Chapter 173: Brothers Helping Each Other

The alchemical fire was warm.

A Nuo sat on the other side of the alchemy furnace with her hands tucked in, looking weathered.

The massive furnace blocked the view of that dog-man and woman; only their feet could be seen beneath it. They still sat very close, yet A Nuo had been driven to the other end to squat.

As soon as the pills were finished, A Nuo was tossed over the wall.

In fact, Sheng Yuanyao had already shown great restraint by not throwing A Nuo directly out of the volcano's mouth.

The most tragic thing in the world is social death; even one person seeing it counts as social death. The melon-eater eventually becomes the melon.

If not for Lu Xingzhou's high emotional intelligence at the end, which minimized her embarrassment, she would have wanted to kick even Lu Xingzhou out of the volcano.

As a result, Lu Xingzhou turned the situation into him being lecherous and seeking a reward, while Sheng Yuanyao turned and kissed him, instantly dispelling the awkwardness. Now, if only A Nuo could be shark-ed, the world would be at peace...

A Nuo certainly could not be shark-ed; they could only pretend not to see and use the furnace to block the people.

At this moment, the dog-man and woman had each moved behind a mountain rock to change clothes, then reappeared, sitting side by side before the furnace with proper, serious appearances.

In reality, there were no pills to refine.

Most of the medicinal herbs collected outside earlier had been given to A Nuo for refining; the remainder was insufficient to support Lu Xingzhou's own refining. To refine his trial assignment, he would need to find more herbs. However, at this moment, Lu Xingzhou's injuries were not yet healed, and he did not wish to move temporarily, so he sat to recover.

If nothing unexpected happened, there should be some kind of fire seed within this volcano's belly, and it would be a high-temperature fire of an explosive nature.

Seizing a fire seed is itself a battle. The one in the desert layer was a lucky grab during the conflict between the turtle-tortoise and the fire seed, but this one is estimated to be quite difficult. A Nuo fears fire, Sheng Yuanyao does not understand fire, so the main force remains Lu Xingzhou himself.

Sheng Yuanyao felt she was quite a hindrance this time and asked somewhat embarrassedly: "You... how are your injuries?"

The Iron Demon's fist struck her back; the injury was quite severe. She took pills but did not rest properly, and still caused chaos...

"Actually, it's fine. I have a method called the Yin-Yang Grinding Art that can largely eliminate the power invading the body. The injury is not as severe as imagined. However, recovery still requires rest and recuperation, so continuing to fight is not suitable for now."

"Then... shall A Nuo and I go out and deal with that Iron Demon first? I'm afraid it might revive."

"No need to worry about this. This is your Demon Suppression Bureau's Demon Subduing Domain. Even if the Iron Demon were at full strength, it would be gradually weakened day by day. Let alone its current half-dead state? It can only be worn down weaker and weaker by this place. If we don't kill it, we will die ourselves, including the Succubus as well... Hey, you are from the Demon Suppression Bureau, I am from the Demon Suppression Bureau; do I need to tell you this?"

Sheng Yuanyao, angry and ashamed, retorted: "Then why didn't we deal with it before coming in? What were you hiding for?"

"Didn't you realize what state we were in just now? If another demon suddenly appeared, or some stray energy attack or heart-demon interference came, what would we do?" Lu Xingzhou sighed: "A Gua, we are not here to risk our lives to eliminate demons; we are here for training."

"... Who is A Gua?"

"Ahem." Lu Xingzhou did not take the bait: "If you really cannot rest assured, go out and kill it now. I dare say that if you go out to kill him now, it will be like killing a chicken."

A Nuo jumped straight up: "I'll go."

Lu Xingzhou made no sound, silently agreeing to let A Nuo go.

Sheng Yuanyao hugged her knees, turning her head to watch A Nuo leave. Suddenly, her shoulders slumped, she let out a long sigh, lowered her head, and muttered: "How will I ever see A Nuo again..."

"In fact..." Lu Xingzhou hesitated: "A Nuo didn't see anything just now."

"What seeing or not seeing?" Sheng Yuanyao stiffened her neck: "What did we do that required her not to see?"

Lu Xingzhou nodded seriously: "Mm, mm, we didn't do anything... I was attacked by the Succubus, which delayed my healing."

Speaking of his injury, a scene of him blocking in front of her without hesitation floated through Sheng Yuanyao's mind. It was soft and warm. The stiff-necked look vanished instantly, and she said in a low voice: "Is there anything I need to do? How about pushing the meridians to activate the blood?"

Lu Xingzhou turned to look at her profile, his gaze unconsciously falling on her cherry lips.

The words spoken amidst the confusion were still vivid in his mind... A kiss is needed to heal.

Obviously, Sheng Yuanyao thought of this too and said angrily: "You really are a lecher. I don't know how many you've deceived. If I had known, I would have had you arrested back in Xiazhou."

"I didn't deceive you." Lu Xingzhou protested: "If you knew a Dual Cultivation Art, it would truly be possible to accelerate healing efficiency by transferring Qi."

Sheng Yuanyao hesitated for a moment: "Um, can it be learned quickly?"

"What, do you want to help me?"

"Why so many words? Isn't it normal for a friend to help you heal?"

Lu Xingzhou glanced at her and handed her a manual.

It was a pity that the technique of transmitting power directly through the third eye was not known now; otherwise, it would have been much simpler.

Third grade should be enough. The Cloud-Treading Realm... Back then, Yuan Muyu taught directly by pointing her slender finger at the third eye...

Sheng Yuanyao looked at the manual, her face flushed, her eyes wandering. How could she focus on learning and practicing? The scene of social death just now swept through her mind again; at this moment, Sheng Yuanyao's mind was completely like a melon.

Her face suddenly grew hot. Lu Xingzhou, unable to resist seeing her face red like an apple and looking so cute, sneaked in and kissed her.

Sheng Yuanyao reached out to wipe her face, glaring angrily: "Is this never going to end?"

Lu Xingzhou leaned his face closer: "Then I'll return the favor." Sheng Yuanyao directly reached out to slap him, but when her hand landed on his face, it had no strength at all, becoming a caress.

Then she laughed out loud herself, really leaned over and kissed him, then quickly pulled away: "That's enough. We... we can't be like that."

"Why can't we?" Lu Xingzhou asked directly.

Sheng Yuanyao looked away, hugging her knees and watching the furnace fire.

Of course, it was because you have Shen Tang. I am not going to be a concubine... nor can I fight the Princess for a man.

The words reached her lips but she only said: "Just now, it was just the Succubus's technique. Everyone understands... Why keep that matter in mind? You could block a fist for me; what's wrong with giving you a little benefit?"

"Then give me a little more benefit?" Lu Xingzhou moved another three inches closer.

Sheng Yuanyao was at a loss between laughter and tears: "You weren't so lecherous before. Is it really because of just now that your inner demon was released, and you're no longer acting?"

Actually, it was because he liked A Gua more and more... When Shen Tang first said she agreed to let Lu Xingzhou pursue Sheng Yuanyao, Lu Xingzhou did not take those words seriously and did not respond to Shen Tang. At that time, they were truly just friends; he had no lecherous thoughts toward Sheng Yuanyao. What kind of thing was it to use that relationship to pursue her? The relationship could be used just as well while being friends.

But now he liked her more and more... The power of Shen Tang's agreement back then had grown stronger. A relationship with Pei Chuyun would cause a lion's roar at home, but Sheng Yuanyao would not, so there were no psychological obstacles, as long as she herself was willing.

But this was not easy to say. How to say it? "The one in my family agrees for you to be a concubine, so I have no worries?" One sentence like that could make the whole relationship collapse; it would be better to just be a brother-sister friend.

Sheng Yuanyao herself was an official with a proper status. The education she received since childhood was different from that of the Harmony Joy little demoness; she needed to save face... Besides, a solution would eventually be needed on Sheng Qingfeng's side.

She herself was now only willing to acknowledge a brother-sister relationship. So they could only temporarily follow this step, giving everyone a reason to deceive themselves, so as not to lose even the friendship. Things for the future would come slowly...

So he followed her tone and said: "Yes, there was a little residue just now. Don't you have a little bit too?"

Sheng Yuanyao's eyes wandered. Of course, there was a little residue. The pills refined by A Nuo were not immortal pills that could make the mind break free from that state, but that stirring lecherous heart and love still needed to be suppressed by herself.

"Since we both have it, isn't it good for brothers to help each other solve it..." Lu Xingzhou directly embraced her.

Sheng Yuanyao struggled weakly to show she had resisted. In reality, she had no resistance to Lu Xingzhou's advance. Step by step, the steps were handed over, and it was very comfortable to walk.

Seeing Lu Xingzhou lean in to kiss her again, she only then said with some "reluctance": "Then I'll reluctantly help you again, since you look pitiful."

The two kissed once more.

"Your hand..."

"Just helping a brother understand the structural differences between men and women."

"W-what is there to understand? You just pinched it..."

"Back then, my mind was in chaos, so my perception wasn't careful."

Sheng Yuanyao had no desire to expose that he had already understood things very clearly on Shen Tang and Pei Chuyun; now, he was mostly just understanding the different textures of different shapes.

Never mind... anyway, he hadn't failed to touch her just now.

A'nuo stood a short distance away holding an iron block, unsure whether she should approach. If she did, would she get beaten...?

Come to think of it, while Sister Yao's battle-damaged public uniform looked tempting, the way the complete version looked when being pinched was equally taboo and stimulating.

The dog couple didn't know how long they had been "understanding" before they suddenly realized A'nuo seemed to have been squatting aside for a long time. Lu Xingzhou parted as if nothing had happened, cleared his throat, and asked: "Has the Iron Demon been dealt with?"

"Dealt with." A'nuo sighed with relief. My "dealing with it" was easy; what matters is that you two have dealt with it.

Look, now Sister Yao doesn't even blush when she sees A'nuo.

She stepped forward holding the iron block: "The core left behind after I hammered the Iron Demon to pieces should be a good material for artifact refinement."

Lu Xingzhou took it and examined it. It looked like an iron block, but in reality, a liquid-like flow was faintly visible within; a scorching heat rushed toward his face, and a faint spiritual nature was present, making it look very high-end.

"It's not just a material for refinement; this thing possesses life and spiritual nature, and its energy is strong. It can help forge a Wu Xiu's sword bone." Lu Xingzhou handed it directly to Sheng Yuanyao: "You can try guiding its golden fire energy into your body. It can rapidly increase your cultivation when you reach the fifth grade to fourth grade, and it can assist in forging the bones to break through at the third grade bottleneck. You already possess a third-grade treasure blade; using this for refinement would be a waste. Assisting cultivation is the most suitable use."

Sheng Yuanyao blinked her eyes, suddenly recalling her father's words.

—Don't believe that Dugu Qingli and Pei Chuyun haven't consumed heavenly treasures and earthly gems. Lu Xingzhou has luck upon him; being with him might yield gains.

And here it comes.

The condensed crystal of a third-grade demon is no different from a third-grade demon core; that is something even cultivators in the upper three grades all pursue, and now it is in hand. The key is that her role in this battle was not significant, and she even caused Lu Xingzhou to get injured... It was almost like picking it up for free.

Hmm... exchanged for kisses and pinches?

Sheng Yuanyao was made to feel embarrassed: "You and A'nuo are both Wu Xiu; you can use it too."

Lu Xingzhou waved his hand: "Neither A'nuo nor I cultivate metal. A'nuo's big flatbread even needs to expel metal elements to better exert its Yuan Magnetic effect. Allocate according to need; this one is yours."

Saying this, he stood up: "Come, there must be many fire-attribute treasures and fire seeds inside this volcano's belly. Let's search separately. We fought so hard; now is the time for harvest."

A'nuo hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. She really wanted to say, isn't your harvest Sister Yao...? Whose battle ends with holding a woman and messing around like that for nearly an hour before remembering to look for treasures? Other people who have gone through hardships to seek treasures in trials would cry.

(End of this chapter)