After confirming that what she refined were top-grade pills, Feng Xi was full of delight.
"Fifth Senior Brother, honestly, I didn't have very high hopes. Who knew I'd succeed just by casually refining like this!
And I even refined top-grade pills!
I really am a genius!
Fifth Senior Brother, up until now, I haven't discovered a single flaw in myself. Have you found any?"
Jun Wen: "...No."
If bragging doesn't count as a flaw.
Feng Xi was in a great mood, and even found the little black ball pleasing to look at. She rubbed it a couple of times like petting a cat and even praised it a bit.
The little black ball snorted coldly inside, so annoying!
Then, it took the initiative to rub against Feng Xi's palm.
Feng Xi blinked, "Fifth Senior Brother, do you think the fact that I'm an alchemy genius should be told to others?
In other words, should I openly show off, or secretly work hard and shock everyone later?"
Jun Wen scratched his head, "Little Junior Sister, I'm not as sharp as you. You decide."
Feng Xi pondered for a while and said, "In a few months it'll be the Four-Sect Competition. If I shout it out now, others will be on guard.
So I'll work secretly for now."
Jun Wen asked, "Not even Master?"
"Mm. I'll give the old man a surprise when the time comes."
As she spoke, Feng Xi took out the top-grade Qingling Pill from the alchemy furnace and handed five to Jun Wen.
"Fifth Senior Brother, these are for you!"
Jun Wen scratched his head, a little embarrassed to accept them.
Although Qingling Pill wasn't particularly valuable, these were top-grade pills!
Their price could easily be ten times higher!
Feng Xi shot him a glare, and only then did he accept them.
She put the remaining five pills into a small porcelain bottle and continued refining.
As Jun Wen watched, he suddenly realized a previously overlooked issue!
Just now, little junior sister gave him five and kept five herself, altogether that was ten.
Didn't that mean a 100% success rate???
And all of them were top-grade pills???
Even Elder Ji couldn't do that!
No, even a Heaven-rank alchemist might not be able to do that!
While Jun Wen was in utter shock, Feng Xi refined another furnace of Qingling Pill. It was still a 100% success rate, but this time only one was top-grade, and the rest were high-grade pills.
Jun Wen thought that this was normal.
Huh?
A 100% success rate, with even one top-grade pill, actually felt normal?
Had his standards drifted this far already?!
It's all because of little junior sister, she single-handedly warped his sense of judgment!
Feng Xi was a bit dissatisfied. She frowned and recalled the refining process, everything was clearly the same. So why was the quality of this furnace so much worse?
She thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out. On top of that, she was exhausted and sleepy, so she temporarily gave up.
Before leaving, Jun Wen said to her, "Little Junior Sister, I think you don't need to obsess too much over quality right now. For the moment, this is more than enough.
You should practice other pill formulas too. Tomorrow I'll accompany you to the library pavilion to look for more formulas."
Feng Xi nodded, "Fifth Senior Brother, you're right. Then I'll prioritize quantity first and put quality aside."
After class the next day, the two of them went to the library pavilion.
When the Elder Hai of the library pavilion saw Feng Xi, he was very happy. He chatted with her for quite a while before letting her enter.
As for Jun Wen standing beside her, it was as if he didn't exist at all.
Jun Wen: "..."
Ever since Little Junior Sister appeared, my status in the sect has been declining day by day!
Jun Wen soon found several pill manuals.
Feng Xi flipped through them and asked doubtfully, "Fifth Senior Brother, why are all the formulas here Yellow-rank and Xuan-rank?"
Jun Wen smiled bitterly, "Little Junior Sister, Earth-rank formulas are all controlled by alchemists themselves and aren't easily passed on.
As for Heaven-rank pills, they're secret inheritances, don't even think about them."
Feng Xi nodded. So that's how it was.
Then she'd first practice these Yellow-rank and Xuan-rank formulas, and think of ways to get Earth-rank and Heaven-rank formulas later.
She bought a large pile of cheap medicinal herbs at the North Peak market. As for expensive herbs, she already had them in her storage ring.
To avoid suspicion, Feng Xi deliberately made a few noisy alchemy attempts.
Rolling black smoke was an everyday occurrence. One time, she even singed Jun Wen's hair!
Jun Wen was on the verge of tears!
Little Junior Sister! I've made tremendous sacrifices for your strategy of playing the pig to eat the tiger!
Not only that, the main dining hall of Xuantian Sect recently gained a new dish… smoked meat.
Smoked chicken, smoked duck, smoked goose, smoked rabbit…
Many people ate while silently mourning the low-rank demon beasts raised in the back mountain. Ever since little junior sister started refining pills, they hadn't had a single peaceful day.
Then sorrowful tears slid from the corners of their mouths.
Soon, news of Feng Xi's absurd alchemy escapades spread.
When Baili Muchen, the sect master of Hunyuan Sect, heard it, he snorted coldly, "This master already predicted she was a troublemaker. Only Xiao Baidao treats her like a treasure and keeps putting gold on her face."
The other two sect masters treated it as a joke. Feng Xi was good in every way except that her personality was a bit jumpy, thinking of one thing and doing another.
And Xiao Baidao too, he actually didn't restrain her at all, just let her mess around.
In truth, Xiao Baidao did try to control her, but he couldn't withstand Feng Xi's soft coaxing. Each time, he raised the matter seriously, then set it down gently, indulging her.
Even the others in Xuantian Sect were especially tolerant of Feng Xi.
If she wanted to refine, then let her refine!
Once she refined enough, she'd stop!
At the very least, ever since Feng Xi started refining pills, their food quality had visibly improved.
The demon beasts in the back mountain: …So you're the only ones who are noble, huh? We deserve to be smoked to death so you can eat meat?
Just as Feng Xi's alchemy career was progressing vigorously, news arrived.
The Demon Realm had begun making frequent small moves near the boundary region. The four major sects thought that this wasn't a good sign, there was a strong possibility the demons were about to cause trouble.
After discussion, they decided to mobilize sect disciples stationed near the boundary to reinforce the area and strengthen patrols.
In addition, each sect had to send one elder and two personal disciples to the boundary region to stabilize morale.
After receiving the news, Xiao Baidao immediately sent messages to his four disciples who were away, but not a single one replied.
Xiao Baidao ground his teeth, "A bunch of unfilial brats! They're far worse than Xiao Xi and Little Five!"
Jun Wen was secretly delighted. I really am Master's treasured disciple!
Even if I rank behind little junior sister, I'm still far ahead of those four beasts!
While he was delighted, Xiao Baidao was extremely troubled.
The other four personal disciples couldn't be contacted, leaving only Jun Wen and Feng Xi as candidates.
Jun Wen would be fine, he's thick-skinned and tough, a little injury wouldn't matter.
But Xiao Xi's dantian injury hadn't healed yet. She had no ability to protect herself at all. Going to the boundary region would be far too dangerous!