108: Back to the academy

When they were almost at the academy's entrance, Han Yue snapped back to reality, realizing Lin Xiu was holding her wrist. A blush flashed across her face, and she gently pulled free.

Lin Xiu's expression was natural as he asked, "Senior, are you going to find someone from the Medicine Gang to refine medicine?"

"No, the Medicine Gang's prices are very high. The Ice Soul Pill is only a Rank three Medicinal Pill, and other people in the academy can also refine it."

Han Yue shook her head slightly. "It's a good opportunity for you to get to know them now. If you need Alchemy in the future, you can look for them."

Among the Inner Academy students, the powers were complex.

However, not all Alchemists joined the Medicine Gang, which led to the emergence of some rogue Alchemists.

The sale of medicinal ingredients in the academy was almost monopolized by the Medicine Gang.

To avoid some trouble, those Alchemists would choose to befriend some powerful students.

If conflicts arose and needed to be resolved, people like Han Yue would need to step forward.

"Senior, do they usually encounter frequent conflicts?" Lin Xiu felt he could open a 'proxy fighting' business.

Upgrading Fighting Skills required experience, and sparring could also earn Realm experience. Winning would gain favor with Alchemists, and there was also Fire Energy.

This was truly killing multiple birds with one stone.

Han Yue was stunned. "Not very often."

Seeing a hint of disappointment flash across Lin Xiu's face, she asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Lin Xiu shook his head.

In a courtyard, Lin Xiu met several Alchemists. They lived together, and most of the courtyard's area had been transformed and planted with various plants.

Their meeting was very harmonious. Alchemists liked to invest, and they were never stingy with their goodwill towards people with potential.

Learning that Lin Xiu was interested in Alchemy, the Alchemist responsible for refining for Han Yue directly refined the Ice Soul Pill in the courtyard, showing off his skills to Junior Lin Xiu.

"Merely observing with my eyes cannot trigger the Alchemy ability. To unlock it, I might need systematic learning or a mentor to guide me."

After an Alchemy session, Lin Xiu understood his next direction.

To become an Alchemist, he would probably need to get a manual similar to a Cultivation Technique or Fighting Skill, or find a teacher.

"Junior Lin Xiu, you're welcome to visit whenever you're free. If you need Medicinal Pills refined, you can also find us. We're usually available."

At the courtyard entrance, several people stood side by side, their smiles warm.

"No problem."

Lin Xiu smiled and agreed. After thinking for a moment, he decided to advertise himself. "Seniors, if you have any problems that need to be resolved by fighting, you can also contact me."

The several people were stunned. Seeing that Lin Xiu's expression wasn't a joke, they nodded blankly.

After watching Lin Xiu and Han Yue leave.

They exchanged glances.

"This Junior seems to have a very strong desire to fight," someone said.

Another person stroked his chin. "There's nothing strange about it. You know, he fought many older students in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition when he first entered the academy."

"I was worried it would be hard to speak up in the future, but now that Junior Lin Xiu has said it himself, if those guys from the Medicine Gang stir up trouble again, I definitely won't tolerate it."

One person clenched his fist, a fierce look flashing across his face.

"Don't mess around. Junior Lin Xiu hasn't been in the academy for long. If he provokes those people at the top of the Strong Ranking, he might not be their match," the person stroking his chin reminded.

The few people closed the courtyard gate, and their chatter gradually faded... After parting ways with Han Yue.

Lin Xiu first went to collect his Fire Energy quota for the past two months, a total of fourteen days.

Then, he exchanged all the Demonic Beast cores and other items he had for Fire Energy.

The Fire Energy he had just acquired hadn't even warmed up before he exchanged a portion of it for Fighting Skills.

"Four hundred and sixty days. If I go to the eighth floor, it will cost eight days of Fire Energy per day... Tsk, I'll Cultivate on the fifth floor first."

Returning to his residence, Lin Xiu prepared hot water and soaked himself in it. After a brief calculation, he found that his Fire Energy was running low.

"There's also Rank five Demonic Beast blood. If I were to buy it with Fire Energy, it would probably be a sky-high figure."

"I never worried about money in the Outer Academy, but I didn't expect to be stumped after entering the Inner Academy."

"I'll ask Du Chaoping and Leng Bai when they get back later."

Lin Xiu's tentative plan was the Arena. He could earn both experience and Fire Energy, but he had to control his wins and losses. If he kept winning, he would be too strong, and no one would fight him.

Evening.

Du Chaoping and Leng Bai returned, both having broken through two Realms in strength.

They didn't have much Fire Energy, and they couldn't stay in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower indefinitely.

Therefore, although three months had passed, their progress was several times slower than Lin Xiu's.

"You fellow, you were gone for two months! What about your promise to look after us?" Leng Bai rushed to Lin Xiu, punching him in the chest.

Lin Xiu was stunned. "Were you bullied?"

Leng Bai nodded.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Lin Xiu looked at Du Chaoping.

"Roughly two days after you came out of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower and left, those older students came looking for us, challenging me and Leng Bai one after another." Du Chaoping forced a somewhat strained smile.

Upon entering the Inner Academy, he realized how important strength truly was. The weak could only be beaten.

"Who were they? Was Bai Feng among them?" Lin Xiu's expression darkened as he asked.

"The Bai Gang didn't participate. Speaking of which, I also found it strange. After all, in terms of conflict, Bai Feng should have the biggest conflict with you," Du Chaoping said, looking at Lin Xiu with confusion towards the end.

Lin Xiu's eyes were bewildered.

That was really strange. Bai Feng didn't participate. Was he planning something big?

Lin Xiu didn't want to waste brain cells on something without a clue. He greeted the two and told them they would go to the Arena tomorrow to settle accounts.

Du Chaoping advised against it, saying it wasn't necessary, but Leng Bai disagreed. The former had always been well-behaved in the Outer Academy, very different from Leng Bai's personality.

"Senior, don't worry. I'm now a Seven-Star Great Dou Shi. Even if I face an Early Stage Dou Ling, he's not my match."

To reassure Du Chaoping, Lin Xiu revealed his strength. As expected, both Leng Bai and Du Chaoping showed surprised expressions upon hearing this.

"Lin Xiu, you were behind me back then, and now you've directly surpassed me?" Leng Bai couldn't accept reality.

Du Chaoping was alright; he had experienced something similar before.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Lin Xiu took the two to the Arena.

Many people earned Fire Energy by dueling here, so even in the morning, the Arena was bustling.

Leng Bai pointed out several factions consecutively. Those people initially didn't pay attention to Lin Xiu, but after several Nine-Star Great Dou Shi were knocked down by Lin Xiu in a single move.

Everyone slowly realized that the encounters mentioned by those people in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition were not exaggerations; Lin Xiu was truly very strong.

After a morning, those who had bullied Leng Bai and Du Chaoping all bowed their heads and apologized.

"Take this Fire Energy. If you have time, help me keep an eye out. If anyone is fighting and their strength isn't enough, go ask them if they need a proxy fighter."

Before entering the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, Lin Xiu instructed the two.

Leng Bai was stunned. "Proxy fighting? You're going to be a hired thug?"

"What's the problem? There are people like that in the Arena. I enjoy sparring with people anyway, and I can earn Fire Energy." Lin Xiu saw many people with the same idea as him in the Arena today.

Leng Bai choked.

In fact, he had once had such an idea, but his strength wasn't enough. After losing two matches, he didn't dare to take any more orders.

"Lin Xiu, what if someone asks you to deal with us?" Leng Bai suddenly asked.

Du Chaoping was stunned. It seemed this possibility couldn't be ruled out. He couldn't help but look at Lin Xiu.

"Leng Bai, that's you not trusting my character. With our relationship, if something like that really happens..."

Lin Xiu patted Leng Bai's shoulder. "You tell him he needs to add more Fire Energy!"