In the courtyard, Xiao Zhao and Immortal Xu were gathered around a medicinal furnace.
Hearing the movement, Xiao Zhao, with its short legs, nimbly clung to Feng Ninghe's shoulder, nuzzling her with its furry body.
Immortal Xu also trotted over, his face beaming with a fawning smile as he rubbed his hands together. "Boss Feng, I've been refining medicine according to the formula you gave me yesterday, but no matter how I try, it always feels like something is missing. Could you offer some guidance?"
Without even approaching the furnace, Feng Ninghe glanced at the opening and said dismissively, "This is a high-grade third-tier pill, rich in spiritual energy. Your medicinal furnace is too trashy to bear the abundant spiritual power of the pill during condensation. Even if Xiao Zhao didn't cause trouble, your furnace would explode when you condense the pill."
Immortal Xu never expected the reason to be this.
He immediately put on a mournful face. "Boss Feng, my 'Hundred Beasts Furnace' is already a third-tier spiritual artifact. You won't find a more precious medicinal furnace in the entire Li Kingdom."
Feng Ninghe cast him a sidelong glance and snorted, "Such ambition. When the time is right in the future, I'll find you a suitable medicinal furnace."
She wasn't without medicinal furnaces above the third tier.
In her spatial spirit bracelet lay two spirit cauldrons of the sixth tier.
However, it would be overkill to give them to Xu Xianren, who was only a third-tier alchemist.
Hearing Feng Ninghe's words, Immortal Xu was filled with gratitude.
Then, Feng Ninghe's eyes flickered, as if thinking of something. A meaningful smile appeared on her delicate face. "Old Xu, Feng Guangyao suffered a loss at my place today. He definitely won't let it go and will come to find you soon, promising you benefits and trying to win you over."
Mentioning Feng Guangyao, Old Xu wore a look of misfortune. "Just talking to him makes me feel cheap. Don't worry, I won't agree to that guy."
Feng Ninghe's lips curled up wantonly, her beautiful eyes darkening slightly. "No. Since he's offering benefits, you should accept."
Her smile held a hidden agenda, sending a shiver down Old Xu's spine.
The way this girl was smiling so smoothly, Feng Guangyao was likely in for a world of trouble.
Feng Ninghe brushed the fluffy fur on Xiao Zhao and gently patted its head. "We've returned to our old stomping grounds, and I haven't had a chance to properly explore. I'll take you for a walk."
Upon hearing about going out to play, Xiao Zhao excitedly nuzzled her palm with its head.
Hehe, it had been eager to go out and play for a long time.
Not long after Feng Ninghe left the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, a servant came to Immortal Xu to report, "Immortal Xu, the master is requesting an audience outside the courtyard."
Old Xu waved his hand. "Then please invite him in."
Soon, Feng Guangyao appeared.
"Greetings, Immortal Xu."
Feng Guangyao said politely, with a hint of deference on his face.
Old Xu lowered his gaze to him. "Lord Feng, please speak your mind."
Feng Guangyao no longer hesitated and directly stated his intentions. "In three days, the Tianxue Mountain secret realm will open. I hope Immortal Xu can assist me in obtaining the Flame Spirit Lotus. Our Feng family will certainly not treat you unfairly."
Feng Guangyao's cultivation was inferior to the Great Elder's, but if he could obtain the Flame Spirit Lotus and break through his bottleneck, his cultivation would be comparable to the Great Elder's.
In the future, he would no longer be restricted by the Great Elder and would never suffer such a humiliating incident as today.
Immortal Xu seemed tempted, his tone carrying a hint of interest. "If I help you, how will you repay me?"
Feng Guangyao was overjoyed, his eyes filled with a fervent greed. "If Immortal Xu is willing to help the Feng family obtain the Flame Spirit Lotus, I am willing to offer you the position of a Feng family guest elder, and all the Feng family's resources will be at your disposal. Furthermore, as long as you have a request, the Feng family will do its utmost to fulfill it."
Old Xu stroked his long goatee, pondered for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. "In that case, this old man will help the Feng family obtain the Flame Spirit Lotus!"
Xu Laotou's agreement delighted Feng Guangyao.
A subtle, hidden look flickered in his eyes as he cautiously probed, "My daughter, Feng Tongtong, has decent talent. At such a young age, her cultivation has already reached the early stage of Guangqi. If Immortal Xu is willing to consider taking her as a disciple, it would be a blessing cultivated over a hundred years for this girl."
"Feng Tongtong's ability to reach the early stage of Guangqi is indeed talented. It wouldn't be bad to take on such a disciple."
Old Xu nodded without hesitation. "Feng Tongtong's talent is nothing compared to Feng Ninghe's. In the past, she was fed many spirit pills and elixirs, but her spiritual power never increased. She's truly a waste!"
These words filled Feng Guangyao's eyes with joy. He returned home beaming. "Tongtong is a smart and filial child. Once a teacher, always a father. If you are willing to guide her, she will surely repay you."
Feng Guangyao was ecstatic. With Immortal Xu's help, it would be easy for him to raid Feng Ninghe's home.
At that time, Feng Ninghe would be penniless and have nothing, making it easy to control that wretched girl.
With his objective achieved, Feng Guangyao did not linger. After a brief farewell, he left Shiyuan with a heart full of joy and merriment.
Inn.
A soft-looking little girl, who had been resting her chin on her hand and doodling on paper, instantly threw down her brush the moment she could no longer sense her father's presence.
A sly glint flashed in her large, round, bright eyes.
When Daddy is not here, Xin Xin is the boss.
This small inn could not contain her.
They had traveled a long way from Xiyouzhou and should have a good time playing in the Li Kingdom.
Si Xinxin's gaze fell on A Xi, who was guarding her.
A Xi's body suddenly trembled. He looked down and saw the little girl, as delicate as porcelain, smiling innocently. "Uncle Xi~"
Half an hour later.
Si Xinxin, holding a skewer of candied hawthorn and with her hair tied in delicate rabbit ears, skipped along the bustling street with great excitement.
The young, handsome, sword-browed, star-eyed A Xi, who was a meter eighty tall, followed closely behind.
The pair, one large and one small, indeed attracted the attention of many passersby.
Especially Si Xinxin, whose rosy, fair cheeks looked incredibly pinchable.
Si Xinxin took a bite of a candied hawthorn, her bright eyes darting around the street. But in the next moment, her body suddenly began to tremble uncontrollably.
The half-eaten candied hawthorn rolled to the ground.
A Xi quickly stepped forward and picked her up. "Miss, what's wrong?"
Si Xinxin's face turned pale, and large beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Her childish voice was filled with pain. "Uncle Xi... I'm in pain!"
A Xi realized that Si Xinxin's illness had relapsed, and his face darkened. "Her condition has been very stable lately. How could it suddenly flare up? I'll transfer some spiritual energy to you. Only when Young Master returns can you be cured. Miss, please bear with it!"
In just a moment, a crowd had gathered around them.
"This is a congenital problem from the womb. Transferring spiritual energy can only reduce minor pain, not alleviate the condition at all. Let me see."
At this moment, a clear female voice rang out.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a tall woman with an ethereal aura, like a celestial being descended to earth. She wore a veil, revealing a pair of bright eyes that seemed to shimmer with spring light. On her shoulder perched a furry spirit pet with two small horns.