"Yes, I was curious about the technique just now and couldn't help trying it, so I broke through and entered the Tier 1 Early Stage. Oh right, didn't you say the test was the Tier 1 Early Stage earlier? It doesn't seem that hard!"
"Early stage? No way. The test I mentioned was cultivating the technique to the Tier 1 Late Stage. What kind of test is the early stage? You must have heard wrong."
Muxue immediately changed her tune and played dumb, her eyes flashing with a complex and cunning light.
Even she didn't realize that her attitude toward Mufeng had gradually shifted from the condescension of a protective older sister and mother figure to looking him in the eye as an equal.
"Ah, how can you be like this? Fine, fine, late stage it is then. We've agreed on this, and Mom can vouch for it too. Before you leave tomorrow, I will definitely cultivate it to the late stage for you to see."
Mufeng wasn't disappointed by Muxue going back on her word; instead, he was secretly delighted and went along with the flow to agree.
Reaching the late stage wasn't that difficult anyway. He would grind through it tonight, cultivate it to Perfection, and make her look at him in a whole new light.
Through his own efforts, his relationship with Muxue was gradually turning into the shape he wanted, which filled him with excitement.
In this lifetime, he was determined to escape singlehood!
"What, you're leaving tomorrow?"
Mother's focus was obviously different; she didn't care at all about the fun of the early or late stages of the technique they were talking about.
"You've only been back for two days and you're already leaving? Then don't run around tonight, you're staying home," Mother ordered.
"I'm quite busy at Imperial Capital University, and my professors are very strict with me. This time I only asked for three days off, and I have to leave tomorrow as soon as I'm done with my business. I'll just sleep outside tonight, it's only one night anyway. The bed I used to sleep in is piled high with Muyun's things, and clearing it out would be a hassle."
"Muyun!" Upon hearing this, Mother immediately turned her head to look at Muyun and scolded her with an unkind gaze.
Muyun, who was working hard on her dinner, pulled her face out of her rice bowl. Her mouth stuffed full, she blinked with an innocent look and mumbled vaguely, "Too much stuff, nowhere else to put it."
Seeing Muyun like that, Mother deflated as well. She turned to Muxue and said, "You'll sleep with Mom tonight. Your dad isn't here anyway, so consider it keeping Mom company for one night."
"This..." Muxue hesitated.
Seizing the opportunity, Mufeng said, "I think that's for the best. A pretty girl like you shouldn't spend the night outside alone."
As soon as these words were spoken, the three listeners showed different expressions.
Hearing the decisive tone in her son's words—the tone of the head of the household—Mother couldn't help but think of her husband who had been missing for five years, and she murmured, "Xiaofeng has grown up. He's starting to look like a real man."
Having adapted to Mufeng's shift in status over the course of the day, Muxue focused on the phrase "a pretty girl like you," which subtly crossed the line of how an older sister should address her younger brother.
Remembering the unnatural way Mufeng had acted when he hugged her earlier, Muxue glared at him.
Only to be brushed off by Mufeng with a cheeky grin.
Even Muyun, who had her head buried in her dinner, raised her head and glanced at Mufeng in surprise.
She thought her second brother seemed a bit different today. Just moments before, he had tormented "Blackie" to the point of a pitiful whimper, causing the little dog to run back to her to file a complaint against Mufeng's vicious bullying of cute little animals.
Actually, Muyun and Muxue got along quite well, but Muxue's aura was simply too overwhelming; the little girl always felt like talking to her older sister was like talking to an adult.
Unlike her silly second brother, who was both easy to bully and fun to play with.
After dinner, Mufeng wanted to hurry up and practice his cultivation technique, but Muxue stopped him.
"I was just on my way to practice to fulfill my promise to you. If you won't let me cultivate, don't tell me you're trying to back out of it?"
Mufeng deliberately referred to the test as a promise. A test was something a superior gave to a subordinate, whereas a promise was made between equals.
Not thinking too deeply into it, Muxue went along with him.
"Fine, fine. I already know you're a genius, and the promise has been fulfilled. I was just joking with you earlier, you actually took it seriously. Now I'll give you two choices: one is the Tier 5 Excellence-grade technique Yixing Formula, and the other is the Tier 6 Epic-grade technique Tianshuang Technique. You can only pick one, I have use for the other."
As she spoke, Muxue wore a cunning smile in her eyes.
Sensing this, Mufeng realized this was Muxue's way of measuring his caliber. He asked, "What are the characteristics of these two techniques?"
Muxue smiled. Mufeng hadn't made a blind choice, but instead wanted to gather more information before comparing them—he really was different from before.
"The Yixing Formula specializes in strengthening the brain. Once cultivated, your brain's memory, analytical ability, and reaction speed will all be enhanced. As for the Tianshuang Technique, as the name implies, its trait is an ice attribute, combining both offense and defense. You don't have to rush to choose; think it over carefully and just tell me your decision before I leave."
After a brief moment of thought, Mufeng leaned toward choosing the Yixing Formula. It was simple: he possessed a cheat code, and the traits of the Tianshuang Technique could easily be replicated by simply finding a skill and adding an ice attribute to it.
As for the abilities granted by the Yixing Formula, he wasn't sure which attribute they fell under. Spirit? Mind? Calculation? Memory? Brainpower? They all seemed to fall slightly short of the mark.
However, Muxue didn't know he had a cheat code. Judging by her previous demeanor, it was easy to guess that she also wanted him to choose the five-star Yixing Formula rather than the six-star Tianshuang Technique. There had to be something she knew that he didn't.
A thought suddenly struck Mufeng, and he asked, "Is the brain-strengthening ability of the Yixing Formula permanent after cultivation?"
At these words, Muxue's eyes lit up. She looked him up and down from head to toe, making no attempt to hide her admiration.
"I didn't expect you to figure out the crucial point so quickly.
That's right. Normally, the effects attached to a cultivation technique are replaced when you switch to a more advanced one, but the brain-strengthening effect of the Yixing Formula is one of the very few permanent technique effects in existence. Don't let the fact that the Yixing Formula is only Tier 5 Excellence fool you—it is far more precious than the Tier 6 Epic Tianshuang Technique. I've practiced the Yixing Formula myself, and its effects are incredibly useful."
This time, the tables turned, and Mufeng was the one in shock.
"You've already finished cultivating the Tier 5 Excellence Yixing Formula and switched to an even more advanced technique? Then what tier are you at now? Tier 6? Tier 7?"
Muxue had been in the Imperial Capital for less than two years, and she had already reached such heights? No wonder she managed to receive an invitation from the Governor's Mansion.
In a good mood, Muxue twirled a strand of hair around her finger.
"What tier am I at now? Take a guess!"
Mufeng was once again deeply dazzled, his heart beating wildly out of control.
He thoroughly enjoyed Muxue's playful tone and was blooming with joy inside, but on the surface, he put on a long face and said, "How could I possibly guess?"
"You'll naturally find out in the future; it's a secret for now. Alright, I'll give you the Yixing Formula now."
Just as Muxue was about to take out the technique manual, Mufeng shook his head and refused.
"No need. We agreed to stick to our agreement, so I'll come find you after I cultivate the technique to the late stage."
A man of his word—that was a basic quality a man should possess. With that, Mufeng turned and walked toward his room, leaving Muxue with his retreating back.
Watching him go, Muxue felt as though the heavy burden she had carried for years had finally been lifted.