Exploding Academy Gold Coins

Early the next morning.

The bed was a scene of utter disarray. Tang Wutong curled up in Xiao Yi's arms, clutching his arm tightly. Faint traces of tears still lingered on her face, yet a soft smile hung at the corners of her lips, as if she were lost in a beautiful dream.

Xiao Yi slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the pink-blue silhouette in his embrace, his other hand gently brushing through her hair.

Tang Wutong's sudden behavior last night had truly startled him. It was as if she had been triggered by something, craving him with a frantic intensity; even when she had been pushed to the point of rolling her eyes, she had continued to demand more.

The young girl in his arms slowly opened her eyes. Meeting Xiao Yi's gaze, a rosy flush stained her pretty face. Although she had been impulsive last night, she felt no regrets.

"Xiao Yi, I really, really like you." She released his arm, wrapping her own around him instead, looking at him with expectant eyes.

"Mm, I feel the same, Xiao Qi." Stroking her little head, Xiao Yi sighed inwardly, finally calling her by the nickname Tang Wutong had been longing to hear.

This time, Xiao Yi did not hesitate. He nodded without a second thought; he had long since felt the fullness of Tang Wutong's love, evidenced by the traces of her presence left everywhere.

Tang Wutong smiled happily, leaning her little head against him.

Feeling the softness of the girl in his arms, ripples stirred in Xiao Yi's heart once more, and his sleeping "little brother" began to revive.

Tang Wutong felt the familiar, numbing sensation wash over her entire body. Her delicate frame trembled, and she cast a shy glance at Xiao Yi before beginning to learn the techniques of flight.

As the saying goes, the day's plan is made in the morning—and surely, the reverse holds just as true.

In the Class One classroom, seeing Tang Wutong arrive late, Huo Yutong stepped forward to strike up a conversation, feeling somewhat strange.

"Sister Wutong, why are you so late today?" Moreover, Huo Yutong felt as if Tang Wutong had become a different person, possessing some indescribable, elusive quality.

Tang Wutong offered an unnatural smile. Her body still ached all over, and she blushed at the memory of last night's madness.

"It's nothing, I just overslept." Tang Wutong's tone remained cold and proud. That shyness was reserved for Xiao Yi alone; to the outside world, she remained the haughty little princess of the God Realm.

On the other side, at the Sea God Pavilion.

Three old men were staring at the jade-green pill in shock, clicking their tongues in wonder.

One red-haired elder was particularly focused. He pinched off a tiny fragment, rubbed it carefully between his fingers as if observing something, sniffed it, and finally placed it into his mouth. He closed his eyes to savor it, and a stream of incredibly pure soul power poured into his body.

The elder's eyes snapped open, filled with disbelief.

"Such pure medicinal power, almost entirely free of impurities. And the efficacy is far beyond a simple increase. Little Friend Xiao Yi, this Soul Ascension Pill of yours..." The elder's tone was filled with astonishment, and his gaze toward Xiao Yi was brimming with appreciation.

This was Elder Yao, the Pavilion Elder in charge of the academy's medicinal herbs and pill quotas. His martial soul was the Flame Lion. He had long since stopped managing academy affairs, spending his days tending to flowers and plants, and he had a deep interest in alchemy.

Most of the Soul Ascension Pills in the academy were refined by him and his disciples, and it was he who had provided Xiao Yi with the prototype for his pill-condensing technique.

Elder Yao looked at Xiao Yi with the utmost admiration. When this little fellow had first approached him, he had assumed he was asking for a larger pill quota, only to find the boy wanted to learn the craft of alchemy.

In just one month, he had actually managed to concoct something of this caliber.

"Little Junior Brother, how does the effect of this pill differ from the original Soul Ascension Pill?" Yan Shaozhe asked, somewhat urgently. Although he didn't know the specifics, he knew that anything earning Elder Yao's approval was bound to be extraordinary.

Mu En also watched his closing disciple with a smile, his eyes filled with boundless satisfaction.

"I've named this upgraded version the High-Grade Soul Ascension Pill. Its effect is to provide a fixed increase of one level of soul power for anyone below the Soul King rank. It has no side effects, though a tolerance will develop after two pills."

"What?!"

Both men exclaimed in shock. A brilliant, incredulous light erupted in Mu En's eyes. This was an increase of two levels of soul power for a Soul Ancestor with no side effects—its value to the academy was immeasurable.

"Xiao Yi, if there's more, just say it all at once. Don't keep us old men in suspense," Mu En said with a laugh, having grown accustomed to his disciple's temperament.

"Beyond the High-Grade Soul Ascension Pill, there are also intermediate and low-grade versions. They can each increase soul power by one level for those below the Soul Ancestor and Soul Elder ranks, respectively. They also cause tolerance after two pills, but they do not conflict with one another. One can take two of each as they reach the corresponding cultivation levels," Xiao Yi said, bowing. His words were earth-shattering.

The three types of pills used the same medicinal ingredients. Xiao Yi hadn't originally expected them to be stackable, but because the low-grade pill's power was inferior to the others, it actually provided a beneficial effect when taken before the higher-grade pills.

Yan Shaozhe and Elder Yao both gasped, their voices lost in astonishment.

Two levels of soul power per stage meant a total of six levels—a breakthrough with no side effects. This was something that would overturn the entire world of soul masters.

"Xiao Yi, does anyone else know of this?" Mu En's voice turned grave. This was a matter of utmost importance, concerning not only the academy but also Xiao Yi's own safety. Yan Shaozhe and Elder Yao also recovered from their shock, looking at Xiao Yi with solemn expressions.

"Besides you three, I have told no one else." Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan only knew Xiao Yi was busy with something, but not the specifics. Tang Wutong only knew he was tinkering with Soul Ascension Pills; he hadn't told her the rest. Of course, it probably wouldn't have mattered if he had—the girl had already skipped the "initial puppy love" stage and become a top-tier "love-struck fool," her gaze toward him bordering on pathological.

"That is good. Little Junior Brother, if anyone asks for the source of these pills, just say they were researched by the Pavilion Elders," Yan Shaozhe stated. A future Pavilion Elder was still a Pavilion Elder, and Xiao Yi's contribution in researching this alone was enough to promote him to the ranks of the Pavilion. Once this could be mass-produced, the impact would be terrifying.

"Speak, Xiao Yi. What do you want this time? Just ask. Whether it's the academy's soul bone inventory or anything else, it is open to you," Mu En said, stroking his beard with a smile.

Xiao Yi's eyes lit up at these words. This was exactly what he had been waiting for, and the reason he had proactively told the academy about the Soul Ascension Pills.

Previously, in the Library Pavilion, he had found countless precious materials unavailable elsewhere, but the floor above had also piqued his curiosity. If the lower floors held such treasures, the top floor must be even better.

Moreover, relying on his own funds to research herbs and alchemy was not a long-term solution. As long as he demonstrated sufficient prospects and benefits, he believed the academy would provide the necessary support. The Soul Ascension Pill was merely the bait he had cast out; it hadn't cost him much effort and was just an experimental product, yet its effects were stunning enough.

Watching Xiao Yi rub his hands in excitement, the three old men couldn't help but laugh and shake their heads.