Finding the Little Mare a Job

Mid-air grew chaotic as most of the students swept down toward the Grade B residences below.

With so little Spirit Value, they would either have to cultivate diligently from now on or head to the Thunder Domain to condense Heavenly Thunder Beads. Only then could they move deeper in.

But cultivation resources and training in higher-grade Spirit Gathering Arrays all required enormous amounts of Spirit Value.

They would probably just endure two years here at the Northern Cang Spirit Academy. After graduating, they could either join some faction or pass the assessment and remain at the academy to work.

Or they could return home and become a petty overlord like Mu Chen's Father.

Though that would be carefree and comfortable, they would still have to guard against being swallowed up by other factions...

Lin Suchou sighed, feeling as though this place was a reflection of his previous life.

Ordinary people toiled busily their entire lives, yet in the end, it was still difficult for them to meet a good end.

Fortunately... he was no longer one of the ordinary people in this life.

Afterward, Mu Ling led Lin Suchou and the others deeper into the Spirit Gathering Array. Along the way, the students who had chosen the Grade B area descended, leaving only Lin Suchou and several students who had received King Rank evaluations on the Spirit Road in the sky.

Lin Suchou had long since forgotten about them.

When Lin Suchou and the others entered the Grade A area, they felt the air between heaven and earth filled with dense spiritual energy.

Lin Suchou perked up. Sure enough, having Spirit Value made all the difference.

"Those below are all rooms in the Grade A area. Choose whichever you like. Once you enter, your Spirit Value Card will automatically deduct the corresponding amount of Spirit Value.

"Also, the Spirit Value Cards in your hands are connected to the Spirit Value Hall. But if you see anything you want, you will still need to go to the Spirit Value Hall in person to exchange for it."

Mu Ling patiently explained it to them, likely because this remaining group already had enough Spirit Value to buy things from the Spirit Value Hall as soon as they entered the academy.

Lin Suchou swept his gaze over the area below. After looking around, his eyes finally settled on a building near the lake.

"I'll choose this one."

As soon as he spoke, he took Wen Qingxuan and Luo Li by their little hands and descended toward the building.

The expressions of the others immediately filled with envy at the sight.

Had they known, they should have arranged to enter Northern Heavens with some girls too. Then they would not have seemed so lonely.

When Lin Suchou landed before the building, a spiritual energy barrier suddenly appeared.

Lin Suchou took out his Spirit Value Card and pressed it against the barrier. Two thousand Spirit Value instantly vanished from it.

After pushing open the door and entering the building, Lin Suchou was startled by the environment within.

As expected of one of the Five Great Academies, the Northern Cang Spirit Academy had everything one could need in this room, and it was exceptionally tidy.

Both the first and second floors had large beds.

"Luo Li and I will stay upstairs. You can stay downstairs."

Wen Qingxuan smiled as she took Luo Li's hand and went upstairs with her.

Lin Suchou sighed outwardly, but inwardly, he was already plotting.

Lying on the soft bed by the window, Lin Suchou took out his Spirit Value Card.

He found that there was nothing particularly good inside, though that was only from his perspective.

Nine Flames Art, Spirit-tier mid-grade cultivation Spirit Art, 9,000 Spirit Value.

Wrathful Python Spear, mid-grade Spirit Artifact, 8,000 Spirit Value.

Illusory Shadow Steps, Spirit-tier mid-grade movement Spirit Art, 7,800 Spirit Value.

...

Lin Suchou continuously swiped past the dazzling array of goods.

A Divine-grade offensive Spirit Art for 3 Million, a Fifth-Grade Spirit Array diagram for 2.6 million, Ancient Golden Crow Essence for 4 million, a defensive Spirit Artifact for 3.3 million...

Lin Suchou's gaze continued downward before finally stopping on an item.

"Northern Darkness Dragon-Kun Essence Blood, an item from the Northern Cang Spirit Academy's guardian Divine Beast. It can temper the body, cleanse the marrow, and reshape the bones. If absorbed by a human, it can improve one's physique and grant a bodily strength comparable to that of a Spirit Beast. One drop of Essence Blood costs 7 million Spirit Value."

This item was one of the reasons Lin Suchou had chosen Northern Heavens.

He could exchange for several drops during his more than two years at the Northern Cang Spirit Academy. When he went to the Great Luo Heaven Domain afterward, they would make the perfect gift for Jiu You.

But for now, he had to figure out a way to earn Spirit Value. His gaze drifted outside the window.

He first saw the two towering stone steles atop the conspicuous Bird-shaped Mountain.

One was the Spirit Soul Ranking, where a thousand brilliant lights flickered.

"Spirit Soul Ranking, first place: Su Ling'er."

"Spirit Soul Ranking, third place: Mo Lun."

Lin Suchou remembered that third place on the Spirit Soul Ranking could earn one thousand Spirit Value a day.

But these older students had reached this ranking through the spiritual energy gained by advancing from the Spirit Soul Realm to the Heaven Fusion Realm. Lin Suchou's current cultivation had long surpassed that realm.

Then he shifted his gaze to the right and looked at the Heaven Ranking stone stele.

It likewise recorded the names of many people.

"Heaven Ranking, tenth place: Zhou Fan, cultivated at the Northern Cang Spirit Academy for three years."

"Heaven Ranking, ninth place: Luo Hua, cultivated at the Northern Cang Spirit Academy for three years."

"Heaven Ranking, eighth place: Wang Zhong."

"..."

"Heaven Ranking, third place: Su Xuan."

"Heaven Ranking, second place: Li Xuantong."

"Heaven Ranking, first place: Shen Cangsheng."

Looking at those names, Lin Suchou felt that the daily Spirit Value rewards there were probably over ten thousand.

But the Heaven Ranking required him to find people to fight, which Lin Suchou found too troublesome. So he shifted his gaze again, until it landed on a region at the horizon filled with Thunder.

The little mare loved to run. The Thunder Domain was vast enough for her to run as she pleased, and she could condense Heavenly Thunder Beads while she was at it.

"Luo Ling, I found a great place where you can run to your heart's content. Do you want to go?"

The little mare, who had been sleeping in his Qi Sea, immediately perked up upon hearing Lin Suchou. "Yes, yes! I was just worrying about being bored."

A smile appeared at the corner of Lin Suchou's lips when he heard the little mare agree.

After leaving the building, he headed directly toward the thunder-filled region in the sky.

A short while later, Lin Suchou landed at the entrance to the Thunder Domain.

A massive stone platform floated there.

The platform was packed with figures, while people continuously swept in from all directions.

Ahead of the platform lay a dim sky, where space twisted as though it were an entrance leading into a world of Thunder.

Lightning occasionally flashed, and deep, rumbling thunder rolled out from the distorted space.

At the edge of the platform stood an enormous stone stele.

Thunder coiled around this silver stone stele, which also bore Lei Hu's name.

The area before the stone stele was crowded with people. Whenever several streaks of silver light moved up a few positions, cries of surprise would erupt.

At the very top of this stone stele were still the names from the Heaven Ranking.

"Shen Cangsheng, highest level reached in the Thunder Domain: ninth level."

"Li Xuantong, highest level reached in the Thunder Domain: eighth level."

"Su Xuan, highest level reached: seventh level."

"Crane Demon, highest level reached: seventh level."

"They did not even engrave the stele's name on the Thunder Domain Tablet."

Seeing that the stone stele contained only names, Lin Suchou could not help grumbling.

"Hehe, the name of the Thunder Domain Tablet is not important. What matters is that it specifically records the names of outstanding academy students who challenge the Thunder Domain... being able to leave your name on it is itself an honor."

A slightly plump young man who appeared to be an older student explained with a smile.

"Then, Senior Brother, are there any Spirit Value rewards for challenging the Thunder Domain?" Lin Suchou asked doubtfully.

"It is an honor, so why would there be Spirit Value?" The plump young man smiled, then added a reminder. "But you can condense Heavenly Thunder Beads inside. Each one is worth two hundred Spirit Value.

"You are a new student, right? You might as well give it a try.

"Perhaps you will break a record, and the academy higher-ups might make an exception and reward you with some Spirit Value."

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother. I'll go try it now."

Lin Suchou cupped his fists in thanks, then turned to enter.

"By the way, Junior Brother, I still don't know your name."

"Lin Suchou."

The slightly plump young man clicked his tongue as Lin Suchou's voice gradually faded into the distance. "Not a bad name."