40 Chapter 40: Just Teasing You on Purpose

"You, little girl, I just said a few words to you, where are you trying to run off to again? Can't you behave yourself? Even Mentor Ruo Lin has come to me to complain."

Hu Jia slammed the door without looking back, leaving Hu Gan sitting helplessly in the chair.

"Sigh, such a good girl, why does she have to be interested in women?" Hu Gan, being older, couldn't understand children's interests and hobbies.

Previously, Hu Jia caused trouble but at least showed some restraint. Recently, however, it had escalated to the point where students were complaining to Mentors.

Hu Gan tried to say a few words to Hu Jia, but as soon as Hu Jia heard the beginning, she ran off.

Standing up, Hu Gan also headed towards the door, preparing to go to the lakeside to check on Lin Xiu's Thundering Palm cultivation progress.

Thundering Palm, as a Black Rank Mid Level Dou Technique, has a not insignificant entry difficulty.

Secondly, the palm technique emphasizes the power of thunder and seeks strength.

"I might as well give him some pointers, so he doesn't veer off in his cultivation. If the palm technique isn't perfected yet and his hands are ruined instead." Hu Gan didn't want to see that scene for real.

After all, Thundering Palm was something he entrusted to Lin Xiu, and if such a situation really occurred, he would definitely be responsible.

After walking for a while, Hu Gan suddenly stopped, turned his head slightly, and looked behind him, "Huo Qi, why are you following me?"

"Who's following you?" Old Huo was immediately unhappy upon hearing Hu Gan's words.

"This road leads to the lakeside. I remember it very clearly. The last time you went to the lakeside was a year ago." Hu Gan looked at him.

That time, Old Huo hadn't eaten White Carp for a long time, so he went to catch some fish. However, the fish he caught turned out to be bitter and fishy, very difficult to eat.

After that, Old Huo never went to the lakeside again.

"I'm just going to the lakeside," Old Huo said.

"What are you going there for?" Hu Gan looked puzzled.

"Aren't you boasting about how talented that guy Lin Xiu is? You even asked me to increase the fishing reward voluntarily. Since you want to test him today, and I have some free time, I'll just go take a look," Old Huo replied.

Old Huo passed by Hu Gan and walked ahead of him.

"I thought you wanted to learn fishing techniques from Lin Xiu," Hu Gan caught up with Old Huo, "If you have such intentions, I advise you to give up early. That kid is very cunning, even I lost to him."

With that, a hint of resentment appeared on Hu Gan's face.

After all, he had given Lin Xiu a Black Rank Mid-Level Dou Technique.

"How is that possible? Don't you know me well enough? With my personality, can you imagine me having the patience for fishing?" Elder Huo quickened his pace, his face showing a hint of guilt.

Hu Gan's words are half true and half false. I don't believe him.

In fact, Hu Gan did guess Old Huo's intentions correctly. He's going there to learn fishing techniques.

These days, Lin Xiu had been sending him fish regularly, one each day, indicating that Lin Xiu must have mastered some method of catching White Carp.

Although Old Huo was greedy, he wasn't foolish. No matter how many First Grade Pills he had, they couldn't compare to being supplied by someone else.

So, he specifically arranged for Lin Xiu to send a fish over at noon yesterday as a kind of test.

After Lin Xiu successfully delivered it, Old Huo could be sure that this kid had some skills.

So he decided to come over and learn a thing or two himself.

If he succeeded in learning, even if Lin Xiu went out next time, he wouldn't have to go without fish for a long time.

With one in front and one behind, they quickly arrived at the lakeside.

Before they even got close, they heard the sound of a fight.

"Who's fighting?" Hu Gan wondered.

Old Huo pondered for a moment. "Who usually hangs out by the lake?"

Lin Xiu!

Suddenly, two words popped into Hu Gan's mind, and his pace quickened abruptly.

Passing through the woods, the mirror-like lake came into view, shining brilliantly under the sunlight.

Hu Gan's gaze scanned toward the source of the sound.

Two figures were locked in combat, one of them being Lin Xiu, while his opponent was a muscular young man.

The aura emanating from the young man was obviously stronger than Lin Xiu's, but at this moment, he was being suppressed by Lin Xiu instead.

"Lin Xiu has quite a lot of practical combat experience," Old Huo noticed immediately.

Although the opponent's strength exceeded Lin Xiu's, Lin Xiu's attacks were always precise, leaving his opponent unable to retaliate effectively.

Such skill often requires extensive practice to become a subconscious reflex.

Hu Gan nodded, a hint of surprise in his eyes. Previously, they had only seen Lin Xiu practicing Dou Techniques, but they hadn't expected him to be so adept in combat as well.

Could it be that he usually hones his combat experience through this method?

"Hu Gan, if we're talking about this alone, previously promoted Inner Court students like Liu Qing and Han Yue are not inferior to Lin Xiu in the slightest. What aspect of his talent do you see potential in?" Old Huo asked.

Certainly not in fishing talent.

Hu Gan thought to himself before replying, "In terms of cultivation, unfortunately, his opponent clearly is an Academy senior. Lin Xiu has only recently enrolled and has limited time for cultivation. He may ultimately be defeated."

"Defeated? I don't see that happening. You passed him a Black Rank Mid Level Dou Technique. With his strength as a 4-Star Dou Practitioner, he wouldn't lose to a recently promoted 7-Star Dou Practitioner, right?" Old Huo looked at Hu Gan somewhat surprised. The power of a Black Rank Dou Technique should not be underestimated.

This is a Dou Technique capable of turning the tide!

"Huo Qi, are your eyes playing tricks on you? He was promoted to 2-Star Dou Practitioner just last time, not even half a month ago, and now he's at 4-Star. What a joke," Hu Gan seized the opportunity to retort.

Hearing Hu Gan's words, Old Huo didn't argue back but his expression turned strange. "You better take a closer look for yourself."

Joking aside, as an esteemed elder and a member of the alchemy department, with a powerful Spirit, how could the strength of a Dou Practitioner escape his eyes?

Turning his gaze towards Lin Xiu, Hu Gan observed carefully for a moment and was suddenly startled.

'Is he truly a 4-Star Dou Practitioner?'

If Old Huo wasn't beside him, Hu Gan would have rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

'It couldn't be true. I remember it very clearly. I noticed his rapid advancement to 2-Star Dou Practitioner and thought he had talent in cultivation.

That's why I didn't want him to waste his time on fishing, made a bet with him, and ended up losing a roll of Black Rank Dou Technique.'

'Just how long has it been for him to quietly become a 4-Star Dou Practitioner?'

'It hasn't even been half a monthm!'

At that moment, a storm surged in Hu Gan's heart. Even his granddaughter, who was known as a little demoness, didn't have such terrifying advancement speed.

"What are you looking at?"

Seeing Huo Qi still staring at him, Hu Gan remained composed on the surface. "I was just teasing you because you asked me what talent I saw in Lin Xiu, right? Well, it's his talent in cultivation."

"Breaking through two stars consecutively in half a month?" Old Huo's expression couldn't help but turn serious. "Hu Gan, are you sure you're not conspiring with him to deceive me?"

"What would I gain from deceiving you?" Hu Gan scoffed.

Old Huo glanced at him askew. "I suggest you think carefully before saying that. Who was it that persuaded me to increase the Pill rewards for missions?"

These days, Lin Xiu alone has taken away dozens of First Grade Pills.

When there's a large quantity, it hurts the heart too even if they are the lowest grade pills.

"Don't accuse me falsely. I only suggested it at the time, and it was you who agreed because you wanted to eat fish," Hu Gan immediately cleared himself of suspicion. 

"Lin Xiu has been around you all these days. What kind of strength he possesses, as a respected Alchemist, would you really not notice? I don't believe it."

Old Huo's expression faltered.

Indeed, he hadn't paid attention. Every time, his attention was focused on the White Carp.

Who would bother to care so much about a newly enrolled disciple for no reason?

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