Chapter 211: A Heist

The sunshine was bright, the winter wind gentle.

Having formed a golden core, Zhang Xingyu's mood was especially relaxed.

In his eyes, everything around him became so beautiful, so pleasing to the sight.

The frozen stiff spirit beast barbecue was quite tasty, and the spirit liquor about to freeze also tasted good.

Even the pitted and uneven yellow dragon beside him turned into a sparkling treasure.

"Junior Brother!"

Ouyang Lanlan called out softly.

By her side, Qin Ruoshuang's complexion looked unnatural.

"Oh my, so Senior Sister you've come! Oh, and Qin Senior Sister is here too. Come, come, come, Junior Brother I made some barbecue, it tastes pretty good, you guys hurry up and sit down to try a bite."

Zhang Xingyu said while handing the barbecue frozen into icicles over to Ouyang Lanlan and Qin Ruoshuang.

"Junior Brother!" Ouyang Lanlan furrowed her brows.

"Zhang Xingyu, is this how you treat guests?" Qin Ruoshuang asked with a dark face.

"Eh! What's wrong? Is something not right?" Zhang Xingyu countered.

Qin Ruoshuang shook the meat skewer in front of him: "Is this also called barbecue? This is clearly just a piece of frozen meat, okay!"

Zhang Xingyu rubbed his nose, apologetically saying: "Sorry. I just ate the frozen barbecue and it tasted okay. But since you don't like eating it frozen, I'll heat it up for you."

After speaking, his left hand emitted a ball of blazing fire, while his right hand held the frozen meat skewer, turning it to heat.

Soon, the meat skewer became steaming hot, and a rich meat aroma filled the air.

Ouyang Lanlan took the barbecue, gently bit a mouthful, and her face showed a satisfied expression.

Qin Ruoshuang took a bite, felt the taste was not bad, and reached for another skewer.

This girl, usually looking as cold as ice, when eating barbecue is not at all polite.

After swallowing a mouthful of barbecue, Ouyang Lanlan asked: "Junior Brother, which senior formed a golden core in the camp just now?"

"Senior? None." Zhang Xingyu waved his hand.

"Not a senior, could it be you, Junior Brother, who formed the golden core?" Ouyang Lanlan asked weakly.

"Yes, it's me." Zhang Xingyu smugly rubbed his chin.

"How is that possible?" Ouyang Lanlan widened her eyes.

"Anything is possible. Senior Sister, you should know there exists a kind of person called an unparalleled genius. And I, Junior Brother, am such a once-in-ten-thousand-years unparalleled genius." Zhang Xingyu said, raising his head.

"Hmph! Who knows if it's just some dumb luck. Besides, forming a golden core is nothing—do you need to be so smug? I, the senior lady, had already formed a golden core five years ago." Qin Ruoshuang swallowed the meat in her mouth and loudly interjected.

"You!" Zhang Xingyu was speechless.

This girl Qin Ruoshuang, how does she oppose me at every turn.

"Qin Ruoshuang, you still say I'm smug, but isn't this you being smug and showing off in front of me?"

"Zhang Xingyu, I, the senior lady, am being smug and showing off right here in front of you—what's the matter? You not satisfied?"

"I!"

This girl Qin Ruoshuang, usually so refined and cultured, why does she turn into a tigress when she sees me.

Zhang Xingyu couldn't match her, so he turned his head to seek help from Ouyang Lanlan.

Ouyang Lanlan stood silently at the side.

Her eyes held a hint of smoke, her vermilion lips lightly bitten, her delicate frame like a small grass in the cold wind.

Oh no! I was just showing off and arguing, didn't consider the senior sister's feelings.

"Senior Sister!" Zhang Xingyu didn't know how to start speaking.

At this moment, Qin Ruoshuang also came to her senses.

She put her arms around Ouyang Lanlan's fragrant shoulders and gently comforted: "Ouyang Junior Sister, you don't need to feel sad. Your cultivation talent is quite good. It's just because you're obsessed with formations that your cultivation has been delayed. As long as you spare a little time to practice from now on, you'll soon achieve foundation establishment and form a golden core."

"Yes, yes, Ouyang Senior Sister, your aptitude is far better than mine. As long as you have sufficient cultivation resources and spend a little more time cultivating, you'll soon succeed in foundation establishment." Zhang Xingyu also spoke to comfort.

Ouyang Lanlan suddenly smiled, like a flower blooming in spring.

"I understand. You don't need to persuade me anymore."

Seeing Ouyang Lanlan return to normal, Qin Ruoshuang suddenly extended a jade hand toward Zhang Xingyu: "Hand it over!"

"What?" Zhang Xingyu didn't understand.

"Ouyang Junior Sister needs a lot of spirit stones for her cultivation; why don't you chip in?" Qin Ruoshuang added.

"Oh!"

Zhang Xingyu took out a storage bag, and from his storage ring pulled out a pill, then handed both to Ouyang Lanlan.

"Senior Sister, this is one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones—do you think it's enough? Also, this is a Foundation Establishment Pill issued by the military camp; I don't need it, so I'll give it to you as well."

Ouyang Lanlan didn't take it: "Junior Brother, I don't need it."

Qin Ruoshuang snatched it up and shoved it into Ouyang Lanlan's hand: "Ouyang Junior Sister, just keep it. Your junior brother is a big moneybags, he has plenty of spirit stones."

Having said that, she glanced at Zhang Xingyu.

Zhang Xingyu understood, quickly nodded and added: "What Senior Sister Qin said is correct. I, Junior Brother, may lack many things, but not spirit stones. These spirit stones, Senior Sister, just keep them. If they're not enough, I still have more."

"Junior Sister, just keep it! Raising your cultivation is important." Qin Ruoshuang urged from the side.

Ouyang Lanlan hesitated a moment, then finally nodded: "Then let's just say I'm borrowing from my junior brother. When I earn spirit stones in the future, I'll definitely pay you back."

"No need to repay. I'm giving it to Senior Sister." Zhang Xingyu waved his hand.

Ouyang Lanlan looked at Zhang Xingyu: "I must repay it. Otherwise, I won't take these spirit stones."

Zhang Xingyu looked at Qin Ruoshuang, saw her nod, and then nodded in agreement.

Ouyang Lanlan put away the spirit stones, then congratulated Zhang Xingyu.

The three chatted for a while, then Ouyang Lanlan pulled Qin Ruoshuang up to take their leave.

Just after taking two steps, Qin Ruoshuang dragged Ouyang Lanlan back.

She stretched out a jade-white hand and loudly told Zhang Xingyu, "Give it!"

"What!" Zhang Xingyu was dumbfounded again.

"Bring another 100,000 high-grade spirit stones." Qin Ruoshuang said.

"Why?" Zhang Xingyu asked.

"Why ask so much? Just take it when I tell you." Qin Ruoshuang added.

Holy cow!

Is Qin Ruoshuang, this little girl, taking the wrong medicine?

She simply treats us like an ATM.

Even if being an ATM is okay, you still need a reason to make a withdrawal.

If there's no reason, then you at least ought to have some connection with us.

You're not even our aunt-in-law; why should we have to pay just because you say so?

Zhang Xingyu was muttering to himself here, when Ouyang Lanlan beside him spoke.

"Senior Sister Qin, the spirit stones given by the junior brother are enough!"

Qin Ruoshuang shook her head: "No. Those 100,000 high-grade spirit stones just now were for you to raise your cultivation. We still need another 100,000 high-grade spirit stones for testing the modified Heavenly Stars Great Formation."

"Senior Sister Qin, doesn't the sect provide spirit stones for your formation trials?" Zhang Xingyu asked.

"The spirit stones needed for other formations are provided by the sect, but the spirit stones needed for this Heavenly Stars Great Formation are to be provided by you." Qin Ruoshuang stared at Zhang Xingyu and asked.

"Um, Senior Sister, even a landlord's family doesn't have much surplus grain. My spirit stones are running low, you see..." Zhang Xingyu explained weakly.

Without letting him finish speaking, Qin Ruoshuang gave him a fierce glare: "The Heavenly Stars Great Formation is something you had Junior Sister Ouyang research, so the research expenses naturally should be paid by you. What, do you have any objections?"

"No, no objections. I'll provide the spirit stones." Zhang Xingyu quickly nodded in agreement.

He painfully took out another 100,000 high-grade spirit stones again.

When handing them to Qin Ruoshuang, Zhang Xingyu weakly urged: "Senior Sister Qin, you guys ought to use them sparingly; my spirit stones really are running low."

Qin Ruoshuang pocketed the spirit stones, took Ouyang Lanlan's hand, and happily walked away.

Zhang Xingyu stood where he was, silently watching their receding figures.

The azure sky, the sunshine no longer bright, the winter wind no longer gentle.