Exchanging for Life Essence

Su Yi showed not the slightest hesitation. With a soft laugh, he said, "Have you seen my interview when I graduated from high school? I said it back then—the responsibility of a martial artist was something I had long prepared myself to bear.

"A few days ago, Grandmaster Lyu also asked whether I needed to hide myself. My answer was that I would shoulder both the responsibility and glory of a martial artist alone.

"I have never lost sight of my original heart. All I want is to grow stronger, stronger still! Only sufficient strength can let me seize control of my own fate!"

Stronger?

Being stronger was good!

The Old Principal let out a relieved breath. As long as Su Yi's mindset did not have any major issues, and he would not become so inflated that he did irrational things, it was fine.

Then, he said to Su Yi with some seriousness, "Your reputation has grown too great recently. Try to avoid going out. I'm afraid a Cult may try to assassinate you."

Su Yi had already been a key target, and after causing such a huge stir this time, he would become even more of a thorn in the Cults' eyes.

Su Yi nodded. He usually did not go out much anyway, and danger would be in the Underground Cave.

Having reminded him of the danger posed by the Cults, the Old Principal's expression turned solemn as he looked at Su Yi.

"Su Yi, today, as the principal of Magic Martial Academy, I will bear witness alongside your teacher: Su Yi, your name shall be recorded in the School History Museum."

The Old Principal's voice was sonorous and forceful as he loudly announced his decision.

Not just anyone could leave their name in Magic Martial Academy's School History Museum. Grandmasters could enter; those who died fighting in the Underground Cave could enter; those who had made major contributions to Magic Martial Academy could enter.

Over the years, only a handful of current students had their names recorded there while still alive. Without exception, they had all been martial artists who performed great deeds in the Underground Cave.

Su Yi, however, was not entering because of achievements in the Underground Cave. Yet the Optimization-style new Tempering Method he had created was a contribution to Magic Martial Academy—and even all of Huaxia—that could not be measured.

His merits and accomplishments were no less than anyone else's.

"Wu Kuishan bears witness today!"

Wu Kuishan declared loudly from the side. As Su Yi's teacher, he too felt honored by Su Yi's current achievements.

Su Yi was somewhat excited as well. This had already exceeded his expectations; even in his plans, he had never anticipated that his name would be recorded in the School History Museum.

Perhaps the ingrained impression ran too deep. More than ninety-nine percent of those whose names were recorded in the School History Museum had died in the Underground Cave.

He did not refuse. With a solemn expression, he accepted the Old Principal's decision.

After chatting for a while longer, and seeing that it was about time, the Old Principal sat back in his office chair and said, "You two can head back first. Kuishan, take good care of Little Yi."

With that, he picked up the files and began handling them. He was very busy; if Su Yi had not made such a major move this time, he would not have specifically taken time out to see him.

The moment they stepped out of the principal's Office, Wu Kuishan stopped and said with a soft laugh, "You really stirred up quite a commotion this time."

"Teacher, it was all luck."

Luck? Why didn't anyone else have that kind of luck?

He had already learned the full story from Lyu Zhen, including how Su Yi had begun modifying the Tempering Method back when he was not yet a martial artist.

After his shock, he did not know whether to call Su Yi confident or arrogant.

Nor was it easy to judge. After all, he had truly succeeded. Once someone succeeded, everything they did became right.

"Even if it was luck, you still need to be more careful. What if something goes wrong? You won't have this kind of luck every time, will you?"

Su Yi nodded in agreement. Wu Kuishan was merely concerned for him. He knew there would be no problems, but others did not.

Take improvements to pills, for example. Who knew how much test-taking had gone into improving them step by step? Cultivation methods were even worse. Pills had at least been improved many times, but cultivation methods had consumed untold resources and involved countless test subjects, yet still could not be improved.

"That's enough. Practice your Battle Arts more and improve your control over Blood Qi. In a while, I'll take you to see the Underground Cave."

Su Yi had barely snuck back into the dormitory when Cheng Wen caught him red-handed.

"Su Yi—no, Brother Yi. How did you do it? Modify the Tempering Method? That's something I wouldn't even dare dream of."

Cheng Wen was so shocked that his words came out in a jumble. He had woken up from his afternoon nap, only to find that the entire world seemed to have changed.

The new Tempering Method had been released. Compared to its advantages, its flaws were simply not worth mentioning.

It could reduce Blood Qi consumption, speed up Bone Tempering, and even increase the chances of non-martial artists breaking through to Bone Tempering.

Such perfect Optimization made him unable to help thanking the Ministry of Education and the researchers who had created and improved it.

That was until he saw Su Yi's name in the credits. At first, he merely froze for a moment, thinking it was just someone with the same name.

But the introduction that followed described none other than the friend he had known for years: this year's National College Entrance Exam Champion had created an Optimization Tempering Method!!!

Su Yi explained as if it were only natural, "I wanted to modify it, so I just followed my instincts and managed to do it."

He did not want to show off before his classmates and friends, but he did not have a better explanation.

So be it. It was because he was a genius. They would get used to it eventually.

Cheng Wen's face visibly darkened. He had done it all by instinct?

He made it sound so easy. If Cheng Wen could not do it, then he was really letting everyone down.

And all those researchers who had spent so many years studying the Tempering Method had failed to do it as well.

After Su Yi had enrolled as a Third Grade Mid Stage martial artist, Cheng Wen had thought he would never be dealt another blow.

He had not expected Su Yi to once again completely overturn his understanding of him.

Cheng Wen could not help saying indignantly, "Su Yi, you really ought to give us normal people a proper apology!"

Yes, Cheng Wen had come to deeply realize that Su Yi was not normal at all—he was practically a monster.

Normal people like them could only shiver beneath his shadow.

Su Yi could not help laughing as well. He said nothing; Cheng Wen was merely venting his emotions.

Su Yi punched Cheng Wen's shoulder and said seriously, "Keep it up!"

Cheng Wen gave a muffled grunt, rubbing his shoulder as he said irritably, "Why'd you use so much force? So what if you cultivate a little faster than me? I'll catch up to you sooner or later."

Su Yi cultivated so quickly, but when had Cheng Wen ever stopped moving forward himself? These days, aside from attending classes, he had been cultivating.

If he could not catch up in the Lower Three Grades, then he would do so in the Middle Three Grades. If not in the Middle Three Grades, then as a Grandmaster.

He was unwilling to be left too far behind. Lai Yu and Li Xian, far away in Kyoto, felt the same. With Su Yi around, the pressure was truly immense—especially for classmates like them.

But the motivation was no less great. At the very least, many people were now unwilling to settle for mediocrity.

They still had the courage to chase after him. During this time, the cultivation atmosphere at Magic Martial Academy had grown far more intense, and there were far fewer people idling about campus. Was it not all because Su Yi was putting pressure on them?

While the two chatted, quite a few students had already poked their heads out to look. However, since Su Yi had generally been taking classes about Underground Cave knowledge since enrolling, most of them were not very familiar with him and did not speak up to disturb him.

Instead, they silently watched him with curious, admiring, appraising gazes.

"Senior Brother!"

Hearing the commotion in the corridor, Wu Duoduo opened her door. When she saw Su Yi, she cried out in pleasant surprise.

Su Yi turned back and answered with a smile, "Junior Sister!"

Receiving Su Yi's response, Wu Duoduo said softly, "Senior Brother, congratulations on your breakthrough." She did not know what else to say. Her eyes were full of admiration as she looked at Su Yi. Senior Brother was so amazing—he had actually created a new version of the Tempering Method.

He cultivated so quickly, and his personality was so good too. Thinking of this, Wu Duoduo felt somewhat inferior. Other than having a good family, she had nothing worth praising.

Su Yi nodded with a smile.

Without chatting with them for long, Su Yi soon returned to his dormitory.

Su Yi picked up his phone and dialed the number Lyu Zhen had left him. He planned to exchange for some Life Essence first. It would be a real headache if he waited too long and it was gone.

"Hello, this is the government Logistics Department! Is this Su Yi?"

The person in charge of the Logistics Department answered the call. He had long since been notified of Su Yi's call and exchange eligibility, but he had not expected Su Yi to call so quickly.

"Yes, I'd like to use one of my opportunities to exchange for resources."

"Alright. A designated person will bring the exchange list to Magic Martial Academy shortly. Please remain reachable."

That evening.

Su Yi met the martial artist sent by the government.

Su Yi produced his Martial Arts Certificate. After the government martial artist in charge of logistics verified it, he took out a small booklet and said with a smile, "These are some of the strategic resource reserves of the government and Military Department. Many of these items become scarcer with every bit used, so you should choose carefully.

After all, this is a rare opportunity. Ordinary people do not get such a chance."

Taking the exchange booklet from the middle-aged martial artist before him, Su Yi was somewhat surprised as soon as he flipped to the first page.

In Su Yi's view, his strength was still too low. The exchange booklet the Ministry of Education had given him should not contain many good things at this point.

Especially precious resources certainly should not have been listed in it.

Yet the first page contained something good!

Spirit-Nourishing Fruit: Sixth Grade Energy Fruit, borne by a Sixth Grade Demon Plant. Can nourish Spiritual Power (most effective below 500 Hz of Spiritual Power; effectiveness greatly decreases above 500 Hz)

Value: 500 million each.

This price was very high. Su Yi only had 8,000 Credit Points left, which converted to just 240 million Huaxia dollars—not even enough to buy half of one.

However, such fruit was generally not sold to the public. Even many Sixth Grade Peak powerhouses had only seen pictures of it, never the real thing.

But for Su Yi, it probably would not increase his Spiritual Power by much.

On the second page was a Seventh Grade Divine Weapon.

Su Yi hurriedly flipped past it without even looking at the price. This was not something a poor man like him could afford to look at.

After flipping through several more pages, he found nothing but good items: Vein-Shaping Flowers, Hundred-Tempering Fruits. On the seventh page, Su Yi finally saw Life Essence.

Life Essence: A sacred healing medicine...

Value: 10 million per gram (limited to 20 grams)

Twenty grams of Life Essence would cost 200 million Huaxia dollars, which was exactly enough for Su Yi to exchange for.

Su Yi closed the exchange booklet and said, "I want to exchange for 20 grams of Life Essence."

The middle-aged government martial artist wore a smile as he confirmed it with Su Yi once more, then nodded and left with a smile.

The government moved quickly. Before long, someone delivered a bottle of Life Essence into Su Yi's hands.

Su Yi carefully examined the jade bottle containing the Life Essence for a while before placing it in the storage room.

With Life Essence, his safety in the Underground Cave would be further guaranteed.

Even if he suffered severe injuries, he could receive treatment in time.