I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

"Senior Brother Xiao, it's been a long time!"

Although Xu Zhou was surprised by Xiao Bing's visit, he did not show any unusual behavior on the surface and warmly led him into the cave.

Xiao Bing's gaze fell on Xu Zhou's excessively young face. Her expression shifted slightly, but she said nothing, only nodding politely.

The boy next to him, however, was unusually resistant and even seemed reluctant to enter the cave.

It was only after Xiao Bing pulled him a few times in private that he was allowed to come in.

Although these actions were discreet, they still caught Xu Zhou's eye.

After entering the cave, Xiao Bing did not rush to speak, but first looked around.

The cave dwelling was simply furnished but extremely tidy. The medicine cabinet, alchemy furnace, and classic texts were all neatly arranged, and anyone who saw it could tell that the cave dwelling's owner was a dedicated and studious alchemist.

Xiao Bing's heart stirred slightly.

Since leaving Baicaotang, he hasn't paid much attention to news from there. He only occasionally hears the name Xu Zhou and knows that the other party has some ability in teaching students.

It seems that the other party hasn't changed much; he's still that bookworm who only knows how to study.

While thinking this to himself, he still wore a faint smile on his face, showing no sign of disdain.

After taking their seats, Xiao Bing got straight to the point.

"I've come this time to ask you for a favor."

Xu Zhou poured himself a cup of tea but didn't reply, waiting for him to continue.

Xiao Bing paused for a moment before saying, "This is my second son, Xiao Jingwen."

He looked at the boy.

"His aptitude is average, and he will likely achieve little in the path of cultivation."

He paused slightly at this point, as if he were carefully choosing his words.

"I want him to...learn some alchemy."

Xu Zhou paused slightly as he served the tea.

He felt that the sentence sounded somewhat familiar.

Just a few days ago, Li Zelei said something similar.

However, there was a subtle difference in their tones. Because the time interval was so short, Xu Zhou immediately noticed it.

"To study Daoist alchemy?"

He looked up at the boy.

The boy had kept his head down since he entered the room, and he remained silent without responding.

On the surface, the boy showed no signs of spiritual energy fluctuations, seemingly possessing no cultivation whatsoever, and appeared as weak as an ordinary mortal.

But Xu Zhou, who was trained in medicine, immediately sensed something was wrong.

People generally think that learning medicine is simply about saving lives and healing the wounded. But in fact, a deeper understanding of medicine also involves a great deal of research into the characteristics of the human body.

In Xu Zhou's eyes, although the boy in front of him did not emit any spiritual energy fluctuations, his aura was long and his breathing intervals were almost inaudible, indicating that he was at least at the beginner level of Qi Refining.

It seemed that something was concealing the boy's cultivation level, which was why he couldn't discern its depth.

Xu Zhou had already made his judgment, but he didn't say it aloud.

He simply looked at Xiao Bing and asked, "You want him to pursue the path of alchemy?"

Xiao Bing sighed, her tone calm: "I just want to have a skill to rely on, so I can live a more stable life."

It was another sentence almost identical to Li Zelei's, but it lacked any emotion. If the two sentences hadn't been so close in time, Xu Zhou would have almost ignored it as well.

A thought struck him, but he didn't agree immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Xiao Jingwen.

The boy finally raised his head and met his gaze for a moment.

This moment is very brief.

Xu Zhou, however, gleaned some unexpected emotions from it.

It wasn't curiosity or awe, but rather a condescending scrutiny, even tinged with a barely perceptible strangeness.

Xu Zhou recalled that he had often seen this strange emotion in Xiao Bing's eyes when he was young.

That is disrespect.

The boy immediately looked away, and Xu Zhou pretended not to see him either.

He fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

The strange behavior of Xiao Bing and his son had already made him feel uneasy, and he subconsciously wanted to refuse.

He was carefully choosing his words when Xiao Bing suddenly spoke:

"I've inquired before, and the person who is most skilled at teaching apprentices at Baicaotang is none other than Junior Brother Xu."

I hope my junior brother will grant me this request, even if it's just to tutor him. The Xiao family will be indebted to you for this favor in the future.

Xu Zhou sighed inwardly.

His reputation at Baicaotang would, in turn, become a limitation for him at this time.

He looked at Xiao Bing and said, "I'm very strict with people here. Can he accept that?"

Xiao Bing immediately replied, "I can accept it."

He paused, then added, "Teach him however you would normally teach him. Although Wen'er didn't participate in the Hundred Herbs Hall's assessment, I've had him study the classics of medicine at home, and I guarantee he'll be no worse than a normal apprentice."

Xu Zhou pondered for a moment, then looked at the boy again: "Are you really willing to learn?"

Xiao Bing turned her head to look at her son.

"Wen'er".

The boy was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Okay."

His tone was flat and monotone.

Xu Zhou nodded and finally said, "Okay."

Xiao Bing seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Junior Brother."

He took out a storage bag and placed it on the table.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Xu Zhou did not refuse and readily accepted it.

Since you can't refuse, you might as well take some benefits first and then deal with things as they come.

Seeing Xu Zhou accept the storage bag, Xiao Bing's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, and then she said, "There's one more thing."

He spoke casually, as if it were just a casual remark: "This child is a bit cold-hearted. If you think he's difficult to teach, just tell me, and I'll definitely discipline him properly."

Xu Zhou understood; this meant they couldn't accept a refund.

He nodded: "I understand."

After saying this, Xiao Bing stood up.

"In that case, I won't bother you any longer."

Xu Zhou politely saw them to the door and then watched them leave.

After the cave door closed again, he went back to collect the tea set. Because Xiao Bing and his son had come and left quickly, the tea in the cups was still warm.

However, when Xu Zhou's gaze fell on Xiao Jingwen's teacup, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

A piece of ice crystal floated on the tea, melting away at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Then it disappeared.

Xu Zhou stood there, stunned, for a long time.

Finally, he took the teacup away, washed it, and casually put it back on the cabinet.

It was as if nothing had happened.

...

After Xiao Bing and his son left, they quickly departed from Baicaotang.

Upon reaching a wide open space in the mountains, Xiao Bing suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked stern.

He made sure no one was around, then casually cast a soundproofing spell before turning to Xiao Jingwen: "What was that you doing just now? That's your future teacher!"

Xiao Jingwen clenched his fist slightly, looking indignant.

"What qualifications does a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator have to be my teacher?"

Xiao Bing roared, "You bastard!"

He pointed at his son and said, "Do you think I don't want to find you a good mentor? But do you even think about whether this is feasible?"

Although he, surnamed Xu, is only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, he is still an alchemist. He's already the best teacher we could find for you. What more do you want?

Xiao Jingwen's expression twisted, and after a long while, he said, "Can't I stay at home and cultivate with my elder brother?"

"cannot."

Xiao Bing coldly snorted and said, "Son, you need to know that you are not the same as your brother."

Although he possesses a mid-grade spiritual root and has decent learning talent, making him a potential pillar of the Xiao family in the future, he is still far inferior to you!

He stared at his son, his expression serious and his face ashen: "If the Golden Flame Sect were truly an ordinary sect, you would surely have achieved great things with your physique. But now, the Golden Flame Sect is nothing more than a plaything for those few families above us."

If you are exposed, there are only two outcomes: either you will have to join one of them and become their lackey from then on.

And then there's death.

He clearly stated the result, hoping that Xiao Jingwen would remember it.

The boy's expression froze, his body swayed slightly, and it took him a while to recover before his face gradually paled.

However, he still harbored a sliver of resentment: "But why did I have to learn alchemy? Couldn't I just continue using the Mountain-Suppressing Talisman to suppress my cultivation and pretend to have a mid-grade spiritual root?"

Xiao Bing sneered: "Just because you're a member of my Xiao family."

Your great-uncle was also exceptionally talented, yet he was constantly suppressed and unable to obtain the opportunity to establish his foundation. If he hadn't fought desperately back then and had a stroke of good luck, how could he have obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill so easily?

He thought back to the forbearance he had shown then, and a hint of lingering fear flashed across his face.

He sighed and said earnestly, "You should understand that the Xiao family's current predicament is not just your fault."

He grabbed his son's shoulders and said carefully, "What you need to do now is keep acting and not let anyone see the slightest flaw. Only when you reach the Foundation Establishment stage in the future, and our Xiao family has two members who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, will our position within the family be truly secure."

Xiao Jingwen gritted his teeth and finally nodded as if he had accepted it.

"I understand."

Xiao Bing breathed a sigh of relief, then released her hands, her expression returning to normal.

Xiao Jingwen then frowned slightly and asked, "Father, just now in the cave, the cold energy within my body went out of control for a moment, and a little bit may have leaked out. Could Master Xu have noticed?"

Xiao Bing frowned immediately.

But he didn't reprimand his son. Instead, he pondered for a moment and said coldly, "Observe carefully afterwards. If that Xu fellow really notices anything, tell me immediately."

He patted Xiao Jingwen on the shoulder: "He's just a mid-grade alchemist used as a cover. But if he really discovers something, we'll have to shut him up."

Anyway, he was just an outer disciple; if he really disappeared, nobody would care.

Xiao Jingwen paused for a moment, then nodded:

"I understand."