Transaction

Speaking of this, Huo Yuhao's gaze dimmed, "Moreover, my innate spirit power was only rank one. It took me nearly six years to cultivate to rank ten. Just that alone puts me far behind everyone else in Freshman Class One."

"For me, studying at Shrek Academy is the only shortcut to becoming stronger. If I want to remain here, I have to put in ten or even a hundred times the effort of others to reach rank fifteen before the freshman assessment."

Xia Linyuan listened to Huo Yuhao's words in silence, yet he ruthlessly shattered his illusions, "I think you know as well as I do that with your current strength, that is absolutely impossible."

"Looking at your sallow complexion, you must have rarely eaten a full meal since you were young. Your foundation is extremely weak. Forcing yourself to train like this won't improve you in the slightest; instead, it will overdraw the potential of a body that already lacks substance."

Huo Yuhao clenched his fists tightly and offered a strained smile to Xia Linyuan, "But this is the only way I can improve as much as possible in the shortest amount of time."

Xia Linyuan just looked at Huo Yuhao, his gaze deep and unreadable, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking at this moment.

"Heh." Xia Linyuan suddenly chuckled, a laugh that was incredibly wild and wicked, "How about this, let's make a deal."

"A deal?" Huo Yuhao looked at Xia Linyuan in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

Xia Linyuan didn't offer an explanation; he took out a Mysterious Water Pill and dangled it in front of him, "If you accept this, then from today on, you owe me a favor."

The moment Xia Linyuan produced the Mysterious Water Pill, a fresh, fragrant scent drifted into his nose, causing Huo Yuhao's exhausted mind to feel instantly invigorated.

He looked in astonishment at the cherry-sized pill in Xia Linyuan's hand, which smelled refreshing and soothing, and couldn't help but feel shocked.

Although he didn't know what it was that Xia Linyuan held, he wasn't stupid. Someone like Xia Linyuan, who had single-handedly elevated the entire Molong Duke Mansion to its current status, wouldn't offer anything ordinary.

Huo Yuhao wasn't blinded by this sudden surprise; instead, he remained unusually calm, "Linyuan, I don't think I have anything worth you paying such a precious price for just to obtain a cheap favor from me."

"I say you do, so you are worth it. I don't need your opinion; I only care about mine," Xia Linyuan said calmly.

These words left Huo Yuhao speechless.

"Just as you heard, if you choose to trade with me, you owe me a favor. Whether the favor is cheap or not doesn't matter; what matters is that whatever I ask you to do, you must do."

Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth, just about to refuse the deal, when he heard Xia Linyuan add, "Of course, if my request touches upon your bottom line, you may refuse."

Huo Yuhao was stunned. Could such a good thing really exist in this world?

For a moment, the pendulum in Huo Yuhao's heart began to sway once more.

He knew that no matter how hard he tried, he could never reach rank fifteen before the freshman assessment.

On one hand, he was moved by the generous conditions Xia Linyuan proposed; on the other, he couldn't believe that such a windfall would just fall from the sky.

Watching Huo Yuhao's conflicted expression, Xia Linyuan smiled slightly and shoved the Mysterious Water Pill into his hand, "The choice is yours. Think it over carefully."

With that, Xia Linyuan left without the slightest hesitation, leaving Huo Yuhao staring blankly at the Mysterious Water Pill in his hand.

Pushing open the dormitory door, the first thing he saw was Tang Wulin lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Hearing the door open, Tang Wulin instinctively turned his head. Seeing it was Xia Linyuan, he immediately rolled himself up in his quilt and turned his back to him, seemingly not wanting to see him at all.

Xia Linyuan shrugged helplessly, not bothering to force a friendly interaction.

At this moment, inside Dormitory 108.

Huo Yuhao sat on the edge of his bed, which had nothing but a dilapidated wooden board, and fell into deep thought while looking at the Mysterious Water Pill in his hand.

Whatever I ask you to do, you must do...

Of course, if my request touches upon your bottom line, you may refuse.

Recalling Xia Linyuan's unquestionable tone, Huo Yuhao felt increasingly uncertain.

Click—

Just then, the dormitory door was opened. He didn't even need to guess to know that Wang Dong had returned.

"Taking a bath is so comfortable." Wang Dong looked relaxed, but then, he immediately spotted the Mysterious Water Pill in Huo Yuhao's hand.

Wang Dong was shocked, "How do you have a Mysterious Water Pill?"

In his impression, wasn't Huo Yuhao so poor that he only ate white rice and vegetables for every meal? Where did he get this Mysterious Water Pill, which was worth ten thousand gold?

Huo Yuhao looked up at him and asked in surprise, "You said this is a Mysterious Water Pill? What is a Mysterious Water Pill?"

Wang Dong explained, "The Mysterious Water Pill is a unique pill from a sect with water-attribute Martial Souls. I heard that just to refine it, one needs to use the essence blood of over a dozen water-attribute Spirit Beasts and dozens of water-attribute plants, all specially prepared."

"What is the effect of the Mysterious Water Pill?"

"The Mysterious Water Pill is not only highly nourishing, but it can also increase spirit power. Furthermore, its medicinal properties are very mild, allowing Spirit Masters of any level to absorb its effects well."

"Especially for Spirit Masters below rank twenty, it can increase their spirit power by at least one rank. But its most precious quality isn't even that; it's its ability to cleanse the marrow and refine the bones..."

After hearing Wang Dong's explanation, Huo Yuhao was greatly astonished.

He knew that what Xia Linyuan gave him couldn't be ordinary, but he hadn't expected the Mysterious Water Pill to be this precious—not only could it remove impurities from the body and nourish the meridians, but it could also increase his innate spirit power by one rank.

Seeing Huo Yuhao's shocked expression, Wang Dong guessed a bit of the truth, "Your spirit power is only rank eleven. Whether in the entire Freshman Class One or the entire freshman year, you are the weakest. So, I suggest you take this Mysterious Water Pill."

Hearing Wang Dong's words, Huo Yuhao gripped the Mysterious Water Pill tightly, then slowly relaxed his hand.

Wang Dong was right. His spirit power was only rank eleven, and his innate spirit power was only rank one. He was the weakest in the entire grade. For him, the Mysterious Water Pill was like rain after a long drought; if he missed this chance, there would be no medicine for regret.

Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth and tilted his head back, swallowing the Mysterious Water Pill.

"Whoa!" Wang Dong suddenly let out a strange cry, "Huo Yuhao, why didn't you tell me you were going to take the Mysterious Water Pill?"

Watching Wang Dong angrily roll up his bedding and storm out, Huo Yuhao was confused, but he chose to enter a meditative state immediately to absorb the medicinal effects of the pill.

Not long after Wang Dong left, there was a knock on the door of Dormitory 129.