"Whoosh!"
In the dimly lit training room, only a barely perceptible breath occasionally echoed, along with the intensely hot air that seemed to be burning.
Outside, countless days and nights had passed, but the figure inside the training room remained motionless, stiff as a terracotta warrior being forged.
"Buzz!"
As if sensing an offense, the figure trembled slightly, then an overwhelming aura surged from its body, rapidly spreading outwards before slowly dissipating upon contact with the walls of the training room.
"A mid-stage Three-Star Dou Wang!"
The figure, without opening its eyes, first sensed its rising aura and was quite satisfied.
"It's a pity that the pure battle qi doesn't seem to have much effect on the battle qi cultivated by the Five Elements Technique, which I'm already proficient in. It seems only the Heart Flame itself can work on my pure battle qi."
He then put away the crystal card, staring at the number 500 displayed on it. Lin Feng had no idea how much time had passed; after all, the elder's calculation method for the training room was different from the rules used by the students, and Elder Liu hadn't explained it to him.
Unable to figure it out, Lin Feng didn't dwell on it. He figured he could just ask anyone. So he got up, pushed open the door of the training room, and walked out.
When Lin Feng reached the top floor exit, he still didn't see Elder Liu. He didn't know if she was changing shifts or in seclusion, and the elder on duty wasn't there either.
"Elder Lin Feng!"
Just as Lin Feng was going to find Su Qian, a voice made him stop in his tracks. He turned his head slightly, looking at the unfamiliar twin-tailed woman with a puzzled expression.
Lin Feng's undisguised gaze didn't deter the female student in the slightest. Instead, she puffed out her chest slightly and took a half-step forward, as if to encourage herself.
"Elder Lin Feng, I am Nangong Yun from Yue Ling. I've heard you're a fifth-grade alchemy master. Could you please refine a pill to resist fire poison for Yue Ling?" She quickly added, seemingly afraid Lin Feng might misunderstand.
"This was said by Yue Ling's leader, Senior Sister Han Yue. Since we didn't know when Elder Lin Feng would emerge from seclusion, I took the liberty of waiting here."
Nangong Yun looked at Lin Feng expectantly after speaking.
"Hmm, I don't have much time right now!"
Nangong Yun's expression visibly dimmed as soon as Lin Feng spoke.
"However, if you could help me find a student named Zi Yan, I might consider it."
"Yay!"
Lin Feng looked at the childlike Nangong Yun and didn't stop her. In this Dou Qi Continent, perhaps only during her time at Canaan Academy could she be so carefree. Suddenly, her movements faltered, and her expression turned somewhat awkward.
"Elder Lin Feng, could you please go to Yue Ling first? Senior Sister Zi Yan is elusive; I can't find her on my own. I'll have to go back and mobilize the entire Yue Ling to search for her."
Seeing her cautious expression, Lin Feng couldn't help but think of Qing Lin, wondering how she was doing at the Heavenly Serpent Palace. It seemed he needed to quickly advance his alchemy skills to the sixth rank and establish a formidable reputation before making a trip to the Heavenly Serpent Palace.
Seeing Nangong Yun's expression, as if she thought he had angered her, Lin Feng smiled lightly and walked forward on his own, only to hear a voice.
"Since that's the case, why don't you lead the way!"
Seeing that Lin Feng wasn't angry, and that he had actually brought her back to Yue Ling, Nangong Yun jumped for joy. Seeing that Lin Feng was already walking further and further away, she hurriedly chased after him.
The Yue Ling stronghold of Canaan Academy was indeed a female-only force, with flowers blooming everywhere, vibrant and colorful—perhaps this was the reason why so many female students joined.
However, this once romantic and tranquil flower world was shattered by a sharp shout.
"Sister Yue'er, everyone, I've brought Elder Lin Feng back!"
"Nangong Wan, what's wrong with you! You said you brought Elder Lin Feng back, but..."
A woman with wavy hair, whose enjoyment of the flowers had been disrupted, shouted, but when she turned around and saw someone, she was speechless, her mouth slightly agape, unsure of what to do.
"Elder Lin Feng has descended upon Yue Ling, and Han Yue has not come to greet him properly; it is truly a sin."
Just then, a group of beautiful women appeared, especially a silver-clad figure among them, whose beauty seemed to overshadow even the most vibrant flowers. The surrounding young female students were also all charming and alluring.
Upon closer inspection, Lin Feng was even more astonished. Fortunately, he wasn't one to judge people by their looks, otherwise he might not have been able to leave Yue Ling today.
"According to student Nangong Yun, Yue Ling seems to want to refine a pill to suppress fire poison. Is it needed for the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower?"
To prevent the female students from getting too close, Lin Feng addressed them by their names. Besides, Little Fairy Doctor was still in the outer courtyard; he couldn't very well bring back a sister after just one trip to the inner courtyard. Lin Feng was always very confident in his charm.
"That's right. Does Elder Lin Feng have a good solution?"
Hearing Lin Feng get down to business, Han Yue, though somewhat impressed by his decisiveness, answered earnestly.
Lin Feng glanced briefly at the cultivation levels of the students under Yue Ling's command, and then recalled the intensity of the inner fire on each level of the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower. A particular elixir came to mind. He took out paper and pen and quickly wrote down the names of some medicinal herbs.
"Does Yue Ling have a secluded cultivation chamber?"
After handing it to Han Yue, Lin Feng was about to suggest delivering it to his residence when he remembered that he had gone straight to the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower upon arriving at the inner courtyard and hadn't found himself a place to stay yet.
"As for news of Zi Yan, you'll need to get it done as soon as possible!"
Han Yue, who had originally planned to arrange for someone to set up a secluded chamber for Lin Feng, was still somewhat puzzled. This Elder Lin Feng was too easy to talk to; he was already offering to refine elixirs for them without even mentioning any conditions. Only now did she realize that Yun'er must have agreed to something.
Looking at the cheerful Nangong Yun, she hadn't expected this silly girl to have such a clever side. The conditions were far too simple. It just so happened that she had encountered Senior Sister Zi Yan during her training in the mountains outside the academy some time ago.
"Elder Lin Feng, rest assured, I will complete the mission in the shortest possible time."
As expected of the eldest daughter of a powerful family, she has now even built her own force, clearly possessing great confidence. However, she keeps it to herself; finding Zi Yan would be ideal, but if not, she can make an excuse, since Zi Yan is indeed difficult to find.
Nodding in satisfaction, Lin Feng waved his hand and, led by a student, went to the secret chamber to await the arrival of the medicinal herbs.
After Lin Feng had gone, Han Yue turned to Nangong Yun, who had been holding her head high, and said,
"You little rascal, you've really done a great job this time. Tell me, what do you want? I'll do my best to satisfy you."
Seeing that she remained cheerful and silent, Han Yue knew her personality and shook her head.
"Then I'll give you a set of pills refined by Master Lin Feng!" She
then began to plan, sending most of her people with her to the mountains to find Zi Yan, and sending another student to the treasure vault to deliver the medicinal herbs Lin Feng needed.
Inside the secret chamber, Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the stone bed, stroking his chin as he began to think.
Since it was for the needs of many people in one force, there was no need for Xiao Yan's "Marrow Cleansing Cold Spirit Liquid." This substance was far too precious, and it was useless unless the fire poison had been present in the body for a long time.
"Fine, I'll refine the Ice Spirit Pill instead!"
He wasn't planning to use the pill for profit; as a fifth-grade alchemist, relying on refining second- or third-grade pills to make a living would be laughable to other alchemists of the same level.
After the medicinal materials arrived, Lin Feng took out three cauldrons of different grades. He decided to refine the Clear Spirit Pill, which was easy for him, and finish it all at once.
"Boom!"
The long-absent azure blue began to burn, and with the support of powerful Dou Qi, it quickly filled the secret chamber to the same color. Then, it was divided into three streams and added to the cauldron along with the prepared stream.
Meanwhile, in the mountains outside the academy, Han Yue led most of the members of Yue Ling towards the location she remembered.
Han Yue is so beautiful, I wonder if we have a chance...
(End of Chapter)