With Me Here, the Chief Student Can Only Be Me!

"I need to read all these introductory booklets on Supreme Spells and understand the characteristics of every one of them. At the very least, I won't be caught off guard when facing enemies in the future."

As Jiang Ping'an mused inwardly, he walked to the first bookshelf, picked up the first booklet, and began reading it carefully.

"Geng Metal Sword Qi Formation"

Minimum cultivation requirement: Open the Lung Divine Treasury.

Introduction: Refine Geng Metal Qi and store it within the Lung Divine Treasury. When used, draw upon a wisp of refined Geng Metal Qi as a trigger to absorb metal-element Heavenly Essence from between heaven and earth, condensing up to a thousand strands of Geng Metal Sword Qi. All the Geng Metal Sword Qi can be focused on a single target, becoming unstoppable and capable of piercing anything; it can also be dispersed to attack enemies over a wide area, and its direction can be controlled...

After carefully reading the "Geng Metal Sword Qi Formation" introduction, Jiang Ping'an returned the booklet to its original spot and picked up the second one. It was still a metal-element spell.

"Sky Net Blade Technique"

Minimum cultivation requirement: True Essence purity reaches superior grade.

Introduction: Absorb metal-element Heavenly Essence from between heaven and earth and condense a large number of nearly undetectable yet exceptionally tough golden threads. The golden threads weave into a blade net that can actively ensnare and kill enemies. It can also be arranged around oneself to prevent enemy sneak attacks, or even counterkill...

After reading the introduction to the "Sky Net Blade Technique," Jiang Ping'an felt a chill run down his back. This spell was far too insidious. Anyone who had never encountered it would not even know how they died.

However, this spell had a major drawback: its casting time was long, often requiring advance preparation and painstaking arrangement.

The third booklet was also a metal-element spell, called "Six Cycle Golden Essence Shield."

Jiang Ping'an read for an entire morning, managing only around fifteen introductions to Supreme Spells. He read very carefully, earnestly considering how he should respond if he encountered each spell himself.

At noon, Jiang Ping'an left the Spell Pavilion and returned to his residence for a meal.

After lunch, he did not return to the Spell Pavilion for the time being.

He planned to spend either every morning or every afternoon at the Spell Pavilion, slowly and carefully reading through the introductions to all hundred-plus Supreme Spells.

After resting briefly, Jiang Ping'an entered his bedroom, took out a copy of the "Azure Essence Pill" pill recipe, and read it.

After finishing the pill recipe, Jiang Ping'an closed his eyes slightly and opened the panel in his mind. He found the alchemy entry and saw that the "Azure Essence Pill" recipe had been successfully recorded.

"Azure Essence Pill" [Superior Grade] (0/3000)

With practiced ease, Jiang Ping'an filled the "Azure Essence Pill" recipe with Proficiency Points.

The next moment, an enormous flood of insights concerning the principles and refining methods of the Azure Essence Pill poured continuously into Jiang Ping'an's mind. He guarded his mind tightly and received the insights with all his strength.

Several dozen breaths later, Jiang Ping'an opened his eyes. He had completely comprehended how to refine the Azure Essence Pill.

After resting briefly, Jiang Ping'an closed his eyes again, opened the panel, and continued adding Proficiency Points to the "Azure Essence Pill."

"I have no use for Supreme-Grade Spirit Pills for now, so there's no need to comprehend them immediately. Besides, I haven't yet learned Supreme-Grade Alchemy. For now, I'll add Ten Times the Proficiency Points and raise my understanding of the 'Azure Essence Pill' to an extremely profound level, increasing the rate of producing Perfect Quality pills."

With that thought, he added Ten Times the Proficiency Points to the "Azure Essence Pill." Immediately afterward, a flood of even deeper insights surged into his mind.

A little less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea later, Jiang Ping'an opened his eyes, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

His understanding of the Azure Essence Pill was now likely deeper than that of the alchemy grandmaster who had originally invented it.

Getting out of bed, he walked to the desk, picked up brush and paper, and swiftly listed the medicinal herbs required to refine Azure Essence Pills.

Then, he walked to the windowsill, opened the window, and called down to Chen Donglai, who was tidying the front courtyard below. "Uncle Chen, come upstairs for a moment."

Chen Donglai answered and immediately set down his work before entering the building and going upstairs. "Young Master, what are your instructions?"

As Jiang Ping'an handed Chen Donglai the list of spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients, he said, "Purchase one set of spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients according to this list."

Then, he took out three Silver Notes worth ten thousand taels each, along with several Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and handed them to Chen Donglai.

He had also given several Low-Grade Spirit Stones because he was worried that higher-grade spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients could not be bought with gold and silver. Essence Stones were the true universal currency of the cultivation world.

Chen Donglai accepted the Silver Notes and Essence Stones, then departed to purchase the spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients.

At dusk, Chen Donglai returned with the spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients, handing them and the remaining Silver Notes to Jiang Ping'an.

"Young Master, several of the main spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients could only be purchased with Essence Stones. All the Essence Stones you gave me were used up," Chen Donglai explained.

Jiang Ping'an nodded. "You've worked hard. Go get some rest."

After Chen Donglai left, Jiang Ping'an briefly counted the remaining Silver Notes and learned that buying one set of ingredients for Azure Essence Pills required eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones and six thousand taels of silver—equivalent to thirty thousand taels of silver in total.

"Hiss— So expensive. The ingredient cost for Azure Essence Pills has soared more than tenfold compared to Essence Pills. The ingredients for Essence Pills were only five or six times more expensive than those for Hundred Herbs Pills." He calculated inwardly. "The cost of alchemy ingredients rises exponentially."

Then he thought, I won't refine Essence Pills anymore. Gold and silver can't buy high-grade spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients. I need to find time to exchange the gold and silver I have for Essence Stones.

He had a large amount of gold, silver, and Silver Notes on hand. Some had been earned from alchemy during his confinement, some had been given by Jiang Shuyue, and some had been "gifted" by Qiushui, Kong Zhen, and the others. Lu Zhaisheng had also "gifted" him quite a bit last night. Altogether, it amounted to more than 1.5 million taels of silver.

More than 1.5 million taels of silver could barely be exchanged for five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Suppressing his stray thoughts, Jiang Ping'an could not resist the itch in his hands. I'll go test-refine a batch of Azure Essence Pills first!

Thus, he put away the spiritual herbs and medicinal ingredients, left his residence, and headed straight for the Alchemy Room of the Upper Kun Courtyard, not caring that night had already fallen.

An hour later, Jiang Ping'an emerged from the Alchemy Room, unable to hide the excitement on his handsome face.

His first attempt at refining Azure Essence Pills had been a great success. The Ten Times proficiency had not been wasted: one batch yielded three Perfect Quality Azure Essence Pills, six Superior Azure Essence Pills, and one ordinary Azure Essence Pill.

One had to know that the higher the grade of a Spirit Pill, the lower its rate of Perfect Quality output.

"I never expected a superior-grade Spirit Pill to have such a high Perfect Quality output rate—thirty percent." Jiang Ping'an's heart burned with excitement. I can still take only Perfect Quality Azure Essence Pills.

His Essence Sea was too vast. He was destined to consume Spirit Pills like meals. By insisting on taking only Perfect Quality Spirit Pills, he could avoid their side effects; otherwise, as days and months accumulated, even the Ancient Sacred Body might not be able to withstand the pill toxins.

After returning to his residence, Jiang Ping'an did not bother resting. He entered his bedroom directly, sat cross-legged on the bed, and took out a Perfect Quality Azure Essence Pill to test its effects.

After the Azure Essence Pill entered his stomach, Jiang Ping'an circulated the "Dao Scripture" to refine it.

Just as Wang Miao had described, although the essence contained within the Azure Essence Pill was immense, it was relatively gentle and balanced, rather than nearly explosive like the Ten Thousand Year Ginseng Pill.

Late at night, as Jiang Ping'an still sat cross-legged on his bed absorbing Heavenly Essence in cultivation, he suddenly sensed a violent fluctuation in the Heavenly Essence as it flowed swiftly toward one direction.

He immediately stopped cultivating, got out of bed, pushed open the window, and flew out through it to see what was happening.

Above his head was a massive, continuously expanding vortex of Heavenly Essence. At its center was, astonishingly, the neighboring residence—Jia-Si Residence!

Yan Ruyu caused this!

The next moment, he sensed someone flying over from behind. Turning his head, he saw Princess Bailing using the Flight Technique to fly over and hover beside him.

Princess Bailing wore a palace-style gown of silver gauze embroidered with golden phoenixes and luan birds. Her hair was not arranged in a bun, and her waist-length hair had completely fallen loose. She wore no shoes, revealing jade-white feet. The vortex of Heavenly Essence overhead stirred the wind, lifting her long hair and skirt. Combined with her somewhat languid, peerlessly beautiful and ravishing face, she looked both immortal and seductively alluring.

She must have already been asleep and flown out upon noticing the disturbance.

Jiang Ping'an's heart skipped faster twice at the sight, then he searched for something to say. "Princess Bailing, how did Yan Ruyu make such a huge commotion?"

"Yan Ruyu has entered the Divine Treasury Realm," Princess Bailing said, a trace of envy on her peerlessly beautiful, ravishing face. "The first Divine Treasury she opened was the Lung Divine Treasury."

The next moment, she came to her senses. "Eh—don't tell me you don't even know this?"

"I haven't seen much of the world. I've never personally witnessed someone advance into the Divine Treasury Realm," Jiang Ping'an admitted frankly.

The commotion caused by Yan Ruyu opening her Lung Divine Treasury was enormous. The vortex of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi that formed covered the entire Taiwu Academy, despite the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within Taiwu Academy already being extremely dense.

Everyone in Taiwu Academy was alarmed and rushed toward the center of the Heavenly Essence vortex. They raised their heads to watch the vortex of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, their faces filled with envy.

Even the Instructors who had already reached the Divine Treasury Realm could not help feeling envious. Such a huge commotion showed just how outstanding Yan Ruyu's aptitude was.

Jiang Ping'an suddenly thought of a question and asked Princess Bailing, "Does a greater aptitude mean a greater commotion when advancing into the Divine Treasury Realm?"

"Correct." Princess Bailing nodded firmly. "Strictly speaking, when opening the Lung Divine Treasury."

Alarm immediately rose in Jiang Ping'an's heart. I possess the Ancient Sacred Body. If I open the Lung Divine Treasury, won't the winds and clouds change color and heaven and earth be shaken? I absolutely cannot open the Lung Divine Treasury in Yujing, or I risk exposing that I possess the Ancient Sacred Body!

Princess Bailing suddenly turned to look at Jiang Ping'an, a meaningful smile appearing on her peerlessly beautiful, ravishing face.

"What is it?" Jiang Ping'an's heart betrayed him again, beating faster twice.

The smile on Princess Bailing's face turned teasing. "I think Yan Ruyu yielded the Chief Student position to you. I estimate she was capable of advancing into the Divine Treasury Realm long ago. If she had suddenly advanced into the Divine Treasury Realm on the arena yesterday, what do you think the result of the match would have been?"

Jiang Ping'an was briefly startled, then said humbly, "Victory or defeat would have been hard to predict."

He still had trump cards. The Primal Chaos Body Protection True Qi [Heaven Rank] alone could ensure that he remained invincible.

What was more, he had once killed three Divine Treasury Realm experts with a single strike.

"You're rather confident." Princess Bailing smiled, though inwardly she did not believe him.

Jiang Ping'an could tell that Princess Bailing did not believe him. He merely smiled without explaining or arguing. In three months, at the second Genius Ranking Tournament, the truth would naturally become clear.

After half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, before flying back to her own residence, Princess Bailing could not help asking, "Do you really think you can win?"

"With me here, the Chief Student of Taiwu Academy can only be me," Jiang Ping'an answered simply and domineeringly.

Princess Bailing said defiantly, "Within two months, I will definitely enter the Divine Treasury Realm. Then we'll see whether you're boasting!"

Jiang Ping'an merely smiled faintly. "Challenge accepted."