Chapter 91: Beautiful Sect Master’s Conditions for Funding
Half a month flew by, and the third monthly assessment arrived.
Once again, Yan Zhen and Xiao Mie achieved the same score. Xiao Mie, acknowledging that he wasn’t yet Yan Zhen’s equal, willingly accepted second place. However, remembering that Xiao Mie had yielded to him during their previous assessment, Yan Zhen insisted on another tie.
He didn’t really care about the rewards for first place. He already had better pills and Mystic Techniques.
His motivation stemmed solely from his promise to Instructor Yu Xuan.
— To always win first place, so she could bask in his glory.
After the assessment, he left the girls and headed to the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce to purchase more ingredients.
Basic ingredients were no longer sufficient for his training. He needed higher-quality materials to refine more challenging First Rank Mystic Pills.
Like Small Origin Pills, Detoxification Pills, and so on.
These premium ingredients cost twice as much as the basic ones. He attempted to pay, but Fatty Nian, as usual, refused dramatically, wailing and begging him to accept them as a gift.
Yan Zhen was at a loss.
In another month, the beautiful, wealthy, and kind older sister would arrive from the neighboring kingdom, inspecting the various branches in the ten major cities of the Gallo Kingdom. He imagined she would be quite surprised to discover his status as a Supreme VIP of the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce.
…
As night fell, Yan Zhen, his stomach full and his body freshly bathed, entered the Crystal Stone Space to continue his alchemy lessons with his Beautiful Sect Master.
After refining a batch of Small Origin Pills, he carefully sorted them into three bottles, separating them by grade: Low, Mid, and High. He would keep the High-Grade pills for himself and as gifts, sell the Mid-Grade pills to the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce, and use the Low-Grade pills for research.
His Beautiful Sect Master would eventually teach him how to refine impurities from pills, enhancing their grade.
He had already accumulated five bottles of High-Grade Small Origin Pills, three pills per bottle. Just enough for the five women in his household.
It was about time they faced their cultivation bottlenecks.
Yan Meng’er needed to break through from the Third Star to the Fourth Star, while Yan Ruyu and Mi Xue’er were both at the Sixth Star, aiming for the Seventh. These were minor hurdles, easily overcome with the assistance of Small Origin Pills. As for Xiao Xinyan, judging by her aura, she still needed some time before attempting a breakthrough from the Seventh Star to the Eighth.
Instructor Yu Xuan, being a Mystic Master, wouldn’t benefit from Small Origin Pills. Giving her a bottle was simply a gesture of goodwill.
She needed the upgraded version, the “Great Origin Pill,” or even better, the “Pure Origin Pill.”
Small Origin Pill, Great Origin Pill, Pure Origin Pill… These three pills were the best cultivation aids for those below the Mystic King realm. Powerful factions like the Sacred Land Academy relied on these three pills to nurture their young talents.
Chen Xi watched as he meticulously bottled the pills, even tying a red ribbon around each bottle. She guessed his intentions.
“Who are you planning to give those to, Zhen’er?”
He blinked, his words carefully chosen. “Well, Master, I’ve been borrowing money from my cousins because I’m running low on funds. I thought I could at least repay some of the interest with these pills.”
That’s right. According to the script, he was supposed to be nearing the end of his borrowed funds, too embarrassed to ask for more, and desperate enough to turn to his Beautiful Sect Master for financial assistance.
“You’ve been borrowing money from them, Zhen’er?”
“Yes, Master. I had no choice. Alchemy is so expensive.”
Her eyes twinkled, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. “Heh, I told you to be prepared for this, didn’t I?”
He pouted. “Don’t tease me, Master. I’m worried sick.”
“Have you come up with a solution?”
“Not yet… Ahem.” He spoke cautiously. “Master, as a Saint Rank Mystic Refiner, you must have quite a fortune, right? Could you perhaps… lend your disciple a small sum?”
She pressed her lips together. “You’re a clever boy, Zhen’er. I do have some savings. Not much, only about a billion or so. But it should be enough to help you through these early stages.”
A billion or so. Not much.
Saint Rank Mystic Refiners were truly terrifying!
“So… does that mean…?” He leaned forward eagerly, like a starving man who had just spotted a feast.
However, her tone shifted. “But Zhen’er, I can’t spoil you too much. Things that come too easily are often not appreciated.”
He blinked, then straightened his back, his expression resolute. “I’m willing to do anything for you, Master! I’ll even die for you!”
Hook, line, and sinker, she thought, a barely perceptible smirk playing on her lips.
“There’s no need for such drastic measures, Zhen’er. I just don’t want you to become accustomed to getting things for free. Do you understand?”
Oblivious to her amusement, he continued his performance, puffing out his chest. “I understand! I get it! Starting tomorrow, I’ll be your loyal servant, at your beck and call! As long as… heehee, as long as you’re willing to help me out a little~” He made a gesture with his fingers, as if pinching a tiny amount.
His uncharacteristically coy demeanor almost made her laugh.
“You said it yourself, Zhen’er. Don’t go back on your word.”
“A gentleman never goes back on his word!” he declared grandly.
Serving her tea and running errands? That was nothing. It was his duty to be filial to his master. He was getting a great deal!
His Beautiful Sect Master might seem demanding, but she was actually using this opportunity to get closer to him. How adorable!
She was truly the best master in the world!
“Then come closer.”
“Coming!”
He shuffled closer, beaming, and offered her his hand, helping her to her feet.
“Zhen’er,” she said casually, “what season is it outside?”
“It’s summer, Master,” he replied promptly.
“Summer already? No wonder I’ve been feeling a bit warm lately. This Fire Refining Starry Sky might be isolated from the outside world, but my body still remembers.”
“Do you want me to fetch some water for a foot bath, Master? To cool you down?”
“No need.”
She pointed a finger, and a section of the floor sank downwards. A Mystic Refining formation materialized, and a spring gushed forth, quickly filling the depression, forming a square pool.
“I’d rather bathe.” She turned away from him, extending her arms. “Zhen’er, help me bathe and dress.”
“Bathe and dress?” His eyes widened, his gaze lingering on the sash at her waist. He swallowed hard. “So… that means… taking off… your…”
This wasn’t in the script!
She turned to him, amusement dancing in her eyes. “What’s wrong, Zhen’er? Are you going back on your word? You were so confident just now. Well, I suppose it is a bit much to ask the Young City Lord to act as a servant. I’ll just do it myself…”
“Wait! Wait, Master! I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it!” He panicked, fearing she would change her mind and further disrupt the plot. “I’ll help you bathe and dress! I’ll make sure you’re comfortable!”
“Then hurry up.”
She extended her arms once more, her black sleeves falling like curtains, exuding an air of regal elegance.
