Sixty-five, entering Bié Yuàn

  Qizong Hall's side hall, the banquet venue, was bustling with activity as cups and chopsticks clinked together. The various masters and dignitaries from different families and sects who had come to watch the competition, as well as most of the alchemists participating in this tournament, were all gathered together, either socializing or chatting casually, creating a lively atmosphere.

  As I led Xiang Yao and Dao Han into the scene, they immediately attracted the attention of many cultivators, who came up to congratulate and chat with them.

  After exchanging pleasantries for nearly half a day, Xiao Yao finally extricated herself from the crowd of cultivators, feeling utterly exhausted. Just as she had managed to find a brief moment of leisure and was about to go look for Liu Qianbi, she saw Liuli Jiejie Lian step out of the flowers, swaying gently towards her.

  Xiao Yao respectfully said: "Liu Li senior."

  Luli Ji slightly nodded her head, a smile blooming on her face like a flower. Her natural charm was revealed as she spoke in a soft voice: "I don't know if you're free at the moment, little friend, but I'd love to have a chat with you."

  Xiao Yao nodded, "It's an honor for a junior like me, Senior Liu Li please go first."

  When the two of them arrived at a secluded place, Luliuji didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "I heard that Xiaoyou is now earning merits in the Baiyutai Pavilion of my garden's branch. If there's an opportunity to let Xiaoyou work in the upper Baiyu Pavilion, would you be willing?"

  Xiao Yao hesitated and said, "This... just now the junior has already expressed his intention to Master Xing, and Master Xing also agreed that the junior would go back and consider it for a few days. In this short period of time, the junior hasn't thought it through yet..."

  "Little friend must have misunderstood me," Before Xiao Yao could finish, Liu Li Ji interrupted with a light laugh: "My intention is not to invite little friend over as a guest minister, but since little friend is willing to earn merits in the White Jade Pavilion, why can't you do the same in the Upper White Jade Villa? Little friend can also take a look at whether the environment of the villa suits you, so that you can consider the matter of being a guest minister more carefully. Of course, if little friend plans to leave the White Jade Villa after today, then it's as if I never said this."

  Xiao Yao finally understood the meaning, indeed she didn't plan to become a guest cultivator, but in the short term, she also didn't plan to leave the White Jade Pavilion. Firstly, she still needed to rely on her merits to earn yuan crystal refining materials, and secondly, if she just left like this, it would be equivalent to directly offending the Star Master's face without even considering the matter of becoming a guest cultivator, which was something she couldn't afford to do with her weak power.

  It is said that this Luli girl is a concubine of Bai Yuzi, and just now on the upper floor, it can also be seen from her eyes that she has a loving heart for Bai Yuzi, so there will be some intention to help and probe.

  Thinking of this, Xiao Yao smiled slightly and said: "Two years later is the Refining Equipment Grand Competition on the Main Island. As a junior, I only want to focus on cultivating and improving my refining skills, so staying in the White Jade Pavilion to prepare for the battle is the best choice. Of course, if there's an opportunity to enter the White Jade Villa to serve, it would be even better. However, there was once a rule within the villa that to go to the Upper Mansion, one must pass a trial held every three years, and only the winner can enter. Is my sudden promotion not somewhat unreasonable?"

  Ruri smiled and said, "As long as you're willing, the rest is just a small matter. I'll have someone make arrangements tomorrow, all you need to do is wait for my news."

  The words have been said to this extent, and Xiao Yao really can't think of a reason to refuse. After all, it's just a matter of gaining merit, and there is no great difference between the White Jade Pavilion and the White Jade Bieyuan in nature. Moreover, she herself has done nothing wrong, so she doesn't fear others' probing or surveillance. She relaxed her mind and thanked him: "Thank you for your trouble, Luli Shixiong."

  "In fact, you don't need to worry too much." Seeing her polite and courteous demeanor, but actually somewhat distant and guarded, Luliuji said sincerely: "I came to find you not because of the Star Master's instructions, but because I think you are indeed a talented person. Perhaps the Star Master thinks you are a bit too ambitious and unwilling to be inferior, but I think you have exceptional courage and perseverance, so I didn't want the Star Master to miss out on a good talent, which is why I took the trouble to come here. At the same time, I also hope that in the next two years at the White Jade Pavilion, you can seriously consider the matter of becoming a guest minister. In any case, our pavilion will not mistreat those with real abilities."

  Xiao Yao raised her eyes, only to see Liu Li's bright and calm eyes. It was clear that her words came from the heart, while Xiao Yao herself was on guard everywhere. There was no way around it - for tens of thousands of years, she had been alone in the immortal path, crawling and struggling, making it a habit, and her defensive mindset couldn't help but be heavier than others.

  At this moment, he thought to himself: Whether it's Bai Yuzi or Liu Liuliang, they are both powerful beings who have cultivated two major realms beyond his own. His own poor and white appearance, even the alchemy skills that he took pride in, probably wouldn't amount to much in their eyes. What could be worth scheming about? For a moment, he felt somewhat embarrassed. When he opened his mouth again, his expression had relaxed a lot: "I'm sorry for being rude, Star Master is fortunate to have received such noble assistance from Senior."

  Luli Ji saw that it was a matter of course, and her demeanor was both elegant and straightforward. The good impression in her heart suddenly increased by several points. "Let's stop the idle chatter for now, I have something to attend to first. This banquet is actually held for you and other participating masters, so please enjoy yourselves."

  "Senior, slow down." Xiao Yao watched his back disappear into the distance before going to look for Liu Qianbi again.

  Just after she left, two people walked out from a corner not far away.

  "Listen, Ji Ling, this girl's temperament is not bad, and she also has great willpower. Although her innate talent in alchemy is not as good as your disciple, but just because she's a woman who can lift the alchemical hammer, her natural ability is also pretty good. Old man, have you ever thought of taking her on as a disciple?"

  Wan Jia shook his head, "It's too late, if she were a beginner, I would have taken her as my apprentice. However, she has already been learning to refine equipment for 60,000 to 70,000 years and has inherited the mantle of her previous master. Her way of refining equipment has also taken shape. Even if I were to reluctantly take her on as an apprentice, there's nothing much I can teach her. The path ahead still requires her to explore on her own, at most I can only offer some occasional guidance."

  "It's a pity indeed," said Ji Ling with a slight sigh. "How far she can go on the path of alchemy in the future, it depends on her own luck."

  Xiao Yao parted ways with Liu Li after meeting her, and finally found Liu Qianbi among a group of noblewomen.

  Liu Qianbi saw her from afar and bid farewell to several noble ladies beside her before quietly pulling her into a corner.

  "You're also too much," Liu Qianbi glanced around and whispered to her, "Saying that you only know the surface, you've even deceived me."

  Xiao Yao laughed helplessly, "I didn't deceive you, what I've learned so far in the art of alchemy can only be considered superficial."

  Liu Qianbi didn't really blame her, but just said: "Forget it, I forgot that you're also a person who has high expectations for yourself and likes to speak humbly. Even if it's a bucket of water, you'll modestly say it's only half a bucket. From now on, when you talk, I'll have to add another half bucket to what you say."

  Xiao Yao smiled and did not refute her, which was tantamount to admitting it. Later, she also heard her say: "Right, you are now famous too, many people in my clan are eyeing you, if someone from my clan approaches you under my name, nine out of ten times they want to win you over, when that happens, refuse them as you see fit, don't worry about saving my face."

  Xiao Yao knew she was kind-hearted and her heart warmed up. She smiled and said, "Your clansmen are now thinking of winning you over, but it's too late."

  Liu Qianbi was taken aback, "Which family or sect? Your hands and feet are so fast?"

  Xiao Yao said straightforwardly, "Bai Yu Bie Yuan."

  "Since it's the Star Master who's keeping him, there's nothing that can be done. Haha, this time those old and young guys' hopes will probably all be dashed," Liu Qianbi said with some schadenfreude.

  "But... " She continued, her tone shifting, "I thought that with your temperament, you would have refused."

  "You guessed it," Xiao Yao nodded, "I didn't really agree, I just promised Liu Li to help with something at the White Jade Villa and take the opportunity to think about it seriously."

  "So you're going to move into the floating mansion above White Jade City?"

  "It should be."

  "Hey," Liu Qianbi suddenly smiled and winked at her, saying: "Then you'd better be careful, the women in there are all tough characters, don't accidentally get swallowed up without a trace."

  The author has something to say: This Monday is a "busy" day, plus it's a transition, and writing is at a turtle pace, so it's been reduced.