou God bloodline. However, he failed due to the lack of Origin Qi in the world. Subsequently, he was besieged by experts from the Hun Clan, suffered severe injuries, and fell, with his remnant soul residing in the Heavenly Tomb, waiting for the arrival of the Xiao Clan descendants.
Xiao Xuan's tomb was located in the Ancient Realm of the Gu Clan. However, it was protected by a mysterious force that prevented the Gu Clan members from entering. Although some extraordinarily powerful members of the Gu Clan could force their way in, they dared not do so recklessly because of Xiao Xuan's kindness to the Gu Clan. Thus, for many years, no one had been able to enter that tomb.
Upon his death, Xiao Xuan left behind a significant amount of bloodline power, which, if obtained, would fetch an astronomical price at auction. Additionally, Xiao Xuan possessed numerous treasures, including the complete Skyfire Three Mysterious Change, and invaluable items like the Ancient Insect Emperor Clothes made for the Queen of the Ancient Swallowing Insects. These items could undoubtedly command sky-high prices.
As a businessman, Li Xiao would never miss such an excellent opportunity. Moreover, the world held another treasure that could make any peak Dou Saint's blood boil.
Every plane had some Origin Qi formed when it was created. However, Origin Qi could not be created again. In other words, every bit of Origin Qi exhausted led to its diminishment in this world.
Only after absorbing the Origin Qi would one be able to successfully break through the barrier to the Dou God realm. However, the birth of each Dou God greatly exhausted a significant amount of Origin Qi. In the face of this expenditure without replenishment, it eventually reached a point where nothing remained. This was the reason why the Dou Qi continent no longer produced any Dou God. This was because the Dou Qi continent no longer had any Origin Qi.
Tuo She Ancient God was the last Dou God of the Dou Qi Continent. Fully aware that Origin Qi was about to be exhausted, he refined a Divine Grade Elixir, storing the remaining Origin Qi within it.