Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Whack!

Elder Sang smacked Xu Xiaoshou right then and there without so much as flinching.

“Five my a**! What nonsense is that!?

“Are you at Innate Level already? Have you been outside the spirit palace? Do you know what it's like out there? You sure know how to talk big!

“I just told you to devote yourself to your training and be serious about serving as a p.a.w.n, but you went on to talk big instead. You really think that just because you have something that others don't, you're already better than others, eh?”

The elder then twisted Xu Xiaoshou's ear so hard that tears almost rolled down Xu Xiaoshou's cheeks.

“L-Let go of me!”

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded. The old man was definitely doing this to vent his frustrations from that attack before.

That had to be it!

“It's not every day I get to be in such high spirits,” he thought. “Why did it end up like this?

“Aren't masters supposed to encourage their disciples and tell them to be ambitious and dream big?

“So why the h*ll is this guy his student to lay low and be a useful p.a.w.n!?

“How could I ever?

“You think that I, Xu Xiaoshou, would be okay with being a n.o.body for the rest of my life?”

“I'm sorry,” he said. “Let me go already.”

However, he immediately submitted. After all, he was still under Elder Sang's tutelage and had to follow his rules.

Elder Sang sternly told him off. “From here on out, keep such words to yourself. Don't say them to anyone else.”

“I only said it once…” Xu Xiaoshou grimaced. His ear was hurting so bad that his eyes were squinted as he pointed at his ear. “Let go.”

Elder Sang finally let go and clapped him on the shoulder. “Even once is enough to get you killed. Keep that in mind.”

Xu Xiaoshou nodded furiously.

“Back to the case of the Tianxuan Gate. What you said made some sense. Foundations are important.

“Well then, after you get through the gate, keep walking as far as you can and find the 'Black Cliff.' That place should enable you to solidify your foundations. As for the process…

A familiar chuckle was heard from the old man. “It might be quite painful.”

Xu Xiaoshou shuddered. “What is that 'Black Cliff' thing?”

“The Tianxuan Gate is a lesser secret realm, and there are a lot of places for training there. Black Cliff is one of those places.

“Water from the falls over there is extremely heavy and contains terrifying sword aura, making it just right for you. The question then is if you can endure the process.

“But then again, it's not like you need to head there and nowhere else. You could still just find somewhere, anywhere, to train once you get inside the Tianxuan Gate.” Elder Sang was apparently saying this to rile Xu Xiaoshou up.

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stunned. If this was someplace that intimidated even that old fart, then he wasn't so sure about it himself. “I'll think about it.”

Elder Sang rolled his eyes. “Heh, all that big talk about setting your sights on the five regions, and you're already getting scared?” he thought to himself.

The elder flicked his hand and conjured an intricate jade scroll, then handed it over to Xu Xiaoshou. “If you're heading to the Black Cliff, you should be able to train what's in this thing.

“But then again, the most important thing to do after getting in there is to make a breakthrough into the Innate Level. Don't ever forget that. I won't be able to get you any resources after you come out otherwise.”

Xu Xiaoshou carefully took the jade scroll, not so sure about training whatever was in it.

That Infernal Heavenly Flames alone had already brought him so much pain, and he wondered what the old fart would make him train this time.

However, he was completely stunned when he put the jade scroll to his forehead.

“10 Sections of the Finger Sword?

“And a complete version?”

Shocked, he looked at the elder. “Where did you get this?”

It was the broken piece he'd found back in the library that had piqued his interest like nothing else. If it hadn't been for Elder Sang appearing after he'd found it, he would've been training in that set of techniques instead.

But then again, a broken piece being returned to its original complete version was still quite surreal.

He nonetheless very well knew the value of the 10 Sections of the Finger Sword. If nothing else, the part about infusing one's being with sword will alone was something most couldn't have thought of.

Which meant no one could've restored this thing to its original complete version if it was originally only a broken piece…

Unless they'd managed to find the creator…

“Wait,” he thought. “This jade scroll looks so new. Does that mean Elder Sang knows who the person who created it?”

The elder went on to smack the kid again, and he seemed to have gotten addicted to doing so.

“That's none of your concern. Just train well and hone your skills in alchemy. I'll be happy just as long as you don't get yourself in any more trouble.”

“Sure.”

Xu Xiaoshou put the jade scroll away and took a look at the overturned ma.s.sive tub. “So, umm, I'll get to alchemy now?

“I might be able to get the extracts with just a few more tries.”

He was very confident in what he said, as extracting the essences was but a matter of keeping the flames under control.

After acquiring “Cooking Expert,” most of his obstacles had been removed from his path. The only thing left to do was simply to get familiar with the process.

Elder Sang's mouth twitched instead, and he answered, “We'll leave that aside for now. Get yourself your own place, then we'll talk about refinement.”

“No, I'm about to succeed.”

Xu Xiaoshou then looked at the sky. It was dusk, and nightfall was around the corner.

He'd only need one more night to work at it and would definitely succeed, so he wasn't about to just give up.

Yet, the elder wasn't about to let him have his way.

“Go and do it somewhere else then.”

“Why?” Xu Xiaoshou was exasperated. He then looked at that ma.s.sive red pearl above him and said, “This place is cool enough.”

The elder was silent.

“Why?” he thought. “Are you really asking me why?

“I sure as h*ll can't figure out how you're capable of such a level of destruction at Spiritual Cultivation Level nine, but I have to admit, Xiao Qixiu really has good eyes.

“You're really a walking menace!

“I just left this place for a bit and you managed to almost blow the library up working on compressing the flames. If you were to really get to refinement…

“Boy, I couldn't imagine.”

Although he thought this, he wasn't about to voice his thoughts aloud. He wasn't going to just let the kid have his way.

“Get your own new place in the Inner Yard and do your thing at your own place. Come to me after you've finished extracting the essences.”

His words caught Xu Xiaoshou's attention. He was perceptive enough to catch the keyword. “Inner Yard?”

“Indeed.”

“But then again, you're not yet an official disciple of the Inner Yard, so you won't be getting an Inner Yard Disciple Token Pa.s.s. That means you'll have a problem getting a place…

“Hmm, go to my place, then,” Elder Sang said.

He looked on his table for his token.

“Hmm? Why is it gone? I remember putting it on the table…”

Xu Xiaoshou then awkwardly pulled a reddish-black token out of his ring. He'd thrown the token inside along the way earlier.

“Umm, is this it?” he asked.

Elder Sang turned around and asked in surprise, “Why is that thing with you?”

“It was blown to the ground, didn't you see…” Xu Xiaoshou brushed over the matter and changed the subject. “By the way, is it okay for me to use it? Aren't you abusing your authority?”

Elder Sang was amused. “So what if I am?

“I'm the vice dean of the Tiansang Spirit Palace. Is anyone going to stop me from letting my disciple train in the Inner Yard?

“If I were to be particular about it, a personal disciple of an elder is of a status a lot higher than the Inner Yard ones.

“Furthermore, I've already gotten you a slot to get inside the Tianxuan Gate. So, are you going to be particular about me abusing my authority?”

“Well, that makes sense…” Xu Xiaoshou scratched his head, stunned by the magnanimity the old man was displaying.

“Matters like these aren't even worth mentioning in the eyes of those in power, I guess,” he thought to himself.

“Well… I'll at least need a cauldron for alchemy. This one here seems nice enough. Could I use this one?” He then walked over to the three-legged bathtub.

“In your dreams!”

The elder immediately appeared before the tub and put it away before taking out a considerably smaller tub from his ring.

“Take this one instead.”

“The grade?” Xu Xiaoshou asked, his face glum.

“Eighth-grade.”

“What about that huge tub?” Xu Xiaoshou asked.

“You know of the famed swords, right? Some cauldrons need no grade cla.s.sifications,” he snickered.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless.

“Go**amnit!” he thought.

“I would've taken that tub with three legs if I'd known it was so awesome…

“I guess one really can't judge a cauldron by its looks.”