"Starting next semester, I'll be making spirit-infused metals for everyone. Bring your own materials, and I'll only charge you half the price. I'm already being pretty kind," Gu You glanced at everyone.
Kind?
Is that even human talk?
Half price does sound cheap, but what's spirit-infused metal? Even half price might be too expensive for them.
Spirit-infused metal is difficult to make, but its value is unquestionable. In the future, it will make spirit forging much easier. This kind of metal never appears on the open market; if it ever does, it's instantly bought up. So, to get spirit metal or spirit-forged metal, one has to post a request at the Forgers' Association—and the price is predictable.
The students said their goodbyes and flew off. Fifteen days sounds long, but they had an enormous amount to do. Step one: make money!
No money, no progress!
"I'm going to find someone to charm," Xu Lianzhi waved goodbye, not leaving the academy but heading deeper inside—he obviously had a target in mind.
"I'm off too. If you see any news about Shrek Academy disciples busking on the streets in the market, don't be surprised," Xie Xie, feeling the pressure, waved and dashed away.
Tang Wulin planned to help others forge metal to earn some cash.
Gu You would also go forge, since forging paid fast—one piece of metal could take several days. But unlike Tang Wulin, he planned to take a job from the Forgers' Association himself.
Watching everyone leave, Ye Xinglan looked at Gu Yue. "Who goes first?"
Gu Yue said, "You first."
Ye Xinglan nodded. "Alright."
It was still early morning. Shrek Academy hadn't started classes. Usually, students came and went in small groups. Not everyone lived on campus—some from wealthy families rented houses in Shrek City to better focus on their training.
But today was obviously different.
A hearty vendor's voice rang at the gate.
"Passersby, don't miss out! Selling buns! Restore your strength with big meat buns—eat one, get energy, health, vitality, and brain power! Light and nimble buns—eat one, feel light as a swallow! Bloodthirsty red bean buns—eat one, bloodlust ignites, battle power doubles! Prepared and safe—best before one day!"
A male student, about sixteen or seventeen, walked by. Seeing Xu Lianzhi selling buns, he recognized him immediately.
"Hey, isn't this the chubby guy from the last first-year competition? Junior, how come you're selling buns now?" he asked curiously.
Xu Lianzhi chuckled. "No choice! The final exams need money. Senior, want some? Tasty and cheap."
"No thanks. I don't need that stuff. The shelf life's just one day. I'm off to class." He started walking toward the academy gate.
But at the gate, he involuntarily stopped.
Two people stood right in front, blocking his way.
The main gate was wide, and two people clearly couldn't block it completely. The second-year Class One student was decent and instinctively moved aside to go around.
But a figure suddenly blocked his path again.
"This mountain I opened, this tree I planted—hmm, Gu Yue, how does the next line go?"
Gu Yue rolled her eyes. "If you want to pass here, pay a toll."
The second-year boy was stunned. "What's going on? There's no mountain or tree here! Even if there were, it's not yours."
"Pay up. 100,000 Federation Coins, then you can pass," Ye Xinglan said bluntly, extending her hand.
The boy stared dumbfounded. "What is this? Robbery?"
"Exactly! It's robbery!" Ye Xinglan said succinctly.
"Can't I borrow it?" The boy's mouth twitched. Ye Xinglan was stunningly beautiful, and facing beauties, he couldn't lose his temper. But these two were too bizarre. Not only him—several other students returned outside and watched with interest, including an older student well over twenty from the Outer Academy.
"Fine! Beat us, then you don't have to pay," Ye Xinglan said, stepping forward. Her wrist flicked, and three rings of soul energy spread along her arm. The Star God Sword appeared, shining brilliantly in her grasp.
Grasping the Star God Sword changed her whole aura; her eyes brightened fiercely, and a strong presence burst out. The boy felt a tightness all over, the sharp sword energy forcing his own Martial Soul to release; three rings of soul energy rose at his feet.
Fight? No way he could win.
He had seen the first-year versus sixth-year battle firsthand. This girl could hold her own against a five-ring Soul King—and she had a battle armor!
"Aren't you afraid of the academy punishing you?" the boy stepped back, weakening.
"We'll talk about that when we return. I said 'borrow'—borrow for fifteen days, and I'll pay you back double," Ye Xinglan said impatiently.
Taking a deep breath, star light glittered on the Star God Sword. She didn't want to waste time. 100,000 Federation Coins would cover the round trip travel; food and lodging for her and Gu Yue were basically taken care of.
"Okay, I'll give it!" The boy said bitterly.
"Wait." At that moment, the earlier vendor's voice suddenly came from behind him.
The boy looked back and saw Xu Lianzhi bounding over with several buns, handing some to him.
"Senior, actually, eating a few of my buns might help you not lose. My Bloodthirsty Red Bean Buns are powerful—boost your combat strength by over thirty percent. You don't even need to beat them, just break through and get inside the academy. They won't dare misbehave inside."
The boy hesitated. "I thought you guys were a team?"
Xu Lianzhi looked righteous. "No, not anymore. We're all first-years now, competing for survival. Everyone's a rival."
The boy was tempted. As a quick-attack type Soul Master, a thirty-percent boost might let him escape even if he couldn't win. Those two girls weren't quick-attack types.
"Alright, I'll try. Give me one Bloodthirsty Red Bean Bun and one Light and Nimble Bun. How much?"
"Thirty thousand for the Bloodthirsty Red Bean Bun, ten thousand for the Light and Nimble Bun," Xu Lianzhi said.
"Why don't you just rob them then?" The boy felt insulted.
Xu Lianzhi answered sincerely, "That way, I save 60,000."
The boy looked at the fierce Ye Xinglan and thought it over...
(End of Chapter)