Xiao Xiao's suggestion

Wen Xiancheng and Principal Zhang finished signing the customization agreement for the biology classroom.

Next came the customization of the textbooks for the three subjects: biology, mathematics, and language.

Noble Primary School would purchase the textbooks for all three subjects.

Once the books had been purchased, they would provide Wen Xiancheng with four teachers' dormitory rooms, where he could bring people in to process them.

The textbooks treated with illusion arts would cost the same as before, fifty low-grade spirit stones per book, with ten thousand textbooks across the three subjects in total.

Noble Primary School would pay only twenty-five high-grade spirit stones as a deposit.

The rest would be paid once all the textbooks had been delivered.

Only after signing the second customization agreement did Wen Xiancheng leave.

This time, even his steps felt a little floaty.

Between the biology classroom and this batch of customized textbooks, he had received seventy-five high-grade spirit stones from Noble Primary School alone!

After all, even Xue Ruigao, who had been admitted to the Royal Academy as an outstanding student, received only one high-grade spirit stone a month in subsidies!

Without a second thought, Wen Xiancheng hurried to the nearest bank with the high-grade spirit stones to deposit them.

He was terrified of losing them or having them stolen.

If that really happened, he figured he would want to die.

After depositing seventy-four of the high-grade spirit stones into a Storage Ring, Wen Xiancheng left with his bank card and one high-grade spirit stone.

This was Wen Xiancheng's first taste of being rich.

All along the way, he felt as though his spirits were floating into the sky.

On the way, Wen Xiancheng bought a huge batch of daily necessities and snacks!

When he returned to his lodgings, Xiao Xiao was crouching beside the Mouse Clone, staring at him without moving.

Wen Xiancheng was a little surprised.

From last night until now, the Mouse Clone had spent all his time cultivating, apart from when he ate.

While cultivating, it was difficult to notice what was happening outside.

So he had not noticed Xiao Xiao beside him, either.

Seeing Xiao Xiao staring blankly at the Mouse Clone now, Wen Xiancheng hurriedly gave an awkward smile and stepped in front of him. "Xiao Xiao, this is my pet mouse, Little Gray. Don't hurt him."

Xiao Xiao was a Machine Puppet, after all, and had no emotions.

Wen Xiancheng was genuinely afraid she might kill his Mouse Clone in one careless move!

Crouching on the ground, Xiao Xiao scratched a word into the floor with her finger. "I-"

Wen Xiancheng: "..."

That was the floor!

Her finger could actually leave marks in the floor so easily!

No wonder she had knocked down Gao Shiqi and that man called Brother Qing with a single punch before!

She was far too powerful!

Wen Xiancheng hurriedly caught hold of Xiao Xiao, took a notebook and a pen from the drawer beneath the table, and handed them to her. "Xiao Xiao, keep these with you from now on. Whatever you want to write, write it in here."

Xiao Xiao took the notebook and pen and wrote, "You have to call me Baby Xiao Xiao!"

Wen Xiancheng glanced around awkwardly. Only after making sure no one was there did he say, "Baby Xiao Xiao. Happy now?"

Only then did Xiao Xiao nod emphatically and continue writing, "I noticed that your pet mouse is cultivating. He's become a demon beast."

Wen Xiancheng was a little taken aback, but then felt somewhat reassured.

Xiao Xiao was a Machine Puppet created by the head of Iceheart Hall, after all. She could even communicate like a normal person, so it was hardly surprising that she could notice such things.

Smiling at Xiao Xiao, Wen Xiancheng put away his purchases as he said, "Yes. I bought him some Marrow-Cleansing Liquid a few days ago. After his marrow was cleansed, he could cultivate."

Xiao Xiao wrote again, "Mice are a relatively intelligent and highly numerous species among the world's mammals. You could try using your pet mouse to bring other mice under your command and form a mouse organization."

Wen Xiancheng stared blankly at Xiao Xiao.

Form a mouse organization?

He really had never thought of that!

So far, he had only considered having mice help steal herbs from the Royal Academy's Medicinal Herb Garden, and having the Mouse Clone cultivate illusion arts alongside his human body.

That way, he could achieve twice the results with half the effort.

Now that Xiao Xiao had suggested it, he felt this could work, too!

"The problem is, I-my pet mouse has never spent time with wild mice. He doesn't know how to communicate with them," Wen Xiancheng said gloomily.

Back in his old rented room, the Mouse Clone had run into difficulties communicating with those three little mice.

He could not understand what they were saying or doing at all.

He had relied entirely on expressions and gestures to get his meaning across.

It was exhausting.

Let alone forming a mouse organization.

To form a mouse organization, he would have to control a large number of mice at the very least.

If he communicated only through expressions and gestures, could all the other mice really understand?

Some of them were bound to have problems.

Xiao Xiao wrote on the paper, "Master said that every living being has a spiritual nature and can communicate. I'll catch a few mice, observe them, and learn how they communicate with one another."

Wen Xiancheng: "..."

You'll catch them?

It would be a miracle if you didn't play them to death!

Calling Xiao Xiao back, Wen Xiancheng pointed at the Mouse Clone. "Let me handle it! I remember that my pet mouse seems to know a few wild mice around here. I'll try sending him out and see if he can bring some mice over for you to observe."

Xiao Xiao said, "Then do it now. Better to act than merely feel inspired!"

As she said this, her lifeless eyes stared straight at Wen Xiancheng.

Wen Xiancheng: "..."

As expected of a Machine Puppet created by the head of Iceheart Hall, even her temperament was just like her creator's. She was impatient.

Wen Xiancheng walked over to the Mouse Clone.

The Mouse Clone stopped cultivating as well.

The man and mouse looked into each other's eyes.

Wen Xiancheng wore a strange expression.

Although these were two separate bodies, it felt like looking into a mirror and seeing himself reflected there.

Putting on a gentle tone, Wen Xiancheng said to the Mouse Clone, "Little Gray, go fetch your three little mouse friends. Let them keep Baby Xiao Xiao company for a few days so she can learn how mice communicate. That'll make it easier for you to communicate in the future."

Xiao Xiao watched the Mouse Clone without moving.

The Mouse Clone stood up, climbed down from the table, and ran outside.

Xiao Xiao wrote on the paper, "Mice really are clever. Your pet mouse can actually understand what you say."

Wen Xiancheng smiled awkwardly. "Little Gray has lived with me for several years. He's used to it. It's a conditioned reflex."

After putting everything away, Wen Xiancheng picked up a blank sheet of paper and drew up a daily schedule.

Now, he not only had to cultivate illusion arts, but also try cultivating according to the notes of Zhang Lu, the head of Iceheart Hall, and help process the biology classroom and those textbooks.

Most importantly, he still had to go around taking orders.

A sensible daily schedule would therefore keep him from being so busy every day that his head spun.

Half an hour later, the schedule was ready.

Human body:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If there are no other commitments, cultivate according to the notes of Zhang Lu, the head of Iceheart Hall.

If there are other commitments, attend to those first, then return to cultivate.

However, ensure at least three hours of cultivation according to the notes of Zhang Lu, the head of Iceheart Hall, every day.

6 p.m. to midnight: cultivate illusion arts.

Midnight to 5 a.m.: sleep.

5 a.m. to 8 a.m.: study pill refining.

Mouse Clone:

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cultivate according to the notes of Zhang Lu, the head of Iceheart Hall.

1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: sleep.

4 p.m. to 9 p.m.: cultivate illusion arts.

9 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day: steal medicinal herbs from the Royal Academy's Medicinal Herb Garden, communicate with the mice nearby, and establish a mouse organization.

(End of chapter)