Resource Exchange

Listening to his classmates talk, Zhou Sining smirked and said nothing.

This was no time to jump out and shout, "I'm Zhou Sining!"

That would look desperate. And stupid.

Let them keep guessing. Sooner or later, they would notice the unfamiliar face at the back of the group.

Then their faces would fill with curiosity, shock, and admiration, and they would keep sneaking glances at him.

He could show off without lifting a finger.

It felt great.

Wang Yan called out, "All right! Quiet down! Tonight's duty is over. Get on the school bus and go home to rest."

"Zhou Sining, stay behind a moment."

With the teacher's orders given, the others could only chatter among themselves as they left.

Once everyone was gone, Wang Yan got straight to the point. "You have a Spirit Seed?"

"I was born with it." Zhou Sining knew the Wisdom Counter could record audio and video, but he had never planned to hide it.

"That's an excellent talent. Keep training. You might reach the Intermediate Level before the college entrance exam. If you do, you'll certainly earn one of No. 3 High School's spots in the Wild Goose Pagoda."

"High school students can train in the Wild Goose Pagoda?"

During his three months training at home, Zhou Sining had often looked things up online. He knew of the pagoda.

Taizong himself had overseen its construction, drawing in and concentrating the magic energy of heaven and earth. Successive emperors had continued to renovate it. It was now one of the Ancient Capital's foundations and a renowned training ground.

Magic energy was abundant inside the Wild Goose Pagoda. A mage who entered could train at an astonishing speed.

It served the same purpose as the Three-Step Tower in the original story.

And high school students could get such a rare opportunity?

"Of course. The Wild Goose Pagoda isn't private property. Every year, the Ancient Capital's public magic high schools receive a certain number of spots before the college entrance exam. After the exam, the schools award those spots to students, usually in order of exam scores," Wang Yan said matter-of-factly.

"In past years, No. 3 High School got around ten spots. So if you rank in the top ten of your year next year, you'll definitely get a chance to train there."

Zhou Sining's eyes lit up.

He had a system and could trade the rewards from killing demon beasts for resources, sure. But resources were like money. Who ever complained about having too much?

The Three-Step Tower's boost to training in the original story had been extraordinary. If the Wild Goose Pagoda compared to it, it had to be good.

"I'll work hard at training. Thank you, sir."

Zhou Sining knew Wang Yan was giving him a heads-up.

Otherwise, a penniless country boy from Bo City like him might have finished the college entrance exam without ever learning about this school benefit.

Big cities really did have more opportunities!

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just train steadily. With your talent, even without the Wild Goose Pagoda, other opportunities will come your way," Wang Yan said encouragingly.

"I will!"

After getting home and washing up, Zhou Sining remembered that he had meant to exchange for a Stardust Magic Tool.

He called up the system panel.

[Exchange for a Spirit Level Stardust Magic Tool?]

[Yes]

[Exchange for a Soul Vessel?]

[Yes]

Two gem-set silver rings appeared in his palm. Zhou Sining threaded them onto a red cord and wore them around his neck so he would not lose them.

Then he spent his last 588 points on a Fire Element Spirit Seed.

The screen before him vanished, and an orange-red Flame Seed appeared in its place.

[Artificial Fire Element Spirit Seed: Orange Flame]

[Effect: Increases Fire Element power by 1.5 times]

"That's it? Nothing else?" Zhou Sining was surprised.

The randomly selected Fire Element Spirit Seed was completely bare-bones, without a single additional effect.

Oh well. It was better than nothing.

Even an artificial Spirit Seed would cost at least ten million on the market. He could not afford one even if he sold himself.

With his previous experience, Zhou Sining found the process much easier this time.

He guided the Orange Flame into his Spiritual World. At the center of his white Fire Element Star Dust, a White Flame Seed burned quietly.

Zhou Sining guided the Orange Flame to the center of the Star Dust and slowly fed it in.

Whoosh!

The next instant, the quiet Gangsha Flame shot out a fiery spike that pierced straight through the orange flame!

"Did you have to be so violent? I was going to feed it to you."

Zhou Sining was speechless.

The white flame looked so docile and harmless. Why did it lash out the moment anything got close?

Gangsha did not care what he thought. It drew the Orange Flame to its center with the fiery spike, swallowed it whole, and began refining it.

Leaving all the refining to Gangsha would take too long. Zhou Sining crossed his legs and entered meditation.

The silver ring with the sapphire on his chest gave off a faint glow. It brightened and dimmed with his breathing, wrapping him in a gentle, refreshing sensation that eased his fatigue.

Time flew by as his training progressed steadily.

With the Spirit Level Stardust Magic Tool, he trained much faster than before. His magic energy recovered faster, too.

For the sake of his life and his future, Zhou Sining settled into a near-ascetic routine.

He trained to restore his magic energy, took every chance to kill Undead while on duty, and studied academic subjects after resting.

Training, duty, study. The same three points, day after day.

In the blink of an eye, a semester had passed.

Zhou Sining had finally saved up ten thousand Life Points and successfully extended his life by another year.

[Zhou Sining]

[Life Points: 3.6 (personal) / 650 (demon beasts)]

(Current personal Life Points: 3.6. Current life state can be maintained for only 3.6 years.)

[Fire Element Beginner Level 3] [Innate Fire Element Devouring Seed]

[Demon-Slaying]

[Level: 4 (407/1500)]

[Current Lottery Draws: 9 (requires 200 Life Points)]

After he reached level four, many new products appeared in the shop. Several of them left Zhou Sining longing to buy them.

[Soul Grade Stardust Magic Tool. Increases training speed by 60%. Cost: 1,188 Life Points] (One-time exchange only)

[Nether Separation Shield. Can block a full-strength strike from a Warrior Level creature and release a powerful spike. Cost: 688 Life Points]

[Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain. Nourishes the soul, protects the mind, and slowly increases Spiritual Power. Cost: 888 Life Points] (One-time exchange only)

[Crimson Blade: Brahma. Cost: 18,888 Life Points] (Available for exchange within six months only)

[1 personal Life Point. Cost: 10,000 Life Points] (Two exchanges only)

What intrigued Zhou Sining most was the [Crimson Blade: Brahma].

No description, a time limit, and a sky-high price. Everything about it suggested there was something special about that item.

I want it so badly!

Too bad he could not afford it.

His attendance on duty ranked among the highest at Ancient Capital No. 3 High School.

As soon as his magic energy was full, he went on duty and did not stop until he had exhausted it.

Even so, it had taken four months to scrape together the ten thousand points needed to extend his life. Now he was broke again, getting by on the shop's [Delicious Twice-Cooked Pork Rice Bowl].

Besides, if he did have plenty of points, the first thing he needed to exchange for was the [Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain].

After four months of grueling training, his Fire Element had completely absorbed the Orange Flame. He was on the verge of reaching the Intermediate Level.

At such a critical moment, Magic Equipment that could nourish his soul would give him a crucial safeguard for his breakthrough!