Exchange Students

Jia Youcai stepped forward steadily and presented the Crimson Nether Pearl to Huo Jin with both hands. "Dean, how should this Crimson Nether Pearl be dealt with?"

Huo Jin accepted the Crimson Nether Pearl, his gaze deep. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, "This object is exceedingly dangerous and must not remain in the academy. I will seal it myself and, once I find a suitable method, destroy it completely."

Qian Renxue approached as well, a gentle smile on her lips. "Fortunately, the dean arrived in time today. Otherwise, we truly might not have been able to handle it."

Huo Jin smiled faintly, his eyes full of approval. "You all performed exceptionally well too. Jia Youcai in particular deserves great credit for recovering the Crimson Nether Pearl at such a critical moment."

Jia Youcai scratched his head awkwardly and said modestly, "You flatter me, Dean. It was the result of everyone working together."

Huo Jin nodded lightly. "All right, this matter has been settled. Go back and get some proper rest. If anything similar happens again, be sure to notify me immediately."

Everyone answered in unison before dispersing.

Afterward, Jia Youcai handed Huo Wu over to her father, then left with Qian Renxue.

Along the way, Jia Youcai was filled with resentment. When he had held the Crimson Nether Pearl earlier, he had clearly sensed that it would greatly benefit his Fallen Angel Martial Soul. It could provide tremendous aid in both cultivation and battle. He inwardly grumbled that the old bastard had shown up at the very last moment just to steal the credit.

If he had not already been locked onto by Soul Power, Jia Youcai would definitely have refused to hand it over. After all, aside from Qian Renxue, no one present knew that the Crimson Nether Pearl was in his hands. As for that man in black, Jia Youcai was fully confident that he could have killed him on the spot.

His opponent had already been seriously injured in the previous battle, while Jia Youcai still had his Ten Thousand Year left arm soul bone unused.

Qian Renxue walked gracefully at his side, seemingly noticing the change in Jia Youcai's expression.

"If you want it, shall we steal it back?" Qian Renxue said softly.

The fact that someone valued him so much and was willing to take risks for him was already enough to satisfy Jia Youcai. He did not want this person who cared about him to suffer even the slightest harm.

"If it's meant to be, that thing will fall into my hands sooner or later," Jia Youcai replied vaguely.

That brief little incident came to an end, and naturally, there was no reward.

Of course, even Main Quests offered no rewards aside from some Soul Power. Jia Youcai could not cultivate on his own. The only way to raise his Soul Power level was by completing main or side quests, or paying money to purchase Soul Power. There was no other way.

Time passed quietly within the game, and a year flashed by in the blink of an eye.

Over the past year, Jia Youcai had run all over the place completing map quests, finally raising his Soul Power to level forty-five. By now, he had completed every tedious side quest. Without paying money to purchase Soul Power, this was the highest level he could reach.

Although a year had passed in the game world, only a little over a month had passed in the real world. During that month or so, Jia Youcai found another job. Every night when he went to sleep, he put on his helmet and continued immersing himself in the game world.

At present, Qian Renxue's Soul Power had risen to level forty-seven, while Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang had both reached level forty-one.

The three of them had all obtained Fourth Spirit Rings they were fairly satisfied with. Jia Youcai had accompanied them in hunting soul beasts. His current spirit ring configuration was: First Martial Soul: five thousand years, four thousand years, seven thousand years, nine thousand years, with four Purple Spirit Rings; Second Martial Soul: ten thousand years, ten thousand years, with two black spirit rings.

With Jia Youcai's current strength, he could continue hunting Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings. However, his first Martial Soul, Zero Battle Soul, would gain little difference in effect from a thousand-year ring even if equipped with a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Therefore, he could only equip them to his Second Martial Soul. After all, the Fallen Angel possessed One Battle Soul.

On this day, a new Main Quest finally arrived.

Yet Jia Youcai did not care in the slightest. He was leisurely sprawled on a recliner, wearing sunglasses and looking utterly carefree.

Suddenly, a figure approached and blocked part of the sunlight.

"Jia Youcai, why are you here?"

The voice was sweet and melodious, like an oriole leaving the valley.

Jia Youcai casually pushed up his sunglasses. He was quite familiar with the person before him. She was one of the teammates who would participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament with him in the future.

There were eight participants in total: Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, Jia Youcai, Yan Jinfeng, Yan Xiaoran, Yan Lingzhuo, Chi Lingxuan, and Qian Renxue as a substitute.

Originally, Qian Renxue was not going to participate in the tournament. However, the academy dean, Huo Jin, had privately told Jia Youcai that if they failed to take first place in the preliminaries, Qian Renxue would compete in the finals, and this was not open to refusal.

As compensation, Jia Youcai could make any request he wanted, even one that was somewhat excessive.

Even if Jia Youcai made an outrageous request like, "Wrap up your daughter and give her to me," Huo Jin would agree without hesitation.

Of course, Jia Youcai did not say that. Instead, he gave the opportunity to Qian Renxue, since the matter directly concerned her interests. Later, Qian Renxue asked Huo Jin for a supreme immortal fruit—the Nine Heavens Ash Tear Orchid. Only after consuming it had her Soul Power been able to rise so quickly.

"Lingzhuo, don't interrupt my nap." Jia Youcai waved a hand impatiently, rolled over, and promptly fell back into a deep sleep.

Yan Lingzhuo wore two playful, lively twin ponytails. She had on a short white top that perfectly displayed her slim, toned waist, paired with a short red skirt whose hem swayed lightly with her movements. Her legs were long and straight, and she wore a pair of white ankle boots.

Seeing Jia Youcai turn over again, Yan Lingzhuo puffed out her rosy little cheeks, planted her hands on her hips, and shouted in feigned anger, "Stop sleeping! Stop sleeping! The dean is looking for you!"

"What is it?" Jia Youcai groggily opened his bleary eyes, his face full of confusion.

"The dean wants a few of us to go to Skywater Academy as exchange students for a while." Yan Lingzhuo leaned close to Jia Youcai's ear and lowered her voice.

"Exchange students..." Jia Youcai's drowsiness instantly vanished, and excitement gleamed in his eyes. "Wait, where did you say we were going?"

"Skywater Academy!" Yan Lingzhuo repeated.

"Lingzhuo, if I remember correctly, Skywater Academy is full of girls, right?" Jia Youcai asked eagerly, his eyes shining as though he had discovered a new continent.

Yan Lingzhuo raised a finger and lightly tapped her lips. "Not entirely. They do recruit some boys too, but girls make up a larger proportion."

"Ah! Those guys must be happy as hell! I want to..." The moment the words left his mouth, Jia Youcai realized he had misspoken and hurriedly covered his mouth. Catching Yan Lingzhuo's disgusted expression from the corner of his eye, he slowly uttered two words: "Pervert."