Xiao Yi Xian: A scroll that bought her life

"Huh?"

Xiao Yi Xian froze.

When had she ever said she would pledge herself to him?

Sure, the storybooks said a girl should pledge herself to the man who saved her life, and Chu Zhou's kindness to her outweighed even that, but...

"You're my Alchemy Maid. You'll be working for me from now on, and barring any surprises, you'll spend your whole life by my side. Isn't that pledging yourself to me?" Chu Zhou winked at Xiao Yi Xian.

Catching the teasing look that flashed across his face, Xiao Yi Xian felt the tips of her ears redden. She covered her mouth and giggled, waving the rainbow-colored beast-hide scroll. "You're right, Young Master. This scroll bought my entire life."

As she said those words, Xiao Yi Xian felt as though a pebble had fallen into the still lake of her heart, sending ripples across it. She could no longer remain calm.

My whole life?

"Once you've read the Medicinal Herb Compendium, you can ask me about anything you don't understand," Chu Zhou said, changing the subject.

"Then I'll be counting on your guidance, Young Master." Her eyes bright with a smile, Xiao Yi Xian put away the rainbow-colored beast-hide scroll and took out the Medicinal Herb Compendium.

The Magical Beast Carriage traveled steadily along the main road and entered Wutan City before nightfall.

"Aunt Luo, help me get Xiao Yi Xian settled in. I'm going to talk to Sister Ya Fei about what I found," Chu Zhou said as he stepped out of the carriage.

"Of course, Young Master," Luo Lin replied.

After nodding to Xiao Yi Xian, Chu Zhou entered the auction house and found Ya Fei, who had just finished an auction.

"You're back." Today, Ya Fei wore a Qipao that accentuated both her figure and her elegance. The makeup between her brows lent her a distinctive charm. "Did you find your acquaintance?"

"I didn't, but I found something even better." Chu Zhou took out a scroll and placed it before Ya Fei. "During this trip to Qingshan Town, I happened to discover a talented girl. Through her, I also found an Ancient Cultivator's Cave Dwelling and came away with a fourth-rank spirit medicine, several hundred thousand gold coins, and this scroll."

"Oh?" A flicker crossed Ya Fei's dark eyes as she took the scroll and opened it.

When she discovered that it contained a High-grade Profound Tier Attribute-less Dou Technique, her breath instinctively caught.

An Attribute-less Dou Technique could also be described as compatible with every attribute. Its value depended on the specific technique, but it was generally worth more than a single-attribute Dou Technique, sometimes several times as much.

Ya Fei composed herself and continued reading the information about the Dou Technique. The more she read, the more astonished she became.

This Dou Technique could actually be applied to other Dou Techniques, producing different effects depending on their attributes.

The expert who had created it must have been at least a Dou Emperor, with a profound understanding of how to directly harness Heaven and Earth Energy.

Though Ya Fei's own strength was lacking, she was a business elite from the Mittel Family as well as a highly capable Appraiser. Her judgment was excellent, even if it had its limits.

"This Dou Technique is worth no less than some ordinary Low Earth Tier cultivation methods. It could serve as a family's hereditary Dou Technique." Ya Fei weighed the scroll in her hand. "What do you plan to do with it?"

"I'm leaving it to you, Sister Ya Fei. Handle it however you think best," Chu Zhou said without hesitation.

Ya Fei had expected this, yet her heart still skipped a beat. Her gaze softened, and she smiled charmingly. "Can you really bear to part with it?"

"You're making me look bad by asking that, Sister Ya Fei. Of course I can." Chu Zhou's smile was entirely candid. "Everything I have now came from you. What's one Dou Technique in return?"

Ya Fei shook her head with a smile and placed the scroll back in Chu Zhou's hand. "You know I'm not after these things. Grow stronger and improve your Alchemy as quickly as you can. That's how you'll truly be able to help me. When that time comes, I certainly won't stand on ceremony. Keep this for yourself."

Chu Zhou still insisted on giving it to her, until Ya Fei feigned displeasure. "Are you hoping to repay your debt with this Dou Technique, then leave me far behind?"

"Heaven knows I would never think that," Chu Zhou said, pretending to feel wronged. "Do we really need to keep score like that?"

"Then listen to me and keep the Dou Technique." Ya Fei gave a dainty huff.

"All right, all right." Chu Zhou reluctantly agreed.

In truth, he had considered distancing himself.

He did not intend to sever ties completely. He merely wanted to repay part of what he owed her, so that if a conflict arose later, he could leave without feeling guilty.

Of course, he had also anticipated Ya Fei's current reaction. That outcome suited him even better, since he intended to repay her kindness many times over.

Putting the scroll away again, Chu Zhou shamelessly stayed with Ya Fei and shared the Evening Meal with her. They chatted and laughed, enjoying a pleasant atmosphere.

After the Evening Meal, Chu Zhou went to greet Gu Ni and resumed studying Alchemy.

This time, Gu Ni began teaching him how to refine Grade Two Pills.

Although Chu Zhou was still a First-Rank Alchemist, he could tell that Gu Ni's refining techniques were unremarkable.

This was not merely an inflated opinion of himself. Recently, he had taken a few common Grade Two Pills in his spare time, and he had previously used the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, a Grade Two Pill refined by Yao Lao.

Before he began studying alchemy, those techniques had been a blur to him. He knew what happened, but not why.

Yet after taking numerous grade one pills and absorbing the experience of many Alchemists who had refined them, he could now understand some of what he saw.

"Did you understand?"

After finishing a Body Recovery Pill, Gu Ni turned to ask Chu Zhou, anticipation in his eyes.

"I think I did." Chu Zhou nodded slightly, then asked with a hint of uncertainty, "Should I try refining one?"

"All right." Gu Ni agreed to let Chu Zhou try. Though he was only a Second-Rank Alchemist himself, he knew that talented Alchemists could actually improve quite easily before reaching the fourth rank—and Chu Zhou was a genius.

"Then I'll begin." Chu Zhou sat down in an open space, took out his Medicine Cauldron, and got to work.

Doing it himself was indeed different from watching at the side. Moreover, he was currently only a Three-Star Dou Zhe, so controlling his Dou Qi to refine a Grade Two Pill placed a considerable strain on him.

Despite stumbling through the process, he ultimately managed to refine a Body Recovery Pill. Its quality was somewhat lacking, but he had succeeded all the same.

"Good, very good!" Holding the pill Chu Zhou had refined, Gu Ni was delighted.

Gu Ni had only begun working with Grade Two Pills five years after becoming a First-Rank Alchemist, once his cultivation had reached the Dou Shi level. It had taken him more than half a year to successfully refine his first Body Recovery Pill, and its quality had been worse than Chu Zhou's.

He had then spent many more years before officially becoming a Second-Rank Alchemist. As for becoming a Third-Rank Alchemist, that still seemed impossibly far away. He always felt that something was missing.

If he could reach the high stages of Da Dou Shi in this lifetime, he might have a chance of advancing to the third rank.

Yet now, Chu Zhou had successfully refined a Body Recovery Pill on his very first attempt, despite being only a Three-Star Dou Zhe.

"Little Zhou, you have the potential to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist," Gu Ni said, keeping his estimate conservative.

"It's all thanks to you and Ya Fei nurturing me, Uncle." Chu Zhou smiled modestly.

Even more pleased, Gu Ni took out ten Porcelain Bottles and handed them to Chu Zhou. "I've already prepared what you wanted."

Chu Zhou's heartbeat immediately quickened. Taking the ten Porcelain Bottles, he asked, "Uncle, do these have anything to do with Pill King Gu He or Chairman Fa Ma?"

At that, Gu Ni shook his head, but then nodded.

"They weren't personally refined by either of them, but there is indeed a connection."