"Mr. Hao."
The warehouse administrator wore an embarrassed expression.
Hao Yi frowned. "What? I only came to check last week, and that box of Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor Implants was still here. Now it's gone?"
"No."
The administrator was somewhat servile. "That box of Second Grade Upper Class Steel Implants has already been reserved by Mr. Wang."
Hao Yi: "Mr. Wang? You mean Wang Qitai?"
"Yes."
The administrator nodded cautiously.
Hao Yi sneered. "Since when can the Military Academy's Implants be reserved? Why didn't I know?"
The administrator's body trembled, and he forced a bitter smile. "Mr. Wang came here yesterday and specifically instructed me that he would come to collect that box of Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor Implants today. He told me to prepare them for thawing in advance."
Hao Yi's expression turned cold. He said to Li Fei, "Give him the receipt."
At that, Li Fei handed over the receipt for the Implant he had purchased for 360 yuan.
The administrator accepted it with a bitter smile.
Hao Yi stared at him expressionlessly. "According to the Military Academy's rules, as a Special Grade Instructor, I have a quota each year to use Implants below the Third Grade. My quota is still available, and the Implant I want is still here. I've already given you the receipt, so go get it for me right now!"
Overwhelmed by Hao Yi's imposing presence, the administrator did not dare say anything more. He turned and went to retrieve the item.
A few minutes later, he came back carrying a wooden box about a meter long in both hands, cold vapor still rising from it.
"Mr. Hao, this is what you wanted. It has already been thawed."
"Mm."
Hao Yi gestured for Li Fei to take the wooden box, then said to the administrator, "Record this properly. If Wang Qitai comes asking, tell him directly that I took it."
"Yes."
"Let's go."
Hao Yi called to Li Fei and left the warehouse with him.
Afterward, he brought Li Fei back to the Medicinal Bath Room and handed him a prescription, telling him to go to the Materials Building to collect the medicine.
Li Fei took the prescription to the Materials Building. The person in charge of dispensing medicine told him that the prescription cost 78 yuan.
"Practicing martial arts costs way too much."
Li Fei sighed again.
After paying, he carried a large bundle of medicine back to the Medicinal Bath Room. He saw that Hao Yi had already opened the wooden box containing the Implant and was sorting through its contents.
When he first heard the term "Steel Armor," Li Fei had assumed the box would contain scales peeled from some exotic beast. Instead, he discovered that it held a large pile of black powder that gave off a pungent smell.
Hao Yi was wearing gloves and placing the black powder into various containers of different sizes.
"Go boil a pot of water. Once it boils, add one medicinal ingredient every five minutes, following the order on the prescription."
Hao Yi gave the instructions.
Li Fei immediately did as he was told.
A moment later, the water in the pot boiled.
Just as Li Fei was about to pour in the medicinal ingredients, someone suddenly knocked on the Medicinal Bath Room's door.
Li Fei looked at Hao Yi. Hao Yi nodded at him, so he went over and opened the door.
An elderly man with a sinister gaze stood outside. Behind him stood a tall, slender woman whose long hair was coiled up with a jade hairpin.
The old man did not even glance at Li Fei. He strode into the room and immediately looked toward Hao Yi. When he saw that the black powder was still there, he instantly let out a sigh of relief.
"Hao Yi, this Implant is very important to me. If you want to reconstruct your Core of Steel, I can find you a Third Grade Upper Class Golden Scales. They'll be more compatible with your foundation. There's no need to use this one."
The old man got straight to the point, speaking rapidly to Hao Yi.
Hao Yi looked at him strangely. "Who told you I was going to reconstruct my foundation?"
The old man was Wang Qitai, the one who had reserved the Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor Implant. Like Hao Yi, he was also a Special Grade Instructor at Xing City Military Academy.
He was stunned when he heard this. "If you aren't reconstructing your foundation, what do you want this Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor for?"
"My student is going to use it."
Hao Yi glanced at Li Fei.
" him?"
Only then did Wang Qitai look at Li Fei. After carefully sizing him up, he sneered. "He isn't even a martial artist. He's going to use Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor during the Embryo Nurturing Stage? Are you trying to get him killed?"
"That has nothing to do with you. You can leave."
Hao Yi spoke expressionlessly.
Wang Qitai's expression turned ugly. "Hao Yi, are you determined to oppose me?"
He was the most senior Special Grade Instructor at Xing City Military Academy and had extensive connections. Even the academy master had to show him some respect. Everyone did—except Hao Yi.
That was why their relationship had always been poor.
Hao Yi took a step forward and looked him straight in the eye.
"I'm taking the Implant according to the Military Academy's rules. If you have a problem with it, you can appeal to the academy master."
"You!"
Wang Qitai was about to erupt when the young woman behind him suddenly stopped him. "Grandfather, let me speak with Mr. Hao."
Wang Qitai looked at the woman, his expression softening considerably, and nodded.
The woman stepped forward and first bowed to Hao Yi. "Mr. Hao, my name is Wang Fengqing. I'm a third-year student at Wu'an University. I just broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and I plan to construct the martial foundation Azure Radiance Exquisite. This box of metal-element Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor Implants can increase my chances of successfully cultivating Azure Radiance Exquisite. Therefore, I sincerely ask you to give it to me. I'm willing to use my own authority to purchase an Implant more suitable for the Embryo Nurturing Stage from Wu'an University as compensation for your student. Or, if Mr. Hao has any other conditions, please feel free to name them."
She spoke neither arrogantly nor humbly, and her sincerity eased Hao Yi's expression somewhat.
"To reach the Foundation Establishment Stage as a third-year student, no wonder you dare to cultivate Azure Radiance Exquisite."
He looked at Wang Fengqing with increased surprise.
"Hmph."
Behind her, Wang Qitai gave a soft snort, his face filled with smugness.
But Hao Yi's next words quickly darkened his expression again. "My student intends to construct the martial foundation Primal Chaos Heavenly Gold in the future. This box of metal-element Second Grade Upper Class Steel Armor Implants is equally important to him, so I can't give it up."
Wang Qitai finally lost his temper. Pointing at Li Fei, he said:
"What? You're saying he intends to cultivate Primal Chaos Heavenly Gold? If he had that aptitude, would he have come to the Military Academy to become your student?!"
Hao Yi no longer bothered to be polite with him. He said forcefully, "That has nothing to do with you. I'll say it one last time: take your granddaughter and leave!"
As his voice fell, a terrifying aura burst from his body.
Standing beside him, Li Fei instinctively felt fear. It was like an ordinary person suddenly encountering a ferocious tiger on the road—a crushing pressure brought about by the suppression of one life level over another! This was the first time he had sensed such extraordinary power from his teacher.
Wang Qitai unconsciously took a step back. He stared fixedly at Hao Yi, seemingly deeply wary of him.
After a long while, he finally turned and gave Li Fei a sinister smile.
"Kid, I advise you to figure out what Primal Chaos Heavenly Gold is first. Otherwise, you won't even know how you died!"
With that, he turned and stormed away.
Wang Fengqing took a deep look at Li Fei before following her grandfather out.
After the two had left, Li Fei said calmly, "Teacher, the water has boiled."
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