"Ah!" Han Li raised one hand high, clenched his fist tightly, and exclaimed with excitement. At this moment, his childlike nature was clearly evident. It seemed his assumption was correct: closed doors and windows hindered the bottle's ability to attract the light filaments; only in open, unobstructed spaces did the bottle attract the filaments more effectively, forming larger clusters of light. Although he still didn't know where the filaments originated or what purpose the bottle served in drawing in these tiny light points, this marked a significant step toward unraveling the mystery. Han felt that he was nearing the solution to the bottle's secret, which made him especially enthusiastic. He waited until just before dawn, when the light surrounding the bottle gradually faded and returned to stillness. Throughout this time, he carefully observed the bottle's changes while also remaining alert not to be noticed by others. Finally, he bent down, picked up the bottle, and examined it thoroughly. Nothing had changed compared to before—the cap remained firmly sealed, still unopenable. Han Li grew disappointed, but as it was now late, he reluctantly picked up the bottle and set it aside. He still needed to return to the stone chamber to meditate and practice his cultivation techniques. For several consecutive nights, at the same hour each evening, the same unusual phenomenon would occur. Countless strands of light, like moths drawn to a flame, would be attracted to the bottle and then transform into numerous small luminous dots, which the bottle would greedily absorb. Just as Han Li had come to expect this phenomenon to unfold daily on the bottle, a new change emerged by the eighth day. When Han Li arrived at the same spot, removed the bottle, and placed it properly, the absorption of light dots lasted only briefly for half a moment before ceasing. Then, the deep green patterns on the bottle suddenly emitted a brilliant green glow, and several golden characters and symbols began to appear clearly on its surface. These strange characters, with their graceful structure and unique strokes, carried an indescribable ancient charm, constantly flickering and drifting across the surface of the bottle. This unusual phenomenon, however, lasted only a fleeting moment before vanishing entirely, leaving behind only a few raised golden glyphs on the surface—seeming as though everything had returned to the very beginning. After these odd occurrences over the past several days, Han Li no longer reacted with astonishment, nor was he particularly surprised if even more extraordinary events unfolded on the bottle's surface. With a casual gesture, he picked up the bottle and instinctively reached for the lid. The lid came off smoothly and effortlessly. Unbelievable! Han Li stared in astonishment at the lid now in his hands. Could it really be that simple? With no tricks, no effort at all, had he so easily resolved this difficult problem—a challenge that had been troubling him for several days? Once Han Li confirmed that what was happening before him was genuine, and that the secret of the bottle had now come within his immediate grasp, he could no longer contain his excitement. He brought his eyes close to the bottle's mouth and gazed into its contents. Inside, a droplet of jade-green liquid—about the size of a soybean—rolled slowly, casting a shimmering green glow over the entire inner surface of the bottle. What on earth was this? Han Li felt somewhat disappointed. After all the effort he had put in, he had ended up with something so unremarkable. With a sigh of resignation, he sealed the bottle's lid, placed it in his leather satchel, and turned to walk back toward his residence. The earlier surge of excitement had completely faded away. Although he had opened the lid of the bottle, the outcome fell far short of his expectations. Han Li planned to return later, when he felt bored, to explore the secrets of this green liquid. Who knows, it might even bring him a little surprise! For now, all he needed to do was—go back and have a good rest, replenish his sleep. These days, he had been unable to sleep well each night, which greatly reduced his efficiency during the day’s practice sessions, and his lack of energy had already drawn some concern from Doctor Mo. Since Han Li became Doctor Mo’s direct disciple and broke through the first level of the technique, he had often felt that he lacked motivation to continue practicing it. Moreover, the results of the technique’s cultivation were far from satisfactory, making it difficult for him to stay enthusiastic or energized. As a result, Doctor Mo had scolded him severely. Yet, whenever it was time to practice, Han Li still felt drowsy and listless, completely lacking in spirit. This situation had begun to drive Doctor Mo crazy, leading him to wonder if he had perhaps chosen the wrong disciple. Thinking about this, Han Li felt a bit委屈, as he hadn't wanted things to be this way at all—his condition simply wasn't right. What surprised him even more was that the very next day, after he returned and slept through the night, he once again fully and wholeheartedly plunged into intense training. This change of heart was sparked merely by a light remark from Doctor Mo. "For every level I raise your technique, I'll double the monthly silver payment you're due." Only then did Doctor Mo truly grasp Han Li's deep desire for financial security, and from the root, devised a solution that firmly bound him to the relentless pursuit of training. In the days that followed, Han Li devoted himself tirelessly to mastering the next level of the technique. Every day, from morning until noon, and then again from noon until evening, he entered the stone chamber twice, practicing meditation and cultivation, living a monotonous, unvarying life that completely overshadowed everything else. To ensure that he could focus solely on his cultivation without distractions from external affairs, the Master of Ink temporarily sealed off the entire Shenshou Valley, even relocating medical services outside the valley. His daily needs for food, clothing, and supplies were managed entirely, leaving him with no responsibilities at all. Gradually, the matter of the bottle slipped from his memory. As autumn gave way to winter, and spring passed into summer, four years flowed by. By then, Han Li had reached the age of fourteen. He had grown into a sturdy, quiet young man with dark skin, embodying the resilience and determination of a rural youth. Visually, he was no different from other ordinary farm boys—unremarkable, neither handsome nor graceful. Every day, he moved between his stone dwelling and the dwelling, occasionally visiting the Master of Ink to learn medical techniques, and occasionally browsing through various books in his room. Thus, the entire valley became his world, and his internal cultivation techniques naturally progressed to the third level.