Chapter 242: A Moment of Beauty

"A ninth-grade alchemist?"

At this concept, not only Mu Zixi but even Elder Sang looked stunned. Even if the Ember Alchemist's Path was incomparably dominant, his speed was simply too fast – as if he was riding a flying boat!

"You don't believe me?" Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow. He knew no one ever believed him when he told the truth. But this time, he was already lying. He hadn't become a ninth-grade alchemist in three days; it was just one! The last two days before entering the Heavenly Xuan Gate, he had mostly spent improving elixirs!

"Heh." Mu Zixi simply scoffed in response. How could she believe that, especially after Elder Sang had just praised her own alchemy speed?

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Elder Sang, seeing the same skeptical expression on the old man's face. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, if I can really refine an elixir, you'll give me more elixir formulas."

Elder Sang laughed, "If you can truly refine an elixir, forget the formulas; I'll even teach you a spirit skill!"

A spirit skill... Xu Xiaoshou wasn't interested in that. However, since Elder Sang dared to say it, he could definitely exchange it for more elixir formulas later.

"Want to make a bet?" he asked, looking at the young girl beside him.

"What kind of bet?" Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's certainty, Mu Zixi became somewhat skeptical.

"Hmph, you actually believe it?" Xu Xiaoshou immediately chuckled.

"Bet!" The young girl clearly couldn't stand being provoked. She clenched her small fist and declared, "If you lose, give me back the 'Life Spirit Mark'!"

"Give back?" Xu Xiaoshou pressed her forehead. "When did that thing become yours?"

"Ah!" Mu Zixi tried a flying kick, and when she still couldn't hit him, she angrily opened her mouth to speak. Xu Xiaoshou directly closed her jaw, saying dismissively, "Alright, I'll bet with you! If you lose, you'll have to listen to whatever I say from now on!"

"Listen to everything?" Mu Zixi was startled. She clutched her skirt, saying, "No, that's too broad."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

He glanced at her up and down, then snorted a laugh, "What are you thinking? I mean, from now on, if I tell you to stop, you can't be so restless and impulsive!"

"Restless and impulsive?" Mu Zixi was immediately shocked. "Look who started throwing insults the moment they walked in! And aren't *you* always the first one to make a move?"

Received Curses, Passive Points: 1.Received Suspicion, Passive Points: 2.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't be bothered to argue with her, but he couldn't resist adding, "No biting people!"

"Hmph, fine." Mu Zixi grumbled under her breath, "I've never bitten a person..."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately slapped her, knocking the girl straight to the ground.

Received Curses, Passive Points: 1, 1, 1, 1...

Elder Sang's face twitched. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Xiaoshou quickly interjected, "Right after joining, she dares to assault her senior brother with fists and words. When she's more experienced, will she then dare to bully her master and destroy her ancestors?"

"She deserved that lesson!" He looked at Elder Sang, a smile plastered on his face, "Right?"

Elder Sang: "..."

Received Admiration, Passive Points: 1.Received Curses, Passive Points: 1, 1, 1, 1...

"Come on." Xu Xiaoshou pulled over the large bathtub for himself and squatted down. He had been coveting this item for a long time ever since he learned it was a top-grade treasure.

Just as Mu Zixi got up, she saw a small bathtub flying towards her. She quickly caught it and set it down. After a few glances and a comparison, her twin ponytails bristled with anger. "Why do I get the small one?"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at her, pondered for a moment, and said, "It matches."

Mu Zixi: ???

Received Curses, Passive Points: 1, 1, 1, 1...

She took deep breaths, finally managing to control herself. Then, she turned her head to Elder Sang and asked, "Xu Xiaoshou gets a reward if he wins, but what do I get?"

"Pfft!" Xu Xiaoshou immediately burst out laughing, "You really think you can win?"

The young girl's twin ponytails instantly bristled with anger, then drooped limply.

"Xu Xiaoshou, you're going too far!"

Received Request, Passive Points: 1.

"Heh, how am I going too far? I'm just speaking the truth." Xu Xiaoshou bantered while scanning the system messages, almost amused by the notification panel.

"You shut up!"

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, losing your temper? Nothing to say?"

"I..."

"Xu Xiaoshou, I'll kill you!"

"Hmph, what kind of monster are you?"

With a thud, the girl was pinned to the ground again, leaving her with a face full of indignation and resentment.

"Master, save me..."

Sunlight streamed in through the window. Elder Sang silently watched the bickering scene he couldn't interject into, his lips curving into an unconscious smile. Sometimes, life held many surprises. An unsympathetic attempt had suddenly brought a house-wrecking beast into his life. A protective measure had welcomed another family member into the Spirit Treasury Pavilion.

"Family, huh..."

"If it could always be like this, it seems..."

"Master, save me!"

A cry of alarm interrupted Elder Sang's thoughts. His expression faltered, and his smile instantly vanished as he looked at the two tangled figures on the floor.

His face darkened, and Elder Sang angrily scolded, "Get up, both of you! What a disgrace!"

The two immediately separated. Xu Xiaoshou's clothes were still perfectly neat, but Mu Zixi's face was pinched red and swollen.

She slapped the small bathtub, fuming, "You're going to lose for sure!" With that, she began throwing herbs into it. There was no other way; she couldn't beat him in a fight anymore! After this encounter, Mu Zixi finally realized that her cultivation efforts were completely outmatched by Xu Xiaoshou.

She had no idea how this guy cultivated; she'd never even seen him practice, yet his strength advanced so quickly. Moreover, under such dazzling brilliance, her own breakthrough from the early to the peak of the Elemental Court Realm in a single trip to the Heavenly Xuan Gate seemed utterly insignificant. Her cultivation speed, which should have earned praise and envy from everyone, was completely ignored!

Darn it... The young girl clenched her fists, furiously tossing herbs.

Xu Xiaoshou drew out his words, reminding her, "Alchemy requires a calm and peaceful mind. You're going to blow up the furnace like that!"

Mu Zixi grabbed two handfuls of herbs and covered her ears. "Shut up, just shut up!"

"You're the one who should shut up!" Xu Xiaoshou checked her progress and began tossing in handfuls of herbs himself. He suddenly noticed teeth marks on his hand, and his movements paused. When had she bitten him? His mouth twitched, and he immediately snorted coldly, "Not just shut up, but keep your mouth closed too. When you're asleep, I'll pull out all your teeth..."

Mu Zixi: ???

Received Curses, Passive Points: 1, 1, 1, 1...

"Are these grandmaster-level teeth...?" Xu Xiaoshou touched the bite mark; it actually hurt a bit. "I wonder if there's any poison..."

The small bathtub boomed, and Mu Zixi was left covered in soot and dust from the explosion.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

"My goodness, I told you alchemy requires a calm mind, and you actually blew it up?" Xu Xiaoshou quickly looked over, "Are you alright?"

Mu Zixi's retort caught in her throat, her face stunned. Xu Xiaoshou was actually showing concern for someone? The next second, she heard the young man on the side speak again, bringing her to despair:

"Don't misunderstand, I was asking about the small bathtub... Take it easy, that's my treasure for hitting people!"

Received Curses, Passive Points: 1, 1, 1, 1...