Leaving the Academy

One month later.

At the edge of the Inner Academy, beside the Great Elder, Zi Yan looked at Lin Yuan with slightly reddened eyes. Lin Yuan handed Zi Yan two storage rings, his gentle gaze carrying a hint of reluctance as he looked at Zi Yan and said, "Zi Yan, this storage ring contains the pills I refined for you. They come in all kinds of flavors, and there are a lot of them, enough for you to eat for a long time. This storage ring contains some snacks I refined."

Zi Yan put away the storage rings and clutched them in her hand, saying reluctantly, "Lin Yuan, you have to come back early and take me out on adventures with you."

Lin Yuan nodded. "Mm, Zi Yan, you have to cultivate seriously in the academy too!"

After that, Lin Yuan turned his head and looked towards the Great Elder. He bent slightly and said respectfully, "After this, Zi Yan will need Great Elder to trouble yourself more."

Over the past half year or so, probably because of Zi Yan, Lin Yuan and Su Qian's relationship had grown much closer. Su Qian had become a teacher and elder Lin Yuan respected greatly, while Lin Yuan had become a junior Su Qian thought extremely highly of, whether in talent or temperament.

"Mm, this old man understands." Stroking Zi Yan's somewhat dejected little head, Su Qian took out a jade slip and handed it to Lin Yuan. "Take this. It's the secret technique you previously asked this old man to keep an eye out for, one that can temporarily improve your strength. Consider it a farewell gift!"

Lin Yuan accepted the jade slip and solemnly cupped his hands in a bow to Su Qian. "Many thanks, Great Elder."

"No need for such politeness, kid Lin. When you're outside, don't damage the prestige of our Jia Nan Academy!" Su Qian patted Lin Yuan on the shoulder and teased him.

"Yes! This student understands," Lin Yuan replied solemnly.

After that, Lin Yuan bent down and hugged Zi Yan tightly. After several dozen breaths, Lin Yuan let go of Zi Yan, turned around, and flew toward the Outer Academy.

Zi Yan stood rooted to the spot for a while, then lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.

"Old man, I'm going to cultivate properly and make sure that the next time Lin Yuan comes back, I can punch him hard!" Zi Yan's heavy tone revealed a firmness completely different from usual.

"Good! This old man will help you." Su Qian stroked his beard, a trace of age-worn feeling flashing through his eyes as he sighed inwardly. Sure enough, feelings between people are what make one grow most easily.

"Then, old man, can you increase my share of medicinal ingredients? I need to eat more to get stronger." While Su Qian was sighing inwardly, Zi Yan's sly voice, her mood already adjusted, entered Su Qian's ears.

"You girl!" Su Qian laughed despite himself and relaxed as well. He still preferred seeing Zi Yan happy and carefree.

After that, amid the cheerful arguing of the old and the young, the two headed towards the Inner Academy.

Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy.

When Lin Yuan had just arrived at the Outer Academy, he discovered that five people were already waiting for him. They were Elder Huo, Hu Gan, Wu Tianlang, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao.

Lin Yuan stepped forward and performed a bow to Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang respectively. All three of them were benefactors on his cultivation path. Elder Huo had begun his career as an alchemist, Hu Gan, as Vice Dean, had included him in the "Hero Forging Plan" and nurtured him, and Wu Tianlang had looked after him during his training with the Enforcement Team and had once saved his life.

The three exchanged glances. Hu Gan stepped forward and handed a black token to Lin Yuan. On the front of the token was a large character for Lin. "Take this. This is Jia Nan Academy's Envoy Token. When you travel outside, there will be times you can use it. After all, in the Northwestern Continent, most factions will still give Jia Nan Academy some face!"

After that, Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang each gave him their own advice.

"When traveling outside, do not forget to improve your alchemy. Do not waste your talent in the path of alchemy."

"When traveling outside, do not forget your Dou Qi cultivation. Strength is the foundation of the Dou Qi Continent."

"When traveling outside, do not forget that Jia Nan Academy is your strongest backing. Do not disgrace Jia Nan Academy's name."

Lin Yuan cupped his fists and bowed deeply to the three elders. "Teachers and elders, this student will surely remember your teachings in my heart." Hearing this, Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang patted his shoulder in turn, then left one after another. Only Hu Jia and Wu Hao remained on site.

Lin Yuan nodded to Hu Jia and Wu Hao, smiling as he greeted them. "Hu Jia, Wu Hao, long time no see. Did you come to see me off?"

Hu Jia, already a three-star Dou Practitioner, looked at Lin Yuan with a complex expression. In the end, her expression turned firm, and she said steadily, "I didn't expect you to get so far ahead all at once. I heard from Grandpa that you're already an intermediate Dou Wang, right? You're already at the point of traveling the continent. Looks like this young lady will have to put in quite a bit of effort to surpass you."

Wu Hao, also a three-star Dou Practitioner, looked at Lin Yuan with fighting spirit filling his eyes. He gripped his Blood Sword tightly and said in a deep voice, "Although you're far ahead, I won't give up. I'll chase after you closely from behind."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan nodded seriously and said solemnly, "That is good. Those with great ambitions accomplish great things. On the cultivation path, I will take the first step, constantly advancing as the goal ahead of you, so that the goals you set today become lofty aspirations. I hope you can keep up with my steps."

"Since that is the case..."

As if thinking of something, Lin Yuan took out two jade bottles containing pills from his storage ring. The pill mist inside the bottles was dense; with one look, one could tell they were extremely top-grade pills. After that, under Hu Jia and Wu Hao's puzzled gazes, Lin Yuan raised his right palm.

"This is a peak fourth-tier pill I developed myself, the Earth Marrow Body Tempering Pill. It can temper the body and lay a foundation in advance for breaking through the barriers of Da Dou Shi, Dou Ling, and even Dou Wang in the future. If you have the confidence to rely on your own strength within five years to return to me an item of equal or greater value, then step forward, strike palms with me to make this agreement, and take this pill!" Lin Yuan chuckled.

Even among peak fourth-tier pills, the Earth Marrow Body Tempering Pill was a top-tier existence. To surpass it, one would at least need fifth-tier medicinal ingredients, and obtaining those by relying on oneself would definitely be no easy task.

Hearing this, Hu Jia's and Wu Hao's expressions changed. After a while, their extra emotions were finally replaced by firm expressions, and the two exchanged a glance.

Wu Hao was the first to step forward. He reached out and struck Lin Yuan's palm heavily, took away an Earth Marrow Body Tempering Pill, and said in a deep voice, "I accept this agreement."

After that, Hu Jia also stepped forward. She reached out and struck Lin Yuan's palm heavily, took away an Earth Marrow Body Tempering Pill, and said seriously, "This young lady accepts this agreement as well."

In the distance, Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang, unable to be discovered by Hu Jia and Wu Hao, saw this and witnessed Hu Jia and Wu Hao making their agreement with Lin Yuan.

A trace of a smile even appeared on Wu Tianlang's usually stern face, and his normally steady voice also added a bit more lightness. "With Wu Hao's personality, he'll probably become even more focused on cultivation from now on."

Hu Gan was also very happy and said cheerfully, "Hehe, with an agreement like this, my girl won't be able to take it easy now, will she? That girl's self-esteem is still quite high. Looks like she'll put more thought into cultivation from now on."

Elder Huo stroked his beard, and his eyes added a bit more reminiscence. "A spirited agreement between youths. Very good, very good."

Hu Jia took out three wine cups, poured wine, and handed them to Wu Hao and Lin Yuan. The three raised their cups and clinked them together.

"Until we meet again, Lin Yuan."

"Until we meet again, Lin Yuan."

With that said, the three drank the wine in their cups in one gulp.

"Then until we meet again! Thank you for seeing me off today. I hope that the next time we meet, you can surprise me!" Lin Yuan laughed brightly and turned around, flying toward the sky. In the end, he turned into a streak of green light that swept over the Outer Academy's sky and flew northwest.

"Jia Ma Empire, Lin Yuan is back."

This book has already been contracted. Many thanks for all the book friends' support. Qing Ping will keep working hard. I hope everyone continues to support it by helping to add it to your collections, vote, and keep reading. Those with thoughts on the plot are welcome to come discuss in the comments section.