CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: THREE TAELS OF RED DUST

In the afternoon, there was another light rain. Chen Xu was diligently practicing the Fire Control Skill and Firewood Splitting Knife Technique in the Fire and Smoke Kitchen.

When he got tired from training, he would add some points to himself. After digesting the new attribute points, he continued practicing the two skills.

The progress with the Fire Control Skill was smooth. Since grasping the key point of the union of Qi and Intent, Chen Xu’s sense of Heart Fire had become increasingly clear. With each breath, the fire grew larger.

[Fire Control Level 1: (59/100)]

(62/100)

(68/100)

...

He practiced constantly and frequently contemplated, with each increase in experience, his understanding in his chest also grew.

Only the Firewood Splitting Knife Technique remained stuck at the experience threshold of (99/100), no matter how much he polished it, it seemed impossible to break through.

If it were before this morning, Chen Xu would inevitably have been anxious about it.

But now, having experienced the adventure of the Star Array, resolved the troubles of bad luck, and seen different landscapes, his mindset had become much more expansive.

Chen Xu was not discouraged and continued his practice.

In between, he also examined the few unusual ingredients he had obtained earlier, like the [Three Taels of Heart Monkey Dust Flame] and [One Tael of Joy, Three Parts Melancholy].

To be honest, they were quite peculiar, and Chen Xu found them a bit fascinating.

He checked the entries carefully. The [Three Taels of Heart Monkey Dust Flame] could be directly smelted with Heart Fire to become [Three Taels of Red Dust]. Its effect was to help people overcome mental obstacles and solve puzzles.

Upon seeing this, Chen Xu could not help blurting out: "Oh my!"

He felt like a fool, always burying himself in practice every time he entered the Fire and Smoke Kitchen and forgetting to check the food entries first.

The [One Tael of Joy, Three Parts Melancholy] also had special effects. When mixed with Hundred Herbs Frost and Cracked Clothes, and then simmered with Jade Dew Spring Water, it would result in [Soul-Devouring Powder], which could be used to control the soul of whoever consumed it.

[Note: Due to the low-grade materials, this Soul-Devouring Powder can only control mortals.]

Chen Xu looked carefully, and the Hundred Herbs Frost was simply the ashes from the bottom of a pot, which was easy to find.

As for Cracked Clothes, it turned out to be human skin flakes.

For instance, if Chen Xu wanted to use Soul-Devouring Powder to control someone else, he would need to rub off flakes from his skin and mix it with Hundred Herbs Frost while making it. This way, the Soul-Devouring Powder would be under his command.

If he used someone else’s skin flakes, then the Soul-Devouring Powder would be under their command.

Chen Xu: ...

He suddenly knew whom the Soul-Devouring Powder should be used on.

It was a bit disgusting, but somehow a bit exciting too.

He had always been immersed in "practicing martial arts," seemingly underestimating the true nature of the Food Cauldron Celestial Book.

Chen Xu immediately spent 50 Fireworks Value to unlock the detailed recipe for [Three Taels of Red Dust]. Then he took the so-called [Three Taels of Heart Monkey Dust Flame] from the shelf beside him.

This thing was lightweight and semi-transparent, like a blue flame that hovered automatically in his palm, looking very magical.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Xu gathered his Qi according to the detailed recipe, and a thread of Heart Fire spurted from his mouth.

The bright orange-red flame unrolled gently, like a cloud enveloping the blue dust flame in Chen Xu’s palm.

Then he cooked with a low flame, refining fire with fire.

During the process, Chen Xu had a wonderfully unique experience.

He found that Heart Fire, like human nature, was harder to restrain than to release.

Just like indulgence is always easier than restraint, but restraint, in turn, always holds more power than indulgence.

Martial Fire and Gentle Fire, one fast, one slow, one tight, one loose.

To be able to restrain and release is true Fire Control!

[Fire Control Level 1: (71/100)]

(73/100)

...

By the time the flame in his palm dispersed, and the Three Taels of Red Dust was successfully refined, Chen Xu’s Fire Control Skill experience had directly increased to (89/100).

He held that item that looked like a crispy bean in his left hand, and with a snap of his right fingers in the air, a flame burst forth from nothing.

At this point, the Fire Control Skill shed the restriction of having to spout fire from the mouth and became a real Fire Control Skill.

Chen Xu was overjoyed and swallowed the Three Taels of Red Dust without hesitation, then raised the chopping knife, split wood, and broke through obstacles.

The knife was like the wind cutting through waves, its force like a spark off a stone.

Firewood Splitting Knife Technique, Level 1, Perfection!

[Firewood Splitting Level 1 (100/100)]

Rolling Qi Blood coursed through his body, with the techniques thoroughly mastered and perfectly integrated.

Chen Xu tossed a round log before him, and with a flash of the knife, in just a moment, the log shattered into nearly a hundred small pieces of firewood.

And Chen Xu stood in place, seemingly as if he hadn’t even made a move with the knife.

A session of training, so exhilarating.

At nightfall, Chen Xu made dinner in the kitchen and then scraped off some Hundred Herbs Frost, entering the Fire and Smoke Kitchen once more.

By this time, his Fireworks Value was only at [16] points.

And his Free Attribute Points were down to [3] points.

The Tri-Attribute had transformed into:

[Essence: 30]

[Qi Blood: 30]

[Divine Soul: 30]

He was getting closer and closer to the Three Elements Foundation Establishment, and Chen Xu was already starting to feel an unusual presence stirring between his brows, with his every move filled with agility and strength.

He almost felt as if he could fly at any moment, though, of course, this was merely an illusion.

It was just that the Essence, Qi, and Divine Soul were approaching the Mortal Limit, making him occasionally feel this "sense of transcendence."

This time entering the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, one purpose was to control this sense of transcendence, so he didn’t always feel like drawing a knife to kill, filled with Fierce Qi.

This was undesirable, not conducive to his image as a scholar, and could easily cause unnecessary caution in others towards him.

The second reason for entering was to simmer [Soul-Devouring Powder], and now Chen Xu had all the materials needed, even the Jade Dew Spring Water.

In the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, the water in the vat by the stove was the Jade Dew Spring Water.

Similar to the pile of round logs in the corner, the water in this vat was also endless, free for Chen Xu to take as he pleased.

He selected firewood of the right size and stuffed it into the stove, a light snap of his fingers, and the Fire Control Skill ignited the wood.

Chen Xu sat beside the stove, controlling the fire, simmering the "medicine."

The flames in the stove moved according to his will, large or small, fierce or gentle, with perfect moderation, very mystical.

Occasionally, the experience of the Fire Control Skill would increase by a point, and Chen Xu’s understanding of the flame would deepen a bit more.

In the late hours of the night, the Night Watchman passed through South Market Street, striking the bronze gong: Boom!

"Midnight three times, spring rains drizzling, beware of roof leaks——"

The drizzling rain was like spring silkworms munching on mulberry leaves, creating a dense rustling sound in the quiet world.

Listening to the Night Watchman’s call, Chen Xu waited until the footsteps faded away before skillfully vaulting over the wall, leaving his small courtyard, avoiding South Market Street, heading straight towards the east of the town.

He was heading in the direction of Boya Studio on a rainy night.

The residence of Shopkeeper Sun Wu was not far from Boya Studio, a two-entry courtyard, neither too large nor too small, considered a well-off household in all of Jichuan County.

But Sun Wu had always been stingy. Though the courtyard he lived in was neat and respectable, he only hired an old gatekeeper to watch the door. Everything inside and out of the house was managed by his wife and concubine, not even hiring a rough maid.

That night, his wife again complained to him about the difficulties in the household, but Sun Wu scolded his wife: "What difficulties? Living in a two-entry courtyard and you call it difficult? Go ask around the whole street, what other wife has it as easy as you?

Eating meat once every five days, even country landlords don’t have such good days! Go away, your lord still has accounts to settle, don’t bother me!"

He sent his wife away, and indeed stayed in the study, lighting the oil lamp, to review the accounts.