The two figures at the doorway walked in and sat down directly in front of Xuan Yi's desk.
"Xuan Yi, I heard you arranged a Grade 8 alchemist assessment?" Xuan Kongzi asked.
"Mm, what about it?" Xuan Yi looked at the two elders calmly, not expecting them to act so restless so quickly.
"Is it him?" Xuan Kongzi asked uncertainly.
"That's right." Xuan Yi nodded, a faint trace of pride appearing on her face.
Tian Leizi, who had a more impatient personality, couldn't hold back. "He looks only twenty-three or twenty-four, right? And he can already refine eighth-grade pills with three-colored Pill Lightning?"
"Of course it's true. Would I arrange it if I wasn't confident?" Xuan Yi's pretty face carried a smile. In her heart, she thought, Mere three-colored Pill Lightning? As Xiao Jietian would say, that's just something anyone can do.
Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi exchanged a shocked glance. They had seen Grade 8 alchemists in their early twenties before, but someone who could refine eighth-grade pills with three-colored Pill Lightning at only twenty-three or twenty-four was extremely rare. Moreover, from Xuan Yi's expression, it was clear the young man's success rate wasn't low.
Xuan Yi glanced at the two astonished old men, feeling secretly pleased—especially seeing Senior Brother Xuan Kongzi, who usually remained so composed. "Whether it's true or not, you'll find out if you come watch tomorrow."
"Hehe, it seems the young disciples of the Pill Tower are about to feel some pressure. This year's Pill Convention is going to be very interesting." Tian Leizi thought of the current state of the Pill Tower. No one had broken through to Grade 8 yet, and the only candidate was still in seclusion trying to make the breakthrough.
"It's not just the young ones. Even some of the elders will feel the pressure," Xuan Kongzi said with a chuckle. "It's time to let these proud little fellows know that there are always people better than them, and mountains beyond mountains."
"But that guy is very lazy. It's not certain whether he'll even participate in the Pill Convention more than a year from now. He said it isn't challenging enough." Xuan Yi shrugged and stood up. "Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving. I still have a promise to keep."
With that, Xuan Yi walked out of the office. As she left, she felt secretly delighted, her expression subtly resembling the famous "Wang Yousheng" meme from Bright Sword. Is this the joy of showing off one's man?
Her man was simply too outstanding. There was nothing she could do about it. And this was still after hiding a lot of his true excellence. It was already enough to shock everyone.
...
After Xuan Yi left, Tian Leizi turned to Xuan Kongzi. "Don't you think Xuan Yi seems different somehow? I can't quite put my finger on it."
"Perhaps she has finally found someone she truly loves and is no longer that melancholic person from before." Unlike Tian Leizi, who only focused on cultivation, Xuan Kongzi had to understand many things in order to manage the Pill Tower properly. From Xuan Yi's facial expression and the way she walked, he could naturally tell that she had transformed from a girl into a woman.
"That's true. The current Xuan Yi is starting to resemble her old self again—mischievous, independent, and full of that former heroic brightness. It's been decades since I've seen it. Sigh~" Tian Leizi fell into reminiscence and let out a deep sigh.
"But it's good that she's finally come out of it. She herself knew it was a fruitless obsession, but she couldn't let go because no one excellent enough had appeared to replace it. Now, finally, there is." Xuan Kongzi chuckled happily.
In truth, Xiao Jietian's information had already been placed on his desk last night. Xiao Jietian rarely concealed his identity from the outside world, so any first-rate power basically had records of him.
The Pill Tower naturally knew his background very well. After reading the file, Xuan Kongzi had felt both happy and surprised.
He was happy because he could confirm that Xiao Jietian stood on their side. The information clearly showed that Boundless Heaven Hall and the Hall of Souls were not on good terms. The enemy of an enemy was a friend.
What surprised him was that Xiao Jietian's portrait was ninety percent similar to the person his own disciple had been searching for. The only difference was that one looked younger while the other appeared slightly more mature. Xuan Kongzi was certain they were the same person.
Shock! His junior sister's man turned out to be the very person his junior niece had been longing for. Had his junior sister gotten there first, or was it unintentional? What was his junior niece supposed to do now?
(Sigh~) Xuan Kongzi didn't know how he would break the news to his disciple when the time came. No matter how he said it, it wouldn't sound right. If he told the truth, the next one to become melancholic and follow Xuan Yi's old path might be her.
"No, old man, why are you suddenly sighing like that?" Tian Leizi looked at Xuan Kongzi's expression and couldn't help scratching his head in confusion. Seriously, is melancholy inherited or contagious? One just got better, and now another one has it? Is the Pill Tower's feng shui really that bad?
...
Xuan Yi, who had gone out, quickly met up with Xiao Jietian and the two children in a quiet corner of the Pill Tower through a message stone. She very naturally took one child's hand in each of hers.
Xiao Ling looked up at Xuan Yi. "Oh, Mother Xuan Yi, why do I feel like you've become even more beautiful and younger? Your whole body is glowing!"
"That's right. It's like you secretly ate something wonderfully nourishing. Your whole demeanor looks bright and spirited, and you've become even prettier," Xiao Meng added with a nod.
Hearing their words, Xuan Yi couldn't help but blush slightly. She really had "eaten" too much. She quickly composed herself. "You two little rascals aren't praising me like this just to flatter me so I won't refuse you later, are you?"
"Oh my, how could that be? We only have just a tiny bit of that thought~" Xiao Meng blinked her big eyes innocently while swaying her sleeve.
"Besides, what we said is the truth. Mother Xuan Yi, you look like a completely new person. Your whole mental state feels different."
"Alright, alright." Xuan Yi sighed helplessly, though she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. "Since you're so good with words, I'll reluctantly agree. Whatever you set your eyes on, we'll buy it—of course, within reason."
"Yay! Mother Xuan Yi is the best! Mother Xuan Yi is the number one dearest!" Xiao Ling immediately cheered and bounced around happily.
Xuan Yi couldn't help but laugh. She tightened her grip on their hands slightly. "Let's go then. Let's head out and play! Off we go~"
"Off we go, off we go!!!" The two little girls happily pulled Xuan Yi along as they ran, their excited voices even becoming a little slurred.