Supreme Freedom Gate

In the blink of an eye, it was noon.

Xiao Ling had already refined one Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill and was working on the next.

Before the medicinal cauldron at the center of the grassland, Xiao Ling continuously changed his hand seals and let out a low shout. "Condense!"

The medicinal liquid within the cauldron began to merge, slowly forming an uneven Pill Precursor.

As time passed, the pale white Pill Precursor, whose shape had initially been somewhat irregular, gradually became smooth and round. Brilliant rays of light radiated from it, making it resemble a white gemstone.

The moment the pill erupted with dazzling light, rings of almost tangible energy ripples continuously spread outward from the medicinal cauldron in every direction. The surrounding grass bent beneath the wind, while Xiao Ling's soft, flowing blue-silver hair fluttered in the breeze.

Xiao Ling ended his hand seals and extinguished the Beast Flame within the cauldron. Taking out a jade bottle, he lightly activated the Suction Palm, and the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill fell into it.

Having finished refining the pill, Xiao Ling felt exhausted all over. His Dou Qi had been completely drained. Without another thought, he lay flat on the soft grass.

Seeing this, Han Yue panicked and hurried over. She crouched before Xiao Ling and asked with concern, "Junior Xiao Ling, are you all right? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Xiao Ling felt a warmth in his heart at the sight. He shook his head and said, "I just used up too much Dou Qi. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

Alas, my Soul Power is enough to refine pills, but my Dou Qi cultivation is still too low. Fen Jue's level isn't high either. I need to get out and find Heavenly Flames to absorb as soon as possible.

Watching Han Yue's worried expression, Xiao Ling's eyes shifted slightly. He suddenly said, "Senior Han Yue, could you help me wipe my sweat? I'm too tired right now, so it's inconvenient."

Han Yue hesitated upon hearing that. But when she saw Xiao Ling's weak appearance and the beads of sweat covering his forehead, she muttered inwardly, Junior Xiao Ling became this weak because he refined pills for me. It's only right for me to help wipe his sweat.

She took out the handkerchief she normally used from her Storage Ring, bent down, and began wiping the sweat from Xiao Ling's face.

Looking at Han Yue's breathtakingly beautiful face and feeling the gentle touch on his forehead, Xiao Ling suddenly felt his heart pounding.

"Damn it, this young master's heart is in turmoil again."

Sensing Xiao Ling's somewhat burning gaze, Han Yue stopped what she was doing and met his eyes.

For a moment, an ambiguous atmosphere spread between them, and the air was filled with the scent of hormones.

Seeing Han Yue's slightly flushed face, Xiao Ling swallowed and could not help saying, "Senior Han Yue, you're truly beautiful."

Upon hearing those words, Han Yue's pretty face grew even hotter, and her head felt a little dizzy. Her heartbeat immediately quickened, as though it were about to leap from her chest.

Seeing such a tempting sight, Xiao Ling wished he could go over and take a bite out of her face. But he restrained himself.

The time isn't right yet. I can't make a move now. I still need to nurture things for a while before I can harvest the fruit.

With a thought, a jade box appeared in his hand. He flipped his palm open and revealed a milky-white pill inside. Xiao Ling said to Han Yue, "Senior Han Yue, this is a gift for you. There's a pill inside called the Youth Preserving Pill. Its effect is to preserve a person's appearance at the age when they take it, so it will never change. I hope you can always remain this beautiful."

Han Yue was greatly shocked upon hearing this. Having lived for so many years, she had never heard of such a miraculous pill. She was actually a little embarrassed to accept it, but the temptation of eternal youth made her want to take it.

When Xiao Ling saw Han Yue's hesitation, he immediately guessed what she was thinking. He directly grasped her right hand, stuffed the jade box into it, and said seriously, "Senior Han Yue, you don't want to turn into an old granny a hundred years from now, do you?"

Hearing Xiao Ling's words, Han Yue imagined herself growing old in the future. She tightened her grip on the jade box and replied, "Then I'll thank you, Junior Xiao Ling."

Seeing her accept the gift, Xiao Ling withdrew his hand from Han Yue's and handed the jade bottle containing two Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills to her. Smiling, he said, "Senior Han Yue, your pills. Don't forget to take them."

Han Yue snatched the porcelain bottle and shot Xiao Ling a charming glare. Recalling the string of events just now, she realized that Xiao Ling had toyed with her. Her pretty face could not help reddening, while the hand he had held still retained a faint trace of warmth.

Feeling Xiao Ling's unblinking gaze fixed on her, Han Yue did not dare linger. Leaving behind the words, "I'll refine the pills first. As for Central Plains matters, come to my courtyard tomorrow at noon," she ran toward the courtyard exit.

Xiao Ling watched Han Yue's graceful figure leave the small courtyard and smiled helplessly. He took a pill for restoring Dou Qi from his belt, swallowed it, then sat cross-legged to recover his Dou Qi.

Back in her room, Han Yue panted lightly, the blush on her face not yet fully faded.

Looking at the pill Xiao Ling had placed in her hand and recalling his burning gaze, she could not help muttering inwardly, Xiao Ling really does like me. Not only did he let me ride his Rayquaza before, he even gave me such a precious Youth Preserving Pill. He must like me. Otherwise, he wouldn't treat me so specially.

As that thought flashed through her mind, the blush on Han Yue's face deepened. She immediately buried her head in the blankets.

"Actually, if it's Xiao Ling, it wouldn't be impossible."

Time passed like a galloping white colt. In the blink of an eye, half a year had gone by.

Xiao Ling's cultivation had reached the Three Star Great Dou Shi level. He was only one step away from becoming a Four-star Great Dou Master.

Jia Nan Academy's annual Inner Academy Selection Competition was to begin today.

At this moment, six young men and women had gathered in Xiao Ling's courtyard.

They were Xiao Ling, Xiao Xun'er, Han Yue, Lin Xiuyai, Lin Yan, and Liu Qing.

Xiao Ling said to everyone, "Let's all do our best. There's absolutely no problem for the few of us to monopolize the top five. Xun'er, just perform normally. With your cultivation as a Five-star Dou Shi, entering the Inner Academy will be easy." As for why Xiao Xun'er was only a Five-star Dou Shi, perhaps the Gu Clan's young lady did not care for the opportunity to enter the Library Pavilion and choose a treasure, nor did she wish to reveal her true strength.

Everyone nodded at his words, confidence shining in their eyes.

Lin Yan, standing to one side, was even less able to suppress his fighting spirit. He declared passionately, "I truly can't wait for the battles to begin. My Blaze Axe has been thirsty for blood for a long time!"

Lin Xiuyai, however, spoke from the side. "Don't be careless. Although our strength has already surpassed that of most students, there's still Han Xian. His cultivation isn't that far behind ours."

Upon hearing this, the fierce-tempered Liu Qing said disdainfully, "That guy who only knows Alchemy? Not every alchemist is as strong as Xiao Ling. I could knock that kind of trash down with one thrust of my spear."

Lin Yan echoed, "Mere gravel doesn't even compare to a fraction of me. He usually acts so arrogant, but he only starts behaving himself when he sees us." He then said to Xiao Ling, "Back when you'd only been in the Outer Academy for a year, didn't he mock you because Elder Huo favored you? Why didn't you teach him a lesson?"

Hearing that, Xiao Ling rubbed his chin. "He already lost to me in Alchemy back then. Besides, what adult gets angry with a child?"

Han Yue interjected at just the right moment. "We should discuss our plans for the Inner Academy instead. The Inner Academy has countless students stronger than us. It's better to make arrangements early than to enter unprepared."

Lin Xiuyai followed her lead and said, "Xiao Ling and I discussed it before. The few of us can establish a faction. That will make it easier for us to obtain cultivation resources."

Xiao Ling added, "If you're willing, let's build a faction together. With the talent of the few of us, we'll soon become the strongest faction in the Inner Academy. Besides, I'll keep Rayquaza by my side. It's already a Fourth Stage Magical Beast now. No one in the Inner Academy can defeat it."

Everyone pondered for a while. Han Yue was the first to speak. "I'm joining this faction. My combat strength isn't very high, so you'll have to look after me."

Xiao Ling nodded and replied, "Don't worry. As long as you're in the same faction as me, if someone bullies you for no reason, I'll definitely teach them a harsh lesson."

Liu Qing added, "I'm willing to join as well, but once my younger sister enters the Inner Academy, she has to join this faction too."

Lin Xiuyai also said, "Don't worry. Xiao Ling and I already considered your sister's situation. Once she arrives in the Inner Academy, she can join us directly. But when the time comes, don't spoil your sister too much. Don't let her develop a spoiled and overbearing temperament. That wouldn't be good."

Seeing everyone agree, Lin Yan also said, "Then I'll join the faction too. But how should we divide the positions?"

Everyone nodded and turned their gazes toward Xiao Ling and Lin Xiuyai.

Xiao Ling spoke unhurriedly. "I have no experience managing a faction, so I'll serve as the Alchemy Elder. Lin Xiuyai will be the sect master, and Han Yue will help manage the faction. Lin Yan and Liu Qing, you two can be the muscle. Xun'er can simply be a sect member."

No one had any objections. Lin Xiuyai and Han Yue were naturally more capable at handling management matters. Xiao Ling was the only alchemist among them, and his rank was not low, with great room for future growth. Lin Yan and Liu Qing were both battle fanatics, making them more suitable for combat. As for Xiao Xun'er, aside from Xiao Ling, everyone believed she was merely a Dou Shi. Xiao Ling had no intention of letting her waste time elsewhere. Focusing on cultivation was more important than anything.

In truth, Xiao Ling had an even more important reason for not becoming sect master: he would certainly leave the academy for a period of time. To avoid trouble when that happened, he simply chose not to take the position.

With Xiao Ling's help, the strength of these people was no weaker than their counterparts at the same point in the original story. As long as they prepared the medicinal ingredients, Xiao Ling would refine pills such as Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills for them as practice. He had even refined a Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill that Xiao Xun'er could use for her long ago.

After listening from the side for a long time, Xiao Xun'er suddenly said, "Brother Xiao Ling, give the faction a name."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling rubbed his chin and thought briefly before saying, "Let's call it the Supreme Freedom Gate."

After saying that, he stood up and was the first to walk out through the courtyard gate. Everyone followed behind him, heading toward the competition platform for the Inner Academy Selection Competition.