Chapter 92: This Is Actually a Dan Ding

"Old man?"

A head poked in from the doorway of the third floor. Xu Xiaoshou actually wanted to add a prefix, but he didn't dare.

"Come in."

Xu Xiaoshou walked inside.

Coolness.

That was the first sensation upon entering the third floor—completely different from the sweltering heat outside after the rain; it felt like stepping into an air-conditioned room.

He looked up.

It was a large red pearl embedded at the top of the third-floor pavilion, visible even from outside.

Xu Xiaoshou realized then that this thing was used to absorb heat, which explained why the third floor was so cool.

There was a faint, refreshing fragrance in the air.

His gaze shifted back. Standing in the center of the third floor was a massive three-legged bathtub with an incredibly smooth exterior, big enough to hold ten people bathing together.

Even standing up, Xu Xiaoshou didn't reach half its height. Looking at the bathtub, a bad premonition rose in his heart.

He really wanted to turn and leave, but he didn't dare...

Under Ganzhi, he could see that Sang Lao was actually sitting cross-legged in the void with his eyes closed, on the other side of the bathtub.

Xu Xiaoshou scratched his head; what was he doing?

Just then, he saw the old man suddenly pick up a large handful of spiritual flowers and herbs and throw them all into the bathtub.

Hmm, and he tossed in a dozen fruits, branches and all.

Splash splash!

A familiar sound rang in his ears.

"Jin Zhao Tian Yan?" Xu Xiaoshou thought.

He strained to look and vaguely saw a large cluster of flame outlines beneath the bathtub.

What level of Jin Zhao Tian Yan was this? Even Ganzhi hadn't detected it immediately—terrifying!

But burning the bathtub like that without any water inside—it couldn't be for bathing, could it?

And with all these ingredients added, what on earth was this old man up to?

"Sang Lao?" he called out.

"Don't speak, just watch." Sang Lao didn't open his eyes; he was completely focused.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but observe seriously, thinking that maybe it was a test for him, to guess what he was doing.

Very possible!

Big shots always did weird things to fool people.

Xu Xiaoshou was very experienced with that; that's how he had fooled Su Qianqian.

But...

The more he looked, the more Xu Xiaoshou felt something was off.

Under Ganzhi, the flowers, herbs, and fruits in the bathtub were immediately baked and cracked by the ultra-high temperature of Jin Zhao Tian Yan, turning into smoke, but surprisingly, a few drops of original liquid were left behind.

What incredible control that required!

Using such a domineering flame like Jin Zhao Tian Yan to refine such pure energy.

Xu Xiaoshou estimated that if it were him, he could burn down the entire Ling Zang Ge, let alone extract original liquid from these things.

As more flowers and herbs were added, the original liquid in the bathtub increased, but they stayed separate.

There was plenty of space inside, so no worry about them mixing.

Wait!

These original liquids were starting to fuse; this big blob of round liquid...

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened; this situation seemed a bit wrong, and a bit familiar?

Boom!

Accompanied by a loud noise, the bathtub shook violently. The liquid, bigger than a human head, instantly solidified into a gray-black ball.

Crack crack!

The black ball cracked open, and a rich medicinal fragrance spread out. Xu Xiaoshou trembled instantly, almost unable to hold back and sucking in all the contents inside.

He quickly covered his mouth and nose, and sealed all his pores.

Thud thud thud—

Pills rolled out one by one from the bathtub, through a small opening at the bottom side, into a prepared large bottle.

From the sound, there must be dozens of them.

Xu Xiaoshou was completely shocked; this was...

Pill refining???

Looking at the super large bathtub in front of him and then at the three legs below, Xu Xiaoshou had a realization that left him speechless.

A pill... pill cauldron?

Sang Lao opened his eyes and looked puzzled at the boy covering his nose, casually taking out a pill and sniffing it.

"It's not smelly; why are you covering up?"

"Oh, oh, nothing." Xu Xiaoshou quickly put his hand down and adjusted his state.

Good thing he hadn't inhaled it just now; if he had impulsively, those over thirty pills...

Xu Xiaoshou shivered.

While organizing the pills, Sang Lao said, "What did you learn from that?"

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath, his tone full of disbelief, "You're refining pills?"

Sang Lao paused, looking at the boy in disbelief, shocked, "After watching for so long, that's all you got?"

I was asking what pill refining techniques you learned!

What have you been watching all this time?!

Sang Lao was furious.

"Of course not just that!"

Xu Xiaoshou's words reassured the old man with the straw hat; he looked at Xu Xiaoshou expectantly.

In his eyes, this young boy had talent, perseverance, and was outstanding in all aspects; his aptitude was extremely rare, not to mention he could comprehend innate sword intent.

As a result, Xu Xiaoshou pointed at the pill cauldron and said loudly, "This is actually a pill cauldron!"

Thud!

Clang—

Sang Lao couldn't hold back and stumbled, knocking over several small pill bottles on the ground, with pills rolling out.

"Are you blind? If it's not a pill cauldron, what else could it be!" Sang Lao roared.

Xu Xiaoshou's momentum weakened considerably; anyone could see it's a pill cauldron, right?

Which pill cauldron was so exaggerated and weird?

So tall and so big...

Fine, I can understand if you have special tastes and like this style.

But look at this pill cauldron's exterior; it's so white and smooth...

Where did you buy this pill cauldron? What kind of taste is that? No carvings at all, just a big bathtub on three legs; it's ridiculous!

But even though he despised it, Xu Xiaoshou didn't dare speak loudly and weakly replied, "I thought it was a bathtub at first..."

"Bathtub?"

Sang Lao's face turned green with anger.

You ungrateful disciple, on our first meeting, you want to piss me off to death!

He forcibly suppressed his anger and looked back at the cauldron, realizing that the boy described it quite accurately...

Pah!

"This is a special pill cauldron required for our Jin Zhao lineage pill refining technique. It abandons those fancy exteriors and is made from the most heat-resistant crystals."

"You should also know that the power of Jin Zhao Tian Yan can melt spirit crystals in an instant; if it were ordinary crystals, the cauldron would melt before the pill is formed."

"Moreover, don't think it's ugly; one of these cauldrons costs the equivalent of more than ten of the same level!"

Sang Lao explained, feeling a bit tired.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "So powerful?"

"Of course!" Sang Lao's tone regained its pride.

Xu Xiaoshou reached out and touched the cauldron wall; amazingly, it had almost returned to its original temperature just after refining.

He knocked on the cauldron; the sound was deep and solid, very sturdy.

Xu Xiaoshou looked amazed and turned back to ask, "Such a sturdy pill cauldron, it must hurt a lot if used to hit someone!"

"???"

Sang Lao stared at the boy in a daze, veins bulging on his face.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

"You, shut up for this old man!"

"..."

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned; why so agitated all of a sudden?

Menopause?

Received request, passive value, +1.