"I lost..." Cao Ying stared blankly at the white-robed youth as he walked farther and farther away, finally disappearing from her sight. At that moment, his retreating figure had branded itself deep into her heart.
"This boy's talent truly defies the heavens!" Only now did Danyang Zi and the Cao Family Ancestor understand why Yao Chen had named this fifteen-year-old youth the young pavilion master of Starfall Pavilion.
At fifteen, his cultivation had already reached two-star Dou Emperor, and his soul power had firmly suppressed Cao Ying's. What heaven-defying talent! Even the holy sons of the ancient clans might not have achieved so much at his age.
From the looks of it, the youth's chances of becoming a Dou Sheng were exceedingly high.
"That old bastard Yao Chen has taken in a fine disciple!" Danyang Zi could not help letting out a wry chuckle.
Beside him, Dan Chen's little face was pale, her cherry-red lips parted in astonishment.
She and Cao Ying were both core disciples of the Pill Tower, so she naturally knew Cao Ying's strength very well.
Among their peers in the Pill Tower, Cao Ying was invincible.
Yet today, not only had she lost, she had suffered an utterly crushing defeat, swept aside like rotten wood and withered branches. Even the usually reserved Dan Chen felt a faint spark of curiosity about Xiao Yan.
Just what sort of person is this fellow? Dan Chen wondered, tilting her little head.
In a dim room, Yao Lao lay on a large bed, his clothes disheveled. His robe hung half open at the chest, exposing pectoral muscles that were somewhat dry and withered, yet still firm.
Men's and women's clothes lay scattered all over the room. Beside him was Xuan Yi in a sexy nightgown. Although she was already well on in years, she had maintained herself so well that she still looked like a beautiful woman of thirty.
Her face was flushed as she lay against Yao Lao's chest, happiness written all over her features.
Two hours had already passed. On the bed, on the chair, on the sofa, and even in the Alchemy Room, the two of them had been... studying pill refinement!
"You old rascal. After all these years, you're still such a closet lecher. And to think I took you for an upright gentleman back then." Xuan Yi traced circles on Yao Lao's chest with one hand.
Yao Lao said nothing, his expression blissful. By the looks of him, a cigarette afterward would have made the moment perfect.
"I'm talking to you! Why are you ignoring me?" Xuan Yi frowned when Yao Lao failed to answer.
"Shh!" Yao Lao raised a finger and said with his eyes closed, "This is precisely when the mind is clear and empty. Perhaps a flash of inspiration will give us the opportunity to enter the Heavenly Realm."
"Then get out and clear your mind somewhere else. The sight of you annoys me." Xuan Yi kicked him.
"Hehe, it's not often I get to see you. We ought to really delve into pill refinement." Yao Lao opened his eyes and chuckled.
"Such a hypocrite." Xuan Yi shot him a glare, but pressed her body against him of her own accord.
Bzz, bzz! The vibrating Sound Transmission Jade Talisman extinguished the heavenly flame Yao Lao had just kindled. He frowned, but still picked up the talisman.
"Old man, where are you? Hurry up and get out here. Your young master wants to practice alchemy." Xiao Yan's voice came from the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman.
"I'm very busy right now. Can't you wait a while?" Yao Lao sent a voice message.
A moment later, the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman vibrated faintly again.
"Fifteen minutes. If I don't see you by then, I'll yank out your beard." Xiao Yan's cursing voice came through.
"That little bastard!" Yao Lao frowned, but still struggled upright and put on his clothes.
"Where are you going?" A trace of displeasure appeared on Xuan Yi's face.
"Didn't you hear? That unfilial disciple of mine is calling me." Yao Lao sounded helpless.
"Your disciple really has no manners. I have no idea why you took him in. Even if he is the Xiao Clan's holy son, don't tell me his talent for alchemy defies the heavens too." Xuan Yi curled her lip.
"Hehe, you've actually hit the nail on the head." Thinking of Xiao Yan's heaven-defying talent, Yao Lao could not help smiling again.
"Just look at all those wrinkles on your face! I refuse to believe that, however heaven-defying your disciple's alchemy may be, he could possibly be better than my Cao Ying." Xuan Yi sneered.
"Heh heh, to tell you the truth, my disciple's alchemy really might be better than your disciple's." Still smiling, Yao Lao continued, "Why don't we make a wager? If my disciple wins, you'll spend another three days studying pill refinement with me."
"Fine!" At his words, a touch of feminine allure appeared on Xuan Yi's usually aloof face. "If my disciple loses, I can refine pills with you for an entire month."
"Then we'd better let him lose. I'm afraid my Bone Spirit Cold Flame wouldn't be able to take it." Yao Lao teased her, then vanished before Xuan Yi's embroidered shoe could strike his face.
"I really wonder just how heaven-defying that Xiao Clan boy's talent is, to make this old bastard grin like a fool."
Xuan Yi propped her still-charming, beautiful face on one hand as she lay stretched out on the bed. A languid air surrounded her; clearly, the heavenly flame Yao Lao had poured into her had left her quite satisfied.
However, this languid state lasted less than half an hour before a knock at the door interrupted it.
"Teacher, are you there?" Cao Ying's voice sounded outside the door, tinged with weakness.
"I'm here. Wait outside for a moment!" Xuan Yi abruptly rose from the bed, all trace of languor vanishing as she waved her hand!
Every stray item and trace in the room swiftly gathered together, then flew out the window and burst into flames on their own.
By the time those things had burned to ashes and dispersed, Xuan Yi had changed into a clean black robe. With a faintly dignified expression, she walked to the entrance and opened the door.
"What is it?" Xuan Yi looked at her beloved disciple, her face carrying a trace of displeasure at being interrupted, along with a blush that had yet to fade.
"Teacher, Venerable Yao's disciple... defeated me." Cao Ying raised her alluring little face, tear tracks still visible on it. Her normally domineering features now held a hint of fragility.
"Xiao Yan defeated you?" Looking at her haggard beloved disciple, Xuan Yi felt a jolt of shock.
"What did you want me for?" Looking at the grinning Xiao Yan before him, Yao Lao wore the same trace of displeasure, along with a measure of frustration.
In this world, disciples were the ones ordered about. Since when were teachers at their beck and call?
Xiao Yan said nothing. Instead, he leaned over and sniffed Yao Lao, then gave him a sidelong look. "Why do you smell like a woman? Off meeting an old flame?"
"Nonsense! I went to discuss alchemy." Yao Lao's aged face reddened as he glared at Xiao Yan.
Director Chen, did you go off to learn a foreign language? Xiao Yan quipped inwardly, reaching out to pat Yao Lao's shoulder.
"Discussing alchemy is a fine thing. Your disciple is merely worried that, at your advanced age, too much discussion might leave your body drained."
"There's no need for my dear disciple to worry about that. These old bones are still plenty sturdy." Yao Lao gave him a smile that did not reach his eyes, his thoughts unreadable.
Tsk, tsk. You're discussing alchemy with Xuan Yi. As your disciple, I can't fall behind either. I'll definitely have to discuss it with Cao Ying someday.
Hmm, Dan Chen too. Exchanging experience with young, beautiful female alchemists can greatly improve one's alchemy skills.
Xiao Yan swallowed all his snarky remarks, stared at Yao Lao, and said evenly, "I want to improve my alchemy. I'll still need your guidance, Teacher."
Whatever else might be said of him, Yao Lao's alchemy was formidable. Unless a ninth-tier alchemist appeared, who could contend with him?
With that, he summoned a bronze cauldron, glanced at Yao Lao, and said evenly, "Proper alchemy."
Before you continue