187: Chapter 187 Senior Brothers and Sisters!

The woman appeared to be around twenty-three or twenty-four years old.

She wore a set of practical dark green martial attire that accentuated her tall, lean, and athletic figure.

Her skin had a healthy wheatish complexion, with a high-bridged nose and well-defined lips.

Her jet-black hair was simply tied into a high ponytail, and she stood there, radiating an aura of heroic vigor.

At that moment, she stood with her arms crossed, observing Qin Yan and Lu Youyou who had just entered with keen interest.

The man to her right looked slightly older, probably around twenty-five or twenty-six.

He was tall and burly, dressed in simple black training clothes.

He had a square face with thick eyebrows and large eyes. Though silent, he exuded a steady, mountain-like presence.

The person on the left was somewhat slimmer.

He wore a habitual faint smile at the corner of his mouth, his eyes lively, revealing a shrewd and clever nature.

The auras of these three individuals were condensed and profound, far surpassing those of Qin Yan and Lu Youyou.

Clearly, they were all at least third-grade martial artists, possibly even fourth-grade or above.

Moreover, they carried a hint of a seasoned, sharp-edged competence forged through blood and iron—a quality Qin Yan rarely felt in the ordinary campus environment.

"Teacher."

"Teacher."

Qin Yan and Lu Youyou greeted Xiao Huo respectfully.

Xiao Huo gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over his two beloved disciples, a flicker of warmth passing through his eyes.

He was about to begin introductions when the spirited woman beside him beat him to it.

A crisp voice, tinged with a hearty laugh, rang out:

"Teacher, these new junior brother and junior sister of yours are indeed outstanding in appearance, with condensed and solid auras.

Judging by this innate talent alone, they probably don't fall short of our Eldest Senior Sister back in the day!"

As she spoke, her eyes roamed over Qin Yan and Lu Youyou.

She especially took a few extra glances at Qin Yan, clearly having already heard of this junior brother who had risen to fame in the Exchange Competition.

Teacher? Junior brother and junior sister?

Hearing this, Qin Yan and Lu Youyou both felt a stir in their hearts.

They exchanged a glance, seeing a mix of surprise and understanding in each other's eyes.

Under Instructor Xiao Huo's tutelage, including Lu Youyou and Qin Yan, there were a total of seven personal disciples.

Including Lu Youyou, there were three females.

Judging by the woman's words, she was clearly not the Eldest Senior Sister.

Therefore, her identity was almost obvious—she must be their Third Senior Sister.

"Third Senior Sister, Teacher hasn't even finished speaking, and you couldn't help but interrupt again.

Have you been away for so long that you miss Teacher's 'loving guidance'?"

The man with the handsome features and a constant smile immediately spoke up.

His tone was teasing, carrying a hint of mischief, as if eager to stir up some fun.

He was Xiao Huo's fourth disciple, named Chu Feng.

Hearing this, Ye Hongxiao raised a beautiful eyebrow and instinctively looked at Xiao Huo.

Sure enough, Xiao Huo had a stern face, glaring at her with a "displeased" look.

The bold, unrestrained aura around Ye Hongxiao instantly vanished. She put on an ingratiating smile.

Taking a few quick, small steps to stand before Xiao Huo, she clasped her hands together, her tone utterly sincere: "Teacher! I was wrong!

Please don't be angry, venerable teacher. Anger harms the liver and affects the control of the Pill Fire!"

Her rapid change of expression and her "sycophantic" attitude left Qin Yan and Lu Youyou, meeting her for the first time, somewhat stunned.

Xiao Huo was swayed by her antics into helplessness. He deliberately maintained a stern face and snorted, but the trace of gratification and joy in his eyes was unmistakable.

Looking at these three disciples before him, travel-worn yet spirited, a teacher's simplest satisfaction welled up in his heart.

They had safely rotated back from the perilous front lines of the alien battlefield.

Their vigor and spirit remained undiminished, instead appearing more refined—this was what pleased him most.

"Enough, stand properly," Xiao Huo waved his hand, his tone already softened.

He turned to Qin Yan and Lu Youyou and formally introduced, "Xiao Yan, Youyou, come and meet them.

This unserious one is your Third Senior Sister, Ye Hongxiao.

Don't judge her by how she is now. On the northern 'Frost-Ember Defense Line,' her reputation alone is enough to strike fear into many Ice Puppets and Snow Demons."

"As for her personality..." Xiao Huo paused, then continued, "As you can see, flighty, unreliable, loves to join in the fun, and talks a lot."

"Teacher!" Ye Hongxiao immediately protested, her almond-shaped eyes widening.

Xiao Huo shot her a glance: "Hmm? Am I wrong?"

Ye Hongxiao instantly deflated, muttering softly, "You're not wrong... but could you leave your disciple a little face..."

Qin Yan and Lu Youyou stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Ye Hongxiao: "Qin Yan, Lu Youyou, greetings to Third Senior Sister."

Ye Hongxiao immediately beamed again, waving her hand: "No need for such formality, we're family from now on.

Junior brother, junior sister, if you ever run into any trouble in the future, just come find your senior sister! I'll have your backs!"

She thumped her chest in assurance, putting on the bold, sisterly act, which contrasted sharply with her earlier coquettish demeanor.

Instructor Xiao Huo's finger then moved to point at the young man who had just teased Ye Hongxiao, continuing the introductions: "This is your Fourth Senior Brother, Chu Feng.

"His temperament... well, he's cut from the same cloth as your Third Senior Sister—often just as flighty and unserious."

Despite his words, clear appreciation showed in his eyes: "However, this kid's talent and mastery in the art of alchemy are truly undeniable.

If you encounter any problems in Pill Dao in the future, don't hesitate to ask him. The knowledge he's accumulated is enough for you to learn from for quite a while."

"Teacher, are you praising me or criticizing me?" Chu Feng protested, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He then turned to Qin Yan and Lu Youyou, his face breaking into a warm and hearty smile, "Junior brother, junior sister, don't listen to Teacher's nonsense. Your senior brother here is a proper, serious person.

First time meeting you. I'm Chu Feng, fourth in seniority."

"Greetings, Fourth Senior Brother."

Qin Yan and Lu Youyou called out.

Chu Feng looked over these two newly joined junior brother and sister, growing more and more pleased the longer he looked.

"No need for formalities, junior brother and sister. I dare not boast about much else, but when it comes to medicinal pills... I've accumulated quite a stockpile."

"From first grade to fifth grade, for all common types of pills, as long as they're not too obscure or rare, your senior brother here can almost always find a finished product or can fire up the furnace and refine them on demand."

"Covering first to fifth grade... all of them?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Youyou's large, lively eyes instantly widened, her little face filled with astonishment and curiosity.

She couldn't help but blurt out, "Fourth Senior Brother, could it be... you're already a fifth-grade Pill Refining Master?"

Advancing in Pill Refiner grades is even more difficult than progressing in martial realms.

It requires not only spiritual power, flame control skill, vast resources for practice, but also corresponding cultivation level support and deep comprehension of Pill Dao.

A Fifth-Rank Alchemist holds a status comparable to an ordinary sixth-grade martial artist!

Seeing his junior sister's adorable reaction, the look of pride on Chu Feng's face grew even stronger.