Cheng Shan, Ye Yuan, and Ye Ling stared in astonishment at the youth before them, finding it difficult to reconcile his appearance with the “alchemy genius” Zhou Xuan had just described.
After a moment, Cheng Shan said with a skeptical tone, “An alchemy genius? Where are all these geniuses coming from? Don't make up excuses just to shirk your responsibilities.”
She had good reason to doubt. She knew full well that the true value of an alchemy genius was sometimes far greater than that of a High-grade Divine Ability Bone—just as an Alchemy Master carried far more weight than an ordinary Divine Ability Master.
Take Zhou Xuan, for instance: to say nothing of Feather Robe and True Primordial Energy Masters, even Eerie Spirit Masters occasionally had to lower themselves to request pills from him.
Zhou Xuan said with a beaming smile, “This kid succeeded on his very first attempt at refining a Qi Refining Elixir. If that doesn't count as an alchemy genius, what does? You should know, even when Fuling was starting out, back then she... Ow!”
Beside him, Zhou Fuling suddenly struck, her little fist slamming hard into Zhou Xuan's lower back and brutally cutting off his words mid-sentence.
“If you dare make careless comparisons with me again, I'll burn all your medicinal herbs!” Zhou Fuling threatened fiercely through gritted white teeth.
Zhou Xuan's eyelid twitched as he rubbed his lower back, utterly speechless.
Cheng Shan's eyes flickered with surprise. The scrutinizing look she had aimed at Lu Ming gradually softened. If things were truly as Zhou Xuan had said, then this youth hailing from a Grade 3 Divine Ability Hall might genuinely possess some talent in the Dao of Alchemy.
“Instead of prioritizing Her Highness's task, you go and find an alchemy genius to carry on your legacy. If you bungle Her Highness's affairs, let's see how you account for yourself when the time comes,” she reprimanded, turning her gaze back to Zhou Xuan.
“There's no conflict between the two,” Zhou Xuan replied lazily.
“Although this kid has only reached Entry in the Golden Sun Flame Banner, I suspect he's slacking off on purpose. When the time comes that Initial Success is actually needed, he might suddenly reach Initial Success overnight.”
Cheng Shan's brows furrowed tightly. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
How could someone's mastery of a divine ability suddenly jump forward out of nowhere?
Their gazes shifted to Lu Ming, who quickly shook his head and explained, “I haven't been slacking off. I have been cultivating very diligently. It's just that the Golden Sun Flame Banner is indeed far more difficult to cultivate than ordinary Upper Divine Abilities.”
At this, Ye Yuan nodded in deep agreement, having clearly suffered his fair share of hardships while cultivating this divine ability technique.
Zhou Xuan shrugged. Letting the topic of Lu Ming drop, he asked, “Why have you arrived so early? The Black Rain Season is still some time away from breaking out.”
“Naturally, because I was worried you'd be unreliable, so I came early to keep an eye on things,” Cheng Shan replied.
Zhou Xuan chuckled. “It's good that you're here. In another month, the Black Rain Zone around Qingyuan Ward will enter the Rain Waning Season. Once the black rain subsides, countless treasure-hunting teams will flood into Qingyuan Ward and venture deep into the Black Rain Zone in search of treasures. That will surely stir up plenty of chaos in Qingyuan Ward. With you around, you can help me keep things under control.”
“Depends on my mood.” Though the beauty in palace robes was no longer young, she still carried an aloof, prickly pride.
“Go rest first. I have already arranged lodgings for you,” Zhou Xuan said, having long grown accustomed to her temperament.
Cheng Shan nodded without another word and prepared to leave with the Ye siblings.
“Fuling, once we settle in, we'll come find you! You've been in Qingyuan Ward for so long, so you have to show us around!” Ye Ling took Zhou Fuling's hand and wheedled playfully.
Zhou Fuling agreed with a smile.
Cheng Shan and the siblings then left the inner courtyard, following a guide toward the lodgings Zhou Xuan had arranged.
Along the way, Ye Ling kept glancing back toward the courtyard, her brows tightly knit. “Brother, Fuling seems quite attentive to that kid. You already missed an opportunity before. This time, Aunt Shan made a special trip to bring us here early, so you have to seize this chance.”
Hearing this, Ye Yuan let out a helpless sigh. “Stop fussing over such things. Let nature take its course. If it doesn't work out, then it simply wasn't meant to be. Why force it?”
“Then you can go tell that to Father yourself,” Ye Ling huffed coldly.
Ye Yuan felt even more helpless. How could he not understand his clan's intentions? They simply wanted him to grow close to Zhou Fuling and forge marriage ties with the Zhou family. After all, although their Ye family was a renowned Divine Ability Clan in Nantian Prefecture of the Great Luo Territory, they were still a cut below the Zhou family.
Given the Zhou family's heritage, even Her Highness had to treat them with courtesy, and Zhou Fuling was particularly close to Her Highness.
He was quite resistant to the idea, but unable to disobey his father's orders, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and approach Zhou Fuling.
“A-Yuan, you are a prodigy of the Ye family, backed by our clan's heritage. That boy cannot compare to you. Even if he does possess some talent in alchemy, his background is far too humble. Besides, I can tell that his relationship with Zhou Xuan is not that of a true master and disciple; I suspect it is merely a transactional arrangement. Bringing you here early was precisely so you could take this opportunity to spend more time around Zhou Fuling. With your talent and ability, you stand like a crane among chickens in a tiny place like Qingyuan Ward. Zhou Fuling will come to realize it in time,” Cheng Shan said, halting her steps to lecture him.
Cheng Shan was the biological younger sister of Ye Yuan's mother and a true elder of his, so when even she spoke in such a manner, Ye Yuan could only force a bitter smile and agree.
Meanwhile, back in the inner courtyard.
Only after Cheng Shan and the others had departed did Lu Ming finally feel a sense of relief.
“That woman is just like that—sharp-tongued, but she harbors no real malice. Working with her is actually quite reassuring,” Zhou Xuan remarked with a smile, casting a glance at him.
Then, changing the subject, he asked, “Your Thunderfire Hall truly made a splash this time. You must have taken in quite a few disciples over the past few days, haven't you?”
Lu Ming smiled wryly. “It was all bought with our lives.”
Indeed, whether it was the bloody battle that night or the subsequent pursuit of Guo Kui deep into the Peach Miasma Mountains, every bit of it had been carved out through life-and-death struggle.
Zhou Xuan nodded. He naturally understood just how much painstaking effort and mortal danger were required for a Grade 3 Divine Ability Hall to expand and grow strong.
“Ward Master, my visit today is to ask a favor of you,” Lu Ming requested respectfully.
“What is it?”
Lu Ming brought out the chest he had placed to the side. First, he retrieved an exquisite jade box from his robes and opened it, revealing two peaches that looked like carved red jade. A rich peach fragrance wafted into the air, drawing astonished looks from both Zhou Xuan and Zhou Fuling.
“These are... Red Jade Flat Peaches?” Befitting an Alchemy Master, Zhou Xuan recognized the spiritual item at a single glance.
“Did you obtain these from the Peach Miasma Mountains? You must have raided Guo Kui's lair.”
Lu Ming smiled and nodded. “I would like to request the Ward Master to use the Red Jade Flat Peaches as the main ingredient to refine a high-rank pill. If one peach is enough to succeed, the remaining one will be given to you as compensation, along with this one hundred thousand heavenly gold sand.”
He opened the chest, revealing the glittering heavenly gold sand inside.
Zhou Xuan looked pensive. “A pill using Red Jade Flat Peaches as the main ingredient? So your grandfather has refined True Primordial Energy? No wonder you were able to slay Guo Kui this time.”
As an Alchemy Master, Zhou Xuan naturally knew the effects of the Red Jade Flat Peach. A high-rank pill refined using it as the main ingredient could help purify primordial energy and accelerate the condensing of True Primordial Energy.
Lu Ming did not deny it. He knew that making such a request would inevitably lead Zhou Xuan to deduce the truth.
“You're actually offering payment this time? What, you're not going to freeload using favors anymore?” Zhou Xuan teased.
Lu Ming replied awkwardly, “It wasn't freeloading. Wasn't that me offering my sincere gratitude?”
Zhou Xuan snorted with laughter. “It's not out of the question to refine the pill for you, and you only need to leave half of the one hundred thousand heavenly gold sand. However, I have a condition.”
“What condition?” Lu Ming asked promptly.
Zhou Xuan said unhurriedly, “Whenever you cultivate the Golden Sun Flame Banner to Initial Success is when I will refine the pill for you.”
“Ah?”
Lu Ming froze, then protested, “Ward Master, I truly haven't been slacking off. I have been cultivating the Golden Sun Flame Banner very seriously, without the slightest lapse.”
“Heh.”
Zhou Xuan chuckled, wearing an expression that said he didn't believe a word of it. He had already figured out that this kid was like an ox—he wouldn't budge unless whipped.
“I don't care whether you're cultivating seriously or not. I only care about results.”
“Cheng Shan will be staying here from now on. If you don't cultivate the Golden Sun Flame Banner to the Initial Success stage, she will never stop nagging in my ear, and that's annoying,” Zhou Xuan said.
Lu Ming's lips twitched. Where was the sense in that...
Zhou Xuan glanced at him, his languid voice drifting over.
“Don't say I'm pushing you. This is for your own good. As a local, you should know that in another month, the Black Rain Zone will enter the Rain Waning Season, right?”
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