Chapter 95

Before sitting back down in the large bathtub, Xu Xiaoshou swore that this time he absolutely could not go off track and must properly get the alchemy going.

Since he couldn't control the fingernail-sized "compressed fire seed," he had to settle for the next best option, which was to use a... hmm, fireball to refine the elixirs.

With a hand gesture, a spherical flame appeared, and Xu Xiaoshou placed it beneath the three-legged bathtub.

In just a few breaths, the milky white bathtub began to turn red, and the temperature rose rapidly.

Xu Xiaoshou recalled the old man Sang's grand technique of throwing herbs, and he grabbed a handful of herbs from his ring, throwing them into the bathtub.

"Hisss!"

Before they even hit the ground, the herbs turned to ashes, leaving not even a trace of their original form.

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

Indeed, the temperature was too high.

This was a flame that could burn even spirit crystals into gas.

Moreover, he clearly didn't have the old man Sang's skill to perfectly separate the herbs. He should try one at a time!

With his mind controlling the flame, he compressed it within a controllable range.

An herb flew over...

Hisss!

"Still no good?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't continue. He wasn't an impulsive person. Although the herbs were plentiful, this was too wasteful, and he needed to draw some conclusions.

Hmm...

There wasn't much to conclude; the flame was still too hot.

"How can I lower the temperature?"

Xu Xiaoshou rubbed his chin, his brows furrowed tightly, and suddenly had an idea.

If the temperature was too high, could he use the "Breathing Technique" to absorb it?

"Smart!"

He clenched his fists, realizing the feasibility of this method. The "Absorption Technique" of the "Breathing Technique" wasn't just for cultivation!

His pores relaxed, and the heat was instantly absorbed into his body. The spherical flame beneath the bathtub seemed less fierce.

Xu Xiaoshou felt the heat rising, breaking out in a sweat, but he could still hold on.

Compared to refining the "Ashen Fire Seed," this temperature didn't even trigger the "Under Attack" notification in his information panel.

Another herb flew into the bathtub.

This time it landed perfectly, suspended by spiritual energy, but it didn't last a second before it was destroyed.

"Ugh..."

Xu Xiaoshou stopped, realizing this method was unstable.

If the heat absorbed into his body couldn't be consistently maintained, the temperature of the spherical flame would fluctuate, making it impossible to refine elixirs.

But with no other options, Xu Xiaoshou could only continue trying.

"Practice makes perfect!"

Refining elixirs was a delicate task, and the old man was right. Through this process, he should be able to control his power more precisely.

He grabbed another herb, but before he could throw it, the information panel refreshed:

"Surrounded, Passive Value, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou: "???"

Surrounded?

He looked around, but there was no one!

No, outside?

Was someone surrounding the Spirit Treasury Pavilion?

He remembered the masked man from yesterday and felt a chill. Could someone be attacking the Spirit Treasury Pavilion in broad daylight?

How did they break into the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace?

Xu Xiaoshou put away the herbs and formed two spherical flames, the "Small Fireball Technique" ready, then sneaked to the window, peering out.

"Damn!"

"So many people!"

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

As far as he could see, a large number of black-clad figures surrounded the Spirit Treasury Pavilion in layers.

No...

Black-clad figures?

Weren't these the law enforcement officers of the Spirit Law Pavilion?

Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled. He pushed open the window and saw the leader of the group...

He looked familiar.

Wasn't this the referee from the group match?

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened, and he rubbed them to look again. At that moment, the other person's gaze also met his.

"It's you?"

"It's you?"

In unison!

Zhao Xidong was stunned, his battle plan blanking out instantly.

Xu Xiaoshou?

Why is it him?

That's not right, how did he get into the Spirit Treasury Pavilion?

No, no, he's still an outer court disciple. How dare he sneak into the inner court?

And... those two explosions earlier, were they related to him?

Impossible!

Just Xu Xiaoshou...

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +1."

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +1."

"Under Ridicule, Passive Value, +1."

"..."

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. He looked at the referee without speaking, but his mind was urging him.

Go ahead, let your imagination run wild.

I don't know what you're thinking, but I won't stop you.

Thinking is the ladder of human progress!

Zhao Xidong looked at the silent youth and thought about how he had killed Feng Kong and Shao Yi, and the mysterious incidents during the competition...

Could it really be him?

Not just Zhao Xidong, but the law enforcement officers present were also confused.

After all, almost everyone there knew Xu Xiaoshou, not just because of his bizarre performance in the "Storm of Glory," but more importantly, because of his role in the capture operation last night...

He was the only one with innate cultivation to participate, and he was even one of the focal points of the storm!

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +169."

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +112."

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +84."

"..."

Great!

Xu Xiaoshou stood at the window and clenched his fist. With just this glance, his passive value was about to break the six-thousand mark.

Zhao Xidong couldn't hold back and asked, "Was the explosion just now caused by you?"

"Yep." Xu Xiaoshou nodded, leaning on the windowsill and looking at everyone, "Don't worry, the Spirit Treasury Pavilion is fine. You can leave now."

"???"

Everyone was stunned. You didn't say anything before, but now that you've said it, we're even more worried!

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +266."

Xu Xiaoshou was amused again. He didn't know why, but every time he told the truth, no one believed him, making it unnecessary for him to lie.

"How did you get into the Spirit Treasury Pavilion, and on the third floor?"

Zhao Xidong was furious, "This is not a place for you. Get down here now. An outer court disciple entering the inner court is a serious offense. You... you even dared to break into the Spirit Treasury Pavilion?"

"Old Man Sang called me here." Xu Xiaoshou said.

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +266."

Everyone's first reaction was disbelief, but thinking about how Old Man Sang saved people yesterday, they suddenly found it plausible.

No matter, the passive value was already in the bank.

"What did Old Man Sang call you here for?" Zhao Xidong was curious.

"To refine elixirs."

"Under Suspicion, Passive Value, +267."

Xu Xiaoshou was amused. He saw another law enforcement officer arrive, adding to the passive value.

Zhao Xidong laughed in anger. Refine elixirs?

I really believed you were called by Old Man Sang just now!

Refining elixirs is something a ninth-realm cultivator like you can do?

Without innate attributes, what can you use to refine elixirs?

Firewood?

Ridiculous!