10: Soul bottleneck and uninvited guests

Clutching the sixty gold coins he had just acquired, Xiao Chen felt them hotter than ever before. The slow but steady depletion of the system's energy pool, like an hourglass, reminded him of the urgency of time.

He rushed into a rather large herb shop, not bothering to carefully select, and directly told the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, how much blood coagulation grass and bone regeneration flower do you have in stock? I need good quality ones!"

Seeing Xiao Chen's confident tone, the shopkeeper, though he saw him as young, dared not be negligent and quickly tallied, "We still have twenty stalks of high-quality blood coagulation grass and fifteen bone regeneration flowers. How much do you need, young brother?"

"I'll take all of them!" Xiao Chen said without hesitation. According to the previous synthesis ratio, these herbs were enough to synthesize more than ten portions of blood coagulation powder, which would consume most of his existing thirty-plus energy points and bring in a profit of over three hundred gold coins!

"All of them?" The shopkeeper was startled and carefully scrutinized Xiao Chen, "Young brother, this is no small sum. blood coagulation grass is five gold coins per stalk, and bone regeneration flower is eight gold coins per stalk. Together, that's two hundred and twenty gold coins."

Only then did Xiao Chen realize he didn't have enough money; he only had sixty gold coins. He immediately changed his request, "Then I'll take ten stalks of blood coagulation grass and five bone regeneration flowers first!" This would cost ninety gold coins, and he still didn't have enough money.

He gritted his teeth and pulled out the silver token Ya Fei had given him, placing it on the counter. "Shopkeeper, I am a specially invited appraiser for the Mittel Auction House, and this is my credential. For these herbs, I'll pay sixty gold coins as a deposit first. For the remaining thirty gold coins, I will pay them immediately after I sell the pills. How about that?"

When the shopkeeper saw the Mittel Auction House token, his expression immediately became much more respectful. After carefully verifying it, his face was wreathed in smiles. "So it's an esteemed guest from the auction house! No problem at all! Sixty gold coins as a deposit, please take the herbs! The rest can wait, no rush!"

This was the convenience that status brought! Xiao Chen sighed internally. If not for this token, it would have been almost impossible for him to get credit.

After paying sixty gold coins and taking the fifteen packaged herbs, Xiao Chen rushed back to the Xiao Family without stopping. He dared not stay outside for long, fearing excessive energy loss and also fearing encountering trouble from the Jia Lie Family again.

Returning to the secluded small room and locking the door, Xiao Chen immediately took out the herbs.

"Scan: blood coagulation grass (premium) x10, recoverable energy approximately 20 units."

"Scan: bone regeneration flower (premium) x5, recoverable energy approximately 15 units."

But he wasn't looking to recover, he was looking to synthesize! To convert energy into tangible, non-dissipating pills!

"System, begin synthesizing blood coagulation powder! Continuous synthesis!" Xiao Chen gave the command. He planned to use thirty energy points to synthesize six portions of blood coagulation powder.

"Ding! Synthesis begins, consuming 5 units of energy..."

"Synthesis successful! Obtained blood coagulation powder x1!"

"Current energy: 27.4"

"Synthesis successful! Obtained blood coagulation powder x1!"

"Current energy: 22.4"

"Synthesis successful! ..."

"Synthesis successful!"

Four consecutive syntheses, all successful! He obtained four portions of blood coagulation powder. The energy pool dropped to 12.4 points.

Xiao Chen breathed a sigh of relief, just as he was about to proceed with the fifth synthesis, a sudden change occurred!

When he issued the synthesis command again, the moment the system's energy pool decreased by 5 points, he suddenly felt a strong dizziness! It was as if his entire soul had been drained, his vision went black, and he nearly collapsed to the ground!

"Warning! Host's soul power is insufficient! Forcing energy guidance and material conversion places too great a burden on the soul!"

"Synthesis interrupted! Energy returned!"

"Current energy: 12.4 / 10000 (Energy depletion paused, host's soul is in a weakened state)"

Synthesis interrupted? Energy returned?

Xiao Chen slumped to the ground, gasping for breath, cold sweat beading on his forehead. The feeling of his soul being hollowed out left him with lingering fear. He felt extremely mentally exhausted, as if he hadn't slept for days and nights.

"Soul power insufficient?" Xiao Chen looked at the system prompt, his expression grim. He hadn't expected that using the system's synthesis function would also have a soul power limit!

Recalling carefully, after each of the previous syntheses, there seemed to be a faint sense of fatigue, but at the time, he was too excited to pay attention. This time, continuous synthesis finally hit the upper limit of his current soul strength!

"It seems that replicating everything isn't as arbitrary as I thought..." Xiao Chen gave a bitter laugh. Energy limits, soul limits—this system was indeed not that simple.

He checked the system interface and, sure enough, below the energy pool, there was a faint, almost transparent progress bar, labeled "Soul Strength: Primary (5/100)". At this moment, this progress bar was almost at rock bottom, with only a faint trace left.

"Soul strength... It seems that improving soul power is as important as accumulating energy." Xiao Chen mused. Without a strong soul, even with abundant energy, it couldn't be converted into strength.

He tried to concentrate and perform simple meditation, attempting to restore his soul power. The effect was negligible; the feeling of fatigue still lingered. It seemed that the recovery of soul power was much slower and more difficult than the recovery of physical strength.

"I must find a way to increase my soul power..." Xiao Chen frowned. In the Battle Through the Heavens world, methods to increase soul power were extremely rare, usually closely related to Alchemists. Either one cultivated special soul techniques (extremely rare), or consumed soul-nourishing pills (expensive), or slowly improved through the continuous process of alchemy.

For him, the most feasible option currently seemed to be the last one—to slowly temper his soul through the cycle of consumption and recovery by continuously using the system's synthesis function. But this was undoubtedly a slow and inefficient process.

Carefully putting away the four portions of blood coagulation powder he had just synthesized, plus the one portion left over from before, he now had five portions of blood coagulation powder, worth about one hundred and fifty gold coins. After paying off the thirty gold coins debt to the herb shop, he could still net one hundred and twenty gold coins, plus... a few remaining herbs.

Looking at the 12.4 energy points remaining in the energy pool and the almost depleted soul strength progress bar, Xiao Chen sighed helplessly. He had planned to make a big move, but was choked by the soul bottleneck.

The immediate priority was to sell the blood coagulation powder as soon as possible, pay off the debt, and then find a way to seek methods to increase his soul power.

The fatigue washed over him like a tide, and Xiao Chen, unable to support himself, collapsed onto the bed fully clothed and fell into a deep sleep. The high-intensity mental concentration and overdraft of soul power made him sleep exceptionally soundly.

After an unknown period, a rapid knocking at the door startled him awake.

"Xiao Chen! Xiao Chen! Open the door quickly!" It was Xiao Yan's voice, tinged with anxiety.

Xiao Chen sat up abruptly, feeling his spirit recover somewhat, but the deep fatigue in his soul remained. He rubbed his temples and walked over to open the door.

Outside the door stood Xiao Yan, looking troubled, and behind him were several people dressed in Xiao Family guard uniforms, led by a stern-faced middle-aged man.

"Big Brother Xiao Yan, what's wrong?" Xiao Chen's heart sank, a bad premonition forming.

Before Xiao Yan could speak, the stern middle-aged man stepped forward, his sharp gaze sweeping over Xiao Chen's small room, finally settling on Xiao Chen's face. He said coldly, "Are you Xiao Chen? I am Captain Xiao Shan of the Family Law Enforcement Team (same name as the Third Elder, but not the same person). Someone reported you for stealing family property. Come with us!"

Stealing family property?

Xiao Chen's pupils constricted slightly, and he understood instantly! This was a frame-up! It was Xiao Ning! Or perhaps the Elder's faction behind him had made a move! Because they couldn't find a direct reason to deal with Xiao Yan, they aimed at him, this "soft persimmon"!

He quickly scanned the room. Fortunately, he had the gold coins and blood coagulation powder hidden on his person, and the black token was also hidden in a secret spot. Only the remaining ordinary herbs and the large batch of herbs bought today were on the table.

"Captain Xiao Shan, what is the meaning of this?" Xiao Chen forced himself to calm down and asked in a deep voice, "Although I, Xiao Chen, reside in the Xiao Family, my actions are open and honest. I have never taken a single thread or needle from the Xiao Family! Who reported me? Is there any evidence?"

Xiao Shan snorted coldly, "Whether you took anything or not, we'll know after a search! As for evidence? The accuser spoke with certainty, saying there are valuable herbs of unknown origin in your room! These are what you brought back from outside today, aren't they?" He pointed at the package of herbs on the table.

Xiao Yan interjected anxiously, "Captain Xiao Shan! Xiao Chen is my guest. These herbs were bought with his own money! I can testify!"

"Young Master Xiao Yan!" Xiao Shan's tone turned cold, "This matter concerns the family's reputation, please do not interfere! Whether he bought them or not will be clear after a search! If he is innocent, the family will naturally give him justice! Men! Search!"

Two law enforcement officers behind him responded and stepped forward, about to enter the room to search.

Xiao Chen's eyes sharpened, and he blocked the doorway. "Wait! Captain Xiao Shan! Without any proof, just based on a report, you want to search my room? Is this the Xiao Family's way of treating guests? Is this the rule of the Law Enforcement Team? If you don't find the so-called stolen goods, then what?"

Xiao Shan was momentarily stunned by Xiao Chen's imposing manner. He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary youth to be so tough. He blustered, "Presumptuous! How dare you question the Xiao Family's law enforcement! If nothing is found, I, Xiao Shan, will apologize to you! But if something is found..." A cold glint flashed in his eyes, "Then don't blame the family rules for being merciless!"

"Good! Then I'll await Captain's 'apology'!" Xiao Chen moved aside, saying coldly, "Please search! However, if anything is damaged, or if... anything 'extra' appears, don't blame me for being unforgiving!"

His words were pointed, hinting that the other party might plant evidence.

Xiao Shan's face darkened, and he waved his hand. "Search carefully! Don't miss any corner!"

Two law enforcement officers rushed into the small room like wolves and tigers, beginning to ransack it. Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his face ashen, clearly furious to the extreme, yet helpless. The Family Law Enforcement Team, at certain times, could even disregard his father, the patriarch's, authority.

Xiao Chen stood at the door, outwardly calm, but extremely nervous inside. Although he was confident he hadn't stolen anything, he was afraid the other party might secretly trip him up. If the black token and a large amount of gold coins and pills were found, it would be difficult to explain their origin.

The room was not large to begin with, and it was quickly turned upside down. Tables and chairs were moved, bedding was shaken out, and even the cracks in the corners of the walls were inspected.

Aside from the package of herbs on the table and Xiao Chen's few changes of old clothes, nothing was found.

Xiao Shan's face grew increasingly ugly. He had received a hint from the Elder's faction to cause trouble for this Xiao Chen, and he had initially thought it would be a piece of cake. He hadn't expected this kid to be so slippery, hiding things so well? Or was the report mistaken?

"Captain, no suspicious items found," a law enforcement officer reported.

Xiao Shan stared grimly at Xiao Chen, then looked at the package of herbs on the table, gritting his teeth. "These herbs are of unknown origin and must be taken back to the Law Enforcement Team for verification!"

This was a forced detention! Even if they couldn't convict him of theft, they would still make him uncomfortable and deprive him of his resources!

Xiao Chen's anger flared, and he was about to argue.

Just then, an old and authoritative voice came from outside the courtyard:

"What's going on? Why is the Law Enforcement Team making such a commotion here?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Third Elder Xiao Shan (this Xiao Shan is not that Xiao Shan) slowly walking in with his old servant.

The Third Elder's gaze swept over the messy small room, finally resting on Law Enforcement Captain Xiao Shan, and he said lightly, "Captain Xiao Shan, what is this? Young friend Xiao Chen is my guest. You bring people to search his room, shouldn't you have informed me first?"

Law Enforcement Captain Xiao Shan's face changed, and he quickly bowed respectfully. "Third Elder! Your subordinate was ordered to investigate a theft case. Someone reported..."

"Report?" The Third Elder interrupted him, his tone calm but with an undeniable authority. "Evidence? Did you find any stolen goods?"

"No... no," the Law Enforcement Captain's forehead beaded with sweat.

"Since there's no evidence, then it's a false accusation!" The Third Elder's voice turned cold. "When did my Xiao Family become a place where guests can be falsely accused at will? Captain Xiao Shan, you have enforced the law improperly and disturbed an esteemed guest. What is your punishment?"

Law Enforcement Captain Xiao Shan fell to his knees with a thud. "Third Elder, please forgive me! It was my oversight! I believed the words of a petty person!"

The Third Elder snorted coldly, no longer looking at him. He turned to Xiao Chen, a gentle smile on his face. "Young friend Xiao Chen, you've been startled. It's the family's lax discipline that has caused you to suffer this grievance. These herbs..."

His gaze swept over the package of herbs on the table, and he gestured to his old servant. The old servant immediately stepped forward, picked up the herbs, and handed them back to Xiao Chen.

"Since they are legitimately obtained by young friend, they naturally return to their rightful owner," the Third Elder said with a smile. "As for today's incident, the family will thoroughly investigate the accuser and give young friend an explanation."

Xiao Chen took the herbs, his mind clear. The Third Elder's arrival was so "timely" that he had clearly been paying attention to the situation. He was granting a favor, and also showcasing his influence within the Xiao Family.

"Many thanks to Third Elder for upholding justice." Xiao Chen clasped his hands in thanks, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Hmm, young friend, rest assured. In the Xiao Family, no one can wrong you." The Third Elder gave Xiao Chen a meaningful look, then glanced at the grim-faced Law Enforcement Captain, before leaving with his old servant.

The Law Enforcement Captain and his men also slunk away.

In the courtyard, only Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan remained.

"Xiao Chen, are you alright?" Xiao Yan stepped forward, his concern mixed with apology. "I've dragged you into this."

Xiao Chen shook his head, a weary smile on his face. "Big Brother Xiao, you overstate it. It's just some people being too overbearing. I'm fine."

He looked in the direction the Third Elder had left, then at the herbs he had recovered, his gaze deep.

The waters of the Xiao Family were indeed deep. The Elder's faction was aggressive, while the Third Elder's faction took the opportunity to win him over. As for himself, before gaining power, he had to navigate carefully and cautiously.

The soul bottleneck, external crises... the road ahead was still difficult. But having gone through this turmoil, Xiao Chen's resolve became even stronger.

"Power... I must gain power faster!" He clenched his fists, feeling the slowly recovering soul power within him, and the 12.4 energy points in the system.

Crisis was also motivation.