Chapter 310: President, You Don't Believe Me Again

"Received Doubt, Passive Point, 34.""Received Affirmation, Passive Point, 1.""Received Support, Passive Point, 1, 1, 1, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head to look at Mu Zixi. The young girl gave him an encouraging look, clenched her fist, and gave a thumbs-up.

"Heh." Xu Xiaoshou smiled. "President, still don't believe me?"

"I believe you." Shi Ti nodded heavily, relieved. "To be honest, with just this pill and Yun He's assurance, I could grant you an Alchemist badge on the spot."

Xu Xiaoshou remained silent, smiling as he looked at the old president, knowing there was more to come.

"But..." The old president stroked his beard, picking out some dark residue, and sighed, "I'd like to see you refine it again."

The onlookers nodded frantically. Hearing is one thing, seeing is believing. Even with Yun He's repeated assurances, they still couldn't believe that a mere pill could survive such a colossal explosion.

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand with a light chuckle. "There's no need to refine it again. Since the President says he believes me and intends to give me an Alchemist badge, why should I bother with such thankless work?"

Shi Ti: ???

"Received Scorn, Passive Point, 1."

The crowd: "..."

His way of thinking, surprisingly, made perfect sense!

"Received Admiration, Passive Point, 36."

Shi Ti's anger easily flared up again. He opened his mouth, ready to roar. Xu Xiaoshou quickly interrupted him. "President, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant. Since you're already planning to give me the badge, I won't refuse it. Let me accept the tenth-grade badge first, then I'll take a ninth-grade exam for you to see."

He waved his hand casually, but everyone present was stunned.

"Continuous exams?"

"Received Doubt, Passive Point, 36."

Shi Ti's anger stalled, his eyebrows shooting up. He had previously thought Mu Zixi might be able to take continuous exams, but that was just speculation. Whether she could take it was one question; whether she could pass after taking it was another! But where did Xu Xiaoshou get such confidence? *You, a mere shield and distraction, do you really think you're also Old Man Sang's disciple? Can you really dominate the entire Pill Tower with just your alchemy skills?*

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, "President, you don't believe me again."

Shi Ti: "..."

"Received Scorn, Passive Point, 1."

Everyone listening was amused. As onlookers, once they calmed down a bit, they realized for the first time that this young man seemed to have a good temperament. Even when misunderstood by the crowd or roared at by President Shi Ti, the young man remained calm and composed, as if nothing could ruffle his emotions. In contrast, the crowd sometimes, at the young man's casual remark, would all be utterly surprised and filled with anger. Especially President Shi Ti, who was usually as steady as Mount Tai...

Shi Ti's face was grim. He truly didn't believe this kid could achieve such a feat. "Whether I believe it or not, it hardly matters now. If you just refine a batch of pills for me, I can tell how capable you truly are!"

Yun He secretly rolled his eyes. *So, ultimately, you just don't believe me, do you?*

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled. "Alright, give me the badge first."

"I can't give you the badge yet, but we can follow your suggestion. If you can truly refine a ninth-grade pill..."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately exclaimed excitedly, "President Shi Ti, are you making a bet with me and offering a reward?"

Shi Ti: "..."

*When did I, an old man, ever say such a thing?!* He gritted his teeth, almost blurting out the hysterical thoughts in his mind.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed mournfully, "Alas, it's true that only mediocrity goes unenvied! I clearly refined the Crimson Gold Pill, and Senior Yun He even vouched for me, yet no one is willing to believe Xu Xiaoshou. Is the life of a genius truly this lonely? Where are my kindred spirits?"

Everyone was dumbfounded. *Shouldn't these words be said in your mind? How dare you speak them so shamelessly?*

Mu Zixi clenched her fist beside him. "Xu Xiaoshou, I believe you."

Everyone glanced over, and the young girl's face flushed as she shrank behind Shi Ti.

"Xu Xiaoshou, go for it!"

This sudden cheer surprised everyone even more. The crowd looked over... Fu Xing?

Fu Yinhong's beautiful eyes instantly widened. "What are you getting involved in?!"

Fu Xing: "I believe Xu Xiaoshou! I believe my brother!"

Fu Yinhong: "..."

Shi Ti let out a long breath. Given the situation, he had to show some gesture. If this continued, and by some slim chance everything Xu Xiaoshou said turned out to be true, his old reputation would be completely ruined.

He slowly said, "If you can truly succeed in refining a ninth-grade pill, I, Shi Ti, will grant you one condition!"

Everyone was astonished. A favor, just promised like that? Envy almost flowed out of the onlookers' eyes. *Seriously? When did the President become so casual?* But then they reconsidered: if Xu Xiaoshou truly succeeded, then Shi Ti's previous actions would indeed be excessive. Weighing it against that, one favor for the President's reputation was certainly not a loss.

Xu Xiaoshou's expression became excited. Although Shi Ti had old ties with Old Sang, that clearly wasn't a reason for Xu Xiaoshou to do whatever he wanted. But if he could truly get Shi Ti's promise, the situation would be entirely different. He would have a strong backing in Tian Sang City! As long as this favor remained unused, who would dare to touch Xu Xiaoshou?

He immediately chuckled, "Does the President's offer mean I can ask for anything?"

Shi Ti sneered, "Provided you can actually refine the pill!"

*What's so difficult about that?* Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself. His ninth-grade Spirit Refinement Pills had already been created in the Spirit Palace. He still had quite a few lying in his ring! Although they weren't used as often as Spirit Refinement Fluid, and some looked pitch-black, they were indeed finished pills! This favor was practically within his grasp.

Xu Xiaoshou pondered this, then asked again, "If I refine a ninth-grade pill, the President will grant me one condition. What if I can refine an eighth-grade pill?"

A hint of longing appeared in his eyes.

Everyone was dumbfounded. *This kid... Just moments ago, they thought he had a good temperament. How long had it been before his true colors were revealed? Empty boasts, aiming too high, and causing destruction everywhere—he was practically a walking bundle of bad habits!*

Shi Ti was also exasperated yet amused. "You certainly talk big, kid. Eighth-grade? How dare you even say that!"

Xu Xiaoshou frowned. "President, you don't believe me again. Please think back carefully. Do I really just talk without basis? Which of my words has been false?"

Shi Ti: "..." He didn't want to say anything at all. *Did he really want to recall those painful memories of the Pill Tower's damage?!*

Xu Xiaoshou sighed, "You always think I can't do it, but haven't 'accidents' happened every time? What if? What if it works again this time?!"

"Hahaha!" Shi Ti threw his head back and laughed. He could no longer stand the young man's arrogant words and said coldly, "If you can truly refine an eighth-grade pill, then I, Shi Ti, wouldn't mind taking you as my disciple!"