Ya Fei: Truly the Monster Ranked First Among Otherworlders

The biggest difference lay in the barrier to entry.

To become an Alchemist, one had to possess a Fire Attribute, with a trace of Wood Attribute mixed into it to act as a catalyst. The second requirement was outstanding soul perception.

Pill refining was different. Low-rank Pill Refiners could draw on external sources, such as Earth Flame, Heavenly Fire, or Furnace Flame. High-rank Pill Refiners still had to command flames themselves, but their own attribute did not have to be fire. They could gain that ability through a cultivation method, or by acquiring beast flame, heavenly flames, and so on.

Nor was soul perception a strict requirement, though having it was better. It counted as an innate advantage.

With fire, a pill furnace, ingredients, and a Pill Formula, one could achieve proficiency through practice.

That only covered the basic requirements, however. In practice, pill refining was more accessible, but becoming a powerful Pill Refiner still depended on talent.

"I can now convert the alchemical methods for Grade One and Grade Two Pills into pill-refining methods. Then, once I make Xiao Yi Xian a Pill Refining Furnace, I can teach her to refine pills."

"But starting with Grade Four Pills, even if she has a Pill Formula, she'll need to find some way to command flames herself."

"It would be best to help her improve her Soul Force, too. Refining high-rank pills still requires its assistance."

Chu Zhou had no intention of spreading this so-called pill-refining method for more people to learn.

He was destined not to stay on the Dou Qi Continent for very long. Even if he truly wanted to establish a power of his own, he would consider doing so in the Great Thousand World.

He only needed to look after and strengthen those around him. That was also an indirect way of strengthening himself.

"Young Master, you've lost."

Just as Chu Zhou was pondering this, Xiao Yi Xian's lively voice reached his ears, carrying delight and what seemed to be a deeply buried hint of unease.

"Congratulations on breaking through to Dou Shi." Chu Zhou turned his head slightly, his gaze settling on Xiao Yi Xian in her long purple dress beside him. He smiled. "But I won the bet."

As he spoke, Chu Zhou mobilized his Dou Qi, forming a blue-purple Dou Qi Mantle over his body.

"You broke through too, Young Master." Xiao Yi Xian was delighted, and her smile grew more relaxed. With a touch of playfulness, she said, "But it's hard to tell which of us broke through first, isn't it?"

"No, we can tell." With a thought, Chu Zhou released his aura.

"A two-star Dou Shi!" Xiao Yi Xian's lips parted in surprise.

He had actually advanced straight to two stars upon breaking through to Dou Shi. He must have broken through a little faster than she had, especially since she had relied on a Poison Pill as an external aid.

"I told you, my cultivation realm will always be higher than yours, and I'll always be stronger than you." Chu Zhou's lips curved slightly, amusement in his eyes. "Now, what dance should I have you perform?"

"Shouldn't I get to decide what dance to perform?" The tips of Xiao Yi Xian's ears reddened as she tucked her hair behind one ear.

"I'm the winner, so of course I decide." Chu Zhou figured he would definitely want to see something sultry, which Xiao Yi Xian would never learn on her own.

"If I have to do as you say, Young Master, you'll have to demonstrate the dance for me first. Otherwise, I get to choose." Instinctively sensing that Chu Zhou was up to no good, Xiao Yi Xian tried a roundabout approach.

"You certainly know how to find a way out." Chu Zhou temporarily abandoned the tempting idea in his mind. He had to take things one step at a time. Once Xiao Yi Xian danced for him the first time, she would have to let him call the shots afterward. She would already have crossed that line.

"Let's both compromise. You pick five dances, and I'll choose the one I want to see from those. How does that sound?"

"All right, that works." After a brief hesitation, Xiao Yi Xian nodded.

She would have to face it either way. At worst, she could pick five dances that would not embarrass her.

"Now that we've both successfully broken through to Dou Shi, I'd like to go out and gain some experience. What do you think?" Chu Zhou gestured for Xiao Yi Xian to sit.

"Of course I'll do whatever you say, Young Master." Xiao Yi Xian smoothed her long dress and sat on a stool, placing her delicate hands on her knees. "As long as you're always stronger than me. After all, I've already pledged myself to you, haven't I?"

After three months together, Xiao Yi Xian was no longer the girl she had been at the start. She had become quite uninhibited when joking with Chu Zhou.

If the tragic fate of the Woeful Poison Body had not weighed on her heart, she would likely have let down her guard long ago.

"Yes, I like that attitude." Chu Zhou chuckled. "In that case, I've decided to teach you pill refining."

"Pill refining?" Xiao Yi Xian blinked in confusion. "Do you mean alchemy, Young Master? I don't have the aptitude for that at all."

She cultivated the Poison Attribute. If a Pill Formula called for the Fire Attribute and Poison Attribute, she would at least have a chance to try.

"I can't promise anything about high-rank pills, but I do have a way to teach you to refine Grade One and Grade Two Pill. Want to learn?" Chu Zhou sounded confident.

Xiao Yi Xian did not question him. She nodded firmly. "If you're willing to teach me, Young Master, I'm certainly willing to learn."

Chu Zhou nodded slightly, changing the subject to ask how her Dou Technique training was going.

After chatting for a while, Chu Zhou saw that it was about time and went to find Ya Fei.

"Sister Ya Fei, I need a furnace like this. Have someone find an Artifact Refiner to make one for me." Chu Zhou handed Ya Fei a blueprint he had prepared in advance.

"What is this for?" Ya Fei took the blueprint and examined it.

"For refining pills." Chu Zhou did not elaborate.

"All right." After glancing over it a few times, Ya Fei agreed.

"Once the furnace is finished, I want to go out and gain some experience. Is that all right?" Chu Zhou continued.

"Gain experience?" Ya Fei's slender brows furrowed slightly as she leaned her face close to Chu Zhou's. "Have you grown tired of looking at your big sister, little brother Chu Zhou? Are you planning to go out and attract more girls like Xiao Yi Xian?"

Looking at this increasingly bold woman, Chu Zhou reached out and pulled her into his arms. He lowered his gaze and smiled faintly. "I've broken through to Dou Shi. Don't you think it's time I went out and saw the world?"

"What?" Ya Fei softened in his arms and was about to say something teasing, only to be stunned by his words. "You've broken through to Dou Shi?"

"I was lucky enough to break through today." Chu Zhou once again formed Dou Qi gauze.

Ya Fei's lips parted, her eyes filled with shock. "Little brother Chu Zhou, you truly deserve to be called the monster ranked first among Otherworlders."

Otherworlder.

Hearing that term, Chu Zhou's expression did not change in the slightest.

He had voluntarily confessed this to Ya Fei as soon as he was certain she could be trusted.

In truth, even if he had not confessed, Ya Fei would have guessed it herself. The Mittel Auction House belonged to a merchant family and was highly skilled at gathering intelligence. Naturally, it had soon taken notice of the Otherworlders from Blue Star.

And Chu Zhou, the “number one Otherworlder,” was even more impossible to overlook.

They were both called Chu Zhou. Someone as shrewd as Ya Fei could hardly have failed to make the connection.

By confessing ahead of time, Chu Zhou had instead deeply moved Ya Fei and won her approval. Their relationship had advanced as a result, reaching the point where they could embrace each other.

“So you certainly don't object to me going out, then?” Chu Zhou asked.

“Has your Alchemist skill improved too?” Rather than answering, Ya Fei asked a question of her own.

Chu Zhou nodded slightly. “That's right. I've already reached Grade Three.”

“Little brother, you really are incredible.” Ya Fei wrapped her arms around Chu Zhou in return. “Won't you let your big sister do a little more for you?”

Ya Fei meant that she wanted to find Chu Zhou a teacher and increase her investment in him.

She feared that Chu Zhou would rise too quickly and think less and less of her.

“Of course.” Chu Zhou lowered his head, reached out to hold Ya Fei's exquisite chin, and leaned down. “A sweet kiss, for example.”

Ya Fei: !!!