Supreme Freedom Gate

Supreme Freedom Gate

In the blink of an eye, it was noon.

By then, Xiao Ling had already finished refining one Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and was working on the next.

Before the medicinal cauldron at the center of the grass, Xiao Ling continuously changed his hand seals and gave a low shout. "Condense!"

Inside the cauldron, the medicinal liquid began to merge, slowly forming an uneven Pill Prototype.

As time passed, that pale white Pill Prototype, whose shape was somewhat irregular, gradually became rounder and smoother. Dazzling radiance emanated from it, making it resemble a white gemstone.

The instant the pill erupted with brilliant light, rings of nearly tangible energy ripples continuously spread outward from the medicinal cauldron in all directions. They bent the surrounding grass low, while Xiao Ling's smooth, flowing blue-silver hair fluttered in the wind.

Xiao Ling finished his hand seals and extinguished the Beast Fire within the cauldron. Taking out a jade bottle, he lightly activated Absorption Palm, and the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill fell into it.

After refining the pill, Xiao Ling felt exhausted all over. His Dou Qi had been completely drained. Without another thought, he lay flat on the soft grass.

Seeing this, Han Yue panicked and hurried over. She crouched before Xiao Ling and asked with concern, "Junior Student Xiao Ling, are you all right? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Xiao Ling felt warmth in his heart at the sight. Shaking his head, he said, "I just used up too much Dou Qi. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

Sigh, although my Soul Power is sufficient for pill refinement, my Dou Qi cultivation is still too low. The level of Fen Jue isn't high either. I still need to get out and find Heavenly Flames to absorb as soon as possible.

Seeing Han Yue's worried expression, Xiao Ling's eyes shifted, and he suddenly said, "Senior Student Han Yue, could you help wipe my sweat? I'm too exhausted right now, so it's inconvenient."

Han Yue hesitated upon hearing this, but looking at Xiao Ling's weak appearance and the beads of sweat covering his forehead, she muttered inwardly, Junior Student Xiao Ling only became this weak because he refined pills for me. It's only right that I help him wipe his sweat.

She took out the handkerchief she usually used from her Storage Ring, bent down, and began wiping the sweat from Xiao Ling's face.

Looking at Han Yue's stunningly beautiful face and feeling her gentle touch against his forehead, Xiao Ling suddenly felt his heart pounding.

"Damn it, this young master's heart is in turmoil again."

Sensing Xiao Ling's somewhat heated gaze, Han Yue stopped what she was doing and met his eyes.

For a moment, an ambiguous atmosphere spread between them, and the air was filled with the scent of hormones.

Looking at Han Yue's slightly flushed face, Xiao Ling swallowed and could not help saying, "Senior Student Han Yue, you're truly beautiful."

Upon hearing this, Han Yue's pretty face grew even hotter, and her head felt slightly dizzy. Her heartbeat quickened at once, as though it were about to leap from her chest.

Seeing such an alluring sight, Xiao Ling wanted nothing more than to lean over and take a bite out of her face. Yet he still restrained himself.

The time isn't right yet. I can't make a move now. I still need to nurture things for a while before I can harvest the fruit.

With a thought, a jade box appeared in his hand. Flipping his palm, he opened it, revealing a milky-white pill within. Xiao Ling said to Han Yue, "Senior Student Han Yue, this is a gift for you. It contains a pill called the Youthful Appearance Pill. Its effect is to preserve a person's appearance at the age they take it, never to change again. I hope you can always remain this beautiful."

Han Yue was greatly shocked upon hearing this. Having lived for so many years, she had never heard of such a miraculous pill. She was actually a little embarrassed to accept it, but the temptation of retaining her beauty forever was too appealing to resist.

Seeing Han Yue's hesitation, Xiao Ling immediately guessed what she was thinking. He directly grabbed her right hand, stuffed the jade box into it, and said seriously, "Senior Student Han Yue, you don't want to become an old granny a hundred years from now, do you?"

Hearing Xiao Ling's words, Han Yue imagined herself growing old in the future and tightened her grip on the jade box. "Then I'll thank you, Junior Student Xiao Ling."

Seeing that she had accepted the gift, Xiao Ling withdrew his hand from hers and held out the jade bottle containing two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills. Smiling, he said, "Senior Student Han Yue, your pills. Don't forget to take them."

Han Yue snatched the porcelain bottle and shot Xiao Ling a lovely glare. Recalling everything that had just happened, she realized that Xiao Ling had played her, and her pretty face flushed. The hand he had held still retained a trace of warmth.

Feeling Xiao Ling's unwavering gaze fixed on her, Han Yue did not dare stay any longer. Leaving behind the words, "I'll refine the pills first. As for Central Plains, come to my courtyard at noon tomorrow," she ran toward the courtyard gate.

Watching Han Yue's graceful figure leave the small courtyard, Xiao Ling smiled helplessly. He took a pill for restoring Dou Qi from his belt, swallowed it, then sat cross-legged to recover his Dou Qi.

Back in her room, Han Yue was breathing lightly, the blush on her face not yet fully faded.

Looking at the pill Xiao Ling had pressed into her hand and recalling his burning gaze, she could not help muttering inwardly, Xiao Ling really does like me. Not only did he let me ride his Rayquaza before, he even gave me such a precious Youthful Appearance Pill. He must like me, or he wouldn't treat me so specially.

As that thought flashed through her mind, the blush on Han Yue's face deepened. She immediately buried her head beneath the blankets.

Actually, if it's Xiao Ling, it wouldn't be impossible.

Time passed like a white colt flashing through a gap. In the blink of an eye, half a year went by.

Xiao Ling's cultivation had reached the Three-star Great Dou Shi level, and he was only one step away from becoming a Four-star Great Dou Master.

Jia Nan Academy's annual Inner Academy Selection Tournament was set to begin today.

At that moment, six young men and women had gathered in Xiao Ling's courtyard.

They were Xiao Ling, Xiao Xun'er, Han Yue, Lin Xiuyai, Lin Yan, and Liu Qing.

Xiao Ling said to everyone, "Give it your all, everyone. It won't be a problem for the few of us to sweep the top five. Xun'er, just perform normally. With your Five-star Dou Shi cultivation, entering the Inner Academy will be effortless." As for why Xiao Xun'er was only a Five-star Dou Shi, perhaps the Ancient Clan's eldest daughter did not care for the opportunity to enter the Library Pavilion and choose a treasure, nor did she wish to reveal her true strength.

Everyone nodded one after another, confidence shining in their eyes.

Lin Yan, standing to the side, could barely suppress his fighting spirit. He said passionately, "I truly can't wait for the fighting to begin. My Li Huo Axe has long been thirsting for battle."

However, Lin Xiuyai spoke from the side. "Don't let your guard down. Although our strength has already surpassed that of the other students for the most part, there's still Han Xian. His cultivation isn't that far behind ours."

Hearing this, the bold and fierce Liu Qing said disdainfully, "That guy only knows how to refine pills. Not every Alchemist is as powerful as Xiao Ling. A piece of trash like that? I can knock him down with a single spear strike."

Lin Yan chimed in, "Such a mere grain of sand isn't worth even a fraction of me. He usually acts all arrogant, but he only behaves himself a little when he sees us." He then said to Xiao Ling, "Back when you had only been in the Outer Academy for a year, didn't he mock you because Elder Huo of the academy took a liking to you? Why didn't you teach him a lesson?"

Xiao Ling rubbed his chin. "Back then, he lost to me in a contest of pill refinement. Besides, what adult would get angry with a child?"

Han Yue interjected at the right moment, "We should discuss our arrangements for entering the Inner Academy. There are countless students there stronger than us. It's better to make plans early than enter without any preparation."

Lin Xiuyai followed up, "Xiao Ling and I have discussed it before. The few of us can form a faction. That would make it more convenient for us to obtain cultivation resources."

Xiao Ling continued, "If you're willing, come and establish a faction with us. With the talents of the few of us, we'll soon become the strongest faction in the Inner Academy. Besides, I'll keep Rayquaza by my side. It's already a Fourth-tier Magical Beast now, and no one in the Inner Academy can defeat it."

Everyone thought it over for a while. Han Yue was the first to speak. "I'm joining this faction. My combat strength isn't very high, so you'll have to look after me."

Xiao Ling nodded and replied, "Don't worry. As long as you're in the same faction as me, if anyone bullies you without cause, I'll definitely teach them a harsh lesson."

Liu Qing added, "I'm willing to join as well, but once my younger sister enters the Inner Academy, she has to join this faction too."

Lin Xiuyai said, "Don't worry. Xiao Ling and I already considered your sister's situation. Once she reaches the Inner Academy, she can join us directly. Just don't spoil your sister too much when the time comes. Don't let her develop a spoiled and unruly temperament. That wouldn't be good."

Seeing everyone agree, Lin Yan also said, "Then I'll join the faction too. But how should we divide the positions?"

Everyone nodded and turned their gazes toward Xiao Ling and Lin Xiuyai.

Xiao Ling spoke unhurriedly. "I have no experience managing a faction, so I'll serve as the Alchemy Elder. Lin Xiuyai will be the Gate Master, and Han Yue will help manage the faction. Lin Yan and Liu Qing, you two can be the enforcers. Xun'er can simply be a faction member."

No one had any objections. Lin Xiuyai and Han Yue were certainly more capable when it came to managing affairs. Xiao Ling was the only Alchemist among them, and his rank was not low, with vast room for future improvement. Lin Yan and Liu Qing were both battle-hungry types, making them better suited to combat. As for Xiao Xun'er, aside from Xiao Ling, everyone believed she was merely a Dou Shi. Xiao Ling had no intention of making her waste time elsewhere; focusing on cultivation was more important than anything.

In truth, Xiao Ling had an even more important reason for not becoming the Gate Master: he would definitely leave the academy for a period of time. To avoid trouble later, he simply chose not to take the position.

With Xiao Ling's help, these few were only stronger than their counterparts from the original story during the same period. As long as they prepared the medicinal ingredients for pills such as the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, Xiao Ling would refine them for them as practice. He had even refined a Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill, which Xiao Xun'er could use, for her long ago.

After listening from the side for a long while, Xiao Xun'er suddenly said, "Brother Xiao Ling, give the faction a name."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling rubbed his chin and pondered briefly before saying, "Let's call it the Supreme Freedom Gate."

After saying that, he stood up and was the first to walk out through the courtyard gate. The others followed behind him, heading toward the arena for the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.