2: Chapter 2: Tempering the Body with Different Flames, Battle Qi Surges!

The morning mist had not yet fully dispersed, and the air was filled with the scent of vegetation and soil.

Lin Yan followed behind his collateral relative and companion, Lin Xiaohu, walking on the bluestone path leading to the Wutan City marketplace. He deliberately restrained his aura, maintaining his Dou Zhi Qi fluctuations at the fifth level. His steps were slightly lighter than usual, but not too conspicuous.

"Lin Yan, did you really not sneak any good food last night?" Lin Xiaohu couldn't help but turn his head, eyeing him up and down again while scratching his head. "How come I feel like your complexion is so good today, you're practically walking with a spring in your step? You were always so listless before."

"Really, I didn't." Lin Yan smiled, his tone carrying his usual gentleness, along with a hint of perfectly timed "luck": "Maybe it's just… I suddenly figured out some bottlenecks in my cultivation? I tried circulating my Dou Zhi Qi last night and it felt much smoother, like… I broke through to the fourth level." He didn't mention the fifth level, leaving himself some leeway.

"Fourth level? For real?!" Lin Xiaohu's eyes widened, his voice rising by two octaves. They were both among the least talented in the collateral branch, and Lin Yan had been stuck at the third level for years. A sudden breakthrough was truly a rare occurrence. "Not bad, kid! You've finally had a breakthrough in understanding! Let's go, let's go, hurry to the marketplace to work. Later, I'll treat you to a bowl of plain noodles to celebrate!" Lin Xiaohu was happy for him and slapped his shoulder hard—a force that felt feather-light to Lin Yan, who was already at the seventh level of Dou Zhi Qi.

Lin Yan smiled and agreed, but his heart remained calm. Fourth level? That was just the tip of the iceberg he was willing to reveal. In his dantian, that tiny emerald spark flickered with a gentle light, constantly releasing pure life energy, nourishing his meridians and flesh. He could even feel his physique still growing stronger at a slow but steady pace.

This Living Spirit Flame was truly worthy of being an exotic flame known for its vitality. Even if it was just a wisp of the sub-flame's source, its continuous nourishing effect far exceeded his expectations. It wasn't just the growth of Dou Zhi Qi, but an optimization of the very essence of life.

The marketplace soon appeared before them, with the clamor of voices, the mixed scent of herbs, and the sound of metal clashing rushing toward them. Wutan City was dominated by three major families, each occupying a section of the marketplace. The Xiao Family's marketplace was located in the south of the city. It was quite large, with rows of shops and numerous street stalls selling everything from low-grade medicinal herbs and magic cores to ordinary weapons and miscellaneous items.

Lin Yan and Lin Xiaohu were assigned to an area responsible for looking after several of the family's self-operated medicinal herb stalls, while also maintaining order to prevent anyone from causing trouble or pilfering goods. This work was tedious, but it was a source of meager subsidies that the family provided to the collateral descendants.

Standing behind the stall, Lin Yan's gaze swept casually over the dazzling array of medicinal herbs. Hemostatic Grass, Dew-Condensing Flower, Green Wood Vine… these were all the most common first-grade or even unranked herbs. If it were before, he could only stare helplessly; the original owner's meager savings couldn't even afford a few decent herbs.

But now it was different. In the system's inventory, ten kinds of exotic flame sources were quietly displayed. And the [Task System] and [Lottery Center] on the system interface were also glowing faintly.

With a thought, his consciousness sank into the system.

[Current Available Tasks (Novice Guide):]

[Task 1: Initial Alchemy. Attempt to refine a lowest-grade medicinal pill (such as Force-Accumulating Pill, Blood-Coagulation Powder). Reward: Random first-grade pill recipe × 1, system points × 50.]

[Task 2: Testing One's Sharpness. Defeat an opponent of no less than the fifth level of Dou Zhi Qi in actual combat. Reward: Basic Dou Technique lottery chance × 1, system points × 30.]

[Task 3: Wealth Accumulation. Earn one thousand gold coins through legitimate means. Reward: Low-level medicinal herb identification atlas, system points × 20.]

Alchemy? Lin Yan's heart stirred. Although the Living Spirit Flame was primarily vitality-based, its essence was still fire, and an exotic flame of an extremely high level at that! Even if the sub-flame was weak, it should be more than enough to refine the lowest-grade medicinal pills, and it might even bring unexpected results. As for the pill recipes and techniques… the original owner wouldn't know, but he had the system. In the Lottery Center, there might just be relevant items.

And wealth accumulation was a must. Without money, it was difficult to move an inch in this world. Whether it was buying herbs for cultivation or purchasing necessary items in the future, gold coins were hard currency.

As for the combat task… he looked up, his gaze sweeping across the bustling crowd. In a place like the marketplace, conflicts were not uncommon.

He first clicked on the [Lottery Center]. The interface showed that, besides the novice ten-draw that had already been used, there were [Random Single Draw] (100 points/time) and [Specific Category Draw] (such as cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, medicinal pills, exotic items, etc., with higher prices). And his current points were zero.

"System, how can I obtain points?"

[Completing system tasks, achieving specific accomplishments, and absorbing high-energy substances (such as exotic flames, high-level magic cores, rare medicinal herbs, etc.) can all earn points.]

It seemed that completing tasks was the fastest way to obtain points and resources in the early stages.

A plan gradually formed in Lin Yan's mind. First, use the Living Spirit Flame to continue stabilizing and improving his cultivation, while finding ways to complete the wealth accumulation task to obtain startup capital and points, then try alchemy. The system mall hadn't been unlocked yet, which presumably also required points.

Just as he was deep in thought, a customer came to the stall wanting to buy some fresh Blood-Coagulation Grass. Lin Yan skillfully weighed, wrapped, collected the money, and gave change. Throughout the process, he deliberately slowed his movements, appearing somewhat awkward as usual, fitting his disguise of "having just broken through to the fourth level and still adapting to the power."

Time slipped away amidst busyness and observation. At noon, Lin Xiaohu was called away by another steward to help move goods, leaving Lin Yan to look after the stall alone.

Just as he was counting the morning's revenue and calculating how far away the goal of one thousand gold coins was, a noisy argument broke out from the free trade area not far away, and it seemed to include familiar angry shouts belonging to young disciples of the Xiao Family.

Lin Yan frowned slightly and looked up. He saw a small circle of people gathered over there, with three youths wearing Jia Lie Clan attire in the center, acting arrogantly while saying something to two Xiao Family youths who looked angry but somewhat timid. One of the Jia Lie Clan youths was holding a pale purple medicinal herb of good quality, while a Xiao Family youth opposite him was trying to snatch it but was easily pushed away.

The Jia Lie Clan and the Xiao Family had always been at odds, and friction in the marketplace was common. But today's incident seemed to be a dispute over that medicinal herb.

Lin Yan originally didn't want to meddle in other people's business; his priority now was to keep a low profile. However, the system notification sound suddenly rang out at this moment:

[Detected a minor conflict nearby, involving family reputation and resource contention. Triggering sub-quest: Maintain and Establish Prestige.]

[Task Requirements: Intervene in the conflict in a reasonable manner to restore the Xiao Family's reputation and ensure the ownership of the medicinal herb (or equivalent compensation). Must not expose strength beyond the fifth level of Dou Zhi Qi too early.]

[Task Rewards: System points × 40, low-level storage ring × 1 (1 cubic meter).]

[Failure Penalty: None.]

storage ring!

Lin Yan's eyes lit up. This item was standard storage equipment on the Fighting Qi Continent. Even the lowest-level one-cubic-meter storage ring was not something an ordinary collateral descendant in Wutan City could possess. With it, whether storing medicinal herbs, gold coins, or other items, it would be much more convenient. Moreover, the task requirement "must not expose strength beyond the fifth level too early" perfectly fit his disguise strategy.

He took a deep breath, gathered the coins on the stall, and walked slowly toward the crowd over there.

Getting closer, he could hear more clearly.

"Pah! We clearly laid eyes on this Purple Leaf Orchid first, and we've already paid half the money. By what right does your Jia Lie Clan snatch it?" The Xiao Family youth was so angry his face turned red.

"Snatch?" The Jia Lie Clan youth holding the Purple Leaf Orchid sneered. His build was more robust than the other two, and his aura was clearly a cut above—he likely had the cultivation of the sixth level of Dou Zhi Qi. "The stall owner said it: the highest bidder gets it! You Xiao Family paupers only paid half the deposit; does that count as buying it? I'm offering double the full price; this Purple Leaf Orchid naturally belongs to me, Young Master Jia Lie Ao!"

So his name was Jia Lie Ao; he seemed to be a direct descendant of the Jia Lie Clan with quite a high status. The two lackeys beside him also burst into laughter.

The stall owner was a lean, middle-aged man, shrinking to the side, not daring to make a sound, obviously afraid to offend either side.

"You… you're being unreasonable!" The Xiao Family youth was speechless. They indeed hadn't paid the full amount, but the rule of first-come-first-served was sometimes more effective than money in the marketplace.

"What, you're not convinced?" Jia Lie Ao stepped forward, his sixth-level Dou Zhi Qi aura slightly released, pressing down on the two Xiao Family youths who were only at the fourth level of Dou Zhi Qi. "Want to fight? Just you two?"

The two Xiao Family youths were intimidated by the aura, their faces turning pale, and they couldn't help but step back half a pace, their eyes full of humiliation and unwillingness. The surrounding crowd pointed and whispered, but no one dared to step forward. The Jia Lie Clan had been very prominent recently, and their conduct had become increasingly overbearing.

Just as Jia Lie Ao was feeling triumphant, preparing to take the Purple Leaf Orchid and walk away, a calm voice interjected:

"Young Master Jia Lie Ao, the marketplace has its rules. Once a transaction is agreed upon, even if the full amount hasn't been paid, there is a right of priority. You arrived later and increased the price; while that complies with the unwritten rule of 'the highest bidder wins,' forcibly snatching it is arguably a low move and could also damage the Jia Lie Clan's reputation, right?"

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a handsome youth wearing the ordinary attire of a Xiao Family collateral member walking over, his expression calm, his gaze fixed directly on Jia Lie Ao. It was Lin Yan.

Jia Lie Ao was stunned for a moment. Once he saw that the person who came was just an unknown collateral member of the Xiao Family, and sensed his cultivation was only at the fourth or fifth level of Dou Zhi Qi (Lin Yan was disguising it at the fifth level), he sneered even more: "I wondered who it was; turns out it's just a fringe piece of trash from the Xiao Family. Is it your place to speak here? Get lost to the side, or I'll teach you a lesson too!"

He didn't take Lin Yan seriously at all. A collateral member at most at the fifth level, daring to provoke him?

Lin Yan's eyes turned slightly cold, but his tone remained calm: "I am merely stating a principle. This Purple Leaf Orchid is quite important to these two clansmen of mine. If Young Master Jia Lie Ao really needs it, why not follow the rules and let them complete the transaction? Or, how about we make a deal?"

"A deal? Are you worthy?" Jia Lie Ao waved his hand impatiently. "Get lost quickly, don't waste this young master's time. If you nag again, believe it or not, I'll make you crawl back!"

A lackey beside him was even more direct, reaching out to push Lin Yan's chest: "Can't understand human speech, huh? Young Master Ao told you to get lost…"

Before the words were finished, the lackey's wrist was steadily grabbed by a hand that didn't look particularly strong.

Lin Yan had made his move. The movement wasn't fast, but it was extremely precise. To onlookers, he just raised his hand to block.

The lackey only felt his wrist being clamped like an iron pincer, and a force far greater than he had imagined surged forth, causing his forward-pushing motion to stop abruptly, even causing faint pain. He looked up in astonishment, meeting Lin Yan's pitch-black, calm eyes, and felt an inexplicable chill in his heart.

Jia Lie Ao also noticed something was wrong, his eyes narrowing: "Hmm? Got some strength? Looks like you trash have been hiding something. However, in the face of absolute strength, it's all a joke!"

He tossed aside the Purple Leaf Orchid (the lackey nearby quickly caught it), clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked. The aura of the sixth level of Dou Zhi Qi was released without reservation, and he walked toward Lin Yan with a grimace.

"I originally only wanted to take a medicinal herb, but now, this young master has changed his mind. I need to let you Xiao Family people know who calls the shots in this marketplace!"

The crowd of onlookers let out a low gasp and retreated one after another, clearing a larger circle. The two Xiao Family youths' faces turned even paler; they wanted to step forward to help, but were blocked by Jia Lie Ao's other lackey.

Lin Yan let go of the hand he was gripping the first lackey with, and the lackey hurriedly retreated, looking at his slightly reddened wrist with surprise and suspicion.

Watching the aggressive and fiercely aura-wielding Jia Lie Ao approaching step by step, Lin Yan appeared calm on the surface, even slightly lowering his eyelids, as if somewhat fearful.

But inside his body, the energy of the seventh level of Dou Zhi Qi was already quietly circulating, gathering in his right fist. In his dantian, that tiny emerald spark flickered slightly, and a wisp of imperceptible, gentle yet resilient life energy quietly seeped into the meridians of his fist.

He did not use any of the violent power of the exotic flame, but merely combined the physical strength nourished and strengthened by the Living Spirit Flame with his seventh-level Dou Zhi Qi cultivation.

Seeing Lin Yan "not daring" to look up, Jia Lie Ao was even more triumphant, believing the other party had been scared by his aura. He let out a low shout, his right fist bringing a whistling sound as it struck straight at Lin Yan's face! He used eighty percent of his strength in this punch; if it landed solidly, it would be enough to break the nose of someone at the fifth level of Dou Zhi Qi and keep them bedridden for days!

He wanted to make an example of him!

The wind of the punch hit his face.

Just at the moment when the fist was about to strike his body, Lin Yan, who had been "bowing his head in fear," suddenly raised his head! His eyes were calm and waveless, yet sharp as a blade!