Chapter 1040: Forcibly Feeding and Raising Cats for a Thousand Days, Using Them for a Moment

The Forest of Miracles.

Following Shuang Dai's desperate escape route, Xu Xiaoshou and Lei Xier walked side-by-side, still carrying the plump little kitten.

A Bing and A Huo had been out for a bit of fresh air, but now they were back in the Yuanfu.

After all, what lay ahead was a rather questionable "treasure hunt," and involving A Bing and A Huo would make their group far too conspicuous.

It was time to reel them in and see who would bite first, vying to become the lead actor under Director Xu.

"What are you doing?"

While stroking the Greedy God in her arms, Lei Xier turned to look at Xu Xiaoshou.

Along the way, Xu Xiaoshou hadn't stopped experimenting—sometimes his arm would transform into metal, other times his body would suddenly shatter into pieces and reassemble.

Lei Xier didn't need to guess; she knew he was testing his newly acquired abilities.

This guy...

Ever since getting the Imitator, his cultivation hadn't advanced much, but his collection of bizarre abilities had grown by the day.

Now, after playing around with his own body, he was even turning his left hand into a golden Dan Ding and manifesting Jin Zhao Bai Yan in his right, burning the cauldron like a madman.

"Refining pills, isn't it obvious?"

Xu Xiaoshou heated up his left-hand Dan Ding without even glancing back.

"But that's your body..."

Lei Xier was speechless. He called it refining pills, but the cauldron was made from his own body—wasn't that just refining himself?

"The highest-level alchemists use the heavens and earth as their furnace to smelt all things. I haven't reached that stage yet; I'm just a minor Wangzuo alchemist, so I have to use my body as the furnace to refine the herbs," Xu Xiaoshou replied casually.

"...Go ahead and mess around then!"

Lei Xier decided not to engage.

Though it was a bit hard to watch, she remembered that as a true heir of the Jin Zhao lineage, he had grown up eating fire seeds.

This level of heat could burn through his Qi Sea, so burning his surface probably didn't bother him at all.

"Monster."

Lei Xier muttered quietly to herself.

She was also from the Jin Zhao lineage, a proper disciple taken in by Elder Sang through a formal ceremony, but without Jin Zhao Bai Yan, she couldn't understand how this lineage could drive people mad.

They pressed on.

After entering the Forest of Miracles, the scent of herbs grew stronger.

Lei Xier became even more cautious, afraid that from the depths of the ancient woods, a massive foot might suddenly emerge from space, followed by the arrival of the Void Attendant to question why they were intruding.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiaoshou was still carefree, focused on refining his pills...

"What are you refining pills for?"

Lei Xier couldn't hold back anymore.

How could Xu Xiaoshou be so relaxed?

They had just fought Tai Xu, and he wasn't worried about running into another one?

If a fully powered Tai Xu showed up, his plan might be good, but it would be hard to pull off.

"Don't underestimate this thing. I call it 'Zuo Sheng Dan,' a fourth-grade Wangzuo pill I just created. Impressive, right?" Xu Xiaoshou said proudly.

Just created... Lei Xier's eyes grew wary. "Can it be eaten?"

"Yes, but eating it plain won't do much. It needs to be taken with Shengji Guo to avoid wasting its effects..."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, then corrected himself: "Actually, the Shengji Guo needs to be taken with this pill to avoid waste."

The image from the soul reading—Shuang Dai wasting over ninety percent of the Shengji Guo's effects—was still fresh in his mind.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't want to squander such a treasure!

What he was researching now combined the full knowledge of spiritual herbs from "Culinary Mastery" with the highest-grade herbs he grew in his Yuanfu world, creating the most compatible pill for consuming Shengji Guo.

Zuo Sheng Dan on its own wasn't even as effective as a sixth-grade Zongshi cultivation pill.

But pair it with Shengji Guo, and it would lock the fruit's power firmly in the Qi Sea, allowing better absorption through a Spirit Refiner's cultivation method.

Though classified as a Wangzuo pill, its effects were more like an auxiliary Saint pill.

Because, as Xu Xiaoshou was certain, no such pill existed on the market to pair with Shengji Guo—Shengji Guo had long been extinct on the Sheng Shen Continent, except on Void Island!

"It's here."

Not long after, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly stopped, staring intently at his left-hand Dan Ding with an unusually serious expression—one he hadn't shown even against Shuang Dai.

"Hiss."

Lei Xier recognized this scene and took a deep breath, quickly backing away with the Greedy God in her arms.

Sure enough, the next second, a massive boom echoed as a mushroom cloud shot into the sky, blasting the surrounding area for miles into fragments.

From the dust, an excited voice rang out.

"Cough, cough!"

"Lei Xier, I did it! Success on the first try—not bad for me!"

"Zuo Sheng Dan, a fourth-grade Wangzuo pill, and freshly developed... Looks like my alchemy skills have improved again!"

Lei Xier watched as the dust-covered Xu Xiaoshou emerged, thinking to herself that his explosion skills had improved, not his alchemy—he hadn't been this disheveled even fighting Shuang Dai.

But...

Looking at the shattered ancient woods around them, Lei Xier pondered.

Could a fourth-grade Wangzuo pill cause this much destruction?

If Xu Xiaoshou's alchemy advanced another level or two, maybe in fights, he wouldn't need his body or sword anymore—just set up a Dan Ding and refine pills in front of his enemies.

If enemies tried to interfere?

Interference would just make it explode easier.

Who knows, they might end up in ridiculous situations...

Enemies might have to stand by politely until he finished refining just to avoid an explosion.

Worse, to fight Xu Xiaoshou, they might even have to learn alchemy themselves!

"What nonsense!"

Lei Xier shook her head, snapping out of her absurd thoughts. She turned her serious gaze to the blackened Xu Xiaoshou as he rushed over and handed her the equally black pill.

"For me?" She pursed her lips, looking reluctant.

"Of course for you. I don't need Zuo Sheng Dan; I have the Breathing Method..."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, explaining: "I mean, my cultivation technique is powerful enough to perfectly absorb Shengji Guo's effects without it—I might even have to release some of the energy."

"I..." Lei Xier twitched at the corner of her mouth and glanced at the black pill. "Is it really safe to eat?"

"Do you trust me?"

"No."

"Good, you shouldn't. Once you eat this pill, you will." Xu Xiaoshou grabbed her hand and, without waiting, shoved the dark pill into her palm, leaving a smear of ash.

Lei Xier stared at her suddenly dirty hand with her Shenmo Pupils, unable to purify it or wipe it on Xu Xiaoshou for fear of pain...

She had no choice but to summon water, washing her hands while hesitating. "Do I have to eat it?"

"Relax, as your senior brother, I wouldn't be heartless enough to test it on you first." Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, his gaze shifting down to the plump kitten.

"Meow?"

The Greedy God tilted its little head, not understanding.

"Little guy, that was the refining process for a fourth-grade pill. Did you memorize it?" Xu Xiaoshou asked kindly.

"Meow."

The Greedy God nodded; it was indeed interested in alchemy.

At this stage, with some help from Zero Zero Seven, it had a decent success rate with innate and Zongshi-level pills. It felt ready to aim for the Wangzuo alchemy cat realm.

"Great that you remembered. When you have time, feel free to use the high-grade herbs in the Yuanfu world. Try refining this fourth-grade pill.

"It's simpler than other fourth-grade pills. If you succeed, I'll let you wear my fourth-grade alchemist badge for a bit." Xu Xiaoshou pulled out his alchemist badge and waved it.

"Meow meow."

The Greedy God's mouth watered.

It didn't care about the badge, but its owner had always been stingy with the high-grade spirit herb fields in the Yuanfu world, not letting it waste them.

Was he suddenly feeling generous?

"But there's a condition." Xu Xiaoshou changed his tone.

"Meow?" The Greedy God showed a human-like expression. Of course...

"Well, let's not call it a condition—that sounds harsh..."

Xu Xiaoshou flipped his hand and produced another black pill, speaking in a devilish, tempting voice: "It's just that earlier, I accidentally made two pills, so you're in luck. You get to try this Zuo Sheng Dan first!"

Lei Xier: ???

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Xu Xiaoshou, you're insane! Failed to trick me, so now you're tricking the cat?

The Greedy God looked equally puzzled.

This pitch-black pill looked even worse than the ones it refined itself. Did he really think it was still the naive alchemy novice it used to be?

"It's delicious, you know."

Sensing the Greedy God's resistance, Xu Xiaoshou quickly grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and lifted it up. "Come on, open wide—ahh."

"Meow meow meow!!!"

The Greedy God struggled fiercely, its four short legs flailing in the air, but it couldn't escape its fate. In panic, it glanced at its female owner for help.

"Meow meow meow!"

Help! Someone's trying to poison the kitten!

Lei Xier felt sympathy and started to intervene: "Little Greedy God is so cute..."

Xu Xiaoshou's gaze sharpened. "There are only two Zuo Sheng Dans. If it doesn't eat it, you will."

Lei Xier: "..."

In the end, under the Greedy God's helpless gaze, she looked away slightly.

Sorry, little Greedy God. From now on, in the herb fields I manage, you'll get a share of the spirit herbs—I'll just keep it from Xu Xiaoshou.

"Meow! Meow! Meow!"

The Greedy God went berserk, its white fur standing on end like a hedgehog.

But no matter how spiky it got, it couldn't outspike the real hedgehog—Xu Xiaoshou.

"Be good, stop struggling. This is a fourth-grade pill—others would beg me for a lick." Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. "You know, you look just like I did as a kid getting shots..."

"Meow! Rawr!!"

I won't!!!

"Open your mouth."

"Rawr!"

"Open up!"

"Rawr rawr rawr!!!"

"Rebellious child, how dare you? Who taught you these bad habits?" Xu Xiaoshou finally showed his demonic side, prying open the Greedy God's mouth and forcing the Zuo Sheng Dan in.

Lei Xier watched in shock, feeling a wave of panic.

Thankfully, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't do this to his junior sister...

"Roar!!!"

The Greedy God's cry suddenly changed, its body starting to swell.

What the...?

Xu Xiaoshou was startled. Did the Greedy God have a combat form?

But this way of transforming was way too weird.

"Shrink back!"

He quickly clamped his hand around the Greedy God's head.

Poor Greedy God bloated up like a ball, but its head couldn't change, so it deflated back to normal, left with no choice but to swallow the pill.

"Meow."

The Greedy God was in despair.

Just then, a flash of inspiration hit its mind—a scene of Zang Ku stabbing into Xu Xiaoshou's heart. It suddenly looked up, fixing its gaze on its demonic owner.

"Buzz!"

In its left eye, the three-petal gray flower spun, and the air seemed to freeze.

The next second, Xu Xiaoshou's movements halted, his expression went blank, and his eyes lost their spark. He mumbled incoherently: "Meow... meow... meow..."

Lei Xier: ???

She was shocked again—this time by the Greedy God.

To avoid eating the pill, it even used San Yan Tong on its own owner?

You've got guts, cat...

The control lasted only a moment. While imitating a cat's meow, Xu Xiaoshou quickly snatched back the pill that was about to enter the Greedy God's mouth and tried to swallow it himself.

"Under control, passive value, 1."

At that moment, his spiritual awakening triggered.

Xu Xiaoshou regained his senses and erupted in anger.

"Ungrateful brat, how dare you trick your father? Where did you pick up these nasty habits?"

"Meow meow..."

The Greedy God cowered, quickly explaining: It was all Zang Ku's fault, all Zang Ku's...

Seizing the moment while the Greedy God gestured with its paws, Xu Xiaoshou swiftly shoved the Zuo Sheng Dan down its throat.

The Greedy God's eyes bulged: ???

"Gulp."

It swallowed instinctively, and tears welled up.

"Meow... sniff..."

What was that?

How could he cheat like that?

I was still talking, still explaining...

"It's over quickly, and I wasn't lying—it doesn't hurt." Xu Xiaoshou softened, stroking its head to comfort it.

"Meow." The Greedy God started to gather its energy...

Xu Xiaoshou noticed immediately, his eyebrows furrowing: "No using your devouring talent! Just feel the fourth-grade pill—it's delicious."

He still needed to test if this pill was safe.

If the Greedy God used its devouring to turn it into energy, what was the point?

"Meow..."

This time, the Greedy God gave up struggling.

If it had to swallow it, so be it.

It didn't trust its owner's alchemy, but it trusted his life-saving skills.

Maybe, right before dying, it could taste "Saint Blood" and "Divine Blessing"—the Greedy God had been craving those for a while.

"How is it?" Xu Xiaoshou asked caringly about the cat's condition.

"Meow..."

The Greedy God replied weakly.

It tasted bitter at first, like Dan Hui—worse than its own pills.

But after a moment, the bitterness faded, and a rich, fragrant essence bloomed in its mouth, revealing the core effects of the fourth-grade pill.

"Woo woo woo."

The Greedy God's body convulsed, its four short legs kicking forward and backward, even its tail standing straight like a spear—it had truly become "a straight cat" now!

"This..."

Lei Xier watched anxiously.

Was it dead?

Wait, no...

This looked a bit like Xu Xiaoshou when he took pills?

"Meow."

After convulsing for a while, the Greedy God snapped out of the wonderful sensation.

"Meow meow meow..."

It pawed the air, describing the flavors.

There was the taste of Qingxin Fruit, Liangmu Root, Banling Flower's aroma, and more... Wait, why was there Catnip, that low-grade stuff not even considered a herb?

The Greedy God suddenly froze, its little head full of confusion. Then it realized.

Damn it, making two pills wasn't an accident at all!

"What did it say?"

Lei Xier couldn't understand cat language, so she turned to Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou, relieved the cat was alive, patted its soft belly and smiled: "It said it's delicious, the best pill it's ever eaten. The effects are pure—definitely a top-grade pill."

Lei Xier: ???

"Under suspicion, passive value, 1."

Was that really what the Greedy God said?