Chapter 242: A Moment's Beauty

A Ninth-Grade Alchemist?

As soon as this idea was raised, not only Mu Zixi, but even Sang Lao was startled and lost his balance.

Even if the Jin Zhao Alchemy lineage was overwhelmingly dominant, your progress was simply too rapid—it was as if you were hurtling along on a rocket!

"Don't believe it?"

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow, fully aware that no one ever took him seriously when he spoke the truth.

But this time, he was actually stretching the truth slightly.

He hadn't become a Ninth-Grade Alchemist in three days—it had only been one day!

In the final two days before entering Tian Xuan Men, he had mostly been occupied with enhancing the quality of the Dan Yao.

"Heh," Mu Zixi responded with a simple "heh," wondering how she could possibly accept that, especially after Sang Lao had just praised her own speed in alchemy.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at Sang Lao and saw the old man sporting the same skeptical expression, which made him chuckle. "How about this—if I truly succeed in refining the Dan Yao, you give me more Dan Fang."

Sang Lao laughed good-naturedly. "If you actually pull it off, forget about Dan Fang—I'll even teach you a Spiritual Technique on top of that!"

A Spiritual Technique... Xu Xiaoshou wasn't particularly interested in such things, but since Sang Lao was making such a generous offer, it would surely lead to more Dan Fang later on.

"Want to make a wager?" He turned to the young girl beside him.

"What kind of wager?" Mu Zixi asked, beginning to feel a mix of doubt and curiosity given how confident Xu Xiaoshou seemed.

"Ha, so you actually believe it?" Xu Xiaoshou teased, bursting into laughter.

"Wager!"

The young girl fell for the provocation instantly, clenching her small fists. "If you lose, give back my 'Sheng Ming Ling Yin'!"

"Give back?" Xu Xiaoshou pressed his hand against her forehead to hold her back. "Since when did that thing belong to you?"

"Ah!"

Mu Zixi attempted a flying kick, but when she couldn't reach him, she angrily opened her mouth to protest.

Xu Xiaoshou quickly clamped her jaw shut, saying dismissively, "Fine, fine, I'll wager with you. If you lose, from now on, whatever I say goes!"

"Whatever I say goes?" Mu Zixi paused, tightening her grip on her skirt. "No way—that's too broad."

Xu Xiaoshou: ...

He looked her up and down, then laughed dismissively. "What are you thinking? I mean, if I tell you to stop, you have to quit all that fidgeting and roughhousing!"

"Fidgeting and roughhousing?" Mu Zixi was stunned. Did he not realize who initiated the insults every single time?

He added lazily, "And no biting!"

"Hmph, fine." Mu Zixi grumbled under her breath, muttering, "I never bite people anyway..."

Xu Xiaoshou swatted her with a palm, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Sang Lao watched with a twitch of his face, about to speak, but Xu Xiaoshou quickly interrupted, "She's barely started as a disciple and is already exchanging blows and words with her senior brother. What will happen when she's more senior—will she start bullying the master?"

"Serves her right for the lesson!"

He turned to Sang Lao with a wide grin. "Right?"

Sang Lao: ...

"Come on." Xu Xiaoshou casually dragged over the large bathtub and squatted down.

Ever since he realized this object was a top-tier treasure, he had been eyeing it for ages.

Mu Zixi had just gotten up when a small bathtub flew towards her. She caught it and set it down.

After glancing at it and comparing, her double ponytails practically bristled with anger.

"Why is mine the small one?"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at her, thought for a moment, and said, "It's a match."

Mu Zixi: ???

She took a deep breath, in and out, finally restraining herself, then turned to Sang Lao. "If Xu Xiaoshou wins, does he receive a reward? What about me?"

"Pfft!" Xu Xiaoshou burst out laughing. "You really think you can win?"

In an instant, Mu Zixi's double ponytails turned into pigtails sticking straight up, then drooped limply.

"Xu Xiaoshou, don't push it too far!"

"Request received, passive value +1."

"Heh, how am I pushing it? Just stating facts." Xu Xiaoshou continued bantering while glancing at his status screen, almost cracking up.

"Shut your mouth!"

"Oh, getting feisty? Got nothing to say?"

"I..."

"Xu Xiaoshou, I'll kill you!"

"Take that, you fiend!"

With a bang, the girl was pinned down again, left with a face full of frustration and resentment.

"Master, save me..."

Sunlight streamed through the window as Sang Lao silently observed the back-and-forth he couldn't even participate in, his lips curving into an unwitting smile.

Sometimes, life is full of surprises.

In his pursuit of detachment, his life had suddenly acquired a wild, destructive creature.

As a protective measure, Ling Cang Ge had welcomed another family member.

"Family, huh..."

"If it could stay like this... maybe..."

"Master, save me!"

A cry jolted Sang Lao out of his thoughts. His expression faltered, the smile vanished, and he glared at the two rolling around on the ground.

"Get up, both of you! Have some decency!"

They immediately separated. Xu Xiaoshou still looked composed, but Mu Zixi's face was swollen and red from the scuffle.

She slapped the small bathtub, fuming, "You're going to lose for sure!"

With that, she began throwing herbs into it.

There was no other choice—she couldn't beat him in a fight anymore!

After this confrontation, Mu Zixi finally realized she couldn't compete with Xu Xiaoshou in terms of cultivation or anything else.

How did he even train? She never saw him practicing, yet his strength had surged so quickly.

Under his dazzling progress, her own breakthrough—from the early stages of Yuan Ting Jing to its peak in just one Tian Xuan Men session—was completely overshadowed.

That advancement, which should have garnered praise and envy, was totally ignored!

How infuriating...

The young girl clenched her fists and hurled herbs with all her might.

Xu Xiaoshou drawled, "Remember, alchemy is about maintaining calm and composure. If you keep this up, you'll blow the furnace!"

Mu Zixi grabbed a handful of herbs and stuffed them in her ears. "Shut up! Just shut up!"

"Shouldn't you be the one shutting up?" Xu Xiaoshou checked her progress, then began tossing herbs into his own bathtub. Suddenly, he noticed the bite mark on his hand and froze.

When did she manage to bite him?

He grimaced and snorted, "Not only shut up, but keep your mouth shut altogether. One of these days, when you're asleep, I'll pull out your teeth..."

Mu Zixi: ???

His teeth were at the Zong Shi level or something... Xu Xiaoshou touched the bite mark—it actually hurt a bit. "Wonder if it's poisonous..."

With a boom, the small bathtub exploded, leaving Mu Zixi covered in soot.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

"Whoa, I told you to stay calm while refining—did you really blow it?" Xu Xiaoshou quickly looked over. "Are you okay?"

Mu Zixi paused mid-shout, her face blank.

Was Xu Xiaoshou actually concerned?

The next second, she heard the young man continue, "Don't misunderstand—I was asking about the small bathtub. Take it easy; that's my go-to weapon for smacking people!"