133: Practice, five months later

Ever since Lin Xiu returned from Black Seal City, Zi Yan would come looking for him every now and then.

Sometimes, if she didn't see him, Zi Yan would go to the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower to find him.

Lin Xiu invited her to sit down and told Zi Yan that these were friends from the Outer Academy who had entered the Inner Academy today.

"Hmm, Lin Xiu, what are we eating today?"

Zi Yan didn't care about any of that. These past few days, Lin Xiu had been participating in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, and she hadn't eaten anything good, so she was a bit greedy.

"Roasted meat, the kind we ate when we first met." Lin Xiu saw Zi Yan's eyes light up and couldn't help but chuckle.

In the kitchen, when the few people saw someone arrive, they were first startled, especially Lin Dun and the other two, wondering why there was a child in the Inner Academy.

"Senior Du, do you know her? Why is Lin Xiu getting involved with a child?"

Han Pu asked.

"What a cute girl. Could she be the child of the friend Junior Lin Xiu mentioned?"

Qin Zhi's gaze was firmly attracted by Zi Yan.

"No, she might be the friend Lin Xiu was referring to."

Du Chaoping shook his head.

He had actually seen Zi Yan twice before, but he hadn't paid attention then.

But combining that with Lin Xiu's words just now, he suddenly remembered a rumor in the Inner Academy.

On the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking, positions two to nine frequently changed, but the sole first place had always remained undisputed.

However, not much was known about this first-place individual, only that it was a child.

"First on the Strong Ranking? Junior Lin Xiu has only been in the Inner Academy for a year, and he can already be associated with the first-place individual on the Strong Ranking?"

Lin Dun and the other two looked at each other, feeling it was too surreal.

During the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, they had met older students who spoke of the Strong Ranking with a tone of reverence.

"Alright, stop daydreaming. First, get everything Junior Lin Xiu asked for done."

Du Chaoping reminded them.

When they were almost finished, another beautiful woman came over.

Han Yue had finished a day of Cultivation and, upon learning that Lin Xiu had once again suppressed the new students alone, came specifically to congratulate him.

"Senior Sister Han Yue, come eat with us."

Lin Xiu extended the invitation, and Han Yue didn't refuse. She seemed to have something to say to Lin Xiu, but the people around made it inconvenient.

The group ate for over an hour.

During this time, they chatted about matters of the Inner Academy. Han Yue was not aloof and actively answered the questions of Lin Dun and the others.

After Zi Yan left, Han Yue called Lin Xiu aside, "Junior Lin Xiu, are you free lately?"

Lin Xiu nodded, "I'm alright."

"In a while, I have something I plan to call you for, it's related to the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid. Don't tell anyone else about this information."

Han Yue lowered her voice.

Not long ago, she discovered the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid in a cave.

However, a fifth-Rank Demonic Beast was guarding it nearby, and she couldn't take it alone.

For this, she had already contacted several good friends, all of whom were top-ranked on the Strong Ranking.

Because Lin Xiu had saved her before, she planned to invite him along, not to ask him to exert effort, but mainly to share some benefits with him.

"Alright."

Lin Xiu paused slightly, then nodded in agreement.

"Alright? Junior Lin Xiu, why aren't you surprised at all by this news?"

Han Yue was stunned.

Normally, anyone hearing about the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid would at least show some excitement.

This was a type of Heaven And Earth Treasure that could cleanse the Meridians and improve one's Physique, which would even help in future advancements to a Dou King.

But Lin Xiu gave her the impression that he already knew this news.

"Surprised, I'm very surprised, Senior Sister. I just react a bit slowly. When you set off, just notify me directly."

Lin Xiu scratched his head, showing a bit of surprise.

He hadn't expected Han Yue to invite him for this matter.

According to the normal development, Han Yue would gather Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao, but they would be no match for the fifth-Rank Demonic Beast in its berserk state and would be forced to retreat.

Afterward, Xiao Yan would use the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python to take the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid.

Han Yue stared at Lin Xiu for two seconds, feeling that his surprise didn't seem faked, but it was just a little strange.

"Okay, then I'll be going now. Junior Lin Xiu, Cultivate well during this time."

Without delving deeper, Han Yue stood up, smoothed her skirt, and directly left the courtyard.

A few days later, Lin Xiu received a notification and went to meet Elder Su.

The Elder, in a gentle tone, told him that the Academy might need the Flame Soul Separation Technique to solve a problem and urged him to Cultivate diligently.

If the problem was successfully resolved, the Academy would offer two Earth Rank Intermediate Fighting Skills as a reward.

In addition, there would be Medicinal Pill compensation.

If Lin Xiu wished to become an Elder of the Academy, that would also not be an issue.

Lin Xiu guessed it was definitely related to the Fallen Heart Flame. He didn't hesitate and agreed.

Because as a condition for his help, the Academy would provide a wisp of the Fallen Heart Flame's fire periodically to help Lin Xiu Cultivate his Fire Spirit.

"The Academy doesn't yet know that the Fallen Heart Flame has already begun to accumulate power, nor do they understand that Xiao Yan is eyeing the Heavenly Flame. To actively help, I couldn't be more eager.

However, providing it regularly and in fixed amounts, the Academy is also guarding against me, but it doesn't matter. I can find opportunities from Xiao Yan."

Lin Xiu was originally worried that the Azure Demon Flame was growing too slowly, but now with the Academy's effort, it saved him a lot of trouble.

After the conversation with Elder Su, Lin Xiu once again immersed himself in Cultivation.

The naring he had obtained from Fan Ling earlier was not lacking in Fighting Skills.

Although Cultivation required the Blood Sect's Qi and blood, it was no challenge for him.

A month later, Lin Xiu used attribute points to fuse the Ben Lei Palm with another Fighting Skill, obtaining a new Profound Rank Advanced Dou Skills—Dragon Soaring the Four Seas Strike.

And the original Profound Rank Intermediate movement technique, Light Cloud Dragon Step, also transformed into the Advanced Shadowless Break through Fusion.

Compared to the existing Three Thousand Lightning Movement, Shadowless Break was still a bit lacking, but it could be used to upgrade Three Thousand Lightning Movement in the future, so it wasn't a waste.

In addition, the Profound Rank Low-Rank secret technique Wind and Thunder Realm Breaking also successfully upgraded to the Intermediate Origin Qi Burn.

With Lin Xiu's current strength as a two-star Dou King, the original Wind and Thunder Realm Breaking could only increase by two stars, while Origin Qi Burn could provide four stars.

Furthermore, the after-effects of Origin Qi Burn were smaller than Wind and Thunder Realm Breaking, and with the Chaos Nebula in his Dantian, it was enough for Lin Xiu to maintain it for fifteen minutes.

And Lin Xiu's body, having been refined by the Starlight Body Tempering Art, had Meridians that had endured energy, with almost no problems.

During this period, another thing that made Lin Xiu quite excited was that his Alchemist profession had finally reached entry-level.

Alchemy was completely different from fishing or mining.

After unlocking it, it turned out to be a panel similar to a profession tree.

Lin Xiu used five attribute points to raise the Alchemist sub-profession to Rank five, but he did not gain experience similar to alchemy.

Instead, he gained many insights into the properties and identification of various medicinal ingredients.

And for each Rank on the profession tree, there were many large and small light spots.

Lin Xiu looked closely and found that those light spots were all Medicinal Pills he had consumed before.

These light spots could be allocated points; each allocation deepened his understanding of the Medicinal Pill.

"Refining Medicinal Pills seems to require separate point allocation for each type. It's still uncertain whether only Medicinal Pills one has consumed can be allocated points, or if seeing a Pill Formula unlocks it."

Currently, Lin Xiu didn't need Medicinal Pills, so he didn't delve deeper into this aspect.

Outside of Cultivation, Lin Xiu also paid attention to Xiao Yan's side. Although he had stolen Xiao Yan's thunder in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, everything was still developing as usual.

Xiao Yan still established Pan Gate.

Four months later.

Lin Xiu interrupted his Cultivation and walked out of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.

"Junior Lin Xiu, it's time to go."

Han Yue smiled.