The first rays of morning sunlight spilled across the land, dispelling the night's chill.

Li Xuanxiao, as usual, swallowed an alchemy pill.

"Guide qi to return to origin, cycle begins anew..."

A flash of clarity passed through his spiritual platform.

Li Xuanxiao felt a secret joy, knowing he wasn't far from complete recovery.

In just a few more days, he estimated he would be fully restored to his original state.

He took a deep breath and focused his attention inward.

Observing his own body internally, he monitored the changes within—every subtle transformation escaped not his perception.

Seeing that the time was about right, Li Xuanxiao finally went to the alchemy room to begin preparing for pill refinement. The rightful source is N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

But today, upon entering the alchemy room, he found it completely empty.

Just then, the young alchemist walked in.

The young alchemist's attitude toward Li Xuanxiao was no longer what it had been initially;

instead, it carried a face full of flattery.

This was only natural human behavior.

"Where are the alchemists today?" Li Xuanxiao asked.

The young alchemist immediately replied, "Today they said there's some other matter and called all the alchemists out. I'll need to go over there in a moment too."

"What matter?"

"Not really sure."

Li Xuanxiao didn't think too much about it and proceeded to light the fire for pill refinement as usual.

Not long after the young alchemist left.

Someone carried in boxes of materials.

"Please check and count these," the person shouted.

These matters, Li Xuanxiao remembered, were handled by the alchemy room supervisor.

So he simply said, "Not my responsibility."

Those people didn't say anything more, arranged everything neatly, and left the alchemy room.

Now, only Li Xuanxiao remained in the alchemy room.

Li Xuanxiao glanced at the delivered medicinal herbs.

Many were precious materials.

Lightning-struck wood core, dragon blood vine, ice soul mystic lotus... and so on.

Li Xuanxiao examined them briefly.

He suddenly detected a spiritual sense falling upon the alchemy room.

This spiritual sense was extremely concealed, absolutely difficult for ordinary people to detect.

Yet it couldn't escape Li Xuanxiao's perception.

Moreover, this spiritual sense carried a very familiar aura.

Miao Zhishun.

Li Xuanxiao slightly raised an eyebrow.

Not understanding the other's intention, but with Li Xuanxiao's intelligence, he figured it out in just a brief moment.

He couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

This was distrust of him, using this matter to test him.

The precious medicinal herbs hadn't been registered yet.

And currently, only Li Xuanxiao alone remained in the alchemy room.

So if Li Xuanxiao wanted to secretly hide some herbs, only he would know.

Li Xuanxiao returned to the alchemy furnace and continued refining pills as if no one was watching.

"........."

At this moment, outside the alchemy room.

Miao Zhishun stood behind the eaves, leaning against a corner.

Seeing that Li Xuanxiao showed no greed toward those precious medicinal herbs but instead remained focused on pill refinement.

He couldn't help but nod slightly and say, "Not bad."

However, this wasn't enough.

To truly become his son-in-law, just this little test was insufficient.

Miao Zhishun gave a look to someone.

Soon, inside the alchemy room.

An alchemist burst in.

"Nobody here, right?"

"Hmm?"

The alchemist saw Li Xuanxiao, showing a startled expression, then his eyes shifted.

"This is truly a great opportunity!!"

"What great opportunity?"

"Have these medicinal herbs been registered?"

"Not yet," Li Xuanxiao said calmly.

"Excellent."

The alchemist walked to the medicinal herbs, first looked around, then took out some herbs and started putting them into his storage bag.

"What are you doing?" Li Xuanxiao asked.

The alchemist didn't even look up as he said, "You're new so you wouldn't know. With unregistered herbs, we can exploit loopholes. As long as we don't take too much, these herbs become ours."

"This doesn't seem right. What if someone discovers us?" Li Xuanxiao said.

"Discover? Won't happen. This is already an unwritten rule. As the saying goes, if the cook doesn't steal, the grains won't yield! This kind of thing is normal. The commerce guild people won't care."

Li Xuanxiao raised an eyebrow. If not for his professional training.

He would really be laughing right now.

This Miao Zhishun really had one scheme after another.

From beginning to end, Miao Zhishun's spiritual sense never left the alchemy room—this was undoubtedly another act performed for his benefit.

Li Xuanxiao thought for a moment. Since the other party enjoyed acting so much.

Then he should play along, shouldn't he?

So Li Xuanxiao cleared his throat lightly and said with righteous dignity:

"Stop! As the embodiment of justice, I absolutely cannot allow you to do this."

The alchemist showed a confused expression.

Li Xuanxiao flipped him onto the ground, "Come! I'll take you to see Master Miao!"

"Are you crazy? With this kind of thing, it's good for you, good for me, good for everyone!"

The alchemist's acting was also top-notch, shouting loudly.

"Besides, I'm one of our own in the alchemy room. If you expose me today, I'd like to see how you'll get by in the alchemy room in the future!"

Li Xuanxiao snorted coldly, "I just can't stand this kind of petty behavior. I act with open and aboveboard integrity—how can I let you tarnish my reputation!"

Hearing this, Miao Zhishun nodded with great satisfaction.

Thus, this matter concluded with Li Xuanxiao escorting the alchemist before Miao Zhishun.

Of course, the punishment Miao Zhishun gave was just a verbal warning.

Li Xuanxiao didn't pay too much attention to it, simply treating it as Miao Zhishun's test because he didn't fully trust him, then turned to continue preparing his own plans.

However, Miao Zhishun's tests didn't end there.

"..........."

Tonight the moon hung high in the sky.

"Daughter, do you really have your eye on this Li Xuanxiao?"

"Father, don't say anymore."

Caishen seemed somewhat embarrassed.

A young woman naturally didn't want others to know her feelings, especially not her own father.

Li Xuanxiao snorted coldly, "I just can't stand this kind of petty behavior. I act with open and aboveboard integrity—how can I let you tarnish my reputation!"

"Father, you think his pill refinement skills are good and that he has usable aspects, right?" Caishen said quietly.

Miao Zhishun didn't refute, instead saying:

"That's just one aspect. Marriage is also an exchange of interests—each taking what they need.

You're attracted to his appearance, his talent, his abilities.

Tell me, if he were extremely ugly.

Not a cultivator, would you still be interested in him?"

Caishen said, "That's completely different."

Miao Zhishun laughed, "It's the same thing—exchange of interests. Have you forgotten everything I taught you when you were young?"

Caishen didn't want to speak anymore.

Miao Zhishun said, "I've already arranged for your cousin to go to his room."

"Who?"

Caishen's expression changed slightly, "Why did you arrange for my cousin to go?"

Miao Zhishun said, "To see if this man remains unmoved by temptation? If he's easily aroused by beauty."

"Father!" Caishen became angry.

"Don't use that tone with your father. I said this is just a test. We are merchants—before placing our bets, we need to make complete preparations.

To see if this product is really the product you want, to see if this product is truly as it appears.

A merchant should never be blinded by immediate benefits. Once you buy and leave the table, you no longer have any chance for regret."

Miao Zhishun advised his daughter.

Caishen seemed persuaded, "But father, I don't like this. I just want... want pure love."

"Don't worry, leave these matters to father. You just don't need to get involved."

Caishen fell silent.