Cheng Shan, Ye Yuan, and Ye Ling stared at the young man in astonishment, finding it hard to reconcile his image with the alchemy genius Zhou Xuan Dao of Alchemy.
After a moment, Cheng Shan said with some doubt, " Dao of Alchemy genius? There aren't that many geniuses. Don't try to make excuses for your half-hearted work."
She had no reason not to have doubts, because she knew clearly that the value of a genius in Dao of Alchemy could sometimes be more important than a High-Grade Divine Ability Bone, just as the value of a master Dao of Alchemy was greater than that of an ordinary Divine Ability Master.
For example, Zhou Xuan, let alone True Qi Master like Feather Robe and Zhen Qi, even Nether Spirit Master sometimes have to lower themselves to ask him for pills.
Zhou Xuan said with a smile, "This kid succeeded in refining Qi Refining Elixir on his first try. If that doesn't make Dao of Alchemy, then what does? You should know that even that girl Fuling, back then... ouch!"
Suddenly, Zhou Fuling struck, her small fist slamming into Zhou Xuan's lower back, silencing him from his words.
"If you dare compare me to anyone again, I'll burn all your herbs!" Zhou Fuling threatened fiercely, her pearly white teeth clenched.
Zhou Xuan's eyes twitched, he rubbed his lower back, and looked speechless.
Cheng Shan's eyes showed surprise. The scrutiny in Lu Ming's eyes gradually subsided. If what Zhou Xuan said was true, then this young man from the Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall might actually have some talent in Dao of Alchemy.
"Instead of completing His Highness's task first, you've found Dao of Alchemy to inherit his mantle, ruining His Highness's plans. Let's see how you explain yourself then." She turned her gaze to Zhou Xuan and rebuked him.
"That doesn't conflict with anything," Zhou Xuan said lazily.
"Although this kid has only just mastered the basics of the ' Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner,' I think he's deliberately cheating. He might suddenly Minor Accomplishment when the time truly Minor Accomplishment."
Cheng Shan frowned immediately. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
How can one's supernatural powers suddenly increase?
Their gazes turned to Lu Ming, who quickly shook his head and explained, "I didn't cheat; I've been cultivating very seriously. It's just that the ' Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner ' is indeed much more difficult to cultivate than ordinary Upper Divine Ability abilities."
Ye Yuan nodded in agreement, clearly having suffered greatly while cultivating this supernatural technique.
Zhou Xuan shrugged, not saying anything more about Lu Ming, but instead asked, "Why did you come early? The Black Rain Season is still some time away from starting."
"Naturally, I'm worried you're unreliable, so I came to keep an eye on things," Cheng Shan said.
Zhou Xuan laughed and said, "It's good that you're here. In another month, the Black Rain Zone in Qingyuan Market will enter the ' Rain Weakening Period.' At that time, the Black Rain will weaken, and countless treasure-hunting teams will flock to Qingyuan Market to infiltrate the Black Rain Zone in search of treasures. This will also bring a lot of chaos to Qingyuan Market. With you here, you can help me keep things in check."
"It depends on my mood." The beautiful woman in palace attire was not young, but she was quite arrogant.
"You should go and rest first. I've already arranged accommodations for you." Zhou Xuan was already used to the other person's personality.
Cheng Shan nodded without saying much, and prepared to leave with Ye Yuan and Ye Ling.
" Fuling, we'll come find you to play after we've settled in. You've been in Qingyuan Market for so long, you have to show us around," Ye Ling said coquettishly, holding Zhou Fuling's hand.
Zhou Fuling smiled and agreed.
Afterwards, Cheng Shan and the other two left the inner courtyard and followed the guide to the residence arranged by Zhou Xuan.
On the way, Ye Ling kept looking back in that direction, then frowned and said, "Brother, Fuling seems to care a lot about that kid. You missed your chance before, and Aunt Shan brought us here early this time, so you'd better seize the opportunity."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yuan sighed helplessly and said, "Stop making a fuss about these things. Just let things take their course. If it doesn't work out, then it's not meant to be. Why force it?"
"Then go back and tell your father," Ye Ling said coldly.
Ye Yuan was even more helpless. How could he not understand his Lineage's thoughts? They simply wanted him to get closer to Zhou Fuling and establish a marriage alliance with the Zhou Lineage. After all, although the Ye Lineage was a famous family of supernatural powers in the Southern Heaven Prefecture of the Great Luo Domain, it was still inferior to the Zhou Lineage.
The Zhou Lineage's influence was such that even the princess had to treat them with respect, and Zhou Fuling was particularly close to that princess.
He was quite resistant to this, but he couldn't disobey his father's orders, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and approach Zhou Fuling.
"Ah Yuan, you are the pride of the Ye Lineage, with the Lineage's resources to back you up. That kid can't compare to you. Even if he really has some talent in Dao of Alchemy, his background is too poor, and I don't think his relationship with Zhou Xuan is a real master-disciple one. I guess it's just a transaction. I brought you here in advance so that you could take this opportunity to get to know Zhou Fuling better. With your talent and ability, you'll stand out from the crowd in this small Qingyuan Market. I think Zhou Fuling will gradually notice." At this Cheng Shan also stopped and lectured.
Cheng Shan is Ye Yuan's mother's younger sister, his true elder, so even she said so, Ye Yuan could only smile wryly in agreement.
Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard.
Lu Ming finally felt a little relieved after Cheng Shan and the other two left.
"That woman is just like that, sharp-tongued, but she doesn't have any bad intentions. It's more reassuring to work with her," Zhou Xuan said with a smile, glancing at him.
Then he changed the subject, saying, "Your Thunderfire Hall has truly made a name for itself this time. You must have taken in many disciples these past few days, right?"
Lu Ming said with a wry smile, "It was all earned with our lives."
Indeed, whether it was the bloody battle that night or the subsequent pursuit of Guo Kui deep into the Peach Miasma Mountain Range, every single one of them was fought with their lives on the line.
Zhou Xuan nodded. He naturally knew how much effort and risk a Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall needed to grow stronger.
"Master, I've come to ask you for a favor," Lu Ming asked respectfully.
What is it?
Lu Ming moved a box out from the side, first taking out an exquisite jade box from his bosom. Opening the box, two peaches as red as jade were revealed, their fragrance filling the air, attracting surprised glances from Zhou Xuan and Zhou Fuling.
"This is... Red Jade Flat Peach?" Zhou Xuan, as expected of a master of Dao of Alchemy, recognized this spiritual object at a glance.
"You got it from the Peach Miasma Mountain Range? You must have raided Guo Kui's lair."
Lu Ming smiled and nodded, saying, "I would like to ask the shop owner to refine a high-grade pill using the Red Jade Flat Peach as the main ingredient. If one peach is successful, the remaining one will be given to the shop owner as a reward. In addition, there are these 100,000 Heavenly Gold Sand."
He opened the box, revealing the glittering Heavenly Gold Sand inside.
Zhou Xuan seemed to understand something, and said, "A pill made primarily from Red Jade Flat Peach? So your grandfather has refined True Qi? No wonder you were able to kill Guo Kui this time."
As a master of Dao of Alchemy, Zhou Xuan naturally knew the effects of the Red Jade Flat Peach. High-grade pills made primarily from this peach could help purify one 'Primordial Qi and accelerate the condensation of True Qi.
Lu Ming didn't deny it; he knew that Zhou Xuan would definitely guess what was going on if he made such a request.
"You're actually paying me this time? What? You're not going to use favors to get something for nothing?" Zhou Xuan asked jokingly.
Lu Ming said awkwardly, "It's not like I got it for free, it's like I put in some effort."
Zhou Xuan chuckled and said, "Helping you refine pills isn't out of the question, and you can keep half of the 100,000 Heavenly Gold Sand. However, I have one condition."
"What are the conditions?" Lu Ming asked quickly.
Zhou Xuan said slowly, "I'll start refining Minor Accomplishment for you when you've mastered the ' Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner '."
"Ah?"
Lu Ming was taken aback, and then protested, "Master, I really didn't cheat or slack off. I've been diligently cultivating the ' Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner ' without ever letting up."
"Hehe."
Zhou Xuan smiled, giving him a look that said, "See if I believe you or not." He had already figured out that this kid was like an ox, needing a beating before he would leave.
"I don't care whether you've practiced diligently or not, I only care about the results."
"That woman Cheng Shan will be living here from now on. If you don't cultivate the ' Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner ' to the Minor Accomplishment Realm, she'll keep bothering me and it's very annoying," Zhou Xuan said.
Lu Ming's lips twitched. "Are you even being reasonable...?"
Zhou Xuan glanced at him, and then his slow, leisurely voice came over.
"Don't say I'm forcing you. I'm doing this for your own good. You're a local, so you should know that the ' Rain Weakening Period ' in the Black Rain Zone will be over in another month, right?"