Canaan Academy Gets on Track
After the auction ended, Huo Yuhao ran his fingertips across the crystal plate recording the transaction amount, a pleased smile curving his lips.
"Hehe, Xiao Yan, did you see that? My Sixth Grade Spirit Artifact, the Gale Sword, sold for a full four million gold coins more than your Sixth-grade Dou Ling Pill!"
"Tch!" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes in annoyance, his face full of disdain. "A swindler! Winning by hiring shills to cheat people is dishonest!"
Huo Yuhao laughed nonchalantly, "No matter what, I won!"
Xiao Yan changed the subject. "By the way Huo Yuhao, why did you throw out so many Spirit Artifact like you were having a clearance sale? Did Jia Nan Academy go bankrupt?"
"My classmates at the Jia Nan Academy cobbled together a ' Artifact Alliance '."
Huo Yuhao explained, his tone slightly subtle. "They—for some reason, seem to have suddenly come up with a grand goal. They want to popularize the art of weapon crafting throughout the entire Battle Qi Continent, just like alchemy. This time, I'm helping them build momentum."
Xiao Yan scratched his head, even more confused. "Are your classmates all this passionate—aiming to change the world?"
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly. "Indeed—judging from our previous interactions, they seem to be just ordinary students, not particularly interested in founding a sect, spreading their teachings, or imparting knowledge."
A sudden thought struck Xiao Yan, and he slapped his thigh. "Wait! Could it be that they think spreading the art of weapon crafting throughout the continent is your ideal?!"
Huo Yuhao: "Huh?"
Xiao Yan turned to Xiao Yi Xian for confirmation. "Was Huo Yuhao teaching his weapon-refining method for free at the Jia Nan Academy?"
Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "Yes, Brother Huo Yuhao has publicly placed all the methods of weapon forging, along with a simplified version of a method for cultivating spiritual power, in the Library Pavilion. There are no restrictions; anyone can see them."
"Just as I thought!" Xiao Yan said with a "detective" expression, pointing at Huo Yuhao: "In their eyes, spreading the art of weapon crafting is your ideal! They're helping you realize your dream!"
Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment, then suddenly narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly, his voice tinged with kindness. "Hehe--this is actually an ideal that my classmates and I made together! Xiao Yan, they must think the same way I do! Don't you think so?"
While Huo Yuhao's Divine Sense Clone was busy refining medicine, auctioning off items, and finding shills in the Jia Ma Empire, his main body at the Jia Nan Academy was not idle either.
"It's open! The Inner Academy canteen is finally open!" Student A, who had just finished his training, shouted excitedly to his companions, his stomach rumbling.
"Great! We don't have Fire Energy ask someone to bring us food from the Outer Academy anymore!" Student B was also beaming with joy, as if he had seen paradise.
Student C poured cold water on the idea, saying, "Don't get too excited! This is the Inner Academy! Even breathing here requires Fire Energy! Do you think the canteen is free?"
I doubt it!
"Why don't we go in and see for ourselves!" Student A pulled the two of them, and they followed the flow of people into the brand-new, bright Inner Academy canteen.
Arriving at a window wafting with the aroma of food, Student A peeked inside and asked the cafeteria lady practicing her "Ladle-Shaking Divine Art," "Auntie, is the cafeteria in the Inner Academy free?"
The woman flicked her wrist, and half of the meat in the spoon slid precisely out. Without looking up, she replied, "Look, the first ten windows are free."
--
The following items are chargeable.
"Huh? What's the difference?" Student B asked curiously.
"How would I know that much!" The middle-aged woman finally looked up, pointed to the side with her spoon, and said, "Go look at the signs yourself!"
The three of them squeezed to the notice board next to them.
The most prominent place is marked with:
[Canaan Academy Inner Academy Dining Hall Rules]
Basic nutritional meals are provided free of charge; take as much as you like at windows 1-10.
No food may be taken out of the canteen area! Violators will have their monthly Fire Energy quota deducted.
Student B pointed to the second rule. "No outside items allowed?"
Student C showed no surprise. "I heard that the Outer Academy also issued a new school rule prohibiting outside food from the cafeteria."
Student A looked on with a nostalgic expression. "I remember, this school rule has been around for a while, hasn't it?"
Student C explained, "It used to be because the food was so bad that nobody wanted to bring food back, so Elder Huo abolished it after reforming the cafeteria. Now, some people are acting as resellers, reselling the cafeteria's food to make a profit! That's why the school rules have been reinstated, and the penalties are even harsher!"
They continued reading. There, they saw a beautifully designed "menu":
Snow Silkworm Soup: It is recommended that students who frequently visit the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower consume this soup at least once a month.
Chalcedony Tortoise Shell Soup: It is recommended that students who frequently visit gravity array areas consume this soup at least once a month.
Moon Dew (drink): It is recommended that students who frequently visit the Soul Illusion Realm area consume it at least once a month.
Jade Marrow and Ginseng Porridge: It is recommended that elders who frequently visit the Level 6 Spiritual Formation consume this porridge at least once a month.
Student A looked at the list, a little confused. "Why is it all drinks?"
Student B guessed, "Maybe it's to save time? Making a big pot at once?"
Student C, feigning profundity, said, "No, no! Elder Huo is no ordinary person. I think it's because soup is easier to absorb and refine, thus more effectively helping us cultivate!"
At this moment, within Huo Yuhao's mental world.
The sphere of light from the Guardian Mirror rolled around at Huo Yuhao's feet, its voice filled with deep complaint.
"Hey! Still messing around with your lousy academy? Have you finished building all the training areas? When are we going to set off to find the Great Thousand World?!"
Huo Yuhao reassured him, "It'll be soon. As soon as Xiao Yan's wedding is over, I'll set off immediately to accompany you in exploring the Great Thousand World."
The Guardian Mirror suddenly sprang up, nearly hitting Huo Yuhao's face. "I'm not rushing you! Time waits for no one! That Dead Silent Plane can only hold on for another year at most! The only way to save it is through the Great Thousand World!"
"Great!" Huo Yuhao laughed.
The Guardian Mirror lay motionless on the ground, then, as if remembering something, Simulation a finger and said with disdain, "There's one more thing! Can you control that old monkey? He's so damn noisy! Even the chicks haven't come in to play these past few days."
Huo Yuhao looked in the direction the Guardian Mirror pointed.
In another area of the spiritual world, the style suddenly changed!
"One, two, one! One, two, one! Head up! Chest out! I'm talking to you! Fifth remnant soul from the left in the third row! What kind of appearance is this, with your soul scattered like that! Solidify yourself for me!"
Heavenly Fire Venerable, dressed in a somewhat comical military uniform that seemed to have been unearthed from some obscure corner, stood on a high platform, shouting commands with a powerful voice, his spittle spraying all over the faces of the remnant souls.
Below him, countless, varied, and grotesque ghostly figures formed a crooked square formation, stiffly performing military training in accordance with the commands of the Heavenly Fire Venerable.
"Unity is strength! Ready, set, sing!"
After the Heavenly Fire Venerable roared, he himself started howling off-key, and the remnant souls around him emitted a disordered, ghostly wailing "chorus," which shook the entire spiritual space.