The room fell silent as the voice faded.
"Let's go!" Xiao Bai called to the two girls, turning to leave.
"Wait! Xiao Bai gege, aren't you forgetting something?" Xun Er stepped forward, grasping his hand. Her lips pursed slightly as she continued, "You're only thinking of us. What about you?"
"What? You mean you didn't pick something out for me?" Xiao Bai's eyes widened, feigning disbelief.
Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian exchanged a glance, their lips curving into faint smiles. They shook their heads in unison. "Nope!"
"Hand it over, you little minxes!" Xiao Bai playfully ruffled their hair, his tone mock-indignant. With his rune-enhanced vertical eye active, nothing within his field of vision could escape his notice.
"Fine, take it! I knew we couldn't fool you, you scoundrel!" Xun Er's bright eyes shot him a teasing glance. With a flick of her wrist, a silver scroll appeared in her hand. She smiled radiantly. "Xian Er's the one who grabbed it, you know!"
"I just got lucky. If it weren't for Xun Er, I wouldn't have broken through the energy barrier on it," Xiao Yi Xian said, waving a delicate hand. Her eyes curved into a gentle smile, her voice soft.
"Well done, my dear consorts! When we return, your emperor shall reward you handsomely!" Xiao Bai declared, waving a hand with an air of grand authority.
His regal demeanor lasted barely three seconds before he felt a small hand poised at his waist, ready to strike. A sweet, melodious voice whispered in his ear, warm breath tickling his skin. "Your Majesty, care to tell Xun Er who's the empress? Or perhaps you've got a whole harem of concubines planned?"
By the end, her tone was laced with gritted teeth, chillingly sharp.
"Empress? Harem? Nonsense! My court has only two palaces: the Eastern Palace for Consort Xun and the Western Palace for Consort Xian!" Xiao Bai blinked, his face the picture of earnest sincerity.
"Pah! Shameless!" Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian were momentarily stunned by his audacity, their faces flushing crimson. They spat in unison, flustered. Eastern and Western Palaces? The nerve of him!
"Heh!" Xiao Bai chuckled, glancing at their embarrassed expressions before turning his attention to the scroll in his hand.
"Thunder Dragon Sky-Splitting Spear, Di Class Low-Level Dou Technique. The spear transforms into a thunder dragon, rending the heavens. Its attack harbors the explosive force of thunder, the majesty of a dragon, and the sharpness of a spear. Where the thunder dragon passes, all is annihilated…"
Reading the inscription, Xiao Bai's brows lifted. This Dou Technique was no easy feat to master. Though labeled Di Class Low-Level, it held potential for greater heights!
It required the essence blood of a dragon-type magical beast to temper the body, generating dragon aura within. Combined with thunder-attribute Dou Qi, this would enable the transformation into a dragon. The higher the beast's grade, the purer the dragon aura, and the mightier the resulting thunder dragon.
Xiao Bai glanced at his sleeve, a cryptic smile tugging at his lips. This might be tough for others. Dragon-type magical beasts are rare and powerful, and their essence blood is hard to come by. But for me? It's no issue. In fact, it's perfect.
If the little golden dragon didn't suffice, he could turn to Zi Yan, the little dragon girl. And if the power still fell short, there was always the big one beneath the academy—Zhu Kun, the old Dragon Emperor, a peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng. That's pure enough, right?
But on second thought, he chuckled. Using a Nine-Star Dou Sheng's essence blood for a Di Class Dou Technique? It wouldn't stay Di Class. The power would soar to Tian Class at least—anything less would be an insult to old Zhu Kun!
"Let's go!" Xiao Bai tucked the scroll away, deciding to test it with the little golden dragon first. Scanning the room and finding only the three of them left, he led Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian out of the library.
___
In the spacious study, Hu Qian watched the wall seal shut before turning to the five students with a smile. "You've claimed your rewards. Whether you're satisfied or not, at least no one's leaving empty-handed. You have two days to rest. After that, you'll enter the inner academy, where things won't be as relaxed as the outer academy!"
"Oh, Tu Shan, Xu Su," he added, his tone pointed. "You may shine in the outer academy, but the inner academy is full of students just as brilliant. Once you're there, you're freshmen. If you want to avoid being bullied by seniors, set aside your differences and band together with your peers. Otherwise, the consequences might be… unpleasant." He gave them a sly wink, his gaze flickering toward a certain someone.
Xiao Bai rolled his eyes at Hu Qian's antics. What kind of terrible advice is this old man dishing out?
"Xiao Bai," Hu Qian continued via voice transmission, "you're strong enough that no one in the inner academy can push you around. But the two girls with you are another matter. You can't always be by their side while cultivating. The inner academy has dozens of student factions, big and small. I suggest you form one yourself."
"With numbers comes strength, and it'll make things easier. As a fifth-grade alchemist, building a faction will be simple for you. These freshmen, entering the inner academy together, share a bond of camaraderie—your ideal foundation. Why not seize the opportunity?"
Xiao Bai's eyes flickered at Hu Qian's words. Forming a faction was something he'd long considered, though not specifically at Jia Nan Academy. It's not a bad idea.
He dismissed the notion that a faction might be a burden. A successful faction required initial investment, but once established, it could sustain itself and even provide benefits. Even the solitary Heavenly Emperor Huang had allies. Who says factions are useless? They may not help in fights, but for gathering intelligence or resources, they're far better than going it alone!
"I'll think it over," Xiao Bai replied.
Hu Qian smiled, satisfied with Xiao Bai's thoughtful expression. An eighteen-year-old fifth-grade alchemist with Dou Ling cultivation. If he stays at the academy, great. If not, a faction ties him to us—a bond worth fostering. Students and teachers alike can benefit from his connections.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you're dismissed. Report here in two days, and we'll take you to the inner academy!" Hu Qian waved them off.
Xiao Bai offered a respectful salute, then left with Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian.
"Xiao Bai gege, you're tempted, aren't you?" Xun Er said with a playful smile, her keen understanding of him catching the spark in his eyes.
"Mm, I've got some vague ideas," Xiao Bai admitted, patting her head with a grin. He was noncommittal about Hu Qian's talk of a "freshman foundation," preferring to assess things himself later.
"If Xiao Bai gege's considering it, Xun Er can help!" she offered, hands clasped behind her back as she walked beside him, her smile radiant. "I know a thing or two about these matters!"
"Good!" Xiao Bai's starry eyes met her lively gaze, nodding with a smile. This girl's getting bolder, showing her true colors around me.