Flattery never fails

Xiao Zhan sat back down. Several elders still wanted to argue, but he pressed a hand against the armrest and waved them back.

"Enough. There is no need to say anything more. Today, I am issuing a ban: neither inner nor outer disciples may purchase Rejuvenation Powder from the Jia Lie Family Market again. Anyone who violates this will be severely punished."

"As for whether the Xiao Clan Shop should sell at cost, allow me some more time to think it over."

Xiao Zhan wearily waved a hand to dismiss the meeting. The disciples left through the front hall's doors with differing expressions, their faces full of distress and impatience.

After greeting his father, Xiao Yan quickly leaped down from the raised platform and went straight to Xiao Mo.

He had a vague feeling that Xiao Mo must have a way to bring their shops back from the dead. Otherwise, he would not have raised his hand earlier.

"Xiao Mo, do you have a way to bring the Xiao Family Market back from the dead?"

Xiao Yan could never keep things bottled up. The moment he reached Xiao Mo's side, he cut straight to the point.

Xiao Mo nodded, his eyes carrying a measure of absolute confidence.

"Of course. It all depends on you."

Xiao Yan was instantly dumbfounded. He blinked in confusion.

"Depends on who? Me?"

Xiao Mo answered with a firm yes.

"That's right, you. Have you forgotten that Yao Lao said he could teach you to refine pills? If you can successfully refine Rejuvenation Powder, won't everything be saved?"

Xiao Yan's face immediately filled with speechless exasperation.

"Senior brother, aren't you setting me up here? I don't even have an Alchemy Furnace, and you want me to refine Rejuvenation Powder? Why not just tell me to leap straight into becoming a Dou Di?"

"This isn't a goal you can achieve just by flapping your lips. You're asking for my life!"

The two had grown increasingly close lately, and Xiao Yan had also learned to joke with him.

Xiao Mo reached out and pressed a hand onto his shoulder with a solemn expression.

"Xiao Yan, I'm not teasing you. I'm serious. The task of reviving the Xiao Family Market has fallen to the two of us. Yao Lao is immensely capable. He must have something that can replace Rejuvenation Powder."

"Even if he doesn't, the Rejuvenation Powder he refines will surely be purer than what's currently on the market, and its refining method will surely be simpler."

"What we need to do is learn how to refine pills from Yao Lao as quickly as possible. Only then can we save the Xiao Family Market from this crisis."

He did not know whether Xiao Yan would take his words to heart, but everything he said was sincere.

Xiao Yan looked deeply at him, then suddenly turned and walked away.

Xiao Mo hurriedly reached out and caught his arm.

"Where are you going?"

Xiao Yan raised his head and glared at him.

"To find somewhere deserted and summon Yao Lao, of course. Senior brother, you've spoken with such certainty. As my father's son, how could I possibly give up now?"

Xiao Mo nodded. As expected of the protagonist, this was one of the qualities he admired most about Xiao Yan.

The two immediately went to a secluded corner of the Back Mountain. Xiao Mo pulled Xiao Yan's arm over and quickly rubbed the ring.

The next second, Yao Lao stood before them.

"I knew that if someone came looking for me in broad daylight, this early in the morning, it had to be you, Xiao Mo. You brat are never up to anything good."

Yao Lao yawned, sweeping his gaze over the two of them.

"What do you want?"

Xiao Mo went straight to the point.

"Yao Lao, we need you to teach both of us how to refine pills, and we need to learn to refine Rejuvenation Powder within a single day."

Pfft!

Yao Lao nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Xiao Mo, do you think refining pills is like making stew? Just toss something in, give it a stir, and it's done?"

"Refining pills requires integrating the process with your own Dou Qi, as well as controlling the Alchemy Furnace's heat with exquisite precision. Only then can you accurately produce a finished pill."

"Within a single day? Other people wouldn't dare dream of such a thing, but you certainly have a knack for flights of fancy!"

Xiao Mo simply stared straight at Yao Lao, his gaze brimming with trust.

"Master, I believe you absolutely have that ability. If you asked me who under heaven could teach us to refine Rejuvenation Powder within a single day, I couldn't think of anyone besides you."

Faced with his utterly sincere expression, all the refusals Yao Lao had been about to voice lodged in his throat, leaving him unable to speak.

He had no other particular hobbies; he simply loved being flattered. Especially when it came to his eldest disciple-why were his words so delightful? Why did he love hearing them so much?

"..."

Yao Lao stroked his beard with a show of solemnity.

He coughed softly.

"I suppose it isn't entirely impossible. But why do you two suddenly want to refine Rejuvenation Powder?"

Having grasped the key issue, Yao Lao hurriedly asked for details.

Only then did the two briefly explain what had happened that day. After listening, he slapped his thigh.

"And here I thought it was something serious. So that's what this is about. Rejuvenation Powder is actually quite simple to refine. There are quite a few methods for making it."

"Choosing the simplest method can effectively reduce costs, but it sacrifices some of the healing effect. However, I know of one method that saves on costs while doubling the healing effect compared to what's available now."

Both their eyes immediately lit up.

Xiao Mo pulled Xiao Yan forward and launched straight into flattering Yao Lao with praise.

"Master, I knew your alchemy was absolutely unrivaled under heaven. There's no problem you can't solve. Coming to you was exactly the right choice."

"You truly deserve to be the master your disciple admires most. You're simply number one under heaven, without an equal. I'll take you as my example for my entire life and diligently learn from you."

He delivered this speech without blushing or so much as a flutter of his heart, while Yao Lao grew even more pleased with himself as he listened.

"Let me tell you, there's actually another pill that's even better than Rejuvenation Powder. Unfortunately, with your current strength, there's absolutely no way you two brats could refine it."

"But once your cultivation reaches a certain level, I'll definitely teach it to both of you. As long as you put your trust in your master, I'll make you the twin terrors of the world, standing at the pinnacle of Dou Qi."

"Back in my day, your master could summon the wind and call down the rain..."

Yao Lao soon began reminiscing about his glory days. The two had already heard these tales so often that their ears were growing calluses, so Xiao Mo hurriedly cut in before he could continue.

"Master, no day is better than today. Why don't we start now?"

As he spoke, an Alchemy Furnace appeared in his hand.

"We can use this and start learning right now."

Looking at the Alchemy Furnace gleaming blue and purple, he felt a pang of pain. This thing had cost him 1,000 Shop Points.

If he had not been trying to cut down the time required as much as possible, he would never have been willing to spend such precious points on a single Alchemy Furnace.

Yet the instant he took out the Alchemy Furnace, Yao Lao's face lit up with delight, and he snatched it right out of his hands.

"Where did you get this thing?"