Daily Life at the Academy

On the third morning after the library incident, Xiao Tianhao deliberately arrived at the training grounds an hour early.

The morning mist had yet to fully disperse, and fine beads of dew covered the blue-stone paving of the practice grounds.

He sat cross-legged in the center, his hands hovering over his knees, circulating the Void Derivation Art to regulate the vortex of blue and silver Soul Force within his dantian.

The Profound Space Pearl grew faintly warm against his chest, as though responding to something.

After investigating the spatial fluctuations lingering in the library the night before, he had barely slept, repeatedly reviewing every detail of his encounters with the reborn Nie Li.

"You're here early."

A calm voice sounded behind him, and the corners of Xiao Tianhao's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

The voice sounded no different from yesterday, but the steadiness of someone weathered by countless hardships could not fool him now that he was prepared.

"Nie Li?" Xiao Tianhao turned around, feigning surprise, but his gaze sharpened slightly the moment their eyes met-

Those eyes, which had once retained a boy's youthful innocence, were now as deep as an abyss. The occasional flashes within them seemed capable of piercing straight through a person's heart.

He really has been reborn!

"What, don't recognize me anymore?"

Nie Li casually sat down on the stone steps nearby and pulled an oil-paper packet from inside his robe. "Want some? Candied fruit specially made by the Heavenly Marks Family."

Xiao Tianhao accepted a piece of amber-colored preserved fruit. It tasted sweet with a hint of astringency.

He keenly detected the faint medicinal potency within its flesh-this was Awakening Spirit Fruit, preserved using three precious medicinal ingredients, and it greatly benefited the stability of the Soul Sea.

He guessed that Nie Li had invented the recipe.

"Good stuff." Xiao Tianhao deliberately savored it. "You added azure spirit grass and purple-beard ginseng, right? But the third ingredient... ice crystal flower stamen?"

Nie Li's fingers stiffened almost imperceptibly around the preserved fruit.

This recipe doesn't even exist in this era!

A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes before they returned to calm. "Your knowledge of medicinal properties really is astonishing, Tianhao."

Their gazes met, each understanding more than either said aloud.

The morning breeze scattered the thin mist, and the first ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and fell across the practice grounds.

"I've been studying an interesting pill formula lately."

Xiao Tianhao pulled a yellowed sheet of parchment from inside his robe. It was densely covered with ingredient ratios and key refining instructions. "But something always goes wrong during the final pill-forming stage."

Nie Li took the parchment and scanned the flaws deliberately left within it-this was a simplified version of the Mystic Spirit Pill recorded in the Origin Pill True Explanation. In Glory City, it would be considered an unparalleled formula, capable of rapidly restoring a Demon Spirit Master's stamina and Soul Force.

His eyes blazed with light, but he had regained his composure by the time he looked up. "The heat is the problem. You should use the Three-Turn Gentle Flame here instead of an intense flame. Also... add stone marrow powder as a catalyst."

Xiao Tianhao clapped his hands and laughed. "Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?"

Inwardly, however, he was shaken-Nie Li's improvements were seventy percent similar to those recorded in the complete Origin Pill True Explanation! A reborn man's wealth of knowledge truly was terrifying.

"By the way." Nie Li suddenly lowered his voice. "There's a trading gathering in the hills behind the academy three days from now. Interested, Tianhao?"

"I couldn't ask for anything better."

"Oh, and Nie Li," Xiao Tianhao said, "just call me by my name from now on."

Nie Li nodded and took a bronze key from inside his robe. "Midnight. The basement of the Old Apothecary." With that, he stood and left, his shadow stretching long in the morning light.

Xiao Tianhao rubbed the intricate patterns on the key, lost in thought.

At noon, Xiao Tianhao was sitting in on Instructor Liu Feng's lecture on the Demon Spirit Core Purification Technique at the Herbology Branch when a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"Xiao Tianhao."

He turned to see Xiao Ning'er standing beside a corridor pillar, her pale blue-green dress setting off skin as white as snow.

She held an exquisite sandalwood box, and her complexion was much rosier than when they had first met.

"Ning'er? Has your cold ailment improved?" Xiao Tianhao stepped forward, catching the faint medicinal fragrance on her-the scent of Red Bone Body Tempering Powder.

It seemed she had indeed used the powder according to the instructions he had left.

Xiao Ning'er smiled softly and handed him the wooden box. "Thanks to your prescription. Father asked me to give you this as a token of gratitude."

Xiao Tianhao opened the lid. Inside lay twelve neatly arranged, crystal-clear, ice-blue stones-cold jade marrow.

A superb material for refining high-grade ice-element pills! Even the Wind Snow Family treasured it.

"This is far too valuable..."

"It's nothing compared to my life." Xiao Ning'er's voice was gentle, yet held a firmness that allowed no refusal. "Also... Father would like to invite you to our residence tomorrow, Tianhao."

Xiao Tianhao's heart stirred.

In the original story, Xiao Yunfeng, the head of the Winged Dragon Family, had been a fairly capable expert. Later, his daughter's persistently incurable cold ailment had left him depressed and withdrawn.

If I could gain his support...

"I'd be honored."

As they spoke, an arrogant voice rang out. "Xiao Ning'er, you're going to belong to our Sacred Family. Don't think you can go flirting with other people."

Shen Yue swaggered over with several lackeys, his gaze lingering on Xiao Ning'er.

"Shen Yue, watch your mouth."

Shen Yue pointed at himself. "Watch my mouth? She, Xiao Ning'er, is about to get engaged to my older brother, yet she's still getting so close to you. If that isn't flirting, what is?"

Xiao Tianhao was about to fire back when an ill-timed voice suddenly cut in. "What an imposing presence you have, Young Master Shen! Who doesn't know that our goddess Ning'er is being forced into this by your Sacred Family?"

Lu Piao, Du Ze, and Wei Nan had appeared at the corner of the corridor at some point and were walking toward them.

Shen Yue's expression instantly darkened. "Lu Piao! This has nothing to do with you!"

"Well, what a coincidence." Grinning, Lu Piao draped an arm over Xiao Tianhao's shoulders. "Tianhao happens to be our good friend."

The atmosphere instantly turned into drawn swords and taut bowstrings. Just then, an icy voice cracked like thunder:

"Anyone who gathers to brawl will be expelled from the academy."

Everyone turned to find Ye Ziyun standing beneath the corridor eaves, her white clothes brighter than snow.

As it turned out, Ye Ziyun had seen her good friend Xiao Ning'er being bullied while passing by and had gone straight to the teachers.

Two Silver Rank instructors watched them expressionlessly.

Shen Yue immediately wilted. After shooting Xiao Tianhao and his friends a vicious glare, he slunk away with his lackeys.

"Thank you for helping us out, Ye Ziyun." Xiao Tianhao cupped his hands in thanks, though inwardly he regretted the missed opportunity. He had intended to use this chance to teach Shen Yue a lesson.

Ye Ziyun nodded faintly, her gaze lingering on Xiao Ning'er for a moment.

Then she glanced at the cold jade marrow in Xiao Tianhao's hand. Surprise flickered in her eyes, but she turned and left without a word.

"Goddess Zi Yun really is beautiful," Lu Piao remarked before leaning toward Xiao Tianhao's ear and whispering, "Nie Li asked me to remind you to watch out for Shen Fei."

Xiao Tianhao nodded at that. Shen Fei, Shen Yue's older brother. With me getting so close to Xiao Ning'er, this sort of trouble really is unavoidable.

"Xiao Tianhao, I'm leaving." Xiao Ning'er lowered her head awkwardly.

Now that the incident was over, she felt guilty toward Xiao Tianhao. Because of her, the Sacred Family would probably hold a grudge against him.

"Ning'er, wait. I have a gift for you."

As he spoke, Xiao Tianhao took a cultivation manual from his Space Ring and handed it to Xiao Ning'er.

He had bought the Space Ring some time ago. Although he hardly needed it thanks to the inner space within the Profound Space Pearl, he still needed a cover; otherwise, he would attract too much attention.

He had selected this cultivation method from Venerable Void Derivation's inherited memories. It suited Xiao Ning'er's constitution extremely well and was called the Wind Thunder Dragon God Art. Its potential surpassed that of the Wind Thunder Winged Dragon Art from the original story.

"Ah, a gift..." Xiao Ning'er blushed despite herself, thinking Xiao Tianhao was about to confess his feelings.

But when she saw him handing her a cultivation manual, she could not help feeling a pang of disappointment.

Still, she was curious and opened it. The large characters "Wind Thunder Dragon God Art" immediately caught her eye. As she turned the pages and continued reading, she unconsciously began circulating the method.

Within moments, she could feel it: her progress was three times faster than with her current cultivation method.

She was utterly stunned. After all, the method she currently practiced ranked sixth in her family.

"This is too valuable, Tianhao. I can't accept it." Xiao Ning'er hurriedly tried to refuse.

"Take it. This is the first gift I've given you."

"Besides, your current cultivation method doesn't suit you. Your cold ailment came from that mismatch, along with cold energy entering your body while you cultivated at night. Do you really want to keep suffering like before?" As he spoke, Xiao Tianhao pushed the manual toward Xiao Ning'er again.

"I... I... all right." Xiao Ning'er's brows knitted tightly as she struggled with the decision. The pain before truly had been unbearable.

More importantly, it had severely hindered her cultivation, and she now wanted to grow stronger and escape the arranged marriage with Shen Fei.

"Thank you, Tianhao."

"Ning'er, if you really feel bad about it, just treat me to a meal." Xiao Tianhao laughed lightly.

"All right. I'll be going, then."

Night fell, and Xiao Ning'er sat cross-legged on her bed, circulating the cultivation method Xiao Tianhao had given her.

Threads of lightning flashed around her, slowly gathering into the shape of a lightning dragon.

Her Soul Force increased rapidly, and her Soul Sea continually expanded.

90

95

100

An unseen sound rang out.

Boom!

Bronze 1-Star-achieved.

Xiao Ning'er slowly opened her eyes, unable to hide the joy on her face.

A shaft of moonlight fell through the window onto her face, making her look radiant and captivating.

Gazing out the window, Xiao Ning'er thought of all the help Xiao Tianhao had given her over the past few days. A dazed feeling washed over her, and she could not help murmuring aloud.

"Thank you, Xiao Tianhao. Without you, I wouldn't even dare imagine what my life would have been like."

Elsewhere.

Xiao Tianhao was alone in his dormitory, preparing a fresh batch of potions.

The Profound Space Pearl hovered above the desk, emitting a soft glow.

He placed the cold jade marrow Xiao Ning'er had given him into the pearl's inner space, watching as the purifying light enveloped and refined it.

Suddenly, the space within the pearl shook violently! The starlight runes flickered wildly, and a message of unprecedented clarity entered his mind:

Trial Secret Realm unlocked.

The realm has 9 floors. Floor 1 is now unlocked. Floor 1 contains various Demon Beasts of Gold Rank and below and can be used for live combat training. Any Demon Beasts killed within the realm can be brought out.

At this sudden news, Xiao Tianhao nearly burst into delighted laughter, but forcibly stopped himself when he remembered he was in the dormitory.

Even more thrilling was the bronze starlight at the center of the Soul Force vortex in his dantian. It had already grown to the size of his thumb, and a faint golden hue was beginning to appear around its edges-a sign that he was about to break through to Bronze 2-Star!

Xiao Tianhao took a deep breath. Nie Li's rebirth, Xiao Ning'er's cold ailment, the mysterious trial space... all the threads were beginning to intertwine.

He looked toward the newly rising sun, a confident smile curving his lips.

In this story ruled by a reborn man, he, a transmigrator, was finally about to begin writing a legend of his own.

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