Chapter 57: Being Arranged

"Senior, why are you here?"

Xu Xiaoshou tried hard to calm down and explained, "I didn't damage any of the ancient books or jade slips, nor did I move any boxes randomly..."

"Don't be afraid, I won't lay a hand on you." Elder Sang smiled gently. "Those two were just an afterthought; I actually came here for you."

Xu Xiaoshou panicked even more. He'd rather the old man was here to punish him than to have him come with a purpose!

The last time, he was almost killed. This time... what good could come of it?

"What spiritual skill did you choose? Let me see." Elder Sang extended his hand.

Xu Xiaoshou pulled a tattered scroll from his embrace, unsure what he wanted.

"Ten-Segment Sword Finger?"

Elder Sang frowned as he took the tattered scroll. "This thing is so damaged, and you still chose it? Forget ten segments; even mastering one segment would be impressive!"

As he spoke, he put away the tattered scroll, and with a flick of his hand, a beautiful jade slip appeared.

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

What does he mean? What is this old geezer up to now?

Give me back my tattered scroll!

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Elder Sang chuckled.

Xu Xiaoshou had a bad feeling, but what could he do? He could only nod!

"Good that it's beautiful. This is specially made for you; it's a gift!" Elder Sang pushed the jade slip into his hand, raising his chin twice. "Take a look?"

I don't want to look!

I want my tattered scroll back!

"It's really beautiful," Xu Xiaoshou said with a smile, pressing the jade slip to his forehead and scanning it with his mind.

"Blaze Sky Incineration?"

His heart skipped a beat; those familiar words...

Blaze?

If anyone said this had no relation to the "Blazing Fire Seed" he'd swallowed before, he wouldn't believe it for a second!

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't keep up the act anymore. He handed the jade slip back and said, "Senior, you think too highly of me. My aptitude is truly very low. I only managed to master one form of the 'White Cloud Sword Art' in three years. I'm afraid I can't learn this."

Elder Sang waved his hand, his face full of indifference.

"It's fine. You don't need aptitude to learn this. As long as your physical body is strong enough to withstand the scorching power of the 'Blazing Fire Seed,' you'll be fine."

Xu Xiaoshou felt completely unwell. The problem was, he didn't want to resist it!

I have a passive system; why suffer?

Wouldn't it be better to slowly earn passive points? Cultivating this thing is nerve-wracking; one wrong move and he'd be burnt to ashes!

Elder Sang pushed the jade slip back to him and took his hand, sensing it.

"Hmm, the previous one was refined quite well; you're almost halfway done. I wasn't wrong about you!"

He flipped his palm, and a familiar red seed appeared, scorching hot, which he directly placed into Xu Xiaoshou's hand.

"When you go out later, register this spiritual skill, then cultivate it well. Once you've mastered it, come back here to find me."

Only a ghost would want to find you!

I don't want to see you for a single second!

Xu Xiaoshou's heart began to convulse; that terrifying pain seemed to resurface with the heat from the fire seed in his hand.

He felt that life couldn't always be endured passively; sometimes, one needed to resist.

"Senior, I don't want to eat this..."

*Whoosh!*

Elder Sang flicked his finger, and another fire seed shot into Xu Xiaoshou's throat, making a gurgling sound as it was swallowed.

"If you don't want to eat this one, save it for later; let's eat the other one," the old man said, his eyes crinkling into a smile, his tone very gentle.

He then pulled out a jade bottle, carefully placed the fire seed from Xu Xiaoshou's hand into it, and handed it to him, saying, "No rush, take your time."

Xu Xiaoshou stumbled, collapsing to the ground, his face drained of color.

That's not what I meant!

I don't want to eat even one!

He was completely bewildered; this move came without warning. This old geezer had absolutely no bearing of a senior expert; he was truly infuriating.

Once the fire seed entered his stomach, Xu Xiaoshou didn't dare to act rashly. He immediately suspended it in his Qi Sea, temporarily stabilizing it.

His body temperature soared instantly, and he turned crimson again.

Xu Xiaoshou leaned against the bookshelf, steam rising from his body. The familiar agonizing pain reappeared, driving him mad.

"Attacked, Passive Points, +1.""Attacked, Passive Points, +1.""..."

Xu Xiaoshou knew a large wave of passive points was coming, but he couldn't feel happy about it.

This was the price of pain!

No!

It was agonizing pain!

If he started refining it, it would be the agony of agonies!

Wasn't I here to choose spiritual skills from the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion? What on earth happened...

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes were unfocused; he felt like his soul had left him.

Elder Sang, unconcerned, expertly pulled out ten bottles of elixirs and placed them in front of him, making Xu Xiaoshou's face twitch.

Crimson Gold Elixirs?

Ten bottles?

So that's how it is...

He felt as if his fate had been prearranged.

"Just get through this, and your path ahead will be smooth. Trust me!" The old man scratched his head in thought for a moment, then placed another bottle of elixir down.

"Good luck!"

"Remember to come back here to find me once you've successfully cultivated it." With that, he vanished with a flicker.

"Encouraged, Passive Points, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou sat there blankly, feeling that life had lost its meaning.

Why?

He had fought tooth and nail to win the championship, only to be denied entry to the inner court?

After finally getting another chance to enter the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion to choose a spiritual skill, he was forcibly assigned one?

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't understand it at all. He felt that the world held a deep malice towards him.

"Fine, so be it..."

Dazed and disheartened, he registered the spiritual skill and left the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion.

***

Inner Court.

At a certain spiritual ground.

"Gurgle, gurgle~"

The wine pot made of spiritual silver jade was bubbling merrily.

Lan Xinzi withdrew the blue flames from her hand, uncovered the pot, and instantly, the aroma of wine permeated the air.

She poured two cups, delicately picked them up, and with light, lotus steps, moved towards the man who was cultivating with his eyes closed nearby.

"Young Master Zhang, this is the 'Turbid Immortal Brew' that the Patriarch just sent. Would you like to try it?" she probed.

Zhang Xinxiong opened his eyes, ending his cultivation, and looked at the woman before him.

It had to be said, Lan Xinzi was a woman of captivating beauty.

Her long gown flowed like an immortal's, subtly revealing her fragrant shoulders. With just a touch of makeup, she could make all flowers lose their color.

"Your clothes have slipped. Put them on properly." Zhang Xinxiong averted his gaze.

"Slipped? This is how this dress is meant to be worn..."

Lan Xinzi suddenly curved her red lips into a sly smile and said, "I'm holding two wine cups; I can't really manage for a moment. Why don't you help me with them?"

Zhang Xinxiong simply reached out, took the wine cups, and drained one in a single gulp. "Hold them yourself."

Lan Xinzi rolled her eyes at him, made no other move, but bent down to pour him wine, incidentally whispering into his ear, "There's news from home again."

"Speak properly!" Zhang Xinxiong turned his head away, frowning. "What is it now?"

"It's about your A-Chong being killed. Did you think you could keep it a secret?"

Lan Xinzi stretched her waist languidly, showcasing her curvaceous figure to the man, and continued:

"The Wen family has gone mad these past two days after getting the news, but they have no one in the Spirit Palace. They could only inform Madam Wen."

"And your second mother, she just needs to whisper a few words into your father's ear at bedtime, and the message gets sent, doesn't it?" She gently blew on the wine in her cup, her beautiful eyes glancing sideways at the man, alluring as silk.

Zhang Xinxiong scoffed, "What does the Wen family's business have to do with me?"

"That's your cousin!"

"Just trash who's inferior in skill."

"..."

For a moment, Lan Xinzi was speechless.