Eating

Zhou Bai looked at Elsa's gloomy expression and patiently tried to persuade her. "Elsa, don't throw a tantrum. We're so poor right now; being able to eat this is already pretty good."

Elsa: "Wuwu~~"

Zhou Bai said, "Don't look at my 200 points and think it's a lot. We can only get 200 points this month. Three bowls of rice a day cost 3 points. You eat three bowls too, so that's 6 points for the two of us. In one month, that's 180 points."

Elsa: "Wuwu~~"

Zhou Bai said, "And that's only for food. It doesn't include clothes, daily necessities, and all that. It's a good thing Christina doesn't need to eat, or you two would really eat me into poverty."

As he spoke, Zhou Bai took several big mouthfuls of plain rice. A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he said to Elsa, "It smells so good, Elsa. Hurry up and eat. This rice is delicious."

Elsa kept sniffing. After smelling it for a while, she finally could not hold back any longer and opened her mouth, wolfing it down.

Seeing Elsa shovel rice into her mouth, Zhou Bai laughed and quickly finished the plain rice in his own bowl.

In an instant, he felt his body and mind, exhausted from a full day, begin to recover. His whole being felt completely renewed.

"Good stuff. This only costs 1 point? You probably can't exchange for something like this outside."

Zhou Bai blinked. The same 1 point outside would only buy one or two bowls of rice, and they definitely would not have any special effects. Being able to exchange 1 point for food that rapidly restored stamina and energy was one of the Dao School's benefits.

So while ordinary people outside might earn 100 to 200 points a month, seemingly similar to Dao School students, the quality of their food, clothing, and daily necessities was completely different.

Zhou Bai had just finished eating when he saw Elsa carry her food bowl over to his side and place her own bowl in front of him.

"Elsa? What's wrong?" Zhou Bai looked at the half bowl of rice left inside, then glanced at Elsa in confusion.

Elsa moved her head, pointing at Zhou Bai, then at the rice.

Zhou Bai said, "You want... me to eat more?"

Elsa immediately bared her teeth and began wagging her tail nonstop.

Zhou Bai rubbed Elsa's head and looked at the way she kept drooling. "No need, Elsa. I'm full. Eat your own food."

Elsa still refused, continuously pushing the bowl toward Zhou Bai.

Zhou Bai pondered for a moment, then looked at Elsa's wide eyes and slowly said, "Elsa, what happened at the base had nothing to do with you. Everyone... everyone didn't get into trouble because you ate too much.

"Eat without worry. I'll find a way to earn more points in the future. When the time comes, the two of us will sweep this cafeteria clean and eat until we throw up."

Only after watching Elsa obediently finish the rest of the plain rice did Zhou Bai nod in satisfaction.

Suddenly, his vision darkened. Someone had already sat down across from him with a food tray.

Zhou Bai looked carefully. It was a young man with long golden hair, a mole at the corner of his eye, and fair skin.

Zhou Bai then looked at the other man's tray, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Crystal Demon Kernel, 20 points. Hundred Herb Porridge, 20 points. Stewed Luan Bird Wings, 30 points.

Just those alone added up to 70 points.

Not to mention the final Ba Serpent Bone Soup, which cost another 120 points.

Elsa opened her mouth and stared blankly at the bone soup on the table, unaware even when grains of rice fell from her mouth.

"190 points..." Zhou Bai swallowed again and looked at the blond young man before him. "You're from our class too, right? You used up 190 points just like that. Are you planning to drink the northwest wind after this?"

The blond young man took a mouthful of Hundred Herb Porridge and looked at Zhou Bai with a smile. "Hello, top scorer. It's rare for a genius like you to remember what I look like. My name is Qian Wangsun, third place in this class."

He glanced at the food on the table and said casually, "Points are meant to be spent. Rather than merely eating my fill every day, I'd rather turn points into strength."

Zhou Bai asked, "Then what will you do afterward?"

Qian Wangsun thought for a moment and said nonchalantly, "There'll always be a way. I refuse to believe the school will let us starve to death."

"...As long as you're happy." Zhou Bai turned away, forcing himself not to look at that pile of points on the other man's table. He picked up his bowl and prepared to leave.

But then he heard Qian Wangsun say, "Hey, don't be in such a hurry to leave! I still have something to tell you!" Seeing that Zhou Bai did not even turn his head, Qian Wangsun sighed. "Sigh, looks like I won't be able to mooch meals off him in the future."

Zhou Bai pulled Elsa away, completely unwilling to watch the other man feast so extravagantly.

But on the way back to the dormitory, Zhou Bai saw two young men silently block his path.

Looking at one of them, a man with long hair draped over his shoulders, Zhou Bai said, "Zuo Dao?"

Zuo Dao looked at Zhou Bai and said coolly, "Zhou Bai, I came to tell you this. For the next two months, work yourself to the bone. Become stronger at all costs. The next time I defeat you in an assessment, I don't want you finding any excuses."

After giving Zhou Bai a deep look, Zuo Dao turned and left.

This guy is so chuuni.

Beside Zuo Dao, a bald young man smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, Zhou Bai. Zuo Dao is... sigh, how should I put it? He's actually a good person, but sometimes he's too self-willed. Don't take it to heart. He doesn't mean any harm."

As he spoke, the bald man extended his hand. "My name is Jianxing."

Zhou Bai also held out his hand and shook his. "It's fine. I didn't take it to heart."

Jianxing smiled and looked at Elsa beside Zhou Bai. "I just saw you taking your dog to the cafeteria. He must be very important to you, right?"

Zhou Bai was slightly startled, then nodded.

Jianxing said, "The situation has gotten worse and worse in recent years, and the Dao School's supplies have become even scarcer. Raising a dog with 200 points probably won't be enough, but it's not completely impossible."

Zhou Bai's eyes lit up. "What's the way?"

Jianxing said, "In the end, the Dao School exists to cultivate cultivators. Naturally, students with greater talent and potential receive more points. The assessments held every two months will determine how many points you can receive each month."

"I see." Zhou Bai suddenly frowned. "But I was the top scorer in the entrance test. Why didn't I get more points?"

Jianxing smiled faintly. "I'll be going now. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

After bidding Jianxing farewell, the sky grew darker. The artificial light overhead gradually dimmed with the passing time as Zhou Bai led Elsa into the dormitory building.

Whether it was merely Zhou Bai's imagination or not, when he entered the dormitory building again, he felt that the hallway seemed a little too dark. A faint stench also drifted into his nose.

"What the hell? Did someone piss in the hallway?"

Zhou Bai frowned as he walked to his room, then suddenly froze.

His door was open.

"Christina? Are you there?"

Zhou Bai gently pushed open the door.