Taking Disciples, Ten-Thousandfold Returns: Starting from Battle Through the Heavens, Part 15

Su Qian and the others had clearly not come to welcome Qin Hao and Zi Yan. The true culprit behind all this was none other than the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King beneath Qin Hao.

The Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King was a peak sixth-tier Magic Beast. Such a terrifying existence approaching the Inner Academy would naturally put the experts there on alert.

"Eh, wait, there seems to be someone on that sixth-tier Magic Beast's back!"

"There really is someone!"

"That can't be right. Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Why does it look like that girl Zi Yan and that brat Qin Hao?"

At the same time, the group from Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy stared fixedly at the colossal creature steadily approaching them.

However, as the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King drew closer, someone soon noticed something unusual. They realized that there seemed to be figures on its back.

Those with sharper eyes had clearly made out Zi Yan and Qin Hao's appearances as well.

"It really is Zi Yan and Qin Hao!"

At this moment, Great Elder Su Qian had also spotted Qin Hao and Zi Yan. The solemn look on his face eased, only to be replaced by confusion.

The Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King was a sixth-tier Magic Beast. Creatures like it were exceedingly violent and proud, and under normal circumstances, they would never allow anyone to ride on their backs.

Yet now, it was allowing Qin Hao and Zi Yan to sit on its back. There was only one explanation for this: one of the two had clearly subdued the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King.

But even if he racked his brains, he could not figure out how Qin Hao and Zi Yan had managed it.

Zi Yan's origins were mysterious, and her bloodline was extraordinary, but she had only just reached the Dou Wang level. Even with her mysterious and remarkable methods, she could not possibly be a match for the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King.

As for Qin Hao, that was even more impossible. Not long ago, Qin Hao had nearly been killed by a fifth-tier Azure Shadow Eagle, much less a peak sixth-tier Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King.

Still, upon seeing Qin Hao and Zi Yan, Su Qian also breathed a sigh of relief.

Zi Yan and Qin Hao had been missing for so long that Su Qian had naturally been deeply worried. Now that he saw the two had returned safely, he was finally at ease.

After seeing the group from Jia Nan Academy, Qin Hao immediately had the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King restrain its aura and slow down. It gradually descended from the sky before finally stopping not far in front of Su Qian and the others.

"Greetings, Great Elder! Greetings, elders!"

After the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King came to a stop, Qin Hao leaped down from its back and slowly walked over to the group, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Old Su, why did all of you come out?"

Zi Yan asked rather carelessly.

"With a peak sixth-tier Magic Beast approaching the academy, how could we not come?"

Su Qian replied irritably after hearing Zi Yan's words.

"Qin Hao, what is going on here? This Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King... Eh, wait, your cultivation... Five-Star Dou Wang?!"

Su Qian then turned his gaze to Qin Hao. However, he quickly noticed the change in Qin Hao's aura and spoke in surprise.

"What!? Five-Star Dou Wang!?"

"It really is Five-Star Dou Wang! How is that possible!?"

"It has not even been a month, yet he has broken through so much!?"

After hearing Su Qian, the other elders all turned their gazes toward Qin Hao. Upon sensing the fluctuations of Dou Qi from him, they too wore stunned expressions.

As elders of the Inner Academy, they knew Qin Hao's background very well. He had previously only been a One-Star Dou Wang, yet in less than a month, he had reached this realm. Naturally, they were extremely shocked.

"Great Elder, this Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King is a mount I subdued. As for my cultivation, I merely encountered some fortuitous opportunities."

Qin Hao gave a vague explanation.

"This Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King is actually your mount... You..."

Although they had previously guessed that the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King was likely Qin Hao or Zi Yan's mount, hearing Qin Hao say it himself was still indescribably shocking.

As for fortuitous opportunities... Su Qian did not press further. After all, everyone had their own secrets.

It was no exaggeration to say that in the current Inner Academy, including all the students, anyone capable of entering the Inner Academy would have some opportunities and secrets of their own.

Such things were taboos buried deep in a person's heart. No one would dig into them, because doing so was highly improper.

As the Great Elder of the Inner Academy, Su Qian naturally understood this and did not ask further.

"I was just lucky. The Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King was seriously injured before, and I happened to save it."

Qin Hao said, half truthfully and half falsely.

"Is that so... You really are lucky."

Su Qian nodded at Qin Hao's explanation and did not continue questioning him.

"Alright, since everything is fine, let us head back. Also, Qin Hao, keep the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King under control. Do not let it injure anyone in the Inner Academy!"

Su Qian finally instructed Qin Hao.

"Rest assured, Great Elder."

Qin Hao nodded, and the group returned to the Inner Academy.

News that Qin Hao had subdued a peak sixth-tier Magic Beast as his mount soon spread throughout the academy, drawing the envy of countless people.

After returning to his residence, Qin Hao first settled the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King and the little Scarlet Qilin Beast.

Once everything had been arranged, night had fallen. Qin Hao ate something simple and went straight to sleep.

He had clearly exhausted himself during this time in the Magic Beast Forest, and he soon fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, after finishing breakfast, Qin Hao headed straight for the Inner Academy's treasury. He planned to dispose of some items in his possession while exchanging for things he currently needed from the academy treasury.

This treasury was not the place mentioned in the original work that was guarded by the Thousand Elders. The place where the Thousand Elders stayed was the Library Pavilion.

This treasury had been established separately by the Inner Academy. It had been briefly mentioned in the original work that Zi Yan often used her spatial abilities to visit the medicinal ingredients stored within it.

"Greetings, Elder Chen!"

After entering the treasury, Qin Hao walked directly to a gray-robed old man and spoke.

This old man was the person in charge here and also its guardian. He was a Dou Emperor-level expert.

Academy Treasury! Exchanging for Medicinal Ingredients!

That was right, a Dou Emperor. In the original work, the Inner Academy's elders barely had any presence, and most of them were Dou Wang-level experts.

However, that did not mean there were no other Dou Emperor experts in the Inner Academy besides Su Qian, a Dou Zong. That was clearly impossible.

The Elder Chen before him was a Dou Emperor-level expert.

"So it is Elder Qin Hao. What would you like to exchange for here?"

Elder Chen, who had been dozing, slowly opened his eyes and turned his gaze toward Qin Hao.

"I would like to exchange for some medicinal ingredients. Please let me see the catalog of medicinal ingredients in the treasury, Elder Chen."

Qin Hao said.

"Medicinal ingredients... Understood. Here, this is the catalog of medicinal ingredients currently in stock. List whatever you want yourself."

The old man quickly took out a catalog from beneath the table and handed it to Qin Hao.

Without hesitation, Qin Hao accepted the catalog and began flipping through it.

He was preparing to refine sixth-grade medicinal pills next, so he needed quite a few types of medicinal ingredients.

However, he had obtained many good things in the Magic Beast Forest this time, so he was not worried about being unable to afford them. His only concern was whether the treasury possessed the things he needed.

As he browsed, Qin Hao used the paper and brush beside him to write down the items he needed.

More than half an hour passed before Qin Hao finally closed the catalog. The sheet of paper beside him was now densely filled with names, numbering over a hundred varieties.

Unfortunately, more than a dozen of the medicinal ingredients he needed were still unavailable. However, it would not have much of an impact, because together with the ingredients he had already prepared, they were enough to gather the materials needed for several sixth-grade medicinal pills.

"Alright, Elder Chen! I'll take these."

Qin Hao immediately said.

"Hmm... Let me see... Hm? This many!? Elder Qin, are you sure you are not pulling this old man's leg? You actually want to exchange for so much! Do you know how many contribution points these medicinal ingredients will cost?

"Also, if this old man remembers correctly, you should be a fourth-grade alchemist, right? Most of the medicinal ingredients here are used to refine sixth-grade medicinal pills. Could it be that you wish to refine sixth-grade medicinal pills?"

Upon seeing the list Qin Hao handed over, Elder Chen's face immediately darkened. If he had not known Qin Hao and known that he was not someone who acted without restraint, he would probably have driven him out already.

"Of course I am not joking around. As for the contribution points, I will exchange other items for them."

Qin Hao said.

"Oh? Is that so? What do you plan to use for the exchange?"

Seeing that Qin Hao did not seem to be joking, Elder Chen's expression improved considerably, though he still asked curiously.

Qin Hao did not waste any words. He simply waved his hand, and a large pile of items instantly appeared on the table before him.

These were all things Qin Hao had no use for: medicinal ingredients, materials from Magic Beasts, and some useless materials obtained from Magic Beast nests.

"Hmm!? There are actually this many! Good heavens, so many Magic Beast materials, and they are all fresh... Good heavens, kid, did you sweep through all the high-level Magic Beasts near the academy?

"Well, that makes sense. I heard you subdued a sixth-tier Magic Beast. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Young people these days..."

After seeing the items Qin Hao had taken out, Elder Chen could not hide the shock on his face. Then, as though recalling something, he clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Let this old man take stock and appraise everything first!"

After coming back to his senses, Elder Chen stopped wasting words and began examining the items.

"The horn of a Golden-Horned Rhinoceros. Mm, good stuff, worth 1,000 contribution points. The hide of a Scarlet Shadow Demon Leopard. Mm, it is fairly intact, top-quality material, worth 2,000 contribution points..."

Elder Chen appraised and recorded the items one by one. It took nearly an hour before he finally finished taking stock of everything Qin Hao had brought out.

"A total of 126,000 contribution points! The medicinal ingredients you wish to exchange for cost 119,000 contribution points! Do you have any objections?"

After finishing, Elder Chen slowly raised his head and spoke to Qin Hao.

"No problem! Elder Chen's appraisal is very fair."

Qin Hao had watched the entire process, and the other party's valuation of the items he had brought out was indeed very reasonable.

After all, this was the academy, not an outside merchant association. The elders here would naturally not deliberately lower prices like those merchants outside.

"Mm... Good, then. Besides these items, do you need anything else? If not, I will go prepare them."