Ways to Earn Academic Credits

Lu Chuan gained a new understanding of just how exploitative the academy could be.

A few measly dishes cost one Academic Credit.

If he were to eat and drink without restraint, wouldn't that cost over a dozen Academic Credits?

Even meals were this expensive—how exactly were the academy's students supposed to survive?

"Feeling like it's expensive?"

Chen Mo, beside him, smiled. "This price is perfectly normal. After all, the cafeteria's food is made with genuine ingredients."

"This rice is First-Rank Spirit Rice. Eating it over a long period helps with cultivation."

"These vegetables are spirit herbs that aid cultivation!"

"As for the meat, it comes from the Ten Thousand Races."

"Do you still think it's expensive now?"

After listening to Chen Mo's introduction, Lu Chuan examined the food in his hands once more.

How was this food? These were practically potions, one after another!

No wonder they sold it for such a high price.

"Of course, there are cheap dishes too. The ordinary cafeteria next door lets you eat for ten years on a single Academic Credit."

"But then again, did we come to the cafeteria merely to fill our stomachs? We came to use these meals, which are comparable to potions, to raise our cultivation."

"If you want to survive in the academy, or even stand out from the crowd, cutting expenses won't do. You still have to learn how to increase your income," Chen Mo said leisurely.

"Increase my income? How?" Lu Chuan looked at Chen Mo.

"There are plenty of ways."

Chen Mo listed them one by one. "For example, completing missions, climbing the Dragon Tiger Ranking, fulfilling faction course requirements, passing monthly exams, final exams, and advancement exams—all of those can earn you massive amounts of Points."

"But those things are too far away from us, and they take too much time and effort."

"For you, if you want to quickly earn Academic Credits, you'd be better off making potions."

"Making potions?" Lu Chuan's eyes lit up. This was right in his field of expertise!

"That's right, making potions!"

Chen Mo smiled. "Making potions is the most profitable business. Even Azure Dragon Academy is no exception."

"You know that besides academy students, Azure Dragon Academy also supports several hundred thousand Azure Dragon Guards."

"These soldiers fight on the Starry Sky Battlefield, cultivate, and recover from injuries. Which of those doesn't require potions?"

"For that reason, the academy purchases enormous quantities of potions every day. Quite a few alchemists have become rich because of it."

"The alchemists within our academy have the advantage of being close to the water and catching the moon first. They can likewise earn massive amounts of Academic Credits."

Lu Chuan did not know much about the Azure Dragon Guards. He only knew that they were soldiers specifically recruited by Azure Dragon Academy for the Starry Sky Battlefield.

But even if he did not understand the Azure Dragon Guards, Lu Chuan knew that potions were indispensable if they wanted to maintain their combat strength.

Thinking about it that way, the academy truly did need an enormous quantity of potions.

"Of course, I don't recommend doing business with the academy. Most of the potions the Azure Dragon Guards need are low-grade ones, so the profits aren't high."

"If you really want to make money, you should do business with fellow students."

"The students at Azure Dragon Academy are all at least Fourth-rank Martial Artists. The cheapest potions they need cost several million Dragon Country Currency."

"Some prodigies even need potions worth hundreds of millions of Dragon Country Currency!"

"As long as you close one deal, you'll have no problem eating at the cafeteria for every meal."

As he said this, envy rose in Chen Mo's eyes. He only hated that he was not an alchemist and could only stand by, watching with drool at the corner of his mouth.

"Doing business with students?"

Lu Chuan fell silent.

This business looked highly profitable, but there were two problems.

The first problem was that Lu Chuan could currently only make Spirit Gathering Potions and Spirit Replenishing Potions. Azure Dragon Academy's geniuses would definitely look down on them.

The second problem was that even if Lu Chuan could make high-grade potions, he had no way to sell them.

As if seeing through Lu Chuan's thoughts, Chen Mo suddenly asked, "Are you worried about how to sell your potions?"

"Ahem, ahem. My older sister is a teacher in the Dragon Guard Department and has quite extensive connections. If you trust me, why not let me build a bridge between you and them?"

"When the time comes, just give me a little fee for running errands."

Lu Chuan looked at Chen Mo with a strange expression. "So after saying all that, you just want to be a salesman?"

"Can't help it—I'm poor." Chen Mo put on a pitiful act. "If I weren't poor, I'd have moved into the villa district long ago."

"But don't worry, I'm not greedy at all. Just give me half a percent of the profit from each deal."

To be honest, Lu Chuan was somewhat tempted.

Half a percent of the profits in exchange for access to Chen Mo's sister's connections was not a losing deal.

Unfortunately, he could not make high-grade spirit potions, so he could only painfully give it up.

Seeing Lu Chuan remain silent, Chen Mo thought his asking price was too high and hurriedly said, "If you think you're losing out, I can give you some additional benefits."

"My sister and I also run other side businesses, including intelligence, spirit herbs, treasures, cultivation arts, and so on."

"As long as you agree, I can make the decision to give you goods worth one hundred Academic Credits for free every year, and you can choose whatever you want."

"That's a pretty sincere offer, isn't it?"

Lu Chuan smiled and shook his head. "It's not that I'm being greedy. It's just that I can currently only make First-Rank spirit potions. I'm afraid I can't do business with the academy's geniuses."

Once Chen Mo understood Lu Chuan's concern, he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Mo immediately smiled. "What's the problem? We can do business after you're able to make high-grade potions."

"Besides, there might just be someone who needs low-grade potions."

Since Chen Mo had put it that way, Lu Chuan no longer hesitated.

No matter how he looked at it, this was a win-win deal.

Lu Chuan immediately nodded. "Then I'll be relying on Boss Chen's care from now on."

"Not at all, not at all. It should be Master Lu taking care of me." Chen Mo grinned.

After chatting for a while, Chen Mo seemed to recall something and asked, "Lu Chuan, find some time to visit the Alchemy Faction and get your alchemist identity certified."

"As long as you pass the certification, the academy will not only reward you with Academic Credits, but also give you some Potion Recipes."

"The higher the certification rank, the better the academy's rewards."

"You can't miss such a great chance to fleece the sheep, Lu Chuan."

"Got it." Lu Chuan nodded. "I'll go get certified after we finish eating."

"By the way, do you know where in the academy I can buy meat from the Ten Thousand Races?"

Naturally, Lu Chuan wanted to buy meat from the Ten Thousand Races to grind proficiency in the Sky Swallowing Art.

The tiny amount of meat from the Ten Thousand Races in cafeteria dishes was far too little. If he wanted to raise his Sky Swallowing Art proficiency with that, who knew how much wasted money he would have to spend.

"Buying meat from the Ten Thousand Races? I've got some here."

"Given our relationship, I'll give you a twenty percent discount."

"Tell me, what kind do you want?"

Lu Chuan hurriedly said, "Thousand Mountain Bull, or some other kind of meat from the Ten Thousand Races that tastes better. Third-rank for now, and preferably cheaper."

"You certainly have quite a few demands." Chen Mo patted his chest. "But they're all small matters. Leave it to me."

"I can't guarantee anything else, but the price will definitely be lower than market price."

"Alright, I'll leave it to you. I'll reserve a hundred jin first." Lu Chuan nodded.

"Damn, you want that much?"

"No problem, I can gather it for you!" Chen Mo was rather shocked at first, but then he thought about it. The man was a buyer; he could buy however much he wanted. If he meddled in everything, did he still want to do business or not?

After settling the details of the deal, the two wolfed down their food in a hurry, then sped toward the Alchemy Faction.