Xia Ning leaned halfway out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, hot water still dripping from the ends of her hair.
She stared at the golden Star Core spinning in Su Xiaoxiao's palm, a lump catching in her throat.
Back when she had condensed her own Star Core, she had soaked in cold water for three nights straight and failed fourteen times.
Every time her magic power backflowed, her meridians spasmed so badly that she rolled around in pain. She had nearly ended up in intensive care.
Yet this girl had taken a hot bath and rubbed out a core as easily as scrubbing grime off her skin.
Comparing herself to other people really was infuriating.
"Xiaoxiao, how do you feel now?"
Xia Ning hurried over, not even bothering to dry the water on her calves.
"I feel... hot all over."
Starshine looked down at her palm, golden glimmers weaving between her fingers.
"The stone in my chest is spinning so fast. It feels like it could blow the roof off any second."
Su Bai swallowed the last piece of pickled radish in his boxed meal and set down his plastic chopsticks.
He reached out and rapped Su Xiaoxiao on the forehead.
"Are you trying to destroy our home? Damage even a little of it, and I'll dock every last penny of your allowance!"
"Hajige! I'm a high-tier Extraordinary Being now! Could you show my destructive power a little respect?"
Su Xiaoxiao protested, clutching her forehead.
"No matter how destructive you are, you still have to pay full price for damaging public property."
Su Bai stood up and put his half-dried old jacket back on.
"Get ready. Change your clothes. We're heading out."
Xia Ning froze for a moment. "Where are we going this late? There's a curfew