"Honestly, your cooking is really good."
"If you lose, you'll have to become my bodyguard and personal chef."
After a satisfying meal, Huo Zhi praised Xiao Ting's culinary skills.
"You should think about serving me tea, warming my bed, and making the quilt," Xiao Ting retorted without backing down.
The two glared at each other, their gazes clashing in the air as sharp words flew back and forth.
Caught in the middle, Xun Er tried her best to mediate and prevent the tension from escalating too far.
As soon as they left the courtyard, Xiao Ting immediately took out his Journal and wrote:
[Heaven is on my side.]
[Thanks to Huo Zhi for sending me heaven-tier cultivation methods, battle techniques, and secret arts.]
[And she herself will become my exclusive maid, serving tea, massaging my shoulders and legs, warming my bed, and folding the blankets.]
The women who possessed copies of the Journal but weren't present: ?
[Cao Ying]: Knows how to enjoy life.
[Tang Huo Er]: Sister Huo Zhi, so that's the kind of person you are.
[Feng Qing Er]: I thought you had a great idea, but in the end you're just a freeloader too?
[Zi Yan]: I was going to learn at first, but now I'm giving up!
[Huo Zhi]: That's misunderstanding.
[Cao Ying]: Misunderstanding? Sending cultivation methods or battle techniques? Or refuse to become an exclusive maid?
[Huo Zhi]: None!
[Cao Ying]: Sister Huo Zhi, are you saying I always write nonsense in the Journal? Daydreaming? Thinking of ridiculous things?
[Huo Zhi]: That's not what I meant. I just made a bet with him.
Bet?
The girls were shocked.
But the answer appeared in the Journal the next moment.
[Huo Zhi coming to Jia Nan Academy to see the Heavenly Flame and becoming friends with Xun Er was perfectly natural.]
[As a direct descendant of a royal clan who reached Dou Venerate at a young age, it was only natural for her to look down on me.]
[But her sarcasm was merciless and eventually enraged Xun Er, severing their friendship. Then she casually proposed the bet to me.]
[Bet Contract Contents…]
[Can I obtain the Dou Ancestor rank before turning twenty?]
[Before Xun Er's coming-of-age ceremony, will I reach Dou Venerate?]
[If I can't do this, I might as well commit suicide sooner or later.]
Xiao Ting's book ended here.
Seeing this, Huo Zhi let out a sigh of relief. Her purity was preserved.
[Huo Zhi]: See? I only made a bet with him. I didn't give him anything directly, and I didn't have to bow down as a maid.
[Cao Ying]: I have only one question. Can you win the bet?
[Huo Zhi]: Of course not.
[Cao Ying]: You knew in advance?
[Huo Zhi]: …I know.
[Tang Huo Er]: Knowing you'll lose yet still agreeing to these terms… aren't you just giving everything away for free?
[Cao Ying]: You knew you would lose. Young Master also knew you would lose. Only Young Master didn't know that you knew from the very beginning you would lose. You were just throwing the match.
Girls: "…"
Young girls are really full of energy. This really does sound like rap.
[Huo Zhi]: Xun Er is just watching me become Xiao Ting's maid.
[Xun Er]: Yes, don't ask me. I'm still the witness.
[Huo Zhi]: …Did I make a mistake?
…
Meanwhile, Xiao Ting returned to Xiao Yan's residence and obtained the Breaking Emperor Pill refined by Yao Lao.
"Brother Yan, work hard tomorrow to enter the top five. Once you're in the top five, you can enter the library and choose books. You can learn advanced Earth-tier cultivation methods, battle techniques, body-tempering secret arts, and even soul techniques," Xiao Ting reminded Xiao Yan.
"Understood!" Xiao Yan's eyes changed, fighting spirit surging. Originally he had only planned to enter the top fifty and advance to the next round.
"Senior, I'm going into seclusion now. See you again in the courtyard."
After bidding farewell to Yao Lao and Xiao Yan, Xiao Ting returned to the Inner Court as quickly as possible. Showing his token, he descended to the lowest floor without difficulty.
Seated on the jade platform, the sealed Fallen Heart Flame immediately sensed his return and joyfully flew toward him, actively supplying him with power.
Before the Purple Beast Flame, it behaved like an obedient child.
"Would the Nihility Devouring Flame and the Pure Lotus Demon Flame kneel or submit upon seeing my Purple Beast Flame?"
"If so, things would become very interesting."
Xiao Ting's thoughts wandered briefly before he calmed himself, took out the Breaking Emperor Pill, and swallowed it.
The Purple Beast Flame appeared, enveloping his body and greedily devouring the energy supplied by the Fallen Heart Flame.
Plane Blessing: [Visualize Purple Beast Flame for 7 days to obtain effect]
Plane Blessing: [Rank 5 Alchemist Experience – 7 days]
Plane Blessing: [Cultivate Thunder Flame Undying Body for 7 days]
Plane Blessing: [Cultivate soul technique "Heavenly Thunder Attraction" for 7 days]
Plane Blessing: […]
Plane Blessing: [Rank 5 Alchemist Experience – 7 days]
…
Time flew by. Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these ten days, many events occurred in the Black Corner Region.
First, news that Xiao Ting had killed the two elders Gold and Silver, then killed Han Feng, spread throughout the entire Black Corner Region.
Since all top ten powers of the Black Corner Region had been present, no one doubted the authenticity of the news.
When they learned that Xiao Ting, not even sixteen years old, was already at the peak of Dou King and a fifth-tier Alchemist…
Countless people in the Black Corner Region discussed this matter. Many decided to join the city that had been renamed Purple Sky City (formerly Feng City).
A Dou Emperor standing at the peak, a mysterious female Dou Ancestor backing him, and Xiao Ting who possessed the power to defeat stronger enemies along with alchemical skills — this was undoubtedly a force worth joining and serving.
Not only independent cultivators held this view. Even leaders and experts of various sects and factions shared the same thought.
Considering Xiao Ting's talent, background, and abilities so far, it was certain he would become a Dou Ancestor expert and a seventh-tier Alchemist in the future.
Joining Purple Sky City later would be a blessing they could only dream of.
Regarding this matter, Su Mei — who had led troops for many years as a woman and felt she no longer had the strength — decided to take the initiative herself.
Seven days after the incident, Su Mei announced that the Luo Sha Gate would join Purple Sky City as the Luo Sha Gate branch, with herself as Hall Master.
Yun Yun accepted Xiao Ting's loyalty on his behalf.
While Xiao Ting's fame spread throughout the Black Corner Region, various events also occurred within Jia Nan Academy.
The biggest event was naturally the Inner Court Selection Tournament. The final list of advancing students was truly astonishing.
The top five were Han Yue, Xun Er, Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yan — all new students who had only been enrolled for three months.
One couldn't help but sigh. Jia Nan Academy had recruited a group of monsters this time.
After participating in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, this monster group led by Xiao Yan turned around and snatched fire energy points from senior students.
When the teachers investigated and discovered that these five had powerful backers behind them and that Xiao Yan belonged to the Alchemist Department, the matter was ultimately left unresolved.
…
"Break!"
At the bottom floor of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Xiao Ting suddenly opened his eyes.
A tremendous change began inside him. His cultivation realm started rising dramatically.
"Time to go down!"
…