Returning to the Academy
"Tang Xi, the two of us will go after him. The rest of you hurry to the stronghold to report the news. We absolutely cannot let Cui Qiang get away so easily, otherwise those Enforcement Team without Dou Ling won't be able to withstand Cui Qiang's revenge in the future," Chen Yuanlong said urgently.
After speaking, he took the lead and rushed towards the place where Cui Qiang had disappeared. Seeing him rush out, Tang Xi followed closely behind Chen Yuanlong and disappeared in the same spot where Cui Qiang had vanished.
"You two be careful, I'll go to the stronghold to report first." After recovering some of his Dou Qi, Lin Ming said to A Jin and the other two, then his Purple Crystal Wings extended from his back, and with a flap, Lin Ming took to the air.
Lin Ming flew for about half the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before encountering personnel from the academy who had come to investigate the anomalies in the area. They were also startled to see Lin Ming flying in the sky.
After all, they knew Lin Ming and the others. He had placed in the top ten in the Academy Competition before the holiday, but he was only Dou Master at that time. How could he be able to fly now?
The ability to fly is something only those who have reached the Dou Wang possess. Could it be that Lin Ming has advanced from Dou Master to Dou Wang in just over half a month? Is there really a way to increase strength so quickly?
Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, Lin Ming explained that he stopped talking about himself after acquiring the Flying Fighting Skill and began to talk about Chen Yuanlong and Tang Xi chasing Cui Qiang.
After hearing this, the group realized the seriousness of the matter and did not delve into Lin Ming's affairs. Instead, they chased after him in the direction Lin Ming had indicated.
Watching the group leave, Lin Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief. With their help, even if they couldn't capture Cui Qiang, they would be able to protect themselves. This greatly reduced the danger for Captain Chen.
Lin Ming then headed towards the stronghold. His current Dou Qi was entirely replenished by the Qi Replenishing Pill Recovery Pill, but the energy of that Dou Qi was almost used up.
Therefore, he had to get to the stronghold in this world. Otherwise, it would be a joke if no battle qi fell from the sky. Since there was no more fighting, Lin Ming felt it was unnecessary for him to take another Qi-restoring pill.
Fortunately, the stronghold wasn't far from here. After a short while, Lin Ming landed near the stronghold and then walked into it.
It wasn't until it was completely dark that the men who had gone out to pursue Cui Qiang returned to their base.
"Sigh!" Seeing Captain Chen shake his head and sigh, Lin Ming knew that they had not caught the escaped Cui Qiang.
"For some reason, Cui Qiang is not only extremely familiar with this area, but he also knows the blind spots of the Griffon Beast very well. He has escaped our encirclement many times."
"Yes! It's like he knows exactly where we're going to surround him; he always anticipates our moves. After these escapes, night fell. We completely lost track of him in the forest that night and had no choice but to return to our base."
Listening to their complaints, Lin Ming also felt that something was amiss. The Cui Brothers were clearly lying in ambush on their inevitable route.
If it weren't for my enhanced Spiritual Strength allowing me to sense the anomaly, two of us would probably have been ambushed and killed. In that case, none of us would likely have survived.
Lin Ming initially thought the ambush by the Cui Brothers was because he Black Seal Auction, which led to their arrival. However, after hearing their explanation, Lin Ming realized that the matter was not so simple.
It's impossible for someone to become so familiar with this area and know the Jia Nan Academy Griffon Beast's blind spots in just two days simply for money. This is no easy feat.
Lin Ming already had some guesses about this matter. However, there was no need to discuss it here. He would tell Elder Huo when he returned to the academy, and Elder Huo would surely have someone investigate the matter.
Tang Xi then came over, took out the Jade Bottle that Lin Ming had given her, and returned it to Lin Ming.
"Alright! This pill was refined by Elder Huo, so I'll take it back. I'll give you another one when I'm able to refine it myself. Tang Xi, don't refuse it then. After all, Lin Ming life is worth far more than this little pill." Lin Ming said to Tang Xi as he took the Dragon Power Pill.
Tang Xi then came to protect herself. Although Elder Huo would give her a reward, that would be given by Elder Huo and his group. She would give herself a reward when she became capable.
Tang Xi looked at Lin Ming's serious expression, nodded, and then walked away to her room.
After resting at the base for a night, everyone had recovered.
The next morning, after Chen Yuanlong passed a Griffon Beast, the five of them rode the Griffon Beast into the sky and flew towards the academy.
Midway through the flight, Lin Ming spread his Purple Crystal Wings and flew away from the Griffon Beast, taking off on his own. Now that he finally had some free time, he naturally wanted to practice his flying skills.
So Lin Ming was doing various test flights along the way. This left the people on the Griffon Beast watching helplessly. Eventually, they simply stopped watching and sat down to rest.
After several hours of flying, Lin Ming's familiarity with the Purple Crystal Wings improved by leaps and bounds, which also led to significant progress in his flying skills.
Furthermore, Lin Ming noticed that the Purple Crystal Wings could absorb sunlight on their own, thus reducing Lin Ming Dou Qi consumption. This was evident from the fact that Lin Ming had flown for several hours without depleting his battle Dou Qi.
Seeing that they were almost at the academy, Lin Ming returned to the Griffon Beast's back, then retracted the Purple Crystal Wings and rode the Griffon Beast back to the academy.
"Captain Chen, you'll be responsible for reporting the results of this mission to the academy. We'll all be heading back now," Lin Ming said to Chen Yuanlong after the Griffon Beast landed.
"No problem, you've all worked hard, go back and rest! We'll contact you again if the academy has any other problems later," Chen Yuanlong replied.
Afterwards, the group went their separate ways. Upon returning to the academy, Lin Ming naturally went to let Elder Huo know he was safe.
From beginning to end, Elder Huo has been incredibly kind to Lin Ming, truly treating him as his own personal disciple.
Not only did they buy the Earth Heart Fire Stone for Lin Ming, but although they said they would only give it to him when Lin Ming became Tier 4 Alchemist, it was only a little bit later for Lin Ming. He felt that if he refined Tier 4 Medicinal Pill now, his success rate would definitely not be too low.
Furthermore, when Lin Ming was about to go on a training expedition, he gave him a Fifth Grade Dragon Power Pill without saying a word and arranged for a Dou Ling to protect him.
All of this was etched in Lin Ming's mind. If Elder Huo were to say he wanted to take Lin Ming as a disciple now, Lin Ming would not hesitate and would immediately kneel down and kowtow to become his master.
Lin Ming is that kind of person; he will never let down those who are good to him. He's the kind of person who responds better to kindness than force.
Upon arriving at the Alchemy Department and seeing Steward Yang, Lin Ming approached him with a smile and greeted him, "Brother Yang, what are you busy with?"
Upon hearing this address, Steward Yang knew that Lin Ming had returned. So, with a smile on his face, he raised his head and walked towards Lin Ming.
Arriving beside Lin Ming, Steward Yang patted Lin Ming on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Good lad, seeing how energetic you are, I know you had a good time on this mission."
"Hehe, not bad. I made a small profit. Brother Yang, is Elder Huo here?" Lin Ming replied with a smile, then asked.
"Yes, you should go up and Elder Huo know you're safe!" Steward Yang nodded and said.
"Then, Brother Yang, I'll go upstairs first to let Elder Huo know I'm safe. We'll talk again later." After saying that, Lin Ming walked towards Elder Huo.
Arriving at the door of Elder Huo's room, Lin Ming knocked and said, "Elder Huo, your student Lin Ming has returned from a mission and has come to report that I am safe and sound."
"Lin Ming, come in quickly!" Elder Huo's voice came, full of laughter.
Upon hearing Elder Huo's words, Lin Ming entered Elder Huo's room. Lin Ming bowed before Elder Huo and then said, "Elder Huo, your student has returned!"
"Haha, you've only been out for a short while, why are you being so formal? Don't bother with all that here, just sit down." Elder Huo laughed and said to Lin Ming. Judging from Lin Ming's behavior, he seemed even closer to him now.
He knew Lin Ming well; he only acted so solemnly when dealing with his close relatives or elders.
Seeing that Elder Huo didn't want to clarify the matter of having someone protect him, Lin Ming didn't bring it up again. Everyone already knew the truth, and saying it aloud might only create distance.
Sometimes, when elders do things for you silently, they don't want to tell you because they just want you to be well, not for you to repay them.
"It's not about being formal. It's just that I haven't seen you in a long time, and I didn't even send you my New Year's greetings, so this is just to make up for it!" Lin Ming said to Elder Huo with a grin.
"Haha! I appreciate your kind intentions. Do it!" Elder Huo was even happier after hearing Lin Ming's words.
Seeing how happy Elder Huo, Lin Ming also sat down.
"Tell me about your experience this time!" Elder Huo said after Lin Ming sat down.
"Alright! Then I will tell you about the details of this mission," Lin Ming then recounted their experience to Elder Huo, including his speculations about the Cui Brothers' ambush of them.
Aside from matters concerning Elder Huo's Dou Qi Attribute, the fragments of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame Fragment Map, and the Ancient Races, he would not hide anything else that had happened to him.
The things that were hidden were unavoidable; they couldn't be revealed. Otherwise, if they were leaked, it would be a catastrophe for both him and Elder Huo.
After hearing this, Elder Huo burst into laughter and said, "Haha! Lin Ming's luck is truly extraordinary. Not only did he encounter a rare Flying Fighting Skill, but he also gained so many benefits from it."
"The most crucial thing is the improvement of your Spiritual Strength. With your current Spiritual Strength, you are fully capable of refining Tier 4 Medicinal Pill!"