Chapter 79: Cheng Xi, are you a thief?

The Cheng Fenglan before her eyes had changed greatly from the one in Cheng Xi's memory; her expression was gloomy, her eyes sharp, and there was a trace of black Qi between her brows, causing Cheng Xi to frown involuntarily.

Cheng Fenglan entered the stone cave and was shocked to see a portion of the Fire Flame Stone on the cave wall had been eaten away by the Phoenix Fire; she looked around to inspect the area, seemingly wanting to find some clues.

However, Cheng Xi had always been cautious in her actions, and she had just used a technique to wipe away all traces.

Cheng Fenglan gained nothing.

She stood in place, dazed for a long while, then she was seen taking out a Storage Bag and beginning to collect the Fire Flame Stone; her movements looked somewhat sluggish and mechanical, and she seemed lost in thought, her whole person appearing distracted.

Cheng Xi only knew that Cheng Yunjian had gone to Jindu Academy, and she had assumed Cheng Fenglan would be there too; she had not expected her to appear here.

She had previously heard people say that Cheng Fenglan had defected to Yan Qingli; could it be true?

Cheng Fenglan had come here just to collect Fire Flame Stone; after collecting half the amount, the Phoenix Fire was so anxious it wanted to jump out and fight her to the death, which was when she finally put away the Storage Bag and left.

Cheng Xi followed her from a distance; this place was so hidden that if it weren't for the Phoenix Fire being naturally sensitive to fire elements, even she would not have been able to find this place easily.

How could Cheng Fenglan have known about this place?

Trailing her all the way, she saw Cheng Fenglan exit the mountain and then enter the Academy through the back gate, watching her figure disappear into the distance on the path toward Sixiang Peak.

Yan Qingli had gone to Sixiang Peak.

Cheng Xi remembered again that Jiang Weiran was also at Qinghe Academy, and she wondered if these two had met; thinking of this, she instantly felt a massive headache—had she known it would be this troublesome, she would have gone to a different academy back then.

Returning to Qingtian Peak, Cheng Xi suddenly remembered that she hadn't prepared the good things she had promised Baohua, having been too preoccupied with Cheng Fenglan.

Just as she was thinking about whether to go back and find something to stall with first, she saw Baohua had sensed her aura and had come to greet her a step ahead.

Cheng Xi:...

Even a dog's nose isn't this sharp.

Baohua circled around Cheng Xi, looking extremely attentive.

Cheng Xi solemnly picked her up onto her arm and said to her, "I found some Fire Flame Stone, and I'll go buy some Gold Silkworm Silk and Void Nether Stone; how about I forge a Storage Bag for each of us now, what do you think?"

A Storage Bag?

Just as Baohua was about to ask what that was, the Phoenix Fire was unhappy and shouted in her dantian, "What about mine?"

Cheng Xi:...

She had finally experienced the hardships of raising a child.

She stalled Baohua with a few words and turned to leave, first going to find Yan Shengyu to ask if she knew anyone at Xuanyin Peak, as she needed to borrow an Instrument Furnace to refine the Storage Bag.

She also had to buy Heavenly Silkworm Silk and Void Nether Stone; she feared that the Talisman Bead Li Zhi'an had given her would be more than half empty.

It pained her heart.

Yan Shengyu was at Wuji Peak and had already passed the Wuji Peak assessment, successfully becoming an Outer Student; next, she only needed to accumulate aptitude, and once she attained the aptitude of an Inner Student, she could become a student of Yuan Zhanjiu.

Yan Shengyu was very happy to see Cheng Xi and pulled her aside to talk about things at Wuji Peak; because Lu Jinfan was there, her settling in at Wuji Peak had been very smooth.

Mentioning Lu Jinfan, she couldn't help but think of Cheng Fenglan again.

Cheng Fenglan had once begged Lu Jinfan to reattach Jiang Weiran's arm, and the relationship between those few had been familiar, but she didn't know if they were aware that Cheng Fenglan was also here now.

"Xuanyin Peak?" Hearing that Cheng Xi wanted to borrow an Instrument Furnace, Yan Shengyu didn't even ask why, thought carefully, and said: "There is actually someone there, Jiang Miao."

Jiang Miao:?

Cheng Xi was stunned, "She came too?"

"Indeed, those who awakened their talents in Jindu this year, I don't know what they were thinking, but they all flocked to Qinghe Academy. Lu Mingyao is also here, though she went to Tianying Peak."

Lu Mingyao was Lu Jinfan's own younger sister.

Cheng Xi's mouth twitched, and she asked about Li An and the others.

"Fan Mingxin and Li An both have good talents, and Danding Peak took them in; Xuan Nongying went to Sixiang Peak, oh, and right, there's also Fang Huiru, she went to Tianying Peak too."

Hearing the name of Sixiang Peak, Cheng Xi's brows furrowed.

Yan Shengyu smiled and said: "Everyone has now successfully become an Outer Student, and after future assessments, we can enter the Inner Court. Now everyone is asking how to earn Talisman Beads; without Talisman Beads, it is absolutely impossible. Xixi, do you want to join us?"

Cheng Xi shook her head, "No need, you all go about your business, and if anything happens, just tell me. I have other things to do right now and can't attend to this for the time being."

"Alright." Yan Shengyu knew Cheng Xi was different from them and didn't force her, "Then I'll accompany you to find Jiang Miao."

"No need, you go do your work, I'll go find her myself." Cheng Xi shook her head, "Shengyu, there are people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens; since you've embarked on this path, you must be able to endure hardship."

Yan Shengyu laughed heartily, "Of course I know that, just you wait and see."

Cheng Xi also smiled; the path of the Dao has always been about the survival of the fittest.

Cheng Xi went to Xuanyin Peak; the Academy's various mountain peaks each had their own scenery, and every peak was different. Xuanyin Peak was where the Artifact Masters were located, so there were many stones on the mountain, and the buildings were constructed in a more sturdy and rugged style.

Jiang Miao walked out, and seeing Cheng Xi, she was very surprised; the relationship between the two was still somewhat subtle.

"What are you looking for me for?" Jiang Miao asked, looking at Cheng Xi.

Cheng Xi sized Jiang Miao up; she had changed into a set of brown short-sleeved clothes, and her hair was simply tied into a bun; the wealthy appearance of a young lady from a noble family in Jindu was gone.

Meeting Cheng Xi's surprised look, Jiang Miao felt a bit uncomfortable, "What are you looking at? We who study Artifact Refining all dress like this; it's more convenient."

"I just didn't expect that someone as delicate as you would choose Artifact Refining." Cheng Xi truly hadn't expected it; was this like asking Lin Daiyu to swing a sledgehammer?

"Don't you also study Artifact Refining? If you can do it, I certainly can!"

Cheng Xi:...

"You want to learn Artifact Refining, it wouldn't be because of me, would it?"

This was truly a sin; she had only learned this stuff back then because she had no choice.

But Jiang Miao had many choices.

"Of course not!" Jiang Miao said with a wooden face, "Hurry up and tell me what you're looking for me for? I'm just an Outer Student, I might not be able to help you."

Cheng Xi was silent for a moment, then said: "I wanted to ask if Xuanyin Peak rents out Instrument Furnaces? I want to quietly refine some small things."

"Quietly? Are you a thief?" Jiang Miao lowered her voice and said.

"I just don't want the trouble."

Jiang Miao understood; Cheng Xi had this dead-set way about her back in Jindu, doing everything in a sneaky manner.

She gave a light cough and said slowly, "I just received an Instrument Furnace; although its grade isn't high, if you need to use it, I can lend it to you. That way, no one else will know you've used it."

That should be quiet enough, right?

Cheng Xi was very surprised, "You're willing to lend yours to me?"

"It's just a furnace, what's there to mind?"

Cheng Xi looked at her with a serious expression, "You'll understand later."

An Alchemist's Pill Furnace, an Artifact Master's Instrument Furnace, and an Array Master's Array Disk are like one's other half; they really cannot be lent out casually.