"More than that! It's said that even Great Master Gu He was helpless against Old Master Nalan's brand poison, but the Fourth Young Miss of the Xiao Family cured him!"
"I also heard..."
"..."
Seeing things weren't right, Xiao Zhan quickly turned to Xiao Xue and scolded her, "Xue'er, don't be rude!"
However, there wasn't much reproach in his voice; it didn't sound like he was blaming Xiao Xue for being wrong, but more like he was blaming her for getting caught being naughty.
"Please forgive her, Great Master Gu He. I've spoiled my daughter," Xiao Zhan said, cupping his hands toward Gu He.
"No matter," Gu He replied casually, then cast his gaze toward Xiao Xue. Their eyes met in the air.
The people around them instantly went silent, quietly observing the scene.
They all knew that if Xiao Xue truly was a Fifth-Grade Alchemist now, she would inevitably surpass Pill King Gu He in the future!
This was a challenge from a new king to the old king!
"Senior Gu He, why don't the two of us make a bet?" Xiao Xue ignored the crowd's reaction and spoke with a smile.
Hearing this, Gu He frowned slightly. "Girl, what do you want to bet?"
Xiao Xue said with a smile, "This Junior is untalented, but I have a Disciple who is about the same age as Senior's Disciple."
"She is currently a Second-Grade Alchemist and a One-Star Dou Ling."
"Hiss~" * N
The people present couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air, and even Gu He was slightly startled.
A Second-Grade Alchemist at the Dou Ling level wouldn't normally surprise people that much.
However, according to Xiao Xue, her Disciple was about the same age as Liu Ling!
A Dou Ling expert around twenty years old!
Such cultivation talent was simply terrifying!
Then, everyone simultaneously thought of another frightening fact:
If the Disciple was this terrifying, then what kind of strength did the Fourth Young Miss of the Xiao Family herself possess?
"Hiss~~" * N
Terrifying indeed!
"This Junior hopes that at the Alchemist Grand Prix two years from now, my Disciple can compete with Liu Ling."
Xiao Xue continued after waiting for the crowd to digest the information.
"If Senior loses, I hope Senior can grant me one request."
"Of course, if this Junior loses, I can recommend Senior for entry into the Pill Tower."
Xiao Xue's light words entered Gu He's ears, causing his breathing to instantly become heavy.
Gu He's lifelong dream had always been to break through to a Seventh-Rank Alchemist and go to the Central Plains to join the Pill Tower.
Gu He felt his talent was insufficient and that breaking through to the seventh rank was too difficult, so he pinned his hopes on refining a Heavenly Flame.
He wanted to use the Heavenly Flame to elevate himself in all aspects and use its power to aid his alchemy.
Unfortunately, Heavenly Flames were too mysterious; even someone like Gu He hadn't been able to find any information after all these years.
But now, what did he just hear Xiao Xue say?
Xiao Xue could directly recommend him for entry into the Pill Tower?
"Are your words true?" Gu He stared at Xiao Xue with bloodshot eyes.
Xiao Xue took out her Fifth-Grade Alchemist Badge from her storage ring, pinned it to her chest, and spoke leisurely.
"I'm only fifteen. To have today's achievements, ninety-nine percent is thanks to my mysterious teacher."
"And he is an Elder of the Pill Tower."
"...I see. Someone who can Cultivate a Genius as despair-inducing as you must definitely be an Elder of the Pill Tower."
"With your talent, you might even break through to the eighth rank in the future. An Alchemist of that level wouldn't be ignored even by the Pill Tower."
"Coupled with your teacher being an Elder of the Pill Tower, you will certainly become an Elder yourself."
Gu He muttered to himself, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
If he lost, he would have to grant Xiao Xue a request. This condition could be big or small, which was why Gu He had hesitated.
But now, he couldn't help but be moved by the terms Xiao Xue offered.
After thinking for a moment, Gu He finally forced a smile. "Fine, little friend Xiao Xue, I shall take you up on that bet!"
The crowd instantly erupted. The difference between "girl" and "little friend" was like night and day!
Beside them, Xiao Zhan felt relieved and gave Xiao Xue a satisfied smile, then went back to drinking and boasting with Nalan Su.
"Liu Ling." Gu He called out to Liu Ling and turned to leave.
His goal had been achieved, so he naturally wouldn't stay long at this banquet.
Moreover, Liu Ling's performance now determined whether he could enter the Pill Tower. To get in, his own alchemy skills also had to be up to par.
Therefore, going back to diligently study the art of alchemy was the right path.
Liu Ling cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem, I'll be going now. You guys chat." Then he jogged after his master.
Nalan Yanran instinctively wanted to see Gu He off, but then she remembered her fiancé was standing right there and stopped herself just in time.
Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran looked at each other in silence, the atmosphere so awkward it was palpable.
"Cough, Brother... Sister-in-law, you two talk," Xiao Xue said, turning to walk away.
Better to leave these things for her Cheap older brother to handle himself; she wasn't good at this.
Without the initial annulment incident, Xiao Yan certainly didn't hate Nalan Yanran now, but he probably didn't have much affection for her either.
Although she was away from home most of the time and didn't know the current status between Xiao Yan and Xun'er...
As the male and female leads of this world, their relationship probably wouldn't progress slowly.
And Nalan Yanran definitely couldn't compete with the female lead.
In the original story, Xun'er only accepted Medusa because Xiao Yan owed her too much, and they even had a daughter together.
If not for that, with Xiao Xun Er's personality, she would have called someone to capture Medusa and turn her into soup long ago.
Now, Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan had no emotional foundation and no shared bonds. What did Nalan Yanran have to compete with Xun'er?
So, she didn't care too much about these matters.
What Xiao Xue really cared about was the prestige value rapidly increasing on the System interface!
This banquet gathered most of the prominent families in Gama Emperor City, as well as some powerful Loose Cultivators.
The prestige value Xiao Xue gained tonight was even more than all she had gained previously combined!
Jie jie jie, Gu He, you didn't expect this, did you? This is all part of the plan!
As for that bet, Xiao Xue had absolute confidence.
That was, her Disciple Xiao Yi Xian couldn't possibly lose!
Two years to go from a new Second-Grade to the Peak of the fourth rank or even the fifth rank might seem exaggerated, but Xiao Yi Xian had the Calamity Poison Body!
Two years from now, Xiao Yi Xian would be at least at the Peak of the Dou Ling level, or even have the cultivation of a Dou Wang, and her Soul Power would be at least at the Late Stage of the Mortal Realm!
Tell me, how can she lose?
------------------------
I've posted 40+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"