Chapter 1201: Your Master Will Stand Up for You!

"What's wrong?"

Seeing the girl's eyes slightly red, as if she had just been crying, Zhang Xuan frowned.

Although being confessed to was not something he wanted to see, if someone bullied his student, he would not show any mercy!

"It's nothing..." Luo Qiqi looked over. "I just wanted to spend some time alone with you, Teacher."

"Uh, alright."

Seeing her like this, she might have something on her mind, so Zhang Xuan could only shake his head.

Being too outstanding and being liked by others was normal; as long as he maintained his original intention, even being alone together was not a big deal.

If he acted upright and proper, she would naturally give up the idea. The more he avoided, the more it would give her false hope and cause more trouble.

Seeing him agree, Luo Qiqi was delighted. "Then... let's find a quiet place. It's too noisy here!"

Warrior Hall, Xuanxuan Society... there were acquaintances everywhere, indeed a bit noisy.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

The two flew outward, and before long arrived above a large mountain outside the city, landing on a big rock by a cliff.

Sitting on the rock, looking at the endless layers of houses before her, Luo Qiqi seemed lost in thought.

The mountain breeze blew her hair, draping over her flawless face, making her look like she had stepped out of a painting.

It had to be said, this girl was indeed very beautiful and had a certain temperament, giving off a very quiet feeling from the inside out.

Comfortable and clean.

"Is there something on your mind? Although your master is not talented, I will not back down as long as it is within my power!"

Seeing that she had brought him here but remained silent, Zhang Xuan frowned.

Her demeanor indicated she definitely had something on her mind, but if she didn't speak, there was no way to help solve it.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about some things from my childhood."

With a smile, Luo Qiqi quietly looked at Qingyuan City ahead. "When I was little, what I liked most was sitting on the rooftop in my spare time, watching the sunrise and sunset, and the birds flying around... I felt so happy."

"Once, I took a liking to a treasure and wanted it very much. I pestered my father to help me find it. Annoyed by my persistence, my father agreed... but he required me to master a certain technique within a set time. So I trained hard, trained and trained, day and night, for a whole year, and finally succeeded! My father kept his promise, found the treasure, and gave it to me."

"On the day I got the treasure, I was especially happy. It took a lot of effort to obtain it. I carried it with me every day, even hugged it to sleep... Unfortunately, later, during a fight with someone, it was destroyed... I cried for three whole days. My father found me another identical one, exactly the same in every way, but... I no longer wanted it!"

Hugging her knees, Luo Qiqi rested her chin on them and tilted her head to look at him. "Teacher, do you know why?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"It was no longer the one I liked... Even if it was exactly the same, it wasn't!" Luo Qiqi said.

"Mm."

Not knowing how to respond, Zhang Xuan just acknowledged.

In fact, everyone experienced this as a child. Once a beloved item was destroyed, even if you bought the same one, that anticipation was gone.

This was about feelings, not something that could be replaced by an object.

"As I grew up, I gradually understood... The things you like may not always be yours to keep. Like that broken item, no matter what you do, it can never be the same as before!"

Looking at him, Luo Qiqi seemed to have much to say but couldn't express it.

"What happened? Has someone bullied you? If they are heinous, your master will kill them for you!"

Seeing her expression was off, Zhang Xuan frowned.

"Pfft!"

Luo Qiqi laughed, looking at him with amusement. "Can you really kill him for me?"

"Of course!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"It's you, Teacher, who bullied me. Go ahead..." Luo Qiqi said.

"..." Zhang Xuan was speechless.

He didn't expect to be tricked by this girl again.

Last time, she had doubts, and he helped answer them, only to be confessed to. This time, it seemed the same—she put on a pitiful look, and as soon as he responded, he fell into the trap.

Just as he didn't know how to reply, he saw the girl looking at him with hazy eyes. "Teacher, your answer last time wasn't good. You know that for you... it's more than just liking."

"You're being disrespectful. If you only called me here to say this, I'm leaving!"

Zhang Xuan stood up.

"Just joking with you, Teacher... Don't be angry!" Luo Qiqi stuck out her tongue and quickly said.

"It wasn't funny. Don't make such jokes in the future!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Yes! Teacher... can you teach me alchemy again?"

Nodding, Luo Qiqi paused and looked at him.

"Alright."

Responding, Zhang Xuan nodded. "Is there any pill you want to learn?"

There were many types of pills, each with different refining methods.

"I want to learn to refine the seventh-grade Spirit Essence Pill. Can you teach me in detail..." Luo Qiqi said.

"Spirit Essence Pill?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He had just mentioned to Hall Master Xing that he needed the Spirit Essence Pill and planned to go to the Alchemist Guild to find it. He didn't expect Luo Qiqi to want to learn it.

"Yes." Luo Qiqi blinked.

"Do you have the pill formula and ingredients?" After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan said.

Since she wanted to learn, he could deduce the refining method, which would save him trouble when he went to the Alchemist Guild.

"I prepared them in advance..."

With a light laugh, Luo Qiqi flipped her wrist and took out a jade slip, handing it over. Zhang Xuan swept his divine sense over it, and the contents immediately entered his mind.

It was indeed the pill formula for the Spirit Essence Pill.

His understanding of alchemy had already reached the peak of the seventh star. After deducing according to the formula, he found the optimal refining method.

"These are the ingredients..."

Just as he was about to explain, he saw Luo Qiqi smiling at him. With a flip of her jade hand, a large pile of ingredients appeared before them.

"Where did you get these?"

Taking a look, Zhang Xuan was stunned.

Every ingredient the girl took out had an age of several thousand years. Such ingredients were each worth a fortune.

A normal Spirit Essence Pill could be successfully made with fifty-year-old ingredients. With several thousand-year-old ones, the potency was dozens of times greater.

"Teacher knows I like research. I once found a relic, and these ingredients came from there."

Luo Qiqi explained.

"What good luck!" Zhang Xuan exclaimed.

From the forging technique of a weapon, she could deduce where Wu Yangzi was captured in the underground cavern. With that level of attentiveness, finding one or two relics was indeed not surprising.

"Teacher, can these ingredients be used to refine the Spirit Essence Pill?" Luo Qiqi looked at him.

"Of course they can. Not only that, they can definitely produce a very high-grade pill..."

Zhang Xuan nodded. "However, these ingredients are too precious. There can be no mistakes. Otherwise, if the furnace explodes, neither of us can bear the loss!"

These ingredients were too valuable. As long as the steps were correct, refining the Spirit Essence Pill would be simple. But with such precious ingredients, if prepared well, they might even break the previous grade of the Spirit Essence Pill and reach a higher level—who knew!

"Mm."

Luo Qiqi nodded.

"Since these are such high-grade ingredients, the previous refining method needs to be improved..."

Different ingredient ages required different refining methods. Standing there, Zhang Xuan deduced again, found a more suitable method, then flipped his wrist and released the Golden Origin Cauldron.

Although this fellow was a weapon cauldron, it was powerful. With a few seals added, it could be used for alchemy without much problem.

"Let it refine! At least it can ensure the furnace won't explode."

"Yes!" Luo Qiqi responded.

Everything was ready. Zhang Xuan took out paper and brush, wrote down the alchemy steps, and had the girl memorize them before they began.

With his guidance and the steps, the refining process went smoothly. Before long, the cauldron opened, and rich spiritual energy shot straight into the sky. Five pills flew out with a "whoosh," trying to escape.

"They are quasi-eighth-grade pills!"

His eyes brightening, Zhang Xuan gave an order. The Golden Origin Cauldron immediately rushed up, caught the escaping pills, and put them into a prepared jade bottle.

The Spirit Essence Pill was a seventh-grade pill, but the ingredients Luo Qiqi provided were too high in age and potency, resulting in five quasi-eighth-grade pills. Although not reaching eighth grade, their efficacy far exceeded ordinary Spirit Essence Pills.

"Being able to refine such high-grade pills means you have fully mastered the refining method of the Spirit Essence Pill..."

Handing the jade bottle to the girl, Zhang Xuan smiled.

These pills were not only quasi-eighth-grade but also had pill patterns, with flowing textures that gave a feeling they might break through the air at any moment.

Pills are classified as: formed, full, perfect, and patterned.

Being able to refine patterned pills indicated that his understanding of this pill had reached its peak.

Once she went back and digested it carefully, her understanding of alchemy would surely improve by a major level.

"It succeeded under your guidance, Teacher. The pills belong to you!" Luo Qiqi extended her arm and handed the bottle over.

"I can't accept this..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The ingredients were hers, and she did the refining. Although he had given some guidance, it wasn't enough to warrant such a reward.

"Then... how about this: I'll take one, and give you the remaining four. If you think I'm at a loss, you can buy them with spirit stones!" Knowing his thoughts, Luo Qiqi took out one pill and handed the rest over.

"This... alright." After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan nodded.

He happened to need the Spirit Essence Pill. One of this grade could match dozens of ordinary ones. With these four pills, breaking through to the peak of the Embryonic Soul Realm might no longer be difficult!

He took out a storage ring, placed the ten thousand high-grade spirit stones he had obtained from the Appraisal Pavilion into it, and handed it over.

Taking it casually, Luo Qiqi put the ring away. Suddenly, she looked up at Zhang Xuan with anticipation in her eyes. "Teacher, you said earlier that if someone bullied me, you would act, right?"

"Mm."

Not expecting her to ask this, Zhang Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "If someone really bullies you, your master... will stand up for you!"